3 Days in Denver With Kids: Our Family-Friendly Itinerary
Planning a Denver trip with kids and want something that feels realistic, fun, and not rushed? This is the itinerary we used and loved. It has slow mornings, one major attraction each day, and plenty of time to explore without feeling like you are squeezing in too much. Denver is such an easy city for families because it is walkable, clean, and full of things that work well for mixed ages.
These are all places we personally visited on our trip. This guide is especially helpful if you like simple days, clear pacing, and honest tips from someone who has actually been there with kids. This three day Denver itinerary works well for families, grandparents, and mixed-age groups.
3 Day Denver Itinerary for Families
This Denver guide is part of my Trip Planning & Redemptions series where I share the hotel stays, attractions, and itineraries that help families plan trips that feel fun and worth the effort.
Best Time to Visit Denver With Kids
Denver works well for families year-round, but the best times to visit are spring, early summer, and fall. The weather is comfortable for walking, and many outdoor areas downtown stay open. Winter can be beautiful too, just plan for colder mornings and layer up. Denver is an easy city to explore no matter what season you choose.
Where to Stay in Denver (and Why We Picked This Hotel)
The Curtis Denver
The Curtis Denver works really well for families because staying here feels like an attraction, not just a hotel. The themed floors are fun for kids to explore and the hotel has a colorful, playful lobby that feels good as soon as you walk in.
Why we liked staying here:
• Themed floors that kids love exploring
• Central downtown location with lots of food and activities within walking distance
• Private parking deck
• Parking is not free, but there are cheaper paid lots nearby
• Full breakfast and affordable grab-and-go parfaits and burritos
• Great View!
You can read my full review of The Curtis and see photos of every themed floor here: The Curtis Hotel Denver: Themed Floors Review From Our Stay
Hotels Near the Attractions in This Itinerary
Here’s a quick way to check prices and see which Denver hotels are closest to downtown restaurants, Union Station, Meow Wolf, and the Denver Museum of Nature & Science.
Disclosure: The map below contains affiliate links. If you book through it, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting Journey Currencies and the free family travel guides I share.
How to Use This Itinerary
This itinerary uses one major attraction per day so families do not feel rushed.
If you have older kids:
Follow the plan as written. The pacing is perfect for one big highlight each day.
If you have nap-aged kids:
Swap the timing of Meow Wolf on Day 1.
Do Meow Wolf in the morning, return to the hotel for naps, and continue your day from there.
Everything else stays the same.
How to Get Around Denver
Denver is very easy to navigate with kids. You can walk to most of the spots in this itinerary if you are staying downtown. For longer distances, rideshares are quick and reliable. Parking is available throughout downtown if you bring a car, although many hotels charge a fee for garage access. If you want to visit spots outside the downtown area, renting a car is a great option.
Day 1: Slow Start, Downtown Walk, Explore The Curtis and Meow Wolf
🍳 Breakfast at Sam’s #3
Sam’s #3 is right across from The Curtis which makes it one of the easiest breakfasts you can choose. You will see the big Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives sign right away. The food was great and the portions were huge. There was something for everyone which helped with our group. We sat outside and really liked the relaxed feel. Our server was kind and helpful with any questions we had and made sure our food came out quickly.
Quick tips:
• Directly across from The Curtis
• Featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives
• Large portions and lots of choices
• Nice outdoor seating
• Fast, friendly service
🚶 Walk Around Downtown Denver
Downtown Denver is clean, easy to walk, and full of restaurants and shops. It is an easy way to start your day at a slower pace before your bigger attraction in the afternoon.
Quick tips:
• Very walkable
• Lots of shops, food spots, and things to explore
• Great way to get familiar with the area
🍔 Lunch at Gaia Masala and Burger
Gaia Masala and Burger was a great lunch stop for us because it works for both adventurous eaters and kids who want something familiar. I love trying new foods, but my daughter usually wants a classic burger or chicken. This menu made all of us happy. It is a casual restaurant about a ten minute walk from The Curtis which made it an easy midday stop.
Quick tips:
• Great for mixed-taste families
• About a ten minute walk from The Curtis
• Casual, simple lunch stop
• Bold flavors for adults and kid-friendly options
🏨 Explore The Curtis Denver’s Themed Floors
The themed floors at The Curtis were one of our favorite surprises. We did not know this was even a thing until we checked in. We ended up spending almost an hour going to each floor and seeing the different themes. Kids love it, but honestly even adults will find it fun. It also gives you something free and easy to do before heading to Meow Wolf.
Quick tips:
• Free activity
• Kids love exploring
• A fun break before a big attraction
• Easy way to spend an hour between meals and activities
😼 Meow Wolf: Convergence Station
Meow Wolf is one of the hardest places to describe because you really need to experience it. We almost skipped it because we still had no clue what it was even after doing a full Google search, and now it is one of the things we talk about the most. It is immersive, creative, and full of surprises. We spent about four hours here and still felt like we could have explored more.
