Pacific Surfliner With Kids: A Trip Plan for Every Stop
This is the train in Rally Takes the Train. The Spanish station on page two is the Santa Fe Depot in San Diego, the window page is the beach at San Clemente, and the tunnel is real. My mom dreamed up this book and never got to ride this line with my kids, so I ride it with them and write it all down. Below is what to do at every single stop, with walking minutes from the platform, a half-day plan, a full-day plan, the one moment to make sure happens, and an honest "stay on the train" where that's the right call.
By Kelsey Lizee Cecil. Checked against Amtrak, the Pacific Surfliner agency and each attraction in October 2026. Hours change; read the "know before you go" notes.If you only have one day
- With a toddler: San Juan Capistrano and San Clemente Pier.Feed the goats at Zoomars two minutes from the platform, ride 13 minutes south along the beach, eat lunch at the base of the pier, build a sandcastle, and ride back. Under three hours of plans, two train rides, zero car seats. Jump to San Juan Capistrano.
- Ages 4 to 8: San Diego to Oceanside.Fifty-six minutes along the Del Mar cliffs (left side), then the pier, the surf museum and a beach playground. Home before dinner. Jump to Oceanside.
- The big one: Los Angeles to Santa Barbara.Churro at Olvera Street, 2 hours 45 minutes of coast, then MOXI, the children's museum right across from the station, and sea stars at the Sea Center on the wharf. Stay the night if you can. Jump to Santa Barbara.
Read this before you go
Three things I check every single time. First, the Pacific Surfliner alerts (opens in a new tab): this coast gets high-tide cancellations at San Clemente, track-work bus bridges north of Los Angeles, and rocket delays near Vandenberg, and they post them a day ahead. Second, the train number, because San Clemente Pier, Northridge and Burbank Downtown only get some trains, and only a few trains a day go north of Goleta. Third, the tide chart if the beach is the plan.
Tickets, where families sit, bathrooms, strollers and what to pack are all in our Pacific Surfliner parent guide. This page is the fun part: where to get off and what to do when you do.
November 7 and 8: no Surfliner trains anywhere between San Diego and San Luis Obispo, and no buses. October 25: most trains between Los Angeles and Van Nuys are replaced by buses that skip Glendale and both Burbank stops.
Stop 1 of 29SANevery Surfliner
San Diego Santa Fe Depot
This is where the book starts. The Spanish-style station with the palm trees on page two is this depot, and the first time I walked my kids under those tile domes I had to stop for a second. My mom never stood here with them. I did, and I made sure we looked up.
Stand on the platform ten minutes before your train and let them watch the Coaster, the trolley and the Surfliner all pull in at once. Then look up at the two towers with the blue Santa Fe cross. The depot opened in 1915, so ask them to guess how old it is.
Right off the platform
- 5 minWaterfront Park, with splash fountains that run 10 to 6 and a play zone with restrooms right there. Free, flat, stroller perfect.
- 8 minUSS Midway Museum. Kids climb into cockpits and try the flight simulators (42 inches to ride). Open 10 to 5, last entry at 4. Ages 3 and under are free; it is better for 5 and up because some ship areas are ladder only.
- 10 minMaritime Museum and the Star of India. Real ladders, so park the stroller at the gangway.
- 10 minCoronado Ferry from Broadway Pier. The 15-minute crossing is the attraction. Around $10 round trip.
- 15 minSeaport Village: the 1895 Looff carousel, a pirate ship to climb on, and pretzels.
- 15 minThe New Children's Museum at 200 W Island Ave, hands-on art for ages 1 to 10. Open 9 to 4, closed Tuesdays.
- 8 minLittle Italy for gelato, and the Saturday Mercato market if you time it right.
Half a day between trains
- Walk 5 minutes to Waterfront Park and let them run through the fountains (45 minutes).
- Walk 10 minutes along the water to the USS Midway and do the family audio tour (90 minutes).
- Gelato in Little Italy on the way back to the depot (30 minutes).
Make it a full day
Morning on the Midway, lunch at Seaport Village with a carousel ride, then either The New Children's Museum or the Coronado Ferry round trip. Finish with sunset on Broadway Pier and a late train home. If you want the zoo, take the trolley from the depot to Balboa Park and give it the whole day instead.
Snack stop: Seaport Village food stands for quick bites, Filippi's Pizza Grotto in Little Italy for a real sit-down, and the Waterfront Park snack bar when nobody can wait.
Out the window: Coming in from the north you drop through the Sorrento Valley canyon, cross the Mission Bay flats near Old Town, and then the planes landing at the airport pass right over the tracks. Have them watch for the skyline and the bay at the very end.
Stop 2 of 29OLTmost Surfliners
San Diego Old Town
Old Town is the easiest 'get off and do something' stop in San Diego, because the state historic park is across the street and it costs nothing.
Grab a free Junior Ranger booklet at the Robinson-Rose Visitor Center and let them earn the badge. Then sit at the 1865 desks in the Mason Street Schoolhouse and ask what school was like for Great-Grandma.
Right off the platform
- 3 minOld Town San Diego State Historic Park, directly across the street. Free, buildings open 10 to 5, flat packed-dirt plaza that strollers handle fine.
- 5 minThe blacksmith shop and the covered wagon, then Seeley Stable's stagecoaches (Friday to Sunday). Living-history demos run Wednesdays and Saturdays.
- 5 minFiesta de Reyes courtyard. Through November 2, 2026 the Dia de los Muertos installations light up at dusk.
- 6 minToby's Candle and Soap Shop on San Diego Ave, where they dip their own candle. Miner's Gems next door has a gold-panning trough.
- 6 minCousin's Candy Shop, pulling saltwater taffy in the window.
- 8 minMormon Battalion Historic Site: free 45-minute guided tours with brick making and more gold panning.
- 15 minPresidio Park, uphill, for big lawns and the view.
Half a day between trains
- Visitor center and Junior Ranger booklet (15 minutes).
