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.
