17 Best Museums in Sacramento for Kids (and How to Get Into Some for Free!)

From trains to tractors, planes, cars, science museums, and Gold Rush history, there is a wide range of museums in Sacramento for kids. California’s Capital teems with kid-friendly educational opportunities and interactive exhibits. 

The California State Railroad Museum is probably one of the most notable museums in all of California, let alone Sacramento. However, other entertaining and lesser-known museums in Sacramento for kids extend beyond this beloved attraction. 

Keep reading below for the best museums in Sacramento for kids that you’ll want to discover for the first time, or keep returning to for a visit. Plus, find out how to get free admission to some of the best museums for kids in Sactown! 

Best Museums in Sacramento for Kids

1. California State Railroad Museum — Old Sacramento

The California State Railroad Museum is one of the most popular attractions in Sacramento. The museum truly has something for everyone. Kids (and adults) will love the train cars they can climb into and walk through. There are learning opportunities and interactive exhibits throughout every corner of the museum about the rich history of railroads in California and the West.

Don’t miss going up to the third level of the museum, especially if you have younger kids. There are interesting toy trains, but the real draw is the children’s play area. In the play area, there’s a climbable train structure with slides, many toy trains for kids to play with, a book nook, benches for parents and caregivers, and other engaging activities for kids to explore. 

While the California State Railroad Museum is in itself a must-visit as one of the best things to do in Sacramento with kids, the museum is also known for its beloved Polar Express train ride during the holiday season. Take note that it sells out quickly, and early! 

2. Sacramento Children’s Museum — Rancho Cordova

If you have younger kids, the Sacramento Children’s Museum is a fantastic way to entertain them for several hours. It’s ideal for toddlers to eight-year-olds. Babies can explore a dedicated soft play space area for the littlest ones, who are two years old and younger. Kids can enjoy pretend play with groceries, a camp setting, a stage with costumes, a vet area, and more. There’s an art studio, reptiles to admire, a beehive, STEM learning opportunities, rotating exhibits, and fabulous seasonal events.

There is something for kids to discover in every corner at this museum. We have visited the Sacramento Children’s Museum countless times. It’s one of the better indoor play spaces for kids in Sacramento and a perfect option for things to do in Sactown with kids when it’s too hot or rainy. 

3. California Automobile Museum — Old Sacramento

If your kids can’t get enough of their Hot Wheels cars, they will appreciate a visit to a museum that’s full of cars. CAM has become one of my favorite kid-friendly museums in Sacramento. The automobiles are on exhibit in chronological order. Kids (and adults) can climb into some of the cars for great photo ops, ride in a stroller car, and enjoy toys at the museum’s indoor play area. 

4. SMUD Museum of Science and Curiosity (MOSAC) — River District 

The SMUD Museum of Science and Curiosity (MOSAC) is a state-of-the-art science center with interactive exhibits about space, energy, engineering, and health sciences. The UC Davis Multiverse Theater, the museum’s planetarium, is a favorite feature of museum visitors. Museum admission includes a complementary planetarium show. Laser shows set to iconic music from Disney movies, Taylor Swift songs, and classic rock bands also regularly occur in the planetarium. 

5. Utility Exploration Center — Roseville
Free Admission

If your kids love waving at trash trucks like my toddler, they’ll probably enjoy this free learning space in Roseville. The exploration center focuses on water conservation, waste reduction, and sustainable living practices. Visitors can participate in hands-on STEAM activities, crawl through a sewer pipe, engage with greenhouse interactives, check out the Explore Like an Engineer exhibit, and embark on a scavenger hunt to earn a small prize.

The center also has free community events for all ages and a League of Explorers lab for kids ages 7-11. The Utility Exploration Center is inside the Martha Riley Library building. 

6. Aerospace Museum of California — North Highlands

I wasn’t sure what to expect when first visiting the Aerospace Museum of California. I was pleasantly surprised and thought this museum was full of fascinating exhibits and fun interactive activities for all ages. I believe kids who are three and up may appreciate this museum more.

