The best outings for toddlers (ages 1–3) around Boston
Every place on this list gets our top rating, 5 out of 5, for ages 1–3: short, flat paths that work with a stroller, something new to look at every few minutes (animals, water, trains), a restroom close by, and parking that doesn't take half an hour, or a T ride that's easier than driving.
The winners closest to the west suburbs are the Newton Centre playground and library, the hill at Larz Anderson in Brookline, the Fresh Pond loop and the Danehy spray deck in Cambridge, and Drumlin Farm in Lincoln for animals. Ride the Green Line D into town to Park Street and the swan boats, the Frog Pond spray pool and the duckling statues are all within a 5-minute walk; the Children's Museum's PlaySpace is built for 0–3s. In summer, Houghton's Pond has a shallow freshwater beach with lifeguards.
- 53 places
- 29 free
- 49 stroller-friendly
- closest is 5 min away
53 places
Drive times from Newton
Cold Spring Park woodland trail
5.0Newton · 5 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free lot at the Beacon St entrance, busier during the summer Tuesday farmers market
Newton Centre Playground
5.0Newton · 5 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free street parking on Tyler Terrace, or park in the Newton Centre business district and walk over
Newton Free Library children's department
5.0Newton · 5 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free lot in front of the library, busier on Saturday mornings
Ride the Green Line D into the city
5.0Newton · 5 min drive
2 h · stroller-friendly
$ · Parking: MBTA pay lot by Newton Centre station, or the big lot at Riverside (cheaper on weekends)
Larz Anderson Park
5.0Brookline · 10 min drive
2 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free lots inside the park (entrances on Newton St and Goddard Ave)
Cypress Street Playground
5.0Brookline · 10 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Street parking on Cypress St and Franklin St (watch Brookline's time-limit signs)
Brookline Public Library main branch children's room
5.0Brookline · 10 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free lot behind the library (2-hour limit), or street parking in Brookline Village
Fresh Pond Loop
5.0Cambridge · 15 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free lots on Fresh Pond Pkwy and at Kingsley Park; easy on weekend mornings
Jamaica Pond Loop
5.0Boston · 15 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free street parking along Perkins St and the Jamaicaway, fine on weekend mornings
Beaver Brook Reservation falls, duck pond and spray deck
5.0Belmont · 15 min drive
2 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free lots at the Mill St and Trapelo Rd entrances
Danehy Park playground and spray area
5.0Cambridge · 15 min drive
2 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free lots at the Sherman St and New St entrances
Cambridge Common nature playground (Alexander W. Kemp Playground)
5.0Cambridge · 15 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Harvard Square parking is hard; take the Red Line to Harvard and walk 3 minutes, or use a Harvard Square garage
Cambridge Public Library main branch children's room
5.0Cambridge · 15 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Small garage under the library (time-limited, often full), street parking on Broadway; or Red Line to Harvard and a 10-minute walk
Wellesley Free Library children's room
5.0Wellesley · 15 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free lot in front of the library, easy on weekends
Arnold Arboretum
5.0Boston · 15 min drive
2 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free street parking along the Arborway and Bussey St; or Orange Line to Forest Hills and a 5-minute walk
Elm Bank gardens and Weezie's Garden for Children (Mass Hort)
5.0Wellesley · 15 min drive
2 h · stroller-friendly
$ · Parking: Free lot inside the grounds; admission about $12 adults, kids cheap or free, check the website
Broadmoor Wildlife Sanctuary (Mass Audubon)
5.0Natick · 20 min drive
2 h · stroller-friendly
$ · Parking: Free sanctuary lot; admission about $8 adults, about $6 kids, free for Mass Audubon members
Drumlin Farm Wildlife Sanctuary (Mass Audubon)
5.0Lincoln · 20 min drive
2.5 h · stroller-friendly
$ · Parking: Free farm lot; admission about $15 adults, about $10 kids, free for members
Belkin Family Lookout Farm
5.0Natick · 20 min drive
3 h · stroller-friendly
$$ · Parking: Free farm lot, arrive early on fall weekends
Lexington Center playground (Center Recreation Complex)
5.0Lexington · 20 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free lot off Worthen Rd
Charles River Esplanade and Charlesbank Playground
5.0Boston · 20 min drive
2 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Easiest is the Red Line to Charles/MGH and a 3-minute walk; by car use the MGH garage (expensive) or the temporary Esplanade spaces under Storrow Dr
Boston Common: Tadpole Playground and Frog Pond
5.0Boston · 20 min drive
2 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Green Line to Park St puts you right there; by car use the Boston Common underground garage (from about $20)
Cary Memorial Library children's room
5.0Lexington · 20 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free lots behind the library and in Lexington Center (time-limited)
