Kids' activities in Durham: the Museum of Life and Science and its free Community Days, library story times, spraygrounds, the free Nasher and rainy-day picks.

Last checked Oct. 12, 2026. Hours, prices and dates come from each place’s own website.

Durham’s family day out centers on the Museum of Life and Science, with its indoor and outdoor exhibits and the Ellerbe Creek Railway. Around it are free story times at the county library branches, city spraygrounds in summer and a free art museum at Duke.

Who to call

  • Museum of Life and Science: 919-220-5429
  • Durham County Library: durhamcountylibrary.org
  • Durham Parks and Recreation: 919-560-4355

Museum of Life and Science

433 W. Murray Ave. Open Tuesday to Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (members at 9 a.m.), and closed Mondays from Labor Day to Memorial Day. Parking is free, with a covered deck across Murray Avenue (visitor page).

General admission Price
Adults $24
Seniors (65+) and military $22
Children 3 to 15 $19
Children 2 and under Free

Durham Community Days: Durham County residents get in free with proof of a Durham address; every adult must show residency, and each can bring up to five children. Upcoming dates:

  • 2026: Tuesday, Oct. 20; Sunday, Nov. 8; Tuesday, Nov. 17; Wednesday, Dec. 2; Sunday, Dec. 13.
  • 2027: Sunday, Jan. 10; Friday, Jan. 29; Sunday, Feb. 7; Saturday, Feb. 27; Thursday, March 4; Tuesday, March 16; Wednesday, April 7; more on the museum’s page.

Seasonal events, from BooFest on Halloween to Noon Year’s Eve, are on our Halloween and New Year’s Eve pages.

Story times

Durham County Library runs free story times at its branches: Baby Bookworms (lapsit story time for babies), Story Sprouts for toddlers and preschoolers, and bilingual story times. Some need registration. On Oct. 12, for example, the East Regional Library, 211 Lick Creek Lane, had Baby Bookworms at 10 a.m. and Story Sprouts at 11 a.m. (library home page, with its “Find a storytime” link). The library’s kids’ pages also list maker technology, sensory spaces, craft programs and LEGO building (kids’ page).

Playgrounds and spraygrounds

  • The city lists its parks and playgrounds on Durham Parks and Recreation’s playgrounds page, with updates on repairs; our parks and trails page covers the big parks.
  • Spraygrounds run in summer at Edison Johnson (500 W. Murray Ave.), Forest Hills Park, Hillside Park and East End Park. All of them closed June 15, 2026, under drought water restrictions; see our summer camps and pools page.
  • Indoor pools at Edison Johnson Aquatic Center and Campus Hills Pool are free for city youth 18 and under (indoor pools).

Rainy-day picks

  • Nasher Museum of Art at Duke: free admission for all (Nasher).
  • The Scrap Exchange, 2050 Chapel Hill Road: a creative reuse center, thrift store and gallery, open 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday to Sunday (Scrap Exchange).
  • A library branch: maker spaces, LEGO and story times, as above.

Outdoors

  • Sarah P. Duke Gardens: free, 8 a.m. to sunset daily (visit page).
  • West Point on the Eno, 5101 N. Roxboro St.: a city park on the river with trails and picnic shelters (park page).
  • Greenways for bikes and strollers: our walking and biking trails guide.

School breaks

When schools are out, Durham Parks and Recreation runs full-day Fun Days, break care and summer camp for ages 5 to 12; dates and fees are on our spring break and summer camps and pools pages.

What this means for you

  • Durham County family on a budget? Plan museum visits around Community Days.
  • Under 2? The museum is free, and library lapsit story times are made for you.

Frequently asked questions

How much is the Museum of Life and Science?

General admission is $24 for adults, $22 for seniors 65 and up and military, $19 for children 3 to 15, and free for children 2 and under. Prices are subject to change.

When are the Museum of Life and Science free days?

On Durham Community Days, Durham County residents get in free with proof of address, and each adult can bring up to five children. Upcoming dates include Oct. 20, Nov. 8, Nov. 17, Dec. 2 and Dec. 13, 2026.

Where are story times in Durham?

Durham County Library runs lapsit story times for babies and toddler and preschool story times at its branches, some with registration, plus bilingual story times. Its Find a Storytime page lists each week’s sessions.

What can kids do in Durham on a rainy day?

The Museum of Life and Science’s indoor exhibits, a library story time, the free Nasher Museum of Art at Duke and The Scrap Exchange’s creative reuse center are all indoors.

Is the Museum of Life and Science open on Mondays?

Not from Labor Day to Memorial Day. It is open Tuesday to Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and adds Mondays from Memorial Day to Labor Day.