Los Angeles · With kids
Los Angeles with kids: things to do
| Place | Ages | Why it fits |
|---|---|---|
| Griffith Observatory | Free entry | Listed kids' price: free ($0). |
| Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County | Child ticket ages 3-12; ages 2 and under free | Listed kids' price: $7. |
| Kidspace Children's Museum | Children aged 1 and up pay the child rate; under 1 free | Listed kids' price: $17. |
Los Angeles is spread out, but a family can build a good trip around a handful of kid-friendly anchors. Griffith Observatory is free to enter, the Pier in Santa Monica has a free-to-enter amusement park, and Exposition Park holds a natural history museum with child tickets at $7. Metro buses and trains carry children under 6 free, and the climate is dry for much of the year, so outdoor plans rarely need a backup.
This page for Los Angeles uses only the operator, transit and climate pages linked below, opened on 18 October 2026. Where a ticket page did not state a kids' price, none is printed here.
Sights and what children pay
[Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens](https://www.lazoo.org/plan-your-visit/). City-run zoo in Griffith Park with animals, gardens, shows and activities. Animals start going in for the night from 4 p.m., and it opens daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
[Griffith Observatory](https://griffithobservatory.lacity.gov/visit/). Hilltop observatory with free general admission, so you can browse the exhibits without buying tickets. Listed kids' price: free ($0).
[Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County](https://nhm.org/plan-your-visit). Museum in Exposition Park, open daily 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM. Age band: Child ticket ages 3-12; ages 2 and under free. Listed kids' price: $7.
[La Brea Tar Pits (Hancock Park)](https://tarpits.org/plan-your-visit). Part of the Natural History Museums of Los Angeles County on Wilshire Blvd. The museum page states the building is temporarily closed for construction, while outdoor areas of Hancock Park and the active excavation sites stay accessible.
[Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier](https://pacpark.com/). Described by its site as Los Angeles' only admission-free amusement park, with 12 rides including the Pacific Wheel and West Coaster, carnival games and food. Entry is free; rides are priced separately.
[Kidspace Children's Museum](https://kidspacemuseum.org/visit/). Children's museum in Pasadena with a 3.5-acre outdoor campus. Age band: Children aged 1 and up pay the child rate; under 1 free. Listed kids' price: $17.
Getting around with children
Child fares. LA Metro: children under age 6 ride free with a fare-paying adult.
Strollers. Metro's rider guidance says strollers are allowed on buses and trains. Trains have a decal marking the stroller space, and on buses a stroller can go in the wheelchair securement area if it is free. Space is not guaranteed and wheelchair users get priority. Every Metro rail station has a ramp, walkway or elevator to the platform, and if an elevator is out of service riders can take a bus to the next station at no cost.
Airport. LAX FlyAway buses run between LAX and Union Station (see the LAWA FlyAway schedule for current fares and times).
Transit sources: metro.net, metro.net, lawa.org.
Weather in every month
| Month | Average high | Average low |
|---|---|---|
| January | 21.4 C | 9.2 C |
| February | 21 C | 9.7 C |
| March | 22.2 C | 11.3 C |
| April | 23.3 C | 12.6 C |
| May | 24 C | 14.5 C |
| June | 25.5 C | 16.4 C |
| July | 28.5 C | 18.3 C |
| August | 29.1 C | 18.5 C |
| September | 29 C | 17.9 C |
| October | 26.9 C | 15.6 C |
| November | 23.8 C | 11.8 C |
| December | 20.4 C | 8.9 C |
Best months: April to June: mild to pleasantly warm and sunny with very few hot days (highs about 23 to 26 C), and well before the hottest months of July to September.
Source: climatestotravel.com (USC campus station, 2001-2020).
Where to stay
Santa Monica. Pacific Park sits on the Santa Monica Pier and is admission free, so a beach day with a few rides needs no tickets.
Pasadena. Kidspace Children's Museum has a 3.5-acre outdoor campus there and admits children from age 1.
Free entries and listed prices
Listed as free for kids on the source page: Griffith Observatory.
Kids' prices that the pages state, lowest first: Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County at $7; Kidspace Children's Museum at $17.
Adult and resident prices, extra-fee exhibits and promotions are in the sight notes above where the source gave them; confirm the date-specific price on the operator page before you buy.
Age bands to check before you book
- Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County: Child ticket ages 3-12; ages 2 and under free
- Kidspace Children's Museum: Children aged 1 and up pay the child rate; under 1 free
No age band or kids' price was stated for: Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens; La Brea Tar Pits (Hancock Park); Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier. Check the operator page for those before you plan the day around them.
