Best Outdoor Activities for Kids in Minneapolis
24 outdoor adventures for families in Minneapolis. Parks, trails, playgrounds, and fresh-air fun for every age group.
Highest rated: Wabun Playground, Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden and Bird Sanctuary, Minnehaha Regional Park. 22 are free. Every listing includes age ratings, stroller access, and parent tips.
Top Picks

Wabun Playground
4.9 starsWabun Playground sits right next to Minnehaha Regional Park, which means after the playground, kids can walk to one of Minneapolis's most beautiful na

Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden and Bird Sanctuary
4.8 starsEloise Butler feels like stepping into a secret world — a genuine wildflower meadow and old-growth woodland in the middle of Minneapolis that most peo

Minnehaha Regional Park
4.8 starsMinnehaha Falls is a 53-foot waterfall in the middle of Minneapolis that genuinely impresses children every time — the volume of water, the spray mist

The Charlotte Partridge Ordway Japanese Garden at Como Park
4.8 starsThe Japanese Garden is a peaceful, beautiful space that gives children a visual and spatial experience of a different design tradition — the arched br

Oxbow Park & Zollman Zoo
4.8 starsThe Zollman Zoo has native Minnesota animals like bison, wolves, cougars, and eagles — all rescued animals that can't survive in the wild. Kids get a
FreeWabun Playground
Ages: Best for ages 0-10
FreeEloise Butler Wildflower Garden and Bird Sanctuary
Ages: Best for ages 5+
FreeMinnehaha Regional Park
Ages: All ages
FreeThe Charlotte Partridge Ordway Japanese Garden at Como Park
Ages: All ages
FreeOxbow Park & Zollman Zoo
Ages: Best for ages 3-14
FreeAugsburg Adventure Park
Ages: All ages, including children with disabilities
FreeLyndale Farmstead Park
Ages: All ages
Partially FreeBde Maka Ska
Ages: Best for ages 2-14
FreeSchaper Park
Ages: All ages
FreeBoom Island Park
Ages: All ages
FreeHyland Play Area
Ages: Best for ages 0-12
FreeLake Nokomis Playground
Ages: Best for ages 2-12
FreeMinneapolis Sculpture Garden
Ages: All ages
FreeThomas Sadler Roberts Bird Sanctuary
Ages: Best for ages 5+
Partially FreeWabun Picnic Area
Ages: Best for ages 2-14
FreeNorth Loop Playground
Ages: Best for ages 0-10
FreeMueller Park
Ages: Best for ages 2-10
FreeAudubon Park
Ages: Best for ages 2-10
FreeKeewaydin Park
Ages: Best for ages 2-12
FreeHi-View Park
Ages: Best for ages 2-15
FreeEugene H. Hagel Arboretum
Ages: Best for ages 4+
FreeBryant Square Park
Ages: Best for ages 2-12
FreeHolmes Park
Ages: Best for ages 2-10
FreeTrain Park
Ages: Best for ages 2-10
Common Questions
- What are the best outdoor activities for kids in Minneapolis?
- 24 outdoor family activities in Minneapolis. Highest rated: Wabun Playground, Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden and Bird Sanctuary, Minnehaha Regional Park, The Charlotte Partridge Ordway Japanese Garden at Como Park, Oxbow Park & Zollman Zoo. Parks, trails, playgrounds, and more.
- Are there free outdoor things to do with kids in Minneapolis?
- 22 outdoor activities in Minneapolis are free, including Wabun Playground, Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden and Bird Sanctuary, Minnehaha Regional Park.
- How many outdoor activities in Minneapolis are stroller-friendly?
- 19 of the 24 outdoor activities in Minneapolis are fully stroller-friendly.
More Ways to Browse
Free Minneapolis Weekend Activity Planner
Get a printable planner with Minneapolis activity ideas by age, a packing checklist, and weekly picks in your inbox.
Join 1,000+ parents. No spam, ever.