Nobody wants a surprise at the ticket window. Here's what you'll actually pay for Dallas family activities — admission, parking, food, and where to save.
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The Real Numbers by Category
Free (Actually Free)
These cost $0 to enter. Budget for food if you're making a day of it.
| Activity | Cost | Notes | |---|---|---| | Sheila and Jody Grant Children's Park | $0 | Food trucks nearby: $15–$30 | | Hope Park Frisco | $0 | Bring a picnic | | Kids Kingdom | $0 | Free parking too | | Klyde Warren Park | $0 | Food trucks: $15–$40 | | Flag Pole Hill Park | $0 | Bring a picnic | | PlayGrand Adventures | $0 | Pack snacks and water | | Cedar Ridge Preserve | $0 | Bring food and water | | Exall Park | $0 | No vendors on-site | | White Rock Lake Stone Tables & Playground | $0 | Pack a picnic | | ICR Discovery Center | $0 | Bring snacks | | Dallas Aquarium Education Center | $0 | Educational; bring snacks | | Grapevine Botanical Garden at Heritage Park | $0 | Lunch on Main Street after | | Adventure World Playground | $0 | Pack snacks | | Miller Family Park | $0 | Pack snacks | | Margaret Elizabeth Jonsson Color Garden | $0 | Combine with Dallas Arboretum |
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Under $60 for a Family of 4
These are the sweet spot — real experiences without the ouch.
We Rock The Spectrum - Lakewood — ~$15–$25 per child. Adults are typically free or nominal. One of the most affordable specialty indoor play venues in Dallas. Memberships make sense for regular visitors.
Down to Play — ~$15–$20 per child. Open play sessions with affordable monthly memberships for families who visit regularly.
Cheeky Monkeys - Casa Linda Dallas — ~$15–$20 per child. Neighborhood indoor play; sibling discounts available.
Mini Playtime — ~$15–$20 per child. Good option for young kids in Farmers Branch. Weekday mornings are often discounted.
Texas Discovery Gardens at Fair Park — $30–$50 for a family of 4 (adults ~$10 each, kids ~$7–$8 each; under 2 free). Dallas residents get discounted admission. The outdoor gardens are free to stroll.
Trinity River Audubon Center — $20–$35 for a family of 4 (adults ~$8 each, kids 4–12 ~$4–$5 each; under 4 free). One of the most affordable nature outings in Dallas. Audubon members get in free.
Play Street Museum - Lake Highlands — $35–$50 for a family of 4 (adults ~$10, kids ~$12–$15; babies under 1 free). Membership pays off quickly for families who visit monthly.
Kids Empire Dallas Hillcrest — $45–$70 for a family of 4 (babies often free). Buy online for a small discount.
Super Llama Inflatable Park — $50–$75 for a family of 4 (kids ~$15–$18; adults often free or reduced). Non-jumping adults may enter free.
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$60–$100 for a Family of 4
Mid-range. These are solid value for what you get.
Museum of Illusions — ~$60–$90 for 2 adults + 2 kids. Book online for standard pricing — no walk-up discount.
Jumping World — $65–$100 for a family of 4 (jump passes + socks + snacks). Buy online; weekday specials available.
11 MAX Indoor Fun Park — ~$60–$100 depending on activity packages. Bundled packages beat individual pricing.
Ninja Kidz Trampoline Park — $60–$90 for 2 kids. Book online for best pricing; weekday visits are cheaper.
Ninja Kidz Action Park — $60–$90 for 2 kids. Check for multi-activity passes.
Sci-Tech Discovery Center — $50–$70 for a family of 4 (~$12–$16 per person). ASTC reciprocal admission applies.
Texas Zoofari Park — $60–$100 depending on add-on experiences. Book online in advance.
Frisco Discovery Center — $40–$65 depending on show selection. Frisco residents may qualify for discounts.
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$80–$130 for a Family of 4
These are the full-day activities. Budget accordingly.
Slick City Action Park — $90–$130. Book timed entry online; early slots are cheaper. Weekday specials exist.
