VISITING Des Moines · Iowa’s capital
Visiting Des Moines with toddlers and little kids: the plan.
Des Moines is small enough that nothing is far. Downtown and the East Village hold the science center, the library and the gardens, and the Zoo is a short drive south. Here’s how we’d spend one or two days with nap in the middle.
Top 5 can’t-miss spots
#1South side
Blank Park Zoo
Small enough to see in a morning, with a carousel and train to break it up. Your ticket is good all day, so you can leave for lunch and come back.
Kids $15Adults $20Under 2 free
See it in the guide→
#2Downtown
Science Center of Iowa
Plan a morning here, but note it’s open Wednesday through Sunday only.
Kids $16Adults $20Indoor
See it in the guide→
#3Valley West Mall, West Des Moines
Des Moines Children’s Museum
A cheap, low-key hour of play. It’s inside Valley West Mall, so it’s easy on a cold or rainy day.
Kids $6Adults $4Under 1 freeIndoor
See it in the guide→
#4East Village riverfront
Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden
A quiet after-nap walk through the dome. Book a timed ticket ahead.
Kids $10Adults $14Age 1 and under freeIndoor
See it in the guide→
#5Urbandale
Living History Farms
Ride the tractor cart out to the farms. General admission ends October 31, then it’s programs by reservation until spring.
Kids $17Adults $21Under 2 freeSpring to fall
See it in the guide→
Nap breaks built in
One day or two in Des Moines
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
MORNINGScience Center of IowaWednesday to Sunday · Downtown · $16 kids, $20 adults
LUNCHThe Breakfast ClubEast Village · East VillageNAPBack to the hotel for nap. If your little one sleeps best in the car, take a loop.
AFTER NAPGreater Des Moines Botanical GardenA walk through the dome · East Village riverfront · $10 kids, $14 adultsIf you have two days
Day 1 is the one-day plan above. Day 2:
MORNINGBlank Park ZooCarousel and train · South side · $15 kids, $20 adultsLUNCHScorno’sKids’ menu · South side, Urbandale, Altoona and Waukee · Kids’ meal $8.95NAPBack to the hotel for nap. If your little one sleeps best in the car, take a loop.
AFTER NAPDes Moines Children’s MuseumAn easy hour of play · Valley West Mall, West Des Moines · $6 kids, $4 adultsWhere 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-TIMERSDowntownNear the Science Center and Central Library, with the river paths a short walk away.Near Science Center of Iowa and Des Moines Public Library, Central Library
FOR WALKABILITYEast VillageNext to the Botanical Garden, the Capitol and the Breakfast Club.Near Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden, Iowa State Capitol and The Breakfast Club
FOR THE WEST SIDEWest Des MoinesClosest to the Children’s Museum, and an easy drive to Living History Farms in Urbandale.Near Des Moines Children’s Museum and Living History Farms
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 Des Moines.
DowntownScience Center of IowaHands-on science downtown, all indoors.Kids $16Adults $20IndoorValley West Mall, West Des MoinesDes Moines Children’s MuseumIndoor play inside a mall.Kids $6Adults $4Under 1 freeIndoorEast Village riverfrontGreater Des Moines Botanical GardenThe conservatory dome is indoors.Kids $10Adults $14Age 1 and under freeIndoor
DowntownDes Moines Public Library, Central LibraryA warm, free stop downtown.FreeIndoorBefore you go
Practical tips
Parking, strollers, changing tables and the best times to go.
Parking
Blank Park Zoo: Parking is free.
Science Center of Iowa: The covered ramp across from the main entrance at 4th and Market is $4 for the first hour and $1 an hour after that, up to $10 a day.
Des Moines Children’s Museum: Use the lower-level lot on the mall’s southwest side. Look for the brick wall with the museum’s flowers on it.
Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden: The lot is free but small. Overflow parking is free along Robert D. Ray Drive.
Science Center of Iowa: The covered ramp across from the main entrance at 4th and Market is $4 for the first hour and $1 an hour after that, up to $10 a day.
Des Moines Children’s Museum: Use the lower-level lot on the mall’s southwest side. Look for the brick wall with the museum’s flowers on it.
Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden: The lot is free but small. Overflow parking is free along Robert D. Ray Drive.
Strollers and accessibility
Blank Park Zoo: Strollers are available in the admissions building. Doubles are $10, and you’ll need a driver’s license to check one out.
Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden: Small strollers are fine, and there are free loaners inside the front entry. Leave double-wides and big wagons in the car.
Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden: Small strollers are fine, and there are free loaners inside the front entry. Leave double-wides and big wagons in the car.
Changing tables
Blank Park Zoo: Every restroom has a changing table. There are family restrooms in the rhino pavilion, and GoGo Plaza has a mother’s room.
Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden: There’s a universal changing table.
Living History Farms: The Kemin Cultivation Center has a family restroom, a mother’s room and an adult changing table.
Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden: There’s a universal changing table.
Living History Farms: The Kemin Cultivation Center has a family restroom, a mother’s room and an adult changing table.
Check the days
The Science Center is open Wednesday through Sunday, so plan your days around it.
Cheap parking downtown
The Central Library garage is free for two hours, and the Zoo and Botanical Garden lots are free too.
Visiting in November or December?
Santa and Christmas lights in Des Moines
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 Des Moines. The full list, with hours and the forecast, is on the this-week page.
#1Sat 1pm until dark
America's Harvest Festival at the Iowa Capitol
A free fall festival across the Capitol Complex with a corn maze, bounce house and slide, face painting, rock painting, farm exhibits and food trucks. Opening ceremony with a National Guard flyover at 2pm.
