17 Best Things to Do in El Paso TX This Weekend with Kids

Finding memorable things to do in El Paso TX with kids is straightforward because Far West Texas brings together rugged desert nature and centuries of borderland culture. Families exploring the Sun City encounter dramatic mountain ridges, ancient rock art basins, historic adobe chapels, and engaging municipal museums.

Whether your travel group is planning things to do in el paso this weekend with kids or scheduling a broader road trip, the city offers rich variety. Parents will discover that each neighborhood provides accessible entertainment and exceptional value.

17 Best Things to Do in El Paso with Kids at a Glance

The 17 best things to do in El Paso with kids range from mountain hikes and bouldering basins to historic missions and family amusement centers. This at-a-glance comparison details locations, admission costs, target age groups, and signature highlights across the region.

Finding diverse el paso activities for families is simple when combining high-elevation state parks with downtown cultural stops. Families searching for fun things to do near me with kids in West Texas can also explore nearby hidden gems in West Texas to extend their vacation itinerary beyond the metropolitan area.

Discover Hueco Tanks State Historic Site

Hueco Tanks State Historic Site offers world-renowned bouldering, shaded desert rock pools, and historic Native American pictographs thirty miles northeast of El Paso. Day-use permits require advance reservations due to a strict 70-person North Mountain capacity limit.

The park spans 860 acres centered on three syenite granite hills. For thousands of years, travelers and Native peoples sought refuge around the natural rock hollows, called huecos, which collect rainwater in an arid landscape. Over 200 painted mask designs created by the Jornada Mogollon culture decorate sheltered rock alcoves across the site.

Families looking for outdoor family activities el paso can hike the self-guided trails on North Mountain. Outdoor climbers traveling for bouldering at hueco tanks can explore world-class friction problems across the preserve. The East Mountain, West Mountain, and East Spur Mountain areas require an official park guide to enter.

Hueco Tanks Visitor Specifications:
- Entrance Fee: $7 per adult (ages 13+); free for children 12 and under.
- Activity Fee: $2 additional fee for bouldering and rock climbing permits.
- Orientation Requirement: Mandatory 11-minute conservation video for all visitors.
- Self-Guided Access: Strictly capped at 70 visitors at one time on North Mountain.

Advance reservations are strongly recommended by calling the park reservation line up to 90 days ahead of your trip. Parents should check the Texas Parks and Wildlife Hueco Tanks Reservation Portal for current gate hours and weather-related climbing closures. For a deeper breakdown of trail etiquette and campsite booking windows, read our complete Hueco Tanks State Park guide.

Explore the El Paso Museum of Art

The El Paso Museum of Art provides completely free access to over 7,000 works of art spanning European masters, Mexican colonial pieces, and modern southwestern painters. Located in downtown Arts Festival Plaza, it features interactive family workshops and air-conditioned galleries.

Founded in 1959, the museum anchors downtown El Paso with rotating exhibits and celebrated permanent holdings. Notable highlights include Renaissance and Baroque paintings from the Samuel H. Kress Collection, featuring works by Canaletto and Botticelli. Regional galleries present southwestern landscapes, regional Mexican pottery, and works by El Paso artist Tom Lea.

Visiting the museum is one of the top free things to do in el paso with kids when afternoon desert heat reaches its peak. Children can participate in hands-on studio art classes, weekend youth tours, and scavenger hunt worksheets available at the reception desk.

The museum operates Wednesday through Saturday from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM, and Sundays from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM. It remains closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. Metered street parking and shaded parking garages are located within a five-minute walk across Arts Festival Plaza.

Experience the Historic Plaza Theatre

The Plaza Theatre is a restored 1930 Spanish Colonial Revival performing arts venue in downtown El Paso known for touring Broadway productions, family concerts, and atmospheric architecture. Visitors can admire painted starry ceilings, mosaic tile staircases, and a rare Mighty Wurlitzer pipe organ.

Nicknamed the Showplace of the Southwest, this 2,050-seat theater transports guests into a simulated Spanish courtyard. The auditorium ceiling features twinkling star lights arranged in authentic constellations alongside floating cloud projections. Wrought-iron balconies, decorative ceramic tile fountains, and hand-carved wood trim adorn the grand lobby.

The signature musical centerpiece is the mighty wurlitzer organ plaza theatre, one of only six special-edition models ever produced. The organ rises mechanically from the orchestra pit to play overtures during silent film screenings and community concerts, producing sound effects from ocean waves to train whistles.

