Things to Do in Phoenix With Kids: A Parent's Day Plan

At a glance

Where: All twelve picks are inside the City of Phoenix, Arizona, from Papago Park and Midtown to Downtown and Desert Ridge
Best ages: Toddlers to teens; the guide sorts each pick by age
Hours: Typically mid-morning to late afternoon; several close by 4 p.m., so check each official site before you go
Cost: Many places charge per child; Enchanted Island and Steele Indian School Park are free to enter, and Phoenix Art Museum has a pay-what-you-wish window

Phoenix has easy family days built around a few big museums and one desert garden, and the trick is choosing two or three places, not six. For toddlers and preschoolers, start with the Children's Museum of Phoenix or Enchanted Island; for school-age kids, Phoenix Zoo, Desert Botanical Garden, Arizona Science Center and the Musical Instrument Museum do the most work. Most are inside the City of Phoenix, and every address below is in Phoenix proper.

One rule beats all the others: the desert sets your schedule. Go outdoors early, go inside by lunch, and be heading home before the late afternoon crush. Check Phoenix weather before you pick the outdoor stops.

How we chose

We started with the places parents ask about most, then confirmed each one against its own official website for current opening status, address and kid-friendly details. We dropped anything we could not confirm, anything that only works for adults, and anything outside Phoenix city limits. Hours and prices change, so treat every number as typical and check the official site before you leave the house.

Which pick suits which age?

Babies and toddlers do best at the Children's Museum of Phoenix and Enchanted Island, ages 4 to 8 do well at Phoenix Zoo, Hall of Flame Fire Museum and Arizona Science Center, and kids 9 and up usually enjoy the Musical Instrument Museum, Heard Museum and Desert Botanical Garden most. Use this as a rough guide, not a rule; every child is different.

Under 5: Children's Museum of Phoenix, Enchanted Island, Steele Indian School Park, Phoenix Art Museum storytime and family days
Ages 5 to 9: Phoenix Zoo, Arizona Science Center, Hall of Flame Fire Museum, Hole-in-the-Rock in Papago Park
Ages 10 and up: Musical Instrument Museum, Heard Museum, Desert Botanical Garden, Japanese Friendship Garden

The twelve picks

Desert Botanical Garden (Papago Park)

Desert Botanical Garden, at 1201 N. Galvin Parkway in Phoenix, is typically open daily from 7 a.m., which makes it our favourite cool-morning stop in Phoenix. It lists about 4,800 plant species and 55,000 plants, and most trails are stroller-friendly. Kids can follow seasonal scavenger hunts and hands-on activities. Parking is free on site, with overflow parking at peak times. Outside picnic food is not permitted, but Garden Grab and Go is on site. Check dbg.org for admission, which is priced separately for children 2 to 17, and for the monthly pay-what-you-can Community Day.

Phoenix Zoo (Papago Park)

Phoenix Zoo, at 455 N. Galvin Parkway, is the most obvious pick for ages 3 to 10. Hours change with the season, with earlier, shorter days in summer and typically 9 a.m. to 4 or 5 p.m. in cooler months. Children 3 to 13 have their own ticket price, and guests under 14 need an accompanying guest 14 or older. Experiences such as the Lakeside Carousel, Safari Cruiser, Stingray Bay and Giraffe Encounter are listed separately from general admission, so check which carry a fee and decide in the car how many you will say yes to. Details are at phoenixzoo.org.

Hall of Flame Fire Museum (Papago Park)

Hall of Flame Fire Museum, at 6101 E. Van Buren St., is typically open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., with last admission at 5 p.m. It is a good one-hour stop for kids who love fire trucks, and it is closed Sunday and Monday. Children 3 to 5 and students 6 to 17 have their own ticket prices. See hallofflame.org.

Hole-in-the-Rock (Papago Park)

Hole-in-the-Rock, at 625 N. Galvin Parkway in Papago Park, is a butte with a large wind-eroded hole that kids can scramble up to and look through, with views over the Phoenix area. The City of Phoenix lists no entry fee and gives trailhead hours as 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. Parking can fill on busy weekends, so go early. Details are on the City of Phoenix Papago Park page.

Heard Museum (Midtown)

Heard Museum, at 2301 N. Central Ave., is typically open daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. from September through May, and closed Mondays in summer. The Heardlings Family Activity Room at the Heard Museum in Phoenix was designed with Indigenous artists: kids draw on a board that lights up, decorate a giant O'odham olla at the Illustration Station and watch iPad stories in the Story Circle. A Family Map and Kids Activity Guide help pace the galleries. Parking is free on site during museum hours, and the Courtyard Cafe serves lunch. Details at heard.org.

Phoenix Art Museum (Midtown)

Phoenix Art Museum, at 1625 N. Central Ave., is closed Monday and Tuesday and is typically open Wednesday through Sunday. Pay-What-You-Wish Wednesday runs from 3 to 8 p.m., children 5 and under are free, and parking is free north of the main entrance. Create Playdate runs every Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Kids Day is the second Sunday of each month, and storytime for ages 0 to 5 is the first Thursday of the month. Strollers are allowed. Galleries are dry zones, except for baby bottles and sippy cups. See phxart.org.

Musical Instrument Museum (Desert Ridge)

Musical Instrument Museum, known as MIM, at 4725 E. Mayo Blvd. in the Desert Ridge area of north Phoenix, is typically open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and it may use timed-ticket entry, so book ahead. The Experience Gallery lets kids play instruments from around the world, and free loaner strollers are available at Guest Service. Wagons must be checked, and outside food and drink, including water, are not allowed. Beats Coffee Bar sells kids' packs, and Cafe Allegro serves lunch from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. See mim.org for ticket details.

