Perot Museum of Nature and Science
Family of 4
$90–$130 (tickets ~$20–$25/adult, $13–$18/child, IMAX add-on ~$8–$10 extra, café ~$20–$30)
Duration
3–4 hours
Best Ages
3–16
About
The Perot Museum of Nature and Science in downtown Dallas is the city's premier hands-on science destination — and for good reason. The building itself is a statement piece (designed by Thom Mayne), and inside you'll find five floors of exhibits covering everything from dinosaurs to engineering to human body science.
For families, the standout floors are the Lyda Hill Gems & Minerals Hall (surprisingly gorgeous for kids who like rocks), the T. Boone Pickens Life Then & Now Hall (the dinosaur hall), and the Rose Hall of Birds. But the real crowd-pleasers are the Energy Hall, where kids can literally run on a human hamster wheel to generate electricity, and the Engineering and Innovation Hall, which has building challenges that keep kids engaged for an hour straight.
The museum is built for exploration — exhibits are interactive, multilevel, and designed to be touched and tried. Even toddlers get their own dedicated Discovery Room with age-appropriate science play.
Practically speaking, the museum is fully stroller-friendly with elevators throughout. Nursing rooms are available at guest services. The on-site café is a step above typical museum food with solid kids' meal options, so you don't need to rush out to find lunch.
Weekday visits are dramatically better than weekend ones — on a Tuesday morning you might feel like you have the place nearly to yourself, while Saturday afternoons can feel chaotic. School group season (September–May, weekday mornings) is the one time to be strategic: arrive at opening (10am) and tackle the popular floors first.
Membership pays for itself in about two visits for a family of four and includes reciprocal benefits at other science museums nationwide. If you're local, it's genuinely one of the best value memberships in the Dallas area.
Age Suitability
Parent Logistics
Stroller-Friendly
Yes
Nursing / Changing
Available
Kid Meals
Available
Setting
Indoor
Rainy Day
Great option!
Plan Your Visit
Best Time to Visit
Weekday mornings; arrive at opening to beat school groups
Wait Times
15–30 min entry wait on weekends; minimal on weekdays
Nearby Food
On-site café with sandwiches, pizza, and kids' options. Victory Park neighborhood has additional restaurants within walking distance.
Why Kids Love It
The dinosaur hall is an absolute showstopper — massive T. rex skeletons and interactive dino dig stations have kids completely absorbed. The energy hall lets kids run on treadmills to power light displays, and the engineering floor has hands-on building challenges that creative kids will spend an hour on alone.
Pro Tips from Parents
- Arrive right at opening (10am) on weekends — school groups and field trips arrive mid-morning
- The dinosaur hall and energy hall are the top two floors for kids — plan those first
- IMAX films are worth the add-on cost, especially the nature documentaries
- Use the elevators on the outside of the building for a view of the Dallas skyline
- The café is surprisingly decent — no need to rush out for lunch
What to Bring
- Museum bag with a snack for young kids
- Comfortable walking shoes
- Membership card if you have one
- Camera for the dino halls
Cost Info
Estimated Cost (Family of 4)
$90–$130 (tickets ~$20–$25/adult, $13–$18/child, IMAX add-on ~$8–$10 extra, café ~$20–$30)
Tips to Save
- Dallas residents get discounted admission; check for free community days; members get unlimited visits and discounts at the café and gift shop
