San Diego family guide
Things to Do in North Park with Kids
Curated by Simir Shah
Reviewed & updated August 2026 · we check listings regularly, but hours and prices change — confirm before you go.
North Park on the map
📍 Where North Park is
North Park sits in San Diego, Southern California. Nearest major airport: San Diego Intl (~3 mi / 6 km). It's roughly 111 mi (178 km) from Downtown LA — 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 North Park? Start hereRec classes, library cards, school lookup, alerts and getting around.OpenClose
- Library card: North Park Library at 3795 31st St. offers family programs; parking is metered street spaces, and MTS Routes 7 and 11 stop nearby.
- Storytime: North Park Library posts its storytimes and family programs on SDPL's online events calendar, linked from the branch page.
- Rec center: North Park Recreation Center at 4044 Idaho St. has a gym, tennis courts, a children's play area and a teen center open weekday afternoons.
- Find your school: Most of North Park feeds Jefferson or Garfield Elementary, Roosevelt Middle and San Diego High; check edge addresses in SDUSD's School Finder.
- Local insider: Morley Field, in Balboa Park's northeast corner at Texas and Upas streets, has the outdoor Bud Kearns Memorial Pool plus city sports and movie nights.
- Report it: Get It Done: Get It Done, the city's 311 app and website, takes reports of potholes, graffiti, illegal dumping, broken streetlights, parking problems and missed trash pickups.
- Emergency alerts: Register your cell phone and email with AlertSanDiego, the county's emergency notification system; landlines are already included automatically.
- Kids ride free: Riders 18 and under ride MTS buses and the Trolley free with a Youth PRONTO card or app account through June 30, 2027.
- Trash & recycling: City-serviced homes get gray trash, blue recycling and green organics bins; the monthly fee and schedule are on the city's setup page.
Things to do in North Park
North Park Library
This San Diego Public Library branch on 31st Street runs children's and family programs, including storytimes and kids' coding classes; check the branch calendar for current days. It has metered street parking only and sits on bus routes 7 and 11.
Free
Bud Kearns Memorial Pool
This outdoor 12-lane city pool at Morley Field has heated indoor showers and shaded bleachers, and it's popular for birthday parties. Depth runs 3–9 feet and there's no wading pool, so it suits confident swimmers. A paying adult in a swimsuit must stay within arm's reach of kids under 8 or under 4 feet tall.
$2.25 kids/seniors, $5 adults (16+)Florida Canyon Native Plant Preserve
These 150 acres of coastal sage scrub on the east side of Balboa Park show how the park looked before landscaping. Dirt trails wind through the canyon, and San Diego Natural History Museum Canyoneers often lead guided walks here. The coastal sage scrub gives little shade, so go in the morning and bring water.
FreeMorley Field Disc Golf Course
This is one of San Diego's best-known disc golf courses, set in the eucalyptus groves on Pershing Drive. Rental discs make it an easy first try for school-age kids. Tee times are recommended on weekends, and big tournaments take over the course on some December weekends.
All-day play band $6 weekdays, $8 weekends; disc rental $2.50Morley Field Sports Complex
Officially the northeast section of Balboa Park, at Texas and Upas streets on the North Park side, it has a tiny tots play area, group picnic areas, an archery range, bocce and petanque courts, a velodrome and 25 tennis courts. The center hosts seasonal events like sunset Movies in the Park. The Morley Field trailhead starts three marked trails, and the 2.3-mile red-marker loop is rated easy.
Free to visit; fees for some facilitiesNorth Park Mini Park
This small public plaza behind the 29th Street businesses has seating areas, gardens and a play area for kids. It's also home to the Thursday farmers market and several weekend pop-up markets, so it can be busy on market days.
Free
San Diego Velodrome
This outdoor banked cycling track at Morley Field runs beginner classes with track bikes included. Its Junior Program is for riders aged 8–17. It's a fun way to watch racing, or to try something new with a bike-loving older kid.
Check siteLocal shops in North Park
Verbatim Books
San Diego's largest independent bookstore; cozy and eclectic with floor-to-ceiling shelves, many used titles at $5-7, and a big quirky mural on 30th Street.
Replay Toys
Independent toy shop noted among North Park's top local toy retailers.
North Park Nursery
Locally owned nursery next to Communal Coffee where you can browse plants with a coffee in hand; a past winner of San Diego's Best Garden Supply/Nursery.
Pigment
Curated home decor, jewelry, candles, plant stands, and houseplants.
Seasonal & outdoors near North Park
The closest splash pads, patches, lights and more — distances from North Park.
More San Diego family guides
North Park family FAQ
What are the best things to do in North Park with kids?
Family favorites in and around North Park include North Park Library, Bud Kearns Memorial Pool, Florida Canyon Native Plant Preserve and Morley Field Disc Golf Course, and more. Our guide lists 7 spots, each with a price note and practical tips where we have them.
Are there free things to do in North Park?
Yes — free family spots near North Park include North Park Library, Florida Canyon Native Plant Preserve, Morley Field Sports Complex and North Park Mini Park. Our free things to do page lists more across Southern California.
How can families spend a day in North Park?
One easy plan: start outside at Bud Kearns Memorial Pool while kids have the most energy, break for lunch, then head indoors to North Park Library for the afternoon. Our guide has prices and tips for each stop, plus 5 more ideas to swap in.
What does the YourSoCal North Park guide cover?
Our North Park family guide includes 7 things to do and 4 local shops — with independent, non-chain eats and shops.
Listings are curated and may change — confirm hours and details before you go.
Where to stay in North Park
Hotels & rentals via Stay22 · we may earn a commissionCompare hotels, resorts, and vacation rentals near North Park on one map — then book on your favorite site.