# Free things to do with kids in San Diego

Parks, playgrounds and other things to do in San Diego that are free to get into. 39 listed.

Last updated 2026-11-01, from the newest confirmation among these places.

## The list

1. [Tecolote Shores North Playground](https://ourplayday.com/places/tecolote-shores-north-playground-san-diego) (playground, San Diego). Two big play areas right on the bay, with climbing, swings, slides and room to run between them. Has: free to enter.
2. [Tecolote Shores South Playground](https://ourplayday.com/places/tecolote-shores-south-playground-san-diego) (playground, San Diego). An inclusive zipline, climbing coves and a shaded sand area right by the bay, so kids of all abilities get a turn. Has: free to enter.
3. [Fanuel Street Park](https://ourplayday.com/places/fanuel-street-park-san-diego) (playground, San Diego). New inclusive climbing and play equipment right on the bay. Has: free to enter.
4. [Four Gee County Park](https://ourplayday.com/places/four-gee-county-park-san-diego) (playground, San Diego). Shaded climbing for the middle of the day, and lawn games nearby. Has: free to enter.
5. [Maruta Gardner Playground at Bonita Cove](https://ourplayday.com/places/maruta-gardner-playground-at-bonita-cove-san-diego) (playground, San Diego). A tot lot and a rope-climbing area for older kids, by the water. Has: free to enter.
6. [Pepper Grove Playground](https://ourplayday.com/places/pepper-grove-playground-san-diego) (playground, San Diego). Two play areas, one for younger kids and one for older, plus a sandbox and picnic tables for the snack break. Has: free to enter.
7. [Waterfront Park South Playground](https://ourplayday.com/places/waterfront-park-south-playground-san-diego) (playground, San Diego). A playground and lawn with splash fountains close by. Has: free to enter.
8. [4S Ranch Community Park](https://ourplayday.com/places/4s-ranch-community-park-san-diego) (playground, San Diego). A playground and plenty of grass. Has: free to enter.
9. [Bill Cleator Community Park](https://ourplayday.com/places/bill-cleator-community-park-san-diego) (playground, San Diego). A tot lot and swings sized for toddlers, right next to the sports fields. Has: free to enter.
10. [Dusty Rhodes Park](https://ourplayday.com/places/dusty-rhodes-park-san-diego) (playground, San Diego). Swings and slides, then a lawn to run on. Has: free to enter.
11. [Kate Sessions Memorial Park](https://ourplayday.com/places/kate-sessions-memorial-park-san-diego) (playground, San Diego). A playground and a flat stretch of grass looking out over the bay. Has: free to enter.
12. [Mission Point Park Tot Lot](https://ourplayday.com/places/mission-point-park-tot-lot-san-diego) (playground, San Diego). A little tot lot right by the bay. Ten minutes of climbing, then out comes the picnic blanket. Has: free to enter.
13. [Pioneer Park](https://ourplayday.com/places/pioneer-park-san-diego) (playground, San Diego). A playground next to a big lawn, so there's room for running once the climbing's done. Has: free to enter.
14. [Rancho Bernardo Community Park](https://ourplayday.com/places/rancho-bernardo-community-park-san-diego) (playground, San Diego). Slides and sand structures beside wide lawns, with room for a picnic after the climbing. Has: free to enter.
15. [Bird Park at Morley Field](https://ourplayday.com/places/bird-park-at-morley-field-san-diego) (playground, San Diego). Tot lot, slides, swings and a stretch of grass, tucked on the quieter east edge of a big park. Has: free to enter.
16. [Montclair Park](https://ourplayday.com/places/montclair-park-san-diego) (playground, San Diego). A tot lot, swings and slides, with open lawn beside them for running. Has: free to enter.
17. [NTC Park](https://ourplayday.com/places/ntc-park-san-diego) (playground, San Diego). Two tot lots along the water, with bucket swings, small slides and sand, and wide open fields. Has: free to enter.
18. [San Diego Children’s Park](https://ourplayday.com/places/san-diego-children-s-park-san-diego) (playground, San Diego). Renovated play structures with a wood theme, for a break between the downtown sights. Has: free to enter.
19. [Shelter Island Park South Playground](https://ourplayday.com/places/shelter-island-park-south-playground-san-diego) (playground, San Diego). Swings and climbers right on the bayfront promenade. Has: free to enter.
20. [Sixth Avenue Playground](https://ourplayday.com/places/sixth-avenue-playground-san-diego) (playground, San Diego). A fire engine to play on for the under-fives and climbing obstacles for older kids. Has: free to enter.
21. [Morley Field Playground](https://ourplayday.com/places/morley-field-playground-san-diego) (playground, San Diego). Slides, swings and a climbing wall right by the sports fields. The wall is what school-age kids head for. Has: free to enter.
22. [Ocean Beach Park at the Recreation Center](https://ourplayday.com/places/ocean-beach-park-at-the-recreation-center-san-diego) (playground, San Diego). Swings, slides and monkey bars. A no-frills neighborhood playground. Has: free to enter.
23. [North Park Community Park](https://ourplayday.com/places/north-park-community-park-san-diego) (playground, San Diego). Look for the frog sculpture. Around it: a tot lot for toddlers and climbing structures for bigger kids. Has: free to enter.
24. [Old Town San Diego State Historic Park](https://ourplayday.com/places/old-town-san-diego-state-historic-park-san-diego) (park, San Diego). Restored old buildings around a wide plaza, and hands-on living-history demos for kids. Has: free to enter.
25. [Robb Athletic Field](https://ourplayday.com/places/robb-athletic-field-san-diego) (playground, San Diego). A small sandy tot lot tucked in among the sports fields, handy while an older sibling is at practice. Has: free to enter.
26. [Shelter Island Shoreline Park](https://ourplayday.com/places/shelter-island-shoreline-park-san-diego) (playground, San Diego). A long waterfront path and a pier for watching the boats go by. Has: free to enter.
27. [Sunset Cliffs Natural Park](https://ourplayday.com/places/sunset-cliffs-natural-park-san-diego) (playground, San Diego). Waves to watch from the top of the bluff, and whales when they're passing. Has: free to enter.
28. [Tweet Street Park](https://ourplayday.com/places/tweet-street-park-san-diego) (playground, San Diego). A small playground in a park full of colorful birdhouses. Count them on the way in. Has: free to enter.
29. [Ocean Beach](https://ourplayday.com/places/ocean-beach-san-diego) (beach, San Diego). Wide sand with lifeguards on duty, and room for your kid to dig a proper hole. Has: free to enter.
30. [Fiesta de Reyes](https://ourplayday.com/places/fiesta-de-reyes-san-diego) (attraction, San Diego). Mariachi and folklórico dancers in the courtyard. The swirling skirts hold a small kid's attention better than you'd expect. Has: free to enter.
31. [Junípero Serra Museum](https://ourplayday.com/places/junipero-serra-museum-san-diego) (museum, San Diego). Early local history and a hilltop view. Best for the curious school-age kid who asks how old everything is. Has: free to enter.
32. [Little Italy Mercato Farmers’ Market](https://ourplayday.com/places/little-italy-mercato-farmers-market-san-diego) (attraction, San Diego). Market treats to sample and street musicians playing, which keeps a kid happy while you shop. Has: free to enter.
33. [Mason Street Schoolhouse](https://ourplayday.com/places/mason-street-schoolhouse-san-diego) (attraction, San Diego). A one-room schoolhouse from 1865, desks and stove still there. Kids can't believe it was all one room. Has: free to enter.
34. [Mission Hills-Hillcrest/Knox Library](https://ourplayday.com/places/mission-hills-hillcrest-knox-library-san-diego) (library, San Diego). A young kids' area with picture books and a separate teen area for older siblings. Has: free to enter.
35. [Mormon Battalion Historic Site at San Diego](https://ourplayday.com/places/mormon-battalion-historic-site-at-san-diego-san-diego) (attraction, San Diego). An interactive video tour, then gold-panning and brickmaking demos, so school-age kids get history they can get their hands on. Has: free to enter.
36. [North Park Thursday Farmers Market](https://ourplayday.com/places/north-park-thursday-farmers-market-san-diego) (park, San Diego). A neighborhood street market where kids can graze the snack stands and pick out their own fruit. Has: free to enter.
37. [Ocean Beach Farmers Market](https://ourplayday.com/places/ocean-beach-farmers-market-san-diego) (beach, San Diego). A busy street market where kids pick out their own snack and meet the people who grew it. Hold hands, it gets crowded. Has: free to enter.
38. [Point Loma/Hervey Library](https://ourplayday.com/places/point-loma-hervey-library-san-diego) (library, San Diego). A reading nook shaped like a sailboat and a working periscope. Has: free to enter.
39. [Seeley Stable Museum](https://ourplayday.com/places/seeley-stable-museum-san-diego) (museum, San Diego). Old stagecoaches, wagons and carts up close, which is all a vehicle-mad kid needs to hear. Has: free to enter.

