The best activities for toddlers in Orange County start with Pretend City Children’s Museum in Irvine and the Santa Ana Zoo. River Street Ranch in San Juan Capistrano is the top petting zoo. Irvine Park Railroad and Baby Beach in Dana Point round out the short list.
This guide is built for kids roughly 1 to 4 years old. Every pick has a toddler zone, a short ride, or calm water. Most work in a morning and get you home before nap time.
Toddlers need different things than big kids. They want animals, trains, sand, and room to wander. Parents want shade, clean restrooms, stroller access, and free entry for the under-2 crowd.
I ranked these on toddler fit first, then value and ease. Prices and hours below come from each venue’s own site. Check before you drive, since schedules shift with the seasons.
Have older siblings too? Our best family activities in Orange County guide covers bigger-kid spots like Discovery Cube and Adventure City.
1. Pretend City Children’s Museum (Irvine)
Pretend City is a kid-sized town built for young children. Toddlers can shop a mini grocery store, steer a fire truck, splash in a water table, and dig in an indoor beach.
Everything sits at toddler height. The whole museum is designed around play-based learning, so nothing feels off-limits to little hands.
The best toddler zones
Head first to the Toddler Park, an area built for scooting, rolling, and early walkers. The marina water play and the indoor beach are the next stops for most two-year-olds.
The farm, the café, and the grocery store are perfect for pretend play. Pack a spare shirt, because the water area gets kids wet.
On Monday mornings, Pretend City runs Toddler Town from 9 to 10:30 a.m. It is a quieter session just for ages 19 months to 3 years. It costs $12 per adult and per child, and registration is required. Older siblings are not allowed, which keeps it calm.
Tickets, hours and parking
General hours are Wednesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The museum is normally closed Monday and Tuesday outside of programs.
Admission is $22 for both children and adults. Infants up to 12 months get in free. EBT and WIC cardholders pay $5 per person for up to four people at the door.
Parking is free in the lot and behind the building. The museum is phone-free, so expect to put your device away. Nut-free outside snacks are allowed in the café area.
Find it at 29 Hubble, Irvine, CA 92618. Book tickets and Toddler Town on the Pretend City website.
2. Santa Ana Zoo (Santa Ana)
The Santa Ana Zoo is small, shaded, and easy to cover with a stroller. That size is exactly why it works for toddlers.
You can see monkeys, anteaters, birds, and farm animals in a couple of hours. Nobody melts down on a long walk between exhibits.
Rides and play areas
The Crean Family Farm is the toddler hub. The Zoofari Express train loops through the farm and the South American habitats in about six and a half minutes.
The train costs $7 per rider, paid with ride tickets sold near the farm. The Conservation Carrousel is $3.50, and the 50 Monkeys Ferris Wheel is $7.
Rides run Friday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and weekends from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., weather permitting. The Safari Playground has a separate structure for ages 2 to 5.
Tickets and timing
The zoo is open daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. General admission is $15. Kids 3 to 12 pay $11, and children 2 and under are free.
Santa Ana residents get in free on the third Sunday of each month with photo ID. The ticket booth takes Visa, Mastercard, and cash only.
Parking is limited during lot improvements. Enter from Chestnut Avenue, not Zoo Lane. Arrive near opening for the best spaces and the coolest weather.
The zoo is at 1801 E Chestnut Ave, Santa Ana, CA 92701. Check current hours on the Santa Ana Zoo website.
3. River Street Ranch, aka Zoomars (San Juan Capistrano)
River Street Ranch is the petting zoo many locals still call Zoomars. It sits in the Los Rios Historic District and is home to about 80 animals.
Toddlers can pet goats, sheep, pigs, and guinea pigs up close. Feed baskets of fruit and veggies cost $6 and make the visit.
What toddlers can do
The Western-themed playground has four slides and a play area underneath. Mini excavators cost $3 a ride and are open to all ages.
The kiddie train, mini tractors, and pony rides are for ages 3 to 10. The train and tractors are $5 a ride, and pony rides are $10 a lap.
The guinea pigs come off exhibit when it is below 60 or above 82 degrees. Call ahead on hot or chilly days if that pen is the big draw.
Tickets and planning
The ranch is open daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with last entry at 3:30 p.m. It may close for heavy rain or extreme heat.
Admission is $16 for ages 13 to 59 and $13 for kids 3 to 12. Children 35 months and under are free. Every guest needs a signed waiver, so fill it out online first.
