Here are some suggestions for family-friendly day trips to San Diego. I love taking my kids to San Diego.
The hardest part is trying to decide what we should do while we're there.
I recently came up with a list of 7 possibilities which I presented to the kids.
My criteria was that the whole day would cost us $150 or less, excluding lunch. (This used to be under $100, but prices have gone WAY up since 2020.)
We could choose to eat out or pack a picnic. Prices are based on kids that are 9 and 5 so if your kids are younger than 3, you might get to pay considerably less than what I am listing.
The kids got to choose what they wanted. I told them any leftover cash would get put back into the pot for our next field trip.
These options will take most of your day, leaving enough time to drive there and back.
OPTION #1 ($68)
Japanese Friendship Garden & Museum - $16 (Looks like a great place to have lunch)
San Diego Museum of Natural History - $52
OPTION #2 ($79)
San Diego Air and Space Museum - $79
Stroll the gardens and explore Botanical Building and Trails - FREE
We took the Palm Canyon Trail.
OPTION #3 ($38)
San Diego Botanic Garden
OPTION #4 ($94.85)
Stephen Birch Aquarium - $94.85
La Jolla Sea Cave - $27 (optional)
Play at La Jolla Shores Beach - FREE
OPTION #5 ($208 - price raised since I first wrote this post!)
San Diego Zoo
OPTION #6 ($139)
Maritime Museum of San Diego - $48
USS Midway Aircraft Carrier Museum - $91
OPTION #7 ($20)
Point Loma and Cabrillo Monument - Visitor Center, Museum, Tidepools
Originally published in 2011.
You are not imagining things! This used to be MUCH less expensive and you could do each day for well under $100. I originally published this in March 2011 and my most recent revision was in 2021.
At that time, the comparable cost was:
- $50 (now at $68 is a 36% increase)
- $36 (now at $79 is a 119% increase)
- $30 (now at $36 is a 20% increase)
- $53 (now at $94.85 + optional $27 makes it $121.85 and a 230% increase)
- $118 (now at $208 is a 76% increase)
- $72 (now at $139 is a 193% increase)
- $15 (now at $20 is a 25% increase)
