What to Do in St. Louis, MO with Kids (Family Friendly Fun!)
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Hey friends! Today I am sharing about what to do in St. Louis with kids! This includes both big attractions and off-the-beaten-path favorites of our family.
St. Louis and the surrounding area has so many fun things to do for the whole family, many of them being completely free!
FUN ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS IN ST. LOUIS:
St. Louis Zoo
The Saint Louis Zoo will most likely top any list you find for what to do in St. Louis with kids, for very good reason. This is one of the best places to have an affordable and fun time. We go to the zoo at least once a month Spring – Fall and never get tired of it! And there is ZERO admission fee (it’s completely free!). If you don’t mind parking along the street, you will also get away with no parking charges.
My top recommendation is to arrive 20 – 30 minutes before the zoo opens to find close street parking. If you don’t mind paying for parking, I still recommend showing up at opening before it gets too crowded!
If you live local to STL, a zoo pass membership pays for itself very quickly. It includes parking passes, as well as other goodies like train tickets. We have found it to be very handy!
Saint Louis Science Center
The St. Louis Science Center is also completely free and wildly entertaining. If your child is 6 and under, they can take advantage of the Discovery Room (which does cost money). However, the entrance to the Discovery Room is very worth the money, in my opinion.
You do have to pay to park here and there is limited street parking. But if you arrive early, parking can usually be found along the road outside of the Science Center.
City Museum
There is no way to describe the St. Louis City Museum – you just need to go! This place is 4-stories of FUN for the whole family, with indoor playgrounds, slides, and secret passage ways weaving the whole thing together. We were there from 9am to 3pm, and still didn’t get to explore everything.
This place is NOT free, but we did find it to be well worth the money spent. We opted to buy lunch here since we’d never been, but decided pretty quickly that we will bring lunch the next time. There were not many food options, but what was there was pretty expensive and not that great.
We recently took our 8 & 5 year old here for the first time, and I got about 12k steps in following them around (lol). We saw kids of all ages, including toddlers, but the younger your kiddos are – just be prepared to follow them through tight-fitting tunnels and keep a watchful eye.
We opted to weave an airtag into our 5 year old’s shoelaces, just in case. But he actually did great!
Cardinals Game
For a very St. Louisy outdoor attraction, every kiddo should experience at least one Cardinal’s game! We love to check StubHub for cheap tickets on a nice afternoon.
This experience is made extra special if you go on a cool giveaway night!
The Magic House
Located in Chesterfield, MO, the Magic House is TONS of fun for kids. There are so many nooks and crannies and interesting things to do. This isn’t free, but worth the money!
Sophia M. Sachs Butterfly House
The Butterfly House is located in Chesterfield, MO within Faust Park. It’s actually located within Faust Park near a carousel, playground, and “historic village.” This place is a great way to entertain kiddos for a whole morning or afternoon.
And after you leave, you can bop over to the playground, carousel, or historic village.
Missouri Botanical Gardens
Indian Camp Creek Park
In the warmer months, we love to visit Indian Camp Creek park. This park has an AWESOME and expansive playground with a splash pad, and also a beautiful creek to explore.
We usually opt to wear swimsuits and water shoes when we come here, even for the playground. Highly recommend getting here early to avoid crowds.
St. Louis Union Station
The St. Louis Union Station has so much to offer! Our kiddos love feeding the koi in the center pond at St. Louis Union Station, and walking around and seeing the sights. We stopped in at the Soda Fountain while we were there for a “crazy” milkshake. This was a highlight for the kids!
Beyond this, there is also a ferris wheel and carnival games. So many fun things to find here!
Gateway Arch National Park
Be a tourist and visit the Arch! Tickets can be purchased to ride to the top, or you can simply walk around and visit the museum. Pack and picnic and have lunch on the lawn!
Forest Park Nature Playscape
My kiddos spend hours here. If you go on a warm day, there is water that runs throughout and places for the kids to wade around. We always bring sand toys for the big sandy areas, as well. This place is truly beautiful, and there is endless fun for the kids.
Staycation at Drury at the Arch
If you’re feeling extra adventurious, I highly recommend taking a staycation to the Drury at the Arch. Our kids think it’s fun to swim at the hotel pool and eat from the complimentary evening and morning food (not to mention nightly fresh popcorn!)
