Check out our Museum Guide for Kids in Atlanta for more fun museums that will appeal to your entire crew, ranging from toddlers to teens (and even grandparents). Don’t let the learning stop once you leave the museum —try these interactive science experiments and STEAM activities at home!

Why Atlanta Is the Perfect Destination for Science Lovers

Atlanta is the largest metropolitan area in the Southeast, serving as the headquarters for global corporations, such as Coca-Cola, UPS, Delta Airlines, and Home Depot, as well as elite universities including Georgia Tech and Emory University. With funding from these corporate sponsors and colleges, Atlanta has many science museums, perfect for toddlers, kids, tweens, and teens.

Additionally, our city hosts the hugely popular Atlanta Science Festival each year! This city-wide venture offers over 100 events to promote science and STEAM-based learning, with science experiments and workshops for kids in preschool to high school at local libraries, colleges, nature preserves, and more. 

See incredible space memorabilia and NASA computers at Mimms Museum of Technology and Art. Courtesy of the museum

Top Science Museums in Atlanta for Kids

1. Mimms Museum of Technology and Art (formerly Computer Museum of America) – Roswell

Show your kids how far technology has come at Mimms (Computer Museum of America). View everything from slide rules and transistor radios to personal computers and over 70 supercomputers. The Tribute to Apollo 11 exhibit displays NASA computers used during the space program and includes an animated documentary. History buffs will enjoy seeing the Enigma machine used in WWII! Sensory-friendly mornings are offered periodically, for anyone needing a less stimulating environment.

Best for kids interested in: Technology, engineering, design, gaming, and history.

Age range: All ages are welcome, but best for elementary students and up.

Where to eat: Food and drink are not allowed in the museum. However, a Chick-fil-A is located at the neighboring Town Roswell Shopping Center.

2. Fernbank Museum of Natural History – Druid Hills

A staple for over 30 years, Fernbank offers engaging exhibits to satisfy curious kids of all ages. With indoor AND outdoor features, families can spend an entire day at this amazing science museum. Indoors includes exhibits about dinosaurs, STEAM labs, and the physical history of our Georgia landscape. Head outside to discover WildWoods, an ADA-accessible area with a sensory wall, nature gallery, playground, swinging rope bridge, and more, as well as Fernbank Forest to listen to the sounds of nature.

Best for kids interested in: Natural sciences, meteorology, paleontology, zoology, geology, outdoors, and STEAM activities.

Age range: Toddlers and up. Summer camps geared for kids ages 4-13.

Where to eat: Fernbank Cafe, located on the lower level, offers tasty food and a kids' menu.

3. Tellus Science Museum – Cartersville

Dig for fossils, pan for gems, and explore space at Tellus Science Museum in Cartersville. Older kids will enjoy seeing the solar house, florescent mineral room, and the Science in Motion gallery with vintage cars, a replica of the Wright Brothers’ airplane, and the Mercury capsule. Younger kids can visit My Big Backyard, a gallery of hands-on exhibits focused on simple machines, weather, and an interactive garden. Planetarium shows available for an extra fee. 

Best for kids interested in: Space exploration, astronomy, paleontology, natural sciences, car lovers & transportation, engineering, physics, and STEAM activities.

Age range: All ages! Summer camps offered for ages 5-12.

Where to eat: Tellus Cafe offers lunch, snacks, and beverages.

Learn about CDC, public health, microbiology, and infectious diseases at David J. Sencer CDC Museum. 

4. David J. Sencer CDC Museum – Emory/Druid Hills

The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) is located right here in Atlanta; at its museum, learn about the public agency’s strides in eradicating disease across the globe. Rotating exhibits complement the permanent collection, which includes an iron lung, transmission electron microscope, and more. This FREE museum is open only on weekdays. Adults 18 and over must present a valid, government-issued ID.

Best for kids interested in: Biology, chemistry, pharmacology, global issues, and history.

Age range: Kids and teens in middle school and high school. Detective Disease Camp open to high school juniors and seniors.

Where to eat: Food and beverages aren't allowed in the museum. However, there are nearby restaurants at Emory Village.

5. Chattahoochee Nature Center (CNC) – Roswell

We consider nature centers outdoor museums, so we had to include the CNC! Kids have so much fun exploring 127 acres as they learn about Georgia’s ecosystems through extensive trails, an ADA-compliant boardwalk, and the Discovery Center. The Discover Center teaches families about the Chattahoochee River Watershed, native animals, and trade found items at the Nature Exchange. Seasonal exhibits include EcoTinker and the Butterfly Encounter. 

Best for kids interested in: Nature, conservation, animals, and engineering.

Age range: Ages 4 and up. Summer camps are offered for kids ages 4 through 9th grade.

Where to eat: Bring food to eat at the picnic tables or purchase snacks at the Nature Store.

6. Fernbank Science Center – Atlanta

Not to be confused with the aforementioned Fernbank Museum, this science center is run by the DeKalb County School District. You can purchase tickets to the planetarium shows. Admission is FREE to the Exhibit Hall, which includes a honeybee exhibit, meteorite collection, Apollo 6 Space capsule, and more. Admission is also FREE to the observatory, open on Thursday and Friday evenings (with clear skies).

Best for kids interested in: Astronomy, space exploration, and beekeeping.

Age range: Ages 4 and up

Where to eat: Food and beverages aren't allowed inside. However, nearby Decatur has many restaurants. 

7. Dunwoody Nature Center – Dunwoody

This FREE 22-acre nature preserve exposes children to the Piedmont Forest and the wetlands along 2.5 miles of trails and a playground. Dunwoody Nature Center offers Chickadee Nature Classes for toddlers, homeschool classes for elementary-age children, junior beekeepers workshops for kids ages 7-14, and summer camp! Don’t miss the annual Butterfly Experience with butterflies, animal shows, and arts and crafts.

