# Visiting Memphis with toddlers and little kids: the plan

> Most kid stops sit along the Poplar Avenue corridor from downtown to East Memphis: the riverfront and the Pyramid downtown, the zoo and the children’s museum in Midtown, and Shelby Farms out east. Here’s how we’d spend one or two days with nap built in.

- Last checked: 2026-10-18
- One- and two-day plans with a nap in the middle
- Canonical page: https://littlesweekly.com/memphis/visiting/
- This week (Markdown): https://littlesweekly.com/memphis/index.md
- City guide (Markdown): https://littlesweekly.com/memphis/guide/index.md
- City index for agents: https://littlesweekly.com/memphis/llms.txt

## Top 5 can’t-miss spots

- **Children’s Museum of Memphis** (Midtown, 2525 Central Ave.): Go Tuesday to Sunday; it’s closed Mondays. Babies under 1 are free. Cost: $20 per person. Site: https://cmom.com/
- **Memphis Zoo** (Overton Park, 2000 Prentiss Pl.): Plan a full morning. Tennessee residents get in free on Tuesdays with a reservation. Site: https://www.memphiszoo.org/
- **Shelby Farms Park** (East Memphis): Head for the Woodland Discovery Playground first. Cost: Free. Site: https://www.shelbyfarmspark.org/
- **Tom Lee Park** (Downtown riverfront): A free after-nap stop with Mississippi views. Cost: Free. Site: https://www.memphisriverparks.org/
- **Bass Pro Shops at the Pyramid** (Downtown, 1 Bass Pro Dr.): Walking in is free; give the kids time at the fish tanks. Cost: Free. Site: https://stores.basspro.com/us/tn/memphis/1-bass-pro-dr.html

## If you have one day

1. **MORNING**: Children’s Museum of Memphis (Open at 9 · Midtown, 2525 Central Ave. · $20 per person). https://cmom.com/
2. **LUNCH**: Central BBQ (Barbecue nearby · Kids’ meal $7.30 (with a side, a snack and a drink)). https://www.centralbbq.com/
3. **Nap**: Back to the hotel for nap. If your little one sleeps best in the car, take a loop.
4. **AFTER NAP**: Tom Lee Park (Riverfront play · Downtown riverfront · Free). https://www.memphisriverparks.org/

## If you have two days

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

1. **MORNING**: Memphis Zoo (A full morning · Overton Park, 2000 Prentiss Pl.). https://www.memphiszoo.org/
2. **LUNCH**: Huey’s (Burgers · Kids’ meal $6.95 (with ice cream and a side)). https://www.hueyburger.com/
3. **Nap**: Back to the hotel for nap. If your little one sleeps best in the car, take a loop.
4. **AFTER NAP**: Shelby Farms Park (Playground time · East Memphis · Free). https://www.shelbyfarmspark.org/

## Where to stay

- **Midtown** (best for first-timers): Close to the zoo, the children’s museum and Overton Park. Near Memphis Zoo, Children’s Museum of Memphis and Central BBQ.
- **Downtown** (for the river): Walk to Tom Lee Park and the Pyramid. Near Tom Lee Park and Bass Pro Shops at the Pyramid.

## Easy restaurants near the big stops

- **Central BBQ** (Barbecue, ): kids’ meal $7.30 (with a side, a snack and a drink), entrée $15.10. https://www.centralbbq.com/
- **Huey’s** (Burgers, ): kids’ meal $6.95 (with ice cream and a side), entrée ~$9–$11. https://www.hueyburger.com/

## Rainy-day backup plan

- **Children’s Museum of Memphis**: Indoor exhibits for a wet day.
- **Bass Pro Shops at the Pyramid**: All indoors downtown.
- **Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library**: A free indoor stop.

## Practical tips

- Closed Mondays: The children’s museum is closed Mondays, so plan the zoo or a park that day.
- Free Tuesdays: Tennessee residents get into the zoo free on Tuesdays with a reservation.

## Free and cheap wins

- **Shelby Farms Park**: Free to visit.
- **Tom Lee Park**: A free riverfront park.
- **Bass Pro Shops at the Pyramid**: Free to walk in.
- **Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library**: Free.

All free things to do in Memphis: https://littlesweekly.com/memphis/guide/#free


## Happening this week

- **Halloween Spooktacular at the Children’s Museum of Memphis** (Sat 10am–2pm) at Children’s Museum of Memphis. $25 for nonmembers; $3 for members. https://littlesweekly.com/memphis/#e-halloween_spooktacular_cmom
- **Día de Muertos Parade & Festival** (Sat 11am–3pm) at Court Square to the Halloran Centre. Free. https://littlesweekly.com/memphis/#e-dia_de_muertos_parade_festival_memphis
- **Free Family Day at the Stax Museum** (Sat 1–4pm) at Stax Museum of American Soul Music. Free. https://littlesweekly.com/memphis/#e-free_family_day_stax
- **Fantasy Faire (Cordova Library)** (Sat noon–4:30pm) at Cordova Library. Free. https://littlesweekly.com/memphis/#e-fantasy_faire_cordova_library
- **Wolf River Fall Fest** (Fri 5:30–8pm) at Shady Grove Trailhead (Wolf River Greenway). Free (online registration preferred). https://littlesweekly.com/memphis/#e-wolf_river_fall_fest

Full list with every outing: https://littlesweekly.com/memphis/index.md

## Holiday pages

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

### Is Memphis kid-friendly?
For a family with kids under 6, yes. Our Memphis guide lists 15 places we checked for little kids, plus 7 free places and 2 picks for babies and toddlers. This page adds 2 easy restaurants near the big stops and free storytimes at 1 library system. This week’s list has 25 dated outings for ages 0–6. See [free things to do in Memphis](https://littlesweekly.com/memphis/guide/#free) and [this weekend’s list](https://littlesweekly.com/memphis/).

### Where should we stay in Memphis with little kids?
Midtown is closest to the zoo and the children’s museum; downtown is better for the riverfront and the Pyramid.

### How many days do you need in Memphis with a toddler?
Two: the children’s museum and Tom Lee Park one day, the zoo and Shelby Farms the next.

### Is Bass Pro Pyramid free?
Yes, walking in is free.