Families who want to see the building without attending a full evening performance can join free public walking tours on select Tuesdays at noon. Touring the theater gives children an unforgettable look at classic 1930s borderland architecture.

Hike Franklin Mountains State Park

Franklin Mountains State Park spans 27,000 acres and 125 trail miles, standing as the largest urban park in the continental United States within city limits. Families can access beginner-friendly nature loops, shaded picnic ramadas, and scenic desert overlooks primarily through the Tom Mays Unit.

The mountain range divides El Paso into eastern and western halves, rising steeply from the desert valley floor. For visiting families, the Tom Mays Unit off Loop 375 Transmountain Road serves as the primary visitor entrance. It features developed trailheads, covered picnic tables, walk-in campsites, and modern restroom facilities.

Younger hikers can explore the Nature Walk trail, an easy 0.75-mile loop introducing native Chihuahuan Desert vegetation like ocotillo, lechuguilla, and prickly pear cactus. Hikers exploring the tom mays unit trails can also take the Aztec Caves Trail, a 1.2-mile round trip leading into shallow limestone cavern overhangs with wide views across the canyon.

Franklin Mountains Logistics:
- Hours: Gate hours 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM daily (open at 6:30 AM summer weekends).
- Franklin Mountains State Park Entrance Fee: $8 for adults (13+); $1 for ages 5–12; free for kids under 5.
- Park Pass Benefit: Free entrance for Texas State Park Pass holders and vehicle guests.
- Elevation: North Franklin Peak reaches 7,192 feet above sea level.

Official admission rates and camping rules can be reviewed directly on the Texas Parks and Wildlife Franklin Mountains Fee Schedule. To plan a longer trekking route or find scenic drive pulloffs, read our dedicated Franklin Mountains State Park hiking guide.

Visit the Mission Trail and Ysleta Mission

The El Paso Mission Trail connects three historic seventeenth-century religious sites across a nine-mile stretch of Socorro Road in the lower valley. Ysleta Mission, founded in 1682, is the oldest continuously active parish church in Texas and welcomes visitors with free admission.

Traveling the corridor along Socorro Road (FM 258) offers an immersive journey into early Spanish colonial history. The mission was originally established by Franciscan friars and Tigua Native Americans displaced following the 1680 Pueblo Revolt in northern New Mexico. The current adobe sanctuary features thick earthen walls, handcrafted pine vigas, and an iconic silver domed bell tower.

Along the same nine-mile driving route, families can visit two sister mission trail chapels: the 1691 Socorro Mission with its carved wooden ceiling beams, and the 1789 San Elizario Presidio Chapel. San Elizario also served as a fortified military garrison protecting the Camino Real trade route connecting Mexico City to Santa Fe.

Visiting all three missions takes roughly three hours. Local bakeries, family-run cafes, and artisan shops line the historic route, making this tour a highlight among el paso family activities for travelers exploring the best places to visit in Texas.

Learn at the National Border Patrol Museum

The National Border Patrol Museum is the only museum in the United States chronicling the history of the border patrol service from frontier times to modern operations. Admission is free, and children can view vintage patrol cars, field gear, river watercraft, and surveillance helicopters.

Located at 4315 Woodrow Bean Transmountain Drive, the museum presents the origins of the U.S. Border Patrol since its establishment by Congress in 1924. Exhibits trace the transition from early horseback mounted inspectors to contemporary aircraft, sensor networks, and canine detection units.

Kids enjoy climbing inside the pilot seat of a retired patrol helicopter, inspecting river patrol jet boats, and viewing all-terrain search vehicles. The facility displays historic uniforms, field communication radios, weapons, and archival photographs detailing border security history during Prohibition and World War II.

Admission is entirely free, with operating hours Tuesday through Saturday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The museum is located right next to the El Paso Museum of Archaeology, allowing families to combine two educational visits at a single parking stop.

Reflect at the El Paso Holocaust Museum

The El Paso Holocaust Museum and Study Center provides free educational exhibits that chronicle European Jewish life, the rise of the Nazi regime, and regional survivor testimonies. Founded by survivor Henry Kellen, the museum is best suited for mature elementary, middle, and high school students.

Located at 715 North Oregon Street, the museum stands as the only Holocaust memorial museum within a 400-mile radius. The permanent exhibits guide visitors sequentially through pre-war Jewish communities, the rise of totalitarian propaganda, the Warsaw Ghetto, concentration camps, and allied liberation.

Artifacts include original Nazi identification documents, concentration camp prisoner uniforms, and photographs donated by El Paso area survivors. Touchscreen multimedia kiosks and audio stations allow visitors to hear first-person testimonies from local borderland residents who survived the war and rebuilt their lives in Texas.

