Rainy-day outings with kids around Dallas
Dallas doesn't get much rain, but when it comes it's an all-day thunderstorm, especially in spring. These places work regardless: children's museums and science centers, aquariums, libraries with real play areas, indoor attractions inside the malls, and the light rail.
The free options are the city libraries (Frisco's new building, Plano Haggard, Richardson, Allen) and NorthPark Center with its sculptures, duck pond and the Bookmarks children's library. For something that feels like an outing: Sci-Tech in Frisco is small and complete, Crayola Experience in Plano eats a whole day, and the Perot Museum's children's museum is built for under-fives; the rainforest at Dallas World Aquarium and SEA LIFE in Grapevine are entirely indoors. Ride DART to West End and both Perot and the aquarium are within walking distance, no parking hunt in the rain.
- 21 places
- 10 free
- 21 stroller-friendly
- closest is 5 min away
21 places
Drive times from Plano
DART rail ride (Downtown Plano to Dallas)
5.0Plano · 5 min drive
2 h · stroller-friendly
$ · Parking: Free lots at both Downtown Plano and Parker Rd stations
Haggard Library children's area (Plano)
5.0Plano · 10 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free library lot
Richardson Public Library children's area
5.0Richardson · 15 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free Civic Center lot
Allen Public Library children's area
5.0Allen · 15 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free library lot
Frisco Public Library (new building) children's area
5.0Frisco · 20 min drive
2 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free lot shared with the Frisco Discovery Center
Josey Ranch Lake Library children's area (Carrollton)
5.0Carrollton · 20 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free library lot
Sci-Tech Discovery Center
5.0Frisco · 20 min drive
2 h · stroller-friendly
$ · Parking: Free lot at the Frisco Discovery Center
NorthPark Center (Bookmarks children's library)
5.0Dallas · 25 min drive
2 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free mall lots and garages
Roy & Helen Hall Library children's area (McKinney)
5.0McKinney · 25 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free library lot and street parking downtown
Cozby Library children's area (Coppell)
5.0Coppell · 25 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free library lot
Dallas World Aquarium
5.0Dallas · 30 min drive
2.5 h · stroller-friendly
$$$ · Parking: Paid lots around the West End about $10–15; or DART to West End station and a 5-minute walk
Texas Discovery Gardens butterfly house (Fair Park)
5.0Dallas · 35 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
$ · Parking: Fair Park lots, free or cheap most of the year (except during the State Fair)
SEA LIFE Grapevine Aquarium
5.0Grapevine · 35 min drive
2 h · stroller-friendly · reservation needed
$$ · Parking: Free parking at Grapevine Mills
Fort Worth Museum of Science and History
5.0Fort Worth · 60 min drive
3 h · stroller-friendly
$$ · Parking: Free Cultural District lot (Gendy St)
Interurban Railway Museum
4.0Plano · 5 min drive
1 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free street parking in Downtown Plano and the DART station lot
Crayola Experience
4.0Plano · 15 min drive
3 h · stroller-friendly
$$ · Parking: Free parking at the Shops at Willow Bend
Perot Museum of Nature and Science
4.0Dallas · 30 min drive
4 h · stroller-friendly
$$ · Parking: Museum garage and nearby lots about $10–15; or DART to West End station and a 10-minute walk
Frontiers of Flight Museum
4.0Dallas · 30 min drive
2 h · stroller-friendly
$ · Parking: Free museum lot
LEGOLAND Discovery Center
4.0Grapevine · 35 min drive
3 h · stroller-friendly · reservation needed
$$ · Parking: Free parking at Grapevine Mills
Fossil Rim Wildlife Center (drive-through)
4.0Glen Rose · 110 min drive
4 h · stroller-friendly · reservation needed
$$$ · Parking: A drive-through, so your car is your seat; lots at the Overlook and the children's animal center
Dallas Museum of Art
3.0Dallas · 30 min drive
2 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Museum underground garage about $15, street meters nearby are cheap on weekends; Klyde Warren Park is right across the street
💡 Good to know
- Museums fill fast on rainy weekends; arrive at opening or book a timed ticket.
- Texas storms blow through quickly and afternoons often clear; plan indoors for the morning and the parks dry out fast afterwards.