Urban Air Trampoline and Adventure Park — $80–$120 (socks ~$3 each, snack bar ~$20). Buy online for 10–15% off; weekday rates are lower.
Activate Games — ~$80–$120 (~$20–$30 per person). Groups of 4–6 get the most fun per dollar.
The Dallas World Aquarium — ~$80–$120. Annual passes pay off after 2 visits.
Glow or Go Dallas — ~$80–$120 for a family of 4. Larger groups (6–8) get the best per-person rate.
Malibu Jack's North Richland Hills — ~$80–$150. Activity packages beat individual pricing.
Celebration Station Mesquite — ~$80–$140. Bundle attractions for best value.
Bolder Adventure Park — $80–$120. Combo packages covering multiple attractions are the move.
SEA LIFE Grapevine Aquarium — ~$70–$100. Always buy online — walk-in prices are significantly higher.
Perot Museum of Nature and Science — $90–$130 (tickets + café; skip IMAX unless kids request it). Dallas residents get a discount. Memberships are solid value for regular visitors.
Ground Control Trampoline Park - Las Colinas — $80–$120. Book online; check Groupon; weekday rates are lower.
Altitude Trampoline Park Cedar Hill — $75–$110. Buy online for discounts; monthly memberships available.
Altitude Trampoline Park in Richardson — $75–$110. Same deal — buy online for 10–15% off.
EpicCentral — $80–$140 (wristbands + food court + parking). Check the website for season passes.
LEGOLAND Discovery Center Dallas/Fort Worth — ~$90–$130. Buy online — 20–30% cheaper than walk-in. Combo with SEA LIFE next door saves money.
The Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden — $80–$120 (adults ~$20 each, kids 3–12 ~$15 each, parking $15; budget $30–$40 for lunch on-site). Members enter free. Check for Dallas resident discounts.
KVC Play Duncanville — $40–$60 for a family of 4. One of the more affordable indoor play options in south Dallas.
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$100+ for a Family of 4
The premium experiences. Worth it when they're worth it.
Go Ape Zipline and Adventure Park — $120–$180 for 2 adults + 2 older kids. Book online; walk-in pricing is higher. Age and weight minimums apply — confirm before going.
KidZania — ~$130–$170 for 2 kids + 2 adults (with food). Buy tickets online in advance; adults pay less than kids.
Fritz's Adventure - The Colony — $100–$160. All-inclusive wristbands beat individual attraction pricing.
Trinity Forest Adventure Park — $100–$160. Book online for best pricing.
Fort Worth Zoo — $90–$140 (adults ~$27 each, kids 3–12 ~$22 each, parking ~$8–$10, food ~$25–$35). Zoo membership pays for itself in 2 visits.
Dallas Zoo — $90–$140 (adults ~$26 each, kids 3–11 ~$22 each, parking ~$10–$15, food ~$30–$40). Zoo memberships cover themselves in 2 visits.
Fossil Rim Wildlife Center — $120–$200 (drive-through passes ~$25–$35 per person + animal feed $5–$10 per person). Buy tickets online in advance.
Minifig Adventures — ~$30–$60 for 2 children. Small community business — book directly.
DFW Adventure Park — $80–$150. Activity bundles beat individual tickets.
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How to Actually Save Money in Dallas
Buy online, always. Slick City, Urban Air, LEGOLAND, SEA LIFE — all charge more at the door. Online savings often run 15–30%.
Weekdays are cheaper. Most trampoline parks and adventure venues have lower weekday rates. Tuesday and Wednesday mornings are the sweet spot.
Zoo and museum memberships. Dallas Zoo membership pays for itself in 2 visits at ~$26 per adult and ~$22 per child per visit. Perot Museum memberships work the same way.
Pack food. At the arboretum, zoo, or any outdoor venue — bringing your own lunch saves $20–$40 easily. Stone tables at White Rock Lake exist for exactly this.
Free programming at Klyde Warren. Klyde Warren Park runs free outdoor yoga, concerts, and events throughout the week. Check their calendar before you go.