Free Things to Do in Los Angeles

Free admission. Interactive space exhibits, free public telescope viewing every evening (7-9:30pm, weather permitting), and the best panoramic views of the city and Hollywood Sign. Planetarium shows $10 adults, $8 kids. Open until 10pm -- one of the few family outings that works after dinner.

Free general admission -- walk in and see the actual Space Shuttle Endeavour, ecosystems hall, and creative world gallery. IMAX and special exhibitions cost extra ($5-$20). Right next to the Natural History Museum and Rose Garden -- easy to fill a whole free day. No reservation needed.

Walking the pier is free -- you only pay for rides. 12 rides including the solar-powered Ferris wheel ($10) and West Coaster ($10). Unlimited ride wristbands $40 online ($20 for 7 and under). Sunset Deal after 5pm: $24.95. Street performers, arcades, ocean views.

Free urban hike with panoramic city views. Main loop is 3.5 miles, 789 feet of elevation gain -- manageable for school-age kids. Multiple entry points, easy to moderate trails. Go early morning or late afternoon to dodge heat and parking. Note: West Trail currently closed due to 2025 Sunset Fire damage.

Free nature preserve. 3.5-mile round-trip trail to a 40-foot waterfall. Mostly flat, doable for kids 5+ (rocky near the falls). Nature center with live animals and free programs. Free parking. Dogs welcome on the main trail. Check fire closure status before going.

Seven acres, 15,000+ rose bushes, 190 varieties -- all free. Sits between the California Science Center and Natural History Museum, so it's an easy pitstop. Kids run the paths. Peak bloom April-May. Closed Jan 1 through March 15 for maintenance.

Free admission. Kids love the tram ride up, the garden maze, and the family room with art-making activities. Central Garden built for exploring. Bring a picnic -- eating on the terrace with city views is half the experience. Parking $20, free after 3pm.

Free splash pad and playground on the Santa Monica waterfront. The pool is $10 per session (seasonal). The splash pad, lawn area, beach courts, and gallery are all free year-round. Pack a lunch and bring towels -- you can spend a full day here without buying anything.

A fern-lined, shaded trail along a small creek inside Griffith Park. Completely flat and paved -- stroller and toddler friendly. About a half-mile walk that ends at the Griffith Park playground. Free parking at the trailhead. One of the best easy family walks in LA for young kids.

A free aquarium at the end of the Manhattan Beach Pier with touch tanks, local marine life exhibits, and educational programs. Small but well-run by volunteers. Kids can handle sea stars, anemones, and urchins. Combine with a beach day for a full outing. Donations accepted.

Always free. A museum of Cold War art, artifacts, and culture inside a converted 1949 National Guard Armory. The outdoor mural garden has sections of the Berlin Wall. Rotating exhibitions cover political art, propaganda, and personal stories from both sides. Older kids (10+) find it fascinating. Open Fri-Sun only.

575 acres of trails, playgrounds, wide-open fields, and picnic areas near Dodger Stadium. Multiple playground areas scattered throughout. Trails range from flat paved paths to moderate hill climbs. Less crowded than Griffith Park and closer to the Eastside. Free parking, free entry.

Free outdoor movie screenings on the sand at Dockweiler Beach during summer Friday evenings. Bring a blanket and firewood -- the beach has public bonfire pits. Planes from LAX fly directly overhead at low altitude, which kids find mesmerizing. Films start at sunset. Free parking after 6pm.

605 acres of trails and nature between Beverly Hills and the Valley. The lake is where the Andy Griffith Show filmed its opening. Multiple easy trails suitable for families with young kids. The Sooky Goldman Nature Center offers free programs. Free parking, free entry. A genuinely peaceful escape from the city.

Eight free public courts on a hillside in Griffith Park. No lighting, so play ends at sunset. First-come first-served, no reservations. Hiking trails nearby.

Four full courts right on the Pacific Ocean boardwalk, home to some of the most competitive pickup basketball in the country. Games have been running continuously since the early 1980s. Free and open to the public. Expect high-level runs on weekends and summer evenings. Bring your own ball or join a game in progress.

Tournament Beach offers 18 sand volleyball courts along the Santa Monica coastline. Courts are free on a first-come, first-served basis when not reserved. Reservations available through the City of Santa Monica ActiveNet system up to 28 days in advance at about $15/hour. The epicenter of beach volleyball culture in LA.