- Schoolhouse, blacksmith and the stable (60 minutes).
- Lunch at the tortilla window at Old Town Mexican Cafe (45 minutes).
- Candle dipping and taffy, then back across the street (45 minutes).
Make it a full day
Add the Mormon Battalion tour in the afternoon, a picnic up at Presidio Park, and stay for the plaza at dusk when the lights come on and the mariachis start on weekends.
Snack stop: Old Town Mexican Cafe (watch the tortillas), Cafe Coyote for deep-fried ice cream, and Old Town Urban Market on Congress for grab-and-go.
Out the window: The trolley shares the corridor here, so there is almost always a red or blue train beside you. Look west for the Mission Bay marshes and up for the freeway interchange overhead.
The Old Town Model Railroad Depot closed for good in 2022. Older guides still list it, so don't promise it.
Stop 3 of 29SOLevery Surfliner
Solana Beach
This is my favorite small stop in San Diego County for a first ride. The train pulls into a trench below the street, which kids find thrilling, and the beach is six minutes away.
Before your train, stand on the Lomas Santa Fe overpass two minutes from the station and look straight down into the trench as a Surfliner glides under your feet.
Right off the platform
- 6 minFletcher Cove Beach Park: a small playground with a tunnel slide, grass, picnic tables, year-round lifeguards, restrooms at the top, and a concrete ramp down to a protected cove.
- 2 minCedros Avenue Design District, which the station faces. Muttropolis is a dog shop, so Rally fans will want to go in.
- 8 minGelato 101 on Coast Highway.
- 20 minTide Beach Park, north along Pacific Ave, for tide pools at low tide. Stairs down, so no stroller.
- 2 minTrainspotting from the Lomas Santa Fe overpass.
Half a day between trains
- Overpass train watching (10 minutes).
- Fletcher Cove playground, then sand (90 minutes).
- Gelato 101 and a picnic lunch from the Cedros cafes eaten on the Fletcher Cove deck (45 minutes).
Make it a full day
Check the tide chart and add a low-tide walk to Tide Beach, the Sunday farmers market on Cedros, and sunset from the Fletcher Cove viewing deck before an evening train.
Snack stop: Pizza Port on the 101 (3 minutes), Claire's on Cedros for pancakes, Naked Cafe across from Fletcher Cove.
Out the window: Southbound you pass the San Elijo Lagoon and the Cardiff surfers, then dip into the trench. Northbound from here the train runs along the Del Mar bluffs with the ocean right below the rails, so sit on the left.
The platforms are below street level. There is a wide switchback ramp, stairs, and an elevator at the pedestrian bridge at the south end of the lot.
Stop 4 of 29OSDevery Surfliner
Oceanside
Oceanside is the big beach stop south of Camp Pendleton, and the pier is a half mile straight down Pier View Way. It is the 56-minute ride from San Diego that we recommend to nervous first-timers.
Sunset from the end of the open pier, watching surfers and pelicans. On a Thursday, walk back through the Sunset Market with kettle corn for the train.
Right off the platform
- 10 minOceanside Pier. About 90 percent is open; the fire-damaged west end is fenced until the rebuild. Flat wood deck, stroller fine.
- 10 minPier View South playground, beside the amphitheater, with food vendors.
- 12 minTyson Street Park: a playground on a lawn right behind the sand, restrooms, and Aqua Cafe desserts next door.
- 8 minCalifornia Surf Museum at 312 Pier View Way, small and free for ages 11 and under. Daily 10 to 4.
- 12 minMariposa Ice Cream under the pier, or Fugu Roll rolled ice cream on Mission Ave.
- 10 minThe Strand beachfront path, with bike and surrey rentals near the pier.
- 5 minDowntown mural walk, and the Sunset Market on Thursdays 5 to 9.
Half a day between trains
- Walk Pier View Way past the Surf Museum (30 minutes inside).
- Out the pier and back (45 minutes).
- Sand and playground at Pier View South (60 minutes).
- Mariposa Ice Cream, then back to the station.
Make it a full day
Morning pier and museum, lunch downtown, then a short ride to the Harbor Village for Sea Lion Island and Harbor Beach. Come back for sunset at Tyson Street Park and, on Thursdays, the market.
Snack stop: ZIGZAG Pizza, Beach Break Cafe for breakfast, Flying Pig Pub and Kitchen for a real lunch. Thursday market vendors do tacos and crepes.
Out the window: Northbound from here you cross the San Luis Rey River and enter Camp Pendleton: 17 miles of empty coast, military vehicles, helicopters, the San Onofre domes, and the ocean on the left the whole way.
The pier's west end and restaurant are still closed after the fire; construction is targeted for 2027.
Stop 5 of 29SNPabout 11 each way; check your train
San Clemente Pier
This is the stop from the book. The window page, the one where Rally sees the white bird over the water, is the train rolling along this beach. When my kids got off here the first time and the ocean was right behind the platform, I understood why my mom wanted to write this story.
Sunset from the pier with a Surfliner rolling past below you, headlight on. Kids never forget seeing their train from above.
Right off the platform
- 2 minSan Clemente Pier, about 1,300 feet long. Hold small hands, the railing gaps are wide. Public restrooms at the base.
- 2 minPier Bowl beach on both sides of the pier, with lifeguards.
- at stopThe San Clemente Beach Trail starts at the station: flat packed path along the tracks. Go north 15 minutes to Linda Lane Park playground or south 10 minutes to T-Street. Use the marked crossings; trains run fast here.
- 10 minCasa Romantica, uphill, with gardens and an ocean terrace. Kids 12 and under free; closed Mondays.
- 15 minAvenida Del Mar for Surf's Up Yogurt and pizza.
Half a day between trains
- Pier walk (30 minutes).
- Sand play beside the pier (60 minutes).
- Lunch at Fisherman's or Pier Grill and Tackle (45 minutes).
- Trail stroll to T-Street and back (40 minutes).
