Las Vegas has a reputation as an adults-only playground, but families know the secret: this is one of the most packed-with-things-to-do destinations in the country for kids. Las Vegas welcomed about 41.7 million visitors in 2024, and a growing share of them travel with children who come for the indoor theme parks, aquariums, giant arcades, free fountain and garden shows, and some of the easiest day trips to real natural wonders anywhere in the West. This guide groups the 20 best things to do in Las Vegas with kids into four clear lanes, from beat-the-heat indoor stops to only-in-Vegas rides, free Strip fun, and outdoor adventures, and it ends with the part most guides skip: how to get your family between all of them without a rental car or a rideshare gamble.
- Plan the day around the heat. Summer afternoons top 100 degrees, so build midday around indoor stops like the Adventuredome, Shark Reef Aquarium, and the Discovery Children’s Museum, and save Red Rock Canyon and parks for morning and evening.
- A lot of the best stuff is free. The Fountains of Bellagio, the Bellagio Conservatory, M&M’s World, and the Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign cost nothing to enjoy.
- Match the attraction to the age. Toddlers love the children’s museum and gardens, big kids want the Big Apple Coaster and FlyOver, and height limits decide the thrill rides.
- The real wonders are just outside town. Red Rock Canyon is about 17 miles west and Hoover Dam about 30 miles southeast, both easy half-day trips.
- Getting around is the hard part. The best family attractions are spread across the whole valley, so one chauffeured vehicle with room for strollers, child seats, and the whole group keeps the day on schedule and stress-free.
What’s in This Guide
- Beat-the-Heat Indoor Favorites: Adventuredome, Shark Reef, Discovery Children’s Museum, Omega Mart, Pinball Hall of Fame, Big Apple Coaster
- Only-in-Vegas Rides, Wheels & Shows: Mystere, Tournament of Kings, High Roller, FlyOver Las Vegas, Venetian Gondolas
- Free Fun Along the Strip: Fountains of Bellagio, Bellagio Conservatory, M&M’s World, Welcome sign
- Get Outside: Parks, Water & Day Trips: Springs Preserve, Red Rock Canyon, Cowabunga Bay, Mini Gran Prix, Hoover Dam
Plan your family trip:
Las Vegas With Kids, by the Numbers
The scale of Las Vegas is exactly what makes it such a deep family destination, and it is also what makes planning tricky. Tens of millions of visitors move through a compact Strip and a wide surrounding valley every year, and the attractions kids love most are scattered from the north Strip down to Mandalay Bay, out to downtown, and beyond the city limits to the desert. Knowing roughly how far apart things sit is half the battle.
A quick note on how this list works. It is a curated best-of grouped into four lanes so it fits any age and any weather, and every entry tells you what it is, where it sits in the valley, and who it is best for. Attractions, show schedules, height limits, and prices change, so confirm the details on each venue’s official site before you go. Heads-up on one Vegas constant: casino gaming floors are 21-and-over, so plan your walking routes to keep younger kids in the resorts’ family amenities, which are plentiful.
Source: Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority research | U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, Hoover Dam
Beat-the-Heat Indoor Favorites
When the thermometer climbs past 100 degrees, the smartest Las Vegas family days run on air conditioning. These six indoor attractions are the anchors of a summer itinerary, and they work just as well as rainy-day or jet-lag-recovery stops the rest of the year. Every one of them is fully enclosed and climate-controlled.
| Attraction | What it is | Area | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adventuredome | Indoor theme park, 5 acres | North Strip | All ages |
| Shark Reef Aquarium | Walk-through aquarium | South Strip | All ages |
| Discovery Children’s Museum | Hands-on kids museum | Downtown | Toddlers to tweens |
| Omega Mart (AREA15) | Immersive art experience | Off-Strip | Kids 6+ and up |
| Pinball Hall of Fame | Playable pinball museum | South Strip | All ages |
| Big Apple Coaster | Roller coaster + arcade | Mid Strip | Big kids 54″+ |
1. Adventuredome at Circus Circus
The Adventuredome is the only fully indoor theme park on the Strip, a glass-domed, climate-controlled park spanning roughly five acres with rides for every age under one roof. Little kids have gentle carousels and a carnival midway, while older kids and teens chase the two full-size roller coasters, the looping Canyon Blaster and the steep-drop El Loco. Because it is indoors, it is the single most reliable family stop in a Vegas summer or a rare rainy afternoon.
- Where: Inside Circus Circus on the north end of the Las Vegas Strip.
