Plan Your Visit
The Iowa Children’s Museum is a learning laboratory where kids can play, learn about the world around them, and create lasting memories. Our exhibits are not only fun—they’re backed by overwhelming research that says playing is essential! Every time your child visits The ICM, they’re learning through the Power of Play.
Hours
Open Tuesday through Sunday from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm. Closed Mondays.
Member Hour is Wednesday through Saturday from 9:00 – 10:00 am (members only).
Upcoming Group Visits: 1/25 from 9:30-11:30a (Coral Cove will be closed); 1/26 from 4-6p; 1/27 from 9:30-11:30a (Coral Cove will be closed) and 12-2p
Exhibits may be busier during these times. Visit our event calendar for special hours and events.
Pricing
Admission is $10 for children and adults. Senior Admission (60+) is $9. Infants under 1 are free. Admission is always free for members!
Play is for everyone! We are proud to offer free admission, memberships, and events as part of our ICM for Everyone accessibility programs.
Museum visitors who participate in SNAP, WIC, Medicaid, Hawk-I, Head Start, or Free School Lunch programs can play in the museum free of charge during normal open hours. This pricing is available for everyone in the household covered by the qualifying program. Click here to view all museums that offer reduced admission as part of the Museums for All program!
We also offer free museum memberships for economically disadvantaged families. Click here to learn more.
Members of other children’s museums in the ACM Reciprocal Network receive 50% off their admission to The Iowa Children’s Museum! Present your membership card to our front desk staff upon arrival to redeem this discount.
Reduced pricing is available for military families. Present your military ID to our front desk staff to redeem this discount.
- Active Duty: We offer free admission for active-duty families between Memorial Day and Labor Day, as part of the Blue Star Museums program. The rest of the year, active-duty families receive a special “buy one, get one free” deal on admission.
- Veterans: We offer a “buy one, get one free” discount on admission for veterans throughout the year.
Location
The Iowa Children’s Museum is located in Coral Ridge Mall in Coralville, Iowa. The museum entrance is located just inside the southeast mall entrance, next to the skating rink and food court.
Amenities & Accessibility
Facility
- Elevators – Guests are welcome to use the elevator to reach the second floor of the museum. It is located near the front desk, across the hall from the rainbow stairs.
- Family Sanctuary – Located in the ImaginAcres exhibit, the Family Sanctuary provides a private, quiet space for guests. This space can be used by nursing parents, those with sensory needs, or anyone in need of a break from the lively exhibits environment.
- Restrooms – All restrooms have changing tables and are wheelchair-friendly. Accessible stalls are available in restrooms on the first floor. Private gender-neutral restrooms are available on the second floor. A bathroom designed for our youngest guests is available inside the ImagineAcres exhibit.
- Parking – Parking is available right outside our doors! Coral Ridge Mall has more than 5,000 free parking spaces, including many handicap accessible spots.
- Strollers – Stroller parking is available in the coat rack area, located on the first floor near the City Money exhibit.
- Wheelchairs – The museum main entrances are wheelchair accessible with power assist doors and the majority of spaces within the museum are wheelchair accessible. If you are in need of a wheelchair, free rentals are provided at the Coral Ridge Mall Guest Welcome Center.
Welcoming Everyone
- Admission Policy – Keeping our space safe and family-friendly is important. To enter the museum, your group must include a child aged 12 or younger. Adults with developmental disabilities are also welcome to visit with a caregiver; please inform our staff upon arrival or call in advance if you have any questions.
- Free Events – We offer a variety of free events and programs throughout the year, including STEM Family Free Night, Super Hero Night, and a number of annual community events. Visit our event calendar to learn more.
- Group Visits – Email reservations@theicm.org
to discuss options if you would like to bring a group of 10 or more guests to the museum. - ICM for Everyone – We offer free admission and memberships to families in need as part of our ICM for Everyone accessibility programs. Click here to learn more.
- Languages – Multilingual PLAYologists wear pins that indicate the language(s) they speak. They would love to chat with you! Click here to view translated versions of our outreach materials.
- Social Stories – A social stories binder is available for checkout at the front desk. Our virtual tour can also offer a look at our space for those planning a visit.
- Nursing Parents – We support nursing parents wherever they choose to feed or soothe their children within our space. If you prefer a more private location, the Family Sanctuary is available in our ImaginAcres exhibit, and a Nursing Room is available in the Coral Ridge Mall food court family restroom area.
- Sensory Resources – The ICM is a certified Sensory Inclusive™ location. Guests can check out a bag from the front desk with items that can help lessen sensory overload including noise-reducing headphones and fidget toys. Certain areas within our exhibits are also marked with KultureCity “Headphone Zone” and “Quiet Zone” signage.
- Service Animals – Service animals and service animals-in-training are always welcome in The ICM, in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Animals such as “comfort animals” or “therapy animals” are not service animals as defined by the ADA and are therefore not allowed in our exhibits.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to purchase tickets online?
We no longer offer advance tickets online. We are still monitoring capacity. During very busy days, visitors without a membership may be put on a waitlist.
What ages benefit most from playing in your exhibits?
Our exhibits are designed with children age 12 and younger in mind, but play is for everyone! Infants enjoy looking at our colorful space from a stroller or caregiver’s lap, and once a child is mobile there are plenty of places for them to explore. We encourage older siblings and caregivers to play in our space as well!
Maintaining a safe and family-friendly environment is important to us. No adults are allowed in the museum without a child, and no child without an adult.* If you have questions about our admission policy, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
*Adults with developmental disabilities are also welcome to visit with a caregiver; please inform our staff upon arrival or call in advance if you have any questions.
Is The ICM limiting capacity?
We are monitoring capacity within the museum. During particularly busy days, non-members may be put on a waitlist until museum attendance is lower.
If you prefer to come to the museum during less busy times, we recommend coming on a weekday. On the weekends, we are typically less busy in the afternoon.
What cleaning and sanitizing procedures are you carrying out?
We sanitize high-touch areas (door handles, railings, light switches, etc.) throughout the day. We also conduct a thorough, museum-wide sanitizing of exhibit surfaces, toys and other props multiple times per week.
Are any exhibits closed?
No exhibits are completely closed at this time. We are in the process of renovating the Take Flight exhibit; some areas of this exhibit may be closed throughout the summer and fall of 2022.
Are facility rentals available?
Yes, you can rent our party room on the second floor or experience our space like never before with a facility rental! Learn more here.
Are you hosting birthday parties?
Come celebrate with us! We offer party room and facility rentals for birthday celebrations. Learn more here!
Birthday party packages with cake, favors, and an assigned party pal are unavailable at this time.
Are you booking outreach events and field trips?
Yes, we are excited to once again host field trips in our space and offer educational activities in the community!