The ranch is a short walk from the San Juan Capistrano train station. Wear shoes that can get dusty.
Visit at 31791 Los Rios St, San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675. Tickets and waivers are on the River Street Ranch website.
4. Irvine Park Railroad (Orange)
Irvine Park Railroad is a one-third scale train that rolls through the oak trees of Irvine Regional Park. For a train-obsessed toddler, it is close to perfect.
The ride is short, scenic, and slow enough for the nervous ones. Kids 12 months and younger ride free.
Tickets and seasonal events
Regular train rides cost $8 per person. A book of 15 tickets is $100 if you plan to come back often.
Fall is the busiest season. Each fall (typically October), the seasonal pumpkin patch runs on reserved weekends, and weekend visits require a reservation that includes a train ride.
Pumpkin patch tickets have been about $16 to $22 per person, so check current dates and prices before you book. Compare it with other picks in our best pumpkin patches in Orange County guide.
The Christmas Train runs Nov. 27 through Dec. 23. Tickets go on sale online Nov. 2, and kids under 24 months ride free.
Hours and parking
During the October rush, trains have run weekdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and weekends from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Late fall and winter hours drop to 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends.
The county charges a park entry fee per car: $3 on weekdays, $5 on weekends, and $7 on holidays. Pony rides nearby are $8 and cash only.
Find the station at 1 Irvine Park Rd, Orange, CA 92869. Current hours are on the Irvine Park Railroad website.
5. Centennial Farm (Costa Mesa)
Centennial Farm is a three-acre working farm at the OC Fair & Event Center. Admission and parking are both free, and no reservation is needed.
Toddlers can see pigs, chickens, goats, and cattle. They can also walk the vegetable rows and peek into the big red barns.
When to go
Public hours are Monday through Friday from 1 to 4 p.m. Weekends run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The barns close at 3:15 p.m. daily. The farm also closes on holidays and during all-grounds events, so check the calendar first.
Weekend mornings are the easy choice for toddlers. Weekday afternoons work well after an early nap.
Good to know
This is a teaching farm, so please do not pick the crops. Keep little hands out of the pens unless staff invite you in.
The farm also hosts free Discovery Days with hands-on activities. Those require an RSVP, so watch the farm calendar.
The farm is at 88 Fair Dr, Costa Mesa, CA 92626. Hours and closures are on the OC Fair Centennial Farm page.
6. Baby Beach (Dana Point)
Baby Beach earned its name. It sits inside Dana Point Harbor, so there are no real waves, just calm and shallow water.
It is the easiest beach day you can have with a toddler. A roped area marks where swimming is allowed.
Why it works for little kids
Restrooms and showers are right by the sand. A grassy area with picnic tables and barbecues sits behind the beach.
The water stays shallow for a long way out. Kids can wade, dig, and splash without getting knocked over.
Beach hours are 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. Dogs are allowed on the grass on a leash but not on the sand.
Plan ahead
Harbor water can trigger health advisories after rain. Check the county’s beach water quality site, ocbeachinfo.com, before you wade.
Weekends fill up by late morning. Parking lots are next to the beach, with more spaces along Dana Point Harbor Drive. Harbor construction may shift lot access, so follow posted signs.
Want waves or tide pools instead? See our best beaches in Orange County guide for older kids.
Baby Beach is at 34551 Puerto Pl, Dana Point, CA 92629. Amenities and rules are on the OC Parks Dana Point Harbor page.
7. Camp Snoopy at Knott’s Berry Farm (Buena Park)
Camp Snoopy is the kids’ land at Knott’s Berry Farm. If you want a theme park day with a toddler, this is the section to build around.
Children 2 and under get into Knott’s free. That makes a short morning visit easier to justify.
What toddlers can ride
Height is everything here. Sally’s Swing Along has no height minimum, and a parent can ride side by side.
At 36 inches, Camp Snoopy opens up. Balloon Race, Pig-Pen’s Mud Buggies, Charlie Brown’s Kite Flyer, and the Off-Road Rally are all in reach.
Snoopy’s Tenderpaw Twister is the first real coaster. Kids can ride at 36 inches with a supervising companion or at 42 inches alone.
Under 36 inches? The Peanuts character meet-and-greets are the highlight. Measure your toddler in shoes before you buy tickets.
