Prices and hours checked September 30, 2026 on each venue's official page. Seasonal items are flagged; confirm before you go.
The big three
Riverbanks Zoo & Garden
Where: 500 Wildlife Pkwy, Columbia, SC 29210. Open daily 9 am–5 pm (closed Thanksgiving and Christmas).
Admission includes the zoo and the botanical garden: adults (13–61) $27.95 online / $30.95 at the window, children 2–12 $24.95 / $27.95, seniors 62+ and military $25.95 / $28.95, under 2 free. Parking is $3 online or $6 at the window (riverbanks.org). Outside food and coolers are not allowed. SNAP EBT households in SC can buy up to four $10 tickets. Full details: our Riverbanks Zoo & Garden guide.
EdVenture Children's Museum
Where: 211 Gervais St, Columbia, SC 29201 (next to the State Museum).
Hands-on galleries aimed at young children. From September 8 to Memorial Day it opens Monday and Wednesday–Saturday 9 am–5 pm and Sunday noon–5 pm, closed Tuesdays. Admission is $15 for children and adults, $10 for seniors, military and first responders, and free under 2 (edventure.org). Exhibits by age: our EdVenture guide.
South Carolina State Museum
Where: 301 Gervais St, in the Vista. Tuesday–Saturday 10 am–5 pm, Sunday noon–5 pm, closed Mondays.
Four floors of natural history, science and state history, plus a planetarium, a 4D theater and an observatory, which cost extra. General admission is $1 on the first Sunday of each month (scmuseum.org).
Parks and outdoors
Saluda Shoals Park
Where: 5605 Bush River Rd (west entrance) or 6071 St Andrews Rd (east), Columbia, SC 29212.
Parking is $7 per car. There are ten miles of trails, an inclusive playground (Leo's Landing) and the Saluda Splash spray ground at $4 per child. The splash pad is seasonal (warm months); the playground and trails are open year-round (icrc.net). Hours, passes and kayaks: our Saluda Shoals Park guide.
Congaree National Park
Where: 100 National Park Rd, Hopkins. Free.
The 2.6-mile Boardwalk Trail is flat and stroller-friendly; ask at the visitor center about the Junior Ranger program. Trails can flood, so check nps.gov/cong. Trail-by-trail distances: our Congaree day trip guide.
Finlay Park
Downtown's renovated park has a new playground, a fitness court and space to run. Free (finlaypark.columbiasc.gov).
Riverfront Park and the Canal
Where: 312 Laurel St. A flat, paved path by the river, good for bikes and scooters. Free.
Harbison State Forest
Trails for walking and mountain biking off Broad River Road. Parking is $5 a day (scfc.gov). Full guide: Harbison State Forest.
Free and cheap indoors
- McKissick Museum on the USC Horseshoe: free, weekdays 8:30 am–5 pm.
- Columbia Museum of Art: free on the first Thursday of the month.
- South Carolina State House: free guided tours on weekdays and most Saturdays (scstatehouse.gov). Older children tend to get more out of it.
Seasonal (fall 2026)
- Pumpkin patches and corn mazes in Lexington, Hopkins and Pomaria: see pumpkin patches near Columbia.
- Boo at the Zoo, Riverbanks, Oct 16–30, 6–9 pm; under 2 free. More in Halloween events in Columbia.
- SC State Fair, Oct 15–25; children 5 and under free, $5 admission for everyone on opening day (Oct 15). See our State Fair guide.
- Five Points Trick-or-Treat, Sun Oct 25, 4–6 pm.
- Wild Lights at Riverbanks, select nights from Nov 20; see Christmas lights in Columbia.
Dates and prices for these are in our October–November 2026 events calendar.
A rainy-day plan
EdVenture in the morning (not Tuesday), lunch in the Vista, then the State Museum next door, which is only $1 if it happens to be the first Sunday.
More: free things to do, day trips from Columbia and best neighborhoods for families.
The full list, by category: things to do in Columbia, SC.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Riverbanks Zoo for kids?
Children 2 to 12 are $24.95 online or $27.95 at the ticket window; under 2 are free. Adults are $27.95 online. Parking is $3 online or $6 at the window (checked September 2026).
Is EdVenture open every day?
No. From September to Memorial Day, EdVenture at 211 Gervais St is closed on Tuesdays. It opens 9 am to 5 pm on Monday and Wednesday to Saturday and noon to 5 pm on Sunday. Admission is $15, and under 2 is free.
What can kids do for free in Columbia, SC?
Congaree National Park, Finlay Park's playground, Riverfront Park, McKissick Museum on weekdays, State House tours and the Columbia Museum of Art on first Thursdays are all free.
Is the Saluda Shoals splash pad open in the fall?
Saluda Splash is a seasonal spray ground for the warm months and costs $4 per person. The park itself, with its playground and trails, is open year-round, and parking is $7 per car.