VISITING Denver · Mile High City

Visiting Denver with toddlers and little kids: the plan.

The zoo is in City Park east of downtown, the Children’s Museum sits just west of downtown by the Platte, and the Art Museum and Central Library share the Civic Center. Here’s a day or two, with nap time built in.

Top 2 can’t-miss spots

#1City Park, 2300 Steele St.
Denver Zoo
Mornings are calmer than afternoons.
Kids $19Adults $272 and under free
See it in the guide
#2Jefferson Park, 2121 Children’s Museum Dr.
Children’s Museum of Denver at Marsico Campus
Tickets are sold at the door; parking is free.
$19.75 eachUnder 1 free; age 1 $17.75Indoor
See it in the guide
Nap breaks built in

One day or two in Denver

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
MORNINGDenver ZooTimed entry · City Park, 2300 Steele St. · $19 kids, $27 adultsLUNCHDenver Central MarketFood hall in RiNo · RiNo
NAPBack to the hotel for nap. If your little one sleeps best in the car, take a loop.
AFTER NAPCentral LibraryLibrary time · Civic Center, 10 W. Fourteenth Ave. Pkwy. · Free
If you have two days

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

MORNINGChildren’s Museum of Denver at Marsico CampusDoors at 9 · Jefferson Park, 2121 Children’s Museum Dr. · $19.75 per person
NAPBack to the hotel for nap. If your little one sleeps best in the car, take a loop.
AFTER NAPDenver Art MuseumFree for kids · Golden Triangle, 100 W. 14th Ave. Pkwy.
Where to stay

Kid-friendly areas near the big attractions

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

DOWNTOWNCentral LibraryThe Civic Center puts the Art Museum and Central Library side by side, a short drive from the zoo and the Children’s Museum.Near Central Library and Denver Art Museum
FOR THE ZOOCity ParkDenver Zoo is in City Park, and Wings Over the Rockies is a short drive east in Lowry.Near Denver Zoo and Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum
FOR A SUBURBAN BASELakewood and LittletonWest and south of the city, near Kids Town and Hudson Gardens, with Chatfield State Park close by.Near Kids Town and Hudson Gardens
Before you go

Practical tips

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

Zoo tickets
Denver Zoo requires online timed tickets.
Wednesdays
The Denver Art Museum is closed on Wednesdays.
Socks
Kids Town requires socks for everyone, grown-ups included.
Casa Bonita
Casa Bonita takes reservations only and charges $10 a person for no-shows and late cancellations.
Visiting in November or December?

Santa and Christmas lights in Denver

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

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

Happening while you’re here

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

#1Fri 4:30–9pm (timed tickets)
Boo at the Zoo
Denver Zoo’s trick-or-treat night: nine candy stations around the zoo and costumed characters to meet. Timed tickets; book ahead. An optional $5 Lil Boo Bag is sold for kids 2 and under.
Denver Zoo · Denver
Check site
Hours, food & parking
#2Sat Noon–4pm
Mall-O-Ween at Town Center at Aurora
Mall-wide trick-or-treating with costume contests and dance performances. Indoors, so it works in any weather.
Town Center at Aurora · Aurora
Free
Hours, food & parking
#3Sat 1–4pm
Boo and Brew on Colfax
The Bluebird District’s 20th annual family scare fest: trick-or-treating at 35+ shops and restaurants along 12 blocks of Colfax between Monroe and Elizabeth, with live music, haunted basements and face painting.
Bluebird District, East Colfax Ave. · Denver
Free
Hours, food & parking
#4Thu 2:30–5:30pm
Trick or Treat Street at Central Library
Trick-or-treat on every floor of the Central Library, with candy and non-candy treats. Free, no registration.
Central Library (Denver Public Library) · Denver
FreeIndoor
Hours, food & parking
#5Sun 9am–4pm (mariachi parade at 3pm)
Día de Muertos at the Children’s Museum
An ofrenda in The Art Studio all day, kite making 9–11am, StoryTime with Elisa Garcia at 10am, face painting at 1:30pm, arroz con leche and horchata tastings at 2pm and a mariachi parade at 3pm.
Children’s Museum of Denver at Marsico Campus · Denver
Included with admissionIndoor
Hours, food & parking
See everything this week →
Good questions

Visiting Denver with toddlers: the FAQ

Is Denver kid-friendly?

For a family with kids under 6, yes. Our Denver guide lists 19 places we checked for little kids, plus 4 free places and 7 picks for babies and toddlers. This page adds 3 easy restaurants near the big stops and free storytimes at 3 library systems. This week’s list has 55 dated outings for ages 0–6. See free things to do in Denver and this weekend’s list.

How many days do you need in Denver with a toddler?

Two: the zoo one day, the Children’s Museum and a library storytime the next.

What’s open in the evening in Denver with kids?

The Downtown Aquarium is open until 8pm every day, and Kids Town stays open until 8pm on Fridays and Saturdays.

Is Casa Bonita worth it with little kids?

As a planned treat, yes. The price covers the meal and the show. Book ahead, because there are no walk-ins.

Get the list every Thursday.

One short email every Thursday evening with the five things we’d leave the house for in Denver.