Top 10 Children's Museums In Arizona, USA

1. i.d.e.a. Museum

Focused on developing and nurturing children, I.d.e.a museum provides art exhibitions and science, technology, engineering, art and math (STEAM) activities to engage and educate them. Beyond establishing a strong foundation and developing an interest in the things of the world, this museum also aims to facilitate family bonding as many activities are specially designed for a whole family to participate in. Through storytelling using different platforms such as the visual arts, spoken word, pop-up books and more, children will be able to immerse themselves in the story and embark on a journey! Then, there will be planned activities such as letting them have experience in performing in a puppet/musical theatre or even learning about storytelling via the American Sign Language.

i.d.e.a. Museum

Address: 150 W. Pepper Place Mesa, AZ 85201

Website: i.d.e.a. Museum

Opening hours: Tue - Thu: 9am - 4pm; Sat: 9am - 4pm; Fri: 9am - 6pm; Sun: 12pm - 4pm (closed on Mon)

Price: 9 USD

2. Arizona Science Center

Cultivating a passion for science since the year 1984, the Arizona Science Centre consists of more than 350 permanent hands-on exhibits, providing budding scientists with the opportunity to learn about complex concepts in a cohesive manner. Not only does the science center provide the regular offerings, it also houses an IMAX theater and the Dorrance planetarium, both world class facilities that further scientific understanding in an entertaining manner. Promising an educational yet exciting trip, a visit to the Arizona Science Centre is certainly one for the books.

Arizona Science Center

Address: 600 E. Washington St. Phoenix, AZ 85004

Website: Arizona Science Center

Opening hours: 10am - 5pm (daily)

Price: Adults (18+) 19.95 USD; Child (3-17) 14.95 USD

3. LEGOLAND Discovery Center Arizona

One of the company’s completely indoor amusement parks, LEGOLAND Discovery Center Arizona promises a day that is just as fun as a panoply of outdoor rides, but without worrying about the weather! With more than 2 thrilling rides, 10 immersive LEGO build and play zones, and an utterly entrancing 4D cinema, a visit to LEGOLAND Discovery Center Arizona is pretty much guaranteed to be worth your while. Plus, if it’s junior’s special day, LEGOLAND Discovery Center Arizona also provides an all-inclusive birthday package that will create an unforgettable day!

LEGOLAND Discovery Center Arizona

Address: 5000 S Arizona Mills Cir STE 135, Tempe, AZ 85282

Website: LEGOLAND Discovery Center Arizona

Opening hours: Mon - Sat: 11am - 7pm; Sun: 12pm - 6pm

Price: 19.95 USD

4. Children's Museum of Phoenix

A place for both the young and the young at heart, the Children’s Museum of Phoenix is not as much of a way of remembering the past as it is a way of looking to the future. It houses multiple exhibits, all centered on developing children’s motor skills and thinking abilities through the use of play interlaced with education. From The Market, where children can roleplay as shoppers, to The Climber, where excess energy can be spent in a burst of aerobic excitement, the Children’s Museum of Phoenix ensures that those who visit come out enriched, promising a holistic learning experience.

Children's Museum of Phoenix

Address: 215 N. 7th Street Phoenix, AZ 85034

Website: Children’s Museum of Phoenix

Opening hours: Tue - Sun: 9am - 4pm (closed on Mon)

Price: Standard: 14.95 USD; Above 62 years old: 13.95 USD

5. Desert Botanical Garden

The Desert Botanical Garden contains more than 50,000 plants, providing visitors with a unique insight into the flora present in the arid biome of Arizona. Not only does it showcase the ability of nature to thrive even in the dearth of water, but it also serves a key role in conservation as well, preserving 379 species of plants that are under varying levels of threat. For the important role it occupies, the Desert Botanical Garden has been conferred the honor of being a ‘Phoenix Point Of Pride’, a distinction afforded to places that best represent the best aspects of Phoenix. A visit to the Desert Botanical Garden is not only illuminating but it also contributes to protecting the environment, as the garden is non-profit in nature, with all proceeds serving to safeguard the state’s plant life.

Desert Botanical Garden

Address: 1201 N Galvin Pkwy, Phoenix, AZ 85008

Website: Desert Botanical Garden

Opening hours: 8am - 8pm (daily)

Price: 3 - 17 years old: 14.95 USD; above 18 years old: 29.95 USD

6. Arizona Museum of National History

A commemoration of the natural and cultural history of the Southwestern United States, the Arizona Museum Natural History has its humble beginnings in 1977 as a small museum within City Hall. Today, it is vast in size, educating about visitors, not only about the native humans who once solely inhabited this land, but also about the lumbering giants who came far before them. In a tribute to the rich fossil finds in Arizona, the Arizona Museum of Natural History contains the skeletons of dinosaurs, both of the land and the sky, and also of the megafauna of the Ice Age, showcasing the vast changes in climate that the region has undergone over the years, accompanied by the diversity of its inhabitants.

