Kansas City Family Activities | Affordable and Fun!
Kansas City, no matter if you are in Missouri or Kansas, offers tons of family-friendly activities! The “City of Fountains” continues to grow and attract families each year. If you have been in Kansas City for a while or just moved here you will quickly learn that this city bustles with activity all year long. My family and I love adventuring around our great city and visiting something new all the time! I’ve complied a list of some of our favorites, plus some tips along the way to help you plan a successful outing. Links for all the attractions are listed at the end!
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Union Station, Kansas City (Squarespace stock image)
Here are my top 15 Kansas City family activities that are both affordable and fun!
Kaleidoscope
A huge favorite in our house is Kaleidoscope, the free imagination art workshop at Crown Center. My kids love going to Kaleidoscope to make puzzles, paint with melted crayons, and use all the quality Hallmark stickers. It’s a maker’s space heaven! Grab a free parking validation ticket when you check in for up to 2 hours of free parking. There is a great “Lunch Land” next to the elevators that we like to visit after attending Kaleidoscope. We pack a snack or lunch and then play in this giant lunch room with large climbable structures. Super fun for a free day out of the house!
We like to take a small umbrella stroller for my toddler to get from the parking garage to Kaleidoscope. We also take our “tiny backpacks” that fit a change of clothes, water bottle, and snack to enjoy afterward in the lunch room.
You must make a reservation online to attend Kaleidoscope.
Pro tip: Park in the parking garage right next to the ice skating rink at Crown Center (east of Grand Blvd. on blue level) Take the elevator down to the third floor, turn left, and walk down the hall until you get to the glass doors. Then you can walk through the doors and be at the entrance of Kaleidoscope.
2. Penguin Park
The giant penguin statue says it all! When I worked for a summer daycare program we would always take our group of school-age kids to this fun park and pack a picnic lunch. There’s even a 26-foot kangaroo slide! This park is perfect for all ages and has picnic tables, a shelter house, and restrooms.
4124 NE Vivion Rd, Kansas City, MO 64119
3. Northern Miniature Railroad
Do you have a train lover? Your kid will lose their mind over this tiny train ride in the Northland, Kansas City Northern Railroad! Plus, it’s crazily affordable at only $0.75 per ride! (YES - three quarters!!) My family and I loved our trip to this local attraction in North K.C. It is lead by all volunteers and retired train conductors. It’s the sweetest little mini train and my kids can’t wait to return.
Open from May - September on Saturdays 10 AM - 6 PM and Sundays 12 PM - 6 PM
CASH ONLY (or quarters!)
4. Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead
This was one of my family’s annual memberships and it was so worth it! Deanna Rose is an interactive experience from the moment you walk through the big red barn. There are over 250 animals to see and you can even touch and feed some! My kids love feeding the baby goats a bottle and fishing in the pond. The Farmstead includes a one-room schoolhouse, main street shops (ice cream anyone?), a blacksmith, multiple playgrounds, a dairy barn, and so much more. It’s super affordable at only $5 per person (free under age 2 or after 2 PM). You can pack a picnic (my favorite toddler lunch boxes and our freezeable lunchbags) and eat at the tables and playground outside of the Farmstead, or purchase food inside. The food options are very affordable and kid-friendly. We always take a stroller or wagon for when the kids tire out.
Pro tip: Check out their free admission weekends for an even more affordable family-friendly activity in Kansas City! Every day is free after 2:00 PM!
5. Kidscape - Johnson County Museum
Let your imagination run free at Kidscape! Kids from infants to early elementary will enjoy this hands-on immersive children’s museum. Travel through time from the 1870s farmstead to the 1900s city, all the way to the suburban 1950s. Serve up burgers in the diner, collect eggs from chickens, pack a covered wagon, perform a play, or teach a lesson in the schoolhouse. This one-room history experience is great for parents who need to watch multiple kids at once without having to come and go. It even has stroller parking and a family restroom.
This affordable family activity is only $6 for adults and $4 for children (under age 1 is free). There is also a max daily fee of $23 per family which is SUPER helpful for large families! Admission price also gives you access to the entire Johnson County Museum, so it makes for a great family adventure for all ages.
6. Crown Center Showplace
We’ve already talked about Kaleidoscope, but there are so many other family-friendly activities in Crown Center. Ice skating, Sea Life Aquarium, and Legoland are all located east of Grand Blvd., but inside Crown Center you can find retail shops, restaurants (like Fritz’s), The Coterie Theater, and exhibits. My kids and I love venturing to Crown Center when they have a free exhibit in the Crown Center Showplace.
