20 Things to Do With Teens in Los Angeles (2026)

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The best things to do with teens in Los Angeles give them a job, not just a view. Think escape rooms where a 15-year-old cracks the code first, a haunted hayride in Griffith Park, and a free observatory open until 10 p.m.

This guide covers 20 ideas for kids aged 13 to 18. We picked the escape rooms Morty users rate highest, led by local independents, checked the age rules on each venue's own site, and added October 2026 dates for the Halloween picks.

Planning for a mixed group or another city? Our guide to activities to do with teenagers has ideas that work anywhere, and younger siblings can find rooms on our escape rooms for kids list.

Short on time? Start with these:

Best puzzle day: Lab Rat at Hatch Escapes in central LA.

Best free day: Griffith Observatory, then The Broad downtown.

Best October night: the Los Angeles Haunted Hayride, which warns it may be too intense for kids 12 and under.

Best big splurge: Universal Studios Hollywood for Super Nintendo World and Harry Potter.

Top-rated escape rooms in Los Angeles for teens

Escape rooms are the rare outing where your teen leads and you follow. Every room below is bookable on Morty and rated Very Positive or better by Morty users. Compare every room, with its age guidance, on the Los Angeles escape rooms page.

Check the supervision rule before you plan a drop-off. Rules vary by venue and by room: some want an adult with younger teens, others with anyone under 18.

1. Play Lab Rat at Hatch Escapes

Two visitors posing with a wooden mannequin inside the Lab Rat escape room at Hatch Escapes in Los Angeles

Lab Rat is rated Overwhelmingly Positive on Morty. Hatch Escapes calls it "75 minutes of classic escape room. Funny, family-friendly."

The venue is an independent studio at 1919 3rd Ave in central LA. Its FAQ sets the minimum age at 8 and asks for one adult per five minors.

Tip: Skip Hatch's other room, The Nest, with younger teens. The venue says it is not recommended for anyone under 18 because of its subject matter.

2. Sail into Treasure Island at Brain Games Escape Room in San Pedro

A costumed pirate beside a gold-filled treasure chest in the Treasure Island escape room at Brain Games Escape Room in San Pedro

Treasure Island promises "Tikis, Treasure, Talking Fish!" and is rated Overwhelmingly Positive on Morty. It runs 75 minutes, which gives a new group time to find its rhythm.

Brain Games Escape Room is a single-location independent at 757 W Ninth St in San Pedro, near the port. Its sister room Flynn's Arcade is also rated Overwhelmingly Positive and suits gamers.

Tip: The venue lists a weekday code, WEEKDAY, that saves $20 Monday through Friday.

3. Solve Here, Kitty Kitty at Escape Room LA downtown

The cozy kitchen set inside the Here, Kitty Kitty escape room at Escape Room LA in downtown Los Angeles

Here, Kitty Kitty is a 60-minute room rated Very Positive on Morty. It is a gentle first room for a family that has never tried one.

Escape Room LA is a local LA operator at 120 E 8th St, in the Fashion District. For a harder second round, The Pyramid is rated Very Positive and the venue scores it 8 out of 10 for difficulty.

4. Investigate Whatever Happened to the Garretts at Maze Rooms in West LA

Whatever Happened to the Garretts is a mystery set in a family home, rated Very Positive on Morty. Maze Rooms is a local company with six locations across LA, and lists the room as medium difficulty.

It is at 11901 Santa Monica Blvd in West LA, and games start at $37 per person. If your teen likes tech, Twisted Matrix at the Vermont Ave location is also rated Very Positive.

Puzzles outside the escape room

5. Hunt a spy in Little Tokyo with Spies Among Us

Spies Among Us is an outdoor mission rated Very Positive on Morty. Your group gets texts, calls and clues on your phones and has to spot an undercover spy walking through Little Tokyo.

The operator lists it for ages 12 and up, 60 to 90 minutes long, at $39 per person. Plan on about 1 to 1.5 miles of walking, so wear real shoes.

October haunts that take teens

Halloween is the one season when LA teens beg to go out with their parents. Browse every option on the Los Angeles haunted houses page.

6. Brave Knott's Scary Farm in Buena Park

Knott's Scary Farm runs select nights from September 17 to October 31, 2026. The park says it "is not recommended for children under 13," and every person needs a paid ticket.

Single-night tickets start at $75, and group tickets for 15 or more start at $60 per person online. Morty users rated its Cinema Slasher maze Very Positive in a past season, so check this year's maze list before you go.

7. Ride the Los Angeles Haunted Hayride in Griffith Park

A fog-filled tunnel lit with jack-o'-lanterns at the Los Angeles Haunted Hayride in Griffith Park

The Los Angeles Haunted Hayride runs select nights from September 18 to November 1, 2026, at 4730 Crystal Springs Dr. Tickets start at $34.99.

Its site warns the event "may be too intense for children 12 & under." Teens who want a break from scares can try the gellyball game, axe throwing or the mini escape games on site. See it on Morty as the Los Angeles Haunted Hayride.

Free and cheap days out

8. Watch the sunset from Griffith Observatory

Griffith Observatory is free to enter. It opens at noon on weekdays and 10 a.m. on weekends, stays open until 10 p.m., and closes on Mondays.

Go late in the day so your teen gets the city lights after sunset. Parking closest to the building is paid, so arrive early on weekends.

9. Hike to a Hollywood Sign view in Griffith Park

The Hollywood Sign site rates the Mt. Hollywood Trail as easy, at 5.3 miles and about 2.5 hours. Trails open sunrise to sunset every day.

