Part of our Family Fun guide. We checked hours and prices on each venue’s own website. Always check before you go, because special events can change things.
Downtown Container Park: free playground and Treehouse
Downtown Container Park (707 Fremont St.) has no entrance fee, and the Treehouse, Playground, Pixel Room and stage area are free. The park’s FAQ says kids can stay until 9 PM daily and it’s 21+ after that; its Visit page lists 10 PM for under-18s with a high school ID, so check before an evening visit. Shops open at 11 or 11:30 AM depending on the day. During special events some areas may close or charge a fee.
Toddler tip: go right when the shops open for the quietest playground time.
Ethel M Chocolates: cactus garden and factory view
In Henderson, the 3-acre Botanical Cactus Garden at Ethel M is open daily 9 AM–7 PM (closed Christmas Day, with shorter hours on some holidays), and the garden and factory viewing are free. Kids can peek into the factory and walk paths lined with 300+ species of desert plants. It’s easy with a stroller.
Holiday lights: from Nov 5 to Jan 3, the garden lights up nightly from 5 PM. Holiday nights cost $3 per person (kids under 2 and seniors 65+ are free), and part of the money goes to local charities. Not free, but close, and very toddler-friendly.
Marjorie Barrick Museum of Art at UNLV
When exhibitions are on display, the Barrick is open Tuesday–Saturday, 10 AM–5 PM. Admission is free, with a suggested (voluntary) $5 for adults and $2 for children and seniors. Good for older kids and a short visit.
Local tip: free family passes from the library
If you have a Las Vegas-Clark County Library District card, you can check out free passes at your branch’s Information Desk, subject to availability:
- DISCOVERY Children’s Museum Family Adventure Pass: admits up to 4 people once during the three-week checkout. The museum is open Tue–Sat 10 AM–5 PM and Sun noon–5 PM.
- Botanical garden and nature preserve Family Pass: admits up to 6 people once in seven days. Not valid for special events.
- Nevada State Parks Pass: covers day-use entry for one vehicle (up to 8 people) at all 27 state parks for seven days.
- Horses4Heroes Family Farm Days: reserve a free ranch visit with miniature horses and farm animals on Fridays and Saturdays, 10 AM–noon. Registration is required, and each reservation admits up to three children.
Vegas with toddlers: quick tips
- Best free toddler stops: the Container Park playground, the Ethel M garden (stroller-friendly paths) and Horses4Heroes Farm Days.
- Mornings win. Outdoor spots get warm and exposed later in the day.
- Riding transit? On RTC buses, kids 5 and under ride free.
- Using the Vegas Loop? Every rider over 2 needs a ticket, and you have to bring and install your own car seat. See Vegas Loop with kids and car seats.
Free things to do in Vegas with kids: FAQ
What are the best free things to do in Vegas with kids off the Strip?
Downtown Container Park’s free playground and Treehouse, the Ethel M cactus garden in Henderson and UNLV’s Barrick Museum of Art are all free.
Is Vegas good for toddlers?
Yes, if you stay off the Strip. The Container Park playground (kids until 9 PM), the Ethel M garden and Horses4Heroes Family Farm Days (free with a library card) are all easy toddler outings.
Are there free museums in Las Vegas for kids?
Yes. UNLV’s Barrick Museum of Art is free, and Library District cardholders can borrow a free DISCOVERY Children’s Museum family pass.
More family ideas: see Family Fun for family-friendly local spots and buffets, and cheap Las Vegas buffets for kids’ pricing.
Sources
We checked hours and prices on each venue’s own website on Nov 1, 2026. Always check before you go, because special events can change things.
- Downtown Container Park: visit: https://downtowncontainerpark.com/visit/
- Downtown Container Park: FAQ (homepage): https://downtowncontainerpark.com/
- Ethel M Chocolates: Botanical Cactus Garden: https://www.ethelm.com/en-us/locations/henderson-flagship/cactus-garden
- Ethel M Chocolates: Holiday Cactus Garden: https://www.ethelm.com/en-us/locations/henderson-flagship/cactus-garden/holiday-cactus-garden
- UNLV: Marjorie Barrick Museum of Art: https://www.unlv.edu/barrickmuseum
- Las Vegas-Clark County Library District: museum and park passes: https://thelibrarydistrict.org/passes/
- RTC Southern Nevada: fares and passes: https://www.rtcsnv.com/ways-to-travel/fares-passes/
- Vegas Loop: FAQ: https://vegasloop.com/faq
Vegas Daily Drop is independent and isn’t affiliated with any venue listed here or with the Las Vegas-Clark County Library District.