California Roadtrip with Kids: The Ultimate Family Itinerary (2025)

California just feels like it was invented for families. If you're planning a California family vacation, the sheer variety here is truly unreal! One day you are soaking up the architecture and food halls of a cool downtown; the next you might be speeding through a real-life Mario Kart track or stepping right into Hogwarts. And then, you're standing on the edge of the Pacific, watching the spectacle of sea lions barking at the waves. That’s the magic of a California trip.

We teamed up with Visit California to craft this ultimate road trip with kids itinerary. We intentionally mixed those iconic, must-do moments with the local, hidden gems that families tell me they appreciate the most. We also added a fun, unforgettable twist: Our kids knew we were road-tripping, but they had no idea we were surprising them with two theme parks! The sheer joy on their faces when we pulled into the parking lots made the whole adventure even more magical.

This comprehensive guide dives into every detail of our adventure through Los Angeles, Anaheim, and San Diego. If you are getting ready to plan your next California road trip with kids, this is a super easy, battle-tested family itinerary you'll want to copy and paste!

Downtown Los Angeles with Kids

We've visited Los Angeles a bunch of times before, but this trip allowed us to explore a totally new itinerary focused on Downtown Los Angeles (DTLA). It turned out to be an amazing experience for the whole family! Everything is surprisingly walkable, the area has a ton of great, kid-friendly stops, and a huge selection of places to eat. It also gives you a nice change of pace before or after a theme park day.

Where We Stayed: Omni Los Angeles

The Omni Los Angeles was perfect for us. The location truly could not be better. It has spacious rooms, kid-approved breakfast, and the back of the hotel literally connects to the Angels Flight funicular. This means you can get down to Grand Central Market in less than two minutes. It’s also located across the street from The Broad and the Disney Concert Hall. The Omni offers a free car service that will take you or pick you up anywhere within a 3-mile radius, which was such a great perk!

Universal Studios Hollywood

We flew Air Canada direct from Toronto (YYZ) to Los Angeles (LAX), and we decided to kick off the trip with our biggest surprise first! We managed to keep the secret of Universal Studios Hollywood the entire flight. The reveal happened the second we pulled into the parking lot ... we handed the kids their acceptance letters from Hogwarts and tickets to Platform 9 ¾!

What’s wild about Universal Studios is its location. It is only 10–15 minutes away from most spots in Los Angeles. To have a major theme park right in the middle of a bustling city makes logistics surprisingly easy for families!

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter

This was the emotional peak of the trip for me. The level of detail here is amazing - it literally feels like you’ve walked onto the movie set.

How to Get Picked at the Ollivanders Wand Ceremony

My son was chosen for the "Wand Ceremony," where the wand chooses the wizard, and it was pure magic. I’ve been asked a million times how it happened, so here are my sneaky tips:

Dress the Part: Cast members often favor kids who are dressed in robes or House gear because they know they are super fans.
Use the Birthday Badge: It happened to be my son’s birthday a few days after our trip. We got him a free "Birthday Celebration" button at Guest Relations. When we entered the room, I told him to quietly but excitedly point to his badge. The wandkeeper gave a little nod, and sure enough, he was picked!

For lunch, we ate at The Three Broomsticks and tried all the fun drinks! We loved the Frozen Butterbeer, Otter’s Fizzy Orange Juice, and the iconic Pumpkin Juice. All so delicious!

SUPER NINTENDO WORLD

This area is visually overwhelming in the best way possible. It feels exactly like you have been transported inside a Super Mario game! The main ride, Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge, was instantly voted the "Best Ride of All Time" by my son.

Note: The standby line for this ride can easily hit 120 minutes. We splurged on the Universal Studios Express Pass, which cut our wait down to 20 minutes. If you can budget for it, it is worth every single penny to save hours of standing in line with restless kids.

We also bought a Power-Up Band for the kids to share. These link to an app and let the kids punch blocks, play interactive games around the land, and collect virtual coins. It makes waiting in line—or just walking around—part of the game!

Downtown Los Angeles

We spent the next morning letting the kids get some of their wiggles out while we explored some cool futuristic architecture in Downtown Los Angeles.

Disney Concert Hall

The Disney Concert Hall, designed by Frank Gehry (the same architect behind the Guggenheim in Bilbao, Spain), ended up being a surprisingly big hit. The building has a dramatic metal-wave architecture that is truly striking to see in person. Don't miss the "secret garden" on the rooftop and the mosaic sculpture that pays tribute to Lillian Disney. The kids loved running around up there!

The Broad: Contemporary Art Museum

The Broad is an architectural statement and definitely worth checking out! While we only had time to admire the exterior this time around, this contemporary art museum is fantastic stop for families. The museum is free to enter, but you must book timed tickets online ahead of time. Inside, you'll find bold, whimsical pieces like Jeff Koons' massive balloon sculptures and the famous Infinity Mirror Room by Yayoi Kusama. They also offer a free family audio guide narrated by LeVar Burton, a scavenger hunt in the app, and a gift shop full of unique, artist-driven items.