Year-round free public outdoor pool in Hollywood. Lap swim Tue-Fri, recreational swim sessions. Free for LA residents.

Popular neighborhood park known for reliable pickup basketball runs. Features outdoor courts, a recreation center, playground, and walking paths. Free and open to the public. The courts attract a regular crowd of solid players, especially on weekday evenings and weekends.

Well-maintained recreation center with outdoor basketball courts, tennis courts, a baseball diamond, and a large playground. Known for quality pickup basketball without the chaos of bigger-name courts. Free Park District programming available. A neighborhood gem on the Westside.

Free donation-based outdoor yoga classes held at the top of one of LA's most popular hiking trails. Combines a solid hike with a yoga session and panoramic city views. Classes typically offered on weekend mornings. Bring your own mat. The canyon itself is free to hike daily from dawn to dusk.

Four lighted beach volleyball courts near the Santa Monica Pier -- one of the only lit court locations on the beach, allowing evening play. Free on a first-come basis when not reserved. Court reservations available at approximately $15/hour through the city. Perfect for after-work games year-round.

Year-round free public outdoor pool on the Westside. Recreational swim and lap swim. Basketball courts at the adjacent Westwood Rec Center.

4,210 acres of urban wilderness with over 70 miles of hiking and equestrian trails. Routes range from flat, paved paths to strenuous climbs to the Hollywood Sign. The Fern Dell trail is stroller-friendly, the Griffith Observatory hike is a solid workout with panoramic views. Free, no reservation needed, open dawn to dusk.

Free City of LA rec center with basketball courts, tennis courts, baseball diamond, playground, indoor gym. Free youth sports leagues, fitness classes, after-school programs. Rarely crowded.

22 miles of paved coastal bike path from Pacific Palisades to Torrance Beach through Santa Monica, Venice, Marina del Rey, Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach. Free. Bike rentals along the route at $10-25/hour.

Free City of LA rec center with lighted basketball courts, baseball diamond, tennis courts, playground, indoor gym. Lights mean you can play after dark. Free youth and adult programming.

Well-maintained outdoor basketball courts in Veterans Memorial Park, a hub for pickup basketball on the Westside. The courts draw a regular crowd for competitive but friendly runs on weekday evenings and weekend mornings. Free and open to the public. The park also has a skate park, tennis courts, and a playground.

Eight free public tennis courts in the Palisades. First-come first-served. Less crowded than central LA courts. Rec center next door has basketball and a gym.

Year-round public outdoor pool on the Westside, operated by the City of LA. Free lap swim and recreational swim sessions. Also has basketball courts and a playground. Less crowded than the Westwood and Hollywood pools because most people do not know about it.

A wide, flat beach with volleyball courts, a paved bike path, and body surfing. Less crowded than Santa Monica and Venice -- the trade-off is slightly colder water. Free beach access, $8-15 parking in the lot. Popular for pickup volleyball and beach running. Lifeguards on duty year-round.

Free admission. Take the tram up to a hilltop with panoramic city views. European paintings, photography, sculpture, rotating exhibitions. Saturday hours until 9pm make this the best free date in LA. Parking $20.

Free contemporary art in DTLA. 2,000+ works -- Basquiat, Koons, Warhol, Lichtenstein, Kusama. The Infinity Mirrored Room is the draw everyone talks about (separate timed ticket). Thursday hours until 8pm. Timed-entry tickets released monthly -- mark your calendar.

12-acre DTLA park with free programming year-round. Grand Performances summer concerts (June-August), Sunday Sessions dance parties, lunchtime Wednesday concerts at 12:30pm, and major holiday events including NYELA. No tickets -- just show up.

Always free admission. Contemporary art exhibitions, film screenings, talks, and live music events on the UCLA campus in Westwood. The courtyard hosts free Thursday night concerts in summer. Smaller than the Getty or LACMA but more focused, and you never have to worry about the cost.

A recreation of a first-century Roman country house on the Malibu coast, housing Greek, Roman, and Etruscan antiquities. Free admission but timed tickets required (book in advance). The gardens, reflecting pools, and architecture are worth the visit even if you skip the galleries. Parking $20, free after 3pm.