Inland Empire family guide
Things to Do in Upland with Kids
Curated by Simir Shah
Reviewed & updated August 2026 · we check listings regularly, but hours and prices change — confirm before you go.
Upland on the map
📍 Where Upland is
Upland sits in Inland Empire, Southern California. Nearest major airport: Ontario Intl (~4 mi / 6 km). It's roughly 34 mi (55 km) from Downtown LA and 100 mi (160 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.
Family attractions near Upland
The closest kid-friendly attractions in neighboring towns — with driving distance from Upland.
Cucamonga-Guasti Regional Park
Family park with a swim lagoon, summer water slides, fishing lakes, and shaded picnic areas.
~$10 vehicle; pool extra
Maloof Foundation for Arts & Crafts
The handcrafted home and gardens of famed woodworker Sam Maloof — a quiet arts outing for older kids and adults.
~$10 tour
LoanMart Field (Rancho Cucamonga Quakes)
Single-A ball in a ~6,000-seat park — cheap tickets, fireworks nights and a very kid-friendly vibe with Tremor the mascot.
Tickets from ~$10
Ontario Mills
Huge indoor outlet mall with Dave & Buster's, an arcade, a ropes course, and comedy — great for rainy days.
Free entry; attractions extra
Chino Youth Museum
A hands-on, kid-scaled museum in downtown Chino with a pretend grocery store, farm, fire truck and other role-play stations built for toddlers through early elementary. It's compact — an easy hour or two rather than a full day. Check their calendar for the free First Friday evening events most months.
Ages 2–54 $10, seniors 55+ $8, under 2 free
American Museum of Ceramic Art (AMOCA)
A surprisingly hands-on art museum in the downtown Arts Colony — time it to the free Second Saturday ArtWalk outside.
~$14 adult, under 12 free; pay-what-you-can first FridayFarmers markets in Upland
2nd Avenue Market Night
Downtown Upland street market with farmers, artisans, food, and live entertainment — a festive Thursday-night outing.
Upland Farmers Market & Street Fair
A Saturday morning market with produce, vendors, and a street-fair atmosphere in downtown Upland.
Festivals & annual events in Upland
What Upland is known for — the events locals plan the year around.
Upland Lemon Festival
Three days of lemon treats, carnival rides, live music, and a Lemon Idol contest in Historic Downtown Upland.
Local restaurants in Upland
Casa Moreno
Family-run Upland Mexican spot with generous combo plates and a casual room.
Spaggi's
Family-favorite Upland Italian for handmade pasta and celebration dinners in a warm setting.
Local shops in Upland
Suzann's Flowers
Family-owned florist since 1968, now the IE's largest, with fresh flowers, plants, and gifts.
The Vintage Vault of Upland
Upland vintage and handmade-goods shop great for unique jewelry and one-of-a-kind finds.
The Plant Safari
An independent plant lover's paradise with trendy houseplants and unique finds, with friendly staff happy to help young gardeners.
Buku Yarns
Friendly independent yarn shop with curated fibers, needles, and a welcoming knit-night community.
Seasonal & outdoors near Upland
The closest splash pads, patches, lights and more — distances from Upland.
Upland is part of the Inland Empire family guide — see the region's best things to do, local eats and events.
More Inland Empire family guides
Upland family FAQ
Where can families eat in Upland?
Local, family-friendly spots in Upland include Casa Moreno and Spaggi's — independent, SoCal-only eateries, never national chains.
What does the YourSoCal Upland guide cover?
Our Upland family guide includes 2 local eats, 4 local shops and 2 farmers markets — all hand-curated, locally owned, and sorted by distance from you.
Listings are curated and may change — confirm hours and details before you go.