My two-year-old loved the building block stations. I appreciated that the museum had step stools so smaller kids could reach the blocks. If you have kids who love planes, it’s a must-visit for them to see all the aircraft. You can even walk inside some of them! There are fascinating learning opportunities about science and space. Save some time for the spaceship-themed playground next to the museum at Freedom Park. 

7. Sutter’s Fort State Historic Park — Midtown Sacramento

Sutter’s Fort State Historic Park is in Midtown Sacramento. Here, kids can gain educational insight into the complex history of California and the local region. Self-guided daily tours allow families to explore the reconstructed fort at their own pace.

8. California Museum — Downtown Sacramento

A museum paying homage to California’s history and culture makes sense to be in California’s Capital. While the California Museum is small and can be seen in an hour, it’s brimming with interactive displays and engrossing exhibits. Some notable signature exhibits to expect are Women Inspire: California Women Changing Our World and the California Hall of Fame. This museum is likely best for older kids who can understand the state history they’ll be learning about.

9. Crocker Art Museum — Downtown Sacramento

You typically don’t think of an art museum being kid-friendly. However, the Crocker goes out of its way to make itself family-friendly. One of the best aspects of the Crocker (particularly for toddlers who might not yet care about European art) is Tot Land. It’s one of the more interesting indoor play spaces for kids in Sacramento. A large boat is at the center of Tot Land that kids can climb in. There’s also a book nook, a small climbing structure, stuffed animals, and art supplies. While Tot Land isn’t an all-day outing, it might help tire out the kids so parents can marvel at art while kids nap in their strollers.

Older kids may appreciate the Family Adventure Guide, which directs kids through the gallery on a family-friendly journey. From babies to teens, the Crocker frequently has engaging kid-friendly programs focused around an art medium. The Crocker also has Pay What You Wish admission on the third Sunday of the month. 

10. Sacramento History Museum — Old Sacramento

The Sacramento History Museum is one of the things to do with kids in Old Sacramento. That said, it’s probably best for older kids. It’s a small museum with rotating exhibits full of artifacts and history. Younger kids might get a little restless as there aren’t many interactive components in the museum.

As something to do when it’s too hot outside in Sacramento, you can head underground with the museum on one of their Old Sacramento Underground Tours. The tour reveals how streets and buildings were raised during the 1800s to avoid flooding. The Sacramento History Museum’s print shop is also famous on TikTok. Check out the letterpress printing they do on a print press from 1852 on social media. 

11. State Indian Museum — Midtown Sacramento

The State Indian Museum honors the heritage and traditions of California’s Native American communities. It showcases cultural artifacts like woven baskets, traditional regalia, and musical instruments. The museum highlights the impressive craftsmanship of basket making. There’s also a scavenger hunt with a small prize that kids are likely to enjoy. The State Indian Museum is next to Sutter’s Fort, so you could easily combine the two for a same-day visit. 

12. Sojourner Truth African Heritage Museum — South Sacramento

The Sojourner Truth African Heritage Museum celebrates African and African American history, art, and culture. It’s the only museum in Sacramento that showcases African American history. Visitors can explore a variety of artifacts, historical narratives, and artistic works that highlight the contributions of the African diaspora. The museum is located inside the Florin Business Arts Complex. 

13. Folsom History Museum & The Square (formerly Pioneer Village) — Folsom

Step back in time to learn about the history of Folsom and how it became a booming gold-mining town at the Folsom History Museum. This museum educates about the area’s past to its present.

The Square (formerly Pioneer Village) is an outdoor, interactive museum that kids will especially enjoy. Try gold panning, tour a Southern Pacific Railroad caboose train, explore historic buildings, and tour a working blacksmith forge. Both museums are easily accessible in the Folsom Historic District. 

14. Sacramento Regional Fire Museum — West Sacramento

Like garbage trucks, fire trucks are another vehicle that kids go nuts for. The Sacramento Regional Fire Museum has a collection of fire engines, equipment, and artifacts that illustrate the history of fire services in the Sacramento region. The museum also focuses on fire safety. 

