VISITING St. Louis · The Gateway City
Visiting St. Louis with toddlers and little kids: the plan.
St. Louis works for a family trip because Forest Park keeps the Zoo, the Science Center and the Art Museum in one place, with the Magic House a short drive southwest. Here’s how we’d spend one or two days with a nap in the middle.
Top 5 can’t-miss spots
#1Forest Park
Saint Louis Zoo
Go early and pair it with the Science Center in the afternoon.
Free
See it in the guide→
#2Forest Park
Saint Louis Science Center
Free admission, so you can go for an hour and leave the moment someone melts down.
FreeIndoor
See it in the guide→
#3Kirkwood
The Magic House, St. Louis Children’s Museum
Book a morning in Kirkwood. It’s built for little kids, and parking is easy.
Kids $15Under 1 freeIndoor
See it in the guide→
#4Forest Park
Anne O’C. Albrecht Nature Playscape, Forest Park
Free, and close to the Zoo. Let them get muddy after nap.
Free
Official site→
#5Kirkwood
Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center
A free nature center with paved trails, near the Magic House.
Free
Official site→
Nap breaks built in
One day or two in STL
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
MORNINGSaint Louis ZooGo at opening · Forest Park · Free
LUNCHPappy's SmokehouseGo before they sell out · MidtownNAPBack to the hotel for nap. If your little one sleeps best in the car, take a loop.
AFTER NAPSaint Louis Science CenterFree admission · Forest Park · FreeIf you have two days
Day 1 is the one-day plan above. Day 2:
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-TIMERSNear Forest ParkThe Zoo, the Science Center, the Art Museum and the playscape are all in or beside the park.Near Saint Louis Zoo, Saint Louis Science Center and Saint Louis Art Museum
FOR THE MAGIC HOUSEKirkwoodClosest to the Magic House and Powder Valley, with Forest Park a short drive east.Near The Magic House, St. Louis Children’s Museum and Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center
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 STL.
Before you go
Practical tips
Parking, strollers, changing tables and the best times to go.
Parking
Saint Louis Zoo: $20 per car for non-members in the Zoo lots, cashless. Admission is free.
Saint Louis Science Center: $15 in the main Oakland Ave lot. The Planetarium lot is free.
The Magic House, St. Louis Children’s Museum: Free in the big lot behind the museum.
Saint Louis Science Center: $15 in the main Oakland Ave lot. The Planetarium lot is free.
The Magic House, St. Louis Children’s Museum: Free in the big lot behind the museum.
Strollers and accessibility
Saint Louis Zoo: Strollers rent first come, first served.
Saint Louis Science Center: Strollers are free to borrow in both lobbies.
The Magic House, St. Louis Children’s Museum: Bring your own, since there are no rentals. Elevators and ramps throughout.
Saint Louis Science Center: Strollers are free to borrow in both lobbies.
The Magic House, St. Louis Children’s Museum: Bring your own, since there are no rentals. Elevators and ramps throughout.
Changing tables
Saint Louis Zoo: A family restroom and lactation room at the First Aid Station by the carousel.
The Magic House, St. Louis Children’s Museum: A Calming Corner on the lower level works for nursing.
The Magic House, St. Louis Children’s Museum: A Calming Corner on the lower level works for nursing.
Best times to beat the crowds
Weekday mornings are the calmest bet at every stop. At the Zoo, go at opening and plan to leave around nap.
Free admission
The Zoo, Science Center and Art Museum are all free to enter. Budget for parking instead.
Visiting in November or December?
Santa and Christmas lights in STL
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.
Forest ParkSaint Louis Science CenterFree general admission, in Forest Park.FreeIndoor
Forest ParkSaint Louis Art MuseumFree general admission, in Forest Park.FreeIndoorKirkwoodPowder Valley Conservation Nature CenterFree, with exhibits and short trails.FreeForest ParkAnne O’C. Albrecht Nature Playscape, Forest ParkFree, with natural materials to climb and explore.FreeThis week
Happening while you’re here
This week’s top events in St. Louis. The full list, with hours and the forecast, is on the this-week page.
#15–8:30pm (last entry 8pm)
Boo at the Zoo
The zoo’s not-scary Halloween nights, now spreading up Historic Hill, with the carousel, Primate House, Dinoroarus and Spookley’s 4D Jamboree included. Not a trick-or-treat event.
$16
Hours, food & parking→
#29:30am–5pm (Sun 10:30am–5pm)
Not-So-Haunted House at The Magic House
Kids follow a scavenger hunt to trick-or-treat stops throughout the children’s museum.
$15 museum admissionIndoor
Hours, food & parking→
#3Sat 10am–4pm
Trick or Treat at the Library (Central)
Come in costume and trick-or-treat around Central Library; bring a good joke and a bag for treats. Ideal for ages 3 to 17.
Free
Hours, food & parking→
#410am–6pm (Sat to 9pm)
Fright at the Museum
Halloween decorations on every floor, a circus show and not-spooky witch storytelling on weekends. The museum is closed Monday and Tuesday.
$20 onlineIndoor
Hours, food & parking→
#59am–5pm
Ecktoberfest at Eckert's Grafton Farm
Fall weekends at the orchard: pick-your-own apples and pumpkins, farm animals, pedal tractors and a play fort.
See source
Hours, food & parking→
Good questions
Visiting St. Louis with toddlers: the FAQ
Is St. Louis kid-friendly?
For a family with kids under 6, yes. Our St. Louis guide lists 21 places we checked for little kids, plus 6 free places and 3 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 22 dated outings for ages 0–6. See free things to do in St. Louis and this weekend’s list.
What’s the best area to stay in St. Louis with toddlers?
Near Forest Park or the Central West End is the easiest base. The Zoo, the Science Center and the Art Museum are all in the park, and the Magic House is a short drive southwest.
How many days do you need in St. Louis with little kids?
Two days covers the Zoo, the Science Center, the Magic House and a nature stop. With one day, do the Zoo in the morning and the Science Center after nap.
Do you need a car in St. Louis with a toddler?
It helps. The Forest Park stops are close together, but the Magic House and Powder Valley are easier by car.
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