Los Angeles with kids

Free Things to Do in Los Angeles with Kids

Los Angeles has some of the best free family outings anywhere: a space shuttle, a hilltop observatory, an art museum with gardens and views, and miles of beaches. The real cost in LA is usually getting around, so group free places by area and check parking before you go.

By Play Your Trip · Updated · 3 min read

The Play Your Trip card for Los Angeles

Here's a free day plan, then more ideas. Some free places still need a timed reservation, so check each official website.

A free day: space, stars and the city

The Space Shuttle in the morning, the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and sunset at the observatory.

  1. Morning

    California Science Center (opens Google Maps)

    Free general admission. From November 13, 2026, the new Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center shows the Space Shuttle Endeavour standing upright with its real rockets and fuel tank, as on the launch pad. Check whether a timed reservation is needed when you go.

    Official site

  2. Midday

    Exposition Park Rose Garden (opens Google Maps)

    A free sunken garden right next to the museum, good for a picnic and running around.

  3. Lunch · Lunch

    Picnic in Exposition Park

    Bring lunch, or find food trucks and cafés nearby.

  4. Afternoon

    Hollywood Walk of Fame (opens Google Maps)

    Find favourite characters' stars along Hollywood Boulevard and look for the handprints outside the famous Chinese theatre. Busy and a bit hectic; hold hands.

  5. Sunset

    Griffith Observatory (opens Google Maps)

    Free entry to the building and its exhibits, with huge views over LA and the Hollywood Sign. On clear evenings the public telescopes are free too; planetarium shows are paid. Parking fills up, so arrive early or take the DASH bus.

    Official site

More free ideas

  • The Getty Center: free admission to the art, the gardens and the views, with a little tram up the hill; parking is paid.
  • The Broad: a free contemporary art museum downtown; book a free timed reservation ahead.
  • Beaches: Santa Monica, Venice and Manhattan Beach, with wide sand and paths for bikes and scooters.
  • Santa Monica Pier: free to walk, with the ocean all around; the rides are paid.
  • Venice Canals: quiet residential canals with little bridges, a few blocks from the beach.
  • La Brea Tar Pits: the park around the museum is free to explore, with bubbling tar and life-size Ice Age models.

Tips for a free day

  • Plan by area. LA is huge; driving between neighbourhoods takes more time than you expect.
  • Parking is the hidden cost. Check it in advance, or use Metro rail for places on its lines.
  • Bring water, sun hats and sunscreen, even in winter.

Questions

Is the California Science Center free?

General admission is free. The Space Shuttle Endeavour's new home, the Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center, opens on November 13, 2026; check the official site for whether a timed reservation is needed.

Is Griffith Observatory free?

Yes, the building, its exhibits and the public telescopes on clear evenings are free. Planetarium shows cost extra, and parking nearby is paid.

What are the best free things to do in LA with kids?

The Space Shuttle at the California Science Center, Griffith Observatory, the Getty Center, the beaches and the Santa Monica Pier.