A Family Day in Dallas: Where to Take Kids

The best things to do in Dallas with kids are the Perot Museum of Nature and Science, the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden, the Dallas Zoo, The Dallas World Aquarium and Klyde Warren Park. All are inside the City of Dallas, and each suits a different age, so pick one or two for a day rather than trying to see everything.

This is a plan, not a directory: 11 confirmed places sorted by age, plus parking, lunch and when to head home. Hours and prices change, so check each official site before you go.

Which Dallas attractions suit which ages?

Toddlers and preschoolers do best with space to move, animals and water: Klyde Warren Park, the Dallas Zoo, the Children's Aquarium at Fair Park and the Rory Meyers Children's Adventure Garden at the Dallas Arboretum. School-age kids (roughly 6 to 12) are the sweet spot for the Perot Museum, Texas Discovery Gardens and Frontiers of Flight Museum. Teens and tweens tend to enjoy The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza and The Dallas World Aquarium. These age notes are our opinion.

• Ages 0 to 5: Klyde Warren Park, Dallas Zoo, Children's Aquarium at Fair Park, Dallas Arboretum children's garden, Old City Park
• Ages 6 to 12: Perot Museum, Texas Discovery Gardens, Frontiers of Flight Museum, Cedar Ridge Preserve
• Ages 12 and up: The Sixth Floor Museum, The Dallas World Aquarium, Perot Museum

How we chose

We checked each place against its own official website for opening status, address, hours, prices and parking, kept only places with a Dallas, Texas address, and dropped anything we could not confirm.

The 11 picks

Perot Museum of Nature and Science (Arts District)

The Perot Museum of Nature and Science at 2201 N. Field St. is the strongest rainy-day or hot-day pick for school-age kids. General admission covers all 11 exhibit halls, including the Moody Family Children's Museum, which is the one to head for with the youngest in your group. The museum typically opens Monday to Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and the official site lists general admission at $27 for adults and $17 for ages 2 to 12. The 3D film and some traveling exhibits cost extra. Parking is in Lot B under Woodall Rodgers Freeway at $15 per vehicle. Plan about three hours. Learn more about the surroundings in our Dallas Arts District guide.

Klyde Warren Park (Arts District and Downtown)

Klyde Warren Park is a 5.4-acre park built over Woodall Rodgers Freeway, linking Downtown and Uptown, and it is the easiest free stop on this list. It has the Nancy Best Fountain and the Sheila and Jody Grant Children's Park, though the children's park closes occasionally for maintenance, so check the park's site before you promise a playground. Use it as the reset button between museums: let kids run for an hour, then move on. See also Downtown and Uptown.

Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden (East Dallas)

The Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden at 8525 Garland Rd. on the shore of White Rock Lake is the best outdoor day for families with kids under 10. The Rory Meyers Children's Adventure Garden covers 8 acres, and the Children's Adventure Garden parking entrance is at 8657 Garland Rd. (Entry 3). The garden is typically open daily 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Strollers and wagons need brakes in the Children's Adventure Garden because of the terrain, and children under 16 need an adult with them. Parking is bought online and your licence plate is read at the entrance, so buy ahead. The Arboretum's seasonal festivals draw crowds, so go on a weekday when you can. More in our East Dallas and White Rock Lake guide.

Dallas Zoo (Oak Cliff)

The Dallas Zoo at 650 S. R. L. Thornton Fwy is the all-day animal option, and it is open 364 days a year, closing only on Christmas Day. Hours are typically 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., though some months close earlier and the zoo occasionally trims hours for habitat work, so read the official hours page. Tickets must be reserved online, admission starts at around $18 and varies by date, and children under 3 are free. Parking is paid; check the zoo's FAQ page for the current rate. Go early, do the animals that nap by midday first, and eat lunch before the afternoon slump. See the wider neighborhood in Oak Cliff.

The Dallas World Aquarium (West End)

The Dallas World Aquarium at 1801 N. Griffin St. in the West End is a rainforest-and-ocean building rather than a simple fish tank, with exhibits such as Mundo Maya, Orinoco, Cloud Forest Trek and Borneo. It is typically open daily 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. with last entry at 4 p.m. The official site lists adults at $34.95 and children 3 to 12 at $24.95, plus tax, with under 3 free. Parking runs roughly $8 to $15 in its lot or nearby lots, plus metered street spots. Allow two to three hours. Pair it with the West End Historic District.

The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza (West End)

The Sixth Floor Museum at 411 Elm St. covers the assassination of President John F. Kennedy and his legacy, and it suits teens and curious older kids better than small children. It is typically open Wednesday to Sunday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed Monday and Tuesday, with last entry around 4:15 p.m. Tickets are timed entry. Online prices on the official site are $24 for adults, $22 for seniors and $20 for youth, plus a $1 fee per ticket, and ages 0 to 5 are free. Parking is paid and next to the museum, and fees vary by lot. KultureCity sensory bags are available at the Visitors Center, which helps if loud or crowded spaces are hard for your child.

Children's Aquarium at Fair Park (Fair Park)

The Children's Aquarium at Fair Park, 1462 1st Ave., is built for small kids, and its outdoor Stingray Bay lets visitors feed cownose rays. It is typically open daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with last tickets at 4:30 p.m. The official site describes parking as free. Check ticket prices on its site, since we could not confirm them from the pages we read. Read more in our Fair Park guide.

Texas Discovery Gardens (Fair Park)

Texas Discovery Gardens at 3601 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. in Fair Park holds the two-story Rosine Smith Sammons Butterfly House and Insectarium, where butterflies fly free around you. It is typically open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Adults (13 and up) pay $14, children 4 to 12 pay $8, and children under 4 are free. Parking is usually free near Gate 6, but not during the State Fair of Texas. Stand still near the flowers and the butterflies come to you.

