Things to Do in Los Angeles With Kids
The best things to do in Los Angeles with kids span a dazzling range of sunshine-soaked adventures, from world-famous theme parks and movie studios to sandy beaches, hands-on science, and free hilltop views of the Hollywood Sign. LA is an enormous, sprawling city, which can feel overwhelming, but it rewards families with an incredible density of kid-friendly attractions once you know where to look and how to navigate it. Kids can ride roller coasters at a movie studio, dig into dinosaur fossils, splash in the Pacific, peer through a telescope, and spot the Hollywood Sign, often all within a few days. The key is grouping your adventures by area to tame the famous traffic. This guide walks you through the top family attractions across Los Angeles, the practical know-how to enjoy them, and the local tips that make an LA trip with kids smooth, affordable, and genuinely magical.
Theme Park Thrills at Universal Studios
No LA family trip is complete without a theme park day, and Universal Studios Hollywood sits at the top of the list. This working movie studio and theme park combines thrilling rides with behind-the-scenes magic, headlined by the famous Studio Tour, where a tram takes families through real film sets, past special effects, and into encounters with movie monsters. The immersive Super Nintendo World lets kids step into a real-life video game, and the Wizarding World of Harry Potter dazzles with its detailed recreation of Hogwarts and Hogsmeade.
Universal packs in fun for every age. Younger kids love the gentler attractions and character meet-and-greets, while older kids and teens chase the bigger thrills, and the whole family enjoys the shows and the movie-magic atmosphere. Beyond Universal, the Los Angeles area is a theme park paradise, with Disneyland a short drive south in Anaheim, Six Flags Magic Mountain for coaster-loving teens, and Knott's Berry Farm all within reach, giving families a wealth of options for thrill-filled days. Many families build an entire trip around one or two of these parks and fill the rest with the city's other attractions.
A few tips help with a Universal visit. Buy tickets online in advance for the best prices, arrive at opening to beat the crowds and heat, and consider the paid Express pass on busy days to skip the longest lines. Note the height requirements for the bigger rides, and check the Studio Tour and show schedules when you arrive. Parking carries a daily fee, and the park gets hot and crowded in summer, so bring sun protection, water, and plan a midday break.
Classic Beach Days and the Santa Monica Pier
LA's beaches are a quintessential family highlight, and the Santa Monica Pier is the crown jewel for kids. This iconic pier is home to Pacific Park, a small amusement park with a solar-powered Ferris wheel, a roller coaster, and carnival games perched right over the ocean, alongside an aquarium tucked beneath the pier. The wide, sandy beach below invites sandcastle building and splashing, and the paved oceanfront path is perfect for family biking, making it an easy, fun-filled day by the sea.
The LA coast offers wonderful family beaches beyond the pier. The South Bay beaches of Manhattan Beach, Hermosa, and Redondo offer wide, gentle sand with a mellow, local vibe, and Redondo's Seaside Lagoon provides calm, protected water for little ones in season. These beaches sit well clear of the areas affected by the 2025 wildfires, and while local agencies reopened the region's beaches after monitoring water quality, it's always wise to check current Los Angeles County beach advisories before swimming, especially near the Pacific Palisades and Malibu burn areas.
A few tips make beach days smoother. Beach parking fills up fast and runs pricey on warm days, so arrive early to claim a spot, and bring sunscreen, hats, water, and layers for the breezy afternoons. The Pacific stays cool year-round, so pack wetsuits or rash guards for kids who want to swim, and keep a close eye on little ones near the shore break and the rip currents that can appear even on calm-looking days. The Santa Monica Pier gets crowded, so go early, and pair it with a stroll or bike ride along the oceanfront path for a classic, breezy LA afternoon.
Space, Stars, and the Griffith Observatory
Perched on a hillside with sweeping views of the city, the Griffith Observatory is one of LA's best free family attractions. Kids can peer through telescopes, explore hands-on space exhibits, watch the Foucault pendulum, and take in planetarium shows for a small fee, all while enjoying some of the best views in the city, including a clear look at the Hollywood Sign. The observatory sits within the vast Griffith Park, making it an easy, educational, and genuinely awe-inspiring stop for families of all ages.
Griffith Park itself is one of the largest urban parks in the country, offering a wealth of free and low-cost family fun. Kids can ride the historic merry-go-round, hop aboard a miniature train at Travel Town, hike kid-friendly trails with views of the Hollywood Sign, and visit the Los Angeles Zoo within the park. The mix of nature, attractions, and iconic views makes Griffith Park a fantastic home base for a full day of varied, budget-friendly family adventures in the heart of the city. You could easily spend an entire day here without running out of things to do.
A few tips help with a Griffith visit. The observatory is free to enter, though parking nearby is limited and fills up, so arrive early, especially on weekends and clear evenings, or take the shuttle. Planetarium shows carry a small fee and can sell out, so check times on arrival. Evenings offer spectacular city lights and stargazing. Bring layers, since the hilltop gets breezy and cool after sunset, and comfortable shoes for the short walks and trails. Clear days offer the best views of the city and the Hollywood Sign, so check the forecast before you go.
Hands-On Museums and Learning Fun
Los Angeles boasts world-class museums that make learning a thrill for kids. The California Science Center in Exposition Park, free to enter, lets families explore interactive science exhibits and see a real Space Shuttle, the Endeavour, up close, an awe-inspiring and completely free experience. The nearby Natural History Museum dazzles kids with dinosaur skeletons, an insect zoo, and a hands-on Discovery Center, and the two sit side by side in Exposition Park for an easy, culture-packed day without moving the car.
