Museums for kids in and near Palo Alto

Palo Alto has a small set of museums that work well for children and a much larger set within a 30 minute drive. In town, the city-run Junior Museum and Zoo is built for the youngest visitors and two free museums suit older kids. Up and down the Peninsula, families can climb into airplane cockpits in San Carlos, see room-sized computers in Mountain View and build things in downtown San Jose.

This guide is sorted by distance, starting in Palo Alto. Hours and prices change, so we give the details each museum listed in October 2026 and link to its official site. For a broader list of indoor outings, see our rainy day ideas.

Quick guide by age

The age ranges are our own guide, based on what each museum offers.

Junior Museum and Zoo

The Junior Museum and Zoo at 1451 Middlefield Road is Palo Alto's own children's museum, first opened in 1934 and rebuilt in 2021. It combines indoor science exhibits with a small zoo of about 400 animals from 60 species. Kids watch flamingo feedings at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. and can meet a bald eagle on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 12:45 p.m.

Entry is timed at 10 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. and the museum recommends reserving online. In October 2026 tickets were $16 on weekday mornings, weekends and holiday breaks and $12 on weekday afternoons, with reduced $3 tickets for eligible families. It is closed Mondays and closes at 4:30 p.m. from November 1, 2026.

Beyond the exhibits, the JMZ teaches weekly family science classes for preschoolers and elementary students. See our kids classes guide.

Museum of American Heritage

The Museum of American Heritage at 351 Homer Avenue collects technology from before the digital era: mechanical, electrical and electronic devices that show how daily life worked a century ago. Recent special displays have featured adding machines, calculators and hairstyling tools. It holds more than 8,000 artifacts and has occupied the 1907 Williams House since 1998. Admission is free and the museum is open Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Kids who like to take things apart will find plenty to look at. The back garden is a pleasant break and Heritage Park across the street has a playground. The museum also runs community events. Its fall 2026 calendar included a Halloween Night at the Museum on October 31 and a crafting afternoon with the city library on November 6.

Cantor Arts Center and Stanford

The Cantor Arts Center on the Stanford campus is free and open Thursday to Monday. Big galleries and outdoor bronzes in the Rodin Sculpture Garden hold kids' attention for an hour or so. The museum lists family programs and has offered free, self-paced virtual art-making sessions for families led by Cantor and Anderson Collection educators. Check its programs page for anything in person on the day you plan to visit.

Stanford adds other free stops for curious kids. The Arizona Cactus Garden and the Papua New Guinea Sculpture Garden are both a short walk from the museum.

Hiller Aviation Museum, San Carlos

The Hiller Aviation Museum sits at the San Carlos Airport at 601 Skyway Road, about 20 minutes north of Palo Alto on Highway 101. It is built around airplanes and helicopters, with flight simulators and hands-on exhibits that suit kids who love anything that flies.

It is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., closing on Easter Sunday, Thanksgiving and Christmas. 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 were free with a paid adult. Our Hiller Aviation Museum guide has the details. Parking in the museum lot is free.

Hiller's events are a big draw. Its late 2026 calendar included a Turkey Toss on November 25, Santa arriving by helicopter on December 5 from 9:30 a.m. and an Open Cockpit Day on December 26, when visitors can sit in some of the aircraft. It also runs day camps during school breaks, covered in our school break camps guide.

Computer History Museum, Mountain View

The Computer History Museum at 1401 North Shoreline Boulevard in Mountain View tells the story of computing from the abacus to artificial intelligence. Its main exhibit, Revolution: The First 2000 Years of Computing, includes classic machines that dwarf a modern laptop. Make Software: Change the World! looks at the programs behind everyday life. Chatbots Decoded: Exploring AI lets visitors talk with a chatbot-powered robot.

The museum suits school-age kids and teens more than toddlers. It is open Wednesday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and closed Monday and Tuesday. Buy tickets on its website. See our Mountain View guide for lunch nearby.

The Tech Interactive, San Jose

The Tech Interactive at 201 South Market Street in downtown San Jose is the region's big hands-on science center. It has more than 100 exhibits and experiences, a BioTinkering Lab, The Tech Studio and an IMAX Dome Theater. It works for a full day with school-age children.

In October 2026 general admission was listed at $38 for adults and $28 for children 3 to 17, students and seniors, including one educational IMAX film. Hours follow a seasonal calendar and vary by day, so check the daily schedule. A cafe on site serves breakfast and lunch. Combine it with other stops in our San Jose day trip guide.

Pairing a museum with a park

Children last longer in a museum when there is a run-around break before or after. Each stop above has an easy partner.

• JMZ and Rinconada Park. The playground and redwood grove sit next door, with picnic lawns for a packed lunch.
• Museum of American Heritage and Heritage Park. The playground under the big redwood is across Homer Avenue.
• Cantor and the Main Quad. The arcades of the Main Quad are a short walk away and good for burning off energy.
• Computer History Museum and Shoreline. Shoreline Park and its lake are a few minutes north on Shoreline Boulevard. Pets are not allowed in the park.

Tips for museum days

1. Match the museum to the nap. Toddlers do best at the JMZ's 10 a.m. slot. Older kids can handle a San Jose trip.
2. Check closing days. The JMZ closes Mondays, the Computer History Museum closes Monday and Tuesday and the Museum of American Heritage opens only Friday to Sunday.
3. Watch holiday hours. Several museums close or close early on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas.
4. Consider a membership. If you will visit the JMZ several times a year, a membership includes free reserved entry.

Visiting the wider Bay Area with kids? You can compare tickets for Bay Area museums and aquariums or browse family-friendly tours for a day in San Francisco.

Frequently asked questions