The Ultimate East Texas Family Fun Guide

Looking for things to do in East Texas with kids? This East Texas family fun guide brings together local parks, zoos, museums, splash pads, bowling alleys, indoor play areas, sweet treat stops, train rides, waterparks, nature spots, and more family-friendly places to visit.

Whether you are planning a weekend getaway, a Saturday outing, a school break activity, or a rainy-day backup plan, this list will help you find family fun across East Texas without spending half the day digging through random Facebook posts like a detective with snack crumbs in the backseat.

How to Use This East Texas Family Fun Guide

This list is organized by activity type so you can quickly find ideas based on your family’s mood, budget, weather, and location.

Use it to plan:

• Weekend getaways
• Day trips
• Rainy-day activities
• Summer break outings
• Birthday fun
• Family road trips
• Free or low-cost outdoor time
• School holiday activities

Before You Go

Hours, pricing, seasons, and availability can change, especially for splash pads, waterparks, train rides, and small local attractions. Always check the business or attraction’s website or Facebook page before making a special trip.

The Ultimate List of East Texas Family Fun

Amusement Parks/Arcade

Whatz-Up Fun Park (Seven Points)

Waterpark at The Villages (Flint)

Splash Kingdom Paradise Island (Canton)

Splash Kingdom Timber Falls (Nacogdoches)

Times Square Grand Slam (Tyler)

Animals/Zoos

East Texas Zoo & Gator Park (Grand Saline)

Cherokee Trace Drive-Thru Safari (Jacksonville) - Drive through this unique wildlife park to see exotic animals like zebras, buffalo, and giraffes.

Ellen Trout Zoo (Lufkin) - This zoo in Lufkin is known for its wide variety of animals and lush landscaping, offering fun for the whole family.

Lonseome Dove Exotic Drive Thru Safari (Jefferson)

Rocky Ridge Drive-Thru Safari (Eustace)

Caldwell Zoo (Tyler) - Experience wildlife from around the world at this popular 85-acre zoo, home to over 2,000 animals.

Aquariums

Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center (Athens) - Learn about aquatic life and enjoy hands-on fishing opportunities at this fun and educational facility.

Bakeries/Coffee Shops

Village Bakery (Tyler)

Janie's Cakes (Tyler)

Smallcakes (Tyler)

Delightful Food Company (Tyler)

Nothing Bundt Cakes (Tyler)

Collin Street Bakery (Lindale)

Just Pies (Tyler)

Rose City Sweets (Tyler)

Oxbow Bakery & Antiques (Palestine)

Bowling

Green Acres Bowl (Tyler)

Palestine Bowling Center (Palestine)

Highland Lanes (Jacksonville)

Oil Bowl Lanes (Longview)

Kilgore Bowling Center (Kilgore)

Classic Lanes (Sulphur Springs)

Texas Pro Bowl (Nacogdoches)

Times Square Grand Slam (Tyler)

Candy/Soda

Watkins Candy Company (Kilgore)

Lindale Candy Company (Lindale)

Fulmer Candy Company (Tyler)

Tyler Candy Co LLC (Tyler)

Atkinson Candy Company (Lufkin)

Ice Cream

Andy's Frozen Custard (Mulitple Locations)

Roll'N Rolls Ice Cream Rolls (Tyler)

Paleteria Polar (Tyler)

Shivers Shaved Ice & Snack Shack (Tyler)

Marble Slab Creamery (Tyler)

Wild Honey Creamery (Longview)

Chilango's Ice Cream (Jacksonville)

Bombongo Ice Cream Shop (Longview)

Menchie's Frozen Yogurt (Tyler and Longview)

Indoor Playgrounds

Raven's PlayLand, LLC (Kilgore)

G-Force (Longview)

Longview World of Wonders (Longview) - An interactive children's museum that promotes learning through hands-on exhibits and creative play.

Library/Book Stores 

Elsewhere Books (Whitehouse)

Gladewater Books (Gladewater)

Pea Picker Bookstore (Tyler)

A Wicked Read (Canton)

Malls

Broadway Square (Tyler)

The Village at Cumberland Park (Tyler)

Longview Mall (Longview)

Mini Golf

Putt-Putt Golf & Games (Longview)

Lunar Mini Golf of Tyler (Tyler)

Creekside Mini Golf (Winnsboro)

Movies/Theaters

Times Square Grand Slam (Tyler)

GoOutdoorMovies East Texas (Longview)

Studio Movie Grill (Tyler)

AMC CLASSIC Tyler 14 (Tyler)

Regal Tyler Rose (Tyler)

Marshall Cinema (Marshall)

City Lights Palestine (Dogwood 6) (Palestine)

Bright Star Cinemas (Sulphur Springs)

Museums/History

American Freedom Museum (Bullard) - Learn about American military history and explore exhibits featuring artifacts from the Revolutionary War to modern-day conflicts.

