Phoenix with kids works best when you plan around the sun, not against it. Do the outdoor part while it’s still cool, move indoors before noon, and save the treat for the hottest part of the afternoon. Here’s a full Saturday built that way — for two adults and two kids aged about 4–12 — with every ticket price.

The plan at a glance: 5 stops from 7 am to about 4 pm · about $326 for a family of four with the Zoo, or about $240–266 with the Desert Botanical Garden instead · lunch and the science center are indoors, in the same downtown block.

The day, stop by stop

  1. 7:00 am — Hole-in-the-Rock, Papago Park. A short trail — about 0.3 mile with 45 feet of climbing — up to a sandstone window over the city. Parking east of Galvin Parkway opens at 5 am. Cost: free.
  2. 8:00 am — Phoenix Zoo, 455 N Galvin Pkwy. Three minutes’ drive away, and open from 8 am in September (until 4 pm Friday–Sunday). Admission is $44.95 for ages 14 and up and $32.95 for ages 3–13. Cost for four: $155.80.
  3. 11:30 am — Lunch at Pizzeria Bianco, Heritage Square. About 15 minutes’ drive downtown. Chris Bianco’s pizzas are listed at $18–26; there are no reservations, so the closer you arrive to its 11 am opening, the shorter the wait. Open Monday–Saturday. Cost for four: about $65 with drinks, tax and tip.
  4. 12:45 pm — Arizona Science Center, 600 E Washington St. A 2–3 minute walk across Heritage & Science Park, air-conditioned for the hottest hours. Open Tuesday–Sunday 10:30 am–4 pm; adults $22.95, ages 3–17 $16.95. Planetarium shows ($14) and giant-screen films ($8) cost extra. Cost for four: $79.80.
  5. 3:45 pm — Fatty Daddy’s Ice Cream, 888 N 1st Ave. About 5 minutes’ drive north; open from 12:30 pm on Saturdays and known for its cookie cups. Cost for four: about $25.

Swaps for your crew

  • Cheaper morning: the Desert Botanical Garden next to the Zoo has stroller-friendly trails. Through September 25, online tickets are $19.95 for adults and $14.95 for children ($69.80 for four); from September 26, adults are from $32.95 ($95.80). Reserving ahead is recommended.
  • Cheaper lunch: Carolina’s Mexican Food (1202 E Mohave St) is an old-school tortilla shop with $3.75 tacos, open Monday–Saturday until 5 pm. Lunch for four is about $35.
  • Younger kids: swap the science center for the Children’s Museum of Phoenix (215 N 7th St): $19 per person, under 1 free. It’s closed September 21–25, 2026 for cleaning.
  • Fire-truck fans: the Hall of Flame Museum of Firefighting near Papago Park is indoors and open Tuesday–Saturday 10 am–6 pm ($19 adults, $15 ages 6–17, $10 ages 3–5).

Free days and discounts

  • Children’s Museum of Phoenix: free on the first Friday of each month, 5–9 pm; space is limited.
  • Desert Botanical Garden: pay what you can on the second Tuesday of every month.
  • Arizona Science Center: $5 per person for EBT cardholders and up to three others through Museums for All.
  • Phoenix Zoo: $10 tickets (up to four) with an Arizona EBT card and photo ID — Tuesdays and Sundays only.

Heat tips

  • Go at opening. The Zoo runs 7 am–1 pm in June–August and 9 am–4 pm from October 1 — in October, start Hole-in-the-Rock at 7:45 instead.
  • Know the trail rules. On Extreme Heat Warning days, Phoenix closes popular trails on Camelback, Piestewa Peak and South Mountain from 8 am to 5 pm. Hole-in-the-Rock isn’t on that list, but sunrise is still the time to go — the city rescues more than 200 hikers from its desert parks every year.
  • Look for shade. Downtown’s Civic Space Park is designed to be more than 70% shaded, with a playground next to the glowing net sculpture.
  • Carry more water than you think you need, keep hats and sunscreen on even for short walks, and touch-test slides and car seats before kids use them.

Before you go: hours, prices and closures were checked in September 2026, and several change with the season. Food costs are estimates.

Make it yours

Want a shorter morning or a smaller budget? Pick Phoenix and “With kids” in the HollyUp planner — it will keep the plan indoors when it matters.