The city offers hands-on museums for every young interest. The La Brea Tar Pits, an active Ice Age fossil excavation right in the city, let kids watch real paleontology in action and see bubbling tar pits, while the Petersen Automotive Museum thrills car-loving kids with dazzling vehicles and interactive exhibits. Younger children adore Kidspace Children's Museum in Pasadena, with its play-based indoor and outdoor exhibits, and the free Getty Center offers family art programs and a fun tram ride up the hill with gorgeous views. With so many museums across the city, LA is a dream for curious kids and a lifesaver on a hot or rainy day.
A few tips help with museum visits. Many LA museums, including the California Science Center's main galleries and the Getty, offer free admission, though they often charge for parking and special exhibits, so budget accordingly. Check for timed-entry requirements and reserve ahead where needed, especially for the Space Shuttle. These museums make perfect cool-weather or hot-day options, so pack them for when you need an air-conditioned break, and grab a map on arrival to prioritize your kids' favorites before energy runs low.
Movie Magic and Hollywood Fun
For many families, a taste of Hollywood is a must, and LA delivers the movie magic in spades. Kids enjoy spotting the stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, seeing the handprints at the TCL Chinese Theatre, and snapping photos with the Hollywood Sign in the distance from spots like the Hollywood and Highland complex. The area buzzes with energy, street performers, and movie history, giving families a fun, free taste of the entertainment capital of the world, where kids can imagine the stars who have walked the same streets.
Movie-loving families can go deeper into the magic. Studio tours at Warner Bros. offer behind-the-scenes looks at real film and television production, fascinating for older kids, and the interactive exhibits and attractions around Hollywood bring the movies to life. The TCL Chinese Theatre and the historic movie palaces add glamour and history, and seeing a film in one of these legendary theaters makes for a memorable family outing that connects kids to the magic of the movies in the city where they're made. Even a quick stroll past the theaters and handprints gives kids a real sense of Hollywood history.
A few tips help with a Hollywood visit. The Walk of Fame and Hollywood Boulevard are free to stroll but get crowded and touristy, so keep an eye on kids and belongings, and go earlier in the day for a calmer experience. Parking is available in paid structures, or take the Metro, which stops right in Hollywood. Studio tours require advance booking and have minimum age requirements, so check before planning your visit, and combine Hollywood with nearby Griffith Park for a full day.
Outdoor Adventures and Day Trips
LA's sunny weather makes outdoor adventures a joy year-round, and the region offers wonderful options beyond the beaches. Families can explore the gardens and trails of the Los Angeles Arboretum or Descanso Gardens, paddle at Echo Park Lake, or hike the kid-friendly trails of Griffith Park and the Santa Monica Mountains for fresh air and city views. These green escapes offer a refreshing, often free change of pace from the urban attractions, giving kids space to run and explore in nature.
The LA area also makes a great base for family day trips. The Aquarium of the Pacific in nearby Long Beach is a top family attraction, with touch pools and thousands of sea creatures, and the historic Queen Mary ocean liner sits nearby. A drive out to Santa Catalina Island by ferry offers a charming island adventure, and the mountains and deserts beyond the city, best outside the summer heat, provide even more exploration for families with extra time in the region.
A few tips help with outdoor outings and day trips. Bring water, sun protection, and comfortable shoes for any hiking, and check trail conditions and parking fees before you go. For day trips, factor in LA traffic and plan your drive times to avoid rush hour. The Long Beach aquarium pairs well with the waterfront attractions for a full day, and booking the Catalina ferry in advance secures the best times and fares for a memorable island escape the whole family will remember.
Smart Planning Tips for an LA Family Trip
Pro tip: the single biggest key to a great Los Angeles family trip is grouping your attractions by area to minimize time in the car, since LA's legendary traffic can turn a short distance into an hour-long ordeal and derail a whole day. Cluster the Exposition Park museums together, pair Hollywood with Griffith Park, and group the beaches and Santa Monica into one coastal day, then time any driving between areas to avoid the brutal weekday rush hours in the morning and late afternoon.
Getting around wisely saves time and sanity in this sprawling city. While LA is famously car-dependent, the expanding Metro rail can reach key attractions like Hollywood, Universal City, and downtown, offering a traffic-free option for parts of your trip that kids often enjoy. Budget for parking, which is common and often pricey at attractions, and factor in the time and cost of driving when planning each day. A little strategic planning around traffic and geography genuinely transforms the LA experience from stressful to smooth.
A few final tips round out a great trip. LA enjoys sunny weather year-round, but spring and fall offer the best mix of pleasant temperatures and manageable crowds, while summer is hottest and busiest. Buy attraction tickets online in advance to save money and time, arrive early to beat crowds and traffic, and balance the pricey big attractions with LA's many free options, from Griffith Observatory to the beaches and museums. Pack sunscreen, layers, and plenty of patience for the traffic, and remember that even a half-day spent well in one area beats a whole day lost crisscrossing the city.
Final Thoughts
The best things to do in Los Angeles with kids span a sun-soaked, star-studded range of adventures, from the movie magic of Universal Studios and the pier rides of Santa Monica to the free wonders of the Griffith Observatory, world-class hands-on museums, Hollywood glamour, and outdoor escapes across the city. The secret to a great LA family trip is grouping attractions by area to beat the legendary traffic, balancing the big paid attractions with the city's many free gems, and arriving early to dodge the crowds. Whatever your kids love, from roller coasters and space shuttles to sandy beaches and the Hollywood Sign, this dazzling city delivers it all under the California sun. Your unforgettable Los Angeles family adventure is waiting, so start planning your trip today.