VISITING Oklahoma City · OKC
Visiting Oklahoma City with toddlers and little kids: the plan.
OKC splits neatly in two: the Adventure District, with the science museum, the zoo and the Cowboy Museum, and downtown, with Scissortail Park, the Myriad Gardens and Bricktown. Here’s how we’d spend one or two days with nap in the middle.
Top 5 can’t-miss spots
#1Adventure District
Science Museum Oklahoma
Head for CurioCity first while it’s calm. The building is huge, so don’t try to see it all.
Kids $17.95Adults $22.95Under 3 freeIndoor
See it in the guide→
#2Adventure District
Oklahoma City Zoo
Give it a full morning. Kids 2 and under are free but still need a ticket, so add them when you book.
Kids $17Adults $20Age 2 and under free
See it in the guide→
#3Downtown
Crystal Bridge Conservatory at Myriad Gardens
Short, warm and cheap, and kids 4 and under are free. In fall, look for Pumpkinville in the outdoor gardens.
Kids $5.50Adults $10.50Ages 4 and under freeIndoor
See it in the guide→
#4Downtown
Scissortail Park
Room to run, plus free events through the year. It’s right across the street from the Myriad Gardens.
Free
See it in the guide→
#5Persimmon Hill
National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum
Kids 5 and under are free. Check the calendar for family activities.
Kids $15Adults $25Ages 5 and under freeIndoor
See it in the guide→
Nap breaks built in
One day or two in OKC
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
MORNINGScience Museum OklahomaCurioCity first · Adventure District · $17.95 kids, $22.95 adults
LUNCHThe Collective Kitchens + CocktailsMidtown · MidtownNAPBack to the hotel for nap. If your little one sleeps best in the car, take a loop.
AFTER NAPScissortail ParkRoom to run · Downtown · FreeIf you have two days
Day 1 is the one-day plan above. Day 2:
MORNINGOklahoma City ZooA full morning · Adventure District · $17 kids, $20 adultsLUNCHCharleston’sOn the canal · Bricktown CanalNAPBack to the hotel for nap. If your little one sleeps best in the car, take a loop.
AFTER NAPCrystal Bridge Conservatory at Myriad GardensWarm and quick · Downtown · $5.50 kids, $10.50 adultsWhere 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-TIMERSDowntown and BricktownWalk to Scissortail Park, the Myriad Gardens and the canal restaurants.Near Scissortail Park, Crystal Bridge Conservatory at Myriad Gardens, Charleston’s and Rodizio Grill
FOR THE BIG ATTRACTIONSAdventure DistrictClosest to the science museum, the Zoo and the Cowboy Museum.Near Science Museum Oklahoma, Oklahoma City Zoo and National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum
FOR FOODMidtownNear the Collective, a few minutes north of downtown.Near The Collective Kitchens + Cocktails
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 OKC.
Adventure DistrictScience Museum OklahomaHundreds of thousands of square feet indoors.Kids $17.95Adults $22.95Under 3 freeIndoorDowntownCrystal Bridge Conservatory at Myriad GardensA warm tropical conservatory downtown.Kids $5.50Adults $10.50Ages 4 and under freeIndoorPersimmon HillNational Cowboy & Western Heritage MuseumBig indoor galleries.Kids $15Adults $25Ages 5 and under freeIndoor
DowntownRonald J. Norick Downtown LibraryA free indoor stop downtown.FreeIndoorBefore you go
Practical tips
Parking, strollers, changing tables and the best times to go.
Parking
Science Museum Oklahoma: Free in the big lot off Martin Luther King Ave and Remington Place, with overflow across the street at Remington Park.
Scissortail Park: Meters along S Hudson, OKC Blvd and S Robinson have a 2-hour limit. Four nearby garages charge $2 an hour or $10 a day.
Scissortail Park: Meters along S Hudson, OKC Blvd and S Robinson have a 2-hour limit. Four nearby garages charge $2 an hour or $10 a day.
Strollers and accessibility
Science Museum Oklahoma: Bring your own stroller or wagon, or borrow one free with a valid ID.
Oklahoma City Zoo: Rent double strollers or wagons for $14 at the Strollers window in the Entry Plaza.
National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum: Strollers are free to borrow. Bags bigger than 15 x 9 x 10 inches, diaper bags included, have to be checked at the desk.
Oklahoma City Zoo: Rent double strollers or wagons for $14 at the Strollers window in the Entry Plaza.
National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum: Strollers are free to borrow. Bags bigger than 15 x 9 x 10 inches, diaper bags included, have to be checked at the desk.
Changing tables
Science Museum Oklahoma: Changing tables are in all restrooms, and the museum has nursing areas.
Park free at the science museum
Science Museum Oklahoma has a big free lot, and stroller loans are free with an ID.
Weekend meters downtown
Downtown street parking is free all weekend.
Visiting in November or December?
Santa and Christmas lights in OKC
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 Oklahoma City. The full list, with hours and the forecast, is on the this-week page.
#19am–5pm (last entry 4pm)
Haunt the Zoo Trick-or-Treat Trails
The last weekend of daytime trick-or-treating on a new candy trail through Expedition Africa. Bags are limited to 2,500 a day, so buy ahead.
Treat bag $10
Hours, food & parking→
#2Mon, Thu & Sun 10am–5pm; Fri & Sat 10am–8pm
Pumpkinville: Road to Route 66 at Myriad Gardens
The final week of thousands of pumpkins and pumpkin murals of Route 66 landmarks like the Blue Whale of Catoosa. Paint-a-pumpkin is $5 extra. Closed Tuesday and Wednesday; ends Sunday.
$9 online / $10 gate
Hours, food & parking→
#3Sun 2–3pm
Spooky Sounds with the Heartland Orchestra (Edmond)
The Heartland Orchestra plays spooky favorites and shows what makes some sounds spookier than others.
FreeIndoor
Hours, food & parking→
#4Sat 2–3pm
Yumare Folklorico Dance Performance (Southern Oaks)
The Yumare Folklorico Dance Group performs colorful traditional Mexican dance for Hispanic Heritage Month. Free for all ages.
FreeIndoor
Hours, food & parking→
#5Mon 5:30–7pm
Creepy Craft Crawl (Almonte)
Witches, spiders and bats: Halloween craft stations around the program room. Do as many or as few as you like.
FreeIndoor
Hours, food & parking→
Good questions
Visiting Oklahoma City with toddlers: the FAQ
Is Oklahoma City kid-friendly?
For a family with kids under 6, yes. Our Oklahoma City guide lists 13 places we checked for little kids, plus 4 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 30 dated outings for ages 0–6. See free things to do in Oklahoma City and this weekend’s list.
Where should we stay in Oklahoma City with little kids?
Downtown or Bricktown. Scissortail Park and the Myriad Gardens are walkable, and the Adventure District is about 15 minutes northeast.
Are the OKC Zoo and the science museum close together?
Yes. Both are in the Adventure District, so you can do one each day without a long drive.
How many days do you need in Oklahoma City with a toddler?
Two days: one in the Adventure District and one downtown.
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