Things to do with kids in and near Palo Alto
Palo Alto has an unusual number of great free spots for kids: the Magical Bridge Playground with Mitchell Park Library next door, Rinconada Park and Library, and the Baylands boardwalk out into the marsh. The Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo is the paid highlight.
Within 15 minutes you can also reach the Barron Park donkeys, Shoreline Lake in Mountain View, Deer Hollow Farm and, in October, the Webb Ranch pumpkin patch. Everything is sorted by drive time from Palo Alto.
- 16 places
- 13 free
- 16 stroller-friendly
- closest is 5 min away
16 places
Drive times from Palo Alto
Magical Bridge Playground (Palo Alto)
5.0Palo Alto · 5 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free at Mitchell Park, busy on weekends
Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo
5.0Palo Alto · 5 min drive
2 h · stroller-friendly · reservation needed
$$ · Parking: Free parking at Rinconada Park
Ride Caltrain (Sunnyvale ↔ Mountain View / Palo Alto)
4.0Sunnyvale · 5 min drive
2 h · stroller-friendly
$ · Parking: Station parking about $5.50/day, free at some stations on weekends
Rinconada Park
4.0Palo Alto · 5 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free lot shared with the JMZ and library
Rinconada Library
4.0Palo Alto · 5 min drive
1 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free lot shared with JMZ and Rinconada Park
Magical Bridge Playground (Rengstorff Park)
5.0Mountain View · 10 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free at Rengstorff Park
Shoreline Park & Lake
5.0Mountain View · 10 min drive
2 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free large lots (by the boathouse and Rengstorff House)
Mitchell Park Library
5.0Palo Alto · 10 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free Mitchell Park lot
Cuesta Park
4.0Mountain View · 10 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free along Cuesta Dr
Bol Park & Barron Park Donkeys
4.0Palo Alto · 10 min drive
1 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free street parking on Laguna Ave
Palo Alto Baylands Nature Preserve
4.0Palo Alto · 10 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free (by the Lucy Evans Nature Center / duck pond)
Webb Ranch Pumpkin Patch & Farm Stand
4.0Portola Valley · 10 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
$ · Parking: Free along Alpine Rd
Magical Bridge Playground (Sunnyvale, Fair Oaks Park)
5.0Sunnyvale · 15 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free at Fair Oaks Park
Serra Park
5.0Sunnyvale · 15 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free lot and street parking
Mountain View Public Library
5.0Mountain View · 15 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free lot behind the library
Rancho San Antonio + Deer Hollow Farm
5.0Los Altos Hills · 15 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