Make it a full day
Add Casa Romantica in the morning, the trolley or a walk up Avenida Del Mar for frozen yogurt, and the trail north to Linda Lane playground. Be back on the pier for sunset.
Snack stop: The Fisherman's Restaurant at the base of the pier has kids' burgers and chowder. Pier Grill and Tackle is counter service.
Out the window: This is the stretch where the train runs on the beach. Surfers, boulders, the new catchment wall, bluffs on the inland side, and then the pier itself as you pull in.
Waves and high tides close this stretch. In 2026 the line shut for a week in September after a hurricane swell, and single trains still get canceled on big-tide days. Check the Surfliner alerts the morning you go, and read our San Clemente update before a beach day. The pier itself lost pilings in a June 2026 swell; call the city if the pier is the whole plan.
Stop 6 of 29SNCevery Surfliner
San Juan Capistrano
If I could pick one stop on the whole line for a kid under six, it is this one. A petting zoo sits 100 feet from the platform, the waiting room is inside old boxcars, and the mission is one block away.
Feed the goats at Zoomars while a Surfliner blasts its horn 50 feet away. If you can be there November 1, 2026, the mission rings its bells for its 250th birthday.
Right off the platform
- 2 minZoomars at River Street Ranch: 100-plus animals to feed, pony rides, a mini train, gem mining, a corn pit. Daily 10 to 4, last entry 3:30. Under 3 free; feed baskets are a few dollars.
- 4 minLos Rios Park, behind Zoomars: an Old West playground with real saddles on the pole horses, climbing boulders, baby swings, shade and restrooms. Free.
- 2 minLos Rios Street, California's oldest residential street, flat and stroller easy. Hidden House Coffee and the O'Neill Museum.
- 3 minRiver Street Marketplace, an outdoor food hall with McConnell's ice cream.
- 8 minMission San Juan Capistrano via Verdugo Street: koi pond, fountains, bells, weekend crafts at the Mission Clubhouse. Tuesday to Sunday 9 to 5.
- at stopThe boxcar waiting room. Kids can watch Surfliners and Metrolinks from the benches.
Half a day between trains
- Zoomars (75 minutes).
- Los Rios Park (30 minutes).
- McConnell's at River Street Marketplace (20 minutes).
- Stroll Los Rios Street back to the platform (20 minutes).
Make it a full day
Morning at the mission with the student audio tour, lunch at River Street Marketplace, afternoon at Zoomars and the park, early dinner at Trevor's at the Tracks inside the 1894 depot while trains roll by.
Snack stop: Trevor's at the Tracks, in the depot. River Street Marketplace stalls. Hidden House Coffee for pastries.
Out the window: You are inland here: San Juan Creek, horse properties, and the mission bell tower. Southbound from this stop the train drops through Capistrano Beach and Dana Point to meet the ocean, which is the best 13 minutes on the line.
December 18 to 30, 2026 is Capistrano Lights at the mission, which is lovely with little ones.
Stop 7 of 29IRVevery Surflinerour honest take: ride on
Irvine
I will be honest with you: Irvine is a park-and-ride surrounded by office parks. We use it to start trips, not to end them.
If you do stop, the Great Park Balloon at dusk. The tethered balloon rises 400 feet, kids are free, and the carousel next to it is free too. Closed Monday to Wednesday and grounded in wind.
Right off the platform
- at stopNothing kid-worthy within a stroller walk. The station overpass is a good train-watching perch over both tracks.
- 10 minRideshare: Orange County Great Park Balloon and Carousel.
- 5 minRideshare: Irvine Spectrum Center, with the SunWheel, a carousel, and the Hello Kitty Cafe.
- 5 minRideshare: Pretend City Children's Museum, a kid-sized town for ages 1 to 8. Wednesday to Sunday 10 to 4.
Half a day between trains
- Rideshare to the Spectrum (5 minutes), carousel and SunWheel (45 minutes), a snack, and back. Allow 2.5 hours total.
Make it a full day
Morning at Pretend City, lunch at the Spectrum, then the Great Park balloon's evening session before a late train.
Snack stop: Nothing at the station beyond small concessions. Eat at the Spectrum.
Out the window: Flat Orange County. Look east for the big orange balloon over the Great Park and the old El Toro runways.
Track work just south of the station runs through April 2027, with a full closure November 7 to 9, 2026.
Stop 8 of 29SNAevery Surfliner
Santa Ana
Santa Ana's station is a grand 1985 Spanish building with a pedestrian bridge over the tracks, and the last scene of Rain Man was filmed here. The kid stuff is a short bus ride away, and your train ticket helps.
Ride the little train and the 50 Monkeys Ferris Wheel at the Santa Ana Zoo. The rides run Friday 11 to 2 and weekends 11 to 4, so plan a weekend.
Right off the platform
- at stopThe station itself: watch trains from the pedestrian bridge, then count the painted tiles.
- 20 minSanta Ana Zoo at Prentice Park, about 1.5 miles. Take OC Bus 59 from the Santa Ana Blvd stop in front of the station to Grand and Chestnut, or a 5-minute rideshare. Open daily 10 to 4. Monkeys, a giant anteater, two play areas.
- 10 minDiscovery Cube Orange County, the big black cube balancing on one corner, with 100-plus hands-on exhibits. OC Bus 83 from the station.
- 10 minBowers Museum, also on OC Bus 83.
- 20 minDowntown Santa Ana and the 4th Street Market food hall, a 20-minute walk or OC Bus 862. La Michoacana Express for paletas.
Half a day between trains
- Bus or rideshare to the zoo (15 minutes).
- Zoo loop, train ride and the Ferris wheel (2 hours).
- Paletas downtown on the way back if the timing works.
Make it a full day
Zoo in the morning, lunch at 4th Street Market, Discovery Cube in the afternoon, and the evening train home from the bridge.
Snack stop: 4th Street Market downtown has something for everyone. The zoo has a snack stand.
Out the window: Flat and urban. Just north of here you cross the Santa Ana River channel; have them look for the bike path riders down below.