Grand Park Fountains & Playground

Right in the middle of downtown, Grand Park is the cute spot for a little break between activities. The main plaza is filled with big fountains to entertain the kids, and colourful pink chairs next to a Starbucks for the parents to sit and supervise. A little further on, there's a fantastic fully enclosed playground featuring fun climbers and a giant slide. This safe space was ideal for letting the kids run off some energy before lunch!

Angels Flight

This tiny historic funicular is right behind the Omni, and it's one of the oldest operating funiculars in America. It takes about 60 seconds and costs only $1 to ride. The kids absolutely LOVED it! Angels Flight takes you directly to breakfast, lunch, and coffee options at Grand Central Market, which is as convenient as it gets with kids.

Grand Central Market

We are "market people" and love a good food hall because they’re the easiest way to eat with kids - there’s something for everyone and it eliminates the stress of sit-down dining. Grand Central Market in Downtown Los Angeles has over 40 amazing vendors and a cool energetic vibe - easily one of our favourite markets! We got a whole bunch of food and tried tacos, smash burgers, pad thai, pizza, fresh fruit juice, cookies, and the best micheladas!

Tip: Pop into the Bradbury Building across the street for a quick peek. It’s one of the most beautiful buildings in Los Angeles with ornate staircases and unique architecture (and a popular filming location!)

GRAMMY Museum

We headed straight to the GRAMMY Museum after lunch and we were surprised by how incredibly great and interactive it was with the kids. The absolute standout is the Sonic Playground, which is such a dream for little music lovers. It’s a dedicated space where all ages can experiment: you can mix beats, try out different instruments, and even record your own vocals in a mini recording studio! There is zero pressure to be quiet or still, which makes it perfect for younger kids who need to move and touch everything.

Olvera Street

Olvera Street is the oldest part of Los Angeles and absolutely feels like walking through a real-life scene from Disney’s Coco. We were there right before Día de los Muertos and a lot of the shops had ofrendas set up, which the kids also recognized from the movie. The street is lined with colorful stalls full of papel picado flags, handmade leather goods, toys, and crafts. It's also a great spot for souvenirs - we bought ornaments for our Christmas tree! Beyond the shopping, you can grab fresh churros or sit down for authentic Mexican food at one of the many restaurants lining the plaza.

Little Tokyo

Just a short walk from Olvera Street is Little Tokyo. Here you can shop anime, eat mochi, and browse Japanese markets like you've been transported to another country. The kids were absolutely obsessed with the little food delivery robots rolling around the streets.

Anaheim: Disney & Beyond

A kid-friendly road trip to California isn’t complete without a visit to Disneyland, but Anaheim turned out to be so much more than just Mickey Mouse. We were completely surprised by how many family-friendly hidden gems are within minutes of the parks. These spots made our Anaheim portion of the trip feel a lot more balanced.

Disneyland: My Top 4 Tips for Families

First up of course is Disneyland. This was our second time tackling Disneyland California, and we picked up a few crucial tricks that made the day run incredibly smoothly with two young kids.

Lightning Lane Passes: If you are visiting with kids, budget for this! It allows you to skip the standby lines on major rides. It is genuinely the difference between riding 5 rides in a day and riding 15.
Park Hopper Tickets: We only had one day to hit both Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park. The parks are literally right across the street from each other (a minute walk!), so hopping back and forth to catch specific rides or shows is incredibly easy with Park Hopper tickets.
Rider Switch is a Lifesaver: If you have a toddler who can't ride the big coasters, one parent waits with the little one while the other rides. Then, you swap, and the second parent gets to ride without waiting in line again. Your kiddo gets to ride twice without waiting in line, and each parents gets a turn. Win-win!
Free Magic: Head to the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique inside Fantasyland and ask a Cast Member for a "Pixie Dust" sparkle. It is totally FREE and just the cutest core memory and photo op.

Where We Stayed: Howard Johnson Anaheim (The HoJo)

If you want to stay near Disneyland without breaking the bank, The HoJo is the move. It’s right across the street from the park and has big rooms, comfy beds, and the cutest retro vibe. They also have a mini pirate-themed waterpark with slides, splash zones, and a big pirate ship.

Huckleberry’s: Southern Comfort Food

Our first stop outside the park was Huckleberry’s inside the Anaheim GardenWalk. It’s Southern comfort food with unreal beignets, fluffy biscuits, and all the cozy dishes you don’t usually find in California. We sat right under their giant animatronic alligator that wiggled, growled, and made the kids laugh nonstop. Note: Portions are huge. Share a couple mains and definitely, definitely get the beignet with their famous huckleberry sauce.

