Family day trips from Palo Alto

Palo Alto sits in the middle of some of the best family day trips in California. In under an hour you can reach a hands-on tech museum, an aviation museum full of real aircraft or the cable cars of San Francisco. In about an hour you can be riding the Giant Dipper in Santa Cruz. A long day takes you to Monterey and one of the most famous aquariums in the world.

This guide picks the trips that work best with children, with drive times, what to book ahead and how to keep the day from falling apart in the back seat. Each one links to our fuller day-trip page. For the whole list, including grown-up trips to wine country, see day trips from Palo Alto.

Trips at a glance

Monterey Bay Aquarium

The Monterey Bay Aquarium at 886 Cannery Row is the trip most families put at the top of the list. Monterey is about 85 to 90 miles from Palo Alto, which means 1.5 to 2 hours each way by car. That makes it a long day, so leave early and plan to eat lunch on Cannery Row.

Book tickets online on the aquarium's visit page before you leave. A local parenting magazine reported in 2025 that walk-in tickets were unavailable and that children 4 and under got in free. Prices change, so check the official page rather than relying on old numbers. You can also compare Monterey Bay Aquarium tickets through a reseller.

With small children, go straight to the exhibits they will love most and save the rest for later. Many families also walk the waterfront after their visit. Our guide to Monterey and Carmel covers the drive, Cannery Row and Point Lobos.

Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz is about 45 miles from Palo Alto, roughly an hour over Highway 17. The road winds through the mountains and backs up on summer weekends, so leave before 9 a.m. if you can.

The Beach Boardwalk

Walking onto the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk and the beach is free. You pay for rides with tickets loaded onto a card or with an all-day wristband. The Giant Dipper, a wooden coaster from 1924, is the classic ride for older kids. Rides do not run every day outside summer, so check the Boardwalk's calendar before you drive.

Monarchs and a steam train

From about mid-October to mid-February, monarch butterflies spend the winter at Natural Bridges State Beach on the west side of town. Late October through November is often the best time to see big clusters. Inland in Felton, Roaring Camp Railroads runs a steam train through the redwoods to the top of Bear Mountain, a trip of about 75 minutes. Its other line, the Santa Cruz Beach Train, is not running in 2026 and is due back in spring 2027. Our Santa Cruz guide has the rest of the day.

San Jose

San Jose is about 20 miles south. Caltrain from Palo Alto to San Jose Diridon takes roughly 20 to 35 minutes and driving takes 25 to 40 minutes on Highway 101 or Interstate 280.

The Tech Interactive at 201 S. Market St. is the draw for school-age kids. Its hands-on exhibits invite children to build, test and experiment. In October 2026 general admission was listed at $38 for adults and $28 for children 3 to 17, students and seniors, including one IMAX film. Check the museum's site for the daily schedule.

With younger children, the Children's Discovery Museum south of downtown is the better fit. Our San Jose guide covers both, plus food and parking.

San Francisco by train

San Francisco is the easiest big day out without a car. Caltrain runs from Palo Alto to the 4th and King terminal in about 40 minutes on an express and 50 minutes on a local. For many kids the train ride is half the fun.

Cable cars

The SFMTA lists a single cable car ride at $9.00 and free for children 4 and under. On cable cars, strollers must be folded and the child taken out before boarding, so a carrier is easier with a baby. The Powell Street lines start at Powell and Market. The Cable Car Museum at 1201 Mason Street shows how the cables that pull the cars work and the museum lists admission as free. Check the SFMTA fare page before you go.

Museums

The California Academy of Sciences and the Exploratorium are the big science museums for kids. Palo Alto library cardholders who are 14 or older and live in a Palo Alto ZIP code can reserve free passes through Discover & Go. The library lists a California Academy of Sciences family pass for one adult and one guest aged 3 and up, with children 2 and under free. Passes can be reserved up to three months ahead. Note that Alcatraz was closed from October 26, 2026 for dock repairs, with a return expected around mid-November. Our San Francisco guide has a full plan.

Closer to home

Hiller Aviation Museum

The Hiller Aviation Museum at 601 Skyway Road in San Carlos is about 20 minutes up Highway 101. Kids can see real aircraft, from early flying machines to helicopters. Admission is about $22 to $23 for adults; check the museum's site. In late October 2026 its visit page listed $22 for adults and $14 for seniors and youths 5 to 17, while door prices were reported as $23 and $15. Children 3 and under are free with a paid adult. Our Hiller Aviation Museum guide has more. It is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. except Easter Sunday, Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Billy Jones Wildcat Railroad

In Los Gatos, the Billy Jones Wildcat Railroad runs a small train on a one-mile loop from Oak Meadow Park, with a carousel beside the station. Rides take 8 to 10 minutes. Its hours page lists weekend winter hours from November 2, 2026. Our guide to kids and trains has more.

Redwoods and the coast

For a day in nature, the redwood parks make a strong family trip. Big Basin Redwoods State Park is open for day use and parking reservations are recommended. Its campgrounds remain closed. Muir Woods north of San Francisco requires advance parking or shuttle reservations. Our redwood forests guide compares the options. The coast at Half Moon Bay is 40 to 50 minutes away via Interstate 280 and Highway 92. Farther north in Moss Beach, the Fitzgerald Marine Reserve has tide pools best seen at low tide. Its tide pool ramp has been closed indefinitely since August 26, 2026, so the way down is now the Coastal Trail to Cypress Avenue and the Seal Cove stairs. Leave the stroller in the car. The water is cold all year with strong rip currents, so keep kids out of the surf. Our Half Moon Bay guide has details.

Tips for a smooth day

1. Leave early. Highway 17 and Highway 1 back up on weekends from late morning.
2. Book timed tickets. Many big attractions sell out on holidays and summer weekends.
3. Pack layers. Summer fog often makes the coast and San Francisco much cooler than Palo Alto.
4. Plan one big thing. Children do better with one main stop and a long lunch than with three rushed ones.
5. Use the train where you can. Caltrain to San Francisco or San Jose avoids parking costs and traffic.

If you are flying in and need a car for the longer trips, compare car rentals near Palo Alto.

Frequently asked questions