- Best for: Mixed-age families; something for toddlers through teens.
- Good to know: Entry is free; you pay per ride or buy an all-day wristband. Taller rides carry height minimums, so check at the gate.
2. Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay
At the south end of the Strip, Shark Reef Aquarium holds roughly 1.6 million gallons of water and more than 2,000 animals, including sharks, sea turtles, a saltwater crocodile, and rays. The highlight for kids is the walk-through tunnel where sharks glide overhead, and a touch pool lets little hands meet rays and horseshoe crabs up close. It is an easy 60 to 90 minutes and a perfect midday escape from the heat.
- Where: Inside Mandalay Bay at the south end of the Strip.
- Best for: All ages, especially animal-loving younger kids.
- Good to know: Buy timed tickets online to skip the line; the walk is stroller-friendly.
3. DISCOVERY Children’s Museum
Downtown in Symphony Park, the Discovery Children’s Museum is built from the ground up for kids, with three stories of hands-on exhibits where they can build, paint, run water experiments, and climb through a multi-level play structure. A dedicated area keeps toddlers busy with age-appropriate play while older siblings explore science and art galleries. It is the top pick in town for families with younger children.
- Where: DISCOVERY Children’s Museum, Symphony Park, downtown Las Vegas.
- Best for: Toddlers through tweens.
- Good to know: Fully indoor and air-conditioned; plan two to three hours.
4. Omega Mart at AREA15
Omega Mart, the Meow Wolf immersive art experience inside the AREA15 complex just off the Strip, starts as a quirky fake supermarket and opens into a surreal, glowing world of hidden passages, interactive installations, and a connected story kids love to decode. It rewards curiosity and movement rather than reading, so it works for a wide range of ages, and AREA15 around it adds more family attractions, food, and art. It is one of the most memorable rainy-day or beat-the-heat stops in Las Vegas.
- Where: AREA15, off-Strip on South Rancho Drive.
- Best for: Curious kids around 6 and up, tweens, and teens.
- Good to know: Indoor and interactive; allow 90 minutes or more to wander.
5. Pinball Hall of Fame
The Pinball Hall of Fame houses the world’s largest collection of pinball and arcade machines, hundreds of games spanning decades, and almost all of them are playable for a quarter or a dollar. It is a non-profit, and the proceeds go to charity, which makes it a low-cost, high-fun stop where kids can actually play rather than just look. It sits on the south Strip, a short hop from the Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign, so the two pair naturally.
- Where: Pinball Hall of Fame, Las Vegas Boulevard South near the Welcome sign.
- Best for: All ages; great for kids who like to be hands-on.
- Good to know: Bring quarters and small bills; admission to walk in is free.
6. The Big Apple Coaster & Arcade at New York-New York
Wrapping around the Manhattan-skyline facade of New York-New York, the Big Apple Coaster climbs to 203 feet and hits 67 miles per hour, with a 144-foot drop that makes it one of the Strip’s genuine thrill rides. The minimum height to ride is 54 inches, so it is a big-kid and teen attraction, but the adjoining arcade gives younger siblings plenty to do while the daredevils ride. High winds can pause the coaster, so have the arcade as a backup.
- Where: New York-New York, center Strip.
- Best for: Big kids and teens who clear the 54-inch minimum; arcade for everyone.
- Good to know: Single-ride or all-day re-ride passes are available.
The myth that Las Vegas is an adults-only city with nothing for children is exactly that, a myth. The gaming floors are 21-and-over, but the resorts surrounding them are full of theme parks, aquariums, arcades, pools, and shows built for families, and the natural wonders just outside town are some of the most kid-friendly in the West. The only real planning rule is to route around the casino floors and the heat, not around a lack of things to do.
Only-in-Vegas Rides, Wheels & Shows
Some experiences you simply cannot have anywhere else, and Las Vegas does spectacle better than any city in the country. These five lean into that, from world-class acrobatics to a 550-foot wheel and a flight ride over the American West. A couple are ticketed shows worth building an evening around.
7. Mystere by Cirque du Soleil
Mystere at Treasure Island is the longest-running Cirque du Soleil show in Las Vegas, playing since 1993, and it is widely considered the most family-friendly of the city’s Cirque productions. The mix of high-flying acrobatics, giant puppets, physical comedy, and color holds the attention of kids who would never sit still for a traditional show. There is no language barrier and no late start time, which makes it an easy first live show for a family.
- Where: Treasure Island, center Strip.
- Best for: Families with kids who like action and spectacle.