We have attended Animal Tales & Trails and Curious George: Let’s Get Curious! exhibits in this Showplace as well as visiting Santa here during Gingerbread Station. These free exhibits, open to all ages, are always interactive and they get us out of the house for the morning. I recommend a stroller for little ones as you will have to go through the parking garage and take the elevator down to Level 1. They have stroller parking outside of the Showplace.
From February 11 -May 7, 2023, they will have the Funville exhibit featuring different occupations for kids to explore! We plan to go soon after it opens!
Pro Tip: The Showplace exhibit is right next to The Coterie Theater, by the escalators on the south end of Crown Center. Like all Crown Center activities, pick up a free parking validation for up to 3 hours. You can even get an additional 3 hours of parking for free when you spend $25 or more on the same day inside Crown Center. Just go to Customer Service and present your receipts for a 6-hour parking validation ticket.
7. Old Shawnee Town
The metro of Kansas City probably offers even more affordable family-friendly activities than inside the city limits of Kansas City. With so many great suburbs, you can find local history in each Kansas City metro city. In Shawnee, Kansas, you can experience what life was like in this historic town in 1929. Children can engage in farm life, take a guided tour, feed chickens, explore a 1920s home, or even take a ukulele class! My family and I have often walked around Old Shawnee town for different Shawnee festivals and events, like the city’s Historical Hauntings or Craft Fair.
There is a park right next to Old Shawnee Town where you can sit down for a picnic or you can walk downtown in Shawnee for a gelato or lunch!
Affordable admission to Old Shawnee Town is only $5 for adults, $3 for children, and free for children under 5. Get a hands-on outdoor experience in Kansas City for the whole family!
8. The City Market at KC River Market
Before we moved to Kansas City, I loved driving in from Lawrence to visit the iconic City Market. This outdoor open-air market farmer’s market is the biggest in the area. It’s the best place to visit to find local and exotic produce, flowers, gifts, spices, and so much more. Make it a Saturday family event by packing a stroller and walking around to sample the amazing products. They often host special events so keep an eye on their calendar!
Pro Tip: You can ride the Kansas City Streetcar for free! It runs from the River Market all the way to Union station (and further coming soon).
9. Splash Cove at Jim Allen Aquatic Center
We decided to purchase a pool pass last year and it was the highlight of our summer! We will definitely be doing it again this year. One of our favorite pools for children in Kansas City is Splash Cove in Shawnee. This fun pool has a mini wave pool, water slides for all ages, an interactive water playground, and a big conch shell that dumps water every few minutes. My kids LOVED it and I loved that it wore them out each morning before lunch and naps. Win-Win!
They have a toddler (under age 7) swim time in the morning from 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM during the week and this was the perfect time for us to go. They have a concession stand open during open swim times and large restrooms with changing stalls/showers. We take our Radio Flyer Wagon to haul the beach bag, and pool toys, and both kids to and from the pool. It also can be used as a nap spot with the removable sunshade if you have a little who needs to rest. We will definitely be purchasing a pool pass again this year!
Shawnee residents pay $6 each while non-residents pay $10 for admission. It is only $5 from 6-8 PM Monday-Friday for twilight hours.
10. Union Station
One of the most iconic sites in Kansas City has to be Union Station. It can also be an affordable family activity! Union Station houses Science City, the Planetarium, and a rotating exhibit like MAYA the Exhibition. If you want to plan a super affordable family trip to Union Station you can visit the Model Train Gallery for free or the other free exhibits around Union Station. Then take in a movie at the giant Regnier Extreme Screen (matinee tickets for $5). Simply walking through Union Station is an experience in itself. My kids love looking at the different exhibits and seeing a real train station.
Union Station also hosts events each year like Holiday Reflections. We attended this past year and it was nice, but not worth the ticket price in my opinion for a family with little ones. It would be a really fun activity for pre-teens or teens as it offers tons of winter or Christmas-themed photo ops!
You can save a lot of money on Science City tickets by purchasing a Pogo Pass KC, where you get access to multiple KC attractions for one low price. My link will save you 50% off on your Pogo Pass KC or use code KIDSINKC at checkout!
Parking is free for up to 30 minutes but then maxes out at $15 after 8 hours.
11. Overland Park Arboretum
One of the most underrated outdoor experiences in Kansas City is the Arboretum! The Overland Park Arboretum is one of the most affordable family activities in Kansas City at just $2 for ages 6-17, $5 over age 18, and free under age 6. Gorgeous botanical gardens, plenty of walking paths and trails, a visitor’s center, a train exhibit, a nature playscape, and lots of open grassy areas to play. This is a stroller-friendly place to walk and we didn’t have any issues with our double stroller. Both times I have taken my kids it has been over 90 degrees, so I want to plan a spring trip this year to experience the flowers in bloom and cooler temperatures.
