On a cold or snowy day around Denver, the easiest indoor plans are the Denver Museum of Nature & Science (open daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.), the Children's Museum of Denver (daily 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., for kids up to about 8), the Butterfly Pavilion in Westminster (daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.) and Meow Wolf Denver. For a free option, the Denver Art Museum admits everyone 18 and younger free, and the Arvada Center galleries are free for all. Here are nine indoor spots, with hours, prices and holiday closures.
Where can little kids play indoors in Denver?
Children's Museum of Denver at Marsico Campus (Denver)
2121 Children's Museum Drive. Open every day 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with exhibits designed for kids from newborn to age 8. Admission is $19.75 for ages 2 to 59, $17.75 for age 1 and 60-plus, and free under age 1. Tickets aren't sold online, and parking is free. Adults can't visit without a child. It's closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year's Day. Children's Museum of Denver
Butterfly Pavilion (Westminster)
6252 W. 104th Ave. Open daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with last admission at 4:15 p.m. General admission is $19.45 for ages 13 to 64, $17.45 for 65-plus, $14.45 for ages 2 to 12 and free under 2. It's closed Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. Butterfly Pavilion: plan your visit
What indoor attractions work for older kids and teens?
Denver Museum of Nature & Science (Denver)
2001 Colorado Blvd. Open every day 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., most Fridays until 9 p.m., and closed Dec. 25. DMNS: visit
Meow Wolf Denver: Convergence Station (Denver)
1338 1st St., near Empower Field at Mile High. Meow Wolf says most visitors spend two to three hours inside. Days and times vary, so check availability before you go. Parking starts at $15 a vehicle, costs more on Broncos game days and during major events, and there's no on-site parking during Broncos home games. Meow Wolf Denver
Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum (Denver)
7711 E. Academy Blvd., in Lowry. Open every day 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The museum asks you to check its calendar for closures. Wings Over the Rockies
Exploration of Flight (Englewood)
13005 Wings Way, at Centennial Airport. Wings Over the Rockies' second campus has aircraft showcases, flight experiences and simulators. It's open Saturdays only, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Exploration of Flight
What are good indoor plans for adults?
Denver Art Museum (Denver)
100 W. 14th Ave. Pkwy. Open six days a week and closed Wednesdays, Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., except Tuesdays, when it's open until 8 p.m. Adult general admission is $22 or $25 for Colorado residents and $27 or $30 for non-residents. Youth 18 and younger get in free every day. The DIVA exhibition, on view through Jan. 31, 2027, costs $7 on top of general admission. Denver Art Museum: plan your visit
History Colorado Center (Denver)
1200 N. Broadway. Open every day 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. It's closed Thanksgiving and Christmas Day, closes at 3 p.m. on New Year's Eve and is closed New Year's Day. Adults are $20, and children and members are free. History Colorado Center
Arvada Center galleries (Arvada)
6901 Wadsworth Blvd. The galleries show artists from Colorado and the West, and they're free and open to the public. You can reserve a free spot online or check in at the box office. Gallery hours are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and noon to 4 p.m. Sunday. They stay open until 7:30 p.m. on some theater nights. Arvada Center galleries
What indoor options are free or low-cost?
- Free for kids: Denver Art Museum (18 and under, every day), History Colorado Center (children) and the Children's Museum (under age 1).
- Free for everyone: the Arvada Center galleries.
- Under $20: Butterfly Pavilion kids' tickets ($14.45) and Children's Museum tickets for ages 2 to 59 ($19.75).
Which indoor attractions are closed on the holidays?
- Thanksgiving (Nov. 26): the Children's Museum, Butterfly Pavilion, Denver Art Museum and History Colorado Center are closed.
- Christmas Day: all of the above, plus the Museum of Nature & Science, are closed. The Children's Museum is also closed Christmas Eve.
- New Year's Day: the Children's Museum and History Colorado Center are closed.
Frequently asked questions
What can you do in Denver with kids when it snows?
Indoor museums are the easiest choice. The Children's Museum (ages 0 to 8) and Butterfly Pavilion are open daily, and the Museum of Nature & Science is open every day except Dec. 25.
Is the Denver Art Museum free for kids?
Yes. General admission is free every day for youth 18 and younger.
Is Exploration of Flight open on Sundays?
No. Its posted hours are Saturdays only, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Wings Over the Rockies museum in Lowry is open every day.
How long does Meow Wolf Denver take?
Meow Wolf says visitors typically spend two to three hours.
Can adults go to the Children's Museum of Denver without kids?
No. The museum doesn't admit adults without a child, or children without an adult.
Confirm details before you go. Hours, prices and closures can change after we check them, especially around the holidays. Use each attraction's link for the latest information.
How we built this guide. Every address, hour, price and closure here comes from each attraction's own website, checked on Oct. 20, 2026. If a site didn't list something, such as a ticket price, we left it out instead of guessing. We didn't visit for this guide, and we don't use ratings or reviews. No attraction paid to be included. If that ever changes, the entry will be labeled Sponsored. Know an indoor spot we missed? Tell us in the DFRO Facebook group.
More ideas: 7 Hidden Gems Around the Denver Front Range, free and cheap family holiday fun, and what's coming up on the DFRO events calendar.
