Los Angeles with kids

Rainy Day in Los Angeles with Kids: the Best Indoor Plans

It doesn't rain often in Los Angeles, but when it does (mostly from December to March), the city's beach-and-hiking plans wash out and the roads slow down. The good news: LA has some of the best indoor museums for kids anywhere.

By Play Your Trip · Updated · 3 min read

The Play Your Trip card for Los Angeles

Here's a ready-made indoor day, then more ideas by area. Pick places near each other: rainy-day traffic is slow. Check each official website for hours and reservations.

An indoor day in Exposition Park

Two big museums side by side, under one umbrella dash.

  1. Morning

    California Science Center (opens Google Maps)

    Free general admission, hands-on galleries and, from November 13, 2026, the Space Shuttle Endeavour standing upright in its new hall.

    Official site

  2. Lunch · Lunch

    Lunch at the museum

    Cafés in both museums mean you never have to go far in the rain.

  3. Afternoon

    Natural History Museum (opens Google Maps)

    The Dinosaur Hall, gems and minerals and the insect zoo, right next door.

    Official site

More indoor ideas

  • Aquarium of the Pacific (Long Beach): sea otters, sharks and touch pools, mostly indoors. Tickets
  • Petersen Automotive Museum (Miracle Mile): film cars, race cars and a kids' discovery area. Official site
  • Discovery Cube Los Angeles (Sylmar): a hands-on science museum for younger kids.
  • Kidspace Children's Museum (Pasadena): partly outdoor, but its indoor galleries work for a short visit.
  • Universal Studios Hollywood: many of its biggest rides and shows are indoors, and rain thins the crowds.
  • Griffith Observatory: free indoor exhibits and the planetarium (paid shows) on the hill.

Good to know

  • Closed for now: the La Brea Tar Pits museum building closed in July 2026 for a renovation of about two years.
  • Rain means traffic: allow extra time for every drive and stay in one area.
  • Storm warnings: after heavy rain, canyon roads and hiking trails can close. Stay out of dry riverbeds and flood channels.

Make it a game

A Play Your Trip book turns your rainy day into an adventure: every stop a quest with a coin to collect, every place one tap from the map. Los Angeles books are coming soon; see how it works.

Questions

What can kids do in Los Angeles when it rains?

Exposition Park's California Science Center and Natural History Museum, the Aquarium of the Pacific, the Petersen Automotive Museum and children's museums like Discovery Cube LA are all indoors.

When does it rain in Los Angeles?

Mostly between December and March, often in short stormy spells. The rest of the year is mostly dry.

Is Universal Studios Hollywood open in the rain?

Yes. Some outdoor rides may pause, but many rides and shows are indoors, and crowds are often lighter.