VISITING San Antonio · Alamo City
Visiting San Antonio with toddlers and little kids: the plan.
San Antonio’s best kid stops cluster along Broadway and Brackenridge Park: the DoSeum, the Witte, the Zoo and the Botanical Garden. Hemisfair and the River Walk are downtown. Here’s how we’d spend one or two days with nap built in.
Top 5 can’t-miss spots
#1Broadway
The DoSeum
Start in Little Town. Free family nights and school holidays get crowded, so pick a regular day.
$18 eachUnder 1 freeIndoor
See it in the guide→
“Our sweet spot is really four to eight, but the DoSeum is designed for kids really from one to 11”
#2Brackenridge Park, 3903 N. St. Mary’s St.
San Antonio Zoo
Plan a full morning. Ticket prices change by date, so check before you buy.
$8 eachAges 2 and under free
See it in the guide→
#3Brackenridge Park, 3801 Broadway
Witte Museum
An easy after-nap stop with free parking. Kids 3 and under are free.
Kids $11Adults $17Ages 3 and under freeIndoor
See it in the guide→
#4Downtown
Hemisfair
The playground is the draw. Super Fun Saturdays add free events.
Free
See it in the guide→
#5Near Brackenridge Park, 555 Funston Pl.
San Antonio Botanical Garden
Go Monday to Thursday for lower prices. Bring a swim diaper for the Family Adventure Garden’s splash area.
Kids $15Adults $22Under 3 free
See it in the guide→
Nap breaks built in
One day or two in San Antonio
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
MORNINGThe DoSeumLittle Town first · Broadway · $18 per person
LUNCHThe CoveBurgers and a playground · Near downtown · Kids’ meal $6.25–$7.25NAPBack to the hotel for nap. If your little one sleeps best in the car, take a loop.
AFTER NAPHemisfairPlayground time · Downtown · FreeIf you have two days
Day 1 is the one-day plan above. Day 2:
MORNINGSan Antonio ZooA full morning · Brackenridge Park, 3903 N. St. Mary’s St. · $8 per personLUNCHChris Madrid’sBeacon Hill · Beacon Hill, 1900 Blanco Rd.NAPBack to the hotel for nap. If your little one sleeps best in the car, take a loop.
AFTER NAPWitte MuseumFree parking · Brackenridge Park, 3801 Broadway · $11 kids, $17 adultsWhere 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-TIMERSPearl and Brackenridge ParkClose to the DoSeum, the Witte, the Zoo and the Botanical Garden.Near The DoSeum, Witte Museum, San Antonio Zoo and San Antonio Botanical Garden
FOR DOWNTOWNDowntown and the River WalkWalk to Hemisfair, Central Library and Market Square.Near Hemisfair, Central Library and Mi Tierra Café y Panadería
FOR HISTORYSouth sideNear the Missions, a short drive from downtown.Near San Antonio Missions National Historical Park
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 San Antonio.
Before you go
Practical tips
Parking, strollers, changing tables and the best times to go.
Parking
The DoSeum: Free in the North lot at Humphreys Ave and Margaret St, with more in the South lot on Brackenridge Ave.
San Antonio Zoo: The Zoo Parking Garage is free during zoo hours.
Witte Museum: Always free. Park in the Brackenridge Park garage on Avenue B and take the Adventure Walk to the entrance on Broadway.
Hemisfair: The Hemisfair Garage is free for 30 minutes, then $2 per 30 minutes.
San Antonio Botanical Garden: Free on-site parking is limited. Lot A is closest to the entrance.
San Antonio Zoo: The Zoo Parking Garage is free during zoo hours.
Witte Museum: Always free. Park in the Brackenridge Park garage on Avenue B and take the Adventure Walk to the entrance on Broadway.
Hemisfair: The Hemisfair Garage is free for 30 minutes, then $2 per 30 minutes.
San Antonio Botanical Garden: Free on-site parking is limited. Lot A is closest to the entrance.
Strollers and accessibility
The DoSeum: The museum asks you to leave strollers in the car if you can, or bring a small umbrella stroller.
San Antonio Zoo: Single strollers are $16.25 and doubles $19.50.
San Antonio Zoo: Single strollers are $16.25 and doubles $19.50.
Changing tables
The DoSeum: Changing tables are in all men’s and women’s restrooms and most family restrooms.
San Antonio Zoo: There are universal changing stations at H-E-B Plaza.
San Antonio Zoo: There are universal changing stations at H-E-B Plaza.
Broadway in one area
The DoSeum, the Witte and the Zoo are all along Broadway and Brackenridge Park, a few minutes apart.
Free parking
The DoSeum, the Witte and the Zoo all have free parking.
Visiting in November or December?
Santa and Christmas lights in San Antonio
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 San Antonio. The full list, with hours and the forecast, is on the this-week page.
#1Fri 5–11pm; Sat 10am–11pm; Sun noon–9pm
Muertos Fest at Hemisfair
San Antonio’s big free Día de los Muertos festival: 80-plus altars, two processions, five stages, a mercado and children’s programming. Friday 5 to 7 is sensory-friendly altar viewing.
Free
Hours, food & parking→
#2Trick-or-treating daily 4–5pm
Zoo Boo! at San Antonio Zoo
Free trick-or-treating every afternoon from 4 to 5, the new Fiesta de los Muertos and a spider rainforest. Saturday Oct 24 is also the zoo’s member appreciation day, with a DJ on Saturdays.
Included with zoo admission
Hours, food & parking→
#3Sat 2–5pm
Central Spooktacular (Central Library)
The Central Library’s free family Halloween afternoon, packed with activities. Costumes encouraged; no registration.
Free
Hours, food & parking→
#410–10:30am
Nature Exploration in the Family Adventure Garden
Sensory nature play on the lawn by Prickly Pear Pavilion, with a new activity each Wednesday and Saturday. Made for ages 5 and under.
Included with Garden admission
Hours, food & parking→
#5Thu 4:30–6pm
Trick or Treat @ Pruitt (Pruitt Library)
Come-and-go Halloween crafts, activities and trick-or-treating at the library. Family-friendly costumes welcome.
Free
Hours, food & parking→
Good questions
Visiting San Antonio with toddlers: the FAQ
Is San Antonio kid-friendly?
For a family with kids under 6, yes. Our San Antonio guide lists 13 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 1 library system. This week’s list has 23 dated outings for ages 0–6. See free things to do in San Antonio and this weekend’s list.
Where should we stay in San Antonio with little kids?
Near the Pearl or Brackenridge Park for the DoSeum, the Witte and the Zoo, or downtown for Hemisfair and the River Walk.
How many days do you need in San Antonio with a toddler?
Two days: the DoSeum and Hemisfair on one, and the Zoo and the Witte on the other.
Is parking free at the San Antonio Zoo?
Yes, the Zoo Parking Garage is free during zoo hours.
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