Free things to do with kids around the South Bay
A great weekend doesn't have to cost $40 a kid. Everything here is free to get into (a few parks still charge for parking), and many are among the best-rated places on the whole site.
Top picks: the Magical Bridge playgrounds in Sunnyvale, Mountain View and Palo Alto; the farm animals at Deer Hollow Farm in Rancho San Antonio; Shoreline Lake in Mountain View; the Barron Park donkeys in Palo Alto; and Emma Prusch Farm Park and the Japanese Friendship Garden in San Jose. Further out, Tilden's Little Farm in Berkeley and Crissy Field under the Golden Gate are free too.
- 47 places
- 47 free
- 43 stroller-friendly
- closest is 5 min away
47 places
Drive times from Sunnyvale
Magical Bridge Playground (Sunnyvale, Fair Oaks Park)
5.0Sunnyvale · 5 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free at Fair Oaks Park
Serra Park
5.0Sunnyvale · 5 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free lot and street parking
Mountain View Public Library
5.0Mountain View · 8 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free lot behind the library
Magical Bridge Playground (Rengstorff Park)
5.0Mountain View · 10 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free at Rengstorff Park
Rancho San Antonio + Deer Hollow Farm
5.0Los Altos Hills · 12 min drive
2.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free, but full by 7:30-8:00 on weekends; arrive early or go on a weekday
Shoreline Park & Lake
5.0Mountain View · 12 min drive
2 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free large lots (by the boathouse and Rengstorff House)
Magical Bridge Playground (Palo Alto)
5.0Palo Alto · 12 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free at Mitchell Park, busy on weekends
Mitchell Park Library
5.0Palo Alto · 12 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free Mitchell Park lot
Guadalupe River Park & Rotary PlayGarden
5.0San Jose · 18 min drive
2 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free lot at 438 Coleman Ave, fills by midday on weekends
Milpitas Library
5.0Milpitas · 20 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free underground garage
Golden Gate Park (Koret Playground + Historic Carousel)
5.0San Francisco · 55 min drive
2 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free/metered street parking in the park; lots of road closures on weekends, so arrive early
Tilden Park (Little Farm + Steam Trains)
5.0Berkeley · 55 min drive
3 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free parking at every entrance
SF Main Library (Fisher Children's Center)
5.0San Francisco · 60 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Civic Center garage, about $3-4/hour
Dennis the Menace Playground
5.0Monterey · 75 min drive
2 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free parking along Lake El Estero
Las Palmas Park
4.0Sunnyvale · 5 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free
Sunnyvale Public Library
4.0Sunnyvale · 5 min drive
1 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free Civic Center lot
Cuesta Park
4.0Mountain View · 8 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free along Cuesta Dr
Cupertino Library Children's Area
4.0Cupertino · 8 min drive
1 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free Civic Center parking garage
Central Park
4.0Santa Clara · 10 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free lot off Kiely Blvd
Santa Clara Central Park Library
4.0Santa Clara · 10 min drive
1 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free lot
Bol Park & Barron Park Donkeys
4.0Palo Alto · 12 min drive
1 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free street parking on Laguna Ave
Los Altos Library
4.0Los Altos · 12 min drive
1 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free lot shared with the Hillview Community Center
Palo Alto Baylands Nature Preserve
4.0Palo Alto · 15 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free (by the Lucy Evans Nature Center / duck pond)
Rinconada Park
4.0Palo Alto · 15 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free lot shared with the JMZ and library
Rinconada Library
4.0Palo Alto · 15 min drive
1 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free lot shared with JMZ and Rinconada Park
Saratoga Library
4.0Saratoga · 15 min drive
1 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free lot
Los Gatos Creek Trail (Campbell Section)
4.0Campbell · 18 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free at Campbell Park; $6 at Los Gatos Creek County Park
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Library
4.0San Jose · 20 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: 4th St garage, about $5-10 (the library can validate for a discount)
Redwood City Public Library
4.0Redwood City · 20 min drive
1 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Downtown garage, first 90 minutes free
Emma Prusch Farm Park
4.0San Jose · 22 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free lot, fills up on busy weekends
Japanese Friendship Garden (Kelley Park)
4.0San Jose · 22 min drive
1 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Kelley Park about $10 when busy, free street parking available
Los Gatos Library
4.0Los Gatos · 22 min drive
1 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free Civic Center parking
Fremont Main Library
4.0Fremont · 25 min drive
1 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free lot
San Mateo Main Library
4.0San Mateo · 30 min drive
1 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Underground garage, first 2 hours free
Crab Cove (Alameda's Shallow Beach)
4.0Alameda · 40 min drive
2.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: $5 lot / free street parking nearby
Seabright State Beach
4.0Santa Cruz · 45 min drive
2.5 h · carrier recommended
Free · Parking: Free street parking on Seabright Ave / East Cliff, hard to find on summer weekends
Oakland Main Library
4.0Oakland · 45 min drive
1 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Street meters or nearby garages
Berkeley Central Library
4.0Berkeley · 50 min drive
1 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Downtown garages, about $2/hour
Harley Farms Goat Dairy
4.0Pescadero · 60 min drive
1 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free
Crissy Field (Beach and Lawn Under the Golden Gate)
4.0San Francisco · 60 min drive
2.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free East Beach lot; you can usually find a spot on weekend mornings
Pier 39 (Sea Lions + Carousel)
4.0San Francisco · 60 min drive
2.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: The Pier 39 garage is pricey ($40+/day); park farther away and walk, or take the F streetcar
Ulistac Natural Area
3.0Santa Clara · 12 min drive
1 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free street parking / lot on Lick Mill Blvd
Picchetti Ranch
3.0Cupertino · 15 min drive
1.5 h · carrier recommended
Free · Parking: Free lot shared with Picchetti Winery
Villa Montalvo Arts Center & Park
3.0Saratoga · 20 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free; fills up on event days
Purisima Creek Redwoods (Higgins Canyon Entrance)
3.0Half Moon Bay · 45 min drive
2 h · carrier recommended
Free · Parking: Small lot at the end of Higgins Canyon Rd, fills up on weekends
Pigeon Point Lighthouse
3.0Pescadero · 55 min drive
1 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Small free lot
Bean Hollow Pebble Beach
3.0Pescadero · 60 min drive
1.5 h · carrier recommended
Free · Parking: Small free lot by the road
💡 Good to know
- Your library card can often get you free museum passes — ask about your library's museum pass program.
- Free places get busy early on weekends; arrive by 9am for easy parking at Rancho San Antonio and Shoreline.