The Best 3-Day Kansas City Itinerary for Families
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Planning a family trip to Kansas City?
This 3-day itinerary is packed with the best family-friendly attractions, interactive museums, and hands-on experiences — all mapped out in an easy, realistic plan your entire family will love.
Whether your kids are into trains, animals, or creative play, Kansas City has something for all ages (and yes, plenty of budget-friendly fun too!).
✨ Mom Tip: Download my free Travel Itinerary Planner to organize your Kansas City getaway, track your plans, and keep all your must-dos in one place.
Quick Overview: 3-Day Kansas City Family Itinerary
Day 1: Crown Center + Hallmark Experiences
Day 2: Union Station + Science City ((optional: College Basketball Experience)
Day 3: National WWI Museum + Money Museum
Bonus: Zoo, Deanna Rose Farmstead, and other family favorites
Before You Go: Important Hours + Sunday Planning Tips
If your Kansas City weekend trip includes a Sunday, keep in mind that several attractions open later or are closed altogether. Here are a few planning notes to help you maximize your time:
- 🏛 National WWI Museum & Memorial opens at 10 AM — it’s one of the earliest major attractions open on Sundays and a great place to start your day.
- 🐘 Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium (opens 9:30 AM) and Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead (opens 9:00 AM) are excellent alternatives if you prefer to start exploring sooner.
- 🐠 SEA LIFE Kansas City and LEGOLAND Discovery Center open at 10 AM on Sundays.
- 💌 Hallmark Visitors Center and Kaleidoscope are closed on Sundays.
- 🏬 Shops inside Crown Center generally open around noon, so plan morning attractions elsewhere.
- 💰 The Money Museum is closed on weekends, so plan to visit on Friday or Monday if your trip extends beyond the weekend.
✨ Mom Tip: For weekend trips, swap the days in this itinerary as needed — for example, do Day 3 (museums) on Friday, Crown Center on Saturday, and Union Station on Sunday when other attractions open later.
Day 1: Explore Crown Center
Crown Center is one of my favorite places to start a Kansas City trip — especially with kids.
It’s centrally located, easy to park, and has so many attractions within walking distance.
It’s the kind of spot where you plan to visit for an hour or two… and suddenly it’s lunchtime because everyone’s having such a great time.
Sea Life Aquarium and Legoland Discovery Center
Located side-by-side, SEA LIFE Aquarium and LEGOLAND Discovery Center are big hits with families.
If you’re planning to visit both, grab a combo ticket online to save money and skip the line.
💡 Mom Tip: If you’re short on time and want something unique to Kansas City, you can skip these, but if you have a LEGO lover or aquarium fan, they’re absolutely worth it!
The Hallmark Visitors Center
Did you know Hallmark Headquarters is right here in Kansas City?
The free Hallmark Visitors Center is a hidden gem that’s perfect for both kids and adults.
They offer a scavenger hunt for kids, fun displays of Hallmark history, and even a bow-making machine where you can create your own bow. 🎀
⏱ Plan about 45–60 minutes here. It’s the perfect short stop before or after lunch.
Kaleidoscope by Hallmark
Kaleidoscope (next to the Hallmark Visitors Center) is a free, creativity-driven space where kids make art from recycled Hallmark materials.
Sessions are 50 minutes. Make sure to check session times online and arrive about 10 minutes early to get settled.
📅 Note: Kaleidoscope is closed on Sundays and Mondays.
Crown Center Showplace and Shops
The Crown Center Showplace features rotating, interactive exhibits throughout the year — past favorites include Snoopy and the Red Baron and Thomas & Friends™ Explore the Rails.
Before you leave, pop into some of our family’s favorite stores including the Crayola® Store and Toy Time KC for some colorful fun.
🍔 Where to Eat: Kids will love Fritz’s Railroad Restaurant — a train delivers your food right to the table!
📍 Where to Stay: If you want to be near Crown Center and Union Station, The Westin Kansas City at Crown Center has an A+ location with indoor Link walkway access.
Heads up for big families: standard rooms usually sleep 4, so it doesn’t fit our family of six unless you book a suite or connecting rooms.
For more space, check Residence Inn Kansas City Downtown/Convention Center for 1-bedroom suites with a sofa bed, kitchen, and free breakfast. It’s walkable to the KC Streetcar stop, which gives you free, direct access to Union Station, Crown Center, and other downtown spots.
Day 2: Union Station + Science City (Optional: College Basketball Experience)
Union Station is one of those places we always look forward to when we visit Kansas City.
It’s a must-visit for families with kids—packed with history, fun attractions, and hands-on exhibits that make it easy to spend hours exploring.
