# 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.

- Last checked: 2026-10-18
- One- and two-day plans with a nap in the middle
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- This week (Markdown): https://littlesweekly.com/pittsburgh/index.md
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## Top 5 can’t-miss spots

- **Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh** (North Side): Make this your first morning. Bring a change of clothes for the water play. Site: https://pittsburghkids.org/ In their words: “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” (Sophia Lo, producer and guest host, City Cast Pittsburgh, on City Cast Pittsburgh: “The Best Pittsburgh Discounts for Museums, Shows & Sports”, Feb 2026: https://pittsburgh.citycast.fm/podcasts/the-best-pittsburgh-discounts-for-museums-shows-and-sports)
- **National Aviary** (North Side): A short walk from the Children’s Museum, so the two pair well. Time it for a feeding or bird show. Cost: $17.95 kids, $20.95 adults. Site: https://www.aviary.org/
- **Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium** (Highland Park): Give it a full morning. On cold days, finish in the Aquarium to warm up. Cost: $23 kids, $27 adults. Site: https://www.pittsburghzoo.org/
- **Duquesne Incline** (Mt. Washington): A short, cheap thrill after nap. Kids 5 and under ride free, and the view from the top is the best in town. Cost: $2.50 kids, $5 adults. Site: https://www.duquesneincline.org/
- **Carnegie Museum of Natural History** (Oakland): Go straight to Dinosaur Hall and see how long it holds them. Schenley Park is across the street if they need to run. Site: https://carnegiemnh.org/

## If you have one day

1. **MORNING**: Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh (Go at opening · North Side). https://pittsburghkids.org/
2. **LUNCH**: Primanti Bros. (Over the bridge to the Strip · Strip District and around town). https://primantibros.com/
3. **Nap**: Back to the hotel for nap. If your little one sleeps best in the car, take a loop.
4. **AFTER NAP**: Duquesne Incline (Ride up for the view · Mt. Washington · $2.50 kids, $5 adults). https://www.duquesneincline.org/

## If you have two days

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

1. **MORNING**: Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium (A full morning · Highland Park · $23 kids, $27 adults). https://www.pittsburghzoo.org/
2. **LUNCH**: Eat’n Park (The closest location · Locations around the region · Kids’ meal From $3.99). https://www.eatnpark.com/
3. **Nap**: Back to the hotel for nap. If your little one sleeps best in the car, take a loop.
4. **AFTER NAP**: Phipps Conservatory (Warm rooms and flowers · Oakland). https://www.phipps.conservatory.org/

## Where to stay

- **Downtown and the North Shore** (best for first-timers): A 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.
- **Oakland** (for museums and parks): Next to the Natural History museum, Phipps and Schenley Park. Near Carnegie Museum of Natural History, Phipps Conservatory and Schenley Park.
- **Squirrel Hill** (for a neighborhood feel): Close to Frick Park and Mineo’s, and a quick drive to Oakland. Near Frick Park and Mineo’s Pizza House.

## Easy restaurants near the big stops

- **Primanti Bros.** (Sandwiches, Strip District and around town): . https://primantibros.com/
- **Eat’n Park** (Family restaurant, Locations around the region): kids’ meal From $3.99. https://www.eatnpark.com/
- **Pamela’s Diner** (Breakfast diner, Strip District, Mt. Lebanon and more): . https://pamelasdiner.com/
- **Mineo’s Pizza House** (Pizza, Squirrel Hill): . https://www.mineospizza.com/index.html

## Rainy-day backup plan

- **Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh**: Water play and a tool garage, all indoors.
- **National Aviary**: Warm, walk-through bird rooms.
- **Kamin Science Center**: Four floors of science on the North Shore.
- **Carnegie Museum of Natural History**: Dinosaur Hall on a wet day.
- **Phipps Conservatory**: Warm glass rooms full of plants.

## Practical tips

- Parking, National Aviary: The Aviary’s own lot is first come, first served at a $7 flat rate. It closes at 5 pm.
- Parking, Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium: Free in the main lot at the Butler Street entrance. Put 7370 Baker Street in your GPS, not the mailing address.
- Parking, 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.
- Parking, 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.
- Strollers and accessibility, 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.

## Free and cheap wins

- **Frick Park**: Free trails and a beloved playground.
- **Schenley Park**: Free lawns and a playground.

All free things to do in Pittsburgh: https://littlesweekly.com/pittsburgh/guide/#free


## Happening this week

- **ZooBoo at the Pittsburgh Zoo** (10am–3pm) at Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium. Included with zoo admission: from $27 adults, $23 ages 2–13 online, under 2 free. https://littlesweekly.com/pittsburgh/#e-zooboo_at_the_pittsburgh_zoo
- **Halloween Happenings at Phipps Conservatory** (Fri 5pm–8pm) at Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens. Included with admission: $22.95 adults, $13.95 ages 2–18, under 2 free. https://littlesweekly.com/pittsburgh/#e-halloween_happenings_at_phipps_conservat
- **Boo! A Sensory-Friendly Halloween at the Children’s Museum** (Fri 5:30pm–7:30pm) at Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh. $8 per person; under 2 free. https://littlesweekly.com/pittsburgh/#e-boo_sensory_friendly_halloween_childrens
- **Track & Treat at the Bud Harris Cycling Track** (Sat noon–4pm) at Bud Harris Cycling Track, Highland Park. Free. https://littlesweekly.com/pittsburgh/#e-track_and_treat_bud_harris_cycling_track
- **Family Halloween Party: Monster Mash Bash (CLP Lawrenceville)** (Sat 2pm–4pm) at CLP – Lawrenceville. Free. https://littlesweekly.com/pittsburgh/#e-family_halloween_party_monster_mash_bash

Full list with every outing: https://littlesweekly.com/pittsburgh/index.md

## Holiday pages

- [Santa in Pittsburgh: breakfast with Santa, photos and Santa trains (2026)](https://littlesweekly.com/pittsburgh/santa/index.md)
- [Christmas lights in Pittsburgh for little kids (2026)](https://littlesweekly.com/pittsburgh/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).
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- How to cite: “According to Littles Weekly (https://littlesweekly.com/…), …” and link the page you quote.

## 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](https://littlesweekly.com/pittsburgh/guide/#free) and [this weekend’s list](https://littlesweekly.com/pittsburgh/).

### 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.