A Family Day in Los Angeles: Where to Take Kids

The best things to do in Los Angeles with kids are Griffith Observatory, the Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens, Travel Town Museum, the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, the Skirball Cultural Center and Battleship IOWA, with LACMA and the Hollywood Sign as quick add-ons. All ten places below are inside the City of Los Angeles, California, and each was checked against its own official site in November 2026.

The trick in Los Angeles is not choosing what to do. It is choosing a cluster, so you spend the day on one stretch of road rather than in the car. This guide is built that way: ages first, parking second, food third, and one full-day route you can screenshot.

How we chose

We started with the big names (Griffith Observatory, the Hollywood Sign, LACMA) and then checked more than a dozen kid-relevant places against their official sites. We kept only places that are open, inside the city limits, and genuinely good with children. We dropped the Griffith Park Merry-Go-Round (closed, per Friends of Griffith Park) and the indoor museum at the La Brea Tar Pits, which its own site says is temporarily closed for construction. Prices and hours change, so every number here is a typical one: check the official site before you go.

One bonus outside the ten: the Getty Center in Brentwood, Los Angeles, is free to enter with a timed reservation, according to the Getty, and kids love the tram ride up the hill. Parking there costs extra, so check the Getty's visit page before you go.

Which places suit which ages?

Toddlers and preschoolers do best at the Skirball Cultural Center, Travel Town Museum and the Los Angeles Zoo. Ages 5 to 10 suit the Natural History Museum, Battleship IOWA and Griffith Observatory. Tweens and teens get the most from LACMA, the Autry and the Observatory after dark.

• Ages 0 to 4: Skirball (Noah's Ark), Travel Town (real trains up close), the Zoo.
• Ages 5 to 9: Natural History Museum, Battleship IOWA, Autry, Observatory.
• Ages 10 and up: LACMA, Observatory telescope at night, Hollywood Sign views.

The ten picks

1. Griffith Observatory, Los Feliz

Griffith Observatory at 2800 East Observatory Road in Los Angeles (above Los Feliz) is free to enter and is typically open Tuesday to Friday from noon to 10 pm and Saturday and Sunday from 10 am to 10 pm. It is closed Mondays. Do this: arrive in the late afternoon, wander the exhibits, then look through the telescope on a clear evening. Parking: paid parking is near the building and free parking is down the hill, so a short uphill walk saves money. The Observatory's own site calls public transportation the easiest way to visit.

2. Hollywood Sign, Griffith Park

The Hollywood Sign sits on Mount Lee in Griffith Park, Los Angeles, and the Hollywood Sign Trust says the sign itself is protected by a fence and security cameras around the clock. Its recommended views are from Griffith Observatory and from Ovation at Hollywood & Highland in Hollywood. Do this: take the photo from the Observatory lawn and skip the hike with young kids, because the Trust lists the Mt. Hollywood Trail at 5.3 miles and the Brush Canyon Trail at 6 miles. The sign was erected in 1923 to last only about 18 months, according to the Trust, which is a good fact for a car ride.

3. Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens, Griffith Park

The Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens at 5333 Zoo Drive in Los Angeles is typically open from 10 am to 5 pm, with last entry at 3:45 pm, and closed on Thanksgiving Day and December 25. Animals start heading indoors around 4 pm, so go early rather than late. Do this: arrive at opening, see the animals while they are active, and use the Family Fun Pack ticket (two adults and two children) if it fits your group. The Zoo sells its tickets online, so buy before you go.

4. Travel Town Museum, Griffith Park

Travel Town Museum at 5200 Zoo Drive in Los Angeles is typically open Tuesday to Sunday from 10 am to 5 pm. It is a collection of old trains and vehicles in Griffith Park, and for preschoolers the draw is simple: real locomotives, up close, in the open air. Its pages do not list admission or train-ride fares, so check traveltown.org. It sits a couple of minutes from the Zoo, which makes it an easy second stop.

5. Autry Museum of the American West, Griffith Park

The Autry Museum of the American West at 4700 Western Heritage Way in Los Angeles is typically open Tuesday to Friday from 10 am to 4 pm and Saturday and Sunday from 10 am to 5 pm, closed Mondays. Kids ages 3 to 12 typically pay $9, ages 2 and under are free, and adults pay $20. Parking is free, which is rare in this part of town. Strollers and front carriers are allowed, but back-worn carriers are not. Free First Wednesdays need an advance reservation.

6. Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, Exposition Park

The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County at 900 Exposition Boulevard in Los Angeles is typically open daily from 9:30 am to 5 pm, except the first Tuesday of each month and some holidays. Los Angeles County residents typically get free admission from 3 to 5 pm Monday to Friday, onsite only. Ages 5 to 9 are the sweet spot. Check nhm.org for current exhibitions and ticket prices, and check the parking page for rates.

7. Skirball Cultural Center, Sepulveda Pass

The Skirball Cultural Center at 2701 North Sepulveda Boulevard in Los Angeles is typically open Tuesday to Friday from noon to 5 pm and Saturday and Sunday from 10 am to 5 pm, closed Mondays. Noah's Ark is built for hands-on play, and Skirball says most children who engage with it are ages 2 to 9, with one adult required for every four children. Kids ages 2 to 17 typically pay $15, children under 2 are free, Thursdays are free, and on-site parking is free. Reservations are recommended, and Skirball says reserving is the only way to guarantee entry. Same-day Noah's Ark tickets are sold in person only.