We’ve had so many great moments here, whether it’s visiting Science City, enjoying different events, or just soaking in the atmosphere.
The best part? The convenience of a parking garage makes it super easy to get in and out, so it’s a perfect place to kick off your day without any hassle.
Science City
Science City is one of our favorite science museums! I recommend planning to spend at least half a day here.
With multiple floors of hands-on exhibits plus an outdoor play area, it’s one of the best science centers in the Midwest.
💡 Mom Tip: Arrive right when it opens if you want to see it all before lunchtime. Little ones will need downtime afterward!
💵 Budget Tip: Have a membership to another science center in the ASTC Passport Program? You may get free admission.
➡️ Read next: Everything You Should Know Before Visiting Science City
Model Train Gallery
Before or after Science City, stop by the Model Train Gallery at the north end of Union Station.
It’s donation-based and perfect for quick entertainment between meals.
Optional: College Basketball Experience
If you have older kids and want an afternoon activity, check out the College Basketball Experience inside the T-Mobile Center. 🏀
It’s a fun, interactive experience where your kids can step into the shoes of a college basketball player. ⛹🏻♂️
My kids loved ALL the shooting activities, but their favorite was definitely Call the Highlights, where they got to pretend to be ESPN announcers! 🎤
➡️ Don’t miss my family guide to the College Basketball Experience!
🍽 Dinner Idea: After your afternoon at the College Basketball Experience, head to the Power & Light District for dinner. Two great options for families are BRGR Kitchen + Bar and Yard House — both have kids’ menus and plenty of options adults will love too. And if you want to end the night on a sweet note, stop by The Yard Milkshake Bar for one of their over-the-top shakes or ice cream flavors!
Day 3: National WWI Museum & Money Museum
Your final day in Kansas City is a mix of history and hands-on learning. Both spots are located near each other for easy exploring.
National WWI Museum and Memorial
This museum is both educational and visually stunning, with incredible exhibits and one of the best views of the downtown skyline from the top of Liberty Memorial Tower.
Tickets are required for the museum, but kids under 6 are free.
We took all four of our kids. While everyone enjoyed the museum, I’d say it’s best suited for ages 10+.
🌟 Plan Ahead: Admission to the tower is separate, so if you’re short on time, just go up for the view!
Money Museum (Federal Reserve Bank)
Located across the lawn from the WWI Museum, the Money Museum is a free and surprisingly fun attraction.
Kids can lift a real gold bar, design their own currency, and watch robots move money through the facility!
Each visitor even gets a souvenir bag of real shredded cash — always a highlight.
💡 Mom Tip: The Money Museum is closed on weekends, so plan for a weekday visit.
➡️ Read next: 5 Things to Know Before Visiting Kansas City’s Money Museum
More Things to Do in Kansas City with Kids
If you have extra time, here are some more family-approved ideas:
- Kansas City Zoo and Aquarium – Great for a half or full day.
- Worlds of Fun Theme Park – Perfect for the entire family! Don’t forget your swimsuit and towels for Oceans of Fun too!
- Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead – Best for younger kids, with farm animals and play areas.
- Museum at Prairiefire – A fun and educational stop with interactive exhibits. 🦕
💸 Budget-Friendly Tip: Don’t miss my guide to 12 Free (and Almost Free) Family-Friendly Things to do in Kansas City
Where to Stay in Kansas City
If you’re still deciding where to base your family, here are great areas to consider:
- Crown Center/Downtown: Walkable, near Union Station — try The Westin Kansas City.
- Country Club Plaza: Shopping + restaurants — Residence Inn Country Club Plaza is a solid pick.
- Legends/Overland Park: Suburban convenience — Homewood Suites by Hilton Kansas City Speedway or Drury Inn and Suites Overland Park
➡️ Read next: Best Family Hotels & Areas to Stay in Kansas City
Ready to Plan Your Kansas City Family Adventure?
Kansas City truly has something for everyone — from creative play and history to those simple family moments that make travel worth it.
Before you go, grab your free Kansas City Travel Itinerary Planner — it’s designed to make trip planning simple and stress-free.
Inside, you’ll find:
🗓 Trip overview and daily pages to plan your mornings, afternoons, and evenings
✈️ Spaces to record flights, hotels, and must-do activities
🍴 Meal and reservation sections so you’re never left scrambling
🧭 Built-in planning tips to help you stay organized and make the most of every day
It’s everything you need to keep your Kansas City getaway doable, organized, and fun — all in one easy, printable planner.
💛 Because the best family trips aren’t perfect — they’re worth it.
May you love your adventure! KW