Goodman-LeGrand House & Museum (Tyler)

Tyler Rose Museum & Gift Shop (Tyler)

Cotton Belt Depot Museum (Tyler)

Historical Aviation Memorial Museum (Tyler) - This aviation museum features vintage aircraft and offers educational exhibits about flight history and the military.

Kilgore College East Texas Oil Museum (Kilgore) - This museum brings to life the history of the Texas oil boom with interactive exhibits and replica oil rigs.

Vanishing Texana Museum (Jacksonville)

The Gladewater Museum (Gladewater) - Dive into the rich oil and railroad history of East Texas with kid-friendly exhibits and activities.

Museum of East Texas (Lufkin)

Camp Ford Historical Park (Tyler)

The McClendon House (Tyler)

Gregg County Historical Museum (Longview)

Mineola Historical Museum (Mineola)

The Discovery Science Place (Tyler) - The Discovery Science Place is a hands-on museum where kids can explore interactive exhibits that ignite curiosity in science, technology, engineering, and math. With areas for building, experimenting, and even a pretend medical clinic, it's a fun and educational stop for kids of all ages.

Nature Centers

Tyler Nature Center (Tyler)

Port Jefferson History & Nature Center (Jefferson)

Open Gymnastics

Texas East Kids (Tyler)

GymTyler Gymnastics (Tyler)

East Texas Twisters (Canton)

Parks

Tyler State Park (Tyler) - A great spot for camping, hiking, swimming, and fishing in a serene, natural setting.

Faulkner Park (Tyler and Lindale)

Lindsey Park (Tyler)

Rose Rudman Park (Tyler) - A family-friendly walking and biking trail that winds through wooded areas, perfect for outdoor exercise.

City Park (Whitehouse)

Martin Creek Lake State Park (Tatum)

Love's Lookout Texas (Jacksonville)

The Children's Park (Tyler)

Lake Bob Sandlin State Park (Pittsburg) - Known for its fishing and water sports, this state park also offers camping, hiking trails, and birdwatching opportunities.

Bergfeld Park (Tyler)

Kilgore City Park (Kilgore)

Davey Dogwood Park (Palestine)

Paul Boorman Trail Park (Longview) - Enjoy a family bike ride or leisurely walk along this scenic trail with plenty of nature views and wildlife.

Pools and Waterparks

Waterpark at The Villages (Flint)

Splash Kingdom Paradise Island (Canton)

Whatz-Up Water Park (Seven Points)

Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park (Tyler) - Stay the weekend at this fun-filled resort offering camping, cabins, swimming pools, and visits from Yogi Bear himself!

Skating

Kilgore Skateland (Kilgore)

Gilmer Starplex (Gilmer)

Skateland USA (Jacksonville)

Good Times Skate & Go Karts (Athens)

Skate Ranch (Lufkin)

REO Starplex and Event Center (Longview)

Roundup Roller Rink (Grand Saline)

Skate-O-Rama (Nacoghdoches)

Splash Pads

Joe Layne Family Splash Pad (Troup)

City Park (Whitehouse)

Lear Park - Jack M Mann Splash Pad (Longview)

Fun Forest Park (Tyler)

Darden Harvest Park (Lindale)

Faulkner Park (Tyler)

Kilgore City Park (Kilgore)

Trains

Texas State Railroad (Rusk)

Texas State Railroad (Palestine) - Hop aboard this historic train for themed rides, including seasonal events like the Polar Express.

Trampolines

iJump Tyler Trampoline Park (Tyler)

Urban Air Trampoline and Adventure Park (Tyler)

Air U Trampoline Park (Longview)

Hijinx Trampoline Park (Lufkin)

Best East Texas Family Fun for Rainy Days

• Times Square Grand Slam in Tyler
• Longview World of Wonders
• The Discovery Science Place in Tyler
• Bowling alleys
• Movie theaters
• Bookstores
• Indoor trampoline parks

Best Outdoor Family Activities in East Texas

• Tyler State Park
• Lake Bob Sandlin State Park
• Rose Rudman Park
• Paul Boorman Trail Park
• Davey Dogwood Park
• Texas State Railroad
• Splash pads

Best Educational Stops for Kids

• The Discovery Science Place
• Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center
• American Freedom Museum
• East Texas Oil Museum
• Historical Aviation Memorial Museum
• Tyler Rose Museum

East Texas Family Weekend Route Ideas

Tyler family day:
Start with The Discovery Science Place or Caldwell Zoo, grab lunch, then visit a park, splash pad, or sweet treat stop.

Longview family day:
Visit Longview World of Wonders, stop for lunch, then add bowling, skating, or Paul Boorman Trail.

Palestine and Rusk train weekend:
Plan a Texas State Railroad ride, explore downtown Palestine, and add a local restaurant or park.

Canton family trip:
Pair Splash Kingdom Paradise Island with shopping, food, or a nearby family-friendly stop.

Lufkin family outing:
Visit Ellen Trout Zoo, stop for ice cream or lunch, and add a park or museum.