Free & Cheap Things to Do in San Mateo, CA

  • The list below includes 706 free or cheap things to do in or near San Mateo, California, including 127 different types of inexpensive activities like Parks, Gardens, Hiking Trails and Running/Jogging.
  • From The San Mateo Japanese Garden to Sawyer Camp Trail, there are a variety of budget-friendly attractions in San Mateo and in nearby cities within 25 miles like San Francisco, Pacifica, Half Moon Bay and Berkeley.
  • The list below includes 706 free or cheap things to do in or near San Mateo, California, including 127 different types of inexpensive activities like Parks, Gardens, Hiking Trails and Running/Jogging.
  • From The San Mateo Japanese Garden to Sawyer Camp Trail, there are a variety of budget-friendly attractions in San Mateo and in nearby cities within 25 miles like San Francisco, Pacifica, Half Moon Bay and Berkeley.
Showing 461-470 of 1154
17.3 Miles
93% 1154 votes
Movie Theaters 2025 Broadway, Oakland, CA 94612 MoreLess Info
Oakland's historic Paramount Theatre is a Bauhaus-inspired performance space. Its event schedule includes orchestra concerts, plays, musicals, operas and other large-scale artistic events. The venue also screens classic films and is available for convention rentals.
17.3 Miles
76% 55 votes
Comedy Clubs 915 Columbus Ave., San Francisco, CA MoreLess Info
Many well known comedians have headlined San Francisco’s Cobb's Comedy Club. Cobb's is 18 and over and along with comedic entertainment, it features a full-service bar and dining menu.
17.3 Miles
50% 12 votes
Parks 482 University Avenue, Los Altos, CA 94023 MoreLess Info
Redwood Grove Park is a 6 acre nature preserve with many activities and attractions for the community. Amenities include picnic equipment, trails, a rose garden, a boardwalk along Adobe Creek, and observation decks.
17.3 Miles
100% 5 votes
Playgrounds 97 Hillview Avenue, Los Altos, CA 94023 MoreLess Info
Whistle Stop Playground is a park where the entire playground is a train and train station theme. The park offers monkey bars and slides as well as benches for parents and guardians to watch their children.
17.4 Miles
83% 18 votes
Parks 301 Mariposa Avenue, Mountain View, CA 94041 MoreLess Info
Named after the Spanish word for butterfly, Mariposa Park carries a butterfly theme throughout on kiosks, concrete sculptures and other park areas. The park features picnic tables, paved paths and a play area with swings, slides, ladders and sand.
17.4 Miles
80% 20 votes
Parks 22400 Woodroe Avenue, Hayward, CA 94541 MoreLess Info
Spanning 101 acres, Don Castro Regional Recreation Area offers a wide array of activities for visitors. A clear blue lagoon is suitable for swimming, and features a beach patrolled by lifeguards. There are also areas for picnicking and fishing.
17.4 Miles
100% 1 votes
Canoeing 6486 Jasmine Avenue, Newark, CA 94560 MoreLess Info
Featuring a Hawaiian cultural tradition, Kilohana Outrigger Canoe Club offers visitors of all skill levels coaching on how to canoe on an 6-man outrigger. The practices last two hours and introduces visitors to the basics of canoeing.
17.5 Miles
64% 14 votes
Gardens 1690 John F Kennedy Drive, San Francisco, CA MoreLess Info
Queen Wilhelmina Garden is an especially nice place to be in the spring. Its windmills are works of art in their own right.
17.5 Miles
89% 2054 votes
Lake Lakeside Park, Oakland, CA 94612 MoreLess Info
Lake Merrit is an expansive Californian lake circumscribed by a jogging trail. It is popular among early-morning joggers and power-walkers, and has a convenient boat launch. .The shores of Lake Merrit are frequented by birds; due to the volume of droppings, visitors should not sit on the bare grass.
17.5 Miles
80% 102 votes
Parks 2100 Isherwood Way, Fremont, CA 94536 MoreLess Info
Quarry Lakes is a recreational park that supports activities including picnicking, boating, swimming, wildlife viewing, and fishing. The park also has hiking trails that can be used for running or walking.
Showing 461-470 of 1154
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