15 Top FREE Things To Do In California

1. Griffith Observatory In Los Angeles

If you’re visiting Southern California and are looking for free things to do in the area, I highly recommend a trip to Griffith Observatory.

The parking at Griffith Observatory costs $10/hour and can fill up quickly, especially on the weekends. There are free parking options on the nearby roads or next to the Greek Theatre. From the theatre, you can hop on a cheap public bus that will take you to the observatory.

Once you arrive at the observatory, there is so much to see here. The observatory provides incredible views of Los Angeles City, the Hollywood Sign, and even the ocean far in the distance.

Griffith Observatory itself is an astronomy museum and observatory that is open to the public. Inside, you can see many interactive science exhibits and telescopes that you can look through.

2. Golden Gate Bridge In San Francisco

The Golden Gate Bridge is a classic California landmark that you must see at least once in your life! I try to stop by the Golden Gate Bridge every time I visit San Francisco, and it leaves me in awe every time. The bridge was built in 1937 and attracts millions of tourists annually.

For first-time visitors, I recommend heading to the Golden Gate Bridge Welcome Center. The Welcome Center offers amazing vantage points of the bridge and places to take photos for memories. From here, you can also take a path that goes across the bridge.

It is free to walk or bicycle across the Golden Gate Bridge. However, there is a toll payment if you want to drive across the bridge in a car.

Read Next: 15 Touristy Things To Do In San Francisco

3. Point Reyes Lighthouse

The Point Reyes Lighthouse is located at the end of a rugged peninsula near Highway 1 in Northern California. I often stop here when traveling along Highway 1 just past San Francisco.

Point Reyes Lighthouse is part of the Point Reyes National Seashore. There is no fee to enter this park, and there are no parking fees either.

To reach the lighthouse, you will need to descend down 300 steps along a steep cliff. This lighthouse is not wheelchair or stroller-friendly, and the climb back up can be challenging for many. But the views of the lighthouse perched on top of a rugged cliff overlooking the ocean are well worth the climb.

4. Bixby Creek Bridge

The Bixby Creek Bridge is another must-see bridge in California. Located along Highway 1, the Bixby Creek Bridge provides a safe way to cross the Bixby Creek along the Big Sur coastline.

Due to its rugged, scenic location, the Bixby Creek Bridge is one of the most famous and photographed bridges in the world. Visitors can stop at the designated pull-out area to take in the views and snap a few photos.

Although it is very expensive to stay in Big Sur overnight, it is completely free to drive Highway 1 and see attractions like the Bixby Creek Bridge along the way.

5. La Jolla Cove In San Diego

La Jolla Cove is home to one of the most pristine beaches in Southern California. This stunning turquoise beach is part of a protected marine reserve and is free to visit.

Due to abundant underwater sea life, La Jolla Cove is an excellent place for snorkeling when the water is calm. Just bring your own snorkeling gear and enjoy searching for colorful fish underwater, like the bright orange garibaldi.

If you’d rather stay dry on land, you can also view plenty of sea lions and birds like the brown pelicans perched on top of cliffs.

6. Gardens Of The World

Gardens Of The World is a hidden little gem in Thousand Oaks and one of my favorite places to go for a relaxing walk in Ventura County.

This location offers free visitor parking and self-guided tours of the gardens. You can also arrange a docent-guided tour ahead of time from Tuesday through Friday.

Gardens Of The World features five gardens that are dedicated to different parts of the world: England, France, Italy, Japan, and the Spanish-style California Mission Courtyard. All of the themed gardens are so beautiful and make you feel like you’re stepping into another world!

7. Elephant Seal Vista Point

Elephant Seal Vista Point is one of the best places to see northern elephant seals lounging on the shoreline in California. This viewpoint is located in San Simeon, just off Highway 1.

It is free to stop by this viewpoint, and I often do so when traveling through Big Sur. There are easily accessible boardwalks and viewing areas where you can see the elephant seals feeding, breeding, and taking care of their young pups.

Read Next: 15 Best Places For Viewing Wildlife In California

8. Pier 39 In San Francisco

Pier 39 is another excellent place in California for wildlife viewing. Pier 39 is located in the San Francisco Harbor, where California sea lions gather to lounge on empty wooden boat docks.

