Updated November 2026 by Erin Huiatt, Des Moines Parent · Original list by guest blogger Ashlen Sheaffer
Quick answer: The best things to do in Des Moines with kids include the Science Center of Iowa and Blank Park Zoo in Des Moines, the bison and natural playscape at Jester Park in Granger, Gray’s Lake, Living History Farms in Urbandale and Adventureland in Altoona. Many favorites are FREE, like the State Historical Museum, the downtown skywalk and dozens of metro parks and splash pads.
Looking for something to do this weekend? You are not alone! Every day, parents across the metro ask the same question, so we’ve rounded up 105 of the very best things to do in Des Moines with kids, sorted by type so you can find the right fit fast.
Bookmark these other Des Moines Parent guides too: Indoor Play for Kids in Des Moines, the FREE Des Moines Parent Event Calendar, Top 10 Parks in the Des Moines Metro and FREE Things to Do in Des Moines.
Top 10 picks at a glance
| Place | Town | Known for | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Science Center of Iowa | Des Moines | Hands-on exhibits and a dome theater | Rainy days, all ages |
| Blank Park Zoo | Des Moines | Animals, plus feedings and events | Toddlers to tweens |
| Jester Park | Granger | Bison and elk, natural playscape, nature center | Free outdoor fun |
| Gray’s Lake Park | Des Moines | 2-mile loop and lighted bridge | Walks, bikes, strollers |
| Living History Farms | Urbandale | 1700s–1900s working farms | History lovers |
| State Historical Museum of Iowa | Des Moines | Free museum by the Capitol | Free indoor fun |
| Adventureland | Altoona | Rides and water park | Summer days |
| Iowa State Fair | Des Moines | Animals, rides, food | August tradition |
| Raccoon River Park | West Des Moines | Beach, playgrounds, spray pad | Summer afternoons |
| Downtown Farmers’ Market | Des Moines | Saturday market with food and music | Summer mornings |
Parks, trails and outdoor fun
1. Water Works Park (Des Moines). Don’t miss the Reichardt Family Natural Play Area, where kids can climb, dig and explore.
2. Jester Park (Granger). Hiking trails, bison and elk, a natural playscape and a nature center with free admission and educational programs.
3. Mini golf at Jester Park (Granger). A fun round after hiking or seeing the bison.
4. Ashby Park (Des Moines). A toddler playground, tennis courts, swings for big kids and a wading pool. A true summer tradition!
5. Raccoon River Park (West Des Moines). A paved trail, playgrounds, a spray pad and a beach.
6. Union Park carousel (Des Moines). Ride the carousel, then explore one of the metro’s gem parks.
7. Gray’s Lake Park (Des Moines). Walk the 2-mile loop, rent paddle boats and play on the beach. See our guide.
8. Greenwood Park (Des Moines). Pair it with the Ashworth splash ground on a hot day.
9. Colby Park (Windsor Heights). A neighborhood favorite with lots of room to run.
10. Walker-Johnston Park (Urbandale). Check out our park visit.
11. Fox Creek Splash Park (Waukee). One of the best splash parks in the metro.
12. Ashworth Pool (Des Moines). A classic summer swim. Find more in our pools and aquatic centers guide.
13. Natural playscapes. Splash and play at one of these natural playscapes around central Iowa.
14. Bike trails. Central Iowa has miles and miles of paved trails, great for exercise or a family ride.
15. High Trestle Trail bridge (Madrid–Woodward). Bike, walk or run the trail, or just visit the lit-up bridge at night.
16. Principal Riverwalk (downtown Des Moines). Follow the riverwalk to Principal Park and catch an Iowa Cubs game.
17. Lauridsen Skatepark (downtown Des Moines). One of the largest skateparks in the country. Read our guide.
18. Sledding at Waveland Golf Course (Des Moines). Best. Sledding. Hills. EVER. More spots in our sledding guide.
19. Feed the ducks. Resthaven Cemetery in West Des Moines has real ducks!
20. Fly a kite on a windy day. Any open park field works.
21. Saylorville Visitor Center (near Johnston). Exhibits, trails and lake views. See our Saylorville Lake guide.
22. Butterfly garden at Saylorville (near Johnston). Visit in summer, when the butterflies are most active.
23. Saylorville spillway at night. A fun spot to look at the stars and the water.
24. Big Creek State Park (Polk City). Beach, trails and a big playground. Plan your visit.
25. Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge (Prairie City). Walk the 2-mile loop and look for bison. See our guide.