The museum opens Tuesday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and Saturdays from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM. It is closed on Mondays, and Sundays are available by appointment only. Admission is free, though donations supporting community youth education programs are appreciated.

Have Fun at Western Playland Amusement Park

Western Playland Amusement Park features 30 mechanical attractions including roller coasters, bumper cars, a miniature train, and the splash-filled Tsunami water ride. Located in Sunland Park along the state border, it operates seasonally with pay-one-price unlimited ride bracelets.

Positioned at 1249 Futurity Drive right along the Texas-New Mexico border, this classic 30-acre park has entertained borderland families for over six decades. Spending an afternoon here is one of the most exciting fun things to do in el paso for kids during the warmer months.

Children and teens enjoying western playland rides will find favorites like the El Bandido coaster, the looping Fireball, and the Drop Zone tower. Younger children can ride the vintage carousel, tilt-a-whirl, scrambler, and bumper cars.

On warm desert afternoons, the Tsunami ride is a park favorite. The giant plunge boat sends a massive wall of water across a viewing pedestrian bridge, cooling down riders and spectators alike.

Western Playland Ticketing Breakdown:
- Pay-One-Price (POP) Wristband: $29.99 (guests 42 inches and taller).
- Junior Wristband: $19.99 (children 34 to 42 inches tall).
- General Admission Entry: $8.99 (non-rider pass; includes train & sky ride).
- Free Admission: Children under 33 inches and seniors ages 60 and older.
- Parking: Free on-site paved parking lot.

The park operates from March through October, opening primarily on weekends in spring and autumn, and Wednesday through Sunday during mid-summer. Review operating schedules and seasonal discount policies directly via the Western Playland Official Pricing and Ticket Portal. For more thrilling destination ideas, check out our roundup of the best amusement parks in Texas.

Enjoy a Game at Sun Bowl Stadium

Sun Bowl Stadium sits built against the rocky base of the Franklin Mountains on the UTEP campus, seating over 51,500 sports fans for collegiate football and concerts. The stadium is best known for hosting the annual Sun Bowl game each December in a dramatic natural canyon setting.

Constructed in 1963, the stadium is built into a sunken mountain saddle on the University of Texas at El Paso campus. Fans seated on the west concourse enjoy unobstructed views of the sunset lighting up the crags of the Franklin Mountains behind the end zone.

Throughout the autumn season, the stadium hosts UTEP Miners NCAA Division I college football games. In late December, thousands of visiting college football fans arrive for the Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl, one of the oldest bowl games in American sports history.

Campus tailgating creates a festive atmosphere with food trucks, mariachi bands, and family games. Visitors should note that Sun Bowl Stadium enforces a strict clear bag policy. Arrive at least 60 minutes prior to kickoff to navigate campus parking lots along Sun Bowl Drive.

Tour Fort Bliss and Old Ironsides Museums

Fort Bliss displays military armor, tracked tanks, artillery pieces, and historical weaponry celebrating the legacy of the 1st Armored Division. Non-military visitors must obtain a Community Access Pass at the installation visitor control center before entering base gates.

Established in 1848, Fort Bliss is one of the largest active military training installations in the world, serving as headquarters for the legendary 1st Armored Division, nicknamed Old Ironsides. The museum complex on Marshall Road features outdoor vehicle parks displaying World War II Sherman tanks, Cold War armor, and modern battlefield transports.

Indoor galleries display antique cavalry sabers, desert camouflage uniforms, field artillery, and interactive exhibits detailing the division’s campaigns in North Africa, Italy, and the Persian Gulf.

Civilian visitors without Department of Defense identification must first visit the Visitor Control Center at either Buffalo Soldier Gate or Chaffee Gate. Presenting a Real-ID compliant driver’s license enables adults to receive a free Community Access Pass. Note that the main indoor museum facility is undergoing a multi-year redesign, so check gate access alerts before planning your visit.

Stroll Through the Municipal Rose Garden

The El Paso Municipal Rose Garden covers four manicured acres on North Copia Street, featuring nearly 1,500 rose shrubs representing roughly 500 distinct cultivars. Open with free admission from March through November, it provides shaded gravel walking paths, stone waterfalls, and a peaceful koi pond.

Managed by the City of El Paso Parks and Recreation Department in cooperation with the El Paso Master Gardeners, this garden serves as a peaceful botanical retreat. Raised stone beds feature hybrid tea roses, floribundas, climbers, and miniature rose varieties labeled with horticultural markers. Visitors admiring the el paso rose garden bloom can take gentle morning strolls when floral fragrance is highest.

