KidPaths

Things to Do with Kids in San Francisco, CA

San Francisco has 31 kid-tested activities for families across museums, parks, zoos, restaurants, and outdoor adventures. Every listing includes age ratings (infants through teens), stroller access, cost estimates for a family of 4, and real parent tips you won't find anywhere else.

4.6 avgacross 31 rated
8 free
24 stroller-friendly

By Kit, KidPaths editor

Covers 71 cities. Reads a lot of parent reviews.

San Francisco family activity overview

San Francisco is one of the best family travel destinations in the US.

From world-class museums to outdoor adventures, there's something for kids of every age. Our guide helps you find exactly what works for your family. The KidPaths guide for San Francisco currently includes 31 KidPaths-vetted activities, including 8 free options, 20 indoor or mixed-weather picks, 16 outdoor or partly outdoor picks, 24 stroller-friendly stops.

Use it to balance one anchor outing with a backup plan, especially when weather, naps, or meal timing start driving the day. Start with Magowan's Infinite Mirror Maze, WOW Kids Playground, Koret Children's Playground if you want a quick scan of the strongest local picks, then use the filters below for age fit, stroller access, cost, and rainy-day backup options.

Top kid-friendly places in San Francisco

Golden Gate Park4.8Japanese Tea Garden4.5Aquarium of the Bay4.1Conservatory of Flowers4.7Children's Discovery Museum of San Jose4.6Bay Area Discovery Museum4.7CuriOdyssey4.6Great Big Game Show Fisherman's Wharf5.0Tilden Nature Area4.8Children's Fairyland4.5Bison Paddock4.5Koret Children's Playground4.8

Plan San Francisco by age, weather, and budget

Jump straight to the pages parents search for most, with only indexable KidPaths listings linked here.

One day itinerary →
No admission feeFree Activities8 picksWeather backupRainy Day Activities20 picksClimate controlledIndoor Activities20 picksFresh airOutdoor Activities16 picksEasy accessStroller-Friendly24 picks
Toddler26Infant18Little Kids31Big Kids25Tweens15Teen15

San Francisco with kids: common questions

What are the best free things to do with kids in San Francisco?

San Francisco has 8 free family activities. Top picks: Moon Viewing Garden, Koret Children's Playground, Outpost Playground, Golden Gate Park, Tilden Nature Area. See all free activities at kidpaths.com/san-francisco.

What can we do with kids on a rainy day in San Francisco?

San Francisco has 20 rainy-day options. Top indoor picks: Great Big Game Show Fisherman's Wharf, Osher Rainforest at the California Academy of Sciences, WOW Kids Playground, Peek-a-Boo Factory SF, Bay Area Discovery Museum.

What are the best activities for toddlers in San Francisco?

26 activities in San Francisco are rated for toddlers (ages 1 to 3). Parent favorites: Moon Viewing Garden, Koret Children's Playground, Outpost Playground, Golden Gate Park, Tilden Nature Area.

Which San Francisco attractions are stroller-friendly?

24 of 31 activities in San Francisco are fully stroller-friendly. KidPaths rates stroller access as yes, limited, or no for every listing.

What are fun things to do with teens in San Francisco?

15 activities in San Francisco are rated for teens (ages 13 to 17). Top picks: Great Big Game Show Fisherman's Wharf, Moon Viewing Garden, Golden Gate Park, Tilden Nature Area, Regional Parks Botanic Garden.

How much do family activities cost in San Francisco?

KidPaths tracks family-of-4 cost estimates for 31 activities in San Francisco. 8 are completely free. Each listing shows the real cost for a family of four, not just per-person pricing.

Magowan's Infinite Mirror MazeEntertainment

Magowan's Infinite Mirror Maze

4.4(847)

Ages: Best for ages 4-14

IndoorRainy Day
WOW Kids PlaygroundParks & Playgrounds

WOW Kids Playground

4.7(59)

Ages: Best for ages 0-6

IndoorStroller-FriendlyRainy Day
Koret Children's PlaygroundParks & PlaygroundsFree

Koret Children's Playground

4.8(1,188)

Ages: Best for ages 1-10

OutdoorStroller-Friendly
Peek-a-Boo Factory SFParks & Playgrounds

Peek-a-Boo Factory SF

4.7(78)

Ages: Best for ages 0-6

IndoorStroller-FriendlyRainy Day
Bay Area Discovery MuseumMuseums

Bay Area Discovery Museum

4.7(3,044)

Ages: Best for ages 1-10

Indoor/OutdoorStroller-FriendlyRainy Day
Little Oceanauts, IncParks & Playgrounds

Little Oceanauts, Inc

4.6(130)

Ages: Best for ages 0-6

IndoorStroller-FriendlyRainy Day
Outpost PlaygroundParks & PlaygroundsFree

Outpost Playground

4.8(163)

Ages: Best for ages 2-10

OutdoorStroller-Friendly
Children's FairylandParks & Playgrounds

Children's Fairyland

4.5(1,443)

Ages: Best for ages 2-10

OutdoorStroller-Friendly
Aquarium of the BayZoos & Aquariums

Aquarium of the Bay

4.1(6,145)

Ages: Great for all ages — especially engaging for ages 2 and up

IndoorStroller-FriendlyRainy Day
Imagination PlayhouseParks & Playgrounds

Imagination Playhouse

4.3(70)

Ages: Best for ages 0-6

IndoorStroller-FriendlyRainy Day
Great Big Game Show Fisherman's WharfEntertainment

Great Big Game Show Fisherman's Wharf

5.0(1,598)

Ages: Best for ages 5 and up

IndoorRainy Day
Leroy King CarouselEntertainment

Leroy King Carousel

4.5(78)

