VISITING San Diego · America’s Finest City

Visiting San Diego with toddlers and little kids: the plan.

Stay downtown or near Balboa Park. The zoo and the park museums are a few minutes apart, and The New Children’s Museum is downtown. Here’s a plan with nap time built in.

Top 2 can’t-miss spots

#1Balboa Park, 2920 Zoo Drive
San Diego Zoo
Open 9am–6pm this week.
Kids $68Adults $782 and under
See it in the guide
#2Balboa Park, 1875 El Prado
Fleet Science Center
Open daily 10am–5pm.
Kids $18.95Adults $21.952 and underIndoor
See it in the guide
Nap breaks built in

One day or two in San Diego

A couple of big stops, a real lunch and a nap in the middle. Tap a stop for the full listing.

If you have one day
MORNINGSan Diego ZooGates open at 9am · Balboa Park, 2920 Zoo Drive · $68 kids, $78 adultsLUNCHPanama 66About a 10-minute walk across the park · Balboa Park
NAPBack to the hotel for nap. If your little one sleeps best in the car, take a loop.
AFTER NAPFleet Science CenterOpen until 5pm · Balboa Park, 1875 El Prado · $18.95 kids, $21.95 adults
If you have two days

Day 1 is the one-day plan above. Day 2:

MORNINGThe New Children’s MuseumOpens at 9am, closed Tuesdays · Downtown, 200 West Island Ave · $20 kids, $25 adults
NAPBack to the hotel for nap. If your little one sleeps best in the car, take a loop.
AFTER NAPSan Diego Natural History Museum (The Nat)Open until 5pm · Balboa Park, 1788 El Prado · $16.95 kids, $24.95 adults
Where to stay

Kid-friendly areas near the big attractions

Pick the area by the stops you’ll make most, then plan around nap.

BALBOA PARKEl PradoFleet, The Nat and Panama 66 are a short walk apart along El Prado.Near Fleet Science Center and San Diego Natural History Museum (The Nat)
DOWNTOWNGaslamp and the MarinaThe New Children’s Museum is downtown, a short drive from Balboa Park.Near The New Children’s Museum
FOR THE ZOOHillcrestOn the north edge of Balboa Park, close to the zoo.Near San Diego Zoo
Eat

Easy restaurants near the big stops

Kids’ menus, quick service and a short drive from the attractions. Prices come from each restaurant’s own menu.

Casual café · Balboa ParkPanama 66Near Fleet Science Center and San Diego Natural History Museum (The Nat)Food hall · Liberty StationLiberty Public Market
Before you go

Practical tips

Parking, strollers, changing tables and the best times to go.

Tuesdays
The New Children’s Museum is closed Tuesdays.
North County story times
Escondido Public Library runs Toddler Tales on Tuesdays and Baby Lapsit on Fridays, both at 10:30am.
Holiday hours
Liberty Public Market is closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.
Visiting in November or December?

Santa and Christmas lights in San Diego

If your trip lands in the holiday season, these two pages have the dates, prices and booking links.

Santa in San DiegoBreakfast with Santa, Santa photos and Santa trains, with 2026 pricesChristmas lights in San DiegoDrive-thru and walk-through displays, start times and 2026 prices
On a budget

Free and cheap wins for visitors

Spend less without skipping the good stuff.

Branches across the countySan Diego County LibraryFree.FreeIndoor
All free things to do in San Diego →
This week

Happening while you’re here

This week’s top events in San Diego. The full list, with hours and the forecast, is on the this-week page.

#15–9pm
HalGLOWeen at the San Diego Zoo
The zoo stays open until 9 on Halloween weekend, with glowing displays, the Skeleton Band and stilt-walkers after 5pm. Through October, one paying adult can bring up to six kids 11 and under for free.
San Diego Zoo · San Diego
Free with zoo admission
Hours, food & parking
#210am–5pm
Día de los Muertos in Old Town
Old Town’s yearly Día de los Muertos with a community altar. Kids can make paper flowers and papel picado for free on Saturday and Sunday, and there’s a bilingual story time at 2:30 both days. The Catrina contest on Sunday at 2 starts with the kids. Rain is likely Sunday morning and should clear after noon, so the afternoon is the better time to go.
Old Town San Diego State Historic Park · San Diego
Free
Hours, food & parking
#3Sat 9am–4pm
Halloween at The New Children’s Museum
A Halloween day downtown. Spooky Storytime is at 10, dance parties are at 11 and 2, and there’s a pumpkin scavenger hunt all day. Costumes are welcome.
The New Children’s Museum · San Diego
Included with admissionIndoor
Hours, food & parking
#4Fri 10am–5pm
Trick or Treat at the Library (Solana Beach Library)
Wear your costume and trick-or-treat at the library any time during the day. Free.
Solana Beach Library · Solana Beach
FreeIndoor
Hours, food & parking
#5Sat 1–2:30pm
Star Wars Halloween Spooktacular (4S Ranch Library)
Come in a Star Wars or Halloween costume for a creature scavenger hunt, Star Wars trivia, treats and prizes. Free.
4S Ranch Library · San Diego
FreeIndoor
Hours, food & parking
See everything this week →
Good questions

Visiting San Diego with toddlers: the FAQ

Is San Diego kid-friendly?

For a family with kids under 6, yes. Our San Diego guide lists 10 places we checked for little kids, plus 1 free place and 3 picks for babies and toddlers. This page adds 2 easy restaurants near the big stops and free storytimes at 2 library systems. This week’s list has 28 dated outings for ages 0–6. See free things to do in San Diego and this weekend’s list.

How many days do you need in San Diego with a toddler?

Two works well: one at the zoo and one for the Balboa Park museums or the children’s museum downtown.

Where should we stay in San Diego with a toddler?

Downtown is close to The New Children’s Museum and a short drive from Balboa Park. Mission Bay is better if you want the beach.

Where can we eat with picky eaters?

Liberty Public Market at Liberty Station has lots of counters under one roof and is open daily 9am to 8pm.

Get the list every Thursday.

One short email every Thursday evening with the five things we’d leave the house for in San Diego.