Taking a toddler anywhere in Philadelphia means thinking about three things before anything else: stroller access, nursing or changing facilities, and whether the outing is paced for short attention spans. This guide covers what actually works for the under-5 crowd — logistics included.
Indoor Play: Best for Toddlers
Star Park Indoor Playground – Franklin Mall is the top indoor toddler pick in the region. Stroller-friendly, nursing room on site, 4.9 Google rating. Budget $40–60 for two adults and two kids, plan 1.5–2.5 hours. Franklin Mills Mall gives you food and restroom access right outside the door — exactly what you need with a diaper bag in tow.
Little City Activity Center in Olde Kensington is specifically built for young children. Stroller-friendly, nursing room on site, 4.8 stars. Budget $30–50 for two adults and two young children. Arrive at 8:30am on weekends to get the best experience before it fills up.
Kids Kastle is another excellent stroller-friendly indoor play space with nursing facilities. $40–60 for the family, 1.5–2 hours, 4.8 stars. Adults are often free or reduced — check the website.
DreamLand Adventure has both stroller access and a nursing room. $50–70 for the family, 1.5–2.5 hours, 4.8 stars.
Candyland Adventure: Stroller-friendly, nursing room, 4.7 stars. Budget $70–90 for the family. The candy theme lands well for 2–4 year olds who are in peak color-and-sweetness appreciation mode. Plan 2–3 hours.
Jumpers Family Fun Zone: Stroller access, nursing facilities. $55–80 for the family, 1.5–2.5 hours, 4.7 stars. Good for toddlers who just want to bounce and have supervised space.
Outdoor Picks with Good Stroller Access
Von Colln Playground is stroller-friendly (though no nursing room — plan accordingly). Free, 5.0 stars. The paved paths around the Art Museum area work well for strollers. The athletic field gives older siblings space while you manage the little one.
Morris Arboretum & Gardens is fully stroller-friendly with a nursing room. $50–65 for the family, 1.5–2.5 hours, 4.8 stars. Kids under 3 are free. The paved garden paths make this one of the best stroller-friendly outdoor experiences in the city.
Sister Cities Park in Center City has a nursing room and full stroller access. Free entry, 4.7 stars. The splash pad in summer is a toddler magnet.
Jenkins Arboretum & Gardens: Stroller-friendly, free admission, 4.8 stars. Pack a picnic. No nursing room — bring a cover or feed in the stroller.
Reeves-Reed Arboretum: Stroller-friendly, free, 4.8 stars. Same deal — no nursing room, but great for a calm outdoor visit.
Awbury Arboretum: Stroller-friendly, free admission, 4.7 stars. Pack a picnic. No nursing room.
PHS Meadowbrook Farm: Stroller-friendly, $0–20, 4.7 stars. Grounds are often free for general visits; special events may have admission fees.
Children's Playground at FDR Park: Stroller-friendly, nursing facilities available. Free, 4.7 stars. No concessions at the playground itself — bring food.
Museums and Cultural Spots with Toddler Infrastructure
expERIEnce Children's Museum: Stroller-friendly, nursing room. $40–60 for the family, 2–2.5 hours, 4.7 stars. Community pricing makes this one of the more affordable children's museum options.
Museum of Life and Science: Stroller-friendly, nursing room, cafe on site. $70–100 for the family, 3–4 hours, 4.7 stars. ASTC reciprocal membership may apply if you have one.
Adventure Aquarium: Stroller-friendly, nursing room. $100–140 for the family, 2.5–4 hours, 4.6 stars. The stingray touch tank is a toddler obsession — they'll stand there for 20 minutes.
The Academy of Natural Sciences: Stroller-friendly, nursing room, cafe on site. $70–90 for the family, 2–3 hours, 4.6 stars. The dinosaur eggs and animal dioramas hold toddler attention longer than you'd expect.
The Bucks County Children's Museum: Stroller-friendly, nursing room. $50–70 for the family, 1.5–2.5 hours, 4.6 stars. Book tickets online in advance — they can sell out.
Delaware Children's Museum: Stroller-friendly, nursing room. $55–75, 2–3 hours, 4.6 stars.
Franklin Square: Stroller-friendly, limited nursing facilities. $30–60 total depending on activities, 4.6 stars. The playground is free; carousel and mini golf are add-ons.
Stroller and Logistics Notes
Best stroller-friendly with nursing rooms (the full package): - Star Park Indoor Playground – Franklin Mall - Little City Activity Center - Morris Arboretum & Gardens - Adventure Aquarium - expERIEnce Children's Museum
Stroller-friendly but no dedicated nursing room (plan ahead): - Von Colln Playground - Jenkins Arboretum - Reeves-Reed Arboretum - Awbury Arboretum
What to always bring: Pack a full diaper bag with snacks for 2x as long as you think you'll be out. Philadelphia's outdoor parks have minimal concessions. The indoor venues mostly have cafes or mall food nearby, but having your own snacks prevents the meltdown-while-searching-for-food scenario.
Timing: Toddler outings work best 9am–12pm. They fall apart after lunch if naps are involved. Build in a stroller nap for longer days — the arboretums and park walks are perfect for exactly this.
More Toddler-Friendly Paid Options
The Oasis Family Fun Center: Stroller-friendly, nursing room. $80–110 for the family. 4.6 stars, 2–3 hours. Multiple activities in one location — good for families with a range of ages where one adult can take the toddler to softer activities while another manages bigger kids.
Jumpers Family Fun Zone: Stroller access, nursing facilities. $55–80 for the family. 4.7 stars. Good for toddlers who just want to bounce in a supervised, contained space.
Delaware Museum of Nature & Science: Stroller-friendly, nursing room, cafe on site. $60–80 for the family. 4.6 stars, 2–3 hours.
The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University: Stroller-friendly throughout, nursing room, cafe on site. $70–90 for the family. 4.6 stars, 2–3 hours. The KidScientist live specimen program and animal dioramas hold toddler attention better than you'd expect.
The Bucks County Children's Museum: Stroller-friendly, nursing room. $50–70 for the family. 4.6 stars, 1.5–2.5 hours. Book in advance online — can sell out on weekend mornings.
Franklin Square: Stroller-friendly, limited nursing. $30–60 depending on activities. 4.6 stars, 1.5–2.5 hours. The free playground is excellent for toddlers; the carousel ($3–5/ride) is a hit for the 2–3 year old crowd.
What the Diaper Bag Parent Needs to Know
Nursing rooms: Philadelphia's best-equipped venues for nursing/changing are Star Park (Franklin Mills Mall), Little City Activity Center, Kids Kastle, and the major museums (Academy of Natural Sciences, Adventure Aquarium). If nursing privately matters to you, call ahead to confirm room locations before you arrive.
Concessions: Indoor play centers generally have snacks on site or food nearby (especially those in malls). Outdoor parks — arboretums, East Fairmount Park, Reeves-Reed, Jenkins — have nothing. Always pack your own food for outdoor days.
Changing tables: All of the above-listed venues with nursing rooms also have changing tables in both men's and women's restrooms. The free outdoor parks have portable restrooms at best — plan changes at the car if needed.
Parking: For Art Museum area venues (Von Colln Playground, Sister Cities Park nearby), the Art Museum lots are often free on weekends. For Franklin Mills venues, free parking is plentiful. Center City venues are the hardest for parking — use transit or accept $15–25 garage fees.
Feeding and nap windows: Toddlers do best in the 9am–12pm window before they're hungry and tired simultaneously. Schedule the main paid activity in the morning, use the free parks or a stroller walk in the early afternoon for natural nap time, and call it by 3pm.