- Good to know: Check the age and ticketing policy when you book; matinees can suit younger kids.
8. Tournament of Kings at Excalibur
Running since 1999, Tournament of Kings at Excalibur is a medieval dinner show where knights joust on horseback, the audience cheers for their section’s champion, and everyone eats a hearty meal with their hands, no utensils. The combination of a live arena spectacle and dinner-as-entertainment is tailor-made for kids, who are encouraged to shout and bang on the table. It is one of the best all-in-one show-and-meal options for families on the Strip.
- Where: Excalibur, south Strip.
- Best for: Families who want a show and dinner in one.
- Good to know: Note the meal is served during the show; mention dietary needs when booking.
9. The High Roller at The LINQ
The High Roller observation wheel at The LINQ stands 550 feet tall, and its enclosed, climate-controlled cabins hold up to 40 people for a roughly 30-minute rotation with sweeping views of the Strip and the valley. Because the cabins are spacious and fully enclosed, it works for kids who would be nervous on an open ride, and it is equally good by day or lit up at night. It is a calm, scenic break between busier stops.
- Where: The LINQ Promenade, center Strip.
- Best for: All ages; a relaxed, big-view experience.
- Good to know: Daytime tickets are typically cheaper than evening; one full rotation runs about half an hour.
10. FlyOver Las Vegas
FlyOver Las Vegas is a flight-ride attraction where you are lifted in front of a huge spherical screen, your feet dangling, and soar over canyons, mountains, and coastlines with wind, mist, and motion added in. The full experience runs about 30 minutes including the pre-show, and it delivers the thrill of a ride without the stomach-drop of a coaster, which suits families with mixed nerves. It sits in the Showcase Mall on the Strip near the big attractions.
- Where: FlyOver Las Vegas, Showcase Mall, 3771 Las Vegas Blvd S.
- Best for: Kids who meet the height minimum, through grandparents.
- Good to know: Confirm the current height requirement before you go; arrive about 15 minutes early.
11. Gondola Ride at The Venetian
At The Venetian, a gondolier rows you along a recreated Grand Canal, indoors under a painted-sky ceiling or outside past the resort’s plaza, while singing as you glide. The ride is short, gentle, and genuinely charming, which makes it a favorite with younger kids and a nice slow-down between higher-energy stops. It is the kind of only-in-Vegas moment that photographs beautifully.
- Where: The Venetian, center Strip.
- Best for: Toddlers and young kids; a calm, scenic ride.
- Good to know: Rides are sold per gondola as well as per seat; indoor rides run regardless of weather.
Free Fun Along the Strip
Some of the most memorable Las Vegas moments for kids do not cost a cent. These four free attractions are all easy to fold into a walking route, and together they prove you can give a family a full, happy day on the Strip for the price of parking and a snack.
12. Fountains of Bellagio
The Fountains of Bellagio put on a free water-and-music show on the resort’s eight-acre lake, with jets dancing in time to the soundtrack. Shows run every half hour in the afternoon and then every 15 minutes in the evening until midnight, so you can almost always catch one. Grab a spot on the rail along Las Vegas Boulevard and let the kids watch the water shoot hundreds of feet into the air.
- Where: Bellagio, center Strip.
- Best for: All ages; a classic free crowd-pleaser.
- Good to know: Evening shows run more frequently; the lakefront sidewalk is stroller-accessible.
13. Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Garden
Just inside Bellagio, the Conservatory and Botanical Garden is a free, elaborately themed indoor garden that the design team rebuilds five times a year around the seasons and holidays, complete with towering floral sculptures, moving displays, and surprises kids love to hunt for. It is air-conditioned, stroller-friendly, and open around the clock, which makes it a perfect pairing with the fountains right outside. Every visit looks different depending on the season.
- Where: Bellagio, center Strip.
- Best for: All ages, including toddlers in strollers.
- Good to know: Free and open 24 hours; the display changes roughly every two to three months.
14. M&M’s World & Hershey’s Chocolate World
Two candy superstores sit near each other on the center Strip, and both are free to walk through. M&M’s World fills four floors with a rainbow wall of candy, characters, and a short free show, while Hershey’s Chocolate World nearby adds giant chocolate-bar photo ops and treats. You do not have to buy a thing, which makes them a cheap, air-conditioned sugar-rush break in the middle of a Strip walk.
- Where: M&M’s World and Hershey’s Chocolate World, center Strip.
- Best for: All ages; a reliable little-kid win.
- Good to know: Free to enter; set a souvenir budget before you walk in.
15. Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas Sign
The classic Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign has greeted visitors since 1959, and the family photo in front of it is practically a rite of passage. It stands on a median at the south end of Las Vegas Boulevard with its own free parking lot, and attendants often help take the group shot. It pairs naturally with the nearby Pinball Hall of Fame for an easy south-Strip stop.
- Where: Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign, 5100 Las Vegas Blvd S.
- Best for: All ages; a quick, free photo stop.
- Good to know: Free parking fills up fast; mornings have shorter photo lines.
Get Outside: Parks, Water & Day Trips
Las Vegas sits in a dramatic desert, and some of the best family experiences are a short drive from the neon. These five range from a splash park and a go-kart track to two of the most accessible natural wonders in the American Southwest. Save the outdoor stops for the cooler parts of the day in summer.
16. Springs Preserve
Springs Preserve is a sprawling cultural and nature campus just minutes from downtown, built on the original water source that gave Las Vegas its name. Families get botanical gardens, walking trails, interactive museum galleries about the desert and the city’s history, a seasonal butterfly habitat, and live animal exhibits, all in one place. It is the best spot in town to combine learning with being outdoors without leaving the city.
- Where: Springs Preserve, South Valley View Boulevard, central Las Vegas.
- Best for: Curious kids of all ages; part indoor, part outdoor.
- Good to know: Go in the morning in summer; the galleries offer an air-conditioned break.
17. Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area
About 17 miles west of the Strip, Red Rock Canyon trades casino lights for towering red-and-tan sandstone cliffs, and a 13-mile one-way scenic drive lets families see the best of it from the car with easy pull-offs for short walks. The visitor center introduces kids to the desert, including resident desert tortoises, and there are family-friendly trails for little legs. It is the closest big-nature escape to the city.
- Where: Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, about 17 miles west on State Route 159.
- Best for: All ages; a scenic drive with optional short hikes.
- Good to know: A timed-entry reservation is required for the scenic drive from October 1 to May 31. It is near Summerlin on the west side.
18. Cowabunga Bay Water Park
When the desert heat is the whole point, Cowabunga Bay in Henderson turns it into a day of slides, a wave pool, a long lazy river, and a zero-entry area built for little swimmers. It is a true family water park rather than a resort pool, with shaded cabanas and food on site so you can stay for hours. It runs seasonally through the warm months, so check the calendar before you plan around it.
- Where: Cowabunga Bay in the Henderson suburbs, southeast of the Strip.
- Best for: All ages; especially strong for younger swimmers.
- Good to know: Seasonal and weather-dependent; confirm operating days and hours.
19. Las Vegas Mini Gran Prix
A longtime family-owned favorite on Rainbow Boulevard, Las Vegas Mini Gran Prix mixes several go-kart tracks, including kid-sized karts, with a few rides, bumper cars, and an arcade. It is an affordable, low-key alternative to the big resorts where younger kids can drive their own kart and older ones can race the faster circuits. Different tracks carry different height and age minimums, so there is something for most of the family.
- Where: Las Vegas Mini Gran Prix, North Rainbow Boulevard, west of the Strip.
- Best for: Kids and teens; tracks for different ages.
- Good to know: Rides and karts are priced individually or by pass; check height limits per track.
20. Hoover Dam
About 30 miles southeast of Las Vegas, Hoover Dam is one of the great engineering feats of the 20th century, and seeing its sheer scale up close makes an unforgettable half-day trip for kids. Families can walk across the top, take a guided tour down into the dam, and look out over Lake Mead and the Colorado River, with the soaring bridge nearby for a dramatic view. The drive runs roughly 30 to 45 minutes depending on traffic.
- Where: Hoover Dam, on the Nevada-Arizona border about 30 miles southeast.
- Best for: School-age kids and up who like big, real-world wonders.
- Good to know: Tours have security screening; mornings are cooler and less crowded. It pairs well with other popular day trips from Las Vegas.
Every Stop on the Map
Here is where all 20 attractions sit across the valley, from the Strip and downtown out to Summerlin, Henderson, and the desert beyond. Seeing them on a map makes it obvious why planning the route, not picking the stops, is the part that decides how smooth your family day goes.
