Enjoying three days in Los Angeles with kids on a budget—following an itinerary focusing on low-cost and free things to do—is easier than you might think. A solid to-do list lets you enjoy the best of the city while incorporating the relaxing, low-pressure time kids need. Achieving balance, and limiting your ambition if the situation calls for it, are the keys to having a wonderful time with your family in LA—without spending a bundle. 

And don’t recoil when you hear the word “itinerary.” It doesn’t have to mean running yourself and your family ragged, hitting every hot spot in this sprawling city, driving everyone crazy with an attempt to do it all. Relax. This three-day itinerary—let’s just call it a vacation plan instead—hits its share of iconic stops like the Santa Monica Pier and the La Brea Tar Pits but also builds in quieter destinations, plenty of downtime, and the best local restaurants for kids.

For more things to do in Los Angeles with kids on a budget, discover free museums and free museum days, bookmark this list of 100 free things to do in Los Angeles with kids, and check out our Guide to Free Things To Do in Los Angeles with Kids.