Family-approved

Things to Do With Kids in Jacksonville

Jacksonville is an easy city to entertain kids in, from a top-tier zoo and a hands-on science museum to splashy beaches and roaring big cats. Here is the family hit list.

Updated June 2026

Retro postcard of a family day at the Jacksonville Zoo with giraffes

The short version

A whole weekend of tired-out kids

Here is the good news about Jacksonville with little ones: it is enormous, flat and spread out, which sounds like a hassle until you realize it means there is a big zoo, a real science museum, miles of gentle beach and a few genuinely once-in-a-childhood experiences all within a short drive of each other. You can plan a slow morning and a busy afternoon, swap any outdoor stop for an indoor one when the summer storms roll through, and still get everyone home before the meltdown. Below are the eight stops we send our own visiting families to, with quick age notes on each so you can match the day to your crew.

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Northside · Trout River

Jacksonville Zoo & Gardens

If you only do one thing, do the zoo. More than 2,000 animals, shaded boardwalks, a splash park for cooling off in the heat and a little train that loops the grounds — it is an easy half-day that works for toddlers and teenagers alike. Strollers roll fine, there is plenty of shade, and the splash park is a lifesaver from May through September. Best for: all ages.

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Southbank · Downtown

MOSH – Museum of Science & History

On the Southbank of the St. Johns, MOSH is hands-on the way kids want a museum to be: exhibits you touch and push and build, plus a planetarium for a sit-down breather. It is a perfect rainy-day or peak-heat pick, and it pairs neatly with a riverwalk stroll afterward. Best for: ages 4 and up, though littler ones still find plenty to poke at.

Indoor pick

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Northside

Catty Shack Ranch Wildlife Sanctuary

A nonprofit sanctuary for rescued lions, tigers and other big cats — and a genuine memory-maker. The daytime visit is great, but the famous Night Feeding is the thrill: the cats are loud, active and unforgettable after dark. Older kids love it; very young children may find the roaring a lot, so use your judgment. Best for: ages 6 and up (especially for the Night Feeding).

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St. Johns Town Center

Topgolf & iFLY

Two big-ticket attractions side by side at the St. Johns Town Center. Topgolf turns the driving range into a target game anyone can play (no golf skill required), while iFLY puts your kid in an indoor skydiving wind tunnel — the kind of thing they talk about for weeks. Both are climate-controlled, so they are gold on a rainy or scorching day. Best for: tweens and teens, with height minimums at iFLY worth checking first.

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Jacksonville Beach

The Beaches

Jacksonville Beach is wide, flat and gentle — exactly what you want for sandcastles, shell-hunting and a first dip in the Atlantic. The pier is a fun walk and a good landmark to anchor the day around. Pack a tent or umbrella; the shade is sparse and the Florida sun is no joke. Want the deeper dive on which beach suits which crew? See our beaches & outdoors hub. Best for: all ages.

Free

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St. Johns River

Dolphin Sightseeing Cruise

A narrated boat cruise on the St. Johns is a low-effort, high-payoff outing — kids get a breeze, a boat ride and a real shot at spotting wild dolphins. It is a calm change of pace between the higher-energy stops, and the captains know where to look. Best for: all ages; great for the day you want everyone sitting down for a while.

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Southbank · Downtown

Friendship Fountain & the Riverwalk

One of the best free things you can do with kids downtown. Friendship Fountain is a giant landmark fountain, and the Southbank Riverwalk that runs alongside it is flat, stroller-friendly and lined with river views. Let little legs burn off energy, grab an ice cream, and enjoy the skyline across the water for exactly zero dollars. Best for: all ages.

Free

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Atlantic Beach

Kathryn Abbey Hanna Park

The do-it-all outdoor park: ocean beach, a freshwater lake for calmer swimming, and miles of trails for biking and walking, all for about $5 per car. It is the kind of place you can spend a whole day without anyone getting bored, and the lake is a gentler option for kids who find the surf intimidating. Best for: all ages. Heads-up: roughly $5 per vehicle to enter.

$5/car

Heads-up: Florida afternoons in summer love a quick thunderstorm. Build your day so the outdoor stops (zoo, beach, Hanna Park) happen in the morning and keep an indoor backup — MOSH, Topgolf or iFLY — in your back pocket for the afternoon. Always confirm hours and ticketing with each operator before you go, since seasonal schedules shift.

Keep exploring

More ways to fill the day

Build the rest of the trip with the rest of the guide. Start at the Things to Do hub for the full lineup, then dig into the family-friendly clusters below.

RAINplan b

Indoor backups

Rainy-Day Jacksonville

Storm rolling in? Here are the museums, indoor play and climate-controlled wins that save a soggy afternoon.

Sibling guideRead it →

FREEzero $

Budget-friendly

Free Things to Do

Friendship Fountain, the Riverwalk and a stack of other outings that cost nothing — perfect for a big family.

Sibling guideRead it →

SAND& surf

Toes in the water

Beaches & Outdoors

Which beach for which crew, plus Hanna Park, the pier and the calm-water spots that work best with kids.

HubExplore →

Back to all Things to Do →

Good to know

Common questions

What are the best things to do in Jacksonville with kids?

Our family hit list starts with Jacksonville Zoo & Gardens and MOSH science museum, plus Catty Shack Ranch big cats, Topgolf and iFLY, the beaches, a dolphin sightseeing cruise, Friendship Fountain and the Riverwalk, and Kathryn Abbey Hanna Park. If you only do one thing, do the zoo.

Are there free things to do with kids in Jacksonville?

Yes. Jacksonville Beach is free, and downtown you can visit Friendship Fountain and stroll the stroller-friendly Southbank Riverwalk for exactly zero dollars. It is one of the best free family outings in the city.

What can you do in Jacksonville with kids on a rainy day?

Keep an indoor backup in your back pocket: MOSH science museum, Topgolf, and iFLY are all climate-controlled and great when summer storms roll through. Build your day so outdoor stops like the zoo and beach happen in the morning.

How much does it cost to get into Kathryn Abbey Hanna Park?

It runs roughly $5 per vehicle to enter. Inside you get an ocean beach, a freshwater lake for calmer swimming, and miles of trails for biking and walking, easily a full day without anyone getting bored.

Is the Jacksonville Zoo good for toddlers?

Yes, it works for all ages. Strollers roll fine on the shaded boardwalks, there is plenty of shade, a little train loops the grounds, and the splash park is a lifesaver for cooling off from May through September.