Ages: Best for ages 1-8

Indoor/OutdoorStroller-FriendlyRainy Day
Flyer Thrill Zone & 7D ExperienceEntertainment

Flyer Thrill Zone & 7D Experience

4.2(556)

Ages: Best for ages 5-16

IndoorRainy Day
House of Air Trampoline Park and CaféSports & Recreation

House of Air Trampoline Park and Café

4.0(245)

Ages: Best for ages 5-15

IndoorRainy Day
Playland Sausalito and Mt.Tam Adventure Camps LLCEntertainment

Playland Sausalito and Mt.Tam Adventure Camps LLC

4.3(15)

Ages: Best for ages 0-6

IndoorStroller-FriendlyRainy Day
Mission Bay Kids ParkParks & PlaygroundsFree

Mission Bay Kids Park

4.7(634)

Ages: Best for ages 1-10

OutdoorStroller-Friendly
Museum of 3D IllusionsMuseums

Museum of 3D Illusions

4.4(642)

Ages: Best for ages 5-15 (and adults who love optical illusions)

IndoorRainy Day
CuriOdysseyMuseums

CuriOdyssey

4.6(2,015)

Ages: Best for ages 2-10

Indoor/OutdoorStroller-FriendlyRainy Day
Children's Discovery Museum of San JoseMuseums

Children's Discovery Museum of San Jose

4.6(3,842)

Ages: Best for ages 1-10

Indoor/OutdoorStroller-FriendlyRainy Day
Habitot Children's MuseumMuseums

Habitot Children's Museum

4.3(261)

Ages: Best for ages 0-6

IndoorStroller-FriendlyRainy Day
Explorit Science CenterMuseums

Explorit Science Center

4.5(96)

Ages: Best for ages 2-10

Indoor/OutdoorStroller-FriendlyRainy Day
Insect ZooZoos & Aquariums

Insect Zoo

4.6(137)

Ages: Best for ages 3-10

IndoorStroller-FriendlyRainy Day
Conservatory of FlowersFarms & Nature

Conservatory of Flowers

4.7(3,985)

Ages: Great for all ages — genuinely beautiful for adults and fascinating for kids

IndoorStroller-FriendlyRainy Day
Japanese Tea GardenArts & Culture

Japanese Tea Garden

4.5(16,296)

Ages: Great for all ages

Outdoor
Bison PaddockFarms & NatureFree

Bison Paddock

4.5(1,358)

Ages: Great for all ages

OutdoorStroller-Friendly
Golden Gate ParkParks & PlaygroundsFree

Golden Gate Park

4.8(43,989)

Ages: Great for every age — plan by interest

OutdoorStroller-Friendly
Moon Viewing GardenFarms & NatureFree

Moon Viewing Garden

4.9(17)

Ages: Great for all ages — a quiet GGP gem

OutdoorStroller-Friendly
Tilden Nature AreaOutdoor AdventuresFree

Tilden Nature Area

4.8(1,575)

Ages: Great for ages 2 and up — choose trail difficulty by age

Outdoor
Hearst Grizzly GulchZoos & Aquariums

Hearst Grizzly Gulch

4.4(74)

Ages: Great for all ages 2 and up

OutdoorStroller-Friendly
Regional Parks Botanic GardenFarms & NatureFree

Regional Parks Botanic Garden

4.8(535)

Ages: Great for all ages — especially good for curious kids who like nature

OutdoorStroller-Friendly
Osher Rainforest at the California Academy of SciencesMuseums

Osher Rainforest at the California Academy of Sciences

4.8(89)

Ages: Best for ages 3 and up

IndoorStroller-FriendlyRainy Day

Browse by Age

Toddlers (Ages 1–3)Infants (Under 1)Little Kids (Ages 4–6)Big Kids (Ages 7–9)Tweens (Ages 10–12)Teens (Ages 13–17)

Common Questions About San Francisco with Kids

What are the best free things to do with kids in San Francisco?
San Francisco has 8 free family activities. Top picks: Moon Viewing Garden, Koret Children's Playground, Outpost Playground, Golden Gate Park, Tilden Nature Area. See all free activities at kidpaths.com/san-francisco.
What can we do with kids on a rainy day in San Francisco?
San Francisco has 20 rainy-day options. Top indoor picks: Great Big Game Show Fisherman's Wharf, Osher Rainforest at the California Academy of Sciences, WOW Kids Playground, Peek-a-Boo Factory SF, Bay Area Discovery Museum.
What are the best activities for toddlers in San Francisco?
26 activities in San Francisco are rated for toddlers (ages 1 to 3). Parent favorites: Moon Viewing Garden, Koret Children's Playground, Outpost Playground, Golden Gate Park, Tilden Nature Area.
Which San Francisco attractions are stroller-friendly?
24 of 31 activities in San Francisco are fully stroller-friendly. KidPaths rates stroller access as yes, limited, or no for every listing.
What are fun things to do with teens in San Francisco?
15 activities in San Francisco are rated for teens (ages 13 to 17). Top picks: Great Big Game Show Fisherman's Wharf, Moon Viewing Garden, Golden Gate Park, Tilden Nature Area, Regional Parks Botanic Garden.
How much do family activities cost in San Francisco?
KidPaths tracks family-of-4 cost estimates for 31 activities in San Francisco. 8 are completely free. Each listing shows the real cost for a family of four, not just per-person pricing.

Browse by Interest

Free ActivitiesRainy Day ActivitiesIndoor ActivitiesOutdoor ActivitiesStroller-FriendlyOne Day Itinerary

Nearby Family Destinations

Santa Cruz, CA59 miLake Tahoe, CA158 miLos Angeles, CA347 miLas Vegas, NV417 miSan Diego, CA458 mi

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