VISITING Little Rock · The Rock
Visiting Little Rock with toddlers and little kids: the plan.
Most stops sit between downtown’s River Market and Midtown. Here’s how we’d spend one or two days, with nap time built in.
Top 4 can’t-miss spots
#1War Memorial Park
Little Rock Zoo
Go early; last admission is 3:30pm.
Kids $9.95Adults $12.952 and under free
See it in the guide→
#2River Market, downtown
Museum of Discovery
Closed most Mondays; Sunday it opens at 1.
Indoor
See it in the guide→
#3Midtown, 4800 W. 10th St.
CALS Children’s Library & Learning Center
Check the calendar for Baby Ballet and sensory hours.
FreeIndoor
See it in the guide→
#4Library Square, 100 S. Rock St.
CALS Main Library
Storytime & Crafts runs on weekday mornings.
FreeIndoor
See it in the guide→
Nap breaks built in
One day or two in Little Rock
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
MORNINGLittle Rock ZooOpen at 9 · War Memorial Park · $9.95 kids, $12.95 adults
LUNCHBig Orange (Midtown)Burgers nearby · Midtown · Kids’ meal $6.95–$7.50 (side and drink included)NAPBack to the hotel for nap. If your little one sleeps best in the car, take a loop.
AFTER NAPCALS Children’s Library & Learning CenterFree play · Midtown, 4800 W. 10th St. · FreeIf you have two days
Day 1 is the one-day plan above. Day 2:
MORNINGMuseum of DiscoveryScience play · River Market, downtownLATE MORNINGCALS Main LibraryLibrary Square · Library Square, 100 S. Rock St. · FreeNAPBack to the hotel for nap. If your little one sleeps best in the car, take a loop.
Where to stay
Kid-friendly areas near the big attractions
Pick the area by the stops you’ll make most, then plan around nap.
WALKABLEDowntown / River MarketClose to the Museum of Discovery and the Main Library.Near Museum of Discovery and CALS Main 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.
Plan B
Rainy-day backup plan
If the forecast turns, swap the outdoor stop for one of these. More options: indoor play places in Little Rock.
Before you go
Practical tips
Parking, strollers, changing tables and the best times to go.
Mondays
The Museum of Discovery is closed most Mondays outside school breaks.
Zoo timing
Last admission is 3:30pm.
Visiting in November or December?
Santa and Christmas lights in Little Rock
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 Little Rock. The full list, with hours and the forecast, is on the this-week page.
#1Sat 11am–2pm
Día de Muertos Festival (Main Library)
CALS’s Day of the Dead festival at Library Square, with a family craft corner. Free; parking is free with validation in the library lot.
Free
Hours, food & parking→
#2Sat 10:30–11:30am
The Kinders’ Spooky Fall Concert (Sanders Library)
A not-too-scary musical concert to celebrate fall, made for preschoolers and families.
Free
Hours, food & parking→
#3Thu 6–7pm
Boo Fest (Maumelle Library)
The library’s fourth yearly Boo Fest: games, treats and crafts for the whole family.
Free
Hours, food & parking→
#4Sun 11am–1pm
Sensory Sunday at the Museum of Discovery
Calmer, quieter sensory-friendly hours before the museum opens to everyone at 1; your ticket is good for the rest of the day. Tickets at the door.
Included with regular admissionIndoor
Hours, food & parking→
#5Wed 10:30–11:30am
Art Start at the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts
Art, music, movement and play for toddlers and preschoolers with a grown-up, in the museum’s art school.
FreeIndoor
Hours, food & parking→
Good questions
Visiting Little Rock with toddlers: the FAQ
Is Little Rock kid-friendly?
For a family with kids under 6, yes. Our Little Rock guide lists 15 places we checked for little kids, plus 8 free places and 1 pick 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 27 dated outings for ages 0–6. See free things to do in Little Rock and this weekend’s list.
How many days do you need in Little Rock with a toddler?
One or two: the zoo one morning and the Museum of Discovery the next.
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