# Things to do with toddlers and little kids in Little Rock: the parent guide

> Little Rock is an easy, manageable city with little kids: a zoo in War Memorial Park, a hands-on science museum downtown and a library made just for children.

- Last checked: 2026-10-18
- 15 places for ages 0–6, with admission and menu prices from each place’s own site
- Canonical page: https://littlesweekly.com/little-rock/guide/
- This week (Markdown): https://littlesweekly.com/little-rock/index.md
- Visiting guide (Markdown): https://littlesweekly.com/little-rock/visiting/index.md
- City index for agents: https://littlesweekly.com/little-rock/llms.txt

## Kid-friendly restaurants

### Big Orange (Midtown) (Midtown, 207 N. University Ave.)

- A local burger spot with a kids’ menu for 10 and under; every kids’ meal includes a side and a drink.
- Price level: $$
- Menu prices: kids’ meals $6.95–$7.50 (side and drink included)
- Hours: Daily 11am–10pm
- Good for: Burgers after the zoo, which is a few minutes away.
- Skip if: you want something quick at peak dinner time.
- Price source: https://www.bigorangeburger.com/menu (checked 2026-10-18)
- Website: https://www.bigorangeburger.com/little-rock-midtown

### The Root Cafe (SoMa) (SoMa, 1500 Main St.)

- A farm-to-table comfort food café on South Main with a real kids’ menu served with seasonal fruit.
- Price level: $$
- Menu prices: kids’ meals $6–$7.50 (grilled cheese, ham & cheese, hot dog, cheeseburger; with fruit), entrées Burgers about $16–$16.50
- Hours: Tue–Sun 8am–8pm
- Good for: Breakfast or lunch after the zoo or a downtown morning.
- Skip if: it’s a Monday; it’s closed.
- Price source: https://toast.app/r/the-root-cafe-1500-main-street/order (checked 2026-10-18)
- Website: https://www.therootcafe.com/

### Lost Forty Brewing (East Village, 501 Byrd St.)

- A big brewery taproom with smoked meats, a kids’ grilled cheese and Sunday brunch.
- Price level: $$
- Menu prices: kids’ meals Kids grilled cheese $5, entrées Smash burger $12.50; brisket plate $20
- Hours: Mon–Sat 11am–9pm; Sun 9am–9pm (brunch 9am–3pm)
- Good for: Sunday brunch (9am–3pm) with the whole crew.
- Skip if: you want something quick; it’s a sit-down taproom.
- Price source: https://order.toasttab.com/online/lost40brewing (checked 2026-10-18)
- Website: https://www.lost40brewing.com/

## Indoor play and rainy days

### Museum of Discovery (River Market, downtown)

- Little Rock’s hands-on science center, with sensory-friendly hours and animal ambassadors. Closed most Mondays.
- Price level: $$
- Hours: Tue–Sat 9am–5pm; Sun 1–5pm; closed most Mondays
- Good for: A rainy-day morning downtown.
- Skip if: it’s a regular Monday, when it’s closed.
- Website: https://museumofdiscovery.org/

### CALS Children’s Library & Learning Center (Midtown, 4800 W. 10th St.)

- A library built just for kids, with Baby Ballet, sensory hours and storytimes.
- Price level: Free
- Good for: Free classes made for little ones.
- Skip if: you need a quiet afternoon; after-school programs get lively.
- Website: https://cals.org/

### CALS Main Library (Library Square, 100 S. Rock St.)

- The main library downtown, with weekly storytimes and crafts.
- Price level: Free
- Good for: A free stop near the River Market.
- Skip if: you forget to validate parking.
- Website: https://cals.org/

### Hey, Let’s Play! (Benton, 417 W. South St.)

- An indoor playground and coffee bar with a giant gross-motor structure and pretend-play centers.
- Price level: $
- Tickets: kids $10 for a 2-hour session
- Hours: Mon–Fri 9am–5pm; Sat 8am–4pm; closed Sun
- Good for: A rainy weekday or Saturday morning.
- Skip if: it’s a Sunday; it’s closed.
- Price source: https://www.heyletsplay.fun/ (checked 2026-10-18)
- Website: https://www.heyletsplay.fun/

## Parks and outdoor play

### Little Rock Zoo (War Memorial Park)

- A good-size zoo with the Arkansas Diamond Express train. Kids 2 and under are free.
- Price level: $$
- Tickets: kids 3–12 $9.95; adults 13+ $12.95; 2 and under free. Little Rock Community Days (next: Dec 12, 2026): $2 per person for Little Rock residents · Parking $3 per vehicle
- Hours: Daily 9am–4pm; last admission 3:30pm
- Good for: A morning of animals; 2 and under free.
- Skip if: you arrive late; last admission is 3:30.
- Price source: https://www.littlerockzoo.com/visit/hours-pricing/ (checked 2026-10-18)
- Website: https://www.littlerockzoo.com/