Children's Museum of Phoenix (Downtown)

Children's Museum of Phoenix, at 215 N. 7th St. in Downtown Phoenix, is designed for ages birth to 10, with dedicated baby and toddler spaces. Parking is free on site. Hours are typically 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Check childrensmuseumofphoenix.org for the current schedule and admission.

Arizona Science Center (Downtown)

Arizona Science Center, at 600 E. Washington St., is typically open Tuesday through Sunday from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Its kid spaces include the Learning Lab on Level 1, the Evans Family SkyCycle on Level 2 and CaveScape on Level 3. The Dorrance Planetarium, Giant Screen Theater and CaveScape are listed separately from general admission. Parking is in the Heritage and Science Park Garage at Fifth and Monroe streets, and the Arizona Science Center validates passes there for a discounted rate; see azscience.org.

Japanese Friendship Garden Ro Ho En (Downtown)

Japanese Friendship Garden Ro Ho En, at 1125 N. 3rd Ave., is typically open Tuesday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., with last admission at 5:30 p.m. Ages 6 and under are free. It is a calm, short stop for older kids who need a break from noise. See japanesefriendshipgarden.org.

Enchanted Island (Encanto Park)

Enchanted Island amusement park, at 1202 W. Encanto Blvd. in Encanto Park, never charges to enter; you buy ride tickets, ride books or an all-day ride wristband. Eleven rides are aimed at ages 1 to 10, including a historic carousel. Days and hours are limited, and not every weekday is listed, so confirm at enchantedisland.com before driving over.

Steele Indian School Park (Central Phoenix)

Steele Indian School Park, at 300 E. Indian School Rd., is a 72-acre city park with a playground, open typically from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. The City of Phoenix lists no entry fee, and it is the easiest place on this list to burn off energy between museums. See the City of Phoenix park page.

Where to park

Parking is free at Desert Botanical Garden, Heard Museum, Phoenix Art Museum and Children's Museum of Phoenix, and free loaner strollers are a good reason to start at MIM. Downtown, Arizona Science Center uses the Heritage and Science Park Garage, where validation gets you a discount, and paid lots are common. At Papago Park, arrive early on weekends.

Where to eat with kids

The easiest lunch is the one on site. Desert Botanical Garden has Garden Grab and Go, Heard Museum has the Courtyard Cafe, and MIM has Beats Coffee Bar kids' packs and Cafe Allegro for lunch. For a downtown dinner with older kids, Pizzeria Bianco at 623 E. Adams St. in The Square PHX (Heritage Square) is typically open Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. It takes no reservations and no takeout, and its page does not describe a kids menu, so call 602-258-8300 first. More options are in our food and dining listings.

What is a good full-day route?

A good full day for ages 5 to 12 uses the Papago Park cluster in the morning and Central Avenue in the afternoon, and you are heading home by 4 p.m.

8:00 a.m.: Desert Botanical Garden, while the desert is cool. Aim for about two hours.
10:30 a.m.: Hole-in-the-Rock, a short scramble and a good place to burn off energy.
11:30 a.m.: Lunch. Eat at Garden Grab and Go before you leave Papago Park, or pack a picnic for the car.
12:30 p.m.: Hall of Flame Fire Museum, about an hour, a few minutes away.
2:00 p.m.: Drive to Midtown for Heard Museum, or Phoenix Art Museum on a Saturday for Create Playdate. Both close by 5 p.m. or earlier, so leave by 3:30 p.m.
4:00 p.m.: Head home. Kids with energy left can detour to Steele Indian School Park.

This route skips the zoo on purpose. The zoo deserves its own day, and combining it with the garden usually ends in tears. If you only have time for one outing with a young child, pick the Children's Museum of Phoenix and add Enchanted Island or Steele Indian School Park.

What should you check before you leave the house?

Five habits make a Phoenix family day go smoothly.

Go outdoors first; be indoors by lunch.
Check hours the morning you go; several places close at 4 p.m.
Bring a refillable bottle everywhere except MIM, where outside drinks, including water, are not allowed.
Pick one extra at the zoo, not four.
Leave while everyone is still happy.

More places to explore are in our areas guide.

Last verified: November 2026.

Frequently asked questions

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

Phoenix Zoo, Desert Botanical Garden, Children's Museum of Phoenix, Arizona Science Center and Musical Instrument Museum are the main family stops, and all are inside the City of Phoenix. Choose by age: the Children's Museum suits ages birth to 10, and MIM suits older children.

What are free things to do with kids in Phoenix?

Steele Indian School Park, Hole-in-the-Rock in Papago Park and Enchanted Island's entrance are free to enter. Phoenix Art Museum has a pay-what-you-wish window on Wednesdays from 3 to 8 p.m., and children 5 and under are free.

Is Phoenix Zoo good for toddlers?

Yes. Phoenix Zoo in Papago Park suits toddlers if you go early and keep the visit short; guests under 14 must be with an accompanying guest 14 or older. Hours change with the season, so check phoenixzoo.org before you go.

What can toddlers do indoors in Phoenix?

Children's Museum of Phoenix at 215 N. 7th St. is designed for ages birth to 10 and has dedicated baby and toddler spaces. Parking is free on site, and hours are typically 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Can I bring food into the Musical Instrument Museum?

No. Musical Instrument Museum in Phoenix does not allow outside food or drink, including water. Cafe Allegro serves lunch from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Beats Coffee Bar sells kids' packs.

A Family Day in Phoenix: Where to Take Kids, by Age