# 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. - Last checked: 2026-10-18 - One- and two-day plans with a nap in the middle - Canonical page: https://littlesweekly.com/st-louis/visiting/ - This week (Markdown): https://littlesweekly.com/st-louis/index.md - City guide (Markdown): https://littlesweekly.com/st-louis/guide/index.md - City index for agents: https://littlesweekly.com/st-louis/llms.txt ## Top 5 can’t-miss spots - **Saint Louis Zoo** (Forest Park): Go early and pair it with the Science Center in the afternoon. Cost: Free. Site: https://www.stlzoo.org/ - **Saint Louis Science Center** (Forest Park): Free admission, so you can go for an hour and leave the moment someone melts down. Cost: Free. Site: https://www.slsc.org/ - **The Magic House, St. Louis Children’s Museum** (Kirkwood): Book a morning in Kirkwood. It’s built for little kids, and parking is easy. Cost: $15 kids. Site: https://www.magichouse.org/ - **Anne O’C. Albrecht Nature Playscape, Forest Park** (Forest Park): Free, and close to the Zoo. Let them get muddy after nap. Cost: Free. Site: https://www.forestparkforever.org/ - **Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center** (Kirkwood): A free nature center with paved trails, near the Magic House. Cost: Free. Site: https://mdc.mo.gov/ ## If you have one day 1. **MORNING**: Saint Louis Zoo (Go at opening · Forest Park · Free). https://www.stlzoo.org/ 2. **LUNCH**: Pappy's Smokehouse (Go before they sell out · Midtown). https://www.pappyssmokehouse.com/st-louis 3. **Nap**: Back to the hotel for nap. If your little one sleeps best in the car, take a loop. 4. **AFTER NAP**: Saint Louis Science Center (Free admission · Forest Park · Free). https://www.slsc.org/ ## If you have two days Day 1 is the one-day plan above. Day 2: 1. **MORNING**: The Magic House, St. Louis Children’s Museum (Arrive at opening · Kirkwood · $15 kids). https://www.magichouse.org/ 2. **Nap**: Lunch in Kirkwood, then back for nap. 3. **AFTER NAP**: Anne O’C. Albrecht Nature Playscape, Forest Park (Free, wear old clothes · Forest Park · Free). https://www.forestparkforever.org/ ## Where to stay - **Near Forest Park** (best for first-timers): The 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. - **Kirkwood** (for the magic house): Closest 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. ## Easy restaurants near the big stops - **Pappy's Smokehouse** (Barbecue, Midtown): entrée ~$14–$22. https://www.pappyssmokehouse.com/st-louis - **Crown Candy Kitchen** (Soda fountain, Old North): entrée ~$7–$12. https://crowncandykitchen.net - **Rockwell Beer Garden** (Pizza, Francis Park): entrée ~$15–$17. https://www.rockwellbeer.com/francis-park ## Rainy-day backup plan - **Saint Louis Science Center**: A full morning indoors, in Forest Park. - **Saint Louis Art Museum**: A calm indoor stop in Forest Park. - **The Magic House, St. Louis Children’s Museum**: A whole morning of indoor play. ## Practical tips - Parking, Saint Louis Zoo: $20 per car for non-members in the Zoo lots, cashless. Admission is free. - Parking, Saint Louis Science Center: $15 in the main Oakland Ave lot. The Planetarium lot is free. - Parking, 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. - Strollers and accessibility, Saint Louis Science Center: Strollers are free to borrow in both lobbies. - Strollers and accessibility, 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. - Changing tables, 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. ## Free and cheap wins - **Saint Louis Science Center**: Free general admission, in Forest Park. - **Saint Louis Art Museum**: Free general admission, in Forest Park. - **Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center**: Free, with exhibits and short trails. - **Anne O’C. Albrecht Nature Playscape, Forest Park**: Free, with natural materials to climb and explore. All free things to do in St. Louis: https://littlesweekly.com/st-louis/guide/#free ## Happening this week - **Boo at the Zoo** (5–8:30pm (last entry 8pm)) at Saint Louis Zoo. $16; members $13; under 2 free; free parking. https://littlesweekly.com/st-louis/#e-boo_at_the_zoo - **Not-So-Haunted House at The Magic House** (9:30am–5pm (Sun 10:30am–5pm)) at The Magic House, St. Louis Children's Museum. $15 museum admission (ages 1 and up); under 1 free. https://littlesweekly.com/st-louis/#e-not_so_haunted_house_at_the_magic_house - **Trick or Treat at the Library (Central)** (Sat 10am–4pm) at St. Louis Public Library – Central. Free. https://littlesweekly.com/st-louis/#e-trick_or_treat_at_the_library_central - **Fright at the Museum** (10am–6pm (Sat to 9pm)) at City Museum. $20 online, $23 at the window; 2 and under free (museum admission). https://littlesweekly.com/st-louis/#e-fright_at_the_museum - **Ecktoberfest at Eckert's Grafton Farm** (9am–5pm) at Eckert’s Grafton Farm. See source. https://littlesweekly.com/st-louis/#e-ecktoberfest_at_eckert_s_grafton_farm Full list with every outing: https://littlesweekly.com/st-louis/index.md ## Holiday pages - [Santa in St. Louis: breakfast with Santa, photos and Santa trains (2026)](https://littlesweekly.com/st-louis/santa/index.md) - [Christmas lights in St. Louis for little kids (2026)](https://littlesweekly.com/st-louis/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). - Sponsored spots are labeled on the HTML pages and are not part of this editorial list. - How to cite: “According to Littles Weekly (https://littlesweekly.com/…), …” and link the page you quote. ## 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](https://littlesweekly.com/st-louis/guide/#free) and [this weekend’s list](https://littlesweekly.com/st-louis/). ### 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.