Visiting Dayton with toddlers and little kids: the plan.

Boonshoft Museum of Discovery

#2North Dayton

The small zoo is the hit with little kids. It’s an easy after-nap stop, with free parking right outside.

Kids $13Adults $16Ages 2 and under freeIndoor

Ride the train and see the Wright Flyer. Two café options are right in the park, so lunch is easy.

#3South of downtown

Carillon Historical Park

Kids $10Adults $14Ages 2 and under free

#4North Dayton, 1301 E. Siebenthaler Ave.

Wegerzyn Gardens MetroPark

Go straight to the Children’s Discovery Garden, then walk the boardwalk along the river.

Older preschoolers can climb the 81 steps of the Tree Tower. Little ones will be happy on the garden paths.

#5Miami Township

Cox Arboretum MetroPark

MORNINGNational Museum of the U.S. Air ForcePick one or two hangars · Wright-Patterson AFB · Free

Nap breaks built in

One day or two in Dayton

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

LUNCHMarion’s PiazzaThe closest location · Nine locations around southwest Ohio

NAPBack to the hotel for nap. If your little one sleeps best in the car, take a loop.

AFTER NAPWegerzyn Gardens MetroParkThe Discovery Garden · North Dayton, 1301 E. Siebenthaler Ave. · Free

If you have two days

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

MORNINGCarillon Historical ParkThe train ride · South of downtown · $10 kids, $14 adults

LUNCHCulp’s Café at Carillon ParkInside the park · Carillon Historical Park

NAPBack to the hotel for nap. If your little one sleeps best in the car, take a loop.

AFTER NAPBoonshoft Museum of DiscoverySmall zoo, free parking · North Dayton · $13 kids, $16 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.

BEST FOR FIRST-TIMERSDowntownCentral to everything, with Carillon Park a few minutes south and the library close by.Near Carillon Historical Park, Dayton Metro Library, Main Library and Culp’s Café at Carillon Park

FOR THE AIR FORCE MUSEUMBeavercreek and FairbornClosest to Wright-Patterson and the Air Force museum.Near National Museum of the U.S. Air Force

FOR MUSEUMS AND GARDENSNorth DaytonNear Boonshoft, Wegerzyn Gardens and Aullwood.Near Boonshoft Museum of Discovery, Wegerzyn Gardens MetroPark and Aullwood Audubon Center & Farm

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.

Café · Carillon Historical ParkCulp’s Café at Carillon ParkNear Carillon Historical Park

Pizza · Nine locations around southwest OhioMarion’s Piazza

Farm restaurant and ice cream · Yellow Springs (about 25 minutes)Young’s Jersey Dairy

Plan B

Rainy-day backup plan

If the forecast turns, swap the outdoor stop for one of these. More options: indoor play places in Dayton.

Wright-Patterson AFBNational Museum of the U.S. Air ForceHuge indoor hangars.FreeIndoor

North DaytonBoonshoft Museum of DiscoveryScience, a small zoo and a planetarium, indoors.Kids $13Adults $16Ages 2 and under freeIndoor

Downtown, 215 E. Third St.Dayton Metro Library, Main LibraryA free indoor stop downtown.FreeIndoor

Before you go

Practical tips

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

Parking

Boonshoft Museum of Discovery: Parking is free, with a drop-off lane in front of the museum.
Carillon Historical Park: Parking is usually free. There may be a fee during special events.

Strollers and accessibility

Boonshoft Museum of Discovery: Strollers and wagons must be under 29 inches wide and 52 inches long. Staff may ask you to park them before programs.

Changing tables

Boonshoft Museum of Discovery: There’s a universal changing station in the Hall of the Universe on the first floor.

Free parking almost everywhere

The Air Force museum, Boonshoft, Carillon Park and the MetroParks all have free parking on regular days.

Lunch without leaving Carillon

Culp’s Café and Carillon Brewing Co. are inside the park and don’t need admission.

Visiting in November or December?

Santa and Christmas lights in Dayton

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

Santa in DaytonBreakfast with Santa, Santa photos and Santa trains, with 2026 prices

Christmas lights in DaytonDrive-thru and walk-through displays, start times and 2026 prices

On a budget

Free and cheap wins for visitors

Spend less without skipping the good stuff.

Wright-Patterson AFBNational Museum of the U.S. Air ForceFree admission and free parking.FreeIndoor

North Dayton, 1301 E. Siebenthaler Ave.Wegerzyn Gardens MetroParkFree, with free parking.Free

Miami TownshipCox Arboretum MetroParkFree, with free parking.Free

Downtown, 215 E. Third St.Dayton Metro Library, Main LibraryFree.FreeIndoor

All free things to do in Dayton →

This week

Happening while you’re here

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

#1Fri 5:30–8:30pm (arrive anytime)

Spooktacular Pumpkin Party

A drop-in Halloween party made for little ghosts and goblins: pumpkin crafts, games, music and dancing, face painting, a scavenger hunt, witch’s potion drinks and a Haunted Wagon Ride ticket.

Young’s Event Center · Yellow Springs

$40 one child + one adult

Halloween for Little Ones

#2Sat 11am–1pm

Kettering’s free Halloween morning for small kids: trunk or treat, inflatables and face painting, alongside the Wag-O-Ween dog costume contest. Outdoors, moving inside if the weather turns.

Kettering Recreation Complex · Kettering

Autumn Holiday Pumpkin Decorating

#3Sun 11am–3pm

Decorate mini pumpkins grown by market vendor Oaks and Sprouts Farm. Free craft supplies, all ages, no signup; smooth-jazz musician Eddie Osborne plays inside from 11:30.

2nd Street Market (Pavilion) · Dayton

Pick Your Own Pumpkins at Young’s Jersey Dairy

#4Daily 11am–6pm

Ride the wagon out to the patch and hunt for the right pumpkin. This is the last week: picking ends Sunday. Smaller pumpkins by the Dairy Store run $4 or less.

Young’s Jersey Dairy · Yellow Springs

$11 per pumpkin with wagon ride

Carillonneur Alan Bowman plays the 57 bells of Ohio’s largest carillon. Spread a blanket on the lawn; the concert is free.

#5Sun 3pm

Deeds Carillon Concert

Carillon Historical Park (Deeds Carillon) · Dayton