Toddlers are such a tricky (but fun!) age! They are ready to run with the big kids but don’t quite have the coordination to do it all yet. If you’re a toddler parent, you’re probably looking for spaces that are safe for your little ones and let you take a little breather while they have fun.
Luckily, the Austin area is great for families with kids of all ages! Here are the best indoor and outdoor places around town to take your toddlers.
In This Post
Best Spots for Toddlers in Austin
Indoor Toddler Ideas
1. Tiny Tails story time
I love Tiny Tails petting zoo — we’ve used them for a birthday party and enjoyed them at events around town. And luckily for you and your little one, they have monthly story times at BookPeople downtown. Listen to a story and then hold and pet small animals like bunnies, lizards, chickens, guinea pigs and more.
2. Libraries
Whether you go for a story time or just go to visit and enjoy books and play areas, libraries around the Austin area have a lot to offer toddlers. The Central Library has a room with coloring sheets and building toys, computers with little kid games, a reading porch, and toys for babies and toddlers.
Laura’s Library has a great turf outdoor space and a kids room. Cedar Park Public Library has an indoor playhouse and toys for little kids, plus an outdoor play area for toddlers in the backyard. Round Rock Public Library has a patio in the kids area, plus lots of indoor toys for toddlers.
3. Thinkery
Austin’s kids museum has lots of spaces for toddlers to explore, including a section just for 0-30 month olds.
Thinkery Del Valle is another option for toddlers.
4. Pikopye’s Town
Let your kids engage in the cutest imaginary play at this indoor Lakeway play space. This little mountain town-themed play village has a vet, cafe, camper trailer, bait shop, a fishing boat and more.
5. Playstreet Museum
There are a couple local locations of Playstreet Museum, and they’re both perfect for toddlers. A play town, toys and crafts.
6. Create Studio
You can hit up an open studio time at this process art studio, where you and your toddler can play in the playhouses, enjoy the sensory stations or create art with all the different materials around the studio.
7. Cheeky Monkeys
Sometimes it’s too stressful to take your wobbly toddlers to a place where big kids are running around at full speed. The huge indoor play place in Cedar Park, Cheeky Monkeys, only allows up to age 8 and has a separate area for age 4 and under.
8. Little Land
Indoor play places are so nice with toddlers because you know they can’t run off without you knowing! Little Land is made for little ones with slides, toys, swings, climbins frames and more. There are locations in Cedar Park and Buda.
9. MeLand
This Georgetown play place has a fun circus theme and has expanded its space for more imaginary play.
10. Slackers
Slackers is a brewery, but it also has lots of snacks and NA options. And it’s a great little spot for those times you need an easy indoor place to do a little playing. There’s a small play area near the tables with toys and a play kitchen, and there’s also an old Fortlandia fort out back if you’d like to hang out outside.
11. Tot Box Play Cafe
The Austin area is so lucky to have several play cafes, and Tot Box is perfect for toddlers. It’s a cute little spot for ages 1-6 in the downtown Round Rock area, and has coffee and other drinks. There’s pretend play, a ball pit, playscape, all toddler-sized!
12. Almost Grown Play Cafe
If you live out in Dripping Springs, check out Almost Grown Play Cafe for lunch or a treat, plus imaginative play. There’s a big space with tables in the middle where kids can play and moms can sit and watch. You’ll find a small slide, some climbing, some building, plus a doctor’s office, grocery store and other pretend setups.
13. Family Barn
This perfect toddler outing has two locations on the north side: one in Georgetown and one in Cedar Park. Enjoy the cafe, imaginative play and ball pits. The Cedar Park location has a bigger space with a larger playscape for exploring.
14. Skater Tots at Pins & Wheels
Every Tuesday morning at Pins & Wheels at Playland, kids 5 years and younger can come skate from 9 am to noon in a more fun and controlled environment (no one over 5 is allowed to roller skate during Skater Tots!). During this time, kids can skate or you can bring scooters, balance bikes and push toys (nothing with pedals). Babies in strollers are allowed on the skate floor, and parents can walk with their little ones.
15. Little Leaps Play Cafe
This Cedar Park play cafe is a lovely little spot with a gated-off side room for crawlers, and pretend play, toys, and a playscape.