26. Camping. Try it in your backyard first, or head to a campground. Tips for booking camping trips.
Museums, art and learning
27. Science Center of Iowa (downtown Des Moines). Always a popular spot! Read our guide.
28. Star observation night. The Science Center visits metro parks for stargazing events. Watch the event calendar.
29. Des Moines Art Center (Des Moines). Free admission and plenty for kids to see.
30. Pappajohn Sculpture Park (downtown Des Moines). Hours of free fun around giant sculptures. More free downtown fun.
31. South Des Moines Sculpture Park (Des Moines).
32. Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden (Des Moines). Beautiful in every season. See the family perks of membership.
33. Living History Farms (Urbandale). Walk through working farms from three centuries. Read our guide.
34. Iowa State Capitol (Des Moines). Climb the spiral staircases, then explore the grounds. How to tour the Capitol.
35. State Historical Museum of Iowa (Des Moines). FREE admission! Plan your visit.
36. Des Moines Children’s Museum. The museum left Valley West Mall in October 2026. It’s playing in a temporary Urbandale home while its permanent West Des Moines location is built. See its programs.
37. Franklin Avenue Library (Des Moines). Storytimes during the week and plenty of activities for kids.
38. Central Library (downtown Des Moines). Visit the kids’ area, then walk to the Pappajohn Sculpture Park nearby.
39. Storytimes outdoors in the park. Check your local library for outdoor storytimes.
40. Local bookstores. Visit one of the metro’s independent bookstores.
41. The Learning Post. Amazingly cool, educational toys and products.
Indoor and rainy-day fun
42. Go to a movie. Several theaters have mid-morning showings for parents with little ones and summer family movie deals. Find discounted movies.
43. B&B Theatres ScreenPlay (Ankeny). A movie theater with a play area built right in. See what it’s like.
44. Downtown skywalk (Des Moines). On cold weekends, let the kids run off energy in almost 4 miles of heated skywalk. Our skywalk guide.
45. Roller skating. Find a rink in our places to skate guide.
46. Bowling. A classic rainy-day pick. Where to bowl.
47. Ice skating. Indoor rinks in winter and outdoor rinks downtown. Where to skate.
48. Sky Zone (Urbandale). Trampolines, dodgeball and foam pits.
49. Urban Air (Ankeny). One of our favorite places to jump and burn off steam. Read our review.
50. Climb Iowa (Grimes). Indoor rock climbing for kids and grown-ups.
51. Smash Park (West Des Moines). Fun for the whole family, with games and food. See our guide.
52. Mall play areas. They open when the malls open for walkers, so they’re great for early risers.
53. Valley Community Center (West Des Moines). FREE indoor play and fun for kids. Learn more.
54. Bass Pro Shops (Altoona). So much to see, from fish tanks to wildlife displays. Why kids love it.
55. Indoor water parks. There are several within driving distance of Des Moines. See the list.
Animals and farms
56. Blank Park Zoo (Des Moines). See the animals or catch one of the special events. Tips for visiting with young kids.
57. Center Grove Orchard (Cambridge). Apple picking, strawberry picking, farm animals and fall fun. See our guide.
58. Berry picking. Find a farm in early summer. Strawberry picking near Des Moines.
59. Pumpkin patches. There are MANY just outside the metro. See our list.
60. Meet furry animals. Here’s a giant list of places to see animals around Des Moines.
61. Horseback riding. A memorable treat for horse-loving kids.
62. Paws & Pints. Grab your furry friend and head to Paws & Pints to play with your pup.
Festivals and seasonal traditions
63. Iowa State Fair (Des Moines, August). Animals, rides and food on a stick! Our guide for kids.
64. Des Moines Arts Festival (downtown, June). Kids’ activities to look for.
65. St. Patrick’s Day Parade (Des Moines, March).
66. 4th of July parades. There are parades all around the metro. Check the event calendar for this year’s list.
67. Beaverdale Fall Festival (Des Moines).
68. Drake Relays (Des Moines, April).
69. National Balloon Classic (Indianola, July–August). Tips for families.
70. Adventureland (Altoona). Amusement rides, water fun and more! Find discounted tickets.
71. Downtown Farmers’ Market (Saturdays, May–October). Grab breakfast and listen to live music. Central Iowa farmers markets.
72. Valley Junction Farmers’ Market (West Des Moines, Thursday evenings in summer).
73. Winter Market. Shop local all winter long.
74. Movies in the park. Check local parks for outdoor movies after dark.
75. Summer concert series. There are so many to choose from! Outdoor live music in Des Moines.
76. Jolly Holiday Lights (Water Works Park). A drive-through holiday light show.
77. Festival of Trees and Lights (Des Moines). A holiday tradition.
78. Ashby Drive at Christmastime (Des Moines). A neighborhood famous for its holiday lights.
79. Free fishing weekend. Here’s how it works.
80. Garage sales. Take a walk around pretty much any neighborhood in the spring.
Sports and shows
81. Iowa Cubs game (Principal Park, Des Moines). Tips for cheering on the I-Cubs.
82. Iowa Wild, Iowa Wolves or Iowa Barnstormers game (Casey’s Center, Des Moines). Hockey, basketball and indoor football right downtown.
