A Family Day in San Diego: Where to Take Kids

The best things to do in San Diego with kids are the San Diego Zoo and the museums of Balboa Park for a full day, the USS Midway Museum on the Embarcadero for older kids, and the tidepools at Cabrillo National Monument in Point Loma for a cheap, outdoorsy afternoon. All of them are inside the City of San Diego. Pick one anchor per day and you will enjoy the day more than if you try to see everything.

This is a parent's plan, not a catalog. We matched each pick to an age, said where the parking is and where the lunch break goes, and added one full-day route you can save.

How we chose

Every pick below is inside the City of San Diego, California, and was confirmed open on its own official site in November 2026. We favored places with something for small kids and something for older ones, places with food on site or close by, and places where a parent can tell within minutes how much the day will cost. Prices, hours and parking rules change, so treat every number here as typical and check the official site before you go.

Which pick suits which age?

• Toddlers and preschoolers (about 2 to 5): the San Diego Zoo, the Fleet Science Center's Kid City, Mission Bay Park playgrounds, Belmont Park.
• Ages 6 to 10: Cabrillo tidepools, Birch Aquarium, the Natural History Museum, Old Town, SeaWorld San Diego.
• Ages 10 to teens: USS Midway Museum, the San Diego Air & Space Museum, the Maritime Museum of San Diego, the Giant Dipper at Belmont Park.

If you have a wide spread of ages, pair a Balboa Park museum with the Zoo on separate days rather than rushing both.

The 12 picks

1. San Diego Zoo (Balboa Park)

The San Diego Zoo at 2920 Zoo Drive in Balboa Park is the anchor for ages 2 to 10. It typically opens at 9am and closes at 5pm in November, and a one-day pass was listed at $78 for adults (12+) and $68 for children (3 to 11), with slightly lower online-only Value Days. Parking in the Zoo lot is $16 per car per day.

For little ones, head straight to the Denny Sanford Wildlife Explorers Basecamp, a nature play area of more than three acres. Arrive at opening and leave by lunchtime if your youngest naps: the morning animals are more active and the crowds are lighter.

2. Fleet Science Center (Balboa Park)

The Fleet Science Center at 1875 El Prado is a hands-on science museum that works for ages 3 to teens. It typically opens daily from 10am to 5pm. Admission was listed at $29.95 for adults, $24.95 for juniors (3 to 12), and free for ages 2 and under. Kid City is the area designed for the youngest visitors, and Element 8 Cafe is on site. Its Accessibility Morning runs on the third Saturday of each month from 9 to 10am.

3. San Diego Natural History Museum, "The Nat" (Balboa Park)

The San Diego Natural History Museum at 1788 El Prado is a good rainy-day or hot-day option for ages 5 and up. It is typically open daily 10am to 5pm, with all-day admission listed at $24.95 for adults and $16.95 for youth (3 to 17). An adult must accompany visitors age 15 and under. On Fridays the museum stays open until 11pm for Nat at Night, with lower evening prices.

4. San Diego Air & Space Museum (Balboa Park)

The San Diego Air & Space Museum at 2001 Pan American Plaza suits ages 7 and up who like planes and rockets. Hours are typically 10am to 4:30pm daily, with special hours from November through January. Admission was $35 for adults and $22 for youth (3 to 11). Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult. The museum offers a sensory map and a kid-friendly social story for children who want to know what to expect.

Admission to the San Diego Air & Space Museum is free to San Diego County residents on the second Tuesday of each month, except December and January. The Flight Path Grill is on site.

5. USS Midway Museum (Embarcadero)

The USS Midway Museum is a real aircraft carrier berthed on the Embarcadero in downtown San Diego, and it is our pick for ages 8 to teens. It is typically open daily 10am to 5pm, with last admission at 4pm, and closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas. Adult tickets (13+) were $39 online or $41 at the door; youth (4 to 12) were $29 online or $31 at the door; ages 3 and under are free. The site has a Kid-Friendly filter on its exhibit list, so use it before you go.

The ship has a lot of ladders and steep stairs. A stroller will not help, so a carrier is better for toddlers. Check the official site for current parking options before you arrive.

6. Maritime Museum of San Diego (Embarcadero)

The Maritime Museum of San Diego at 1492 N Harbor Dr is a shorter, cheaper waterfront stop for ages 6 and up. It is typically open daily 10am to 5pm, last entry 4pm. Walk-up admission was $28 for adults, $15 for youth (6 to 17), and free for ages 5 and under. Its Star of India, which dates to 1863, is described by the museum as the world's oldest active sailing ship. Pair it with the Midway on the same Embarcadero walk if your kids have the stamina, but we would not do both in one day with children under 8.

7. Cabrillo National Monument (Point Loma)

The National Park Service's Cabrillo National Monument at 1800 Cabrillo Memorial Drive, on the tip of Point Loma, is the best low-cost outing here for ages 5 and up. The park typically runs 9am to 5pm daily and is closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas. Entry was $20 per private vehicle, or $10 per person on foot or bike, and ages 15 and under are free on foot or bike.

The Cabrillo National Monument tidepools close at 4:30pm, earlier than the park itself, so plan to reach them in the early afternoon. Check the tide times and wear shoes with grip, and call (619) 523-4285 if your plans depend on exact hours. The NPS also offers free 4th Grade Passes through recreation.gov, which is worth knowing if you have a fourth grader.

8. Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution of Oceanography (La Jolla)

The Birch Aquarium at 2300 Expedition Way in La Jolla is a calm, manageable aquarium for ages 3 to 10. It opens daily at 9am with closing time depending on the season, and closes on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day. Admission at the door was $39.95 for adults and $34.95 for children (3 to 12), with online prices about $5 lower. Parking is free for three hours in a limited number of spaces, so arrive early. Tide Pool Plaza and the Little Blue Penguins exhibit have ramps, and Blue Wave Bistro is on site.

9. Old Town San Diego State Historic Park (Old Town)

Old Town San Diego State Historic Park at 4002 Wallace Street in Old Town is the budget option for ages 4 to 10. The Visitor Center and select museums are typically open 10am to 5pm and closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas. Free parking lots allow up to four hours, and the park has picnic areas, restrooms, food service and family programs. We could not find an admission price on the park page, so check before you go.

10. Belmont Park (Mission Beach)

Belmont Park in Mission Beach, San Diego, has rides, arcade attractions, plenty of places to eat and the Giant Dipper roller coaster. It has four free public parking lots, and no overnight parking is allowed. Hours vary a lot by day and season, and the Giant Dipper showed as closed on many days, so check its Park Hours page for the day you plan to go. We did not find an official ride price or height rule.

11. Mission Bay Park (Mission Bay)

Mission Bay Park, run by the City of San Diego, is the free option for toddlers to preteens. The city describes over 4,235 acres, roughly half land and half water, with 27 miles of shoreline, 19 miles of sand beaches, eight official swimming areas and children's playgrounds. Check surf and water conditions on the city page before putting kids in the water.

For kids 6 and older, the Mission Bay Aquatic Center at 1001 Santa Clara Place runs youth programs for ages 6 to 17 and is typically open Tuesday through Sunday, 9am to 5pm. It closes for part of late November and again from mid-December to early January, so check dates. The free lot out front fills up fast.

12. SeaWorld San Diego (Mission Bay)

SeaWorld San Diego at 500 SeaWorld Drive is the big-ticket option for ages 3 to 12. Single-day tickets were listed from $59.99 for ages 3 and up, with parking extra, and the park lists kid rides such as Tentacle Twirl and Tidepool Twist. We could not confirm daily hours or height rules from the official pages, so check both.

Where do we park with kids?

In Balboa Park, expect to pay: the Natural History Museum points visitors to paid parking in the park, and the Zoo charges $16 per car per day. In Old Town, the free lots allow four hours. At Belmont Park there are four free lots. At Birch Aquarium, three free hours. At Cabrillo, parking is covered by the per-vehicle entry fee. Arrive 20 minutes before opening on weekends for any of these.

Where do we eat with kids?

For Balboa Park, use the cafes at the Fleet Science Center (Element 8 Cafe) or the Air & Space Museum (Flight Path Grill) so you can sit down without leaving the building. The Prado at Balboa Park, at 1549 El Prado, is a proper sit-down lunch with a terrace, typically open Tuesday through Sunday from 11:30am and closed Mondays, but its page does not list a kids menu, so ask when you book.

For Point Loma, Mitch's Seafood at 1403 Scott Street sits on the Point Loma Sportfishing dock with indoor and outdoor dining and no reservations. It lists a kids menu link, though its hours showed conflicting times, so check before you drive over.

What does a full family day in Balboa Park look like?

This route keeps walking short and puts the nap-friendly stretch where it belongs.

1. 8:45am: Park at the Zoo lot (paid) and be at the gate when it opens at 9am.
2. 9am to 12:30pm: The Zoo, starting at the Wildlife Explorers Basecamp for little kids.
3. 12:30pm: Lunch on El Prado: Element 8 Cafe at the Fleet Science Center, or a table at the Prado.
4. 1:30pm: Fleet Science Center for hands-on science, or the Natural History Museum for older kids.
5. 4:00pm: Leave. Tired kids and a 5pm close are a bad mix.

Swap for a Point Loma day: Cabrillo at 10am, a late lunch at Mitch's, back to the tidepools by 2pm before they close at 4:30pm.

When should we leave?

Leave before anyone melts down, which is usually after 3 to 4 hours at a big attraction. Zoo, Midway and Fleet are all at their best in the first half of the day. Check the weather page before outdoor days, and for more of the park see our Balboa Park area guide.

Last verified: November 2026.

Frequently asked questions

What are the best things to do in San Diego with kids?

The San Diego Zoo and Balboa Park museums suit most ages, the USS Midway Museum suits older kids, and Cabrillo National Monument's tidepools are a low-cost outdoor option. Mission Bay Park playgrounds are free.

How much does the San Diego Zoo cost for kids?

A one-day pass was listed at $68 for children ages 3 to 11 and $78 for adults 12 and over, with slightly lower online-only Value Days. Parking in the Zoo lot is $16 per car per day. Check the Zoo's official site for current prices.

Is the USS Midway Museum good for young kids?

The USS Midway Museum is best for ages 8 and up because of the steep ladders and stairs. Children 3 and under are free and youth tickets (ages 4 to 12) were listed at $29 online.

Is Cabrillo National Monument free for kids?

Yes, ages 15 and under are free on foot or by bike, and children in a car are covered by the $20 per-vehicle entry fee. The tidepools close at 4:30pm, earlier than the park.

Where can we park in Balboa Park?

Balboa Park has several lots, and parking in the park is paid. The Zoo has its own lot at $16 per car per day. Check the Balboa Park official site for current lot rates.

What is a free thing to do in San Diego with kids?

Mission Bay Park has children's playgrounds, sand beaches and eight official swimming areas, all free to enter. Check surf conditions on the City of San Diego page first.