VISITING Pittsburgh · The Steel City
Visiting Pittsburgh with toddlers and little kids: the plan.
Pittsburgh’s best kid stops cluster in two places, the North Side and Oakland, so a trip is mostly short hops. Here’s how we’d do one or two days with lunch and nap in the middle.
Top 5 can’t-miss spots
#1North Side
Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh
Make this your first morning. Bring a change of clothes for the water play.
Indoor
See it in the guide→
“I want to give one extra plug for checking out the Heinz History Center and the Children's Museum because USA Today just named them the best history museum and best children's museum in the entire country”
#2North Side
National Aviary
A short walk from the Children’s Museum, so the two pair well. Time it for a feeding or bird show.
Kids $17.95Adults $20.95Under 2 freeIndoor
See it in the guide→
#3Highland Park
Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium
Give it a full morning. On cold days, finish in the Aquarium to warm up.
Kids $23Adults $27Under 24 months free
See it in the guide→
#4Mt. Washington
Duquesne Incline
A short, cheap thrill after nap. Kids 5 and under ride free, and the view from the top is the best in town.
Kids $2.50Adults $55 and under free
See it in the guide→
#5Oakland
Carnegie Museum of Natural History
Go straight to Dinosaur Hall and see how long it holds them. Schenley Park is across the street if they need to run.
Indoor
See it in the guide→
Nap breaks built in
One day or two in Pittsburgh
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
MORNINGChildren’s Museum of PittsburghGo at opening · North Side
LUNCHPrimanti Bros.Over the bridge to the Strip · Strip District and around townNAPBack to the hotel for nap. If your little one sleeps best in the car, take a loop.
AFTER NAPDuquesne InclineRide up for the view · Mt. Washington · $2.50 kids, $5 adultsIf you have two days
Day 1 is the one-day plan above. Day 2:
MORNINGPittsburgh Zoo & AquariumA full morning · Highland Park · $23 kids, $27 adultsLUNCHEat’n ParkThe closest location · Locations around the region · Kids’ meal From $3.99NAPBack to the hotel for nap. If your little one sleeps best in the car, take a loop.
AFTER NAPPhipps ConservatoryWarm rooms and flowers · OaklandWhere 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 the North ShoreA short drive or walk over the bridges to the Children’s Museum, the Aviary and the Science Center.Near Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh, National Aviary and Kamin Science Center
FOR MUSEUMS AND PARKSOaklandNext to the Natural History museum, Phipps and Schenley Park.Near Carnegie Museum of Natural History, Phipps Conservatory and Schenley Park
FOR A NEIGHBORHOOD FEELSquirrel HillClose to Frick Park and Mineo’s, and a quick drive to Oakland.Near Frick Park and Mineo’s Pizza House
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 Pittsburgh.
North SideChildren’s Museum of PittsburghWater play and a tool garage, all indoors.IndoorNorth SideNational AviaryWarm, walk-through bird rooms.Kids $17.95Adults $20.95Under 2 freeIndoorNorth ShoreKamin Science CenterFour floors of science on the North Shore.Kids $15Adults $25IndoorOaklandCarnegie Museum of Natural HistoryDinosaur Hall on a wet day.IndoorOaklandPhipps ConservatoryWarm glass rooms full of plants.IndoorBefore you go
Practical tips
Parking, strollers, changing tables and the best times to go.
Parking
National Aviary: The Aviary’s own lot is first come, first served at a $7 flat rate. It closes at 5 pm.
Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium: Free in the main lot at the Butler Street entrance. Put 7370 Baker Street in your GPS, not the mailing address.
Duquesne Incline: The lower station lot is at 1197 West Carson St. There are many steps from that lot, so use the upper station on Grandview Ave if you have a stroller.
Carnegie Museum of Natural History: The museum garage is behind the building, entered at Forbes Ave and S Craig St. Rates go by how long you stay.
Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium: Free in the main lot at the Butler Street entrance. Put 7370 Baker Street in your GPS, not the mailing address.
Duquesne Incline: The lower station lot is at 1197 West Carson St. There are many steps from that lot, so use the upper station on Grandview Ave if you have a stroller.
Carnegie Museum of Natural History: The museum garage is behind the building, entered at Forbes Ave and S Craig St. Rates go by how long you stay.
Strollers and accessibility
Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium: Rent single ($10) or double ($13) strollers in the Village at the top of the entry escalator.
Carnegie Museum of Natural History: Strollers are encouraged, and the museum lends them for free.
Carnegie Museum of Natural History: Strollers are encouraged, and the museum lends them for free.
Changing tables
Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium: Every restroom has a baby changing station, and there are lactation rooms marked on the Zoo map.
Pair the North Side stops
The Children’s Museum and the National Aviary are a short walk apart, so you can park once for both.
Hills and steps
Pittsburgh is hilly. At the Incline, start from the upper station if you have a stroller.
Visiting in November or December?
Santa and Christmas lights in Pittsburgh
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 Pittsburgh. The full list, with hours and the forecast, is on the this-week page.
#110am–3pm
ZooBoo at the Pittsburgh Zoo
The last weekend of daytime trick-or-treating around the zoo, with costume parades at 11:30am and 1:30pm from the Lower Aquarium Patio, giveaways and character meet-and-greets.
Included with zoo admission: from $27 adults
Hours, food & parking→
#2Fri 5pm–8pm
Halloween Happenings at Phipps Conservatory
Kids come in costume for an evening in the glasshouses: a stilt walker greets guests 5–6:30pm, with magic shows at 5:30, 6:30 and 7:30pm.
