Los Angeles with kids
3 Days in Los Angeles with Kids: an Easy Family Itinerary
Los Angeles is huge, so the trick with kids is one area a day: you spend your time on the fun, not in traffic. This plan covers Hollywood and Griffith Park, the museums of Exposition Park, and the beach.
It leaves out the theme parks, which each need a full day: add them with our Disneyland or Universal comparison. Check hours and reservations on the official websites.
Day 1 · Hollywood and Griffith Park
Stars on the sidewalk, real old trains, and the city lights from the observatory.
-
Morning
Hollywood Walk of Fame (opens Google Maps)
Hunt for favourite characters' stars and the handprints outside the famous Chinese theatre. Go early, before the crowds.
-
Lunch · Lunch
Lunch in Hollywood or Los Feliz
Los Feliz, on the way to Griffith Park, is calmer than Hollywood Boulevard.
-
Afternoon
Travel Town in Griffith Park (opens Google Maps)
An outdoor museum of real locomotives and railcars that kids can climb aboard, in Griffith Park. Free.
-
Sunset
Griffith Observatory (opens Google Maps)
Free exhibits and huge views over LA and the Hollywood Sign. On clear evenings the public telescopes are free; planetarium shows are paid. Arrive early: parking fills up.
Day 2 · Space Shuttle and dinosaurs
Two big museums side by side in Exposition Park.
-
Morning
California Science Center (opens Google Maps)
Free general admission. From November 13, 2026, the Space Shuttle Endeavour stands upright with its rockets in the new Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center. Check whether a timed reservation is needed.
-
Lunch · Lunch
Picnic in the Rose Garden (opens Google Maps)
A free sunken rose garden between the museums, good for a picnic and a run-around.
-
Afternoon
Natural History Museum (opens Google Maps)
The Dinosaur Hall's T. rex growth series, gems and minerals, and a nature garden outside.
-
Evening · Dinner
Dinner downtown
Downtown LA is close by, with food halls where everyone can choose.
Day 3 · Santa Monica and Venice
A pier with rides, a beach bike path and quiet canals.
-
Morning
Santa Monica Pier (opens Google Maps)
Free to walk, with a Ferris wheel and rides (paid) and the ocean all around. Mornings are calmer.
-
Late morning
Bikes on the beach path (opens Google Maps)
Rent bikes or surreys and ride the flat beach path south toward Venice.
-
Lunch · Lunch
Lunch in Venice
Grab something near the boardwalk or on Abbot Kinney.
-
Afternoon
Venice Canals (opens Google Maps)
Quiet residential canals with little arched bridges, a few blocks from the beach.
-
Sunset
Sunset on the beach (opens Google Maps)
Finish with the sunset over the Pacific.
Tips for LA with kids
- Pick a base near what you'll do most: Santa Monica for beaches, Hollywood or Downtown for museums, Anaheim for Disneyland.
- Avoid rush hours for long drives; LA traffic is the biggest time-eater.
- Metro rail reaches some highlights (Hollywood, Exposition Park, Santa Monica) if you'd rather not drive.
- Sun protection all year: hats, sunscreen and water.
Questions
Is 3 days enough for Los Angeles with kids?
Enough for the city's highlights: Hollywood and Griffith Park, the Exposition Park museums and the beach. Add a full day for each theme park.
Where should families stay in Los Angeles?
Near what you'll do most: Santa Monica for beaches, Hollywood or Downtown for museums and sights, Anaheim for Disneyland. Moving hotel once can save hours in traffic.
Do you need a car in LA with kids?
It helps, but Metro rail reaches Hollywood, Exposition Park and Santa Monica; rideshares fill the gaps.