Things to Do in New Braunfels With Kids
Updated 2026-10-08 by Mom's Guide SA
Quick answer
New Braunfels is a short day trip with kid fun all year. Landa Park has a miniature train, playgrounds and, in summer, a spring-fed pool. McKenna Children's Museum costs $10 per person and is open Monday to Saturday. Schlitterbahn and river tubing are summer picks, and kids should be over 3 and able to swim to float the Comal.
- Year-round
- McKenna, Landa Park, caves
- Free
- Fischer Park and the library
- Summer
- Tubing and Schlitterbahn
Quick picks
- Landa Park
Miniature train and playgrounds.
- McKenna Children's Museum
$10 per person, Monday to Saturday.
- Animal World & Snake Farm Zoo
Open daily 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., all year.
- Natural Bridge Caverns
Underground tours in any weather.
- Fischer Park
Free playgrounds and a splash pad in season.
Year-round picks
Open in every season. Check holiday closures before you go.
Landa Park
The miniature train is $6 per person, free under 1. From September to May it runs weekends and holidays, plus daily over spring, Thanksgiving and Christmas breaks. Call (830) 625-8285 to check.
New Braunfels
McKenna Children's Museum
$10 per person, play all day. Monday to Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., closed Sunday. Kids must come with an adult 16 or older.
New Braunfels
Animal World & Snake Farm Zoo
Open daily 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., year-round. Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas. Adults $24.99, ages 3 to 12 $19.99, 2 and under free.
New Braunfels
Nature & Wildlife
Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch
Drive-through safari. Adults 12 and up $31.99, kids 3 to 11 $21.99.
San Antonio
Headwaters at the Comal
$5 for adults and kids 6 and up. Wednesday to Saturday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Construction can change hours, so check first.
New Braunfels
Rainy day and indoor
Good backups when it's wet or hot.
Nature & Wildlife
Natural Bridge Caverns
Tour prices change by date, as low as $25 for adults. Parking is $10. The Discovery Tour has stairs, so strollers are not recommended.
San Antonio
New Braunfels Public Library
Main library at 700 E. Common St. Open Monday to Thursday 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday 9 to 6, Saturday 9 to 5, Sunday 1 to 5.
New Braunfels
Brauntex Performing Arts Theatre
Downtown theater. Check its calendar for family shows.
New Braunfels
Free things to do
Parks and a stroll through Gruene.
Fischer Park
Playgrounds and a free splash pad. The pad is open daily 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. from the Saturday before spring break through Sept. 30.
New Braunfels
Gruene Historic District
Free to stroll. Gruene Market Days run the third full weekend of the month, February to November, plus the first weekend of December.
New Braunfels
Summer water fun
Most of these run from late spring to late summer. Check each season's dates before you go.
Swimming & Splash Pads
Schlitterbahn New Braunfels
Summer water park. 2027 dates aren't posted yet, so check the park site before you plan.
New Braunfels
Landa Park Aquatic Complex
Spring-fed pool in Landa Park, open in summer. Check 2027 dates when the city posts them.
New Braunfels
Comal River
Spring-fed river in town. The City Tube Chute at Prince Solms Park rents tubes for $15 plus a $20 refundable deposit, from May weekends through Labor Day.
New Braunfels
Guadalupe River Tubing
For older kids. Visit New Braunfels says kids should be over 6 to float the Guadalupe.
Tubing with kids: age rules and safety
From Visit New Braunfels. Outfitters set their own rules, so ask before you book.
- Kids should know how to swim and be over age 3 to float the Comal, or over age 6 to float the Guadalupe.
- Life jackets are recommended for kids under 8 and weak swimmers. The City Tube Chute and outfitters lend them.
- Sundays and weekdays are the most kid-friendly days on the river.
Coming up in New Braunfels
Dates we checked with the organizers. Times can change, so confirm before you go.
Oct 17 to 18
Gruene Market DaysIn the Gruene Historic District, generally 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Nov 6 to 15
WurstfestKids 12 and under get in free every day, and Monday to Thursday (Nov 9 to 12, 5 to 10 p.m.) is free for everyone. Fridays and Sundays are $15 online or $20 at the gate, Saturdays $25 online or $30 at the gate. Kinderhalle has games, crafts and puppet shows for kids.
Nov 21 to 22
Gruene Market DaysIn the Gruene Historic District, generally 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Dec 3
WassailfestFree, downtown at Main Plaza, 6 to 9 p.m., with kid-friendly "unleaded" wassail.
Dec 5 to 6
Gruene Market DaysIn the Gruene Historic District, generally 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Events coming up in New Braunfels
Kid-friendly events at places in this area over the next two weeks. Times change, so confirm with the organizer.
Questions parents ask
What can kids do in New Braunfels in the winter?
McKenna Children's Museum and Animal World & Snake Farm Zoo are open year-round, and Natural Bridge Caverns tours go underground where the weather doesn't matter. The Landa Park train runs weekends and daily over Thanksgiving and Christmas breaks. Wurstfest (Nov. 6 to 15, 2026) is free for kids 12 and under.
How old do kids have to be to tube the Comal River?
Visit New Braunfels says kids should be over 3 and able to swim to float the Comal, and over 6 for the Guadalupe. Life jackets are recommended for kids under 8. Outfitters may have their own rules.
When does Schlitterbahn New Braunfels open?
Schlitterbahn New Braunfels is a summer water park. The 2027 opening date isn't posted yet, so check the park site in the spring.
Is there a children's museum in New Braunfels?
Yes. McKenna Children's Museum is at 801 W. San Antonio St. It's $10 per person and open Monday to Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
What's free to do in New Braunfels with kids?
Fischer Park's playgrounds and seasonal splash pad, the library, a stroll through Gruene, Wassailfest on Dec. 3, 2026, and Wurstfest for kids 12 and under.