VISITING Baltimore · Charm City

Visiting Baltimore with toddlers and little kids: the plan.

Stay near the Inner Harbor. Port Discovery, the National Aquarium and the Maryland Science Center are all a walk apart, and the zoo and the B&O Railroad Museum are short drives. Here’s a plan with nap time built in.

Top 2 can’t-miss spots

#1Inner Harbor, 35 Market Place
Port Discovery Children’s Museum
Closed Tue–Wed in the fall.
$25.95 eachunder 1Indoor
See it in the guide
#2Inner Harbor, 501 E. Pratt St.
National Aquarium
Strollers are checked at the entrance.
Kids FreeAdults $49.95Indoor
See it in the guide
Nap breaks built in

One day or two in Baltimore

A couple of big stops, a real lunch and a nap in the middle. Tap a stop for the full listing.

If you have one day
MORNINGNational AquariumKids 4 and under free · Inner Harbor, 501 E. Pratt St. · Free kids, $49.95 adults
NAPBack to the hotel for nap. If your little one sleeps best in the car, take a loop.
AFTER NAPPort Discovery Children’s MuseumCheck the fall hours · Inner Harbor, 35 Market Place · $25.95 per person
If you have two days

Day 1 is the one-day plan above. Day 2:

MORNINGThe Maryland ZooOpens at 10am · Druid Hill Park, One Safari PlaceLUNCHLexington MarketFood stalls · Downtown
NAPBack to the hotel for nap. If your little one sleeps best in the car, take a loop.
AFTER NAPB&O Railroad MuseumFree parking · Southwest Baltimore, 901 W. Pratt St. · $12 kids, $20 adults
Where to stay

Kid-friendly areas near the big attractions

Pick the area by the stops you’ll make most, then plan around nap.

INNER HARBORInner HarborPort Discovery, the aquarium and the science center are all a short walk apart.Near Port Discovery Children’s Museum and National Aquarium
Eat

Easy restaurants near the big stops

Kids’ menus, quick service and a short drive from the attractions. Prices come from each restaurant’s own menu.

Food hall · DowntownLexington MarketNear Port Discovery Children’s Museum
Before you go

Practical tips

Parking, strollers, changing tables and the best times to go.

Parking
The zoo and the B&O museum have free parking.
Strollers
The aquarium doesn’t allow strollers on its exhibit route; bring a carrier.
Visiting in November or December?

Santa and Christmas lights in Baltimore

If your trip lands in the holiday season, these two pages have the dates, prices and booking links.

Santa in BaltimoreBreakfast with Santa, Santa photos and Santa trains, with 2026 pricesChristmas lights in BaltimoreDrive-thru and walk-through displays, start times and 2026 prices
This week

Happening while you’re here

This week’s top events in Baltimore. The full list, with hours and the forecast, is on the this-week page.

#110am–4pm
ZooBOO! at the Maryland Zoo
The last two days of the zoo’s Halloween festival: trick-or-treating, an inflatable corn maze and costume contests. Saturday adds a bounce house, a bubble show at 10:30 and a magic show at 1:30.
The Maryland Zoo · Baltimore
Included with Zoo admission
Hours, food & parking
#25–7:30pm
Cylburn ArBOOretum
A candy-free Halloween night in the arboretum with a spooky nature trail, crafts, free face painting and a glowstick for every visitor. The 6pm night hike is the one for young families, since it’s still light out; strollers stay behind for both hikes. Tickets are per night.
Cylburn Arboretum · Baltimore
$5 in advance plus fees
Hours, food & parking
#3Sat 1–4pm
Fell’s Point Trick or Treat
Wander the old waterfront streets and pick up treats from participating businesses. Look for the “Treat Stop” posters in shop windows.
Fell’s Point shops · Baltimore
Free
Hours, food & parking
#4Sat 5–8pm
Trick or Treat at Baltimore Peninsula
Trick-or-treating around the new waterfront neighborhood, plus crafts, face painting, a moonbounce and a hayride.
Elijah’s Park, Baltimore Peninsula · Baltimore
Free
Hours, food & parking
#5Sun 1:30–2:30pm
Pumpkin Drop (Towson)
Bring your jack-o’-lantern and watch it fall down the library’s three-story rotunda. Biggest splat wins. Free.
Towson Branch · Towson
Free
Hours, food & parking
See everything this week →
Good questions

Visiting Baltimore with toddlers: the FAQ

Is Baltimore kid-friendly?

For a family with kids under 6, yes. Our Baltimore guide lists 10 places we checked for little kids, plus 4 free places and 4 picks for babies and toddlers. This page adds 1 easy restaurant near the big stops and free storytimes at 2 library systems. This week’s list has 28 dated outings for ages 0–6. See free things to do in Baltimore and this weekend’s list.

Where should we stay with a toddler?

The Inner Harbor keeps Port Discovery, the aquarium and the science center walkable.

What if it rains?

Port Discovery, the National Aquarium, the Maryland Science Center and the B&O roundhouse are all indoors.

Get the list every Thursday.

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