San Diego · With kids
San Diego with kids: things to do
| Place | Ages | Why it fits |
|---|---|---|
| San Diego Zoo | Child tickets ages 3-11 | Listed kids' price: $68. |
| Birch Aquarium at Scripps | Child ages 3-12 | Listed kids' price: $29.95. |
| Fleet Science Center | Juniors ages 3-12; ages 2 and under free | Listed kids' price: $24.95. |
| San Diego Natural History Museum | Youth ages 3-17; ages 2 and under free; adult must accompany youth 15 and under | Listed kids' price: $16.95. |
| The New Children's Museum | Children aged 1 and up pay the child rate; under 1 free | Listed kids' price: $20. |
San Diego packs a zoo, a science center and a natural history museum into Balboa Park, a 1,200-acre park that also hosts free organ concerts every Sunday at 2 PM. Its coastal climate keeps winter highs near 19 C and summer highs near 25 C, so the beach calendar stretches well beyond summer. Kids 5 and under ride the trolley and buses free, and October brings a citywide Kids Free offer at participating attractions.
Everything on this San Diego page comes from the linked official pages, last opened on 18 October 2026. A price appears only when the source gave one for children.
Where children go, by age and price
[San Diego Zoo](https://zoo.sandiegozoo.org/tickets). The flagship zoo. The ticket page also advertises a Kids Free promotion for October 1-31; check its terms for eligibility. Age band: Child tickets ages 3-11. Listed kids' price: $68.
[Birch Aquarium at Scripps](https://aquarium.ucsd.edu/visit). Aquarium run by UC San Diego. Child price is lower when bought online (online $29.95, walk-up $34.95); children under 3 are always free. Age band: Child ages 3-12. Listed kids' price: $29.95.
[Fleet Science Center](https://www.fleetscience.org/hours-admission). Hands-on science center in Balboa Park. In October the Kids Free offer admits one child 12 and under free per full-price adult with a coupon. Age band: Juniors ages 3-12; ages 2 and under free. Listed kids' price: $24.95.
[San Diego Natural History Museum](https://www.sdnhm.org/visit/). Natural history museum in Balboa Park. Half-price admission after 5 PM on most Friday nights, and free on December 4 for December Nights, per the Balboa Park site. Age band: Youth ages 3-17; ages 2 and under free; adult must accompany youth 15 and under. Listed kids' price: $16.95.
[The New Children's Museum](https://thinkplaycreate.org/visit/). Downtown children's museum with weekly toddler programming for ages 5 and younger and a studio program best for ages 4 and up. Age band: Children aged 1 and up pay the child rate; under 1 free. Listed kids' price: $20.
[LEGOLAND California](https://www.legoland.com/california/tickets-passes/). Theme park geared to families. Ticket prices vary with promotions, so check the official page.
[Balboa Park](https://www.balboapark.org/). A 1,200-acre park of museums, gardens, trails and performing arts. Spreckels Organ Pavilion gives free concerts every Sunday at 2 PM year-round.
Transit, strollers and the airport
Child fares. MTS and NCTD: kids 5 and under ride free at all times with no card or proof needed. Ages 6-18 ride free with a Youth PRONTO card or app account under the Youth Opportunity Pass pilot (they must carry eligible ID and tap before each ride). MTS pages disagree on the pilot's end date (2026 versus 2027), so confirm on sdmts.com.
Airport. Route 992 runs between both airport terminals and Santa Fe Depot downtown in about 15 minutes, every 15 minutes, 4:30 a.m. to 1 a.m. daily. The free San Diego Flyer links the airport with Old Town Transit Center.
Transit sources: sdmts.com, sdmts.com.
A year of highs and lows
| Month | Average high | Average low |
|---|---|---|
| January | 19.6 C | 9.5 C |
| February | 19.5 C | 10.3 C |
| March | 19.8 C | 11.9 C |
| April | 20.8 C | 13.3 C |
| May | 21.2 C | 15.3 C |
| June | 22.2 C | 16.6 C |
| July | 24.1 C | 18.6 C |
| August | 25.2 C | 19.4 C |
| September | 25.3 C | 18.6 C |
| October | 24.2 C | 16 C |
| November | 22 C | 12 C |
| December | 19.4 C | 9.2 C |
Best months: July to October for the beach, when the sea is less cold and highs run 24 to 25 C; spring and winter are cooler but still mild.
Source: climatestotravel.com (Lindbergh Field, 1991-2020).
Which area to base in
Balboa Park area. The Fleet Science Center and Natural History Museum are in the park, and the zoo and free Sunday organ concerts are part of the same visit.
Downtown near Santa Fe Depot. Route 992 from the airport ends there in about 15 minutes, and the Trolley, Rapid buses, COASTER and Amtrak all connect at the depot.
