Nobody publishes real numbers. Every travel guide says "LA is expensive" without telling you what you'll actually spend. So here it is — 40 activities, real estimates for a family of four, organized from free to splurge.
These aren't guesses. They're built from admission prices, typical parking costs, and on-site food realities.
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Free Activities in Los Angeles
LA has more genuinely good free options than almost any other city. Use them.
- Griffith Park — Free entry. Paid attractions inside (pony rides ~$3, train ~$3/person) but easily avoidable. You could spend a full day here for $0.
- Griffith Park Playground — Free. 900+ reviews at 4.7. Pack a picnic.
- Vermont Canyon Play Area — Free. Inside Griffith Park. Shaded canyon setting.
- Bronson Canyon Playground — Free. Hollywood Hills location; Batman Caves nearby for exploring.
- Old Los Angeles Zoo — Free. Abandoned zoo ruins inside Griffith Park. No food — bring a full picnic.
- Aidan's Place at Westwood Recreation Center — Free. Open until 10pm on weekdays. Near UCLA.
- Grand Park Playground — Free. Downtown LA; Little Tokyo steps away for cheap food.
- Earvin "Magic" Johnson Recreation Area — Free park. Summer pool $2–$4/person. One of the best-value days in South LA.
- Adventure Park — Free. Weekdays only.
- Juntos Family Park — Free. Glassell Park. Open 6:30am–10pm daily.
- Ladera Park Toddler Playstructure — Free. Windsor Hills.
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Budget Picks (Under $50 for a Family of Four)
These give you a real outing without significant spend.
Adventure Playground — ~$20–$40. Admission is ~$5/child, adults free. Summer-only, weekdays. Kids build and dig with real tools. You can't recreate this anywhere else for the price.
PlayLab Eagle Rock Playspace — $30–$50. Drop-in rates apply. Calm, thoughtfully designed play space for younger kids. Memberships available for frequent visitors.
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Mid-Range Activities ($50–$100 for a Family of Four)
This is where most of your LA spending will land.
- Alice Kids Playroom — $50–$65. Sherman Oaks. Weekend-only. Alice in Wonderland theme, intimate scale.
- Kool Kids Club — $50–$70 (~$12–$15/child, adults free or reduced). Westlake. Indoor soft play.
- SAY CHEEZ LA — $50–$70. Pico-Robertson. Indoor playground plus candy store. Saturday is closed — double-check before going.
- Wildlife Learning Center — $50–$70. Nonprofit animal encounters. Check hours first.
- Wonderland 4 Kids Indoor Playground — $50–$65 (admission for 2 kids). Burbank. Confirm hours before visiting — available data shows limited operating days.
- APEX for Kids — $55–$70. Sawtelle. Focused active play for ages 2–7. Weekdays only.
- Funhouse Factory — $55–$70. Van Nuys. Note: Sunday opens at 3pm only.
- Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden — $55–$75 (adults ~$15, kids 5–12 ~$8, under 5 free). Free-roaming peacocks are worth it alone. Cafe on-site.
- World of Candy Land Indoor Playground — $55–$70. Sherman Oaks. Evening-only on weekends — primarily a weekday venue.
- Bounce LA — $60–$80. Miracle Mile. Kids gym with open play. Check class vs. open play schedules.
- Fun Play World Santa Monica — $60–$80. Pico Blvd. Weekend hours evenings only (5–8pm Sat/Sun).
- Fun Play World Pico — $60–$85 (~$12–$18/child). Good for weekday visits.
- Ball N Bounce — $50–$65. Beverly Grove. Infant/toddler gym. Weekdays only.
- Peekaboo Playland — $50–$65. Eagle Rock. Neighborhood play space. Weekdays only.
- Jump Club Arena — $70–$90 (~$18–$22/person). Sunland. Trampoline park with a local feel. Weekday hours start at noon.
- Kids Empire Northridge — $70–$100. Highest-rated Kids Empire in LA (4.7). Food on-site.
- Kids Empire South Gate — $70–$100 (~$16–$20/child, adults free). Weekend hours until 10pm.
- Kids Empire Woodland Hills — $70–$100. Woodland Hills. Weekend hours until 10pm.
- La Brea Tar Pits and Museum — $75–$100 (adults ~$15–$18, kids under 3 free, plus parking ~$15). Free first Tuesday of the month for LA County residents.
- Bubble Planet — $80–$100 ($20–$25/person plus ~$10–$15 Arts District parking). Closed Tuesdays.
- Maze Rooms Escape Game - Vermont — $80–$100 (~$20–$25/person). Book in advance for weekends.
- Sky Zone Trampoline Park — $80–$110 (~$20–$25/person plus $3–$5 grip socks). Van Nuys.
- Discovery Cube Los Angeles — $80–$110 (~$18–$20/person plus $5–$10 parking). Sylmar. Closed Mondays. LA County library cardholders may access free passes.
- Los Angeles County Museum of Art — $80–$120 (adults ~$25, kids under 17 FREE for LA County residents, parking $15–$20). Closed Wednesdays.
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Splurge-Worthy Experiences (Over $100)
Kids World Family Fun Center — $90–$130 total (admission, games, and a full family restaurant). Oak Park. It's expensive because it covers multiple activity types and a full meal under one roof — no driving to find dinner after.
World of Illusions Los Angeles — $90–$120 (tickets $22–$28/person plus $15–$20 Hollywood Blvd parking). The optical illusion rooms are genuinely impressive for kids ages 8–12. Buy tickets online for a small discount and park on side streets.
Super Silly Fun Land at Universal Studios Hollywood — $400–$600+ for a full day. This is a theme park day, not a standalone stop. Plan accordingly.
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Money-Saving Tips in Los Angeles
- LA County residents get real discounts. LACMA kids under 17 are free. La Brea Tar Pits has a free first Tuesday. Arboretum has a free third Tuesday. Show ID.
- Go Tuesday–Thursday. Pricing at indoor venues is often lower. Crowds are noticeably smaller at parks.
- Griffith Park is your best free day. Pair it with a picnic. Add the train at $3/person if you want a paid element.
- Avoid weekend premium pricing on escape rooms and entertainment venues. Book weekday morning slots.
- Kids Empire membership pays off fast. If you'll visit more than 2–3 times, the membership covers itself.
- Library card for Discovery Cube. LA County library cardholders may access free passes — call your branch.
- Pack food everywhere. On-site food at parks and some venues is a trap. Every dollar saved on snacks adds up across a multi-day trip.
- Arts District and Hollywood parking. Budget $15–$20 for parking at these locations or add 20 minutes to find street alternatives.
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What a Typical Family Spends
Free day: Griffith Park (playground + train + Old Zoo) + packed picnic = $6–$12 total.
Mid-range day: La Brea Tar Pits ($75–$100) + Grand Park playground + Little Tokyo lunch ($40–$50) = $115–$150.
Full spend day: Discovery Cube ($80–$110) + Kids Empire dinner visit ($70–$100) = $150–$210.
Over a 2-day visit: Budget $150–$300 for activities if you mix one free day with one paid day. Parking is the hidden expense — add $15–$20 per destination in tourist areas.
Don't overplan paid venues back to back. LA's free parks are better than most cities' paid attractions.