16. Splash Shack
You can take your toddler splashing any time of year at Splash Shack in Cedar Park. It’s an indoor water park for kids 10 and under, and has an area perfect for smaller kids, with tiny slides and more controlled splashing.
If you’re interested in the other water park options around town, check out this blog post.
17. Bright Imaginations Play Cafe
A play cafe for the south suburbs! Bright Imaginations has tons of drinks, a row of pretend play buildings, a playscape, and lots of other toys and play things!
18. Brentwood Social House
You can play inside or outside (and the backyard is fully fenced-in) at this perfect playdate spot. I used to come here all the time with my kids when they were small, including meeting up with mom friends. There’s food, snacks and drinks; a playroom with play kitchen, books and toys; and a boat playground in the yard.
The future of this spot is a little shaky right now, as the current owner is looking to sell it if possible! So double-check their website/socials to make sure they’re still open.
Outdoor Toddler Ideas
19. Austin Nature and Science Center
This free spot is one of my favorite hidden gems in the middle of the city. There’s an indoor area with a trading post, nature treasures, a cave and some science exhibits. Outside, there are rescue animals, creek play (if there’s water), a pond trail, and a great dino dig area! It’s a great size for toddlers, and if you only stay for a little bit, you’re not out any money.
20. Zilker Eagle
Toddlers will love riding this rainbow-colored train through Zilker Park, and even under the Zilker Park playground. The ride is short enough for toddler attention spans, and the train depot is right by Barton Springs and the playground to extend the outing!
21. Littlefield’s
If your kids love turf and you love coffee, ice cream or tacos, Littlefield’s is a perfect daytime spot. Fully fenced in, blocks, turf hills and a chalkboard.
22. Batch
This is one of my favorite shaded spots, and is perfect on a weekday or on weekend morning. Get coffee, beer and kolaches and hang out in the backyard where they have turf hills and little mushrooms for kids to play on.
23. Oddwood
Just down the street from Batch, you can find another shaded turf backyard at Oddwood Brewing. It’s fenced in with shade sails, a playhouse and other toys. Oddwood serves pizza and snacks.
24. Deep Eddy Pool
You can cool off in this classic-Austin, spring-fed pool, and it’s perfect for little ones because it has a big shallow end with a zero-depth entry. There’s also plenty of lawn space to warm up.
25. Little Stacy Wading Pool
The easiest type of swimming pool to bring toddlers is one with a giant shallow end. Little Stacy Wading Pool is 1-foot deep to 3-feet deep. Plus it’s free admission!
26. The Hive
Meet up with friends at this South Austin spot with coffee, snacks, events and the best patio and playscape! It’s a 2-story playhouse with a slide and space to run around.
27. Hike and bike trail
Whether you get your toddler to sit in the stroller or just end up with a short, slow walk on your toddler’s terms, the Ann and Roy Butler Hike and Bike Trail around Ladybird Lake is a nice scenic spot to get some fresh air. You can park somewhere easy like the central library, near the wishbone bridge or under Mopac by the Austin Nature and Science Center.
28. Splash pads
Some splash pads can get crazy with big crowds, but I especially like the ones with calmer areas with smaller water features that work perfectly for toddlers. Quarry Splash Pad, Lakewood, Brushy Creek, Rosewood, and Pease Park come to mind!
For all the best splash pads in the Austin area, check out this blog post.
29. Emma Long Metro Park
Swimming can be stressful with toddlers, but Emma Long is the closest you can get to a relaxed lake day in Austin. There’s a sand/dirt beach and a shallow area for swimming between 2 docks. It’s reliably shallow and the depth changes are marked by buoys so you can feel pretty confident that your toddler can touch the bottom. There are strong waves when boats speed by, so you’ll want to stay within arms reach in case a little one gets knocked over for a second.
30. Garey Park
I loved this huge playground and park when my kids were little. The play area has a splash pad, a playground for smaller kids (totally separate from the BIG kids playground), and lots of fun animal elements to play on. And if you haven’t had your fill of fun, there’s river access farther back in the park if you want to have a nature adventure.
