Los Angeles family guide
Things to Do in Compton with Kids
Curated by Simir Shah
Reviewed & updated August 2026 · we check listings regularly, but hours and prices change — confirm before you go.
Compton on the map
📍 Where Compton is
Compton sits in Los Angeles, Southern California. Nearest major airport: Long Beach (~7 mi / 11 km). It's roughly 11 mi (17 km) from Downtown LA and 102 mi (165 km) from San Diego — SoCal traffic can make a drive take far longer than the distance suggests, so plan around it.
Visiting? See SoCal at a glance, getting around and which airport.
🏡 New to Compton? Start hereRec classes, library cards, school lookup, alerts and getting around.OpenClose
- Rec classes & camps: Compton Recreation posts its program calendar and seasonal brochures in English and Spanish; the latest posted is Spring 2026.
- Library card: Compton Library at 240 W. Compton Boulevard is an LA County Library branch; cards are free to California residents with ID.
- Storytime: Compton Library currently hosts Smarty Pants Storytime for ages 2-5 on Saturdays and Baby Band Practice on Thursday mornings.
- Find your school: Compton Unified serves the city; its enrollment page links the MySchool Locator for your address.
- Pool programs: City pool programs include Little Splashers and Me, swim lessons and evening lessons, with flyers in English and Spanish.
- Alerts: Compton's own fire department runs Alert Compton, which sends urgent notices by text, email or voice message; registration is free.
- City events: The city calendar lists community happenings such as town halls, Coffee with a Cop and heritage celebrations.
- Compton Renaissance bus: The city's five-route Compton Renaissance buses run weekdays 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays, for $1.25 a ride.
- Local insider: The city's transportation page still calls it the Metro Blue Line, but the rail line through Compton is now the Metro A Line.
Things to do in Compton
Parks & Hiking
Burrell-MacDonald Park
A 5-acre park at 2516 W Alondra Blvd with a kids' and toddler playground, a walking trail, outdoor fitness equipment, a basketball court, a ball diamond and picnic areas. It's near Compton/Woodley Airport, so you can pair the two.
FreeEllerman Park
A 1.8-acre neighborhood park on the 400 block of W Bennett St with a kids' and toddler playground and a multipurpose field.
FreeFig/Oleander Park
A 0.8-acre pocket park at N Oleander Ave and W Fig St with a children's playground, close to Gonzales Park and Compton Creek Natural Park.
FreeKelly Park
A 3.8-acre park at 2319 E Caldwell St with a playground built in April 2024 by KaBOOM! with Delta and the Southern California Junior Cricket Academy. It also has a cricket pitch, pickleball, basketball courts and a ball diamond, which is unusual for the area.
FreeOaks Park
A 2.4-acre park at 1812 N Santa Fe Ave with a kids' and toddler playground, an outdoor basketball court and a multipurpose field.
FreeRaymond Street Park
A 2.5-acre neighborhood park on the 400 block of W Raymond St with a kids' and toddler playground and a baseball diamond, a few blocks south of the Civic Center.
FreeSibrie Park
A 3.8-acre park at 1300 W El Segundo Blvd in north Compton with a kids' and toddler playground, a baseball diamond and a multipurpose field.
FreeTragniew Park
A 4.5-acre neighborhood park at 2121 W Alondra Blvd with a kids' and toddler playground, tennis courts, an outdoor basketball court and a multipurpose field.
FreeWalter Tucker Park
A 4.9-acre park at 650 W Laurel St with a kids' and toddler playground, a multipurpose field and recreation meeting rooms.
FreeGonzales Park
A 14-acre city park at 1101 W Cressey St with a community center and gym, two junior baseball diamonds, a playground, a picnic area and an aquatic center (closed for maintenance as of October 2026). It's a few blocks from Compton Creek Natural Park, so the two make one outing.
Free park entryLueders Park & William Love Pool
A park at 1500 E Rosecrans Ave with kids' and toddler playgrounds, a gym, tennis courts, a walking trail, BBQ pits and the William Love swimming pool. Bring your own shade in summer and call the pool line for public swim times.