The sea lions arrived in San Francisco in 1990 when many of the boats were removed from the marina after an earthquake. The sea lions took advantage of the empty docks and made them their permanent home.

Now these sea lions have become a major tourist attraction, bringing visitors all day long. With plenty of food supply and no predators, these sea lions are quickly growing in numbers and popularity.

9. The Getty Villa

The Getty Villa is a stunning art museum west of Los Angeles. This museum was built to look like a recreation of a Roman country home called Villa dei Papiri. The museum features lush outdoor gardens, pools, water fountains, statues, and many historical artifacts.

It is free to visit The Getty Villa, but a timed reservation is required. The villa is open from 10 am to 5 pm daily except on Tuesdays.

Read Next: 15 Places In California That Look Like Other Countries

10. California Science Center

We recently visited the California Science Center in downtown Los Angeles with our kids and had so much fun! This museum is free to visit, and it offers so many incredible interactive exhibits that appeal to adults and kids of all ages.

Our toddler loved the on-site aquarium with colorful fish and starfish touch pools. He also enjoyed trying different sports at the GAME ON! Science, Sports & Play area.

If you have little kids, they will love the Discovery Rooms that are colorful playrooms with various toys and books.

11. Balboa Park In San Diego

Balboa Park is a gorgeous 1200 acre cultural park in San Diego that is free to the public. To save costs on parking, park at the Lower Inspiration Point parking lot, which is free for the first three hours. All other lots require a payment.  

Balboa Park has a lot to see on its premises, including gardens, museums, walking paths, shops, restaurants, and more. The park has many beautiful buildings in the Spanish Baroque and Spanish Colonial architectural styles.

The entrance to the Botanical Building and its surrounding gardens is free, along with the entrance to the Timken Museum of Art.

12. Avenue Of The Giants

Avenue of the Giants is one of the most gorgeous drives in California. This is a 31-mile-long route that travels through an ancient redwood forest parallel to Highway 101.

It is free to drive the Avenue of the Giants, and I’ve done this route many times while traveling through Northern California.

The trails along the Avenue of the Giants are part of Humboldt Redwoods State Park. The park has no entrance or parking fees except for the Williams Grove Day-Use Area, which costs $8 for the day.

For first-time visitors, I recommend hiking the 0.5-mile-long Founders Grove Nature Trail and the 0.6-mile-long Rockefeller Loop Trail, where you can see some of the largest coastal redwood trees in California.

Read Next: 15 Most Scenic Drives In California

13. Travertine Hot Springs

Travertine Hot Springs is one of the most remote but scenic hot springs in California. It is free to park and soak at these natural hot springs.

There are several pools here with varying temperatures. The mineral water flows down a narrow ridge before entering the different pools.

Surrounded by gorgeous mountains and rugged scenery, Travertine Hot Springs is one of the best places to go for an outdoor soak in California.

Read Next: 15 Incredible Hot Springs To Visit In California

14. Santa Monica Pier

The Santa Monica Pier is a California classic that you must visit at least once! Built in 1909, this is one of the oldest piers in California that offers plenty of attractions for its visitors.

It is free to walk around the Santa Monica Pier and enjoy the gorgeous ocean views. On our visit, we did a bit of window shopping along the downtown Santa Monica Promenade and then walked down to the pier.

If you want to stop at one of the restaurants at the pier for a bite to eat or go on a ride at the on-site amusement park, that does cost extra.

15. Amboy Crater

If you enjoy visiting otherworldly destinations, add Amboy Crater National Natural Landmark to your bucket list! This is a unique cinder cone crater located along Route 66 in the Mojave Desert.

Formed of ash and cinders, Amboy Crater is 250 feet high and 1500 feet wide. This crater is free to visit, and you can take the 4-mile-long Amboy Crater Trail that travels to the crater summit.

Visitor Tip: It gets very hot in the desert in the summer. It’s best to visit Amboy Crater in the off-season, from fall to spring, when temperatures are much cooler and safer for hiking.

What are your favorite free places to visit in California? Let us know in the comments below!

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This post is written by Laura. Hi, I’m a California local and the founder of the California Wanderland travel blog. I currently live in Ventura County and help 50,000 readers a month discover things to do in Central California! Read more about me here.

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