Davis Farmland With Toddlers: 10 Best Tips

Davis Farmland with toddlers is one of those Massachusetts outings you start hearing about as soon as your kid is old enough to point at a goat.

And honestly, it makes sense.

Davis Farmland in Sterling, MA is not just a small petting zoo where you look at a few animals and leave. It is a full children’s discovery farm with animals, play areas, pretend play, splash pads, picnic space, and enough toddler-friendly chaos to fill most of a day.

If you are looking for a big outdoor day trip from the Boston area, Davis Farmland with toddlers is absolutely worth considering. It is more of a destination than a quick stop, but for the right age, it can be one of the best toddler outings in Massachusetts.

If you are planning more local family days, you may also like our guide to baby-friendly day trips from Boston and our broader list of kid-friendly activities in Boston.

Quick Verdict

Davis Farmland with toddlers is a very strong yes if your child likes animals, water play, pretend play, playgrounds, or just being outside.

The biggest wins are the animal encounters, MooTown, Imagine Acres, and Cowabunga Splash Park in summer. The parent wins are just as important: family bathrooms, nursing space, handwashing stations, outside food allowed, free parking, stroller and wagon access, and reentry if you need to go back to the car.

The honest catch is that it is not a cheap quick stop. You want decent weather, a flexible schedule, and enough time to make the drive worth it.

Davis Farmland With Toddlers: Quick Details

Location: 145 Redstone Hill Road, Sterling, MA

Best ages: Toddlers through early elementary

Best sweet spot: Ages 1.5 to 7

Typical visit length: 3 to 4 hours

Parking: Free

Outside food: Allowed

Stroller-friendly: Yes, but it is still a real farm

Best season: Summer for the splash park, fall for cooler farm weather

Worth it? Yes, especially for confident walkers and animal-loving toddlers

What Is Davis Farmland?

Davis Farmland is a children’s discovery farm in Sterling, Massachusetts. It is designed specifically around young kids, which is why Davis Farmland with toddlers works so well.

This is not really a farm you visit for a quiet adult stroll. During regular Davis Farmland admission, adults must be accompanied by at least one child age 12 or younger. That tells you a lot about the setup. The farm is built around little kids moving, touching, feeding, pretending, splashing, and exploring.

For parents, that is a good thing. You are not trying to make a toddler fit into an adult attraction. The whole place is already designed around them.

The Animals Are the Main Event

The animals are the biggest reason to visit Davis Farmland with toddlers.

Davis Farmland has animal feeding, bottle feeding, kitten cuddles, baby bunnies, goats, llamas, turtles, piglets, pony rides, hayrides, and more depending on the day and season. It is much more interactive than just walking past fences and saying, “Look, a goat.”

For toddlers, that hands-on piece matters. Feeding an animal, watching a baby goat, or seeing a bunny up close is usually much more memorable than simply looking from far away.

Some toddlers will run straight toward the animals. Others need a few minutes to warm up. Either reaction is normal. If your child is cautious, start with watching from a little distance before trying animal feeding.

MooTown Is Perfect for Pretend Play

MooTown is one of the best toddler-friendly areas at Davis Farmland.

It is a child-sized pretend village with little buildings and play setups where kids can make their own fun. There is a schoolhouse, vet clinic, Bunny’s Market, pretend hayride, kids barn, camper, and Moo Moo’s Diner.

This is exactly the kind of area where toddlers do not need much direction. They just walk in and start pretending.

If your toddler is in the stage where they love little houses, doors, counters, pretend food, animals, and copying real life, MooTown may be where you spend more time than expected.

Imagine Acres and Play Areas

Davis Farmland is more than animals.

The official attractions page lists a lot of play areas, including Adventureland, Imagine Acres, sand play, dino digging, pedal track, climbers, jump areas, construction play, baby-and-me swings, toddler rockers, duck races, and MooTown.

That variety is what makes the day work with toddlers. You can move from animals to pretend play to climbing to snacks to water play without getting back in the car.

That also means you should not rush. If your child wants to spend 20 minutes in sand play or pretend to work in the vet clinic forever, that is the activity. Davis Farmland is best when you let the day unfold a little.

Cowabunga Splash Park in Summer

If you visit in summer, Cowabunga Splash Park is a major part of the appeal.

It is a zero-depth water splash park, which is exactly what you want with toddlers. No pool depth, no swimming pressure, just sprays, sprinklers, geysers, water tables, and plenty of ways to cool off.

Davis says Cowabunga Splash Park is America’s largest zero-depth water splash park. It includes a toddler spray pad and larger water features for families playing together.

For parents, this means one thing: pack like your child is definitely getting soaked.

Bring a swimsuit, towel, water shoes or sandals, dry clothes, and a plastic bag for wet stuff. Even if you think you are just going to “check it out,” your toddler may have a very different plan.

Tickets, Hours, and Planning Ahead

Before you go, check the Davis Farmland hours and tickets page.

Davis Farmland is weather and ground-condition permitting, so you really do want to check before making the drive. This is a real farm, and rain or muddy conditions can affect the day.

Tickets are usually cheaper online than at the gate, and children under 2 are typically free. If you know you are going, buying online can save money.

One important note: adults must be accompanied by at least one child age 12 or younger during regular Davis Farmland admission. This is a children’s farm, not a general all-ages petting zoo.

Food, Strollers, and Toddler Logistics

One of the best things about Davis Farmland with toddlers is that packed lunches are allowed.

Use that. Bring snacks, water, lunch, pouches, fruit, sandwiches, or whatever your toddler is currently willing to eat. There is food available on-site, but having your own food makes the day easier and cheaper.

