VISITING Richmond · RVA

Visiting Richmond with toddlers and little kids: the plan.

Richmond’s Museum District does a lot of the work: the Children’s Museum and the Science Museum are neighbors on Broad Street, and VMFA is close by. Here’s how we’d spend one or two days with nap built in.

Top 5 can’t-miss spots

#1Downtown and Chesterfield

Children’s Museum of Richmond

Start here at opening. The downtown museum is next to the Science Museum, so you can add it if they’re still going.

$12 eachUnder 12 months freeIndoor

See it in the guide

#2Museum District

Science Museum of Virginia

A great after-nap stop. Under-3s are free, and preschoolers get a lower price.

Kids $16Adults $19Age 2 and under freeIndoor

See it in the guide

#3Byrd Park area

Maymont

Go for the Maymont Farm animals and the Robins Nature Center. The grounds are big, so bring the stroller.

See it in the guide

#4Moseley (about 30 minutes)

Metro Richmond Zoo

Plan a morning and remember it’s closed on Sundays.

Kids $20.95Adults $27.95Under 2 free

See it in the guide

#5Museum District

Virginia Museum of Fine Arts

Free admission means you can do a short loop and leave whenever you need to.

FreeIndoor

See it in the guide

Nap breaks built in

One day or two in RVA

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 RichmondGo at opening · Downtown and Chesterfield · $12 per person

LUNCHBurtons Grill & BarKids’ menu · Richmond · Kids’ meal $8.95–$10.95

NAPBack to the hotel for nap. If your little one sleeps best in the car, take a loop.

AFTER NAPMaymontThe farm and nature center · Byrd Park area

If you have two days

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

MORNINGMetro Richmond ZooNot on Sundays · Moseley (about 30 minutes) · $20.95 kids, $27.95 adults

LUNCHMexico RestaurantOn the way back · Mechanicsville and other area locations

NAPBack to the hotel for nap. If your little one sleeps best in the car, take a loop.

AFTER NAPScience Museum of VirginiaFree parking · Museum District · $16 kids, $19 adults

Where 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-TIMERSMuseum DistrictClose to the Children’s Museum, the Science Museum and VMFA, with Maymont a short drive away.Near Children’s Museum of Richmond, Science Museum of Virginia and Virginia Museum of Fine Arts

FOR PARKSNear Byrd ParkNext to Maymont, with the James River trails nearby.Near Maymont and James River Park System

FOR SHOPPING AND EASY PARKINGWest EndNear Short Pump and Firebirds, with a drive into the Museum District.Near Firebirds Wood Fired Grill

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.

Grill · RichmondBurtons Grill & BarKids’ meal $8.95–$10.95

Mexican · Mechanicsville and other area locationsMexico Restaurant

Grill · Short Pump Town CenterFirebirds Wood Fired GrillKids’ meal $9.95–$14.95

Plan B

Rainy-day backup plan

If the forecast turns, swap the outdoor stop for one of these. More options: indoor play places in RVA.

Downtown and ChesterfieldChildren’s Museum of RichmondHands-on play, all indoors.$12 eachUnder 12 months freeIndoor

Museum DistrictScience Museum of VirginiaA huge indoor science museum.Kids $16Adults $19Age 2 and under freeIndoor

Museum DistrictVirginia Museum of Fine ArtsWide, free galleries for a wet day.FreeIndoor

DowntownRichmond Public Library, Main LibraryA free indoor stop downtown.FreeIndoor

Before you go

Practical tips

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

Parking

Science Museum of Virginia: Parking in the museum’s deck is free.
Metro Richmond Zoo: Parking is free.
Virginia Museum of Fine Arts: The VMFA deck is $6 per car during museum hours, and there’s an elevator. Free street parking may be available nearby.

Strollers and accessibility

Metro Richmond Zoo: Single strollers are $7 and doubles are $12.

Two museums, one spot

The Children’s Museum and the Science Museum sit next to each other on Broad Street, so park once.

Plan around Sunday

The Metro Richmond Zoo is closed Sundays. Make Sunday your museum day.

Visiting in November or December?

Santa and Christmas lights in RVA

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

Santa in RVABreakfast with Santa, Santa photos and Santa trains, with 2026 prices

Christmas lights in RVADrive-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.

Museum DistrictVirginia Museum of Fine ArtsFree general admission every day.FreeIndoor

Along the James RiverJames River Park SystemFree riverside parkland.Free

DowntownRichmond Public Library, Main LibraryFree.FreeIndoor

All free things to do in Richmond →

This week

Happening while you’re here

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

#16–10pm (last entry 9pm)

Garden Glow at Maymont

Maymont’s gardens lit up after dark along a pathway a little over a mile long; plan about 90 minutes. Tickets are timed and capacity is limited, so book ahead. Tuesday is Senior Discount Night.

Maymont · Richmond

Standard nights: adults $25

Hours, food & parking

#28am–dusk

Pumpkin Patch at Gallmeyer Farms

A low-key family farm with free hayrides, a straw-bale maze, a spooky house and pick-your-own pumpkins in the field. Open 8am to dusk.

Gallmeyer Farms · Richmond

Free

Hours, food & parking

#3Tue 9:30am–5pm

Pay-What-You-Will Day at the Children’s Museum of Richmond

Part of artoberVA: pay what you like for a day of hands-on play at both locations. Chesterfield is at 6629 Lake Harbour Dr., Midlothian.

Children’s Museum of Richmond – Downtown and Chesterfield · Richmond

Pay what you willIndoor

Hours, food & parking

#4Sat 10–11am

Storytime in the Garden

Stories and songs for little ones in the garden, followed by a craft. All ages and abilities welcome.

Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden · Richmond

Included with Garden admission

Hours, food & parking

#5Sat 10:30–11:15am

Pre-K Costume Dance Party (Libbie Mill, Henrico)

Wear a costume and dance and sing in an interactive music program for ages 2 to 6; grown-ups welcome to dance too.

Henrico County Public Library – Libbie Mill · Henrico

Free

Hours, food & parking

See everything this week →

Good questions

Visiting Richmond with toddlers: the FAQ

Is Richmond kid-friendly?

For a family with kids under 6, yes. Our Richmond guide lists 14 places we checked for little kids, plus 3 free places and 2 picks for babies and toddlers. This page adds 3 easy restaurants near the big stops and free storytimes at 4 library systems. This week’s list has 30 dated outings for ages 0–6. See free things to do in Richmond and this weekend’s list.

Where should we stay in Richmond with little kids?

The Museum District or downtown. The Children’s Museum, the Science Museum and VMFA are close together, and the Zoo is about 30 minutes south.

Is the Metro Richmond Zoo open on Sundays?

No, it’s closed on Sundays, so plan your zoo day for another day of the week.

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

Two days: one in the Museum District and at Maymont, and one at the Zoo.

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Visiting Richmond with toddlers and little kids: the plan.

Top 5 can’t-miss spots

One day or two in RVA

Kid-friendly areas near the big attractions

Easy restaurants near the big stops

Rainy-day backup plan

Practical tips

Santa and Christmas lights in RVA

Free and cheap wins for visitors

Happening while you’re here

Visiting Richmond with toddlers: the FAQ

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