Boo at the Zoo runs after hours October 17, 18, 25 and 26, 2026.
Stop 9 of 29ANAevery Surfliner
Anaheim ARTIC
The station in Anaheim looks like a spaceship. The roof is made of air-filled plastic pillows that glow in colors at night, and from the platform you can see the Big A at Angel Stadium.
Walk out after dark and look back at the glowing roof. Then tell them a train can take you to Disneyland, because it can, with one bus.
Right off the platform
- 10 minAngel Stadium, through the Douglass Road underpass. Game days turn the whole walk into a parade.
- 2 minHonda Center, across Katella.
- at stopThe Santa Ana River Trail starts right at the station if you brought a balance bike.
- 15 minDisneyland Resort and Downtown Disney. The old ART shuttle shut down in March 2026. Today you take OC Bus Route 50 west along Katella to Harbor Boulevard (it serves ARTIC, the stadium and Disneyland), or a 10-minute rideshare. Downtown Disney has no entry fee.
- 10 minRideshare: Anaheim Packing House, a food hall in a Mission Revival citrus packing house.
Half a day between trains
- Wander the station and the river trail (30 minutes).
- Bus or rideshare to Downtown Disney for a walk, a Dole Whip and the LEGO store (2 hours).
- Back on Route 50 to ARTIC.
Make it a full day
A Disneyland day by train: morning Surfliner in, Route 50 to the gates, park all day, Route 50 back, and the glowing roof as you wait for a late train. We like this better than the parking lot.
Snack stop: Downtown Disney has every snack a kid can name. Inside ARTIC there are cafes on the ground floor.
Out the window: Look for the halo on the Big A, Honda Center, and the river channel. Northbound from here you merge onto the BNSF main line toward Fullerton.
Stop 10 of 29FULevery Surfliner; Southwest Chief too
Fullerton
Fullerton is the train-lover's stop. Three historic depots sit together, BNSF freights thunder through on four tracks, and twice a month a free train museum opens at the east end of the platform.
Stand on the pedestrian bridge while a mile-long container freight rolls underneath, then watch a Metrolink and a Surfliner meet. Nobody has to buy a ticket for this.
Right off the platform
- 2 minFullerton Train Museum at 200 E Santa Fe Ave: cabooses, a 1951 Santa Fe sleeping car, Union Pacific lounge cars. Open the first and third Saturdays, 9 to noon, free.
- at stopThe 1930 Santa Fe depot with its cafe and the Monterey-style balcony. The 1923 Union Pacific depot next door is now the Old Spaghetti Factory.
- 8 minDowntown Fullerton, under half a mile north: Fullerton Museum Center at 301 N Pomona with the Leo Fender guitar gallery.
- 8 minSomiSomi for soft serve in a fish-shaped cone, and Roscoe's Famous Deli.
- 10 minVilla Del Sol courtyard and the vintage shops on Harbor.
Half a day between trains
- Train museum on a first or third Saturday (60 minutes).
- Walk up to downtown for SomiSomi (45 minutes).
- Back to the bridge for freight watching before your train (30 minutes).
Make it a full day
Museum, downtown lunch at the Old Spaghetti Factory in the UP depot, the Fullerton Museum Center, and an afternoon of trainspotting. Pair it with Anaheim one stop south if you want the stadium too.
Snack stop: The depot cafe, the Old Spaghetti Factory (kids love the trolley-car booth), and SomiSomi.
Out the window: This is the busiest freight railroad in Southern California. Count the stacked containers on the train beside you; some run over 100 cars.
Stop 11 of 29LAXevery Surfliner
Los Angeles Union Station
Union Station is the last great railway station built in America, and the 1939 waiting room makes my kids go quiet. Then they sit in the giant leather chairs and swing their feet, which is the whole point.
Count the chandeliers in the waiting room, then cross Alameda to Olvera Street for a churro. Dessert first is allowed on train days.
Right off the platform
- at stopThe station: 30-foot windows, hand-painted tiles, the courtyard gardens, and the platforms where kids can watch the long-distance trains come in.
- 4 minOlvera Street and El Pueblo, across Alameda: the brick-paved marketplace, Avila Adobe (the city's oldest house), and the Old Plaza Firehouse from 1884 with its old engines.
- 5 minLa Plaza de Cultura y Artes at 501 N Main: upstairs is a 1920s street where kids dress up in a pretend pharmacy and shop. Air conditioned.
- 5 minChinese American Museum at 425 N Los Angeles St.
- 7 minPhilippe the Original, the French dip place with sawdust floors, open since 1908.
- 12 minChinatown Central Plaza and the wishing well.
- 15 minMetro from the station: one stop on the B or D line to Civic Center for Grand Park's splash pad; the E line to Expo Park for the Space Shuttle Endeavour and the dinosaurs at the Natural History Museum; the A line to Little Tokyo for mochi.
Half a day between trains
- Waiting room and courtyards (20 minutes).
- Olvera Street, the firehouse and La Plaza (90 minutes).
- Taquitos at Cielito Lindo and a churro from Mr. Churro (30 minutes).
Make it a full day
Morning at Olvera Street and La Plaza, French dip at Philippe's, then Metro to Expo Park for the shuttle and dinosaurs. Back for the late afternoon train, which is nap time anyway.
Snack stop: Cielito Lindo taquitos with avocado sauce at the north end of Olvera Street. Mr. Churro. Philippe's for sandwiches and a slice of pie.
Out the window: Southbound from here the train crosses the Los Angeles River, the concrete one from the movies, then runs along the freight yards. Northbound it follows the river toward Glendale with Griffith Park on the left.
On October 25, 2026 most trains between Los Angeles and Van Nuys are replaced by buses that skip Glendale and Burbank. November 7 and 8 there are no Surfliner trains anywhere.
Stop 12 of 29GDL5 each way north of LAour honest take: ride on
Glendale
Glendale has a gorgeous 1924 depot and not much for kids within a stroller walk. Your Amtrak ticket rides the Beeline bus to downtown free, which changes the math.
