# Visiting Philadelphia with toddlers and little kids: the plan > Stay in Center City. The Franklin Institute is on the Parkway, Franklin Square is in Old City, and the zoo and Smith Playground are a short drive into Fairmount Park. Here’s a plan with nap time built in. - Last checked: 2026-10-26 - One- and two-day plans with a nap in the middle - Canonical page: https://littlesweekly.com/philadelphia/visiting/ - This week (Markdown): https://littlesweekly.com/philadelphia/index.md - City guide (Markdown): https://littlesweekly.com/philadelphia/guide/index.md - City index for agents: https://littlesweekly.com/philadelphia/llms.txt ## Top 2 can’t-miss spots - **Philadelphia Zoo** (Fairmount Park, 3400 W. Girard Ave.): Open daily 9:30am–5pm; last entry 4pm. Site: https://www.philadelphiazoo.org/ - **The Franklin Institute** (Logan Square, 222 N. 20th St.): Open daily 9:30am–5pm. Cost: $23 kids, $29 adults. Site: https://fi.edu/en/plan-your-visit ## If you have one day 1. **MORNING**: Philadelphia Zoo (Opens at 9:30am · Fairmount Park, 3400 W. Girard Ave.). https://www.philadelphiazoo.org/ 2. **Nap**: Back to the hotel for nap. If your little one sleeps best in the car, take a loop. 3. **AFTER NAP**: Smith Memorial Playground & Playhouse (Free; open until 5pm in fall and winter; closed Mondays · East Fairmount Park, 3500 Reservoir Drive · Free). https://www.smithplayground.org/plan-your-visit ## If you have two days Day 1 is the one-day plan above. Day 2: 1. **MORNING**: The Franklin Institute (Opens at 9:30am; afternoons are calmer on weekdays · Logan Square, 222 N. 20th St. · $23 kids, $29 adults). https://fi.edu/en/plan-your-visit 2. **LUNCH**: Reading Terminal Market (Open daily 8am–6pm · Center City). https://readingterminalmarket.org/ 3. **Nap**: Back to the hotel for nap. If your little one sleeps best in the car, take a loop. 4. **AFTER NAP**: Franklin Square (Carousel and playgrounds · Old City, 200 N. 6th St.). https://historicphiladelphia.org/events/holidays-in-franklin-square/ ## Where to stay - **Logan Square to Old City** (center city): The Franklin Institute, Reading Terminal Market and Franklin Square are all in Center City. Near The Franklin Institute and Franklin Square. - **University City** (for the zoo): The zoo is a short drive north, and Center City is across the river. Near Philadelphia Zoo. - **Norristown and King of Prussia** (northwest suburbs): Close to Elmwood Park Zoo and the Chester County libraries. Near Elmwood Park Zoo and Chester County Library System. ## Easy restaurants near the big stops - **Reading Terminal Market** (Food market, Center City): Open daily 8am–6pm, with something for every eater. https://readingterminalmarket.org/ - **The Franklin Fountain** (Ice cream, Old City): Ice cream and sodas, open daily 11am to midnight. https://www.franklinfountain.com/ ## Rainy-day backup plan - **The Franklin Institute**: Indoors. - **Smith Memorial Playground & Playhouse**: The playhouse is indoors. - **Delaware County Libraries**: Indoors. - **Camden County Library System**: Indoors. - **Chester County Library System**: Indoors. ## Practical tips - Mondays: Smith Memorial Playground is closed Mondays. - Zoo tickets: Philadelphia Zoo tickets are sold online, and prices change by date. - Elmwood tickets: Elmwood Park Zoo tickets are $1 less online than at the gate. - Longwood Tuesdays: Longwood Gardens is closed most Tuesdays. ## Free and cheap wins - **Smith Memorial Playground & Playhouse**: Always free. - **Delaware County Libraries**: Free. - **Camden County Library System**: Free. - **Chester County Library System**: Free. All free things to do in Philadelphia: https://littlesweekly.com/philadelphia/guide/#free ## Happening this week - **Boo at the Zoo: Final Weekend at the Philadelphia Zoo** (9:30am–5pm) at Philadelphia Zoo. Included with zoo admission (prices vary by date; buy online ahead); ACCESS tickets $8. https://littlesweekly.com/philadelphia/#e-philly_zoo_boo - **Boo at the Zoo at Elmwood Park Zoo** (10:30am–3:30pm) at Elmwood Park Zoo. Included with zoo admission (Adults $18.95 online, kids 3–12 $15.95 online, 2 and under free); free zoo passes and coupons don’t apply. https://littlesweekly.com/philadelphia/#e-elmwood_boo_at_the_zoo - **Trick-or-Treat Night at Elmwood Park Zoo** (Fri 5:30–8:30pm) at Elmwood Park Zoo. Kids $30 ($25 members), and each child ticket includes two adults; extra adults $18.95. https://littlesweekly.com/philadelphia/#e-elmwood_trick_or_treat_night - **Spooky Mini Golf in Franklin Square** (Thu–Sun 10am–5pm) at Franklin Square. Adults $15, kids 3–12 $12; advance tickets required Fri–Sun. https://littlesweekly.com/philadelphia/#e-franklin_square_spooky_mini_golf - **Swarthmore Halloween Tots Parade** (Fri 4:30–5:30pm) at Swarthmore Public Library. Free. https://littlesweekly.com/philadelphia/#e-swarthmore_halloween_tots_parade Full list with every outing: https://littlesweekly.com/philadelphia/index.md ## Holiday pages - [Santa in Philadelphia: breakfast with Santa, photos and Santa trains (2026)](https://littlesweekly.com/philadelphia/santa/index.md) - [Christmas lights in Philadelphia for little kids (2026)](https://littlesweekly.com/philadelphia/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 Philadelphia kid-friendly? For a family with kids under 6, yes. Our Philadelphia guide lists 14 places we checked for little kids, plus 4 free places and 8 picks for babies and toddlers. This page adds 2 easy restaurants near the big stops and free storytimes at 3 library systems. This week’s list has 50 dated outings for ages 0–6. See [free things to do in Philadelphia](https://littlesweekly.com/philadelphia/guide/#free) and [this weekend’s list](https://littlesweekly.com/philadelphia/). ### Where should we stay with a toddler? Center City keeps the Franklin Institute, Franklin Square and Reading Terminal Market close, and the zoo is a short drive. ### What if it rains? The Franklin Institute is indoors, and Smith Playground’s playhouse has three floors of indoor play. ### Is Longwood Gardens worth a day trip with little kids? Yes, with a stroller. It’s about 50 minutes from Center City and kids 4 and under get in free. A Longwood Christmas runs Nov 20 to Jan 10.