## Other lists for San Diego

- [High chairs](https://ourplayday.com/united-states/california/san-diego/with-high-chairs) (20)
- [Changing tables](https://ourplayday.com/united-states/california/san-diego/with-changing-tables) (7)
- [Kids' menu](https://ourplayday.com/united-states/california/san-diego/with-kids-menu) (27)
- [Wheelchair accessible](https://ourplayday.com/united-states/california/san-diego/wheelchair-accessible) (5)
- [Cribs](https://ourplayday.com/united-states/california/san-diego/with-cribs) (10)
- [Pool](https://ourplayday.com/united-states/california/san-diego/with-a-pool) (13)
- [Connecting rooms](https://ourplayday.com/united-states/california/san-diego/with-connecting-rooms) (5)
- [Fridge in the room](https://ourplayday.com/united-states/california/san-diego/with-a-fridge) (10)
- [Separate bedroom](https://ourplayday.com/united-states/california/san-diego/with-a-separate-bedroom) (9)
- [Restrooms](https://ourplayday.com/united-states/california/san-diego/with-restrooms) (37)
- [Shade](https://ourplayday.com/united-states/california/san-diego/with-shade) (11)
- [Water play](https://ourplayday.com/united-states/california/san-diego/with-water-play) (4)
- [Order at the counter](https://ourplayday.com/united-states/california/san-diego/order-at-the-counter) (11)

## About this list

Every place here is a listing on Play Day, and a place is listed only when something positive is known about it for kids. Each listing carries the kid facts (high chairs, changing tables, kids' menus, wheelchair access) A list needs at least three places to exist.

Page: https://ourplayday.com/united-states/california/san-diego/free-to-visit. All of San Diego: https://ourplayday.com/united-states/california/san-diego