VISITING Phoenix · Valley of the Sun

Visiting Phoenix with toddlers and little kids: the plan.

The zoo and Desert Botanical Garden sit side by side in Papago Park, the Children’s Museum and Science Center are downtown, and the Scottsdale train park and the Boardwalk are a short drive east. Here’s a day or two, with nap time built in.

Top 2 can’t-miss spots

#1Papago Park, 455 N. Galvin Pkwy.
Phoenix Zoo
Kids 2 and under are free.
Kids $32.95Adults $44.952 and under
See it in the guide
#2Downtown, 215 N. 7th St.
Children’s Museum of Phoenix
Opens at 9.
$19 eachUnder 1 and membersIndoor
See it in the guide
Nap breaks built in

One day or two in Phoenix

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
MORNINGPhoenix ZooOpens at 9 · Papago Park, 455 N. Galvin Pkwy. · $32.95 kids, $44.95 adultsLUNCHPizzeria Bianco (Heritage Square)Pizza downtown · Downtown
NAPBack to the hotel for nap. If your little one sleeps best in the car, take a loop.
AFTER NAPDesert Botanical GardenCooler evening walk · Papago Park, 1201 N. Galvin Pkwy.
If you have two days

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

MORNINGChildren’s Museum of PhoenixDoors at 9 · Downtown, 215 N. 7th St. · $19 per person
NAPBack to the hotel for nap. If your little one sleeps best in the car, take a loop.
AFTER NAPArizona Science CenterScience downtown · Heritage and Science Park, 600 E. Washington St.
Where to stay

Kid-friendly areas near the big attractions

Pick the area by the stops you’ll make most, then plan around nap.

DOWNTOWNHeritage SquareThe Children’s Museum, the Science Center and Pizzeria Bianco are a few blocks apart, so a downtown day needs one parking spot.Near Children’s Museum of Phoenix and Arizona Science Center
FOR THE ZOO AND GARDENPapago ParkPhoenix Zoo and Desert Botanical Garden share Papago Park, between downtown and Scottsdale.Near Phoenix Zoo and Desert Botanical Garden
SCOTTSDALEScottsdaleClose to McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park and the OdySea and Butterfly Wonderland pair on the Arizona Boardwalk.Near McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park, OdySea Aquarium and Butterfly Wonderland
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.

Pizza · DowntownPizzeria Bianco (Heritage Square)Near Arizona Science Center and Children’s Museum of PhoenixBurgers · GilbertJoe’s Farm Grill
Before you go

Practical tips

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

Heat
From May to September, plan outdoor time for the early morning.
Mondays
Arizona Science Center is closed most Mondays, and Phoenix Art Museum is closed Monday and Tuesday.
Arizona Boardwalk
OdySea Aquarium and Butterfly Wonderland are next door to each other, so one parking spot covers both.
Free under 6
Phoenix Art Museum is free for kids 5 and under, and Wednesday evenings are pay what you wish.
Visiting in November or December?

Santa and Christmas lights in Phoenix

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

Santa in PhoenixBreakfast with Santa, Santa photos and Santa trains, with 2026 pricesChristmas lights in PhoenixDrive-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.

Midtown, 1221 N. Central Ave.Burton Barr Central LibraryFree.FreeIndoor
All free things to do in Phoenix →
This week

Happening while you’re here

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

#1Fri 5:30–8:30pm
Chandler Halloween Spooktacular
Downtown Chandler’s Halloween night, with games, activities and table-or-treating. The city has moved it into the Community Center this year (enter through the southeast door, near the Senior Center and The Alexander parking garage). The costume parade is canceled, and there’s no food or drink for sale.
Chandler Community Center · Chandler
FreeIndoor
Hours, food & parking
#2Sat 10am–noon
Itty Bitty Boo Bash
A Halloween morning from Phoenix Parks made just for ages 0 to 5. It’s free, but register ahead on the city’s page.
South Mountain Community Center · Phoenix
FreeIndoor
Hours, food & parking
#35:30–8:30pm
Spooky Safari at the Phoenix Zoo
An evening of trick-or-treating at themed candy stations around the zoo, with face painting and a costume parade every hour. Leave toy guns at home. Storms are likely Friday afternoon and evening, with the heaviest rain possible around 7pm, so pack rain jackets and check the zoo’s page before you head out.
Phoenix Zoo · Phoenix
$18 per person
Hours, food & parking
#49am–4pm
Trick-or-Treat at the Children’s Museum of Phoenix
Trick-or-treat through all three floors of exhibits, then dance at the Halloween dance party. Costumes are optional but encouraged, and treats last while supplies do.
Children’s Museum of Phoenix · Phoenix
Free with museum admissionIndoor
Hours, food & parking
#5Sat 10am–2pm
Halloween Bash at Arizona Boardwalk
A free outdoor party in the Arizona Boardwalk courtyard, with trick-or-treating, carnival games and face painting. Kids 18 and under can enter the costume contest.
Arizona Boardwalk · Scottsdale
Free
Hours, food & parking
See everything this week →
Good questions

Visiting Phoenix with toddlers: the FAQ

Is Phoenix kid-friendly?

For a family with kids under 6, yes. Our Phoenix guide lists 17 places we checked for little kids, plus 1 free place and 8 picks for babies and toddlers. This page adds 2 easy restaurants near the big stops and free storytimes at 2 library systems. This week’s list has 45 dated outings for ages 0–6. See free things to do in Phoenix and this weekend’s list.

How many days do you need in Phoenix with a toddler?

Two: Papago Park one day for the zoo and the garden, downtown the next for the Children’s Museum and Science Center.

What can we do on a hot afternoon in Phoenix?

Head indoors. OdySea Aquarium and Butterfly Wonderland sit side by side in Scottsdale, and the Musical Instrument Museum is open daily until 5pm.

Where’s a good family dinner outside downtown?

Joe’s Farm Grill in Gilbert serves burgers in a 1960s ranch house and is open daily until 9pm.

Get the list every Thursday.

One short email every Thursday evening with the five things we’d leave the house for in Phoenix.