- The list below includes 81 free or cheap things to do in or near San Luis Obispo, California, including 53 different types of inexpensive activities like Hiking Trails, Movie Theaters, Parks and Historic Buildings.
- From California Polytechnic University to Bishop Peak, there are a variety of budget-friendly attractions in San Luis Obispo and in nearby cities within 25 miles like Morro Bay, Pismo Beach, Atascadero and Paso Robles.
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128
0.0 Miles
Explore the city via an adventure combining the fun of a scavenger hunt with the information of a self-guided tour
5.3 Miles
78%
46 votes
3450 Dairy Creek Road, San Luis Obispo, CA 93403
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Featuring Mediterranean plants, San Luis Obispo Botanical Garden offers a variety of gardens with benches and walking trails. It also hosts events like crafts workshops, ecological lectures, gardening events, and more.
0.4 Miles
One of the more unusual attractions in San Luis Obispo is Bubblegum Alley, a narrow alley with walls thickly covered in used bubblegum. Visitors continue the tradition of 'leaving a piece behind' after passing through the alley.
0.7 Miles
Headquartered in San Luis Obispo, Central Coast Food Tours is a gourmet touring company devoted to pleasing discerning palates from around the world. Central Coast Food Tours offers pre-packaged tours and charter reservations.
1.0 Miles
San Luis Obispo's Performing Arts Center is one of California's most prestigious venues for classical music, ballet, theater and musicals. Its calendar is filled with world-class offerings, including stars of the American and international music scenes.
1.8 Miles
Drive-in theaters like this are sadly becoming a thing of the past. Sunset Drive-In still offers good prices and a classic drive-in screen.
0.3 Miles
The first solar-powered movie theater in the United States, Palm Theatre features mostly independent and foreign films along with some mainstream movies. The theater offers digital projection, Dolby digital sound and a snack bar with food and drinks.
0.3 Miles
86%
781 votes
751 Palm St., San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
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Currently the flagship parish of the Roman Catholic Church in San Luis Obispo, California, the Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa was the fifth Catholic mission established in California. It endured uneasy relationships with local Native Americans and at one point was nearly destroyed by their flaming arrows.
1.6 Miles
Madonna Inn Trail Rides offers several trail ride packages, including a trail ride/meal package and a trail ride/hotel stay package. The rides are led by experienced wranglers and the horses are advertised as being gentle and friendly.
0.1 Miles
A staple of the cinema scene in San Luis Obispo, the Fremont Theater shows a mixture of new releases and old favorites. The Fremont's sister theater is the Downtown Centre 7, located in the heart of the city.
0.5 Miles
82%
99 votes
1010 Nipomo St., San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
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Designed to engage the curiosity of children, San Luis Obispo Children's Museum offers visitors playrooms to explore filled with hands-on activities. Each room has a different theme; from a doctor's office to a fire truck.