Choosing your dates
On the monthly table, the warmest average high is 29.1 C in August and the coolest is 20.4 C in December. The spread between the two is 8.7 C, which is the number to weigh when you choose dates. The source's pick, repeated from above: April to June: mild to pleasantly warm and sunny with very few hot days (highs about 23 to 26 C), and well before the hottest months of July to September.
Questions
Is Los Angeles good for toddlers?
Yes, with a few good fits. Kidspace Children's Museum in Pasadena admits children from age 1 and gives free entry under 1. The Natural History Museum is free for ages 2 and under, and Metro carries children under 6 free with a paying adult.
What are the cheapest family days out in Los Angeles?
Griffith Observatory has free general admission and Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier is free to enter, with rides paid separately. The Natural History Museum child ticket for ages 3-12 is $7.
What can we do with kids on a rainy day in Los Angeles?
Indoor options include the Natural History Museum (open daily 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM) and Kidspace Children's Museum. About 92% of the city's rain falls from November to April, and downtown averages roughly 14 inches a year, so wet days are limited.
When is the best time to visit Los Angeles with children?
Climates to Travel recommends April to June, when days run about 23 to 26 C. Summer afternoons reach about 29 C in August.
Can we use a stroller on LA Metro?
Yes. Metro says strollers may be brought on buses and trains, though room is not guaranteed and wheelchair users have priority. Rail stations all have an elevator, ramp or walkway to the platform.
Keep planning
Amsterdam · With kids
Amsterdam with kids: things to do
A sourced Amsterdam family shortlist: GVB child day tickets, ARTIS Zoo prices, NEMO start times, and what the I amsterdam City Card does not include.
Bali · With kids
Bali with kids: things to do
A sourced first Bali stay with children: Waterbom child tickets, Monkey Forest hours, Trans Studio age bands and why there is no metro fare to quote.
Bangkok · With kids
Bangkok with kids: things to do
A sourced first visit to Bangkok with children: BEM MRT height rules, SEA LIFE tickets under Siam, Dream World hours and TAT museum clocks.
Barcelona · With kids
Barcelona with kids: things to do
TMB fares, why T-16 is for residents, Park Güell slots, zoo prices, Natural Sciences free Sundays and the Barcelona Card.
Bath · With kids
Bath with kids: sights and pushchairs
Bath with kids: Roman Baths booking advice, Holburne Museum family facilities, First bus pushchair rules and a month-by-month climate table.
Berlin · With kids
Berlin with kids: things to do
BVG child fares, the Welcome Card, free state museums under 18, Zoo Berlin hours and Naturkunde family tickets for a first visit.
Sources
- Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens: official site (checked 18 October 2026)
Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens: City-run zoo in Griffith Park with animals, gardens, shows and activities. Animals start going in for the night from 4 p.m., and it opens daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Griffith Observatory: official site (checked 18 October 2026)
Griffith Observatory: Hilltop observatory with free general admission, so you can browse the exhibits without buying tickets. Listed kids' price: free ($0).
- Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County: official site (checked 18 October 2026)
Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County: Museum in Exposition Park, open daily 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM. Age band: Child ticket ages 3-12; ages 2 and under free. Listed kids' price: $7.
- La Brea Tar Pits (Hancock Park): official site (checked 18 October 2026)
La Brea Tar Pits (Hancock Park): Part of the Natural History Museums of Los Angeles County on Wilshire Blvd. The museum page states the building is temporarily closed for construction, while outdoor areas of Hancock Park and the active excavation sites stay accessible.
- Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier: official site (checked 18 October 2026)
Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier: Described by its site as Los Angeles' only admission-free amusement park, with 12 rides including the Pacific Wheel and West Coaster, carnival games and food. Entry is free; rides are priced separately.
- Kidspace Children's Museum: official site (checked 18 October 2026)
Kidspace Children's Museum: Children's museum in Pasadena with a 3.5-acre outdoor campus. Age band: Children aged 1 and up pay the child rate; under 1 free. Listed kids' price: $17.
- Los Angeles transit: fares and airport (checked 18 October 2026)
LA Metro: children under age 6 ride free with a fare-paying adult. LAX FlyAway buses run between LAX and Union Station (see the LAWA FlyAway schedule for current fares and times).
- Climates to Travel: monthly climate (checked 18 October 2026)
Best months for Los Angeles: April to June: mild to pleasantly warm and sunny with very few hot days (highs about 23 to 26 C), and well before the hottest months of July to September.