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San Diego has a strong claim to being the best family city in California. The weather is reliably excellent, the beaches are exceptional, the zoo is world-class, and the overall pace of the city is relaxed in a way that makes travelling with kids genuinely enjoyable rather than stressful.
It sits two hours south of Los Angeles, which makes it a natural addition to any Southern California itinerary. Far enough away to feel like its own destination, close enough to combine with LA, Anaheim or the Pacific Coast Highway without adding significant travel time.
This guide covers the best things to do in San Diego with kids. Whether you are spending a few days in San Diego or taking a day trip from Los Angeles or elsewhere in Southern California, you’re sure to find plenty of fun activities.
San Diego With Kids Quick Guide
- How many days do you need: 4-5 days covers the highlights comfortably
- Best time to visit: Year-round, San Diego has one of the most reliably pleasant climates in the USA.
- Getting around: A hire car gives the most flexibility
- Best for young kids: LEGOLAND California, the Zoo, Balboa Park and the beaches
- Best beach: Coronado Island
- Day trip: Julian for apple pie and the Gold Rush history
What To Do In San Diego With Kids
There is no bad time to visit San Diego, and you will have no struggle finding fun things to do as a family during your visit. Many of these activities are also worth adding to your California bucket list!
To help you plan your stay, check out this guide to six top things to do with kids in San Diego to keep kids of all ages happy.
1. San Diego Zoo
The San Diego Zoo is on most San Diego itineraries as places you should visit not only with your family but no matter who you’re travelling with.
In 2024, San Diego Zoo welcomed back giant pandas Yun Chuan and Xin Bao from China which are always big stars that draw the crowds.
The pandas had to be returned to China following years of research into their habits and the zoo’s panda mating program. Six panda babies were born over the years at the San Diego Zoo, which is pretty special.
If you’re really looking to treat the family, the San Diego Zoo Safari Park is another fantastic option to see animals in more of natural habitat.
- Address: 2920 Zoo Dr, San Diego within Balboa Park
- Open Times: 9 AM to 6 PM daily, zoo hours may change seasonally
2. LEGOLAND California
If you’re travelling with kids who love all things LEGO, you really can’t miss out on LEGOLAND California in Carlsbad, just north of San Diego.
The rides are geared towards younger visitors, but even adults will love the atmosphere.
You will find miniature cities all made out of LEGO, and opportunities for you and the kids to build your own creations.
If you’re travelling in the summer months and have more time for your visit, you can tack on a day at the LEGOLAND Water Park, or even an afternoon at the SEA LIFE Aquarium.
The fish here are real, not made out of LEGO.
There are park hopper packages for all three for some cost savings on your LEGO adventures.
- Address: One Legoland Dr, Carlsbad
- Open Times: Varies. Check the website for exact times.
3. Balboa Park
Another iconic area of the city, Balboa Park is the cultural heart of San Diego, with a number of museums for you to choose from depending on everyone’s interest areas.
The San Diego Natural History Museum is popular for dinosaur lovers, with interactive exhibits on fossil hunting.
The San Diego Air and Space Museum, affiliated with the world-renowned Smithsonian Institution, will top the wish lists of anyone interested in airplanes and simulators of some of the world’s most important aircrafts.
More active families will love all of the trails connecting different areas of the park, including a historic cactus garden.
Just make sure you look, don’t touch, when wandering through those cacti.
Balboa Park is also perfect for whiling away an afternoon.
The people-watching is great, and there are lots of options for you as far as keeping the family fed and happy after all of that museum exploring.
- Address: The centre of Balboa Park is located at 1549 El Prado, San Diego.
- Open Times: Open 24 hours, however see individual attractions for their opening times.
4. The Beaches
As a coastal city, San Diego is known for its beautiful beaches, and you and your family can easily choose one – or more if you have the time – to spend a day.
Coronado is a popular option for soft sand and calm waters, with the backdrop of the famous Hotel del Coronado.
If you’re lucky, you may see some sandcastles while you’re there, as it’s popular among the city’s sand sculpture artists.
The scenic drive over the Coronado Bridge is a fun activity on its own.
Once you’re there, Coronado proper has lots of options for dining, too.
The beaches of La Jolla are another popular option. If you’re looking for fun in the sun and sand, La Jolla Shores will be your best bet.
Don’t miss out on The Children’s Pool, a cove that has been taken over by a local seal population. In fact, La Jolla Cove has plenty of things to see and do.
You can’t swim here, but the kids will love checking out these sunbathing marine mammals.
5. The Maritime Museum and Waterfront Park
Any kids with pirate aspirations will love a visit to the Maritime Museum of San Diego.
The museum consists of not one but several ships that you can board and explore.
The star of the show is the Star of India, the world’s oldest active sailing ship. This ship has been around since 1863.
Once you’re done exploring the sea vessels, you’ll have plenty of food options in nearby Little Italy, along with beautiful views of the harbour and Waterfront Park.
The park is fun for kids who love a good playground and parents who want to occupy the little ones for a while before moving on to the next thing.
If it’s a particularly hot day, the kids can even splash around at some of the water features there.
- Address: 1492 N Harbor Dr, San Diego
- Open Times: 10 AM to 5 PM daily
6. Julian Day Trip
If you’re looking for a great day trip while visiting San Diego, Julian is a great option, particularly if you’re travelling in the fall months.
Home to the best apple pie you’ll find in the region, things to do in Julian also include apple picking, panning for gold at the Eagle and High Peak Mine, and a visit to the California Wolf Center.