Free
Hours, food & parking→
#2Fri–Sat 5–8pm; Sun 3–6pm
Family Halloween at Living History Farms
Trick-or-treat at the storefronts of the 1876 town of Walnut Hill, play games and do crafts in a 150-year-old barn, and take a horse-drawn wagon ride. One weekend only.
$12 advance
Hours, food & parking→
#35:30pm–9pm
Night Eyes at Blank Park Zoo
The zoo's merry-not-scary evening event with lighted displays, a treat safari, a Fun Zone and costumed characters, with a costume show at 7:15pm. Last admission is 8:30pm. Animals aren't on view.
$10
Hours, food & parking→
#4Sat 10am–12pm
Goldie's Halloween Bash at the State Historical Museum
A costume-friendly drop-in morning of crafts, games and trick-or-treat stations, best for younger kids. The museum stays open until 6pm for the Harvest Festival across the street.
Free
Hours, food & parking→
#5Sat 10am–5pm
Trick-or-Treat for a Book (North Side)
Drop in, show off your costume and pick a free book to take home, plus a Halloween scavenger hunt and crafts. Books while supplies last.
Free
Hours, food & parking→
Good questions
Visiting Des Moines with toddlers: the FAQ
Is Des Moines kid-friendly?
For a family with kids under 6, yes. Our Des Moines guide lists 16 places we checked for little kids, plus 4 free places and 3 picks for babies and toddlers. This page adds 3 easy restaurants near the big stops and free storytimes at 2 library systems. This week’s list has 26 dated outings for ages 0–6. See free things to do in Des Moines and this weekend’s list.
Where should we stay in Des Moines with little kids?
Downtown or the East Village. The Science Center, the Library and the Botanical Garden are close, and the Zoo is a short drive south.
How many days do you need in Des Moines with a toddler?
One full day covers the Science Center and the gardens. Add a second for the Zoo and the Children’s Museum.
Is Living History Farms open in winter?
General admission runs through October 31. From November to April it’s programs by reservation only.
More Littles Weekly
Other cities
Indy LittlesThings to do with little ones in Indianapolis
LiveColumbus LittlesThings to do with little ones in Columbus
LiveCincy LittlesThings to do with little ones in Cincinnati
LiveLouisville LittlesThings to do with little ones in Louisville
LiveKC LittlesThings to do with little ones in Kansas City
LiveCharlotte LittlesThings to do with little ones in Charlotte
LiveRaleigh LittlesThings to do with little ones in Raleigh
LiveNashville LittlesThings to do with little ones in Nashville
LiveTwin Cities LittlesThings to do with little ones in Minneapolis–St. Paul
LiveSTL LittlesThings to do with little ones in St. Louis
LiveGR LittlesThings to do with little ones in Grand Rapids
LiveMilwaukee LittlesThings to do with little ones in Milwaukee
LivePittsburgh LittlesThings to do with little ones in Pittsburgh
LiveCleveland LittlesThings to do with little ones in Cleveland
LiveDetroit LittlesThings to do with little ones in Detroit
LiveOmaha LittlesThings to do with little ones in Omaha
LiveRVA LittlesThings to do with little ones in Richmond
LiveGreenville LittlesThings to do with little ones in Greenville
LiveKnoxville LittlesThings to do with little ones in Knoxville
LiveOKC LittlesThings to do with little ones in Oklahoma City
LiveLexington LittlesThings to do with little ones in Lexington
LiveDayton LittlesThings to do with little ones in Dayton
LiveChattanooga LittlesThings to do with little ones in Chattanooga
LiveBirmingham LittlesThings to do with little ones in Birmingham
LiveTulsa LittlesThings to do with little ones in Tulsa
LiveMadison LittlesThings to do with little ones in Madison
LiveBuffalo LittlesThings to do with little ones in Buffalo
LiveSLC LittlesThings to do with little ones in Salt Lake City
LiveBoise LittlesThings to do with little ones in Boise
LiveSan Antonio LittlesThings to do with little ones in San Antonio
LiveNOLA LittlesThings to do with little ones in New Orleans
LiveMemphis LittlesThings to do with little ones in Memphis
LiveBaton Rouge LittlesThings to do with little ones in Baton Rouge
LiveLittle Rock LittlesThings to do with little ones in Little Rock
LiveHuntsville LittlesThings to do with little ones in Huntsville
LiveCharleston LittlesThings to do with little ones in Charleston
LiveJax LittlesThings to do with little ones in Jacksonville
LiveOrlando LittlesThings to do with little ones in Orlando
LiveTampa LittlesThings to do with little ones in Tampa
LiveCOS LittlesThings to do with little ones in Colorado Springs
LiveWichita LittlesThings to do with little ones in Wichita
LiveFort Wayne LittlesThings to do with little ones in Fort Wayne
LiveRochester LittlesThings to do with little ones in Rochester
LiveSpokane LittlesThings to do with little ones in Spokane
LiveSavannah LittlesThings to do with little ones in Savannah
LiveAustin LittlesThings to do with little ones in Austin
LiveABQ LittlesThings to do with little ones in Albuquerque
LiveTucson LittlesThings to do with little ones in Tucson
LiveColumbia LittlesThings to do with little ones in Columbia
LiveToledo LittlesThings to do with little ones in Toledo
LiveAll citiesThe Littles Weekly home page
Your weekend, planned by Friday.
One short email every Friday morning: the five things worth leaving the house for in Des Moines, plus what to skip.