🏰 Beyond the parks
Things to do near Disneyland
Curated by Simir Shah
23 spots within 60 miles of 92692
Pretend City Children's Museum
Irvine · Museum & science
A miniature city kids 'work' in — a market, café, fire truck and farm. Perfect for toddlers and early elementary.
🗓️ ~25 min drive
💵 Paid admission
Get directions →Adventure Playground & local splash pads
Irvine
OC has dozens of free splash pads and inventive playgrounds — an easy, free way to cool off between park days.
🗓️ ~25 min drive
Get directions →Boomers! Irvine
Irvine
A family fun center with mini-golf, go-karts, bumper boats, batting cages and an arcade — pay-per-attraction.
🗓️ ~20 min drive
Get directions →Irvine Regional Park & Railroad
Orange · Animal & nature
A huge shady park with a kids' train, pony rides, paddle boats and the small OC Zoo — a classic local day out.
🗓️ ~20 min drive
💵 Free entry ($ parking/rides)
Get directions →Balboa Fun Zone & Newport Beach
Newport Beach
A vintage bayfront boardwalk with a Ferris wheel, ferry to Balboa Island and frozen-banana stands.
🗓️ ~30 min drive
Get directions →Discovery Cube OC
Santa Ana · Museum & science
A high-energy hands-on science museum — a shake-table earthquake room, a dino dig and a big kids' climbing zone.
🗓️ ~15 min drive
💵 Paid admission
Get directions →Bowers Museum
Santa Ana · Museum & science
A respected art-and-culture museum with rotating world-culture exhibits and family-friendly weekend programming.
🗓️ ~15 min drive
💵 Paid admission
Get directions →Old Towne Orange Plaza
Orange
A charming historic circle of antique shops, ice-cream parlors and cafés around a century-old plaza — easy, walkable and free.
🗓️ ~15 min drive
Get directions →The Outlets at Orange
Orange
A big open-air outlet mall with an AMC theater, Dave & Buster's and dozens of stores — a handy rainy-day or evening backup.
🗓️ ~10 min drive
Get directions →Yorba Regional Park
Anaheim
Lakes, bike paths and big lawns along the river — easy free space for a picnic and to burn energy.
🗓️ ~15 min drive
Get directions →Anaheim GardenWalk
Anaheim
A walkable dining-and-entertainment center steps from the resort — restaurants, a comedy club and an arcade.
🗓️ ~5 min drive
Get directions →Flightdeck RogueRacing (Flight Sims)
Anaheim · Indoor play
Real airliner and fighter-jet flight simulators (plus racing sims), now right by Anaheim GardenWalk — a memorable rainy-day pick for older kids and teens.
🗓️ ~5 min drive
💵 $$ ticketed
Get directions →Downtown Disney District
Anaheim
The shops-and-dining promenade between the parks — free to stroll, with live music, a LEGO store and the World of Disney shop.
🗓️ At the resort
Get directions →Huntington Beach
Huntington Beach
'Surf City' — a wide, easy family beach with a long pier, fire rings and a flat downtown to stroll.
🗓️ ~25 min drive
Get directions →Anaheim Packing District
Anaheim
A restored 1919 citrus-packing house turned food hall — dozens of stalls, a great low-key dinner near the parks.
🗓️ ~5 min drive
Get directions →Muzeo Museum & Cultural Center
Anaheim · Museum & science
A small rotating-exhibit museum in Anaheim's historic Center Street district — an easy add-on near the parks.
🗓️ ~5 min drive
💵 $ ticketed
Get directions →Center Street Promenade
Anaheim
Downtown Anaheim's walkable strip of restaurants, dessert spots and the MAKE building food hall.
🗓️ ~5 min drive
Get directions →Adventure City
Anaheim · Theme park
A tiny, gentle theme park built for ages 2–10 — pint-sized rides, a petting farm and a kids' airplane ride.
🗓️ ~10 min drive
💵 $ ticketed
Get directions →Knott's Soak City
Buena Park · Theme park
A summer waterpark next to Knott's with slides, a lazy river and a kids' play area — a great heat-beater.
🗓️ ~10 min drive
💵 Paid admission
Get directions →Knott's Berry Farm
Buena Park · Theme park
America's first theme park — coasters, the Peanuts Camp Snoopy for little kids, and the famous fried chicken & boysenberry pie.
🗓️ ~10 min drive
💵 Paid admission
Get directions →Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament
Buena Park · Sports & entertainment
A jousting dinner show in a castle — knights, horses and a hands-on (no utensils) feast kids love.
🗓️ ~10 min drive
💵 $$ ticketed
Get directions →Pirates Dinner Adventure
Buena Park · Sports & entertainment
A swashbuckling stunt-and-acrobatics dinner show staged around a full-size pirate ship.
🗓️ ~10 min drive
💵 $$ ticketed
Get directions →Aquarium of the Pacific
Long Beach · Animal & nature
One of SoCal's best aquariums — touch tanks, sea otters, a lorikeet aviary and a shark lagoon.
🗓️ ~30 min drive
💵 Paid admission
Get directions →Book Anaheim-area tours & tickets
Bookable via Viator · we may earn a commission (no extra cost to you)Park transfers, skip-the-line add-ons, and family experiences near Disneyland — booked through Viator.
Free cancellationFull-Day Iconic Sights of LA, Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Beaches and More
Free cancellationUniversal Studios Hollywood General Admission Ticket, California
Free cancellationSkip the Line: Express Ticket at Universal Studios Hollywood
Free cancellationThe VIP Experience at Universal Studios Hollywood in California
Disneyland Resort Anaheim Tickets in California
Free cancellationBest of LA, Hollywood, Griffith Park, Santa Monica & Venice Tour from Anaheim
More experiences via GetYourGuide · we may earn a commission (no extra cost to you)
Where to stay in Anaheim
Hotels & rentals via Stay22 · we may earn a commissionCompare hotels, resorts, and vacation rentals near Anaheim on one map — then book on your favorite site.
Frequently asked questions
What free or cheap things are there to do near Disneyland?
Anaheim and the surrounding area have plenty beyond the parks. The Downtown Disney District is free to walk and people-watch, and nearby you'll find public parks, splash pads, and the Anaheim Packing District food hall for an inexpensive meal. A short drive gets you to Orange County beaches, regional parks, and family museums, so it's easy to build a low-cost day around a park visit.
Where are good family restaurants near Disneyland?
The area around Disneyland is packed with family-friendly dining at every price point, from the Anaheim Packing District food hall (great for picky eaters and varied tastes) to casual chains and local spots along Harbor Boulevard and Katella Avenue. Many places near the resort are used to families and offer kids' menus and early dinners. Eating slightly away from the park entrance usually means lower prices and shorter waits.
Are there parks or beaches close to Disneyland?
Yes. Orange County's beaches, including Huntington Beach and Newport Beach, are roughly a 20 to 40 minute drive from Anaheim depending on traffic, making a beach afternoon an easy add-on. There are also many neighborhood and regional parks with playgrounds and open space nearby for burning off energy without a ticket. A beach or park morning pairs well with an afternoon or evening park entry.
Planning the Disneyland trip?
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Doing the parks too? See our Disneyland first-timer's battle plan and how the SoCal theme parks compare. Drive times are typical estimates — pad them for traffic, and confirm hours before you go.