Make it easy
Ask about Rider Swap if one adult wants a bigger ride. The non-rider waits with the toddler, then takes a turn without lining up again.
Beagle Scout Acres is a shaded spot for snacks. Ticket prices and parking vary by date, so check the park calendar.
Knott’s is at 8039 Beach Blvd, Buena Park, CA 90620. Tickets and ride heights are on the Knott’s Berry Farm website.
8. Goathill Junction Railroad (Costa Mesa)
Goathill Junction is a volunteer-run miniature railroad in Fairview Park. The rides are free, and that alone puts it on this list.
The Orange County Model Engineers run nearly 5 miles of track. A loop takes about 12 minutes and passes trees, a bridge, and open bluffs.
The rules for little riders
Every rider must be at least 31 inches tall and able to walk on board. No babies in carriers or lap sitting are allowed.
That height rule makes it a better fit for older toddlers and preschoolers. Measure at home so nobody is disappointed at the platform.
When it runs
Public rides happen only on the third full weekend of each month. Trains run from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., weather permitting.
Dates can shift for holidays and weather, so check the schedule before you go.
Arrive a little before 10 a.m. to beat the line. There is very little shade, so bring hats and sunscreen. Donations help keep the trains running.
The station is at 2480 Placentia Ave, Costa Mesa, CA 92627. Dates are on the Orange County Model Engineers website.
Best activities for toddlers in Orange County compared
| Spot | City | Best for | Toddler price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pretend City | Irvine | Indoor pretend play | $22; under 12 months free |
| Santa Ana Zoo | Santa Ana | Small zoo and farm train | $15; 2 and under free |
| River Street Ranch | San Juan Capistrano | Petting zoo and playground | $16; under 3 free |
| Irvine Park Railroad | Orange | Scenic train ride | $8 ride; 12 months and under free |
| Centennial Farm | Costa Mesa | Barnyard animals | Free |
| Baby Beach | Dana Point | Calm, shallow water | Free entry |
| Camp Snoopy at Knott’s | Buena Park | First rides | Varies; 2 and under free |
| Goathill Junction | Costa Mesa | Free mini train | Free; 31-inch minimum |
How to choose for your toddler
Pick Pretend City for a hot or rainy day. Pick the Santa Ana Zoo or River Street Ranch for an animal lover.
Pick Irvine Park Railroad or Goathill Junction for a train fan. Pick Baby Beach when you want sand without big waves.
Free and low-cost ideas
Centennial Farm, Baby Beach, and Goathill Junction cost nothing to enter. OC Public Libraries also hosts free baby and toddler storytimes at many branches.
Storytime schedules vary by branch. Some fill up, so check your local library calendar the week before.
Rainy-day backup
Pretend City is the best indoor pick for this age. For more covered options, see our indoor activities in Orange County guide.
People Also Ask
Top picks are Pretend City Children’s Museum in Irvine, the Santa Ana Zoo, and River Street Ranch in San Juan Capistrano. Irvine Park Railroad in Orange, Centennial Farm in Costa Mesa, and Baby Beach in Dana Point are also great toddler outings.
Centennial Farm in Costa Mesa has free admission and parking. Baby Beach in Dana Point is free to visit. Goathill Junction Railroad in Costa Mesa offers free train rides on the third full weekend of each month.
Pretend City Children’s Museum in Irvine is the best indoor option for toddlers. It has a Toddler Park, water play, an indoor beach, and a mini grocery store.
Baby Beach in Dana Point Harbor is the top pick. The water is calm and shallow, and there are restrooms, showers, and grass nearby. Check water quality before wading.
River Street Ranch, also called Zoomars, in San Juan Capistrano lets kids pet and feed goats, sheep, and guinea pigs. Centennial Farm in Costa Mesa and the Santa Ana Zoo’s Crean Family Farm are other good options.
Yes. Goathill Junction Railroad in Costa Mesa offers free rides on the third full weekend of each month. Riders must be at least 31 inches tall. Irvine Park Railroad charges $8 but lets kids 12 months and under ride free.
Sally’s Swing Along in Camp Snoopy has no height minimum. At 36 inches, toddlers can ride Balloon Race, Pig-Pen’s Mud Buggies, and Charlie Brown’s Kite Flyer. Kids 2 and under get in free.
OC Public Libraries hosts free baby and toddler storytimes at many branches. Many city libraries also offer them. Check your branch calendar, since some sessions have limited space.