The centre is a conservation and research site for wild wolf packs.
A pie crawl to find your favourite apple pie is also highly recommended.
The Julian Pie Company and Mom’s compete for the local favourite.
You can taste them, though, to decide for yourself!
7. Explore Mission Beach
Mission Beach is a beautiful place to visit in San Diego if you are looking for coastal towns with fun attractions and beautiful beaches.
From sunbathing and swimming to surfing and skateboarding, this is a perfect place to enjoy the sunshine. You can also find many great restaurants and cafes along the boardwalk.
The kids will love visiting Belmont Park, an amusement park with a wooden roller coaster and dozens of other rides. Meanwhile, adults may enjoy shopping at the local boutiques in Mission Beach.
8. Visit Seaport Village
Seaport Village is a lovely place to stroll around, shop, and eat in San Diego. With its nautical-themed stores and restaurants, it’s the perfect place to take a break from the bustling city.
There are plenty of places to sit and relax while you enjoy the view of the bay. The kids will love exploring all of the different shops and taking a ride on the carousel.
You can also find some great souvenirs to take home with you.
9. Old Town San Diego
Old Town San Diego is a historic district with plenty of shops, restaurants, and attractions.
The kids will love the old town trolley tours, visiting the old mission, and exploring the many shops and museums.
10. Coronado Island
Coronado Island is a beautiful island town directly across the bay from mainland San Diego with plenty of shops, restaurants, and things to see and do. While technically not an island, but a peninsula, Coronado makes a great day trip.
Get to Coronado by a tombolo or strip of land known as the Silver Strand.
Enjoy lazing on the beach or take the kids to see what they can discover in a tide pool. See the shipwreck of SS Monte Carlo or consider taking a surfing lesson or stand up paddleboard lesson for some fun on the water.
More San Diego Attractions For Families
If you want even more ways to enjoy San Diego with your kids, here are some extra activities in San Diego for family fun:
- San Diego Zoo Safari Park
- Seaworld San Diego
- Seasame Place San Diego (Sesame Street themed amusement park)
- San Diego National History Museum
- San Diego Model Railroad Museum
- Museum Of Us
- Waterfront Park
- Birch Aquarium
- USS Midway Museum
- Snorkel with leopard sharks
- The New Children’s Museum
- San Diego Children’s Discovery Museum
- Kayak the sea caves
- Hike around Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve
- Take a sandcastle class
- Go whale watching
- Explore the Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch
- Go on a seal tour
Other Day Trip Ideas From San Diego
If you’re keen for even more activities in San Diego for families, there are so many fun things within a couple of hours drive from San Diego. Here are some fun day trip ideas:
Anaheim
Head to Anaheim for a day of Disneylannd Park park fun or a chance to explore this beautiful, tidy city. There are great restaurants in Anaheim and plenty of family fun attractions at the Anaheim Garden Walk.
You will find lots of things to do in Anaheim with kids, without having to splurge on a day or three at the Disneyland Parks.
It takes approximately 1.5 hours from San Diego to Anaheim by car.
Los Angeles
Or travel a little further, with Los Angeles situated just under 2 hours from San Diego.
Stroll the Hollywood Walk of Fame, visit one of the many celebrity-themed museums or enjoy a day of theme parks or beaches in Los Angeles. With just a single day, a tour such as A Day In LA Tours can be a great option. We did this tour and had a great time seeing all the highlights.
Tijuana
Head over the border to Mexico for a visit to Tijuana. It takes approximately 30 minutes by car.
We recommend taking a guided day trip though if you are new to visiting Mexico and want to ensure a safe and fun family visit across the Mexican border. Check current travel advisories for Mexico before crossing the border.
San Diego Family Vacation Tips & Planning
Plan the perfect visit to San Diego with kids by preparing ahead of time with accommodation and transport:
Best Kid Friendly Hotels In San Diego
If you’re a family on a budget, consider finding accommodations outside of San Diego’s downtown and beach neighbourhoods.
The scenery won’t be as good, but lodging around Hotel Circle in Mission Valley will likely save you a few bucks.
And you’ll still be close to all of the attractions you won’t want to miss.
Alternatively, private rentals can be a great alternative to hotels in San Diego with kids, since you can often find a place with a little extra space and facilities.
How To Get Around San Diego
As far as transportation, while San Diego does have a few options for public transportation, including a network of buses and trolleys, you’ll be better served with a car to get you and your family from point A to point B.
It will be most efficient, and you can pack all of those necessary car snacks that way, too.
Search & Compare Rental Car Prices
- Discover Cars: We have used this aggregate site many times to compare rental car prices from big-name companies and get the best price possible.
- Booking.com: This is our other preferred comparison site for finding rental cars (and accommodation).
If you’re looking for fun things to do in San Diego with kids, your options are endless. From beautiful beaches to world-renowned attractions, San Diego for families is always a great choice.
This is one thing we never travel without
Travel insurance is one of those things you hope you never need — but it’s absolutely worth having, especially when travelling with kids. For flexible coverage, we’ve used SafetyWing, and World2Cover through Klook is another solid and affordable option.
Which of these San Diego attractions for kids do you most want to visit?
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Plan Your Trip
Here are a few things we always organise before travelling:
- Stay connected: We use Airalo eSIM
- Car hire: Compare options with DiscoverCars
- Travel insurance: Check SafetyWing or World2Cover via Klook
- Airport transfers: Book with Welcome Pickups
- Accommodation: Find the best deals here
- Tours: We always use GetYourGuide
