From Ahmedabad
Picnic spots near Ahmedabad with kids
For an easy same-day outing with kids from Ahmedabad, start with Kankaria Lake or Science City inside the city, then look north to Adalaj, Akshardham and Indroda Park around Gandhinagar. From November to February, Thol and Nal Sarovar are the best picnic spots near Ahmedabad for birds. Patan and Modhera make one long heritage day for older kids.
Every fact below comes from an official page, checked 1 November 2026. Hours and fees change, so confirm before you go.
One rule saves the most trips: Science City, Kankaria and Akshardham are all closed on Mondays.
Quick comparison
| Place | Distance or travel time | Best for which age | Entry fee | Closed day |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kankaria Lake and zoo | In the city | Toddlers and up | Adults INR 10, child INR 5 for the lakefront | Monday |
| Science City | In the city, off the SG Highway | 4 and up | Check before you go | Monday |
| Adalaj stepwell | 19 km north of Ahmedabad | All ages, with hand holding | Check before you go | Check before you go |
| Akshardham, Gandhinagar | 32 km, about 45 minutes from Ahmedabad railway station | All ages | Mandir free; exhibitions INR 60 adults, INR 40 ages 3 to 11 | Monday |
| Indroda Park, Gandhinagar | 30 km from Ahmedabad | Dinosaur fans, 3 and up | Check before you go | Check before you go |
| Thol Lake Sanctuary | 31.3 km, about 1.2 hours from Ahmedabad Junction | 5 and up | Check before you go | Open every day |
| Nal Sarovar | About an hour's drive | 5 and up | Check before you go | Check before you go |
| Modhera Sun Temple | 99 km from Ahmedabad | 7 and up | Check before you go | Check before you go |
| Rani ki Vav, Patan | About 3.5 hours by intercity bus | 7 and up | Under 15 free under ASI's rule | Check before you go |
1. Kankaria Lake and zoo: the easiest half day
The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation's heritage page calls the lakefront a child-friendly area with a toy train called Atal Express, play areas, a tethered balloon, boating and Kid's City, a scaled-down town where children role-play at a mini fire station and post office. The Kamla Nehru zoo, Balvatika and a Butterfly Park are close by.
The same AMC page says the lake and zoo are closed on Mondays, lists lakefront entry at INR 10 for adults and INR 5 for a child, and says some rides and parks carry separate tickets. It gives two different opening times, 09:00 and 10:00, both closing at 22:00. Gujarat Tourism lists the zoo's November to February hours as 9am to 5.30pm.
With kids: AMC suggests about four hours here. Do the zoo first, then the lakefront in the evening.
2. Science City: a half day for curious kids
Gujarat Tourism lists Science City hours as 10 AM to 8 PM, Tuesday to Sunday, closed on Mondays. The same page lists a Robotics Gallery, an Aquatic Gallery it calls India's largest public aquarium, an IMAX 3D theatre, a hands-on Hall of Science, and a Nature Park of over 20 acres with play areas for children.
With kids: Ticket prices are on the official Science City site, which we could not load on 1 November 2026, so check it before you go. The Nature Park is your picnic and run-around break between galleries.
3. Adalaj stepwell: a short, cool stop
Gujarat Tourism places the Adalaj stepwell 19 km north of Ahmedabad, open 8am to 6pm. It is a 15th-century stepwell of five storeys with carved pillars.
With kids: This is a one hour stop, not a full day. Pair it with Akshardham or Indroda, which are both in Gandhinagar. Steps go down several levels, so hold small hands and skip the stroller.
4. Akshardham, Gandhinagar: gardens, exhibitions and a water show
The official visitor page says Akshardham is open Tuesday to Sunday, first entry 10:00 am, last entry 7:30 pm, and closed every Monday. Entry to the complex and the mandir is free. Exhibition tickets are INR 60 for ages 11 and up, INR 40 for ages 3 to 11, and free below 3. The 45-minute Sat-Chit-Anand water show runs after sunset, currently 7:30 pm, at INR 100 for adults, INR 70 for ages 3 to 11, and free below 3.
With kids: Read the security list before you leave home. Mobile phones, cameras, toys, and outside food and drink are not allowed inside, though baby food and water bottles are, and there is a free cloakroom. Shoulders and knees need to be covered. Vegetarian food is sold on campus.
5. Indroda Dinosaur and Fossil Park: the dinosaur day
Gujarat Tourism describes Indroda Park as about 400 hectares on the banks of the Sabarmati in Gandhinagar, run by the GEER Foundation, with a dinosaur museum, a zoo, a blue whale skeleton and a botanical garden. It is 30 km from Ahmedabad.
With kids: The page lists hours only as "All Day Open", which does not tell you when the museum or zoo gates open. Check before you go. Good for a shady picnic.
6. Thol Lake Sanctuary: the closest bird lake
Gujarat Tourism says Thol is open 6am to 5.30pm every day, covers about 7 square kilometres, and has over 160 bird species, including sarus cranes, flamingos and pelicans. The best months are November to February. It is 23 km from Gandhinagar and about 31.3 km from Ahmedabad Junction.
