VISITING Nashville · Music City

Visiting Nashville with toddlers and little kids: the plan.

Nashville works for a family trip because the best stops are spread over a few easy areas. The library and the State Museum are downtown, the science center is south of downtown, and the Zoo is a short drive southeast. Here’s how we’d spend one or two days with a nap in the middle.

Top 5 can’t-miss spots

#1Southeast Nashville

Nashville Zoo at Grassmere

Head straight for the playground if energy is high, then do the animals before the midday heat.

Kids $21–$24Adults $25–$28Under 2 free

See it in the guide

#2South of downtown

Adventure Science Center

The best rainy morning in town, and parking is free.

Kids $18Adults $22Under 2 freeIndoor

See it in the guide

#3Downtown

Frist Art Museum

Head to the hands-on ArtQuest gallery first, then look at one show and go.

Adults $2018 and under freeIndoor

See it in the guide

“My one place, my like top recommendation for this entire episode is the Frist. I have said since I moved here 10 years ago from Brooklyn that the Frist's kids section is better than the Brooklyn Museum's kids section”

— Amelia Edelman, City Cast Nashville contributor and parent, on City Cast Nashville: “Nashville’s Best Indoor Activities for Kids” (opens in a new tab) · Jan 2026

#4West Nashville

Cheekwood Estate & Gardens

Go in the morning, stay to the gardens and leave for nap.

Kids $13–$19Adults $20–$262 and under free

See it in the guide

On Cheekwood Harvest, for kids who scare easily

“I think probably Cheekwood Harvest is like such a classic because there's absolutely nothing scary there at all, I don't think. It's mostly just like flowers and pumpkins and the cute little pumpkin houses”

— Heard on City Cast Nashville: “The Best Fall Festivals and Halloween Fun for Kids in Nashville” (opens in a new tab) · Oct 2026

#5West End

Centennial Park

Walk the lake loop and see the Parthenon from the outside. A free afternoon.

Free

See it in the guide

Nap breaks built in

One day or two in Nashville

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

MORNINGAdventure Science CenterArrive at opening · South of downtown · $18 kids, $22 adults

LUNCHThe Pancake PantryA short drive west · Hillsboro Village · Kids’ meal ~$5–$7

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

AFTER NAPCentennial ParkLake loop · West End · Free

If you have two days

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

MORNINGNashville Zoo at GrassmereGo early · Southeast Nashville · $21–$24 kids, $25–$28 adults

NAPLunch at the Zoo, then back for nap.

AFTER NAPFrist Art MuseumArtQuest first · Downtown · $20 adults

Where 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-TIMERSDowntownClose to the Main Library and the State Museum, with other stops a short ride away.Near Nashville Public Library, Main Library and Tennessee State Museum

FOR THE PARKSWest EndClose to Centennial Park, with less driving on a park day.Near Centennial Park and Cheekwood Estate & Gardens

FOR A QUIETER BASEWest End and MidtownClose to Centennial Park and Hillsboro Village, away from the Broadway crowds.Near Centennial Park

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.

Breakfast · Hillsboro VillageThe Pancake PantryNear Centennial ParkKids’ meal ~$5–$7Entrée: ~$11–$15

Barbecue · Several locationsMartin's Bar-B-Que JointKids’ meal $4.99–$6.49Entrée: ~$11.49–$24.49

Pizza · East NashvilleEast Nashville Beer WorksEntrée: ~$12–$16

Plan B

Rainy-day backup plan

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

South of downtownAdventure Science CenterA full morning indoors.Kids $18Adults $22Under 2 freeIndoor

DowntownFrist Art MuseumAll indoors downtown, with a hands-on studio for kids.Adults $2018 and under freeIndoor

Wedgewood-HoustonLane Motor MuseumOne big indoor hall, easy with a stroller.Kids $3Adults $155 and under freeIndoor

DowntownTennessee State MuseumAn indoor stop downtown, away from the weather.Indoor

“Tennessee State Museum is free for everybody and they have this children's room”

— Margaret Kingsbury, Hey Nashville newsletter editor and parent, on City Cast Nashville: “What To Do With Your Kids This Summer in Nashville” (opens in a new tab) · Jun 2025

Before you go

Practical tips

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

Parking

Nashville Zoo at Grassmere: A per-car fee ($8–$10 by day). Members park free.
Adventure Science Center: Free for guests in the gated lower lot.
Cheekwood Estate & Gardens: On-site parking has a fee for non-members, paid with your tickets. On October weekends there’s free off-site parking with a trolley.