### Witt Stephens Jr. Central Arkansas Nature Center (Riverfront Park, 602 President Clinton Ave.)

- A free nature center on the river with big aquariums of native fish; fish feeding Wednesdays and alligator feeding Fridays at 2pm.
- Price level: Free
- Tickets: Free
- Hours: Tue–Sat 8:30am–4:30pm; closed Sun–Mon
- Good for: A free hour downtown, next to the Museum of Discovery.
- Skip if: it’s Sunday or Monday; it’s closed.
- Price source: https://www.agfc.com/things-to-do/nature-centers/little-rock/ (checked 2026-10-18)
- Website: https://www.agfc.com/things-to-do/nature-centers/little-rock/

### Riverfront Park playgrounds (Downtown, 400 President Clinton Ave.)

- Little Rock’s 33-acre riverfront park, with the Peabody Playground and a separate toddler playground (both with splash pads in season) along the river trail.
- Price level: Free
- Good for: A free playground stop between downtown museums.
- Skip if: you came for the splash pads in cold months; they run in season only.
- Website: https://littlerock.gov/parks-and-recreation/parks-classifications/regional-parks/riverfront/

### Pinnacle Mountain State Park and Arkansas Arboretum (West of Little Rock, 9600 Hwy. 300, Roland)

- A free state park with a visitor center, an education pond and the 0.6-mile paved, barrier-free Arkansas Trail loop through the arboretum: easy with a stroller.
- Price level: Free
- Tickets: Free
- Hours: Visitor center daily 8am–5pm; arboretum daily 6:30am to an hour after sunset
- Good for: A stroller-friendly nature walk.
- Skip if: you hope to summit with a toddler; save the mountain trails for later.
- Price source: https://www.arkansas.com/state-parks/explore/parks/pinnacle-mountain-state-park (checked 2026-10-18)
- Website: https://www.arkansas.com/state-parks/explore/parks/pinnacle-mountain-state-park

### Burns Park Funland (North Little Rock, Burns Park)

- The rebuilt Funland play area in Burns Park, with a playground open daily and a splash pad and little train on weekends (the train leaves at the top of every hour).
- Price level: Free
- Hours: Playground daily 8am to dusk; splash pad and train Fri–Sun 10am–7pm
- Good for: A big free playground morning across the river.
- Skip if: you’re counting on the splash pad or train in cooler months; check the city page first.
- Website: https://nlr.ar.gov/departments/parks-and-recreation/funland/

## Museums, zoos and big outings

### Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts (MacArthur Park, 501 E. Ninth St.)

- A free art museum in MacArthur Park with free toddler-and-preschooler Art Start mornings and drop-in Creative Saturdays at its art school.
- Price level: Free
- Tickets: Free for everyone; free parking
- Hours: Tue 10am–5pm; Wed–Fri 10am–8pm; Sat 10am–5pm; Sun noon–5pm; closed Mon
- Good for: A free rainy-day wander, or Art Start on a Wednesday morning.
- Skip if: it’s a Monday; it’s closed.
- Price source: https://arkmfa.org/visit/hours-information/ (checked 2026-10-18)
- Website: https://arkmfa.org/

### Clinton Presidential Library and Museum (Clinton Presidential Park, downtown)

- The presidential library on the river, free for kids 5 and under, next to the riverfront playgrounds and nature center.
- Price level: $
- Tickets: kids 6–17 $7; adults $12; Children 0–5 free
- Hours: Mon–Sat 9am–5pm; Sun 1–5pm
- Good for: A grown-up-leaning museum hour with a baby in a carrier.
- Skip if: your toddler needs hands-on exhibits; pair it with the playground.
- Price source: https://www.clintonlibrary.gov/about-us/hours-and-admission (checked 2026-10-18)
- Website: https://www.clintonlibrary.gov/

### Historic Arkansas Museum (Downtown)

- Free galleries of Arkansas history and art downtown, with low-cost guided tours of the historic grounds and free parking.
- Price level: Free
- Tickets: kids under 18 Grounds tours $1; adults Grounds tours $2.50; Galleries free for everyone
- Hours: Tue–Sat 9am–5pm; Sun 1–5pm; closed Mon
- Good for: A free, quiet downtown hour, including Sunday afternoons.
- Skip if: it’s a Monday; it’s closed.
- Price source: https://www.arkansasheritage.com/historic-arkansas-museum/historic-arkansas-museum-home (checked 2026-10-18)
- Website: https://www.arkansasheritage.com/historic-arkansas-museum/historic-arkansas-museum-home

## Free things to do

- CALS Children’s Library & Learning Center
- CALS Main Library
- Witt Stephens Jr. Central Arkansas Nature Center
- Riverfront Park playgrounds
- Pinnacle Mountain State Park and Arkansas Arboretum
- Burns Park Funland
- Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts
- Historic Arkansas Museum

## Best for under 3s

- **CALS Children’s Library & Learning Center**: Lots for babies and toddlers.