With kids: Birds are most active early, so leave by dawn and be back for lunch and naps. For winter holidays, see our December in India with kids guide.
7. Nal Sarovar Bird Sanctuary: bigger water, more birds
Gujarat Tourism calls Nal Sarovar about an hour's drive from Ahmedabad, spread over 120.82 sq km with more than 250 bird species. Hours are 6am to 6pm, and the best months are November to February.
With kids: It is much larger than Thol, so Thol is the gentler first trip. Entry and boat fees are set by the forest department, whose site we could not load on 1 November 2026, so confirm on arrival.
8. Modhera Sun Temple: carvings and a stepped tank
Gujarat Tourism dates the Modhera Sun Temple to 1026 to 1027 CE, citing ASI, and lists hours as 7am to 6pm. It is 99 km from Ahmedabad and 26 km from Mehsana. The Suryakund tank in front has 108 small shrines.
With kids: Go early, since the stone gets hot by midday. You can combine it with Patan in one long day, but that means a lot of car time for under-7s. Work out fuel for the round trip with our road trip fuel cost calculator.
9. Rani ki Vav, Patan: the long day
Gujarat Tourism says Rani ki Vav was built in 1063 and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2014. Intercity buses from Ahmedabad to Patan take 3.5 hours. A 3D projection show runs in the evening, 7.30 to 8 pm and 8 to 8.30 pm, which is late for a same-day return with small kids.
Rani ki Vav appears in the National Monuments Authority's list of Vadodara Circle monuments, and the ASI FAQ says only persons above the age of fifteen pay entry at protected monuments.
With kids: This is the one trip on the list to do by car, not bus. Pack for the day with our family weekend packing list.
What about the Statue of Unity?
Gujarat Tourism says the statue is about 90 km from Vadodara, open 8 AM to 6 PM Tuesday to Sunday, closed Mondays, with a laser show from 7:30 PM. We found no official Ahmedabad distance, so plan it as an overnight. For other short breaks, try the weekend getaway finder.
Plan the trip
- Pick by distance and month with the weekend getaway finder.
- Work out the fuel with the road trip fuel cost calculator.
- Pack with the family packing list generator.
- More one day trip guides from the series: Bangalore, Delhi and Hyderabad.
Want a day out that fits nap time? Hey Ula remembers how your family travels, plans around your kids' ages and routines, replans when plans change, and books only with your OK. Join the Hey Ula waitlist for early access.
Sources
- AMC Heritage City, Kankaria Lake and Zoo: heritage.ahmedabadcity.gov.in, sourced 1 November 2026
- Gujarat Tourism, Kankaria Lake: gujarattourism.com, sourced 1 November 2026
- Gujarat Tourism, Science City: gujarattourism.com, sourced 1 November 2026
- Gujarat Tourism, Adalaj ni Vav: gujarattourism.com, sourced 1 November 2026
- Swaminarayan Akshardham Gujarat, Visitor Information: akshardham.com, sourced 1 November 2026
- Gujarat Tourism, Indroda Dinosaur and Fossil Park: gujarattourism.com, sourced 1 November 2026
- Gujarat Tourism, Thol Lake Sanctuary: gujarattourism.com, sourced 1 November 2026
- Gujarat Tourism, Nalsarovar Bird Sanctuary: gujarattourism.com, sourced 1 November 2026
- Gujarat Tourism, Modhera Sun Temple: gujarattourism.com, sourced 1 November 2026
- Gujarat Tourism, Rani ki Vav: gujarattourism.com, sourced 1 November 2026
- Archaeological Survey of India, FAQ: asi.nic.in, sourced 1 November 2026
- National Monuments Authority, Monuments of Vadodara Circle: nma.gov.in, sourced 1 November 2026
- Gujarat Tourism, Statue of Unity: gujarattourism.com, sourced 1 November 2026
Questions
What are the best picnic spots near Ahmedabad for kids?
Kankaria Lake and Science City in the city, then Adalaj, Akshardham and Indroda Park around Gandhinagar. In winter, add Thol and Nal Sarovar.
Which places near Ahmedabad are closed on Monday?
Kankaria Lake and zoo, Science City and Akshardham all close on Mondays. Gujarat Tourism lists Thol as open every day.
What is the entry fee at Kankaria Lake for children?
The AMC heritage page lists lakefront entry at INR 5 for a child and INR 10 for adults. Some rides and parks inside charge separately.
Is Akshardham Gandhinagar free for kids?
Entry to the complex and mandir is free for everyone. Exhibition and water show tickets are free below age 3, and INR 40 and INR 70 for ages 3 to 11.
When is the best time to visit Thol and Nal Sarovar?
Gujarat Tourism says November to February for both, when migratory birds arrive.
Do children pay entry at Rani ki Vav?
The ASI FAQ says only persons above fifteen pay entry at protected monuments. Confirm at the ticket counter, since we could not load the current ASI fee list.