VISITING Hartford and New Haven · The Insurance Capital

Visiting Hartford and New Haven with toddlers and little kids: the plan.

The Peabody Museum and the Children’s Museum are both a short walk from the New Haven Green. In Hartford, the Science Center sits on the riverfront. Here’s a plan with nap time built in.

Top 2 can’t-miss spots

#1Downtown New Haven, 170 Whitney Avenue

#2Hartford riverfront, 250 Columbus Blvd

Connecticut Science Center

Check the site for hours and tickets.

Indoor

See it in the guide

Nap breaks built in

One day or two in Hartford

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

MORNINGConnecticut Children’s MuseumOpens at 10am Fri–Sat · Downtown New Haven, 22 Wall Street · $12 per person

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

AFTER NAPYale Peabody MuseumFree, near the Green · Downtown New Haven, 170 Whitney Avenue · Free

If you have two days

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

MORNINGConnecticut Science CenterOn the Hartford riverfront · Hartford riverfront, 250 Columbus Blvd

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

AFTER NAPHartford Public LibraryDowntown Hartford · Downtown, 500 Main Street · Free

Where to stay

Kid-friendly areas near the big attractions

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

WALKDowntown New HavenThe Peabody, the Children’s Museum and Ives Library are a short walk apart.Near Yale Peabody Museum, Connecticut Children’s Museum and New Haven Free Public Library

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.

Pizza · East RockModern ApizzaNear Yale Peabody Museum

Plan B

Rainy-day backup plan

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

Downtown New Haven, 170 Whitney AvenueYale Peabody MuseumIndoors.FreeIndoor

Downtown New Haven, 22 Wall StreetConnecticut Children’s MuseumIndoors.$12 eachIndoor

Before you go

Practical tips

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

Driving

I-91 links Hartford and New Haven, about 40 miles apart.

Visiting in November or December?

Santa and Christmas lights in Hartford

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

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

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

This week

Happening while you’re here

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

#11pm

Story Time at the Yale Peabody Museum

Stories and a craft on the second-floor overlook, for kids 8 and under. Museum admission is free.

Yale Peabody Museum · New Haven

FreeIndoor

Hours, food & parking

#2Sat 12–4pm

Halloween on the Hill at Hill-Stead

Come in costume for treats along the Pond Loop, a hayride, and a pumpkin slingshot that feeds the sheep.

Hill-Stead Museum · Farmington

See the event page

Hours, food & parking

#3Fri 10:30–11:30am

Storytime Costume Parade in West Haven

Storytime, then a costume parade and mini pumpkin decorating. No registration; drop-ins welcome.

West Haven Public Library, Main Library, Connie Sacco Room · West Haven

Free

Hours, food & parking

#4Sat 2:30–4pm

Trick or Treat at Miller Memorial Library

Halloween crafts in the Children’s Department, then trick-or-treating around the library.

Miller Memorial Library, Children’s Department · Hamden

FreeIndoor

Hours, food & parking

#5Fri 11am–12pm

Family Sensory Storytime at Hartford Public Library

Stories, music and rhymes with sensory play for kids 5 and under. Free, no registration.

Downtown Library, Hartford Public Library · Hartford

FreeIndoor

Hours, food & parking

See everything this week →

Good questions

Visiting Hartford and New Haven with toddlers: the FAQ

Is Hartford and New Haven kid-friendly?

For a family with kids under 6, yes. Our Hartford and New Haven guide lists 6 places we checked for little kids, plus 3 free places and 4 picks for babies and toddlers. This page adds 1 easy restaurant near the big stops and free storytimes at 3 library systems. This week’s list has 11 dated outings for ages 0–6. See free things to do in Hartford and New Haven and this weekend’s list.

Where should we stay with a toddler?

Downtown New Haven keeps the Peabody, the Children’s Museum and the library within a short walk.

What if it rains?

The Peabody, the Children’s Museum, the Science Center and the libraries all work.

Get the list every Thursday.

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