Kids & Family in San Diego, CA

25 places · 13 free · 5 indoor · Updated 2026-10-19

Balboa Park

San Diego Zoo

Bus tour included, no add-on fees

2920 Zoo Dr, San Diego, CA 92101Summer 9am-9pm; Spring/Fall 9am-6pm; Winter 9am-5pmverified yesterday
$73
Fleet Science Center

100+ hands-on science exhibits + IMAX dome

1875 El Prado, San Diego, CA 92101Daily 10am-5pmindoorverified yesterday
$29.95
San Diego Natural History Museum

Four stories of dinos and live reptiles

1788 El Prado, San Diego, CA 92101Daily 10am-5pm, Fri until 11pmindoorverified yesterday
$24.95
San Diego Model Railroad Museum

Largest operating model railroad museum in North America — kids under 12 free

1649 El Prado, San Diego, CA 92101Wed-Sun 11am-4pm, closed Mon-Tueindoorverified yesterday
$20
Spreckels Organ Pavilion

Free Sunday organ concerts year-round

1549 El Prado, San Diego, CA 92101Sunday concerts at 2pm; pavilion open dailyoutdoorverified yesterday
Free
Balboa Park

Six free playgrounds + 14 free gardens

1549 El Prado, San Diego, CA 92101Park grounds open 24/7; playgrounds dawn to duskAges 0+verified yesterday
Free
San Diego Air and Space Museum

Climb into cockpits, Wright Brothers to Space Age

2001 Pan American Plaza, San Diego, CA 92101Daily 10am-4:30pmindoorAges 0+verified yesterday
$24.75

Carlsbad (30 min north)

LEGOLAND California Resort

Built for under-12s, buy online to dodge $139 gate price

1 Legoland Dr, Carlsbad, CA 92008Generally 10am-7pm, varies by day; closed select daysAges 2–12verified yesterday
$39
SEA LIFE Aquarium

Toddler-sized aquarium next to LEGOLAND

1 Legoland Dr, Carlsbad, CA 92008Daily 10am-5pm, hours vary seasonallyindoorAges 0+verified yesterday
$29

La Jolla

Birch Aquarium at Scripps

Toddler-sized aquarium with ocean views

2300 Expedition Way, La Jolla, CA 92037Mon-Sat 9am-5pm, Sun 9am-7pmverified yesterday
$24.95
La Jolla Shores Beach

Gentlest waves in San Diego + tide pools at low tide

8200 Camino Del Oro, La Jolla, CA 92037Daily, dawn to dusk; tide pools best at low tideoutdoorverified yesterday
Free
Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve

Stroller-friendly trail to ocean overlooks

12600 N Torrey Pines Rd, La Jolla, CA 92037Daily 7:15am to sunsetoutdoorverified yesterday
Free (trail); $20 parking

Downtown

The New Children's Museum

Art you're supposed to climb on

200 W Island Ave, San Diego, CA 92101Mon, Wed-Sun 9am-4pm; closed TuesdaysAges 0–10verified yesterday
$20
USS Midway Museum

Climb into cockpits on a real aircraft carrier

910 N Harbor Dr, San Diego, CA 92101Daily 10am-5pm, last entry 4pmAges 4+verified yesterday
$29
Waterfront Park

Ground-level fountain jets + harbor views

1600 Pacific Hwy, San Diego, CA 92101Daily 6am-10pm; fountains Tue-Sun 9am-9pm, Mon 11am-9pmoutdoorAges 0+verified yesterday
Free
Maritime Museum of San Diego

Climb a Soviet submarine and 1863 sailing ship

1492 N Harbor Dr, San Diego, CA 92101Daily 10am-5pm, last entry 4pmAges 4+verified yesterday
$28
Seaport Village

Hand-carved carousel on the bay, $4

849 W Harbor Dr, San Diego, CA 92101(619) 530-0704Daily 10am-9pm (10pm in summer)outdoorAges 0+verified yesterday
Free entry; carousel $4

Mission Beach

Belmont Park

Home to the Giant Dipper, a 1925 wooden roller coaster that's a National Historic Landmark

3146 Mission Blvd, San Diego, CA 92109Daily from 11am, closing 8-10pm depending on seasonoutdoorverified yesterday
Free

Mission Bay

Tecolote Shores South Playground

Playground + calm bay water steps away

1740 E Mission Bay Dr, San Diego, CA 92109Daily dawn to duskoutdoorverified yesterday
Free
Mission Bay Park

27 miles of calm, no-wave shoreline

2688 E Mission Bay Dr, San Diego, CA 92109Daily dawn to duskoutdoorverified yesterday
Free

Escondido (35 min north)

San Diego Zoo Safari Park

Open-range safari, tram ride included

15500 San Pasqual Valley Rd, Escondido, CA 92027Daily 9am-5pm, extended summer hours to 7pmoutdoorverified yesterday
$68

Pacific Beach

Kate Sessions Memorial Park

See all the way to Mexico — tourists miss it

5115 Soledad Rd, San Diego, CA 92109Daily dawn to duskoutdoorverified yesterday
Free

Coronado

Coronado Beach

Year-round lifeguards + ferry ride from downtown

1500 Orange Ave, Coronado, CA 92118Daily, dawn to dusk; lifeguards 9am-duskoutdoorAges 0+verified yesterday
Free

Encinitas (25 min north)

Moonlight State Beach

Fire rings for bonfires + small-town beach

400 B St, Encinitas, CA 92024Daily dawn to dusk; lifeguards seasonaloutdoorAges 0+verified yesterday
Free

Old Town

Old Town San Diego State Historic Park

Tortilla-making demos + free everything

4002 Wallace St, San Diego, CA 92110(619) 220-5422Daily 10am-5pmAges 0+verified yesterday
Free

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