# 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.

- Last checked: 2026-10-18
- One- and two-day plans with a nap in the middle
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- This week (Markdown): https://littlesweekly.com/des-moines/index.md
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## Top 5 can’t-miss spots

- **Blank Park Zoo** (South side): 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. Cost: $15 kids, $20 adults. Site: https://www.blankparkzoo.com/
- **Science Center of Iowa** (Downtown): Plan a morning here, but note it’s open Wednesday through Sunday only. Cost: $16 kids, $20 adults. Site: https://www.sciowa.org/
- **Des Moines Children’s Museum** (Valley West Mall, West Des Moines): A cheap, low-key hour of play. It’s inside Valley West Mall, so it’s easy on a cold or rainy day. Cost: $6 kids, $4 adults. Site: https://www.dsmchildrensmuseum.com/
- **Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden** (East Village riverfront): A quiet after-nap walk through the dome. Book a timed ticket ahead. Cost: $10 kids, $14 adults. Site: https://dmbotanicalgarden.com/
- **Living History Farms** (Urbandale): Ride the tractor cart out to the farms. General admission ends October 31, then it’s programs by reservation until spring. Cost: $17 kids, $21 adults. Site: https://www.lhf.org/

## If you have one day

1. **MORNING**: Science Center of Iowa (Wednesday to Sunday · Downtown · $16 kids, $20 adults). https://www.sciowa.org/
2. **LUNCH**: The Breakfast Club (East Village · East Village). https://www.thebreakfastclubusa.com/east-village-des-moines
3. **Nap**: Back to the hotel for nap. If your little one sleeps best in the car, take a loop.
4. **AFTER NAP**: Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden (A walk through the dome · East Village riverfront · $10 kids, $14 adults). https://dmbotanicalgarden.com/

## If you have two days

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

1. **MORNING**: Blank Park Zoo (Carousel and train · South side · $15 kids, $20 adults). https://www.blankparkzoo.com/
2. **LUNCH**: Scorno’s (Kids’ menu · South side, Urbandale, Altoona and Waukee · Kids’ meal $8.95). https://scornos.com/
3. **Nap**: Back to the hotel for nap. If your little one sleeps best in the car, take a loop.
4. **AFTER NAP**: Des Moines Children’s Museum (An easy hour of play · Valley West Mall, West Des Moines · $6 kids, $4 adults). https://www.dsmchildrensmuseum.com/

## Where to stay

- **Downtown** (best for first-timers): Near 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.
- **East Village** (for walkability): Next to the Botanical Garden, the Capitol and the Breakfast Club. Near Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden, Iowa State Capitol and The Breakfast Club.
- **West Des Moines** (for the west side): Closest 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.

## Easy restaurants near the big stops

- **The Breakfast Club** (Brunch, East Village): . https://www.thebreakfastclubusa.com/east-village-des-moines
- **Scorno’s** (Italian, South side, Urbandale, Altoona and Waukee): kids’ meal $8.95, entrée $14.75–$19.25. https://scornos.com/
- **Bamboo House** (Asian, Merle Hay Road): kids’ meal $7.99, entrée $11.99–$14.99. https://bamboohouseiowa.com/

## Rainy-day backup plan

- **Science Center of Iowa**: Hands-on science downtown, all indoors.
- **Des Moines Children’s Museum**: Indoor play inside a mall.
- **Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden**: The conservatory dome is indoors.
- **Des Moines Public Library, Central Library**: A warm, free stop downtown.

## Practical tips

- Parking, Blank Park Zoo: Parking is free.
- Parking, 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.
- Parking, 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.
- Parking, 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.
- Strollers and accessibility, 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.
- Changing tables, Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden: There’s a universal changing table.
- Changing tables, 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.

## Free and cheap wins

- **Des Moines Public Library, Central Library**: Free, with free parking for two hours.
- **Iowa State Capitol**: Free tours.
- **Water Works Park**: A free riverside park.
- **Jester Park**: A free county park.

All free things to do in Des Moines: https://littlesweekly.com/des-moines/guide/#free


## Happening this week

- **America's Harvest Festival at the Iowa Capitol** (Sat 1pm until dark) at Iowa State Capitol grounds. Free; food and vendors extra. https://littlesweekly.com/des-moines/#e-americas_harvest_festival_iowa_capitol
- **Family Halloween at Living History Farms** (Fri–Sat 5–8pm; Sun 3–6pm) at Living History Farms. $12 advance, $13 at the door; members $1 less; under 2 free. https://littlesweekly.com/des-moines/#e-family_halloween_living_history_farms
- **Night Eyes at Blank Park Zoo** (5:30pm–9pm) at Blank Park Zoo. $10; members $8; under 12 months free. https://littlesweekly.com/des-moines/#e-night_eyes_at_blank_park_zoo
- **Goldie's Halloween Bash at the State Historical Museum** (Sat 10am–12pm) at State Historical Museum of Iowa. Free. https://littlesweekly.com/des-moines/#e-goldies_halloween_bash_state_historical_museum
- **Trick-or-Treat for a Book (North Side)** (Sat 10am–5pm) at Des Moines Public Library – North Side. Free. https://littlesweekly.com/des-moines/#e-trick_or_treat_for_a_book_north_side

Full list with every outing: https://littlesweekly.com/des-moines/index.md

## Holiday pages

- [Santa in Des Moines: breakfast with Santa, photos and Santa trains (2026)](https://littlesweekly.com/des-moines/santa/index.md)
- [Christmas lights in Des Moines for little kids (2026)](https://littlesweekly.com/des-moines/christmas-lights/index.md)

## About this list
- Published by Littles Weekly (https://littlesweekly.com/). Free weekly lists for kids ages 0–6, city by city.
- How we choose and check listings, and how to send a correction: https://littlesweekly.com/how-we-choose/ (corrections: hello@littlesweekly.com).
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## 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](https://littlesweekly.com/des-moines/guide/#free) and [this weekend’s list](https://littlesweekly.com/des-moines/).

### 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.