Ridemakerz – A Build-A-Bear for Race Cars

If you do one thing outside Disneyland with your kids, let it be Ridemakerz. Also located at Anaheim GardenWalk, this place is basically Build-A-Bear but for remote-control race cars. Kids choose their car body, wheels, colors, lights, and sounds, and then build the whole thing themselves with tools at a workbench. My kids (and husband) were obsessed! Once the cars were finished, they could immediately drive them around the store and then bring them home as a great souvenir.

Cottage Industries

Cottage Industries is one of the most creative, family-friendly community spaces we’ve been to. It’s designed for kids to explore and play while parents relax and enjoy genuinely good food. There are teepees, music walls, lawn games, ride-on toys, and a sandbox filled with toys. And because the whole area is enclosed and gated, it’s safe for the kids to freely run around. You can’t miss the ribs and brisket from Smoke Queen BBQ (it’s SO good!) and make sure to grab some of the fun drinks from Junbi.

SteelCraft Garden Grove

SteelCraft is another great low-stress space for families. The open-air food hall is built out of shipping containers, and has long communal tables, tons of food stalls, craft beer, live music, and a small dedicated kids play area. It felt like the perfect, mellow contrast to the busyness of Disneyland. There were so many families there when we visited, and the whole place had such a fun local vibe.

Joe’s Italian Ice

Joe’s Italian Ice is an Anaheim institution for a reason. It’s soft serve ice cream layered with shaved ice, and I would honestly fly back to California just for this!

San Diego – The Chill Coastal Finale

San Diego was the perfect final stop on our California road trip. It has this calm, laid-back coastal energy that helped everyone reset after the excitement of Los Angeles and Anaheim. We found sunshine, incredible ocean views, tide pools, beautiful art, and a much needed slower pace.

La Jolla

La Jolla was our first stop in San Diego and definitely one of the trip highlights. The tide pools here are famous for a reason! At low tide, the rocky shoreline turns into a natural playground brimming with shallow pools and tiny sea creatures.

The kids spent forever climbing over rocks and searching for crabs and sea anemones. Make sure you check tide times before you go - you need low tide for the best viewing, and bring some water shoes because the rocks can get slippery.

Afterwards, make a stop at La Jolla Children’s Pool to see the amazing colony of seals and sea lions lounging on the beach. My kids loved watching these funny creatures wiggle around and pop their heads up to say hello.

Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego (MCASD)

The Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego (MCASD) in La Jolla is absolutely stunning. Huge floor-to-ceiling windows overlook the bright blue ocean, there’s an outdoor sculpture garden, and even a sensory room for children filled with little tents, toys and books.

Lunch at The Kitchen (MCASD)

The Kitchen, located right inside the museum, ended up being an amazing lunch spot. It has the craziest views overlooking the ocean! The food is so delicious, with a kids menu and a fresh mozzarella sourdough sandwich with pistachio butter that is to die for! They also have a really collab with the local brewery Societe Brewing on a custom beer can inspired by the museum’s iconic views. Such a fun nod to La Jolla!

Puesto La Jolla

You can’t leave San Diego without tacos, and Puesto La Jolla lived up to the hype. They really do have the BEST tacos and margaritas in town. More importantly though, they’re very kid-friendly with a great children’s menu and Wikki Stix to play with (instead of just colouring sheets). Make sure to grab a seat with a view of the tortilla making, which was such great entertainment for the kids.

The San Diego Zoo

The San Diego Zoo is world-famous for a reason and absolutely worth visiting with kids. The grounds are lush and immersive, and the natural-style animal habitats are beautiful. It feels more like you’re walking through botanical gardens than a traditional zoo.

To save our legs, we booked the Discovery Cart Tour, which was perfect for our family. It’s a guided ride through the zoo on a golf cart, so the kids could see everything without getting tired and ask the guide a million questions (while us parents chilled). Note that the San Diego Zoo is huge, so you’ll want a stroller, which are available for rent at Guest Services if you didn’t bring your own.

Beyond the animals, there are excellent play areas, including a large tree-themed climbing structure with rope bridges where kids can burn off energy, plus the Balboa Park Miniature Train, a short loop ride through Balboa Park that’s a fun, low-effort break from walking. There’s also a 4D theater for an easy indoor reset and daily wildlife presentations where kids can see animals up close and learn directly from the keepers.

Where We Stayed: Mission Bay Resort

Mission Bay Resort is a no-brainer if you’re looking for a great family-friendly place to stay in San Diego with kids. The resort sits right on a calm, shallow bay with its own sandy beach area, where the kids can safely run, dig, splash and play. Mission Bay Resort also has a large pool, kiddie splash zone, and tons of family programming including bonfires with s'more nights, dive-in movies, live music, and scavenger hunts. You can also rent jet skis, paddle boards and small boats right on site, and there are bikes for exploring the paths around the bay.

This California road trip with kids packed in such a diverse mix of experiences in a short period of time! California is such a unique destination because in less than one week you can mix big-city culture and architecture, world-class theme parks, and those iconic laid-back coastal vibes. Save this itinerary and start planning your California family vacation for 2026!