Free & Cheap Things to Do in San Mateo, CA

  • The list below includes 706 free or cheap things to do in or near San Mateo, California, including 127 different types of inexpensive activities like Parks, Gardens, Hiking Trails and Running/Jogging.
  • From The San Mateo Japanese Garden to Sawyer Camp Trail, there are a variety of budget-friendly attractions in San Mateo and in nearby cities within 25 miles like San Francisco, Pacifica, Half Moon Bay and Berkeley.
  • The list below includes 706 free or cheap things to do in or near San Mateo, California, including 127 different types of inexpensive activities like Parks, Gardens, Hiking Trails and Running/Jogging.
  • From The San Mateo Japanese Garden to Sawyer Camp Trail, there are a variety of budget-friendly attractions in San Mateo and in nearby cities within 25 miles like San Francisco, Pacifica, Half Moon Bay and Berkeley.
Showing 771-780 of 1154
26.8 Miles
96% 27 votes
Parks 2101 Holbrook Drive, Danville, CA 94506 MoreLess Info
Featuring a pond with a waterfall, Sycamore Valley Park provides open grass fields lined with trees as well as facilities for baseball, soccer, bocce ball and football. The park also provides a playground, walking paths, picnic tables and barbecue pits.
26.9 Miles
65% 127 votes
Parks 2500 Stanley Blvd., Pleasanton, CA MoreLess Info
The Shadow Cliffs Regional Recreation Area is a fun-filled water park with designated fishing and swimming spots with slides. In addition, there are a multitude of picnic tables and plenty of bird watching opportunities.
26.9 Miles
79% 14 votes
Parks 3005 Stone Valley Road, Danville, CA 94506 MoreLess Info
Situated on 43 acres, Oak Hill Park features a fishing lake that is home to wildlife including ducks and geese. The park also has a playground, picnic areas with grills, a volleyball court, open fields and a hillside trail.
27.0 Miles
80% 5 votes
Parks San Jose, CA MoreLess Info
Brooktree Park is a great place for family outings. Enjoy their BBQ pits and expansive playground.
27.0 Miles
70% 10 votes
Parks 2070 Arlington Way, San Ramon, CA 94583 MoreLess Info
Little ones will appreciate a visit to Fire Truck Park. With its unique fire truck play structure with slides and poles, swings, barbeque area and game tables, there's something for everyone to enjoy.
27.0 Miles
76% 37 votes
Children's Play Area 1536 Newell Avenue, Walnut Creek, CA 94596 MoreLess Info
The Small Talk Family Cafe is an indoor play space and cafe that has the goal of being a place where people can sit down and enjoy a bite to eat. The cafe also offers yoga classes and art programs.
27.1 Miles
96% 987 votes
Gardens Naglee Avenue & Dana Ave, San Jose, CA 95216 MoreLess Info
The perfume of roses wafts out of San Jose's Municipal Rose Garden, located at the intersection of Naglee Avenue and Dana Avenue. This beautiful and fragrant garden contains thousands of individual rose plants and dozens of rose varieties.
27.1 Miles
85% 1443 votes
History Museums 1660 Park Avenue, San Jose, CA 95191 MoreLess Info
Located in San Jose, the Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum features huge collections of Egyptian art and artifacts. Its extensive holdings are larger than any other Egyptian collections west of the Mississippi River.
27.1 Miles
67% 12 votes
Music Venue 10550 Albion Road, San Ramon, CA 94582 MoreLess Info
Featuring performances from regional high schools, Dougherty Valley Performing Arts Center is a community theater for visitors to support the arts at. Visitors can attend a mix of school plays, concerts, and musicals.
27.2 Miles
89% 9 votes
Sports Facilities/Fields 1000 Tassajara Ranch Drive, Danville, CA 94526 MoreLess Info
Situated on 20 acres, Diablo Vista Park features lighted sports fields as well as volleyball, basketball and tennis courts. It offers a picnic area, a children's playground and a large tile snake for kids to explore.
Showing 771-780 of 1154
HAVE SUGGESTIONS FOR COOL AND INTERESTING THINGS TO DO IN THE San Mateo AREA?
ADD A NEW ATTRACTION TO TRIPBUZZ!