101 Family Day Trips and Day Trips Around San Diego
**Follow each link to get details about your visit directly from your destination, since some places operate seasonally or by reservation, as well as to check each venue's COVID requirements (masks, limits, social distancing).
Free activities and splurges that are worth it. The coolest stuff for a staycation in town and road trips for less than a tank of gas from San Diego. Kids Out And About has tons of ideas for family travel, with places to explore, learn, and have fun!
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Take A Deep Breath In the Garden
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Fork and Plow Lavender Farm |
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Balboa Park Gardens |
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San Diego Botanic Gardens |
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The Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch |
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Alta Vista Botanical Gardens |
Get Wild on a Hike
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Copper Creek Falls |
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Crest Canyon |
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Doane Valley Nature Trail |
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Lake Cuyamaca Trails |
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Mission Trails Regional Park |
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San Elijo |
Time Travel Today
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Leo Carillo Ranch |
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Estudillo House |
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Heritage County Park |
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Heritage Park Village Museum |
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Julien Pioneer Park Museum |
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Mission San Diego |
Make Life a Beach
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La Jolla Shores Beach |
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Swami's Beach |
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Coronado Beach |
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Shell Beach |
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Mission Beach |
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Fiesta Island Beach |
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Ski Beach Park |
Splash into Some Water Fun
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LEGOLAND California Water Park |
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Sesame Place San Diego |
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SeaWorld San Diego |
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The Wave Waterpark |
Spend the Day at a Museum
Explore These Cities
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Carlsbad |
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Coronado |
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Julian |
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La Jolla |
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Mission Viejo |
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San Clemente |
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Temecula |
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Tijuana |
All Aboard Planes, Trains, and Automobiles (and Boats!)
Grow Some Fun at the Farm
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Bates Nut Farm |
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Costal Roots Farm |
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Pumpkin Station Farm Rancho Bernardo |
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Kenny's Strawberry Farm |
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Sugar Sweet Farm |
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Temecula Berry Company |
Play Ball!
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Barnes Tennis Center |
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Mira Mesa Lanes |
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Pelly's Mini Golf |
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San Diego Lawn Bowling Club |
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Stadium Golf Center and Batting Cages |
Treat Yo' Self
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Famous Oasis Ice Cream Parlor |
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GuilTea Cravings |
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Happy Lemon |
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Hammond's Ice Cream |
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Handel's Ice Cream |
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Mariposa Ice Cream |
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Stella Jean's |
Connect with Nature
Amuse Yourself at These Amusement Parks
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Belmont Park |
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Knott's Berry Farm |
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LEGOLAND California |
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Santa Monica Pier |
Talk to the Animals
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Children's Nature Retreat |
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Living Coast Discovery Center |
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Oasis Camel Dairy |
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San Diego Zoo and Safari Park |
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ZooMars Petting Zoo |
Explore the Globe Close to Home
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Centro Cultural de la Raza |
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Chicano Park |
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Japanese Friendship Garden |
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Little Italy San Diego |
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Mingei International Museum |
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San Diego Chinese Historical Museum |
Let's Go Chasing Waterfalls
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Cedar Creek Falls |
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Cottonwood Creek Trail |
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Kitchen Creek Falls |
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Los Penasquitos Falls |
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Maidenhair Falls |
Get Active Indoors
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Rockin Jump San Diego |
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Gymboree |
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FUNBelievable |
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Ninja Factory |
Challenge Yourself
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San Diego Symphony |
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City Ballet of San Diego |
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Museum of Contemporary Art |
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Lockdown Escape Rooms |
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Surfside Ranch |
Shop Your Heart Out
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The Library Shop |
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The Book Catapult |
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Seaport Village |
Limiting our list to 101 ideas meant some great destinations may have been left off the list - if there is something you’d like to see added, share it with us on Facebook!
Most of these destinations are within an hour from downtown San Diego. For those that are a bit farther away:
= Less than 1 hour away
= 1 to 2 hours away
= 2 to 3 hours away
= Just over 3 hours away