What costs nothing and what is listed
Kids' prices that the pages state, lowest first: San Diego Natural History Museum at $16.95; The New Children's Museum at $20; Fleet Science Center at $24.95; Birch Aquarium at Scripps at $29.95; San Diego Zoo at $68.
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.
Ages that matter for each stop
- San Diego Zoo: Child tickets ages 3-11
- Birch Aquarium at Scripps: Child ages 3-12
- Fleet Science Center: Juniors ages 3-12; ages 2 and under free
- San Diego Natural History Museum: Youth ages 3-17; ages 2 and under free; adult must accompany youth 15 and under
- The New Children's Museum: Children aged 1 and up pay the child rate; under 1 free
No age band or kids' price was stated for: LEGOLAND California; Balboa Park. Check the operator page for those before you plan the day around them.
Picking the month
On the monthly table, the warmest average high is 25.3 C in September and the coolest is 19.4 C in December. The spread between the two is 5.9 C, which is the number to weigh when you choose dates. The source's pick, repeated from above: July to October for the beach, when the sea is less cold and highs run 24 to 25 C; spring and winter are cooler but still mild.
Questions
Is San Diego easy with a toddler?
It works well. The New Children's Museum runs weekly toddler programming for ages 5 and younger, children under 2 are free at the Natural History Museum, and kids 5 and under ride MTS free.
Where can a family save money in San Diego?
Free Sunday organ concerts at Spreckels Organ Pavilion cost nothing, and Balboa Park lists half-price Natural History Museum entry after 5 PM on most Fridays. In October, Kids Free offers apply at participating sites such as the Fleet.
What can we do with kids when it rains?
Balboa Park's Fleet Science Center and Natural History Museum are indoor options, as is the New Children's Museum downtown. The airport station averages only mild temperatures year-round, so rainy-day gear is rarely heavy.
Do kids ride San Diego transit free?
Kids 5 and under ride MTS and NCTD free without a card. Ages 6-18 ride free with a Youth PRONTO card or app account, subject to the pilot program's current dates.
When is the best time to visit San Diego with children?
For beach days Climates to Travel suggests July to October, when the sea is less cold. Highs stay between about 19 and 25 C in every month.
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Sources
- San Diego Zoo: official site (checked 18 October 2026)
San Diego Zoo: The flagship zoo. The ticket page also advertises a Kids Free promotion for October 1-31; check its terms for eligibility. Age band: Child tickets ages 3-11. Listed kids' price: $68.
- Birch Aquarium at Scripps: official site (checked 18 October 2026)
Birch Aquarium at Scripps: Aquarium run by UC San Diego. Child price is lower when bought online (online $29.95, walk-up $34.95); children under 3 are always free. Age band: Child ages 3-12. Listed kids' price: $29.95.
- Fleet Science Center: official site (checked 18 October 2026)
Fleet Science Center: Hands-on science center in Balboa Park. In October the Kids Free offer admits one child 12 and under free per full-price adult with a coupon. Age band: Juniors ages 3-12; ages 2 and under free. Listed kids' price: $24.95.
- San Diego Natural History Museum: official site (checked 18 October 2026)
San Diego Natural History Museum: Natural history museum in Balboa Park. Half-price admission after 5 PM on most Friday nights, and free on December 4 for December Nights, per the Balboa Park site. Age band: Youth ages 3-17; ages 2 and under free; adult must accompany youth 15 and under. Listed kids' price: $16.95.
- The New Children's Museum: official site (checked 18 October 2026)
The New Children's Museum: Downtown children's museum with weekly toddler programming for ages 5 and younger and a studio program best for ages 4 and up. Age band: Children aged 1 and up pay the child rate; under 1 free. Listed kids' price: $20.
- LEGOLAND California: official site (checked 18 October 2026)
LEGOLAND California: Theme park geared to families. Ticket prices vary with promotions, so check the official page.
- Balboa Park: official site (checked 18 October 2026)
Balboa Park: A 1,200-acre park of museums, gardens, trails and performing arts. Spreckels Organ Pavilion gives free concerts every Sunday at 2 PM year-round.
- San Diego transit: fares and airport (checked 18 October 2026)
MTS and NCTD: kids 5 and under ride free at all times with no card or proof needed. Ages 6-18 ride free with a Youth PRONTO card or app account under the Youth Opportunity Pass pilot (they must carry eligible ID and tap before each ride). MTS pages disagree on the pilot's end date (2026 versus 2027), so confirm on sdmts.com. Route 992 runs between both airport terminals and Santa Fe Depot downtown in about 15 minutes, every 15 minutes, 4:30 a.m. to 1 a.m. daily. The free San Diego Flyer links the airport with Old Town Transit Center.
- Climates to Travel: monthly climate (checked 18 October 2026)
Best months for San Diego: July to October for the beach, when the sea is less cold and highs run 24 to 25 C; spring and winter are cooler but still mild.