VISITING Knoxville · The Marble City
Visiting Knoxville with toddlers and little kids: the plan.
Knoxville is easy: the Zoo and the Muse share Chilhowee Park, and downtown has Market Square and World’s Fair Park. Here’s how we’d spend one or two days with lunch and a nap built in.
Top 5 can’t-miss spots
#1East Knoxville
Zoo Knoxville
Go at opening and plan a full morning. The Muse is right next door if you want a second stop another day.
Kids $21.95Adults $26.95Age 2 and under free
See it in the guide→
#2Chilhowee Park
Muse Knoxville
School groups fill Tuesday to Friday mornings, so a weekend or an afternoon is calmer. Free family nights run on the fourth Friday of the month.
Kids $12Under 1 freeIndoor
See it in the guide→
#3South Knoxville
Ijams Nature Center
Check the calendar for a toddler program, then take an easy trail.
Free
See it in the guide→
#4Downtown
World’s Fair Park
Let them run on the Festival Lawn and look up at the Sunsphere. Bring a towel in summer for the splash pads.
Free
See it in the guide→
#5UT campus
McClung Museum of Natural History & Culture
Free in and free to park, so a short visit costs nothing.
FreeIndoor
See it in the guide→
Nap breaks built in
One day or two in Knoxville
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
MORNINGZoo KnoxvilleGo at opening · East Knoxville · $21.95 kids, $26.95 adults
LUNCHBillie Rae’s BBQDown Magnolia Ave · East Knoxville, 1920 E. Magnolia Ave. · Kids’ meal $7.50–$10.49NAPBack to the hotel for nap. If your little one sleeps best in the car, take a loop.
AFTER NAPWorld’s Fair ParkThe Festival Lawn · Downtown · FreeIf you have two days
Day 1 is the one-day plan above. Day 2:
MORNINGMuse KnoxvilleCalmer on weekends · Chilhowee Park · $12 kidsLUNCHThe Tomato HeadMarket Square · Market Square and Kingston Pike · Kids’ meal $4.50–$6.25NAPBack to the hotel for nap. If your little one sleeps best in the car, take a loop.
AFTER NAPIjams Nature CenterAn easy trail · South Knoxville · FreeWhere 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-TIMERSDowntown and Market SquareWalk to restaurants and World’s Fair Park, with the Zoo and Muse a short drive east.Near World’s Fair Park, The Tomato Head, Tupelo Honey and Museum of East Tennessee History
FOR THE ZOOEast KnoxvilleClosest to the Zoo, Muse and the Botanical Garden.Near Zoo Knoxville, Muse Knoxville and Knoxville Botanical Garden and Arboretum
FOR NATURESouth KnoxvilleNear Ijams, just across the river from downtown.Near Ijams Nature Center
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 Knoxville.
Chilhowee ParkMuse KnoxvilleHands-on science, all indoors.Kids $12Under 1 freeIndoorUT campusMcClung Museum of Natural History & CultureA free indoor stop on campus.FreeIndoorDowntownMuseum of East Tennessee HistoryIndoor exhibits downtown.FreeIndoor
DowntownLawson McGhee LibraryA warm, free downtown stop.FreeIndoorBefore you go
Practical tips
Parking, strollers, changing tables and the best times to go.
Parking
Zoo Knoxville: $5 in the upper and lower lots. You can add it to an online ticket.
Muse Knoxville: Free parking in Chilhowee Park near the museum.
Ijams Nature Center: $5 per car per day, paid by QR code in the lot or at the Visitor Center.
McClung Museum of Natural History & Culture: Ten free visitor spaces sit in front of the museum on Circle Park. Give staff your plate number to validate. Paid campus parking is $2 an hour if they’re full.
Muse Knoxville: Free parking in Chilhowee Park near the museum.
Ijams Nature Center: $5 per car per day, paid by QR code in the lot or at the Visitor Center.
McClung Museum of Natural History & Culture: Ten free visitor spaces sit in front of the museum on Circle Park. Give staff your plate number to validate. Paid campus parking is $2 an hour if they’re full.
Strollers and accessibility
Zoo Knoxville: Single strollers are $14 and doubles are $16, plus tax, at the rental stand near the entrance.
Muse Knoxville: Strollers are allowed, and there’s marked stroller parking on the main exhibit floor.
Muse Knoxville: Strollers are allowed, and there’s marked stroller parking on the main exhibit floor.
Changing tables
Muse Knoxville: There’s a private Nursing Nook, and staff can give you breastmilk bags and cooler packs if you ask.
McClung Museum of Natural History & Culture: Changing tables are in both the men’s and women’s restrooms.
McClung Museum of Natural History & Culture: Changing tables are in both the men’s and women’s restrooms.
Two stops, one park
The Zoo and Muse share Chilhowee Park, so you can plan them back to back.
Weekend parking downtown
City garages downtown are free on weekends.
Visiting in November or December?
Santa and Christmas lights in Knoxville
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.
South KnoxvilleIjams Nature CenterFree to visit; parking is $5.FreeDowntownWorld’s Fair ParkFree lawns and summer splash pads.FreeUT campusMcClung Museum of Natural History & CultureFree admission and parking.FreeIndoorDowntownMuseum of East Tennessee HistoryFree admission through February 14, 2027.FreeIndoorDowntownLawson McGhee LibraryFree.FreeIndoorEast KnoxvilleKnoxville Botanical Garden and ArboretumFree and open every day, dawn to dusk.FreeThis week
Happening while you’re here
This week’s top events in Knoxville. The full list, with hours and the forecast, is on the this-week page.
#15:30–9pm
BOO! at the Zoo Knoxville
Evening trick-or-treating, the new HallowGlow light forest, carnival games and a family dance party. Last zoo entry is 8pm.
$15 online
Hours, food & parking→
#2Sat 11am–12pm
Saturday Stories & Songs: KSO Musical Storytime (Cedar Bluff)
Musicians from the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra bring stories to life with live music, for babies through elementary age.
Free
Hours, food & parking→
#3Sat 2–4pm
Trick or Treat at the Library (Cedar Bluff)
Stories, crafts and Halloween treats at the library; come in costume.
Free
Hours, food & parking→
#4Sat 3–8pm (timed entry every 30 minutes)
Ijams Enchanted Forest
Come in costume to meet Ijams animal ambassadors and life-sized critter puppets along a forest trail, with candy and goodies to take home.
$10 per person
Hours, food & parking→
#5Sun 1–5pm
Farragut Harvest Fest
A free fall festival with trick-or-treating, costume contests at 2 and 4pm, live music, food trucks and 30-plus vendors.
Free
Hours, food & parking→
Good questions
Visiting Knoxville with toddlers: the FAQ
Is Knoxville kid-friendly?
For a family with kids under 6, yes. Our Knoxville guide lists 14 places we checked for little kids, plus 6 free places and 2 picks for babies and toddlers. This page adds 3 easy restaurants near the big stops and free storytimes at 1 library system. This week’s list has 24 dated outings for ages 0–6. See free things to do in Knoxville and this weekend’s list.
Where should we stay in Knoxville with little kids?
Downtown near Market Square. You can walk to World’s Fair Park, and the Zoo and Muse are about ten minutes east.
How many days do you need in Knoxville with a toddler?
Two days: one for the Zoo, and one for Muse, downtown and Ijams.
Is parking free in downtown Knoxville?
City garages are free all weekend and after 6 pm on weekdays.
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
LiveDes Moines LittlesThings to do with little ones in Des Moines
LiveRVA LittlesThings to do with little ones in Richmond
LiveGreenville LittlesThings to do with little ones in Greenville
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 Knoxville, plus what to skip.