Fun Things To Do In Arizona For Kids

Arizona is not just cactus and retirees. It’s a giant playground with volcanoes, dinosaurs, waterslides made of rock, and snow. You can hit a snowball and a cactus in the same day, which is legally confusing but fun.

Glide Down a Natural Rock Waterslide

Slide Rock State Park near Sedona is basically nature’s waterpark, minus the lifeguard whistle and overpriced nachos. Kids can slip down a slick sandstone chute into chilly Oak Creek. Bring water shoes, because the rocks are smoother than your uncle’s pickup lines but still slippery.

Meet Dinosaurs and Space Rocks

Meteor Crater near Winslow is a giant hole caused by a space rock, which is way cooler than any hole you dug in the backyard. It’s nearly a mile wide, and kids can pretend they saved Earth by warning the dinosaurs. Spoiler: the dinosaurs still had a rough day.

In northern Arizona, the Petrified Forest and Painted Desert look like a crayon box exploded across the horizon. The logs here turned to stone over millions of years. Yes, you can see wood that is technically a rock, which is excellent for confusing your friends.

Go Wild with Animals

Bearizona in Williams lets you drive through a wildlife park while bears, wolves, and bison wander around like they own the place. Keep your windows up, because a bison does not care about your snack policy. Then walk through the park to see smaller animals and maybe a very dramatic raccoon.

Out of Africa Wildlife Park near Camp Verde has tigers, giraffes, and a zip line for brave humans. The safari-style tram ride is a hit with kids who like animals but hate walking.

Dig Into Science and Silliness

The Arizona Science Center in Phoenix is four floors of buttons, experiments, and happy chaos. Kids can lie on a bed of nails, watch a planetarium show, and learn why Arizona sunsets look like someone spilled paint. The gift shop is dangerous for parents’ wallets, so consider yourself warned.

Over 30 of the Best Things to do in Arizona with Kids- Family Fun in

Meanwhile, the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum near Tucson is part zoo, part botanical garden, and part “whoa, that cactus has arms.” You might see a hummingbird, a coyote, and a javelina, which looks like a wild pig that got into a fight with a ham sandwich.

Ride, Slide, and Scream

Castles N’ Coasters in Phoenix has mini golf, arcade games, and roller coasters that will make your stomach file a complaint. It’s the kind of place where you can win a stuffed animal bigger than your car. Then you have to explain to your parents why the car is now full of purple bears.

For a slower pace, McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park in Scottsdale offers train rides, carousel spins, and a museum full of model trains. Kids who love “choo choo” will lose their tiny minds. Parents can sit in the shade and pretend they are on vacation too.

Snow in the Desert? Absolutely.

Flagstaff gets real snow, which shocks people who assume Arizona is one giant frying pan. Kids can sled, build snowmen, and then drive two hours south to sweat in Phoenix. That’s not weather; that’s a personality disorder.

12 Fun Things to Do in Arizona with Kids (for 2022)

While you’re there, Lowell Observatory is where Pluto was discovered in 1930. Kids can peer through telescopes and learn that space is huge and their bedtime is tiny. It’s a sneaky way to make them love science without mentioning homework.

Explore Caves and Ghost Towns

Kartchner Caverns near Benson is a living cave with formations that look like alien spaghetti. The guides keep it cool, dark, and fascinating, which is also how some kids feel about their bedrooms. Reservations are smart, because caves don’t have unlimited seating.

Tombstone lets kids see cowboys, stagecoaches, and the famous O.K. Corral gunfight reenacted. It’s history with dust, drama, and souvenir pistols that shoot nothing but imagination. Just remind everyone that real gunfights were not a fun family activity.

Final Tip: Bring Water and a Sense of Humor

Arizona is enormous, so pick one region instead of trying to see everything in a weekend. The Grand Canyon alone can eat a whole day and still ask for seconds. Pack water, sunscreen, snacks, and patience for the phrase “are we there yet?”

Whether you’re sliding down red rocks, meeting a bear from your car, or staring at a hole made by a meteor, Arizona delivers ridiculous fun. Just remember: the sun is not kidding, and neither is the cactus. Hydrate like a champion, laugh often, and let the kids pick the next adventure.