Quick tips:
• Plan for 2.5 to 4 hours
• Very sensory and immersive
• Works best as the only major attraction of the day
• Older kids thrive here
• Nap-aged kids may do better in the morning
Tickets for Meow Wolf Denver
You can get an anytime-entry ticket here:
Book Meow Wolf Denver tickets →
Disclosure: If you book through this link, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
If you are curious what four hours inside actually looks like, you can read my full Meow Wolf Denver review.
🍽️ Dinner at Culinary Dropout
Culinary Dropout ended up being one of those places where we took one bite and looked at each other like, “This is really good.” The food was simple in the best way and everything had great flavor. There are a lot of options which makes it an easy choice for families. The atmosphere felt comfortable and lively without being too loud which was perfect after a big day.
Quick tips:
• One of our favorite dinners
• Simple, flavorful food
• Good variety for families
• Comfortable and lively atmosphere
Day 2: Breakfast at Union Station and a Full Afternoon at DMNS
☕ Breakfast at Union Station
Union Station is beautiful and has a relaxed feel that works well for breakfast. You can grab coffee, pastries, or a full meal depending on what everyone wants. It’s a relaxed way to enjoy a little bit of Denver before heading to the museum.
Quick tips:
• Lots of breakfast options
• Easy for mixed wake-up times
• Relaxed setting for families
Extra Tip: If you wake up early and need coffee and a little food before the others can even get moving, run down to The Corner Office (The Curtis Hotel Restaurant) for coffee and a quick breakfast. When we were there, they offered $5 yogurt parfaits and breakfast burritos, although they sold out of burritos one morning so check early.
🦖 Denver Museum of Nature and Science (DMNS)
DMNS has so much to explore. There are dinosaur skeletons, hands-on science areas, space exhibits, wildlife dioramas, and plenty of places for kids to explore without feeling rushed. They also have several scavenger hunts! Our whole group got so focused on finding the tiny hidden elves in the paintings that we probably missed the point of a few exhibits, but it made everything so fun. There are also outdoor areas, a playground, and a seasonal splash fountain. You can easily spend half a day here, but a full day is even better if you have the time.
Quick tips:
- Plan for 3 to 4 hours
- Indoor and outdoor areas to explore
- Multiple scavenger hunts for kids and adults
- Seasonal splash fountain and playground (bring a swimsuit or change of clothes)
- IMAX and planetarium shows on select schedules
- Café with meals, snacks, and coffee
- You can bring your own food
Tickets for the Denver Museum of Nature & Science
If you want to choose a time in advance or avoid waiting in line on busy days, you can check ticket availability here.
Denver Museum of Nature & Science tickets →
Disclosure: If you book through this link, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Café menu: T Rex Cafe
If your kids love water like mine does, just plan for the splash fountain. Bring a quick dry towel that folds up small and a change of clothes.
My favorite quick-dry towel → Amazon
🍔 Dinner at Cherry Cricket
Cherry Cricket came recommended by a local and it was a great spot. Their burgers are delicious and there are a lot of fun toppings. I liked the bison burger which is not something you see everywhere. The atmosphere is fun, and the area is nice for walking around at night.
Quick tips:
• Local favorite
• Amazing burgers
• Unique flavors and toppings
• Great Gluten-Free bun
• Fun nighttime area
Day 3: Breakfast at the Hotel, Museum of Illusions and a Calm Downtown Day
🥞 Breakfast at The Curtis
Breakfast at the hotel is perfect for a slower day or a travel day. You can do a full breakfast or grab something quick. I liked the Breakfast Sammy and fruit, but there were many other options like the Short Stack my family loved.
Quick tips:
• Full breakfast available
• Affordable grab-and-go items
• Good for travel mornings
• Easy start to the day
🌀 Museum of Illusions
The Museum of Illusions is small but so much fun. It ended up being such a fun surprise for our group. If you’ve ever seen those photos where someone looks like they are hanging off a bus or standing sideways on a wall, this is where those are taken. Staff members walk around offering to take photos and they know the exact angle you need.
Quick tips:
• Most families spend about one hour
• Lots of interactive exhibits
• Great for photos
• Staff help with pictures
• Perfect for a lighter day
Tickets for Museum of Illusions Denver
This is a popular spot for families, especially on weekends. If you want to pick a time slot ahead of your visit, you can check availability here.
Check Museum of Illusions Denver tickets →
Disclosure: If you book through this link, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
🛍️ Downtown Exploring and Departure
Spend the rest of the day walking around downtown, getting souvenirs, grabbing a snack, or stopping back at Union Station for coffee. It is an easy way to end your trip.
Quick tips:
• Great for last-minute shopping
• Easy walking
• Works well with checkout or flights
If you’re flying out of Denver International Airport, you can check out my review of the Capital One Lounge. It was a really helpful spot to relax before our flight.
Packing It Up
I hope this guide makes it a little easier to plan a trip that feels relaxed and enjoyable for your family. Denver ended up being such a fun city for us and I hope these ideas help you enjoy it just as much. If you are looking for more travel inspiration or want help planning a future itinerary with points and miles, feel free to explore the rest of the blog or reach out with questions.
For more Denver planning resources, see my complete Denver travel guide.
Your Next Read
The Curtis Hotel Denver: Themed Floors Review From Our Stay