Boston Public Library Central Library children's library (Copley)
5.0Boston · 20 min drive
2 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Green Line to Copley puts you right there; by car use the Prudential or Copley Place garages (expensive)
Public Garden Swan Boats
5.0Boston · 20 min drive
1 h · stroller-friendly
$ · Parking: Green Line to Arlington puts you right there; by car use the Boston Common underground garage
Boston Public Garden and the Make Way for Ducklings statues
5.0Boston · 20 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Green Line to Arlington puts you right there; by car use the Boston Common underground garage (from about $20)
Franklin Park Zoo
5.0Boston · 20 min drive
3 h · stroller-friendly
$$ · Parking: Free zoo lot; admission about $25 adults, about $17 kids, free under 2, check the website
deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum (Trustees)
5.0Lincoln · 20 min drive
2.5 h · stroller-friendly
$$ · Parking: Free lot inside the park; admission about $20 adults, free under 12, free for Trustees members
Horn Pond Loop
5.0Woburn · 25 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free lots on Lake Ave and Arlington Rd
Boston Nature Center
5.0Boston · 25 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free lot at the Walk Hill St entrance
Wright-Locke Farm
5.0Winchester · 25 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free farm lot (Ridge St)
Christopher Columbus Waterfront Park
5.0Boston · 25 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Blue Line to Aquarium and a 2-minute walk; by car use the Harbor Garage or Parcel 7 garage (discounted with a Haymarket purchase)
Martin's Park accessible playground (Seaport)
5.0Boston · 25 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Red Line to South Station and a 10-minute walk; by car use the Farnsworth St garage by the Children's Museum or the Stillings St garage
Thomas Crane Public Library children's room
5.0Quincy · 25 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free lot beside the library; or Red Line to Quincy Center and a 5-minute walk
Castle Island and Pleasure Bay loop
5.0Boston · 25 min drive
2.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Large free lot at the end of William J. Day Blvd, fills by midday on summer weekends
Houghton's Pond beach (Blue Hills)
5.0Milton · 25 min drive
3 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free lot on Hillside St, arrive before 11am on summer weekends
Rose Kennedy Greenway carousel and fountains
5.0Boston · 25 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
$ · Parking: Blue Line to Aquarium or Orange/Green Line to Haymarket and a 3-minute walk; by car use the Parcel 7 garage
Ferry to Charlestown and the USS Constitution
5.0Boston · 25 min drive
3 h · stroller-friendly
$ · Parking: Board at Long Wharf (by the Blue Line Aquarium station); by car use the Harbor Garage or Parcel 7
New England Aquarium
5.0Boston · 25 min drive
3 h · stroller-friendly · reservation needed
$$$ · Parking: Blue Line to Aquarium puts you right there; by car use the Harbor Garage (aquarium discount, still about $20+)
Blue Hills Trailside Museum (Mass Audubon)
5.0Milton · 25 min drive
2 h · stroller-friendly
$ · Parking: Free museum lot (Route 138); admission about $8 adults, about $5 kids
Boston Children's Museum
5.0Boston · 25 min drive
3 h · stroller-friendly · reservation needed
$$ · Parking: Red Line to South Station and a 10-minute walk; by car use the Farnsworth St garage (museum discount)
Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge (Concord)
5.0Concord · 30 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free lot at the end of Monsen Rd
Stone Zoo
5.0Stoneham · 30 min drive
2.5 h · stroller-friendly
$$ · Parking: Free zoo lot; admission slightly cheaper than Franklin Park, check the website
Discovery Museum
5.0Acton · 35 min drive
3 h · stroller-friendly
$$ · Parking: Free museum lot
Honey Pot Hill Orchards
5.0Stow · 35 min drive
3 h · carrier recommended
$$ · Parking: Free orchard lot, with a line to get in after 9am on October weekends
Shelburne Farm orchard and pumpkin patch
5.0Stow · 35 min drive
2.5 h · carrier recommended
$ · Parking: Free farm lot
Smolak Farms
5.0North Andover · 40 min drive
2.5 h · stroller-friendly
$ · Parking: Free farm lot
Tougas Family Farm
5.0Northborough · 40 min drive
3 h · carrier recommended
$$ · Parking: Free farm lot, arrive early on fall weekends
Cider Hill Farm
5.0Amesbury · 50 min drive
3 h · carrier recommended
$ · Parking: Free farm lot
Davis Farmland
5.0Sterling · 55 min drive
4 h · stroller-friendly
$$$ · Parking: Free farm lot
New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill
5.0Boylston · 55 min drive
3 h · stroller-friendly
$$ · Parking: Free lot inside the garden; admission about $20 adults, about $8 kids, check the website
EcoTarium
5.0Worcester · 55 min drive
4 h · stroller-friendly
$$ · Parking: Free museum lot; admission about $20 adults, about $14 kids, train extra
Roger Williams Park Zoo
5.0Providence · 60 min drive
4 h · stroller-friendly
$$ · Parking: Free zoo lot; admission about $25 adults, about $18 kids, check the website
💡 Good to know
- Playgrounds and beaches fill up on weekend afternoons; 9 to 11am is toddler prime time.
- If it rains, swap in the Children's Museum, a library or the Discovery Museum; every indoor place on the list is a backup.