Free
Fayetteville Public Library
Downtown Fayetteville, 401 W. Mountain St.
Story times and family programs, including Fun Friday and Super Saturday events.
Good for: Free mornings.
Skip if: you need a quiet weekday evening.
Report a problemGUIDE Northwest Arkansas · The Ozarks
Things to do with toddlers and little kids in Northwest Arkansas: the parent guide.
Northwest Arkansas packs a free art museum and a top children’s museum into one Bentonville campus.
Around town5 spots · checked Oct 30
The NW Arkansas places we go back to, again and again.
The places we go back to all year. Where to eat with a toddler, where to burn off energy when it rains, where to splash, what’s worth the admission, and where to spend a night without going far.
Play
Indoor play and rainy days
For rainy mornings, cold afternoons and anyone who needs to run in circles for an hour.
Free
Bentonville Public Library
Downtown Bentonville, 405 S. Main St.
Family storytime on Saturdays plus seasonal events.
Good for: A free morning near the Square.
Skip if: it’s Sunday; it’s closed.
Report a problemFeatured partnerThis spot is open.Run a place in NW Arkansas that belongs in this section? One featured spot here is set aside for a local partner, and it’s always labeled.About featured spots →
Splash & ride
Parks and outdoor play
Pools, fountains, zoos and theme parks: the big all-day outings.
North Fayetteville, 4703 N Crossover Rd
Botanical Garden of the Ozarks
A public garden with themed gardens to wander, and a butterfly house that’s getting repairs for the 2026 season.
Good for: An easy stroller morning.
Skip if: it’s Thursday; it’s closed.
Fri–Wed 9am–5pm, closed ThursdaySite ↗ for Botanical Garden of the Ozarks
Report a problemFeatured partnerThis spot is open.Run a place in NW Arkansas that belongs in this section? One featured spot here is set aside for a local partner, and it’s always labeled.About featured spots →
Explore
Museums, zoos and big outings
Museums, animals and farm days that hold a little one’s attention.
Scott Family Amazeum
$$Bentonville, 1009 Museum Way
A hands-on children’s museum next to Crystal Bridges.
Tickets
- Kids 2 and up $14 online, $17 in person
- Adults $14 online, $17 in person
- Under 2
Good for: Ages 1 to 8.
Skip if: it’s Tuesday; it’s closed.
Mon, Wed–Sat 10am–5pm · Sun 1–5pm · closed TueSite ↗ for Scott Family Amazeum
Report a problemCrystal Bridges Museum of American Art
FreeBentonville, 600 Museum Way
A free art museum with wooded trails around it. The grounds open at sunrise.
Good for: Strollers and walks outside.
Skip if: it’s Tuesday; galleries are closed.
Mon, Wed 11am–6pm · Thu–Fri 11am–8pm · Sat–Sun 10am–6pmSite ↗ for Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art
Report a problemFeatured partnerThis spot is open.Run a place in NW Arkansas that belongs in this section? One featured spot here is set aside for a local partner, and it’s always labeled.About featured spots →
These don’t change week to week. Last checked . Hours and prices change, so check the place’s own site before you go. Know a spot we missed? Tell us at hello@littlesweekly.com.
No ticket needed
Free things to do
Where a family can go in NW Arkansas without paying for admission. For free days, free events and this week’s free outings, see every free thing to do in NW Arkansas.
Downtown Fayetteville, 401 W. Mountain St.Fayetteville Public LibraryStory times and family programs, including Fun Friday and Super Saturday events.FreeIndoorDowntown Bentonville, 405 S. Main St.Bentonville Public LibraryFamily storytime on Saturdays plus seasonal events.FreeIndoor
Bentonville, 600 Museum WayCrystal Bridges Museum of American ArtA free art museum with wooded trails around it.Free
Historic Downtown Square, FayettevilleLights of the OzarksFree to walk through.FreeLittlest explorers
Best for under 3s
Free or cheap for babies and toddlers, and easy with a stroller.
Babies and 1-year-olds
Things to do with a baby or a 1-year-old in NW Arkansas
Baby storytimes, places where babies get in free, and where to change and feed. For zero-cost ideas, see free things to do.
Baby and lap-sit storytimes
Sat Oct 31 at 11:15am this week; see the calendar for moreFamily Storytime (Bentonville) · Bentonville Public Library
Books, songs and movement; all ages welcome.
Storytime calendar ↗Babies get in free
Scott Family Amazeum
Under 2
Admission page ↗By season
Seasonal spots
Farms, lights and rinks that only run part of the year. Dates change every year, so check before you go. For holiday and indoor rinks with season dates, prices and skate aids, see ice skating with kids in NW Arkansas.
Every week
Library storytimes
Recurring and free. Times change by branch, so check the calendar. For every weekly storytime by day and branch, see library storytimes in NW Arkansas.
Sat Oct 31 at 11:15am this week; see the calendar for moreBentonville Public Library
Family storytime with books, songs and movement.
Schedule ↗
This week
What’s on this week in NW Arkansas
The guide is the evergreen list. Here’s what’s happening in Northwest Arkansas right now.
- Costume Parade (Rogers Public Library)Rogers Public Library · Free
- Halloween Sing-Along with Mr. Troy (Fayetteville)Fayetteville Public Library · Free
- Scott Family AmazeumScott Family Amazeum · $14 online or $17 at the door, ages 2 and up
Good questions
Things to do with toddlers in Northwest Arkansas: the FAQ
Is Northwest Arkansas good for toddlers?
Yes. The Amazeum is made for young kids, and Crystal Bridges is free.
What’s free?
Crystal Bridges general admission and the libraries’ storytimes.
What can we do in Northwest Arkansas on a rainy or cold day with a toddler?
Go indoors: Fayetteville Public Library and Bentonville Public Library. They’re all under one roof, and most work for a short visit around nap time.
What can we do with a baby, 1-year-old or 2-year-old in Northwest Arkansas?
Scott Family Amazeum: Built for little kids. See best for under 3s.
Where are the free storytimes in Northwest Arkansas?
Bentonville Public Library: Sat Oct 31 at 11:15am this week; see the calendar for more. Library storytimes don’t need a ticket, but times change by branch, so check the calendar first. See library storytimes, and this week’s dated sessions are on the NW Arkansas weekly list.
How do you choose the places in the Northwest Arkansas guide?
Every one of the 5 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 1 of them have checked admission or menu prices. The guide was last checked Oct 30, 2026. How we choose and check.
Get the list every Thursday.
One short email every Thursday evening with the five things we’d leave the house for in NW Arkansas.