Kansas City is one of the more affordable major family destinations in the Midwest. But "affordable" is relative — a day with a theme park or multiple indoor entertainment venues can still run $200+. Here's exactly what things cost, organized from free to splurge.
Free Activities in Kansas City
These are genuinely free — no hidden admission.
- The Peace Pavilion — Free (donations appreciated). 4.9 stars. Peace education and global cultures. Donations appreciated but not required.
- Kaleidoscope — Free. Hallmark-sponsored creative arts studio. Book your free tickets online in advance.
- Hodge Park Playground — Free. Wooded forest playground in north KC. Disc golf on-site too.
- Strang Park - Playground — Free. Overland Park neighborhood playground. Pairs with the Strang Line trail.
- Variety KC Playground — Free. All-inclusive, universally accessible playground in north KC.
- Rope Playground at Roanoke Park — Free. The rope climbing structure is a physical challenge for big kids. Roanoke neighborhood.
- Lakeside Nature Center — Free. One of Kansas City's best kept secrets — real rescued Missouri wildlife, great nature center, south KC.
- Dagg Park — Free. Summer splash pad — pack swimsuits. North KC.
- Penguin Park — Free. Giant penguin-themed play structures. Bring your own food and drinks.
Budget Picks (Under $50 for a Family of 4)
K&B's Fun Town — $35–50 (kids ~$12–15 each, parents typically free or discounted). 5-star rating. Small, locally-owned indoor playground where toddlers through early-grade kids thrive. Monday–Thursday until 7pm for post-school visits without weekend rush.
Summit Play Village — $35–50 (kids ~$12–15 each, parents typically free). Lee's Summit indoor playground. Follow on social for promo codes. Weekday morning sessions are less crowded and often cheaper.
The National Museum of Toys and Miniatures — $30–50. UMKC area. Lower pricing than major KC museums. One of the more affordable paid museum options in the city.
Kansas Children's Discovery Center — $30–50. Topeka. More affordable than major metro children's museums. ACM member institution — check reciprocal membership before buying.
Rough & Bumble KC Indoor Playground — $40–55 (kids ~$10–15 each, adults free or discounted). Foam pit, climbing structures, open tumbling. Punch cards and sibling discounts available.
Fun Run Blue Springs — $40–60. East KC suburb indoor playground. Memberships available for regulars.
Pump It Up Overland Park — $40–60 for open jump. Inflatable bounce houses and obstacle courses.
Superkidz Club — $40–65. Johnson County indoor playground. Check for punch cards and weekday pricing.
Kids Empire Olathe — $40–65. Modern indoor play center. Membership plans reduce cost for regular visitors.
Bump City at GAGE Center — $40–65. Blue Springs family indoor playground.
Cool Crest Family Fun Center — $40–70. Mini golf, go-karts, food. A Kansas City institution. Weekday evenings vs. Saturday afternoons means shorter waits.
Museum at Prairiefire — $40–70 for permanent collection; add $10–15/person for traveling exhibitions. Overland Park. Members get unlimited repeat visits.
Fun Run Liberty — $40–60. North KC indoor play. Check for memberships and multi-visit punch cards.
Kanga's Indoor Playcenter Independence — $40–65. Independence. Memberships for regular visitors.
Mid-Range Activities ($50–$100 for a Family of 4)
National WWI Museum and Memorial — $50–70 (adults ~$18–20, children discounted, under 5 free). Downtown KC. 4.9 stars. Military families often get discounted or free admission.
Exploration Place — $50–80 general admission; add $10–15/person for IMAX films. Wichita. ACM member institution — check reciprocal membership from your home museum.
The Regnier Family Wonderscope Children's Museum of Kansas City — $50–70 (children and adults similar pricing; under 1 free). South KC. Membership pays for itself in 2–3 visits.
Above All Trampoline Park — $50–80. Blue Springs/east KC. Check for weekday specials. Trampoline socks purchased here reusable at any trampoline park.
Get Air Trampoline Park — $50–80. Independence area. Check for discounted time slots online.
SEA LIFE Kansas City Aquarium — $60–90. Downtown KC. Buy tickets online — gate pricing is substantially more expensive. Check for combo deals with LEGOLAND next door.
Science City at Union Station — $60–90. Downtown KC. Buy Union Station combination tickets for better value. 4.8 stars.
Sobela Ocean Aquarium — $60–90 (included with KC Zoo admission — not a separate ticket). KC Zoo membership covers this for free.
Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium — $70–100 for a family of 4 (members free). Membership pays for itself in 2–3 visits. The single best family entertainment value in the metro.
