Eugene, Oregon is less than 2 hours south of Portland, Oregon, and a super family-friendly city. Eugene is home to the Oregon Ducks and a massive college town, but don’t let that deter you there are so many family-friendly things to do in Eugene.
We find ourselves down in Eugene at least once a year for Noah’s gymnastics meets. Each time we are in the city we find another fun thing to do or a new restaurant we like. Here are some of the things we have enjoyed doing and a few places we like to eat at.
Table of Contents
13 Things to do in Eugene with Kids
Skinner Butte Park
The whole park is awesome, but it’s the massive playground here that’s our favorite thing to do in Eugene. Skinner Butte Park is a sprawling park along the river. It features an area where people rock climb, extensive bike paths and it has an incredible playground for kids. Here is a short video I took at the playground to give you a better idea and what to expect.
Bike Riding
Eugene is one of the most bike-friendly communities in the Pacific Northwest with bike paths everywhere. The bike paths are a great way to see some of the beautiful sites in the area without traffic worries. Kids love the extensive bike bridges that connect to paths on both sides of the Willamette River.
Along the paths, kids can also see lots of wildlife including blue herons, egrets, and pond turtles. There are several outfits in town that rent bikes and deliver to whichever hotel you stay in. I recommend going with a larger rental company, so they don’t cancel.
Cascades Raptor Center
Something truly unique in this area is the Cascades Raptor Center. Located near Eugene is a special wildlife rehabilitation and public education center. You can walk through the grounds along forested hillside trails to get close up views of eagles, owls, falcons and many other raptors. It’s located in the South Eugene hills very close to a popular urban trail known as the Ridgeline Trail—yet another popular bike trail and park for families.
Level Up Arcade
Level Up Arcade is an old school arcade in downtown Eugene, Oregon that allows minors until 9 PM. Parents can enjoy a cocktail while kids play one of the 25 pinball machines
Get Air Eugene Trampoline Park
All kids will enjoy coming here to bounce around. They have an area for bigger kids and one for smaller kids. There’s a foam pit and an area where you can play dodgeball. Prices vary quite a bit so check their website.
Trap Door Escape Room
Escape rooms are pretty fun. The kids and I made it out with 3 minutes left! Everything in the room is in there for a reason and it’s up to your and your family to figure out the clues, puzzles, locks, and more to escape.
Putter’s Family Entertainment Center
Putter’s Family Entertainment Center has an assortment of fun things to do for families, including mini-golf, laser tag, an indoor playground, an arcade, pool tables, and pizza. They open at 11 am daily and laser tag opens at 4pm Monday through Thursday.
Fidgets 2 Widgets
Fidgets 2 Widgets is an activity center based around STEM education. They offer all kinds of interesting programs that your kids are sure to love. Here your kids can learn about math and science using Minecraft or they can take a class on something else that piques their interest like Youtube, Javascripts, Japanese Amine, and many more.
5th Street Public Market
The 5th Street Public Market located in the heart of downtown Eugene is a shopping destination with an assortment of shops. It is fun to explore and it’s full of family-friendly eateries.
Tiny Toys Indoor Playground
For those with toddlers this is a nice safe, indoor place to play out of the rain. There’s not too much to it, but when your kids are this little it doesn’t really matter.
Catch a Game
With Eugene being the home of the Oregon Ducks chances are high that you can catch a football game, basketball game, or even a track meet.
The Science Factory
The Science Factory is a children’s museum and planetarium. Kids can learn and there’s a special room just for toddlers called the Tot Spot.
Demolition Zone
Rage out in their rage room where you and your family can break stuff. Now this may sound odd but just take my word for it, it is crazy fun. Kids have to be at least 13. Located at 4075 Franklin Blvd, Eugene, OR 97403.
If you are looking for even more to do while you are in Eugene I also recommend checking out the Kids’ Adventure Club www.EugeneCascadesCoast.org. There they can provide you with suggested activities for the specific dates you are in town!
Family-Friendly Restaurants in Eugene, Oregon
If you are looking for somewhere to eat I have a few recommendations:
Track Town Pizza
Track Town Pizza is located right across the street from the University of Oregon. Their pizza is amazing! They load on the toppings. Located at 1809 Franklin Blvd, Eugene, OR 97403.
McMenamins East 19th Street Cafe
This particular McMenamins allows kids to play the games with you. Games include darts, shuffleboard, pool, and pinball. I recommend going here during happy hour. They have one of the best happy hour menus I’ve ever seen at a McMenamins. Located at 1485 E 19th Ave, Eugene, OR 97403.
Sweetwaters on the River
SweetWaters on the River Bloody Mary Bar
Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner with lovely river views, Sweetwaters offers salads, pasta, burgers, and more. During weekend brunch they have a DIY Bloody Mary bar! Located at 1000 Valley River Way, Eugene, OR 97401.
Dickie Joe’s Burgers
Dickie Joe’s Burgers specializes in burgers hence the name but also hot dogs and chicken fingers. I personally thought their chili was wonderful. Located at 1079-C Valley River Way, Eugene, OR 97401.
Where to Stay in Eugene
From the educational and historically-rich experiences to the heartfelt attractions, Eugene, Oregon has many wonderful activities for families to explore together. Whether you want to experience outdoor hiking and biking alongside nature or take a stroll through its downtown streets, there’s something for everyone in Idaho. Don’t miss out on its historical settings and its hot spots for families to get lost in their creative side!
Let Eugene, Oregon be your guide into family-oriented fun. Be sure to share with us what makes Eugene special and unique to you! What is your favorite thing to do in Eugene, Oregon? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below! We can’t wait to hear different perspectives of this city that has so much character and charm. With so many things to do here, the possibilities are truly endless. That’s why it never gets old exploring all that it has to offer—so get ready for the adventure of a lifetime!
Read Next:
Get Travel Insurance
Unfortunately, there are a lot of things that can go wrong on any trip. Be prepared for the worst with travel insurance. We use Travelex or Safety Wing (often cheaper).
Book Flights
I use Skyscanner to find flights. I use it so much, I wrote an entire guide to finding cheap flights with Skyscanner! My second favorite site to find flights is Momondo, another great site for finding cheap flights.
Book a Place to Stay
I recommend using Expedia.com or Hotels.com for most hotel bookings. I prefer to book directly with Marriott when I stay there because of their excellent military discount.
If you prefer staying in a vacation rental instead, I recommend VRBO.
Rent Clothes
Rent clothes for your trip with Travel Style Expert for only $50 a month! The first 30 days are free!
Choose Activities and Tours
To find great activities in any area I use Get Your Guide and Viator. If we are visiting a city with lots of popular attractions I always check CityPass and GoCard to see if they have discount cards available.
When I want to book a full-on multi-day tour I use TourRadar. They’ve got fantastic weekly deals. If I am going somewhere in Mexico or the Caribbean I use Apple Vacations.
Rent a Car or Take a Lyft
More often than not Lyft is cheaper than Uber. Use my Lyft link for an $18 credit! For a car rental in any country, I recommend Discover Cars.
I love Eugene! It’s a great city. My family hopes to move there this August and we will definitely check out some of these great places you’ve mentioned here.