Strollers and accessibility

Nashville Zoo at Grassmere: Strollers rent first come, first served ($11 single, $13 double).
Adventure Science Center: Strollers aren’t allowed in the planetarium theater.

Changing tables

Adventure Science Center: An adult-size changing table in the family restroom, and a nursing room on the first floor.

Best times to beat the crowds

Weekday mornings are the calmest bet at every stop. At the Zoo, go at opening and plan to leave around nap.

Avoid Broadway at night

Lower Broadway gets loud after dark. Plan downtown stops for mornings.

Visiting in November or December?

Santa and Christmas lights in Nashville

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

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

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

On a budget

Free and cheap wins for visitors

Spend less without skipping the good stuff.

DowntownNashville Public Library, Main LibraryFree, with books, a children’s area and no ticket to buy.FreeIndoor

On the Main Library puppet shows

“They are amazed that for a solid 30 minutes, … kids will sit still and find themselves lost in a story”

— Bret Grigsby Wilson, program manager, Wishing Chair Productions (the library’s puppet troupe), on City Cast Nashville: “Backstage With the Nashville Public Library’s 80-Year-Old Puppet Program” (opens in a new tab) · Sep 2026

West EndCentennial ParkFree, with a lake, a playground and plenty of room to run.Free

Wedgewood-HoustonLane Motor MuseumKids 5 and under are free, and older kids are $3.Kids $3Adults $155 and under freeIndoor

All free things to do in Nashville →

This week

Happening while you’re here

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

#19am–5pm (closed Monday)

Cheekwood Harvest

The six-week fall festival: a Pumpkin Village with three pumpkin houses, a new Marigold River, the storybook Scarecrow Trail and live music on weekends from 12 to 2. Free off-site parking with a trolley on October weekends.

Cheekwood Estate & Gardens · Nashville

Adults $20–$26

Hours, food & parking

#2Thu 10–11am

The Library Visits the Frist

Pick up a free admission sticker from the library at the Frist between 10 and 10:30am, tour the galleries at your own pace and make art in Martin ArtQuest. All ages; registration required, limited to 120.

Frist Art Museum · Nashville

Free

Hours, food & parking

#3Sat 2–4pm

Halloween Spooktacular (Edmondson Pike)

Come in costume for treats, books, balloon art and more, while supplies last.

Nashville Public Library – Edmondson Pike · Nashville

Free

Hours, food & parking

#4Fri 10:30–11:30am

Puppet Truck: Hansel and Gretel (Madison)

The library’s Puppet Truck tells the Brothers Grimm tale with Peeko Puppets; about 30 minutes.

Nashville Public Library – Madison · Madison

FreeIndoor

Hours, food & parking

#511:15am–12pm

The Stellars – Mission: Green (Planetarium Show)

A planetarium show made for ages 3 to 8: three alien friends crash-land on Earth and learn to care for a forest. Also showing earlier in the day as part of the regular schedule.

Adventure Science Center – Sudekum Planetarium · Nashville

Planetarium $10 plus general admission

Hours, food & parking

See everything this week →

Good questions

Visiting Nashville with toddlers: the FAQ

Is Nashville kid-friendly?

For a family with kids under 6, yes. Our Nashville guide lists 21 places we checked for little kids, plus 2 free places and 3 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 33 dated outings for ages 0–6. See free things to do in Nashville and this weekend’s list.

What’s the best area to stay in Nashville with toddlers?

Downtown or the West End are the easiest bases. The Library and the State Museum are downtown, Centennial Park is on the West End, and the Zoo is a drive southeast.

How many days do you need in Nashville with little kids?

Two days covers the Science Center, the Zoo, Cheekwood and a park or library stop. With one day, do the Zoo in the morning and Centennial Park after nap.

Do you need a car in Nashville with a toddler?

Yes for the Zoo and Cheekwood. The downtown stops are close, but most other attractions are easier by car or rideshare.

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