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 821-830 of 1154
28.8 Miles
67% 2149 votes
Science Museums 201 S. Market St, San Jose, CA 95113 MoreLess Info
San Jose, California is home to The Tech Museum of Innovation, a unique science museum that emphasizes engineering and mechanics. The museum offers many programs for children, but it not exclusively a children's museum. It is free and open to the public.
28.8 Miles
79% 441 votes
Movie Theaters 201 S 2nd Street, San Jose, CA 95113 MoreLess Info
The Camera 12 Cinema is a 12 theater movie multiplex that shows a combination of new Hollywood releases and classics, art house films, foreign films, and cult favorites. The theater offers a variety of promotions and special events.
28.8 Miles
57% 7 votes
Parks Taylor Blvd, Pleasant Hill, CA 94523 MoreLess Info
Dinosaur Hill Park offers 13 acres of scenic panoramic views, open space, and hiking. A staircase runs from the small parking area to the top of the large hill, where people often go to view firework displays.
28.9 Miles
92% 122 votes
Walking Trails San Jose, CA MoreLess Info
Los Gatos Creek Trail runs through the South Bay in San Jose. Different lengths of trails, as well as a variety of flat and hilly terrain, make it a versatile track suited to all levels of fitness.
28.9 Miles
89% 1249 votes
Children's Museums 180 Woz Way, San Jose, CA 95110 MoreLess Info
San Jose's Children's Discovery Museum is intended to introduce babies, toddlers and young children to the fascinating world around them. The exhibits are meant to be touched, explored, climbed on and otherwise manipulated.
28.9 Miles
36% 99 votes
Movie Theaters 3200 Klose Way, Richmond, CA 94806 MoreLess Info
A movie theater with 16 auditoriums, Century Hilltop 16 displays first-run feature films using digital projection and RealD 3D. The theater offers stadium seating, arcade games, reserved seats and a lobby cafe with food and drinks.
28.9 Miles
84% 217 votes
Walking Trails 1250 Dell Avenue, Campbell, CA 95008 MoreLess Info
The Los Gatos Creek Trail is a hiking trail that also offers equipment on the sides of the trail for exercising. The trail goes around the Vasona Lake and runs along a nearby creek.
28.9 Miles
78% 108 votes
Dog Park 1250 Dell Avenue, Campbell, CA 95009 MoreLess Info
The Los Gatos Creek County Dog Park is a sizable dog-park that has areas for dogs both large and small. The park features regularly maintained artificial-turf and a number of hydration areas for the dogs.
29.0 Miles
59% 229 votes
Sports Bars 420 S. First St., San Jose, CA MoreLess Info
For a night of billiards, South First Billiards offers an upscale and hip ambiance. Prices are more expensive than other pool places, but you pay for the atmosphere.
29.0 Miles
94% 64 votes
Gardens 1540 Marchbanks Drive, Walnut Creek, CA MoreLess Info
Visitors can take in the beauty of nature whilst walking the paths of the Gardens at Heather Farms located in Walnut Creek, California. A series of natural gardens surround the nearby lake, highlighted by the beautiful roses when in season.
Showing 821-830 of 1154
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