The dancing fountain at the Americana at Brand, with an ice cream, while the little trolley loops past.
Right off the platform
- at stopThe depot itself, a Spanish Churrigueresque landmark on the National Register.
- 15 minBeeline Route 1 up Central to downtown Glendale: the Americana (fountain, trolley, grass to run on) and the Galleria across the street.
- 15 minMuseum of Neon Art across Brand from the Americana, small and bright.
- 15 minFoxy's, a 1960s diner where every booth has its own toaster.
Half a day between trains
- Beeline to the Americana (15 minutes).
- Fountain, trolley and ice cream (90 minutes).
- Beeline back.
Make it a full day
Honestly, make this a half day and ride on.
Snack stop: Foxy's for breakfast, the Americana for everything else.
Out the window: The Los Angeles River channel beside you, Griffith Park's hills, and Forest Lawn on the slope.
Stop 13 of 29BBKonly 2 each wayour honest take: ride on
Burbank Downtown
Only a couple of Surfliners a day stop here. Downtown Burbank is a 15-minute walk, and the airport stop next door is the better one for kids.
Skip this one unless your train happens to stop here and you want Magnolia Boulevard's vintage shops.
Right off the platform
- 15 minDowntown Burbank and the AMC.
- 15 minMagnolia Boulevard shops.
Half a day between trains
- Ride on to the airport stop.
Make it a full day
Ride on.
Snack stop: Downtown Burbank, 15 minutes.
Out the window: The river and the Verdugo hills.
Stop 14 of 29BUR5 each way
Burbank Hollywood Burbank Airport
A train stop at an airport. For a certain kind of four-year-old this is the best stop on the whole line, and it costs nothing.
Cross the pedestrian bridge with the moving walkways to the terminal and watch planes come in low over the runway while a Metrolink pulls in behind you. Trains and planes in one minute.
Right off the platform
- at stopThe platform itself, with aircraft taking off right across Empire Avenue.
- 5 minThe pedestrian bridge from the transit center to the terminal, with moving walkways kids ride like a theme park.
- 15 minRideshare: Warner Bros. Studio Tour, which admits ages 8 and up.
- 15 minRideshare: Universal Studios Hollywood and CityWalk.
Half a day between trains
- Planes from the platform (20 minutes).
- Bridge and moving walkways to the terminal and back (30 minutes).
- Snack in the terminal's pre-security area and the next train.
Make it a full day
This is a stop for an hour, or a start for a Universal day by train.
Snack stop: Pre-security cafes in the terminal.
Out the window: Runways, the control tower, and the Verdugo Mountains.
Stop 15 of 29VNC5 each wayour honest take: ride on
Van Nuys
A rebuilt, staffed station in the middle of the Valley. Useful for Valley families to board, not a place to take kids off the train.
Use it to start a trip north to Ventura or Santa Barbara.
Right off the platform
- at stopStaffed waiting room and restrooms, which matter with a toddler.
- 5 minRideshare: Lake Balboa park and its playgrounds, about 3 miles.
Half a day between trains
- Ride on.
Make it a full day
Ride on.
Snack stop: Pack it.
Out the window: Wide Valley streets and the mountains ahead.
Stop 16 of 29NRGonly 2 each wayour honest take: ride on
Northridge
A one-track platform with two Surfliners a day. Nothing here for kids.
Keep reading. Chatsworth is next and the tunnels are after that.
Right off the platform
- at stopA platform and a parking lot.
Half a day between trains
- Ride on.
Make it a full day
Ride on.
Snack stop: Pack it.
Out the window: Cal State Northridge's campus and the first big boulders of the Santa Susana hills ahead.
Stop 17 of 29CWT5 each way
Chatsworth
Chatsworth is where the Valley ends and the rocks begin. The station is a pretty depot-style building, and right after it the train climbs into the Santa Susana tunnels. This is the tunnel page of the book, for real.
Tell them the tunnel is coming. Count down as the light goes, then count the seconds in the dark. There is always a bright light at the end, and cheering is allowed.
Right off the platform
- at stopThe depot, the Metro G Line busway terminus, and plenty of room on the platform to watch freights.
- 20 minStoney Point Park, the giant sandstone boulders where climbers practice, about a mile. Rideshare if the legs are short.
- 25 minChatsworth Park South, lawns and a playground under the rocks. Rideshare, 5 minutes.
Half a day between trains
- Rideshare to Chatsworth Park South for playground and boulder scrambling (90 minutes).
- Back for the next train and the tunnels.
Make it a full day
Make it a morning here and an afternoon in Simi Valley or Moorpark one or two stops north.
Snack stop: Pack it, or grab something in old Chatsworth on Devonshire.
Out the window: Northbound you pass the sandstone outcrops that stood in for the Old West in hundreds of movies, then three tunnels, the longest more than a mile. Southbound you come out of the dark into the whole Valley spread out below.
Stop 18 of 29SIM5 each way; Coast Starlight too
Simi Valley
Simi is a plain platform with one very big reason to get off: a presidential library with a full-size Air Force One inside it.
Walking under the wing of Air Force One. Even kids who have no idea what a president is understand a jumbo jet indoors.
Right off the platform
- 15 minRideshare: Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, about 7 miles. Air Force One, Marine One, a piece of the Berlin Wall, and a lawn with a view of the whole valley.
- 5 minRideshare: the historic Santa Susana Depot at Santa Susana Park, a preserved 1903 station with a model railroad on weekend afternoons, next to a park with a playground. About 1.5 miles east.
- at stopThe platform, where the Coast Starlight stops too if you time it.
Half a day between trains
- Rideshare to the Santa Susana Depot and park (2 hours including the playground).
- Back for the next train.
Make it a full day
Reagan Library for the day: plan 3 to 4 hours, lunch at the cafe under the plane, and a late afternoon train back through the tunnels.
Snack stop: The library cafe, or Old Town Simi near the depot.