How to Prioritize This List
Twenty attractions is more than any family can do in one trip, so match the stops to your kids’ ages, the weather, and how many days you have. The quick-reference table below sorts the highlights so you can build a route fast.
| Attraction | Best for | Indoor / Outdoor | Cost vibe |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adventuredome | Mixed ages | Indoor | Pay per ride |
| Shark Reef Aquarium | Young animal lovers | Indoor | Ticketed |
| Discovery Children’s Museum | Toddlers to tweens | Indoor | Ticketed |
| Big Apple Coaster | Big kids and teens | Indoor/outdoor | Ticketed |
| High Roller | All ages | Enclosed ride | Ticketed |
| Tournament of Kings | Show + dinner | Indoor | Ticketed |
| Fountains of Bellagio | All ages | Outdoor | Free |
| Bellagio Conservatory | All ages | Indoor | Free |
| Welcome sign | Photo stop | Outdoor | Free |
| Red Rock Canyon | Scenic drive | Outdoor | Low (entry fee) |
| Hoover Dam | School-age and up | Outdoor | Low to moderate |
Getting Around With Kids, the Easy Way
Look back at the map and the real challenge of a Las Vegas family trip becomes obvious. The best attractions are not clustered in one spot. They run from the north Strip down to Mandalay Bay, out to downtown and AREA15, across to Summerlin for Red Rock, southeast to Henderson and Hoover Dam. Walking the Strip in July with young kids is brutal, a rental car means parking fees and a designated driver every night, and rideshare brings surge pricing, no-shows, car seats you have to supply and install yourself, and vehicles that rarely fit a whole family plus a stroller and bags.
The simplest fix is a licensed, professional chauffeur for the day. One vehicle sized to your group, child seats you can request in advance, room for strollers and gear, and a driver who knows the drive times and waits between stops so nobody is standing in the sun refreshing an app. For families, that is the difference between a day of logistics headaches and a day of actually enjoying the city. Personal Sedan Services runs a chauffeured fleet across the Las Vegas valley, from sedans to roomy SUVs and vans, and is a trusted, 5-star-rated alternative to the rideshare gamble.
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Quick-Reference Summary Table
| # | Attraction | Why kids love it | Area |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Adventuredome | Indoor roller coasters and rides | North Strip |
| 2 | Shark Reef Aquarium | Walk-through shark tunnel and touch pool | South Strip |
| 3 | Discovery Children’s Museum | Three floors of hands-on play | Downtown |
| 4 | Omega Mart at AREA15 | Surreal, interactive art world | Off-Strip |
| 5 | Pinball Hall of Fame | Hundreds of playable machines | South Strip |
| 6 | Big Apple Coaster | 203-foot coaster plus an arcade | Mid Strip |
| 7 | Mystere | Acrobatics, puppets, and comedy | Center Strip |
| 8 | Tournament of Kings | Jousting dinner show, eat with your hands | South Strip |
| 9 | High Roller | 550-foot views in an enclosed cabin | Center Strip |
| 10 | FlyOver Las Vegas | Flight ride over the American West | Mid Strip |
| 11 | Venetian Gondola | Gentle canal ride with a singing gondolier | Center Strip |
| 12 | Fountains of Bellagio | Free dancing-water show | Center Strip |
| 13 | Bellagio Conservatory | Free seasonal garden spectacle | Center Strip |
| 14 | M&M’s World & Hershey’s | Free four-floor candy wonderlands | Center Strip |
| 15 | Welcome to Las Vegas Sign | The classic free family photo | South Strip |
| 16 | Springs Preserve | Gardens, trails, and desert galleries | Central LV |
| 17 | Red Rock Canyon | 13-mile scenic drive and short hikes | West (Summerlin) |
| 18 | Cowabunga Bay | Slides, wave pool, and lazy river | Henderson |
| 19 | Las Vegas Mini Gran Prix | Go-karts, rides, and bumper cars | West LV |
| 20 | Hoover Dam | A real engineering wonder up close | Southeast |
Frequently Asked Questions
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How We Built This List
Methodology and sources
Attractions were selected and grouped on a blend of family appeal, variety across ages and interests, and real-world fit, since the best stop for a toddler is not the best stop for a teen, and a summer afternoon calls for different choices than a spring morning. The four categories deliberately span indoor, thrill, free, and outdoor so the list works for any family and any weather. Operating status, locations, height and age guidance, and figures such as the High Roller’s height, the Big Apple Coaster’s stats, and distances to Red Rock Canyon and Hoover Dam were verified against each venue’s official site and primary sources at publication, and every attraction was confirmed open and current. Prices, show schedules, seasonal hours, and height limits change often, so each listing points to the official site and we recommend confirming details before you go.
Primary sources: Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, U.S. Bureau of Land Management, Red Rock Canyon, and each attraction’s official site.
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