VISITING Baton Rouge · Red Stick
Visiting Baton Rouge with toddlers and little kids: the plan.
Knock Knock and the main library are close together off I-10 in Mid City, LASM sits downtown on the river, and the zoo is north of town. Here’s how we’d do a day or two with nap time built in.
Top 4 can’t-miss spots
#1City-Brooks Community Park, 1900 Dalrymple Dr.
Knock Knock Children’s Museum
Come Tuesday to Sunday; members get the first hour Friday and Saturday.
$18 eachUnder 12 months freeIndoor
See it in the guide→
#2North Baton Rouge, 3601 Thomas Rd.
BREC’s Baton Rouge Zoo
Wednesday afternoons are $3 a person; last entry is 4pm.
Kids $7 + taxAdults $10 + tax1 and under free
See it in the guide→
#3Downtown riverfront
Louisiana Art & Science Museum
Saturday stargazing is at 10am; closed Monday and Tuesday.
Indoor
See it in the guide→
#4Mid City, 7711 Goodwood Blvd.
Main Library at Goodwood
Lapsit storytime for babies on Tuesdays at 10:30.
FreeIndoor
See it in the guide→
Nap breaks built in
One day or two in Baton Rouge
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
MORNINGKnock Knock Children’s MuseumOpen at 10 · City-Brooks Community Park, 1900 Dalrymple Dr. · $18 per person
LUNCHTio Javi’s Mexican GrillKids’ plates (closed Mon) · SouthdownsNAPBack to the hotel for nap. If your little one sleeps best in the car, take a loop.
AFTER NAPBREC’s Baton Rouge ZooLast entry 4pm · North Baton Rouge, 3601 Thomas Rd. · $7 + tax kids, $10 + tax adultsIf you have two days
Day 1 is the one-day plan above. Day 2:
MORNINGMain Library at GoodwoodStorytime · Mid City, 7711 Goodwood Blvd. · FreeLATE MORNINGLouisiana Art & Science MuseumPlanetarium · Downtown riverfrontNAPBack to the hotel for nap. If your little one sleeps best in the car, take a loop.
Where to stay
Kid-friendly areas near the big attractions
Pick the area by the stops you’ll make most, then plan around nap.
CLOSE TO EVERYTHINGMid CityNear Knock Knock and the main library, off I-10.Near Knock Knock Children’s Museum and Main Library at Goodwood
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.
Plan B
Rainy-day backup plan
If the forecast turns, swap the outdoor stop for one of these. More options: indoor play places in Baton Rouge.
Before you go
Practical tips
Parking, strollers, changing tables and the best times to go.
Mondays
Knock Knock and LASM are both closed Mondays; LASM is closed Tuesdays too.
Cheap zoo afternoons
The zoo is $3 a person on Wednesdays from 2 to 4.
Visiting in November or December?
Santa and Christmas lights in Baton Rouge
If your trip lands in the holiday season, these two pages have the dates, prices and booking links.
On a budget
Free and cheap wins for visitors
Spend less without skipping the good stuff.
This week
Happening while you’re here
This week’s top events in Baton Rouge. The full list, with hours and the forecast, is on the this-week page.
#19:30am–5pm
Boo at the Zoo at BREC’s Baton Rouge Zoo
Trick-or-treat stations are back, plus Halloween photo spots and character meet-and-greets, rain or shine. Last entry is 4pm.
Regular zoo admission: $7 ages 2–12
Hours, food & parking→
#2Sat noon–3pm
Full Moon Fête Trunk-or-Treat
BREC’s free Halloween party: trunk-or-treating, character visits, face painting, a kids’ play zone, vendors and live entertainment. Check-in opens an hour early.
Free
Hours, food & parking→
#3Sun 2–4:30pm
Haints, Haunts & Halloween at the LSU Rural Life Museum
An old-fashioned Halloween country fair with storytelling, cake walks, traditional games and trick-or-treating across the museum grounds. Costumes encouraged for kids and grown-ups.
$6–$12
Hours, food & parking→
#4Sat 2–5pm
Supa Dog Man Afternoon
Make a Dog Man button (2–3pm) and a finger puppet and headband in the Children’s Room, with the Dog Man movie (PG) at 3. Crafts while supplies last.
FreeIndoor
Hours, food & parking→
#5Sun 4–6pm
Trunk-or-Treat at Open Door Church (Denham Springs)
A Sunday-afternoon trunk-or-treat; register online for a free ticket and arrival time. Moves into the gym if it rains.
Free
Hours, food & parking→
Good questions
Visiting Baton Rouge with toddlers: the FAQ
Is Baton Rouge kid-friendly?
For a family with kids under 6, yes. Our Baton Rouge guide lists 16 places we checked for little kids, plus 5 free places and 2 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 30 dated outings for ages 0–6. See free things to do in Baton Rouge and this weekend’s list.
How many days do you need in Baton Rouge with a toddler?
One full day covers Knock Knock and the zoo; add a morning for LASM and a library storytime.
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