Out the window: Northbound you drop out of the tunnels into orchards and the Simi Hills. Look back at the rocks you just came through.
Stop 19 of 29MPK5 each way
Moorpark
Moorpark's old High Street is right at the platform, and the farm stops around it are the reason to come in spring and fall.
A hayride and a strawberry basket at Underwood Family Farms, then a train home with sticky hands.
Right off the platform
- 2 minHigh Street: the Moorpark Melodrama theater, the old hardware store, cafes and a tiny downtown you can see end to end.
- 10 minRideshare: Underwood Family Farms, pick-your-own fields, farm animals and wagon rides, about 3 miles. Pumpkins in October.
- 10 minRideshare: America's Teaching Zoo at Moorpark College, run by students, open weekends.
Half a day between trains
- Rideshare to Underwood Farms (10 minutes).
- Animals, hayride, picking (2 hours).
- High Street for a cookie before the train.
Make it a full day
Farm in the morning, lunch on High Street, the teaching zoo on a weekend afternoon.
Snack stop: High Street cafes and a bakery steps from the platform.
Out the window: Farm valleys, rail bridges over the arroyos, and the first lemon groves.
Stop 20 of 29CML5 each wayour honest take: ride on
Camarillo
Camarillo's platform sits under the 101 overpass with a long footbridge between the tracks. It is a practical stop for local families, not a day out.
If you do get off, Old Town Camarillo on Ventura Boulevard is a 10-minute walk with ice cream.
Right off the platform
- 10 minOld Town Camarillo on Ventura Blvd.
- 5 minRideshare: Camarillo Premium Outlets, with a playground area.
- 8 minRideshare: Camarillo Ranch House, an 1892 Victorian with Saturday tours.
Half a day between trains
- Ice cream in Old Town and back.
Make it a full day
Ride on to Oxnard or Ventura.
Snack stop: Old Town Camarillo.
Out the window: Strawberry and lemon fields across the Oxnard Plain, and the Conejo hills behind you.
Stop 21 of 29OXN5 each way; Coast Starlight too
Oxnard
Oxnard is the first staffed station north of the Valley, with a real waiting room, and a block of restored Victorian houses two streets away.
Heritage Square on a Sunday, when the old houses open for tours and kids can climb the porches. Then Plaza Park's 1910 pagoda.
Right off the platform
- 3 minHeritage Square: restored Victorians and a courtyard. Sunday tours.
- 5 minPlaza Park with the pagoda, lawns and a playground.
- 5 minOxnard Carnegie Art Museum and the downtown farmers market on Thursdays.
- 15 minRideshare: Channel Islands Harbor for the maritime museum, Hollywood Beach and the Sunday farmers market.
- 15 minRideshare: Murphy Auto Museum, a warehouse of old cars and a huge model railroad.
Half a day between trains
- Heritage Square and Plaza Park (90 minutes).
- Lunch downtown (45 minutes).
- Back to the waiting room.
Make it a full day
Downtown in the morning, then the harbor for the afternoon: boats, the beach, and dinner on the water.
Snack stop: Downtown Oxnard taquerias and the Thursday market.
Out the window: Northbound you cross the Santa Clara River and get the first flash of ocean before Ventura. Strawberry fields on both sides.
Stop 22 of 29VEC5 each way
Ventura
The platform at Ventura has the ocean in front of it and the fairgrounds beside it. You can see the Channel Islands from where you wait. For a beach day north of LA this is the one.
Watching surfers at C Street six minutes from the platform, then the pier at golden hour. In August the county fair is right there and special trains run.
Right off the platform
- 6 minSurfer's Point at C Street, where you watch surfers close up, in the shade.
- 12 minVentura Pier and the promenade, with a restaurant at the end.
- 9 minMission San Buenaventura and its garden square.
- 11 minPlaza Park downtown, with a new playground, a pagoda and a cannon.
- 13 minDowntown Main Street for ice cream and the Saturday market.
- 30 minSan Buenaventura State Beach along the bike path from the pier, with dunes to play in and a grassy picnic valley.
Half a day between trains
- Surfer's Point (30 minutes).
- Promenade to the pier and out (45 minutes).
- Lunch on Main Street and Plaza Park playground (75 minutes).
Make it a full day
Beach morning at the pier, lunch downtown, the mission, then a bike path walk toward the state beach dunes and a sunset train south with the ocean on the right.
Snack stop: Main Street has everything. The pier restaurant for a view.
Out the window: From here north the tracks hug the coast: Emma Wood beach, the Rincon surf break, Mussel Shoals and its pier. Left side northbound, right side southbound.
Stop 23 of 29CPN5 each way
Carpinteria
Carpinteria is a beach town where the platform is in the middle of town and the sand is seven minutes away. Locals call it the world's safest beach because the water is shallow and gentle.
Harbor seals. From December through May a rookery below the bluffs fills with mothers and pups, and docents let kids look through scopes from the overlook.
Right off the platform
- 3 minTomol Interactive Playground: a Chumash canoe, seals and whales to climb, a roller slide and a rainbow bridge.
- 7 minCarpinteria State Beach and Tar Pits Park, with real natural tar seeps to point at (not touch).
- 5 minLinden Avenue: Robitaille's candies, ice cream, and the Thursday farmers market.
- 25 minHarbor Seal Preserve overlook on the bluffs, December to May pupping season.
- 5 minThe Seaside Shuttle if small legs give out.
Half a day between trains
- Tomol playground (30 minutes).
- Beach and tar pits (90 minutes).
- Linden Avenue ice cream and the platform (30 minutes).
Make it a full day
Beach all morning, lunch on Linden, the seal overlook in season, and the train north to Santa Barbara for the evening.
Snack stop: Linden Avenue cafes, tacos, and Robitaille's for a sugar bribe.
Out the window: Southbound from here the ocean is right beside the rails past the oil piers and Rincon. Northbound you run between the mountains and the sea into Santa Barbara.