Personal strollers and wagons are welcome, and Davis also has a limited number available to rent. I would bring your own stroller or wagon if you have room, especially if your toddler still needs breaks.

Even confident walkers get tired after a few hours of animals, splash pads, and playgrounds.

Davis Farmland also has practical family features that matter: family bathrooms, diaper facilities, nursing room, handwashing stations, and reentry during the same operating day if you keep your wristband.

Those details make the day feel much easier with little kids.

What to Bring to Davis Farmland With Toddlers

For Davis Farmland with toddlers, I would bring:

Diapers and wipes

A full change of clothes

Swimsuit and towel in summer

Water shoes or sandals

Sunscreen

Hats

Water bottles

Easy snacks

Packed lunch

Hand sanitizer

Stroller or wagon

Small cooler bag

Plastic bag for wet or dirty clothes

You do not need to overpack like you are leaving for a week, but you do want to be ready for animals, dirt, water, snacks, and a toddler who may be completely done walking by the end.

10 Best Tips for Davis Farmland With Toddlers

1. Arrive close to opening

Davis Farmland is easiest with toddlers when you get there early. You will have cooler weather, easier parking, shorter waits, and more energy for the animal areas before everyone gets tired.

2. Start with the animals

The animals are the main reason to go. Start there before your toddler gets distracted by splash pads, playgrounds, and MooTown.

3. Bring your own lunch

Packed lunches are allowed, and that is a huge win with toddlers. Bring familiar food, plenty of snacks, and more water than you think you need.

4. Pack for water play in summer

If Cowabunga Splash Park is open, assume your toddler is getting soaked. Bring a swimsuit, towel, water shoes, dry clothes, and a plastic bag for wet things.

5. Use a stroller or wagon

Even confident walkers get tired after a few hours. A stroller or wagon gives your toddler a reset spot and gives you somewhere to stash the diaper bag, lunch, and extra clothes.

6. Check the weather before driving

Davis Farmland is weather and ground-condition dependent. Check the official website before you leave, especially after rain.

7. Let MooTown take as long as it takes

MooTown is one of those pretend play areas where toddlers may want to stay longer than expected. Let them. You do not need to rush through every attraction.

8. Plan around nap time

This is a big outing. If your toddler still naps, either go early and leave after lunch or build in a stroller or wagon reset.

9. Bring hand sanitizer and use the handwashing stations

Between animals, dirt, snacks, and water play, this is a very hands-on day. Davis has handwashing stations, but it still helps to have sanitizer in your bag.

10. Do less than you think

Davis Farmland with toddlers works best when you do not try to see everything. Animals, MooTown, lunch, and the splash park can easily be enough.

Is Davis Farmland Good for Babies?

Davis Farmland can work with a baby, but it is much better once your child is mobile.

A young baby may like being outside and looking around, especially if they are tagging along with an older sibling. The family bathrooms, nursing room, and stroller access help.

But if your only child is a 3-month-old, I would probably wait.

A newly walking baby, young toddler, or 18-month-old is a different story. Once your child can point, toddle, touch, feed animals with help, splash, and react to what they are seeing, Davis Farmland becomes much more worth it.

Best Simple Itinerary

Here is how I would do Davis Farmland with toddlers:

Arrive close to opening.

Start with animals before the day gets too hot.

Do animal feeding or baby animal areas first.

Move to MooTown or Imagine Acres for play.

Take a snack or lunch break.

Do Cowabunga Splash Park in summer.

Change into dry clothes.

Visit one more animal area or playground.

Leave before everyone is completely cooked.

That is a full day for a toddler.

The Honest Take

Davis Farmland with toddlers is absolutely worth it.

It is one of the stronger toddler day trips in Massachusetts because it combines animal interaction, outdoor play, pretend play, parent-friendly facilities, and summer water play in one place.

It is not cheap. It is not right in Boston. And it is not the kind of outing I would do without checking the weather first.

But for the right age, it is a really good day.

A confident walker will probably have an amazing time. A preschooler could spend hours bouncing between animals, MooTown, the splash park, and the play areas. A baby sibling can tag along pretty comfortably because the farm is built with families in mind.

If you want something bigger than a playground but easier than a theme park, Davis Farmland with toddlers is a great choice.

FAQ About Davis Farmland With Toddlers

Is Davis Farmland with toddlers worth it?

Yes. Davis Farmland with toddlers is worth it because it combines animals, pretend play, playground areas, splash park fun, picnic space, and family-friendly facilities in one enclosed farm setting.

What age is best for Davis Farmland?

The best age is probably 1.5 to 7. A confident walker will get much more out of it than a young baby.

How long should you spend at Davis Farmland?

Plan on at least 3 to 4 hours. In summer, you may stay longer if your child loves the splash park.

Can you bring food to Davis Farmland?

Yes. Packed lunches are allowed, which makes the day much easier with toddlers.

Is Davis Farmland stroller-friendly?

Yes. Personal strollers and wagons are welcome, and rentals are available in limited numbers. Just remember that it is still a real farm, so expect outdoor surfaces and possible mud after rain.

Is Cowabunga Splash Park included at Davis Farmland?

Cowabunga Splash Park is part of the summer experience, but always check the official schedule before you go because water attractions are seasonal and weather-dependent.

Do adults need a child to visit Davis Farmland?

Yes. During regular Davis Farmland admission, adults must be accompanied by at least one child age 12 or younger.

Is Davis Farmland open in the rain?

Davis Farmland is weather and ground-condition permitting. Always check the website before driving there.

Are dogs allowed at Davis Farmland?

No. Pets are not allowed, other than service animals.

Is Davis Farmland worth the drive from Boston?

Yes, if you have a toddler or preschooler and can spend a few hours there. It is more of a destination day trip than a quick farm stop.