The Iowa Children's Museum
4.8(1.3K)google
4.7(24)yelp
ScienceKidsFamilyBaby-FriendlyIndoorInteractiveEducational
Overview
This list of museums in Iowa is a list of museums, defined for this context as institutions (including nonprofit organizations, government entities, and private businesses) that collect and care for objects of cultural, artistic, scientific, or historical interest and make their collections or related exhibits available for public viewing. Museums that exist only in cyberspace (i.e., virtual museums) are not included.
Practical Info
MonClosed
Tue10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Wed10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Thu10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Fri10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Sat10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Sun10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Suggested Duration2.5-4 hours
Best TimeA perfect year-round indoor sanctuary to escape freezing winters or scorching summers. Entering on weekday mornings (Tuesday through Thursday) right at the 10:00 AM opening is highly advised; this ensures your children can access high-demand interactive exhibits like the simulated Boeing flight deck, the mini grocery market, and the Lego engineering grids with zero wait lines for a premium hands-on experience.
Getting ThereNestled on the first floor inside the sprawling Coral Ridge Mall in Coralville. Driving is exceptionally convenient: take I-80 to Exit 242 (S 1st Ave) and steer straight into the mall's massive, complimentary open-air northern parking lots. Parking near the indoor Ice Rink entrance provides the shortest walking path directly to the museum's indoor storefront.
Travel Tips
- The museum is completely closed on Mondays, and Wednesday–Saturday 9:00 AM–10:00 AM is restricted strictly to members; general admission guests must book timed tickets online for slots after 10:00 AM.
- Located inside Coral Ridge Mall, the museum shares massive free parking, but heavy weekend shopping crowds mandate parking near the northwest mall entrance for the shortest strollers walk.
- Interactive zones enforce strict age-appropriateness guidelines (e.g., Tech Trek vs. Littles); staff maintain authority to relocate children from sections if their presence poses safety risks.
Reviews
Positive
- Fantastic indoor kids' paradise! The pretend grocery store, dentist clinic, and flight simulators keep kids engaged for hours.
- All interactive stations are highly educational, promoting hands-on learning—a perfect refuge during rainy days or cold winters.
- Sanitizer stations are liberally scattered throughout, the child-height restrooms are thoughtful, and accessibility is excellent.
- Situated inside the Coralville Mall, it grants unlimited free parking and seamless access to dining and shopping options.
Heads up
- On weekends and school breaks, it gets overwhelmingly packed with chaotic kids, resulting in extreme noise and exhaustion for parents.
- Adult chaperones are required to pay full admission; tickets add up quickly and become expensive for larger families.
- Some popular interactive pieces (like Legos or model trains) are occasionally broken, missing components, or have long lines.
- The main play zones lack adequate comfortable seating for adults, forcing parents to stand or chase their kids non-stop.