Wide, level walking paths allow easy stroller navigation for families with toddlers. Shaded wooden arbors, stone benches, and a central waterfall splashing into a koi pond offer quiet spots for family photos.

The garden is open daily from March 1 through November 30 between 8:00 AM and 6:00 PM. Admission is free, making it one of the most delightful budget-friendly stops in the city center. Peak blooming cycles occur during April and May, with a secondary autumn bloom in October.

Play at Bob-O’s Family Fun Center

Bob-O’s Family Fun Center offers outdoor go-karts, Boulder Creek miniature golf, two-story laser tag, batting cages, and a modern ticket redemption arcade. Admission is free, with attractions operating on a reloadable Fun Card credit system on Constitution Drive.

Located at 3851 Constitution Drive on El Paso’s west side, Bob-O’s is a prime destination for kid friendly things to do in el paso today. The outdoor go-kart track features winding hairpin turns, with double-seat karts available so parents can drive alongside younger children. Families who enjoy bob o’s mini golf go karts will appreciate having multiple attractions in one park.

The Boulder Creek 18-hole miniature golf course winds past cascading stone waterfalls, footbridges, and desert landscaping. Inside the air-conditioned main building, kids can play in the two-story Laser Odyssey arena, practice in outdoor batting cages, or redeem tickets for prizes in the arcade.

There is no general admission fee to enter the property. Guests purchase a reusable Fun Card ($1.00 card fee), loaded with credits at a rate of 4 credits per dollar. An 18-hole round of mini golf costs 24 credits ($6.00) for adults, while children under 5 play for free with a paying adult.

Explore Keystone Heritage Park and Botanical Gardens

Keystone Heritage Park combines an ancient 4,000-year-old archaic village archaeological site with native Chihuahuan Desert botanical gardens and a protected Rio Grande wetland basin. Spanning 52 acres on Doniphan Drive, it charges $3 adult admission and shelters over 200 migratory bird species.

Located at 4200 Doniphan Drive in the upper valley, Keystone preserves one of the oldest recorded human habitations in the American Southwest. Archaeological excavations unearthed pit house dwellings and primitive tools dating back four millennia, offering a rare look at prehistoric desert culture.

The botanical gardens feature native desert flora, demonstrating how agave, yucca, and flowering desert shrubs survive in arid climates. Elevated boardwalk trails wind through the Keystone Wetlands, where natural spring seeps create an oasis for migratory waterfowl. Birdwatchers regularly spot herons, egrets, sandhill cranes, and hawks along the path.

The park is open Tuesday through Sunday from 9:00 AM until sunset, and is closed on Mondays. Admission is $3 for adults, $2 for seniors and military, and $1 for children under 12, making it an affordable, quiet nature walk for families.

Have Fun at Jungle Jaks (Permanent Closure Advisory and Indoor Alternatives)

Jungle Jaks at 1700 North Zaragoza Road in east El Paso permanently ceased operations in 2025. Families seeking similar indoor active entertainment with toddler soft play, go-karts, bumper attractions, and arcade games should visit Bob-O’s Family Fun Center or Monkey Rock at Sunland Park Mall.

For many years, Jungle Jaks was a popular indoor entertainment option for east El Paso families escaping the summer heat. The 12,000-square-foot facility featured indoor bumper boats, a foam ball battle arena, climbing trees, a toddler town, and a dinosaur skeleton display. However, the business closed permanently, and the property has been vacated.

Travelers looking for similar indoor activities in el paso for kids have great alternative options. Bob-O’s Family Fun Center on Constitution Drive provides outdoor go-karts and an extensive indoor arcade. Monkey Rock, located inside Sunland Park Mall, offers bowling, indoor rock climbing, arcade games, and motion simulator rides.

Additionally, Urban Air Trampoline and Adventure Park on North Desert Boulevard features wall-to-wall trampolines, indoor ropes courses, and obstacle runs designed for school-age children and teenagers.

Visit the Magoffin Home State Historic Site

The Magoffin Home State Historic Site preserves a nineteen-room, 1875 territorial-style adobe homestead built by civic pioneer Joseph Magoffin in central El Paso. Guided tours display original Victorian and Mexican furnishings, courtyards, and stories of Southwest border development.