Stop 24 of 29SBA5 each way; Coast Starlight too
Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara is the easiest big day on the line. A children's museum sits across from the station, the wharf is two blocks away, and a giant fig tree planted in 1876 shades the platform.
Touch a sea star at the Sea Center on Stearns Wharf, then walk back under the Moreton Bay fig and have them guess how old it is. The answer is 150.
Right off the platform
- 1 minMOXI, the children's science museum at 125 State Street, across from the station. Open daily 10 to 5, three floors plus a rooftop.
- 3 minStearns Wharf: the Sea Center's touch tanks and a hole in the floor that opens onto the sea, plus ice cream and the taffy shop.
- 3 minWest Beach boardwalk under the tall palms.
- 10 minChase Palm Park: a Spanish-style playground, a stream, whale sculptures that spout water, and an antique carousel.
- 9 minThe Cabrillo bike path and Skater's Point, next to Chase Palm Park.
- 18 minThe harbor breakwater walk, with waves tumbling over the sea wall.
- 30 minSanta Barbara Zoo, a 1.5-mile walk along the beach path or a 5-minute rideshare. Kids World castle playground is near it.
- 11 minPaseo Nuevo and State Street for a stroll, 23 minutes to the courthouse tower view.
Half a day between trains
- MOXI (90 minutes).
- Stearns Wharf and the Sea Center (60 minutes).
- Ice cream on the wharf and back under the fig tree.
Make it a full day
MOXI first thing, the wharf for lunch, Chase Palm Park carousel, then the beach path to the zoo. Dinner in the Funk Zone across from the station and a late train. If you are coming from Los Angeles it is about 2 hours 45 minutes each way, so this works as an overnight too.
Snack stop: Lucky Penny pizza in the Funk Zone, the wharf stands, the Santa Barbara Public Market if you walk up State.
Out the window: Pulling in from the south the ocean is on the left, then the harbor, then the wharf. The platform sits right under the fig tree.
Stop 25 of 29GTA5 each way; 3 turn around hereour honest take: ride on
Goleta
Goleta is where many northbound trains turn around, next to the airport and UCSB. A new full station has been under construction since 2024. Not a kid stop, with one exception.
The South Coast Railroad Museum at Lake Los Carneros, where the 1901 Goleta depot was moved. Miniature train rides on open days, and a lake with ducks.
Right off the platform
- 12 minSouth Coast Railroad Museum and the Stow House at Lake Los Carneros, about half a mile. Check open days before you count on it.
- 10 minRideshare: Goleta Beach Park and its pier, with a playground and lawns.
Half a day between trains
- Railroad museum and the lake loop (90 minutes).
Make it a full day
Goleta Beach for the afternoon if the museum is open in the morning.
Snack stop: Pack it; there is little at the station.
Out the window: UCSB's lagoon, the airport, and the Santa Ynez Mountains.
Stop 26 of 29LPSonly the San Luis Obispo trains
Surf Lompoc-Surf
There is no town at Surf. There is a platform, a wide empty beach, nesting snowy plovers, and a space base. It is the loneliest Amtrak station in California, and the kids think it is the best.
Count the houses from the platform. The answer is zero. Then watch for a rocket, because the tracks run through Vandenberg Space Force Base and launches sometimes hold the trains.
Right off the platform
- 2 minSurf Beach, straight off the platform. Parts close during plover nesting season, so stay on the open stretch and respect the ropes.
- at stopRocket watching if a launch is posted. The Surfliner itself posts delay alerts for launches.
Half a day between trains
- The beach, and that is all. Bring layers; it is windy.
Make it a full day
Only a few trains a day stop here, so a full day means a very long beach day. Pack food and water; there are no services.
Snack stop: None. Pack everything.
Out the window: North of Goleta the train leaves the highway and runs for miles with nothing but ocean on the left and base land on the right.
Stop 27 of 29GUAonly the San Luis Obispo trains
Guadalupe Guadalupe-Santa Maria
A small farm town with a Spanish-style station and a museum about a buried movie set. Guadalupe is a stop for curious kids.
At the Dunes Center, see pieces of the sphinxes from the 1923 Ten Commandments set that was buried in the dunes nearby and dug out decades later.
Right off the platform
- 10 minThe Dunes Center at 1065 Guadalupe Street, a short walk up the main street, with kids' exhibits about the dunes and the movie set.
- 15 minRideshare: Rancho Guadalupe Dunes Preserve, about 5 miles west, with huge dunes and a beach where the Santa Maria River meets the sea.
Half a day between trains
- Dunes Center (60 minutes).
- Lunch on Guadalupe Street (45 minutes).
- Back to the waiting room.
Make it a full day
Dunes Center then the preserve beach for the afternoon. Bring sand toys and a kite.
Snack stop: Guadalupe Street has old-school Mexican bakeries and taquerias.
Out the window: Lettuce and broccoli fields in every direction, and the dunes as a pale line to the west.
Stop 28 of 29GVBonly the San Luis Obispo trains
Grover Beach
Grover Beach is the beach stop for the Central Coast, with a boardwalk over the dunes eight minutes from the platform and, in winter, thousands of monarch butterflies hanging in the trees.
The monarch grove, late October through February. Stand still and let them notice the orange clusters high in the eucalyptus.
Right off the platform
- 8 minMeadow Creek Trail boardwalk, starting by Fin's, a wooden path over the dunes with ocean views.
- 10 minMonarch Butterfly Grove on the Meadow Trail, late October to February.
- 15 minGrover Beach and Pismo State Beach via Grand Avenue, with dunes to roll down.
- 34 minPismo Beach Pier, plaza and the whale playground, a long walk or a short rideshare.
Half a day between trains
- Boardwalk and butterflies in season (60 minutes).
- Beach play (60 minutes).
- Fin's for fish and chips and back.
Make it a full day
Beach and boardwalk in the morning, rideshare to the Pismo pier and the whale playground for the afternoon, and a 20-minute train up to San Luis Obispo for the evening.