8. Battleship IOWA, San Pedro

Battleship IOWA at 250 South Harbor Boulevard in San Pedro, Los Angeles, is typically open Thursday to Monday from 10 am to 5 pm, with last entry at 4 pm, closed Tuesday and Wednesday. Kids follow a scavenger hunt led by Vicky the Dog. The ship has steep ladders and narrow passages and only parts of the main deck are wheelchair accessible, so it is a poor fit for strollers and toddlers. Parking is paid in the adjacent Los Angeles World Cruise Terminal lot: typically the first hour free, then $3 an hour up to $23 a day.

9. Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), Miracle Mile

The Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) at 5905 Wilshire Boulevard in Los Angeles is typically open Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 11 am to 6 pm, Friday from 11 am to 8 pm, and Saturday and Sunday from 10 am to 7 pm. It is closed on Wednesdays. Timed advance tickets are highly recommended, because walk-up slots can sell out. Visitors from outside Los Angeles County typically pay $15 for ages 3 to 17, and ages 2 and under are free; LA County youth are typically free. Check lacma.org for current garage parking rates. LACMA offers art-making activities for all ages.

10. The Grove, Fairfax

The Grove at 189 The Grove Drive in Los Angeles is open every day of the year, typically Monday to Thursday from 10 am to 9 pm, Friday and Saturday from 10 am to 10 pm and Sunday from 11 am to 8 pm. For families it works as a reset button: a weekly Kids Club with live music, puppets and magic, plus an AMC cinema on site. Parking details change, so check thegrovela.com or call 323-900-8080 before you go.

Where do you park?

The easiest places to park with kids are the Autry (free), Skirball (free) and the Observatory's free lot down the hill. Battleship IOWA's cruise terminal lot charges after the first hour, and LACMA's garage is paid. At the Observatory, a car on a busy weekend can circle for a long time, so decide whether to use the free hillside parking or public transportation before you leave the house.

Where do you eat with kids?

Bring snacks and a lunch to Griffith Park, and plan your sit-down meal for the end of the day. The Grove is the one pick here with a full range of restaurants, so it is a safe dinner stop when everyone is tired. For more neighborhood options, see our food and dining listings.

What is the one-day route?

One day in Griffith Park with a Westside dinner covers three picks and keeps the driving short. Keep this version on your phone:

1. 10 am: Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens. Arrive at opening. Leave by about 1 pm.
2. 1 pm: Eat the lunch you packed.
3. 1:30 pm: Travel Town Museum, a short drive away on Zoo Drive. Kids can burn off energy among the trains.
4. 4 pm: Drive to Griffith Observatory. Park in the free parking down the hill, or come by public transportation. Go through the exhibits and photograph the Hollywood Sign from the lawn.
5. Sunset: Line up for the telescope if the sky is clear. Check the schedule on the official site, since the building is typically open until 10 pm.
6. After dark: Dinner at The Grove in Fairfax if the kids still have energy. Otherwise, go home.

On a Monday, Travel Town and the Observatory are closed, so build the day around the Zoo and The Grove instead. If you only have a morning, do the Zoo and Travel Town together. Check the weather page before you go, because heat can end a Griffith Park day early.

When should you leave?

Leave each place before the kids are finished, not after. The Zoo's animals go indoors from about 4 pm, and the Observatory is at its best when the light is changing. Avoid Wilshire Boulevard to LACMA in weekday rush hours, and avoid the 405 near the Skirball when schools let out. Pick one cluster and do it well.

Last verified: November 2026.

Frequently asked questions

What are the best things to do in Los Angeles with kids?

Griffith Observatory, the Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens, Travel Town Museum, the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, the Skirball Cultural Center and Battleship IOWA are strong family picks inside the City of Los Angeles. The first four are close to each other or easy to combine in one day.

Is Griffith Observatory free for kids?

Yes, admission to Griffith Observatory is free for everyone, including children. Parking is the cost: paid parking is near the building and free parking is down the hill. The Observatory is typically closed Mondays.

Can you visit the Hollywood Sign with kids?

You can see the Hollywood Sign with kids from Griffith Observatory or from Ovation at Hollywood & Highland, but you cannot go up to it. The Hollywood Sign Trust says the sign is protected by a fence and security cameras 24/7.

Where is the easiest place to park with kids in Los Angeles?

The Autry Museum of the American West and the Skirball Cultural Center both offer free on-site parking, and Griffith Observatory has free parking down the hill. Battleship IOWA in San Pedro uses the adjacent cruise terminal lot, where the first hour is typically free.

What is open on Mondays in Los Angeles for kids?

Most Los Angeles museums are closed on Mondays, including Griffith Observatory, the Autry, Travel Town and the Skirball Cultural Center. The Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens, The Grove, LACMA and Battleship IOWA are typically open, but check each official site.

How much time should a family spend at the Los Angeles Zoo?

Plan about three hours at the Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens, starting at its typical 10 am opening. Last entry is typically 3:45 pm, and animals begin going indoors around 4 pm.