The sign itself is fenced and watched by cameras, so the goal is the view, not a selfie on the letters. Bring more water than you think, start early to beat the heat, and stay on marked trails.

10. See the Infinity Mirror Room at The Broad

The Broad downtown has free general admission and is closed Mondays. A timed ticket is recommended, but walk-ups are available daily.

Yayoi Kusama's Infinity Mirrored Room needs its own advance reservation, and it is the photo your teen will want. Thursday hours run until 8 p.m. if you want an after-school trip.

11. Stand under a space shuttle at the California Science Center

The California Science Center in Exposition Park has free general admission. Its new Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center opens on November 13, 2026, with Space Shuttle Endeavour standing upright in launch position, according to Time Out.

That new building uses timed reservations with a small service fee. Book early for the first weekends, since demand will be high.

12. Catch the city views at the Getty Center

The Getty Center in Brentwood has free admission with a timed-entry reservation. It is open Tuesday to Sunday, until 9 p.m. on Saturdays, and closed Mondays.

Teens who shrug at paintings still like the gardens, the modern buildings and the views over the city. Go Saturday evening for sunset, and budget for parking.

13. Ride the West Coaster at Santa Monica Pier

The Santa Monica Pier is free to walk, and it has been around since 1909. Pacific Park on the pier has no entry fee: you buy ride tickets or an unlimited wristband.

Its Pacific Wheel is billed as the first solar-powered Ferris wheel. Hours change by day, so check the park calendar before you drive over.

14. Walk the Venice Beach boardwalk

The Venice boardwalk is a free show: street performers, skaters and odd little shops, all a short walk south of Santa Monica. Teens who skate can watch the locals at the beachside skatepark.

Rent bikes and ride the beach path between Venice and the pier. Go in the late morning before the afternoon crowds.

15. Get lost in The Last Bookstore downtown

The Last Bookstore at 453 S Spring St fills a former bank with books, vinyl and art. Its own site promises "the tunnel of books," which is the photo your teen came for.

It is open until 11 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. Pair it with Grand Central Market, a short walk away.

Museums teens actually like

16. Explore music history at the GRAMMY Museum

The GRAMMY Museum at 800 W Olympic Blvd is free for ages 17 and under, and adults pay $22.50. Visitors under 16 need an adult with them.

It is closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Pair it with an escape room at Escape Room LA, a short drive away downtown.

17. See the Vault at the Petersen Automotive Museum

The Petersen Automotive Museum on Wilshire Blvd is open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Its Vault holds "over 300 of the rarest vehicles ever assembled."

Add the Vault for car-obsessed teens, and arrive early: last call for the Vault is 5 p.m. Check ticket prices on the museum's site.

Big-ticket days

18. Spend a day at Universal Studios Hollywood

Universal Studios Hollywood has Super Nintendo World, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and its famous Studio Tour in one park. It is the easiest full-day win for a family with teens.

Buy tickets online ahead of time and arrive at opening. The most popular rides build long lines by midday.

19. Take the Warner Bros. Studio Tour in Burbank

The Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood runs about 3 hours and starts at $79. A Deluxe Tour stretches to 6 hours for the true film fan.

The backlot route changes daily with production, so every visit is a bit different. It is at 3400 Warner Blvd in Burbank.

Food teens will want to post

20. Graze through Grand Central Market

Grand Central Market at 317 S Broadway has fed downtown since 1917. It is open daily from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., though each vendor sets its own hours.

Let everyone pick a different stall, then share. Tacos Tumbras a Tomas, Ramen Hood and Lucky Bird are all on the current vendor list.

Three easy LA days with teens

Downtown day: The Broad when it opens, lunch at Grand Central Market, The Last Bookstore after lunch, then a late-afternoon room at Escape Room LA. Everything is within a short walk or ride.

Griffith Park day: the Mt. Hollywood Trail in the morning before the heat, a slow afternoon, then Griffith Observatory for sunset. In October, add the Haunted Hayride in the same park after dark.

Beach day: Santa Monica Pier in the late morning, then bikes south to Venice.

Universal Studios Hollywood takes a full day on its own, so do not stack it with anything else.

Find more on Morty

Morty lists escape rooms, haunts and immersive experiences across LA on its Los Angeles city page, with ratings from real Morty users. Each attraction page shows its age guidance, so you can match rooms to your group and book in a few taps.

Want reminders when new rooms open? Get the Morty app and save the ones your teen picks.

FAQs

What is there for teenagers to do in LA at night?

Griffith Observatory stays open until 10 p.m. every day except Monday, and it is free. In October, the Los Angeles Haunted Hayride and Knott's Scary Farm both run at night for teens 13 and up. Many escape rooms also take evening bookings, so check times on Morty.

Where can I take my teen in Los Angeles for free?

Griffith Observatory, The Broad, the Getty Center and the California Science Center all have free general admission. The Santa Monica Pier and the Venice boardwalk are free to walk. Budget for parking, which is usually the only cost.

Are escape rooms in Los Angeles good for 13 year olds?

Yes, most are. Lab Rat at Hatch Escapes sets its minimum age at 8 and asks for one adult per five minors. Supervision rules vary by venue, so check the FAQ before you book.

Can teens do an escape room without a parent?

It depends on the venue and the room. Some LA venues want an adult with anyone under 18, and others only with younger teens. Check the venue's FAQ before you book a drop-off.

Final thoughts

The best LA day with a teen mixes one thing they choose with one thing you do together. Start with an escape room they pick, then save the sunset at Griffith for the drive home.

20 Things to Do With Teens in Los Angeles They Will Actually Like