Frontiers of Flight Museum (Love Field)

Frontiers of Flight Museum at 6911 Lemmon Ave. next to Dallas Love Field is a good fit for kids who like planes, and parking is free. Hours are typically Monday to Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $20 for adults and $12 for children 3 to 12. The museum lists occasional closures for private events, so check its calendar first.

Old City Park (near Downtown)

Old City Park (formerly known as Dallas Heritage Village) at 1515 S. Harwood St. is a historic-buildings park near Downtown. Its Conservancy site says general admission is free Thursday to Sunday, the grounds are open daily 6 a.m. to 11 p.m., and select historic buildings are typically open for tours Thursday to Sunday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Special events are priced separately. It is a low-cost choice for a slow morning. Parking is not described on the official page.

Cedar Ridge Preserve (southwest Dallas)

Cedar Ridge Preserve at 7171 Mountain Creek Pkwy. is a free place to walk with kids who have energy to burn. Audubon Dallas lists about 9 miles of trails, free parking in a gravel lot and free entry, with a donation of $5 or more encouraged. It is open Tuesday to Sunday from 6:30 a.m. until sunset and closed Mondays. Trails may close when wet or during extreme heat, and bikes are not allowed. Dogs must be on a leash.

What is a good full-day route?

A good full day with kids follows one area so you spend time at attractions, not in the car. This route stays in and around the Arts District and suits school-age kids.

1. 9:30 a.m. Park in Lot B at the Perot Museum of Nature and Science and be at the doors when it opens at 10. Do the Moody Family Children's Museum first if you have under-sevens.
2. 12:30 p.m. Drive to the Dallas Farmers Market, 920 S. Harwood St., where The Market food hall is typically open daily 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and lets everyone choose their own lunch. The Shed is open weekends only.
3. 2:00 p.m. Let the kids run at Klyde Warren Park, checking in advance that the children's park is open. Spread a picnic blanket if you grabbed snacks.
4. 4:00 p.m. Leave before tired kids turn into a rough drive home, and aim to miss the evening freeway rush.

For a younger group, swap the Perot Museum for the Dallas Arboretum in the morning and head home by early afternoon.

Where do you park with kids?

Park in the lot that is closest to the front door, even if it costs more, because carrying tired kids and stroller gear across a garage is the real cost. The official sites give these figures: Perot Museum Lot B is $15 per vehicle, Dallas Zoo parking is paid, and Frontiers of Flight and the Children's Aquarium at Fair Park describe parking as free. The Dallas Arboretum reads your licence plate at entry, and The Sixth Floor Museum and The Dallas World Aquarium use paid lots nearby.

Where do you eat with kids?

The simplest answer in Dallas is a food hall, so nobody has to agree on a menu. The Dallas Farmers Market food hall at 920 S. Harwood St. is typically open daily and sits on the edge of Downtown. Otherwise, bring snacks and a picnic for Klyde Warren Park and the Arboretum, and check each attraction's website for food rules and cafe hours. Browse more options under food and dining.

When should you leave?

Leave before the mood turns, which for most kids is about three hours into a major attraction. Heat is the other factor, so see our Dallas weather page when planning summer outings, and pick indoor spots like the Perot Museum on very hot or wet days. One big stop and one small stop per day is enough.

What should you book and pack?

Book the timed tickets and parking first, then match the stops to your kids' ages.

• Reserve online first: Dallas Zoo tickets, Sixth Floor Museum timed tickets and Dallas Arboretum parking
• Under 6: Klyde Warren Park, Dallas Zoo, Children's Aquarium at Fair Park, Arboretum Children's Adventure Garden
• School-age: Perot Museum, Texas Discovery Gardens, Frontiers of Flight Museum
• Teens: The Sixth Floor Museum, The Dallas World Aquarium
• Free or low cost: Klyde Warren Park, Cedar Ridge Preserve, Old City Park (Thursday to Sunday)
• Pack: water, sunscreen, snacks, a stroller with brakes for the Arboretum's Children's Adventure Garden
• One big stop plus one small stop per day

Last verified: November 2026.

Frequently asked questions

What are the best things to do in Dallas with kids?

Top picks are the Perot Museum of Nature and Science, the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden, the Dallas Zoo, The Dallas World Aquarium and Klyde Warren Park. All are inside the City of Dallas. Choose by age: parks, animals and the Children's Adventure Garden suit younger children, while museums suit school-age kids.

What is free to do with kids in Dallas?

Klyde Warren Park is free to enter, as is Cedar Ridge Preserve, where Audubon Dallas encourages a donation of $5 or more. Old City Park offers free general admission Thursday to Sunday according to its Conservancy. Check each official site before you go.

Is the Perot Museum good for toddlers?

Yes, the Perot Museum of Nature and Science has the Moody Family Children's Museum, which is included with general admission. The official site lists youth admission for ages 2 to 12 at $17. Older kids will get more from the other exhibit halls.

Is The Sixth Floor Museum suitable for children?

The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza gives no official minimum age on its visit page, but we think it suits teens and older kids best. Children ages 0 to 5 are free. Tickets are timed entry, and sensory bags are available at the Visitors Center.

Where should you park for the Perot Museum?

The Perot Museum of Nature and Science lists parking in Lot B under Woodall Rodgers Freeway at $15 per vehicle. The museum is at 2201 N. Field St. in the Dallas Arts District.

How many days do you need for Dallas with kids?

One day is enough for a focused plan, such as the Perot Museum plus Klyde Warren Park. Two days lets you add an outdoor day at the Dallas Arboretum or the Dallas Zoo. Pick one big stop per day and leave when tiredness sets in.