Included with admission: $22.95 adults
Hours, food & parking→
#3Fri 5:30pm–7:30pm
Boo! A Sensory-Friendly Halloween at the Children’s Museum
Lower lights and softer sounds: a silent disco and pumpkin patch in the Garage, fidget-making, bone-dig boxes, a skeleton scavenger hunt and candy-free trick-or-treating.
$8 per person
Hours, food & parking→
#4Sat noon–4pm
Track & Treat at the Bud Harris Cycling Track
CitiParks' free Halloween bike day: bring a bike or borrow one, decorate it, ride the track, play games and enter the 2pm costume contest. Food trucks and refreshments on site.
Free
Hours, food & parking→
#5Sat 2pm–4pm
Family Halloween Party: Monster Mash Bash (CLP Lawrenceville)
Tricks, treats and spooky Halloween fun at the Lawrenceville branch on Saturday afternoon.
Free
Hours, food & parking→
Good questions
Visiting Pittsburgh with toddlers: the FAQ
Is Pittsburgh kid-friendly?
For a family with kids under 6, yes. Our Pittsburgh guide lists 18 places we checked for little kids, plus 3 free places and 3 picks for babies and toddlers. This page adds 4 easy restaurants near the big stops and free storytimes at 3 library systems. This week’s list has 31 dated outings for ages 0–6. See free things to do in Pittsburgh and this weekend’s list.
Where should we stay in Pittsburgh with little kids?
Downtown or the North Shore. The Children’s Museum, the Aviary and the Kamin Science Center are a short hop across the river.
How many days do you need in Pittsburgh with a toddler?
Two days: one on the North Side and one at the Zoo or in Oakland. With one day, do the Children’s Museum and the Incline.
When is the Pittsburgh Zoo least crowded?
The Zoo says non-holiday weekdays in winter are the quietest, and the Aquarium keeps you warm.
More Littles Weekly
Other cities
Indy LittlesThings to do with little ones in Indianapolis
LiveColumbus LittlesThings to do with little ones in Columbus
LiveCincy LittlesThings to do with little ones in Cincinnati
LiveLouisville LittlesThings to do with little ones in Louisville
LiveKC LittlesThings to do with little ones in Kansas City
LiveCharlotte LittlesThings to do with little ones in Charlotte
LiveRaleigh LittlesThings to do with little ones in Raleigh
LiveNashville LittlesThings to do with little ones in Nashville
LiveTwin Cities LittlesThings to do with little ones in Minneapolis–St. Paul
LiveSTL LittlesThings to do with little ones in St. Louis
LiveGR LittlesThings to do with little ones in Grand Rapids
LiveMilwaukee LittlesThings to do with little ones in Milwaukee
LiveCleveland LittlesThings to do with little ones in Cleveland
LiveDetroit LittlesThings to do with little ones in Detroit
LiveOmaha LittlesThings to do with little ones in Omaha
LiveDes Moines LittlesThings to do with little ones in Des Moines
LiveRVA LittlesThings to do with little ones in Richmond
LiveGreenville LittlesThings to do with little ones in Greenville
LiveKnoxville LittlesThings to do with little ones in Knoxville
LiveOKC LittlesThings to do with little ones in Oklahoma City
LiveLexington LittlesThings to do with little ones in Lexington
LiveDayton LittlesThings to do with little ones in Dayton
LiveChattanooga LittlesThings to do with little ones in Chattanooga
LiveBirmingham LittlesThings to do with little ones in Birmingham
LiveTulsa LittlesThings to do with little ones in Tulsa
LiveMadison LittlesThings to do with little ones in Madison
LiveBuffalo LittlesThings to do with little ones in Buffalo
LiveSLC LittlesThings to do with little ones in Salt Lake City
LiveBoise LittlesThings to do with little ones in Boise
LiveSan Antonio LittlesThings to do with little ones in San Antonio
LiveNOLA LittlesThings to do with little ones in New Orleans
LiveMemphis LittlesThings to do with little ones in Memphis
LiveBaton Rouge LittlesThings to do with little ones in Baton Rouge
LiveLittle Rock LittlesThings to do with little ones in Little Rock
LiveHuntsville LittlesThings to do with little ones in Huntsville
LiveCharleston LittlesThings to do with little ones in Charleston
LiveJax LittlesThings to do with little ones in Jacksonville
LiveOrlando LittlesThings to do with little ones in Orlando
LiveTampa LittlesThings to do with little ones in Tampa
LiveCOS LittlesThings to do with little ones in Colorado Springs
LiveWichita LittlesThings to do with little ones in Wichita
LiveFort Wayne LittlesThings to do with little ones in Fort Wayne
LiveRochester LittlesThings to do with little ones in Rochester
LiveSpokane LittlesThings to do with little ones in Spokane
LiveSavannah LittlesThings to do with little ones in Savannah
LiveAustin LittlesThings to do with little ones in Austin
LiveABQ LittlesThings to do with little ones in Albuquerque
LiveTucson LittlesThings to do with little ones in Tucson
LiveColumbia LittlesThings to do with little ones in Columbia
LiveToledo LittlesThings to do with little ones in Toledo
LiveAll citiesThe Littles Weekly home page
Your weekend, planned by Friday.
One short email every Friday morning: the five things worth leaving the house for in Pittsburgh, plus what to skip.