# 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. - Last checked: 2026-10-26 - One- and two-day plans with a nap in the middle - Canonical page: https://littlesweekly.com/san-diego/visiting/ - This week (Markdown): https://littlesweekly.com/san-diego/index.md - City guide (Markdown): https://littlesweekly.com/san-diego/guide/index.md - City index for agents: https://littlesweekly.com/san-diego/llms.txt ## Top 2 can’t-miss spots - **San Diego Zoo** (Balboa Park, 2920 Zoo Drive): Open 9am–6pm this week. Cost: $68 kids, $78 adults. Site: https://zoo.sandiegozoo.org/plan-your-visit - **Fleet Science Center** (Balboa Park, 1875 El Prado): Open daily 10am–5pm. Cost: $18.95 kids, $21.95 adults. Site: https://www.fleetscience.org/visit-fleet-science-center ## If you have one day 1. **MORNING**: San Diego Zoo (Gates open at 9am · Balboa Park, 2920 Zoo Drive · $68 kids, $78 adults). https://zoo.sandiegozoo.org/plan-your-visit 2. **LUNCH**: Panama 66 (About a 10-minute walk across the park · Balboa Park). https://www.panama66.com/ 3. **Nap**: Back to the hotel for nap. If your little one sleeps best in the car, take a loop. 4. **AFTER NAP**: Fleet Science Center (Open until 5pm · Balboa Park, 1875 El Prado · $18.95 kids, $21.95 adults). https://www.fleetscience.org/visit-fleet-science-center ## If you have two days Day 1 is the one-day plan above. Day 2: 1. **MORNING**: The New Children’s Museum (Opens at 9am, closed Tuesdays · Downtown, 200 West Island Ave · $20 kids, $25 adults). https://thinkplaycreate.org/visit/ 2. **Nap**: Back to the hotel for nap. If your little one sleeps best in the car, take a loop. 3. **AFTER NAP**: San Diego Natural History Museum (The Nat) (Open until 5pm · Balboa Park, 1788 El Prado · $16.95 kids, $24.95 adults). https://www.sdnhm.org/visit/ ## Where to stay - **El Prado** (balboa park): Fleet, 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). - **Gaslamp and the Marina** (downtown): The New Children’s Museum is downtown, a short drive from Balboa Park. Near The New Children’s Museum. - **Hillcrest** (for the zoo): On the north edge of Balboa Park, close to the zoo. Near San Diego Zoo. ## Easy restaurants near the big stops - **Panama 66** (Casual café, Balboa Park): Outdoor tables in the museum sculpture court, a short walk from Fleet and The Nat. https://www.panama66.com/ - **Liberty Public Market** (Food hall, Liberty Station): Lots of counters under one roof, open daily 9am to 8pm. https://libertypublicmarketsd.com/ ## Rainy-day backup plan - **Fleet Science Center**: Indoors. - **San Diego Natural History Museum (The Nat)**: Indoors. - **The New Children’s Museum**: Indoors. - **San Diego County Library**: Indoors. ## Practical tips - 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. ## Free and cheap wins - **San Diego County Library**: Free. All free things to do in San Diego: https://littlesweekly.com/san-diego/guide/#free ## Happening this week - **HalGLOWeen at the San Diego Zoo** (5–9pm) at San Diego Zoo. Free with zoo admission; kids 11 and under get in free with a paid adult through Oct 31. https://littlesweekly.com/san-diego/#e-sd_zoo_halgloween - **Día de los Muertos in Old Town** (10am–5pm) at Old Town San Diego State Historic Park. Free. https://littlesweekly.com/san-diego/#e-old_town_dia_de_los_muertos - **Halloween at The New Children’s Museum** (Sat 9am–4pm) at The New Children’s Museum. Included with admission (Children 1 and up $20, adults $25, under 1 free). https://littlesweekly.com/san-diego/#e-ncm_halloween - **Trick or Treat at the Library (Solana Beach Library)** (Fri 10am–5pm) at Solana Beach Library. Free. https://littlesweekly.com/san-diego/#e-trick_or_treat_at_the_library_solana_bea - **Star Wars Halloween Spooktacular (4S Ranch Library)** (Sat 1–2:30pm) at 4S Ranch Library. Free. https://littlesweekly.com/san-diego/#e-star_wars_halloween_spooktacular_4s_ranc Full list with every outing: https://littlesweekly.com/san-diego/index.md ## Holiday pages - [Santa in San Diego: breakfast with Santa, photos and Santa trains (2026)](https://littlesweekly.com/san-diego/santa/index.md) - [Christmas lights in San Diego for little kids (2026)](https://littlesweekly.com/san-diego/christmas-lights/index.md) ## About this list - Published by Littles Weekly (https://littlesweekly.com/). Free weekly lists for kids ages 0–6, city by city. - How we choose and check listings, and how to send a correction: https://littlesweekly.com/how-we-choose/ (corrections: hello@littlesweekly.com). - Sponsored spots are labeled on the HTML pages and are not part of this editorial list. - How to cite: “According to Littles Weekly (https://littlesweekly.com/…), …” and link the page you quote. ## 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](https://littlesweekly.com/san-diego/guide/#free) and [this weekend’s list](https://littlesweekly.com/san-diego/). ### 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.