Located at 1120 Magoffin Avenue, this Texas Historical Commission property tells the story of a prominent multicultural family who helped shape the Southwest borderlands. Joseph Magoffin served as mayor, helped bring the railroad to El Paso, and co-founded the city’s first commercial bank.

The homestead is constructed from thick adobe brick walls with high ceilings that kept rooms naturally cool during desert summers. Inside, children can inspect Victorian decorative arts, nineteenth-century pianos, hand-carved bed frames, and historic family portraits that remain in their original positions.

Magoffin Home Visit Details:
- Schedule: Tuesday through Saturday, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
- Weekend Note: Closed on Sundays and Mondays.
- Admission: $7 for adults; $6 for seniors/veterans; $4 for youth (6–17); free for kids 5 and under.
- Family Pass: $14 for two adults and one child ($1 per additional youth).

Guided tours depart on the hour throughout the day. Review full facility schedules and special heritage events at the Texas Historical Commission Magoffin Home Visitor Guide.

Admire St. Patrick Cathedral

St. Patrick Cathedral is a landmark Byzantine and Romanesque-style Catholic cathedral constructed in 1917 on North Mesa Street. Families can view towering columns, hand-painted ceiling frescoes, and leaded stained-glass windows illustrating biblical scenes in a quiet downtown sanctuary.

Designed by the St. Louis architectural firm Barnett, Haynes & Barnett, the cathedral serves as the mother church for the Catholic Diocese of El Paso. The exterior features Indiana limestone columns and dual corner towers flanking a carved stone entrance.

Inside, the grand sanctuary seats approximately 800 people beneath vaulted ceilings and classical Corinthian pillars. A massive marble high altar stands crowned by an eight-foot statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Colorful stained-glass panels along the nave depict the life of Saint Patrick and biblical scripture scenes.

The cathedral welcomes visitors daily for quiet meditation and liturgical services from 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Weekday afternoons provide a quiet setting to study the architecture without interrupting parish worship services.

Visit the Chamizal National Memorial

Chamizal National Memorial is a 55-acre National Park Service site commemorating the peaceful 1963 treaty resolution of a century-long Rio Grande border dispute between Mexico and the United States. It provides free park grounds, museum galleries, cultural performances, and scenic walking trails.

Located at 800 South San Marcial Street, Chamizal marks a historic moment in border diplomacy. When the Rio Grande shifted course in the mid-nineteenth century, a 600-acre tract of land became disputed territory between El Paso and Ciudad Juárez. The Chamizal Convention of 1963 settled the dispute peacefully through diplomatic negotiations and channel rerouting.

The memorial park features an educational visitor museum, two art galleries, and a 500-seat theater hosting bilingual performances and musical concerts. Visitors exploring the chamizal border memorial exhibits can view the colorful Nuestra Herencia mural decorating the museum exterior, celebrating the bicultural roots of the borderlands.

The park grounds are open daily from 7:00 AM until 10:00 PM, while the cultural center museum operates Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. General admission and on-site parking are completely free. Review ranger program schedules and park regulations on the National Park Service Chamizal Operating Hours and Rules.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best free things to do in El Paso with kids?

Families can explore several high-quality free attractions across El Paso, including the El Paso Museum of Art, the National Border Patrol Museum, Chamizal National Memorial, and free summer concerts at Cool Canyon Nights in McKelligon Canyon. The El Paso Municipal Rose Garden and the historic chapels along the Mission Trail also welcome visitors with zero admission fees.

Is Hueco Tanks suitable for young children?

Hueco Tanks offers family-friendly interpretive walks and low-angle rock scrambling around the base of North Mountain suitable for school-age children. Parents with toddlers should note that rugged bouldering zones require advanced technical climbing skills and mandatory guide supervision.

How much does admission cost at Franklin Mountains State Park?

Daily entrance at Franklin Mountains State Park costs $8 for adults and teenagers ages 13 and older, $1 for children ages 5 through 12, and free for children under 5. Texas State Park Pass holders and everyone in their passenger vehicle enter without paying daily day-use fees.

When is the best time of year to visit El Paso with family?

The ideal time to visit El Paso with kids is from October through April when daytime high temperatures range comfortably between 60°F and 75°F. Summer months regularly exceed 95°F in the Chihuahuan Desert, making midday outdoor hikes hazardous without early morning starts.

What should families pack for a day trip in El Paso?

Visitors should pack at least one gallon of potable water per person daily, wide-brim sun hats, high-SPF sunscreen, and sturdy closed-toe hiking shoes for desert trails. Travelers driving outside the metropolitan area must also carry government-issued photo identification for regional Border Patrol highway checkpoints.