Arizona Museum of National History

Address: 53 N Macdonald, Mesa, AZ 85201

Website: Arizona Museum of National History

Opening hours: Tue - Fri: 10am - 5pm; Sat: 11am - 5pm; Sun: 1pm - 5pm (closed on Mon)

Price: Children (3 - 12+): 7 USD; Students (13+ with ID): 8 USD; Adults: 12 USD; Seniors (65+): 10 USD

7. Hall of Flame Museum of Firefighting

A rather unique venture, what began as the private collection of George G.Fetz Jr. in the 1960s, has grown to become the biggest museum of firefighting equipment in the entire world. With five galleries dividing the history of firefighting by time periods, with a special one devoted to Wildland Firefighting, an issue crucial to Arizona, the Hall of Flame certainly pays due to the fame accorded it. Furthermore, the museum also serves to honor those who have given their lives in the noble pursuit of firefighting by inscribing their names in the National Firefighting Hall of Heroes, making a trip to this museum an opportunity to not only educate one’s self but to also pay tribute to these brave souls.

Hall of Flame Museum of Firefighting

Address: 6101 Van Buren St, Phoenix, AZ 85008

Website: Hall of Flame Museum of Firefighting

Opening hours: Mon - Sat: 9am - 5pm; Sun: 12pm - 4pm

Price: 3 - 5 years old: 4 USD; 6 - 17 years old: 8 USD; Above 18 years old: 10 USD

8. Phoenix Art Museum

Spanning over 26,000 m² (280,000 sq ft) in area, the Phoenix Art Museum is the largest among its compatriots within the Southwest United States. Its collection ranges across both continents and time periods, from European masterpieces on canvas dating back to the Renaissance, to modern sculptures sprawled across the open lawn. Not only does the museum house these works of art, but it also contains the region’s premier art research library, free to all who possess an interest in the arts. From its founding in 1959, the Phoenix Art Museum has striven to make art accessible and relatable for all and continues to do so to this day.

Phoenix Art Museum

Address: 1625 N Central Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85004.

Website: Phoenix Art Museum

Opening hours: Tue: 10am - 5pm; Wed: 10am - 9pm; Thu - Sat: 10am - 5pm; Sun: 12pm - 5pm (closed on Mon)

Price: 6-17 years old: 14 USD; Students: 18 USD; Seniors: 20 USD; Adults: 23 USD

9. McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park

On October 4, 1975, the McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park opened its gates to the world, guaranteeing free access 363 days a year, a promise that continues to be fulfilled to this day. Visitors get to travel back in time with the park’s perfectly preserved Magma Arizona Railroad locomotive, along with its ancient live steam railroad, while those looking towards the present can frequent its multiple model railroad clubs. All in all, whether you wish for a pleasant day at the park, or to feel like a traveler of old as steam billows past your face, McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park is the place for you.

McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park

Address: 7301 E Indian Bend Rd, Scottsdale, AZ 85250

Website: McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park

Price: Free

10. SEA LIFE Arizona Aquarium

Small but compact, SEA Life Arizona Aquarium promises an interactive experience like no other, with programs specially curated for children to gain a greater understanding of marine life. From regular feeding sessions, to touch pools, to its crown jewel, a 360° viewing tunnel, SEA life Arizona Aquarium allows visitors to get up close and personal with the denizens of the ocean, viewing them in their natural state. Beyond just viewing the animals, visitors get to meet experienced aquarists and converse with them to further understand the intricacies of underwater fauna. SEA life Arizona Aquarium may not be big in size, but it promises a unique encounter with marine life unlike any other.

SEA LIFE Arizona Aquarium

Address: 5000 S Arizona Mills Cir Suite 135, Tempe, AZ 85282, United States

Website: SEA LIFE Arizona Aquarium

Opening hours: Mon - Sat: 11am - 7pm; Sun: 12pm - 6pm

Price: 3-12 years old: 14.95 USD; Above 13 years old: 19.95 USD

Explore Arizona's museums

Head down to Arizona to let your young ones explore the world at the many museums tailored to their interests and needs! Packed with fun activities and nuggets of information, children will definitely fall in love with all that these museums have to offer.