## With a baby or a 1-year-old

### Baby and lap-sit storytimes

- **Lapsit Storytime** (Central Arkansas Library System): Mondays at 10am · Thompson Library. Birth to 24 months. Songs, rhymes, a read aloud story, and play time with developmental toys for ages 0-24 months. https://centralarkansaslibrarysystemcals.libnet.info/events
- **Oh Baby! Storytime** (Saline County Library): Thursdays at 10:30am · East End Branch.  https://www.salinecountylibrary.org/events/

### Babies get in free

- **Little Rock Zoo**: 2 and under free. https://www.littlerockzoo.com/visit/hours-pricing/

## Library storytimes

- **Central Arkansas Library System**: Weekly at most branches. Free storytimes, sensory hours and music classes for little ones at branches across Pulaski County. https://cals.org/
- **Faulkner-Van Buren Regional Library System**: Weekly at the Vilonia Public Library; Wednesdays. Free baby, toddler and preschool storytimes. This fall's regular sessions include Preschool Storytime (Wednesdays 10:30am). https://fcl.libnet.info/events
- **Saline County Library**: Weekly at 3 locations; Monday–Thursday, mostly mornings. Free baby, toddler and preschool storytimes. This fall's regular sessions include Oh Baby! Storytime (Thursdays 10:30am, East End Branch) and Storytime Tails with the Library Mice (Mondays 10:30am, Bob Herzfeld Memorial Library - Benton), with more at Mabel Boswell Memorial Library- Bryant. https://www.salinecountylibrary.org/events/


## Happening this week

- **Día de Muertos Festival (Main Library)** (Sat 11am–2pm) at Main Library. Free. https://littlesweekly.com/little-rock/#e-dia_de_muertos_festival_main_library
- **The Kinders’ Spooky Fall Concert (Sanders Library)** (Sat 10:30–11:30am) at Sanders Library. Free. https://littlesweekly.com/little-rock/#e-the_kinders_spooky_fall_concert_sanders
- **Boo Fest (Maumelle Library)** (Thu 6–7pm) at Maumelle Library. Free. https://littlesweekly.com/little-rock/#e-boo_fest_maumelle_library
- **Sensory Sunday at the Museum of Discovery** (Sun 11am–1pm) at Museum of Discovery. Included with regular admission; members free. https://littlesweekly.com/little-rock/#e-sensory_sunday_museum_of_discovery
- **Art Start at the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts** (Wed 10:30–11:30am) at Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts, Windgate Art School. Free. https://littlesweekly.com/little-rock/#e-art_start_amfa

Full list with every outing: https://littlesweekly.com/little-rock/index.md

## Holiday pages

- [Santa in Little Rock: breakfast with Santa, photos and Santa trains (2026)](https://littlesweekly.com/little-rock/santa/index.md)
- [Christmas lights in Little Rock for little kids (2026)](https://littlesweekly.com/little-rock/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).
- Sponsored spots are labeled on the HTML pages and are not part of this editorial list.
- How to cite: “According to Littles Weekly (https://littlesweekly.com/…), …” and link the page you quote.

## FAQ

### When is the Little Rock Zoo cheapest?
On Little Rock Community Days (next one Dec 12, 2026), Little Rock residents pay $2 each. Kids 2 and under are always free.

### What can we do in Little Rock with a toddler when it rains?
Head for the Museum of Discovery, the CALS Children’s Library or the Main Library.

### Are there free things to do with little kids in Little Rock?
Yes. CALS Children’s Library & Learning Center, CALS Main Library, Witt Stephens Jr. Central Arkansas Nature Center, Riverfront Park playgrounds, Pinnacle Mountain State Park and Arkansas Arboretum and Burns Park Funland and 2 more are free or have a free entry. See [the free list](https://littlesweekly.com/little-rock/guide/#free).

### What’s good for babies and kids under 3 in Little Rock?
CALS Children’s Library & Learning Center: Lots for babies and toddlers. Free for the littlest: Little Rock Zoo (2 and under free). See [best for under 3s](https://littlesweekly.com/little-rock/guide/#under3).

### Where are the free storytimes in Little Rock?
Central Arkansas Library System: Weekly at most branches. Faulkner-Van Buren Regional Library System: Weekly at the Vilonia Public Library; Wednesdays. Saline County Library: Weekly at 3 locations; Monday–Thursday, mostly mornings. Library storytimes don’t need a ticket, but times change by branch, so check the calendar first. See [library storytimes](https://littlesweekly.com/little-rock/guide/#storytimes), and this week’s dated sessions are on the [Little Rock weekly list](https://littlesweekly.com/little-rock/).

### How do you choose the places in the Little Rock guide?
Every one of the 15 places is somewhere we’d take a baby, toddler or preschooler, with a note on who it suits and when to skip it. Prices, hours and menus come from each place’s own site, and 10 of them have checked admission or menu prices. The guide was last checked Oct 18, 2026. [How we choose and check](https://littlesweekly.com/how-we-choose/).

### How much is the Little Rock Zoo for a toddler, and who gets in free?
2 and under free; kids 3–12: $9.95; adults 13+: $12.95 (parking $3 per vehicle). Deals: Little Rock Community Days (next: Dec 12, 2026): $2 per person for Little Rock residents. We checked this on [its official site](https://www.littlerockzoo.com/visit/hours-pricing/) on Oct 18, 2026. Prices change, so confirm before you go.