Things to do in Springfield with kids
6 attractions in Springfield • Updated May 2026
The best things to do in Springfield with kids, all in one place. Springfield is home to Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum and a stack of children's museums for families, plus easy day trips across Illinois. Below are 6 family things to do in Springfield with addresses, ticket info and age suitability. Use the search to find a specific name or filter by category.
Published May 2026. Editorial oversight by James Morgan. AI-assisted, human-edited. Our editorial standards
Working out when you can actually go? Our Illinois school holiday calendar lists first day, last day and every break for the state's biggest districts.
Planning a family day out in Springfield
Springfield has 6 family attractions we would happily take our own kids to. Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum is the one most families start with. Holographic theater and original artifacts trace Lincoln from a log-cabin boyhood to the White House and the Civil War. Henson Robinson Zoo is the other name that comes up again and again. A compact Springfield zoo that's an easy, affordable wildlife outing for younger families. Illinois State Museum rounds out the pick of the bunch. One museum, four sites across Illinois, spanning ancient Dickson Mounds archaeology to fine art galleries and natural history. Also worth your time: Kidzeum of Health and Science, Knight's Action Park and Lincoln Home National Historic Site.
Tickets at Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum start from $15 per person. The rest of the list does not publish a set price, so confirm admission on the official site.
Beyond family attractions, families in Springfield also head for children's museums (1), historic sites & landmarks (1), history museums (1) and museums (1). If you are ranging wider, everything we cover in Illinois is one click away.
6 attractions in Springfield
Search and filter by category to find your next family day out.
6 of 6 attractions
History Museums
Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum
Springfield, Illinois
Holographic theater and original artifacts trace Lincoln from a log-cabin boyhood to the White House and the Civil War.
Zoos Wildlife
Henson Robinson Zoo
Springfield, Illinois
A compact Springfield zoo that's an easy, affordable wildlife outing for younger families.
Museums
Illinois State Museum
Springfield, Illinois
One museum, four sites across Illinois, spanning ancient Dickson Mounds archaeology to fine art galleries and natural history.
Childrens Museums
Kidzeum of Health and Science
Springfield, Illinois
Hands-on exhibits where kids learn to keep their bodies and their world healthy.
Water Parks
Knight's Action Park
Springfield, Illinois
A water park, amusement rides, and a Route 66 drive-in that grew from a 1930s driving range.
Historic Sites
Lincoln Home National Historic Site
Springfield, Illinois
Tour the only home Abraham Lincoln ever owned, in its preserved Springfield neighborhood.