15. Maidu Museum & Historic Site — Roseville

Blink, and you’ll miss the Maidu Museum & Historic Site tucked away in Roseville. Visitors will learn about the history and culture of the Nisenan Maidu people. Find interactive exhibits about California Indian traditional practices like acorn processing and basket weaving inside the museum. The outdoor nature trail highlights ancient petroglyphs, bedrock mortars, and native plants and wildlife. Who would have thought that you could view petroglyphs in Roseville? This museum provides an educational and immersive experience of California’s Indigenous heritage. 

16. World of Wonders Science Museum — Lodi

Sometimes, it’s easy to forget how close Lodi is to the Sacramento area. Lodi happens to be home to a fantastic, interactive science museum for kids of all ages. World of Wonders Science Museum has over 70 hands-on science exhibits. It’s easily one of the best things to do with kids in Lodi. This engaging museum focuses on enriching STEM exhibits, highlighting topics like energy and electricity. Another perk? It’s one of the many museums you can get free tickets to through the Sacramento Library. 

17. Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park — Coloma

The Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park in Coloma is roughly an hour from Sacramento. The site commemorates the 1848 discovery of gold by James W. Marshall in the area known as Cullumah by the Nisenan people. This pivotal event sparked the California Gold Rush, bringing a transformative wave of migration and development to the Sacramento region. 

Families can explore a replica of Sutter’s sawmill, over 20 historic buildings, and exhibits showcasing life during the Gold Rush. The park also offers gold panning experiences in the American River, scenic, kid-friendly hikes, and picnic areas under oak woodlands, making it a perfect blend of history and nature. 

Kids ages five and up can participate in a Junior Ranger program at the historic park. To earn a Junior Ranger badge, children must complete a Junior Ranger Activity Book (preview it here). They then must participate in an activity that includes gold panning, a gold discovery tour, a ranger or docent talk, or watching a film about the park. There is also a scavenger hunt and several educational questions to answer about the historic sites, mining techniques, and plants and animals in Coloma. The Junior Ranger program is an incredibly immersive way for kids to experience the Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park. 

Call the historic site at (530) 622-3470 before visiting to confirm if gold panning and the Gold Discovery Tour are operating. Both activities will close when temperatures are too high or school groups are at the site. Gold panning, the Gold Discovery Tour, and the Junior Ranger badge all have added costs.

How to Get Free Admission to Museums in Sacramento for Kids

Admission to museums can add up, especially with multiple family members. Luckily, there are many ways to receive free admission to museums in Sacramento for kids. Keep reading for a few secrets on how to score free admission at some of the mentioned Sactown museums! 

Sacramento Library

There are all kinds of free things you can get with a Sacramento Library card beyond books. Free museum admission to select museums for kids in Sacramento is one of those free things through the Discover & Go program. Ticket offers vary by attraction and need to be reserved in advance. For example, some museums may offer free admission for one adult and one child, whereas some may offer free admission for up to four people. Passes tend to go quickly and become available on the first date of each month at midnight for the next three months (i.e. on January 1, March passes become available).

Bank of America Museums on Us

Are you a Bank of America cardholder? If so, you can utilize the Bank of America Museums on Us promotion. On the first weekend of every month, on Saturday and Sunday, Bank of America cardholders receive free admission to participating museums in the promotion. Participating museums for kids in Sacramento include The Crocker Art Museum, California Museum, and California Automobile Museum. 

Annual Sacramento Free Museum Day

A free Sacramento Museum Day takes place each year. Though, that day recently turned into multiple days, spanning a two-day weekend. It typically occurs in late winter, around early March. As the name states, tickets are free to most Sacramento museums. Note that tickets are usually released in February, and they go fast! You must have tickets to visit a specific museum for free through this yearly promotion. Capacity for free tickets is limited, and museums tend to be busier than usual when the promotion occurs.