San Francisco with Kids on a Budget: 25 Free and Cheap Things to Do
SF is expensive, but kids don't care about that. Here are 25 free and cheap things that are actually fun — not just 'technically free.'
San Francisco might be one of the most expensive cities in the country, but here's a secret: the best kid activities are mostly free. Parks are free. Beaches are free. Watching sea lions bark at tourists is free. Here's a list of things that cost $0-15 and are genuinely fun — not the "visit a parking garage with a nice view" kind of free.
Totally Free
1. Presidio Tunnel Tops — The Outpost The best playground in the city, the best views in the city, and the price is right: $0. Presidio Tunnel Tops has adventure play with logs, boulders, slides, and a dedicated toddler area. Bring a picnic and make it a half-day.
2. Golden Gate Park — Everything You could spend an entire childhood in Golden Gate Park and never get bored. Playgrounds (Koret is the best), the bison paddock (free, yes, real bison), Stow Lake pedal boats ($30/hr, ok not free), the botanical garden (free for SF residents), the playground behind the California Academy of Sciences, Hippie Hill, the windmills, the beach. Just go.
3. Baker Beach Golden Gate Bridge views, sand, waves (don't swim — current is deadly). Baker Beach on a clear day is one of the most beautiful spots in the entire state. Free parking if you get there before 10 AM on weekends. Bring layers.
4. Seward Street Slides Two concrete slides built into a hillside in the Castro. Seward Street Slides are the most San Francisco thing ever — a DIY playground that would never get permitted today. Bring cardboard to sit on (seriously, you need it or you'll burn through your pants). Free, weird, unforgettable.
5. Randall Museum Always free. Randall Museum has live animals, model trains, science experiments on Saturdays, and the best views in the city from the Corona Heights trail right behind it. Perfect for a 90-minute visit.
6. Fort Point Under the Golden Gate Bridge, inside an actual Civil War-era fort. Fort Point is free, fascinating for school-age kids (cannons! brick arches! echoes!), and the views are insane. Dress warm — it's the windiest spot in SF.
7. Crissy Field Beach Flat, sandy, calm water (by SF standards), and the Golden Gate Bridge right there. Great for toddlers who want to splash without getting knocked over. Free parking on weekdays, kite-flying on windy days.
8. Musée Mécanique Free to enter, $0.25-$1 per machine. Musée Mécanique at Fisherman's Wharf is an antique arcade that's endlessly entertaining. Bring $5 in quarters and your kids will be happy for an hour.
9. Cable Car Watching You don't have to ride them ($8/adult). Just watch them turn around at the Powell Street turntable. Kids are mesmerized by the manual turning process. Free entertainment for 20 minutes, then go get lunch.
10. Ocean Beach Bonfires Free fire pits on the beach. Bring firewood (buy at the gas station on Sloat), hot dogs, marshmallows. Sunset bonfires at Ocean Beach are peak San Francisco family vibes. Check fire pit availability — first come, first served.
Under $5
11. Stow Lake Pedal Boats — Golden Gate Park Ok, these are $30/hour, but split across a family it's under $10/person. Pedaling around the island, feeding turtles, spotting herons — pure joy for all ages.
12. Japanese Tea Garden — Early Morning Free before 10 AM on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Otherwise $15/adult. The Japanese Tea Garden in Golden Gate Park is stunning and kids love the bridges, koi ponds, and stepping stones.
13. Public Libraries — Storytime Free weekly storytime at almost every SF Public Library branch. The main library's kids floor has toys, puzzles, and regular events. Your kid gets socialization, you get air conditioning.
14. Stern Grove Festival — Summer Free outdoor concerts in a natural eucalyptus amphitheater every Sunday in summer. Bring blankets and snacks. Kids run around on the grass while you listen to actual good music. Reserve free tickets in advance.
15. Farmers Markets Free to browse, cheap to snack. The Ferry Building Saturday market, Inner Sunset Sunday market, and Noe Valley Saturday market all have free samples and kid-friendly vibes.
Under $15
16. California Academy of Sciences — Discount Days Full price is steep ($45/adult), but Cal Academy offers quarterly free community days, and SF residents get discounted rates. Check their calendar — the free days are worth the crowds.
17. Exploratorium — Community Days Same deal. Exploratorium full price is $40, but they have free community days and the outdoor exhibits (including the fog bridge) are always free.
18. SF Zoo — First Wednesday Free for SF residents on the first Wednesday of each month. San Francisco Zoo is a full day for $0. The steam train ($5) and carousel ($4) are the only costs.
19. Aquarium of the Bay — Discount Hours Not always available, but check for twilight pricing. The tunnel aquarium is a reliable hit for toddlers who can't get enough of fish.
20. Golden Gate Park Carousel $4 per ride. The historic carousel near Koret Playground is worth every penny. Old-school charm, hand-painted horses, and that brass ring grab.
Free Adventures That Require Some Effort
21. Lands End Trail A stunning coastal trail from the Sutro Baths to the Golden Gate Bridge overlook. Free, beautiful, and doable with kids over 5. The labyrinth at the viewpoint is cool. Watch for mud after rain.
22. Batteries to Bluffs Trail — Presidio A hidden trail along the cliffs with wildflowers, old military batteries, and bridge views. Free, less crowded than Lands End, and slightly more adventurous feeling.
23. Bernal Heights Hill Walk to the top for 360° views of the entire city. Free, easy enough for toddlers (it's short), and there's usually a pack of happy off-leash dogs at the top which is basically a free petting zoo.
24. Sutro Baths Ruins The remains of a massive Victorian-era swimming complex on the ocean. Spooky, fascinating, free. Kids love scrambling around the ruins and exploring the cave at the end. Sunset Dunes nearby is worth the detour too.
25. Ride the Ferry The Golden Gate Ferry from the Ferry Building to Sausalito costs $7.50/adult (kids under 5 free). It's basically a boat tour of the bay for the price of a transit ride. Views of Alcatraz, the bridge, and the skyline.
The Real Budget Tip
San Francisco's greatest family asset is its parks system. Between Golden Gate Park, the Presidio, and the neighborhood playgrounds, you could do something different every weekend for a year without spending a dollar. The expensive stuff (museums, attractions) is for rainy days and special occasions. The free stuff is the real city.
Updated March 2026. Prices and schedules change — check venues before visiting.