Free park entry; pool fees not published onlineWilson Park
A city park at 123 N Rose St with a skate park, basketball courts, gym, fitness equipment, a picnic area and a pool. The playground has been redesigned with inclusive play areas, but one listing described it as closed for renovation, so call before bringing toddlers.
Free park entry; pool fees not published online
Museums & Learning
Compton Air & Space Fair
An aviation and space career fair at Compton/Woodley Airport hosted by the Fly Compton Foundation with LA County Public Works. It's aimed at kids and teens curious about flying. The 2026 fair has passed; watch the county airport page for next year's date.
Check site; registration through Fly Compton FoundationCompton Library
A 20,000+ sq ft LA County Library branch at 240 W Compton Blvd in the Civic Center. Smarty Pants Storytime runs Saturdays at noon, which is handy for working parents, plus family math nights, STEAM labs and Baby Band.
FreeCompton/Woodley Airport
A county-run general aviation airport at 901 W Alondra Blvd, open since 1924, with an aircraft viewing area. Groups can schedule airport tours. Tomorrow's Aeronautical Museum is based here, but its hours aren't posted, so call (310) 618-1155 first.
Free to visit the viewing area
Festivals & annual events in Compton
What Compton is known for — the events locals plan the year around.
71st Annual Compton Christmas Parade
The city's long-running parade, themed Home for the Holidays in Hub City, runs about two miles along Compton Blvd from Bullis Rd to Alameda St, with Greg Townsend as Grand Marshal. Tip: arrive early for a curbside spot along Compton Blvd, since the route is long and the city invites families to line the street.
Free to watch (not stated explicitly)
Local restaurants in Compton
The Ingredients
Breakfast and brunch comfort food at 2251 W Rosecrans Ave: chicken and waffles, shrimp and grits, fried catfish and turkey spaghetti. Dine-in booths, takeout and catering, and it hosts birthdays and baby showers. Open daily 8am–5pm.
Alma's Place (Alma's Cookies & Company Restaurant)
A family-owned soul food restaurant and bakery at 312 W Compton Blvd, Suite 102 known for oxtails, pork chops, homemade cornbread, cakes, cookies and desserts, made from scratch with in-house seasoning. Online ordering is available.
Sunny Express Gourmet Fast Food (GFF Vegan)
A fully vegan Mexican and Chinese fast-food spot at 306 W Compton Blvd, #100 with jackfruit tacos, vegan fried rice, plant-based steak broccoli and a family dinner box, with call-ahead pickup and catering.
Seasonal & outdoors near Compton
The closest splash pads, patches, lights and more — distances from Compton.
More Los Angeles family guides
Compton family FAQ
What are the best things to do in Compton with kids?
Family favorites in and around Compton include Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial & Heritage House, Compton Air & Space Fair, Compton Library and Compton/Woodley Airport, and more. Our guide lists 17 spots, each with a price note and practical tips where we have them.
Are there free things to do in Compton?
Yes — free family spots near Compton include Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial & Heritage House, Compton Library, Compton/Woodley Airport and Burrell-MacDonald Park. Our free things to do page lists more across Southern California.
How can families spend a day in Compton?
One easy plan: start outside at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial & Heritage House while kids have the most energy, break for lunch at The Ingredients, then head indoors to Compton Library for the afternoon. Our guide has prices and tips for each stop, plus 15 more ideas to swap in.
Where can families eat in Compton?
Local, family-friendly spots in Compton include The Ingredients, Alma's Place (Alma's Cookies & Company Restaurant) and Sunny Express Gourmet Fast Food (GFF Vegan) — independent, SoCal-only eateries, never national chains.
What does the YourSoCal Compton guide cover?
Our Compton family guide includes 17 things to do and 3 local eats — with independent, non-chain eats and shops.
Listings are curated and may change — confirm hours and details before you go.
Where to stay in Compton
Hotels & rentals via Stay22 · we may earn a commissionCompare hotels, resorts, and vacation rentals near Compton on one map — then book on your favorite site.