St. Louis is a better family city than most people expect. The parks are world-class and free, City Museum is unlike anything else in the United States, and the neighborhoods each have their own distinct personality. Three days is exactly right — enough time to hit the iconic stuff, explore a different part of the city each day, and not feel rushed. Here's how to structure it.
Best time to visit: Late April through early June, or September through October. Summer works but gets hot and humid; the free parks are perfect for early morning. Winter is fine if you time a Tilles Park Winter Wonderland visit.
Day 1: South St. Louis — Parks, Turtles, and City Museum
Morning (9–11:30am): Tower Grove Park
Start at Tower Grove Park (4.7 stars). The park has 285 acres to explore, multiple playground areas, and on Saturdays (May–October) the Tower Grove Farmers Market runs right alongside it with vendors giving out samples. Free access. Budget 1.5–3 hours; arrive with snacks and a blanket. Kids sprint around the Victorian pavilions and huge open lawns like they've been released. This is a good first morning to let everyone shake off travel.
Late Morning (11:30am–1pm): Turtle Playground
Drive 10 minutes south to Turtle Playground (4.7 stars). Giant concrete turtles of every size, all climbable, all free. Kids who haven't been here before are baffled and then immediately obsessed. $0 admission; budget $10–$20 if you grab food nearby. Concrete surfaces get hot in summer — visit this before noon.
Afternoon (1:30–6pm): City Museum
City Museum (4.7 stars) gets its own half-day. Downtown West, easy parking. Ten-story cave systems, 5-story slides, decommissioned airplanes bolted to the rooftop, a 10-story slide in the building, and zero scripted experience telling your kids what to do. A family of four pays $80–$120 all-in (admission ~$18/adult, $14/child; food $20–$40; parking $10–$15). Buy tickets online. Wear closed-toe shoes and clothes you don't care about. The rooftop is open spring through fall — check before you go. Plan to stay until they kick you out.
Evening: Dinner in Downtown
Multiple casual dining options within blocks of City Museum. Kids'll sleep hard.
Day 2: Forest Park and the Wild Side
Morning (8–11am): Bee Tree County Park
Drive south to Bee Tree County Park (4.7 stars) for an hour and a half of genuinely wild nature. Trails wind through dense woods to the Mississippi River, creek crossings let kids wade through shallow water, and deer and wild turkey are common sightings. Free. Pack a full picnic — no vendors, and this is the most remote-feeling experience in the metro. Wear old shoes that can get wet; carrier works better than stroller on natural trails.
Late Morning–Afternoon (11am–3pm): Forest Park
Forest Park Forever (4.4 stars) is St. Louis's 1,300-acre centerpiece. Feed ducks at Post-Dispatch Lake, bike the main loop, and then head into the St. Louis Science Center or History Museum — both free for Missouri residents. Free park access; budget $30–$60 if you rent paddle boats or eat at the Boathouse. Plan 2–5 hours depending on how deep you go into the museums.
Mid-Afternoon (3–5pm): Go Ape Zipline (for families with kids 10+)
Go Ape Zipline and Adventure Park (4.7 stars) runs tree-top obstacle courses and zip lines through Forest Park's canopy. Two adults and two kids runs $120–$160. Book the earliest available afternoon slot to avoid peak heat. Participants must be 10+ and 70–286 lbs — check the chart before booking. If your kids are under 10, swap this for Zachary's Playground (4.8 stars, free), the best inclusive playground in the metro, about 20 minutes from Forest Park.
Evening: Dinner + Ted Drewes
Head to Ted Drewes Frozen Custard on Chippewa St. It's cash-friendly, under $20 for four people, and the concretes are what you've been missing your whole life. Kids who eat one here ask to go back before you've finished yours.
Day 3: Hidden Gems and an Easy Departure
Morning (9–11am): Lafayette Park and the Lafayette Square Neighborhood
Lafayette Park (4.7 stars) is one of St. Louis's oldest parks — duck pond, big playground, Victorian surroundings. Free access. Budget $20–$40 if you grab brunch at one of the walkable Lafayette Square restaurants nearby. Older kids enjoy the architecture of the neighborhood; younger kids enjoy the ducks. 1–2 hours.
Late Morning (11am–1pm): Francis Park
Head to Francis Park (4.8 stars) in St. Louis Hills for the spray ground (seasonal, Memorial Day–Labor Day) and open lawns. Free. If you're visiting in summer and the spray ground is running, kids'll want to stay forever. Pack a picnic lunch here; the Dogtown neighborhood restaurants are good if you'd rather eat out ($20–$40).
Early Afternoon: Tilles Park or Head Home
Tilles Park (4.7 stars) in Ladue is the final stop if you have time before departure. Free splash pad and playground in summer. If you're visiting November–December, the Winter Wonderland light show ($40–$60 drive-through) is worth extending the trip for. Otherwise, use this as a low-key 1–2 hour wind-down before loading into the car.
What This Trip Will Cost
| Activity | Cost (Family of 4) | |---|---| | Tower Grove Park | $0 | | Turtle Playground | $0 | | City Museum (admission + food + parking) | $80–$120 | | Bee Tree County Park | $0 | | Forest Park (walking + museums) | $0 | | Go Ape Zipline (if kids 10+) | $120–$160 | | Zachary's Playground (alternative to Go Ape) | $0 | | Lafayette Park | $0 | | Francis Park | $0 | | Ted Drewes Frozen Custard | ~$20 | | Total (with Go Ape) | $220–$300 | | Total (without Go Ape) | $100–$140 |
Meals and lodging are separate. Pack lunches on park days and you'll spend $15–$25/day on food instead of $60–$80.
Practical Tips for Your St. Louis Family Trip
- Parking at City Museum: Street parking near the museum requires quarters and patience. The surface lot directly across the street runs $10–$15 and is the easiest option. Arrive by 10am on weekends for a spot.
- Forest Park is big. Drive between the museums, the lake, and the playground areas rather than walking everything — it's 1,300 acres and the distances add up.
- The City Museum rooftop is only open in warm weather. The 10-story slide and the rooftop go-karts are worth planning for — check their website the week of your visit.
- Tilles Park spray pad is free and open summer months. The park loop is paved and stroller-friendly. Better for younger kids than most of the county's larger parks.
- Combine neighborhoods efficiently. Tower Grove Park, Turtle Playground, and Willmore Park (4.5 stars, free) are all in South St. Louis within 5–10 minutes of each other.
- Ted Drewes on Chippewa closes seasonally (typically November–February). Check the website before making it a plan in winter.