Staying here puts you within walking distance to the arch, river, and lots of fun restaurants.
Main Street St. Charles
A trip to Downtown St. Charles is NOT complete without a giant cookie from Grandma’s Cookies. My favorite is the chocolate chip cookie – it literally tastes like a scoop of cookie dough, but with crispy edges.
You could spend a whole morning or evening here walking around the cobblestone streets and visiting the little shops. Downtown St. Charles sits along the riverfront, so you can also grab an ice cream or coffee and enjoy a riverside stroll.
Lake St. Louis Farmer’s Market or Tower Grove Farmer’s Market
We love to visit the LSL Farmer’s market on Saturday mornings, Spring through Fall! You’ll find small business owners and makers from all over the area, including local food and beverage trucks. Come hungry!
This is a great way to get out and have fun, while also supporting local businesses!
Klondike Park
Our kids love to go to Klondike Park to play in the sand and wade around in the water. But you’ll also find multiple playgrounds, pavillions, grills, as well as hiking trails!
In the summer months, we make sure to arrive early to claim a spot for our sun umbrella near the water.
Take the Ferry to Grafton, IL
The best little day trip is catching the ferry from St. Charles into Grafton, IL. The ferry ride takes less than 10 minutes, and then you bop around Grafton!
We love visiting Pere Marquette State Park, stopping in at the Saturday Flea Market, as well as visiting local restaurants.
If you visit Pere Marquette State Park, Hickory Trail is only 1/2 mile and considered beginner-level. The trail had stunning views and look out points. We did this with our 5 and 8 year old and they did great!
Mastodon State Historic Site
Mastodon is not too far from St. Louis but feels like a world away! You can visit the museum and the creek or play on the playground.
There is also a big area within the park with lots of grills and picnic tables, so I highly recommend packing a picnic lunch or bringing grill supplies.
Historic Sandy Creek Covered Bridge
Sandy Creek Covered Bridge is such hidden little gem. We highly recommend packing some grilling supplies and having a picnic here!
Get there early on a summer morning to claim a picnic table, tour the bridge, and play in the creek.
Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center
Completely free and lots of fun for younger kids! We can spend a whole morning here. Powder Valley has several hands-on activities for the kids in the nature center. There is also a beautiful trail behind the building that loops around a gorgeous creek. The trail is completely paved and very kid friendly.
Big Joel’s Safari
Big Joel’s Safara is the perfect place to go if you’re looking for a more hands-on animal experience. You can buy food to feed the animals when you first enter. Our kids are entertained for hours running around and feeding/seeing the different animals.
I recommend bringing sunscreen and water, as there isn’t a lot of shade to be found here!
Long Row Lavender
Tour the lavender rows and grab a yummy snack/delicious coffe in the coffee shop at Long Row Lavender!
This place is beautiful and owned by a wonderful family. It’s definitely worth the visit!
Suson Park
Suson Park is completely free to walk around and see the animals. They also have a big playground and huge pond for the kids to enjoy!
River’s Edge Park
This is a fun, family-friendly walk in Chesterfield, MO. Our kids enjoy walking across the bridge and looking for bugs and wildlife.
Lone Elk State Park
Take a drive around Lone Elk State Park to see the elk roaming. We love to grab a coffee and visit in the morning!
Busch Wildlife
Take a drive around Busch Wildlife and explore the different trails and ponds.
St. Louis Aquarium
Grant’s Farm
Tower Grove Park
Turtle Park
Local Splash Pad or Swimming Pool
We love to visit Blanchette Park in St. Charles!
Local Library
Visit one of your local libraries! STL libraries have lots of fun little activities for younger kids, including hands-on games and scavenger hunts. They also frequently have events and book readings, so check your local library’s calendar!
Laumeier Sculpture Park
Take a Camping Trip Nearby
One of our favorite spots is Johnson Shut-Ins, but this does take some planning to grab a spot. We love the walk-in sites here.
But there are several parks with camping spots around the area! It doesn’t have to be somewhere far away to be magical.
Check out Fun 4 Kids STL to look for local events
I hope this list gives you some great ideas on what to do in St. Louis with kids!
Have fun!
Courtney
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