The Arboretum hosts a fabulous winter-lighted luminary walk tour so be sure to add that to your holiday calendar!
12. Shawnee Mission Park
We love Shawnee Mission Park! From the inclusive playground to the walking/hiking trails, a pirate ship park, disc golf, a dog park, a lake, multiple covered shelters, and more this park has it all! We even got our family photos taken here in the fall and they are my favorite. I’m excited to try the beach at Shawnee Mission Park this summer but until then we will continue to visit the large, gated playground often! I was amazed by how much my kids loved climbing on the ropes at the playground.
Pro Tip: The restrooms are closed during the off-season but portable restrooms are available.
7900 Renner Road Shawnee, KS 66219 - Learn more about this specific park here!
13. Rainbow of the Heartland
A hidden gem for indoor play! Rainbow of the Heartland in Olathe is truly genius. A showroom of high-quality playsets, trampolines, and basketball hoops is all you need for a full day of fun. My kids absolutely loved it on a rainy day when we couldn’t get outside to play. They allow you to bring in water or even pack a lunch. There is a snack room (also a birthday party space) along with picnic tables in the main play area. We had a ton of fun on our visit! I also learned that my daughter is terrified of trampolines and my son is fearless at climbing!
At only $7.50 a child for up to 7 hours of indoor play, this is a huge win for families.
You can save even more money on Rainbow of the Heartland tickets by purchasing a Pogo Pass KC, where you get access to multiple KC attractions for one low price. My link will save you 50% off on your Pogo Pass KC or use code KIDSINKC at checkout!
14. Roe Park Splash Pad
Affordable? How about absolutely free?! The splash pad at Roe Park in Overland Park is perfect for a hot summer day. Roe Park has lots of grassy areas to run around, tennis courts, bike/hiking trails, multiple playgrounds, shelter houses, and a splash pad. It’s great for families with kids of all ages! Kansas City has tons of beautiful parks and my kids loved playing at this splash pad. There were even FOUR birthday parties going on at the time we were there and it didn’t get too crowded.
The water features on the splash pad aren’t super wild like some parks. My kids don’t like it when the water flies around and gets in the eyes (I mean, who does?). So this was a great water feature! This park also has a clean restroom facility for quick changes out of swimsuits before heading home. We always take our wagon to easily transport our park bag and kids to and from the park. Plus, since we didn’t have to pay for this splash pad, there was no pressure to stay a long time!
10400 Roe Overland Park, Kansas 66207
15. Wonderscope Children’s Museum
Last but not least, one of my family’s favorite activities is Wonderscope in Kansas City, Missouri. While it is the most expensive item on this list, it’s worth the cost of admission! This children’s museum is all about hands-on, interactive learning. My kids always look forward to a trip to Wonderscope in Kansas City. As their mom, I also really enjoy going and seeing them explore! There is a sweet baby and toddler section for little crawlers or walking toddlers. Stroller parking is available by the restrooms (which are large) and there is a small nook for nursing mothers. We have never had an issue taking our double stroller.
You can spend a lot of time at Wonderscope! With indoor and outdoor play options, you can meet any kid’s needs. We usually go first thing when it opens and bring lunch. There is a lunch room to use with lots of seating, including high chairs and toddler chairs. They offer classes each day that you can sign up for at the front desk for additional fun!
Wonderscope is a great bang for your buck with so many things to explore. If you have an imaginative or creative child this children’s museum will interest them for many years. I’ve been with groups of children aged 8-10 that enjoyed it just as much as my 3-year-old! It is $12 for adults, $16 for kids, and free under 2 years.
You can save even more money on Wonderscope tickets for both adults and kids by purchasing a Pogo Pass KC, where you get access to multiple KC attractions for one low price. My link will save you 50% off on your Pogo Pass KC or use code KIDSINKC at checkout!
You can learn more about Wonderscope in this blog I wrote about our recent visit!
Kansas City is a wonderful place to live or visit for families of all ages! With so many exciting places to go, the adventures are endless in Kansas City. Looking for more advice on family activities in Kansas City? Download my freebie for an A-Z list of some of my favorite places to go in KC!
Disclaimer: Each location or business is subject to change pricing, availability, hours, or capacity without my knowledge. Always check with the location first before going.
Here are the links you need for Kansas City family activities!
Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead
Kidscape - Johnson County Museum
Splash Cove - Jim Allen Aquatic Center
2/02/2023 - Gabrielle Isom, Kids In KC
updated 4/28/24