There is a fee to enter the park: $2 for residents, $5 for non-residents, but ages 3 and under are free.
31. Dinosaur Park
My kids still love this outdoor trail with life-size dinosaurs, but they were truly amazed by it when they were toddlers. See the dinos, take photos with the photo ops, dig in the little bone pit, and play on the dinosaur-themed playgrounds.
This spot is in Cedar Creek, out by Bastrop.
32. Sweet Eats Adventure Farm
There are so many fun things to do at Sweet Eats in Georgetown! Toddlers will enjoy the tractor ride, petting zoo, pig races, jumping pad, big slides and all the fun little things spread throughout the farm. Come almost any time of year or pick an event for seasonal fun, like breakfast with Santa, fall festival, or baby animal days in the spring.
33. Austin Zoo
Austin doesn’t have a big traditional zoo, but you can bring your toddler to see rescue animals at the Austin Zoo (and it’s a very manageable size!). There are lots of exciting animals like big cats, bears, zebras and capybaras, plus a mini train to ride!
34. Wildflower Center
The Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center in South Austin is such a jewel in our city. It’s a lovely way to enjoy nature and native plants all year long, but the absolute best time of year to visit is when Fortlandia is taking place. From October to February every year, there are forts built all over the children’s garden for kids to play on.
Even if it’s not Fortlandia season, there’s always a play area and sand pit in the kids area, plus a fort from last year’s Fortlandia.
35. Alliance Children’s Garden
It’s fun to visit the middle of the city and take in the skyline…while also adding in some fun for your little ones. Alliance Children’s Garden in Butler Metro Park has so many different playground areas for your kids to explore, from sand, to music, to turf hills to swings. Plus the Liz Carpenter Splash Pad is open year-round!
36. UT Turtle Pond
If you want to find a cute little destination on UT’s campus for you and your toddler to visit, check out the Turtle Pond near the tower! There are more than 100 turtles in the pond, most red-eared sliders. (No feeding the turtles!)
37. Pease Park
Kingsbury Commons in Pease Park has a fun little playscape, hill for rolling down, sports balls to rent, creek play, and (best of all) a big treehouse with a net trampoline/hammock.
38. Crowe’s Nest Farm
The size of this farm in Manor is perfect to do with little ones. There’s plenty to see but not so much that you all burn out! You can see reptiles in the red barn, take a hay ride to see bison, watch a cow milking demonstration, and then wander the trail to see farm animals and rescued wildlife.
39. Balcones District Park
We call this the Ladybug and Grasshopper Park because of the cute rocking bugs featured in the little kids area! This north Austin park has a separate playscape and area for smaller kids, with little slides, swings, musical instruments and soft ground. The big kids playscape (while tempting for all kids) is separated from the little kids area by stairs…and if your toddler does end up on it, it’s easy to follow them up in the spots that toddlers can reach.
There’s also a pool and a hike at Balcones!
40. Easy hikes
Little legs need little hikes! (And you need little hikes for when you have to carry your toddler half the time!) Luckily, Austin has lots of easy trails surrounded by nature. Some of my favorites are Little Fern Trail in River Place, Great Hills Park (with a playground too), Stillhouse Hollow Nature Preserve, and Mayfield Preserve.
41. Zilker Botanical Garden
A lovely little nature spot right in the middle of the city. In fact, you can see the skyline framed by trees and flowers in some spots! This botanical garden is right by Zilker Park and the Austin Nature and Science Center. There’s lots of walking and flowers to see, fairy houses in the summer, and a little kids play area near the front. (Memberships here and at the Wildflower Center are reciprocal!)
42. Bull Creek
Creek splashing at its finest happens at Bull Creek! Bull Creek has big rocks to climb (or watch people bouldering), and a really fun area of flowing creek with a little natural water slide. Toddlers can spend lots of time splashing and playing in the shallow areas!
The water (like all natural water throughout Austin) isn’t always safe. You want to make sure it is clear, cool and flowing.
43. Cedar Rock Railroad
Ride around a park on this mini train in Southwest Williamson County Regional Park. This train has its own little park, with playgrounds, a mini town, shade and snacks. It’s also in the same park as the Quarry splash pad!