Best for kids interested in: Nature, beekeeping, the environment, conservation, sustainability, and the outdoor world.

Age range: Toddlers and up. Camps geared for ages 4-13.

Where to eat: Pack a picnic and eat on the grounds.

7. Gwinnett Environmental and Heritage Center - Buford

The center boasts five miles of wildlife trails and a 66,000-square-foot LEED-certified building with a vegetated roof. With a mission to encourage environmental awareness, the property includes Sterner Stream, where kids can search for frogs and fish. Inside, kids will flock to the STEAM Lab featuring monthly themes like outer space and dinosaurs. The Discover H20 exhibit teaches kids about the water table through hands-on opportunities. Admission is FREE. The STEAM Lab closes for the summer May 22-August 7, 2025. 

Best for kids interested in: STEAM-based activities, the environment, conservation, culture, history, animals, and nature.

Age range: All ages

Where to eat: Bring a picnic at the wooded pavilion.

One of the current exhibits at Science Gallery Atlanta is a greenhouse for forest bathing. 

8. Science Gallery Atlanta – Tucker

Emory University operates this FREE museum at Northlake Mall. The museum encourages observation and thought discussion revolving around current topics, and exhibits rotate often. As of publish time, the current exhibit is Resilient Earth, running through April 30, 2025, showcasing sustainability and helping all of us contribute to the health of our planet. Admission is FREE, but you must reserve tickets online.

Best for kids interested in: Science. 

Age range: Middle to high-school-age kids and up

Where to eat: Food and drink aren't allowed, but you can find eateries at Northlake Mall.

Hidden Gems: Other Atlanta Museums that Incorporate Science

10. Children’s Museum of Atlanta – Downtown

At Children’s Museum of Atlanta, head upstairs to Step Up to Science!, where kids ages 2-8 can launch air cannons, make colorful shadows with their bodies, and even touch sound waves. Color wheels, prisms, and a wave tube add more learning discoveries. Daily drop-in programs include Jane’s Innovation Station, focusing on engineering and problem-solving, and the Science Bar, featuring live science demonstrations.

Best for kids interested in: Engineering, physics, engineering, design, and perception.

Age range: Ages 2-8 years old

Where to eat: Eat snacks and beverages at the Snack Stop on the museum's second floor. If your crew needs a full meal, head to Johnny Rockets across Centennial Olympic Park. 

Kids and adults will love the multi-sensory experience of Sloomoo Institute Atlanta. Photo by Melanie Preis

11.  SlooMoo Institute – Buckhead

Did you know there’s a science to making the ooey-gooey, sticky slime that kids love (and moms hate)? SlooMoo Institute allows kids to squish, roll, and walk through slime. There’s even a bit of physics involved in the slime slingshot section. At the DIY Slime Bar, kids use various ingredients to change the smell, color, and texture of their own slime concoctions to take with them. Check the website for sensory-friendly hours.

Best for kids who are interested in: Chemistry and physics.

Age range: Ages 4 and up

Where to eat: Water bottles can be purchased in the retail shop, but food and drinks are prohibited in the museum. Eat at the food court at nearby Phipps Plaza.

12. Museum of Illusions – Midtown

Not only does the Museum of Illusion provide a great spot for Instagram-worthy photo ops, but it also challenges your brain’s version of reality. Signs at each exhibit explain the science behind these baffling puzzles with illusion rooms, images, and installations. While tickets are free for kids under age 5, the museum is best for older kids and teens.

Best for kids interested in: Psychology, perception, mind puzzles, and neuroscience.

Age range: Ages 5 and up

Where to eat: Food and beverages aren't allowed inside the museum. However, the museum is located at Atlantic Station that features many restaurants, including California Pizza Kitchen.

Top Science Museums for Kids in Atlanta: Off the Beaten Path

13. Museum of Technology – Macon, GA

Remember electric typewriters, reel-to-reel tape recorders, and floppy disks? Take a trip down memory lane at this FREE museum in the Middle Georgia State University library. Kids love making phone calls on the rotary dial phone, booting up classic gaming systems, and seeing early personal computers that were once considered cutting-edge technology.  

Best for kids interested in: Technology, engineering, design, gaming, and history.

Age range: Geared toward elementary school students and older

Where to eat: Since food and drinks aren't allowed in the museum, you'll have to drive elsewhere for a meal.

14. Coca-Cola Space Science Center – Columbus, GA

Bring your future astronauts to see the largest NASA Space Shuttle collection in the state, which includes a main engine nozzle that’s been in space nine times. Families can also take a ride on the simulated shuttle Odyssey, explore hands-on exhibits, and book a planetarium show. Check the website for special events, including FREE astronomy nights and the annual FREE STEAM Day.

Best for kids interested in: Space exploration, aeronautics, astronomy, and history.

Age range: Ages 2 and up. Camps are offered for ages 9-17.

Where to eat: Food is not sold or permitted in the museum. Head over to nearby Banks Food Hall for food options.

Take Your Kids on a Science Adventure in Atlanta

As you can see, there are plenty of science museums in Atlanta. Select a science museum that appeals to your child's interests for a successful learning adventure. If you have an outdoor lover, visit one of the nature preserves; gamers will enjoy one of the technology-based museums. Who knows? You may discover interests you hadn't seen in your children before!

Plan Your Next Family Science Adventure Today!

Engage other family members to come along for a fun (and unplugged) experience. Before heading out, confirm the museum's hours and ticket information. Some museums may require advance ticket reservations, while others allow for drop-ins. Check for current exhibitions, as these often change, as well as special events. If you find yourself visiting the same museum multiple times, consider purchasing a membership for additional savings. 

Unless noted, photos by the author