The Rabbit hOle — $60–80 (~$15–20/person, under 2 free). Book online. Immersive story-world museum.
Sky Zone Trampoline Park — $60–100. Sky Club membership is the best per-visit savings option for regular visitors.
PowerPlay Metro North — $60–100+. Arcade, laser tag, bowling. Set a token budget before entering.
The Rush Funplex — $60–100 (food adds $20–30). Buying combo package upfront beats paying per attraction.
Museum of Illusions — $60–80. Book online for potential savings. Short visit.
Activate Games — $60–80 (~$18–22/person). Physical video game experience. Weekday pricing may be lower.
Urban Air Trampoline and Adventure Park — $70–120 (tiered adventure pass levels). Assess which tier your kids will actually use before upgrading.
Splurge-Worthy Experiences (Over $100)
Game Show Studio Kansas City — $80–140. Live game show experience. Larger groups reduce per-person cost. Worth it for families with older kids and competitive streaks.
BRKTHROUGH Overland Park — $80–120 (~$20–30/person). Escape rooms. Assemble 6–8 players and the per-person cost drops significantly.
Rage KC! — $80–140. Smash room experience. Book online for discounts.
Union Station Kansas City — $80–150 depending on attractions (Science City + Train Experience + exhibits). Walking the grand hall is free. Combo tickets offer better value for multiple attractions.
Main Event Kansas City North — $80–140+. Bowling, laser tag, arcade. Weekday pricing is often lower than Friday/Saturday evenings.
LEGOLAND Discovery Center Kansas City — $80–120 (adults ~$20–25, children ~$18–22). Book online — gate pricing is significantly higher. Check for seasonal promotions.
Go Ape Zipline and Adventure Park — $140–200+ (~$45–55/adult, $35–45/child). Book online in advance — walk-in pricing is higher. This one's worth the splurge for adventurous kids.
Worlds of Fun — $200–350+ (ticket + parking + food). Season passes are the single best way to save for families doing 2+ visits. Buy tickets online — always cheaper than gate.
Money-Saving Tips in Kansas City
- KC Zoo membership pays for itself in 2–3 visits and includes the Sobela Ocean Aquarium. The best single-purchase family value in the metro.
- Book SEA LIFE and LEGOLAND online. Gate pricing is substantially higher than online pricing for both. Always buy ahead.
- Worlds of Fun season passes. For any family doing 2+ visits, the season pass is the better choice. Single-day tickets add up fast.
- Kaleidoscope is completely free. Hallmark sponsors the whole thing. Book free tickets online. Don't skip it.
- Reciprocal museum memberships. Science City, Wonderscope, LEGOLAND, and Kansas Children's Discovery Center all participate in reciprocal programs. If you have a home museum membership, check before buying admission.
- Assemble a bigger group for escape rooms. BRKTHROUGH's per-person cost drops significantly with 6–8 players. Split the experience with another family.
- Weekday pricing. Multiple venues including K&B's Fun Town (extended weekday hours), Cool Crest, and various trampoline parks have lower or better-value weekday options.
- Lakeside Nature Center is free. Genuinely excellent wildlife education at zero cost — don't overlook it.
What a Typical Family Spends
Budget day (free-and-cheap focus): - Kaleidoscope: $0 - Lakeside Nature Center: $0 - Penguin Park picnic lunch (BYO): $15 - Rope Playground at Roanoke Park: $0 - Ice cream: $20 - Total: ~$35
Mid-range day (one paid anchor): - Science City at Union Station: $75 - Lunch near Union Station: $55 - Dagg Park/neighborhood park: $0 - Total: ~$130
Active entertainment day: - KC Zoo & Aquarium (with Sobela): $85 - Park lunch (packed): $20 - K&B's Fun Town in the afternoon: $45 - Total: ~$150
Splurge day: - Worlds of Fun (tickets + parking): $220 - Food at park: $70 - Total: ~$290
Two-day estimate (mix): - Day 1: KC Zoo + Lakeside Nature Center + Penguin Park = $100 - Day 2: Science City + Go Ape Zipline = $215 - Two-day total: ~$315 for a family of 4
Bottom line: Kansas City lets families build genuinely varied days without breaking the bank. The free tier is excellent — Kaleidoscope alone is worth the trip. One paid anchor per day (zoo, Science City, escape room) keeps costs reasonable. Worlds of Fun and Go Ape are the budget spikes; season passes neutralize Worlds of Fun if you're doing 2+ visits.