83. A play at the Des Moines Playhouse (Des Moines). Don’t miss the Adventure Clubhouse shows made just for kids.
Food and treats
84. Snookies Malt Shop (Des Moines). Legendary ice cream. More ice cream shops.
85. Christopher’s Restaurant (Beaverdale). A nice dinner out, with SUPER kid-friendly service.
86. Breakfast at Hy-Vee. Kid-friendly, cheap and a great excuse to get the grocery shopping done.
87. Zombie Burger + Drink Lab (East Village, Des Moines). Over-the-top burgers and shakes.
88. Hurts Donut Co. (West Des Moines). Donuts that are WAY over the top, open 24 hours. More Des Moines donut shops.
89. Chocolate Storybook (West Des Moines). A storybook cottage full of handmade chocolates.
90. Valley Junction (West Des Moines). Stroll the shops, grab a treat and people-watch.
91. Family-friendly breweries. Yes, really! Here’s our list.
Give back together
92. Meals from the Heartland. Pack meals for hungry families as a family volunteer project.
93. National Night Out (August). The perfect time to meet local first responders. Learn more.
Day trips from Des Moines
94. Ledges State Park (Boone, about 50 minutes). Canyons, creek walks and trails. Park visit.
95. Reiman Gardens (Ames, about 35 minutes). Visit the butterfly wing and the gnomes!
96. Boone & Scenic Valley Railroad (Boone, about 50 minutes). Take a train ride, or pedal the rails with Rail Explorers.
97. Pammel Park (Winterset, about 40 minutes). See our park visit.
98. Bridges of Madison County (Winterset, about 40 minutes). A fun day trip!
99. Valle Drive-In (Newton, about 35 minutes). A bucket-list drive-in movie.
100. Tulip Time Festival (Pella, about 45 minutes, May). Plan your trip.
101. Honey Creek Resort (Moravia, about 1 hour 45 minutes). A family getaway in every season.
102. Iowa Children’s Museum (Coralville, about 1 hour 45 minutes). So worth the drive! Eat, drink and play in Iowa City.
103. National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium (Dubuque, about 3 hours). Our Dubuque adventure.
104. Maquoketa Caves State Park (Maquoketa, about 3 hours). Explore real caves with flashlights.
105. The Grotto of the Redemption (West Bend, about 2 hours). Not the most fun for little kids (there’s a no-touching rule!), but amazing for older ones.
Tips for exploring Des Moines with kids
- Check the free list first. Many favorites cost nothing, including the State Historical Museum, the Art Center, the Sculpture Park, the skywalk and most parks.
- Use your library card. Many metro libraries offer free museum passes. Ask at your branch.
- Have a rainy-day backup. The museum and indoor sections of this list work great when the weather turns.
- Plan around the seasons. Save the festivals for summer, pumpkin patches for fall and lights for December.
- Bookmark the calendar. Our FREE event calendar is updated every week.
More from Des Moines Parent
Keep the fun going with our guides to Indoor Play for Kids in Des Moines, Top 10 Parks in the Des Moines Metro, FREE Things to Do in Des Moines and FREE Things to Do in Downtown Des Moines. Want weekend plans in your inbox every Monday? Sign up for DSM Weekly!
Frequently asked questions
Top picks include the Science Center of Iowa, Blank Park Zoo, Jester Park in Granger, Gray’s Lake, Living History Farms in Urbandale and Adventureland in Altoona.
The State Historical Museum of Iowa, the Des Moines Art Center, the Pappajohn Sculpture Park, the downtown skywalk, Jester Park’s nature center and most metro parks and splash pads are free.
Try the Science Center of Iowa, B&B Theatres ScreenPlay in Ankeny, Urban Air in Ankeny, Climb Iowa in Grimes, Smash Park in West Des Moines or a walk through the heated downtown skywalk.
Mall play areas, library storytimes, the Valley Community Center in West Des Moines and the Des Moines Children’s Museum are great for little ones.
Reiman Gardens in Ames (about 35 minutes), the Boone & Scenic Valley Railroad, Pella’s Tulip Time, Winterset’s covered bridges and the Iowa Children’s Museum in Coralville are all easy family trips.
The museum left Valley West Mall in October 2026. It’s in a temporary Urbandale home while its permanent West Des Moines location is built. The temporary address is 4101 NW Urbandale Drive.
Check the free Des Moines Parent event calendar and the weekly Fun Things To Do in Des Moines This Weekend post, or sign up for DSM Weekly to get the list every Monday.