Snack stop: Fin's at the trailhead. Pismo has the famous clam chowder in a bread bowl.
Out the window: Southbound from San Luis Obispo you wind through Price Canyon and the Pismo hills, then the ocean appears.
Stop 29 of 29SLOthe end of the line; Coast Starlight too
San Luis Obispo
The end of the line is a 1943 Spanish depot with a railroad museum a quarter mile down the track, and a downtown built around a creek. This is where I would end a two-day trip.
Saturday at the SLO Railroad Museum: the big model railroad, the train tables, and the platform where kids can watch the Coast Starlight come through. Then Bubblegum Alley downtown, which is exactly what it sounds like.
Right off the platform
- 5 minSan Luis Obispo Railroad Museum at 1940 Santa Barbara Avenue, in the 1894 freight house. Saturdays 10 to 4, children's play area, handcar and velocipede.
- 1 minThe Old Town Historic District, one block from the station, with Victorian houses.
- 5 minTerrace Hill, a short steep walk from Jennifer Street with a 360-degree view.
- 15 minDowntown along the creek: Bubblegum Alley, the Thursday night farmers market, and ice cream.
- 18 minMission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa and its plaza by the creek.
- 20 minSan Luis Obispo Children's Museum, three floors downtown.
- 25 minSinsheimer Park, with huge hillside slides and a zip line.
Half a day between trains
- Railroad museum (75 minutes).
- Walk downtown for ice cream and Bubblegum Alley (60 minutes).
- Back along the Old Town streets.
Make it a full day
Museum in the morning, lunch by the creek, the children's museum or the mission, Sinsheimer Park slides, and a Thursday night market if you stay over. Grover Beach is 20 minutes south by train for a beach day the next morning.
Snack stop: Downtown has creekside patios; the museum store sells railroad gummy worms.
Out the window: Arriving from the south you climb out of the Pismo hills into the valley with its volcanic peaks, the Nine Sisters, standing up like a row of teeth.
The last stop is the whole point
In the book, the train pulls in and Grandmommy and Papa are standing on the platform saying "Hi, cute boy." My kids never got that platform moment with my parents. I can't fix that. What I can do is get off the train at every one of these 29 stops with them, hold a hand on the pier, cheer in the tunnel, and let them fall asleep against me on the way home with sand in their shoes. If you ride this line with your kids, I hope you'll do the same, and I hope you'll tell me which stop they talked about at dinner.
Next up in this series: the Coast Starlight, which shares these tracks from Los Angeles north and keeps going to Seattle, and the Capitol Corridor. Every route is on the Train Trips With Your Kids page.
Pacific Surfliner trips with kids: questions parents ask
What is the best Pacific Surfliner stop for a toddler?
San Juan Capistrano. A petting zoo and an Old West playground sit within four minutes of the platform, the waiting room is inside old boxcars, and the ride on to San Clemente Pier is 13 minutes and ends at a beach.
Which side of the Pacific Surfliner should we sit on for the ocean?
Left side heading north, right side heading south. Go upstairs if your kids can handle the stairs; the view is wider and the four-seat sections are up there.
How long is the Pacific Surfliner from San Diego to Los Angeles with kids?
About 2 hours 50 minutes, with 13 round trips a day. We break it up: San Diego to Oceanside is 56 minutes, Oceanside to San Juan Capistrano is about 35, and the stretch through San Clemente runs right on the beach.
Can we take the Surfliner to Disneyland?
Yes. Get off at Anaheim (ARTIC). The old ART shuttle ended in March 2026, so now it is OC Bus Route 50 along Katella to Harbor Boulevard, or a ten-minute rideshare. Downtown Disney has no entry fee if you just want a walk and a Dole Whip.
Is the Pacific Surfliner running on November 7 and 8, 2026?
No. There is a full corridor closure that weekend with no trains and no bus bridge anywhere between San Diego and San Luis Obispo. On October 25 most trains between Los Angeles and Van Nuys are buses that skip Glendale and Burbank.
What should we do if our train is canceled for high tides at San Clemente?
Unreserved coach tickets work on any Surfliner between your stations, so take the next one. Cancellations are posted on the Pacific Surfliner alerts page the day before or the morning of; check it before you leave the house during big-swell weeks.
Do kids pay on the Pacific Surfliner?
Kids 2 to 12 pay half the lowest adult coach fare, and one baby under 2 rides free on each adult's lap. There is no kids discount in Business Class, so coach is where a family saves. Our Surfliner parent guide has the ticket details and seating tips.
Which Pacific Surfliner stops should we skip with kids?
Irvine, Van Nuys, Northridge and Burbank Downtown are platforms surrounded by parking and offices. Glendale and Camarillo need a bus or a ride to reach anything. Goleta has one railroad museum and not much else. I say so on each one below so you can stay in your seat.
Sources and how I checked
- Amtrak station pages and the Pacific Surfliner timetable (June 2026 revision)
- Pacific Surfliner travel advisories, October 2026
- Great American Stations: Santa Fe Depot, Solana Beach, Oceanside, San Juan Capistrano, Lompoc-Surf
- OCTA Metrolink Weekends station guides: Fullerton, Anaheim, Santa Ana, Irvine, San Juan Capistrano, San Clemente, Oceanside
- City of Anaheim and OC Bus route information after the ART shuttle closure (March 31, 2026)
- Fullerton Train Museum, Santa Ana Zoo, Zoomars, Casa Romantica, Mission San Juan Capistrano, USS Midway, The New Children's Museum, MOXI, San Luis Obispo Railroad Museum (hours and admission as posted October 2026)
- City of San Clemente and OCTA releases on the September 2026 closure, the Mariposa Point wall and pier damage
- Lotsa Fun Maps: walkable places near Pacific Surfliner stops (walking times, Central Coast)
- Station facts: Wikipedia station articles cross-checked with Amtrak
Hours, prices and bus routes change. I update this page when they do; if you spot something out of date, tell me.