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The first time we walked into the Sacramento Children’s Museum, my 8-year-old made a beeline for the air tubes while my 10-year-old started assembling a race car from foam pieces. Ten minutes in, they were completely immersed—and I finally got to sip my coffee in peace. That’s the magic of Sacramento’s kid-friendly museums: they’re not just educational, they’re genuinely fun. Whether you’re local or visiting, these kids’ museums in Sacramento are some of the best places in the city to beat the heat, spark imagination, and enjoy quality time as a family.
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Sacramento Children’s Museum
Perfect for toddlers and young children, the Sacramento Children’s Museum in Rancho Cordova is a hands-on wonderland designed to spark imagination through play. From water tables and ball ramps to a pint-sized market and art studio, every exhibit is meant to encourage sensory and creative exploration.
Whether art, building, or play, Sacramento Children’s Museum has so many ways to stimulate young minds!
Photo by Duc Van on Unsplash
This museum was built with early childhood development in mind, making it an ideal space for kids under age 8. Special events like “Leo’s Letters,” yoga classes, and sensory-friendly mornings make it a welcoming and engaging environment for all children. It’s not a huge space, which makes it a great option for a low-key morning or afternoon without the risk of overstimulation.
SMUD Museum of Science and Curiosity
For curious minds who love to tinker, explore, and experiment, MOSAC is Sacramento’s hub for interactive science learning.
Housed in a repurposed power station on the riverfront, this museum blends hands-on exhibits with modern innovation. Kids can explore topics like space, energy, water conservation, and health sciences through immersive exhibits that make STEM subjects fun and accessible.
My boys loved the planetarium and design lab, not knowing they were building problem-solving abilities and creativity through play. MOSAC is especially engaging for school-aged children, though there’s a designated area for preschoolers as well. Parents will appreciate the eco-conscious messaging throughout the museum, from sustainability challenges to green technology displays. Whether your child wants to launch a rocket, build a circuit, or step into a virtual forest, the Museum of Science and Curiosity makes learning feel like a grand adventure.
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Aerospace Museum of California
Calling all aspiring pilots and space explorers! The Aerospace Museum of California offers an up-close look at aviation history with a massive outdoor airpark and indoor exhibits that take visitors from the early days of flight to outer space. With more than 40 aircraft on display, many of which you can walk up to or into, it’s a dream come true for kids fascinated by planes and jets.
After viewing the many planes on display, be sure to take the kids to climb into a real cockpit!
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The Flight Zone is a must-visit, where older kids and teens can try their hand at real flight simulators. STEM exhibits, hands-on engineering activities, and rotating displays on space travel and robotics round out the experience. There’s even a special kids’ area for younger visitors who want to build their own aircraft or take part in scavenger hunts. Whether you’re raising a future engineer or a little one who just loves making things go “vroom,” this museum inspires sky-high imagination.
Crocker Art Museum
At first glance, the Crocker Art Museum may seem more adult-oriented, but it offers a surprisingly strong selection for families and kids. The museum’s “Tot Land” provides a welcoming space for toddlers to explore textures, colors, and interactive exhibits and art installations designed just for them. For older kids, family programs like “Art Spots,” hands-on workshops, and gallery games make visual art engaging and accessible.
The typical art museum might make kids roll their eyes, but they’ll love getting involved in Crocker’s hands-on activities and weekend programs!
Photo by Ludmila Uleva on Unsplash
The museum regularly hosts family-friendly events and weekend programs that encourage kids to create their own masterpieces inspired by the works around them. Parents will love that visiting the Crocker Art Museum mixes education with fun while encouraging kids to slow down, look closely, and express themselves. The atmosphere is relaxed and supportive, with plenty of seating, stroller access, and a peaceful café. It’s a wonderful way to introduce children to art in a space that’s open to creativity at every age.
California State Railroad Museum
If your child has ever gone through a train phase—or is still in it—the California State Railroad Museum is a must. Located in historic Old Sacramento, this museum brings rail history to life with full-size locomotives you can actually board, restored rail cars, and fascinating exhibits that show how trains shaped the American West. Kids can climb aboard a sleeper car, check out a mail car, or marvel at vintage dining menus.
A play area with wooden trains is perfect for little ones, while older kids will enjoy the immersive model train setups and special Junior Engineer activities. On weekends, the museum also offers excursion train rides along the river, which add an unforgettable real-world element to the experience. With a balance of tactile play, storytelling, and engineering awe, the California State Railroad Museum is one of the most engaging and family-friendly museums in the city.
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Sacramento History Museum
Tucked in Old Sacramento, the Sacramento History Museum explores the Gold Rush, printing presses, and pioneer life in ways that can spark kids’ imaginations, especially those who enjoy historical adventures. Although it’s not solely a children’s museum, it offers some great family programming, like “Kids Day,” hands-on exhibits, and interactive tours.
History can be boring for kids – but the Sacramento History Museum makes it fun with hands-on experiences and interactive exhibits.
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One standout activity is the underground tour of Old Sacramento, which feels like a time-traveling journey through tunnels and tales of the past. The museum’s working 19th-century print shop is also a hit, where kids can see how newspapers and signs were once made. This museum tends to appeal more to older children and tweens with an interest in history or mystery. If your family enjoys museums that make you feel like part of the story, this one adds a layer of local richness and curiosity to your day in Sacramento.
California Automobile Museum
Rev up your engines—this California museum offers a journey through automotive history that’s much more kid-friendly than you might expect. The California Automobile Museum features over 150 vehicles from classic roadsters and vintage hot rods to quirky electric cars and rare prototypes. For young car lovers, the museum provides scavenger hunts, coloring stations, and hands-on monthly “Tinker Time” events where kids can build, draw, or explore car-themed STEM topics.
These vintage cars attract minds young and old!
Photo by Deniz Demirci on Unsplash
While much of the museum is adult-leaning in terms of the historical content, the layout and freedom to explore make it engaging for children who enjoy moving through large open spaces with big, shiny things to look at. It’s a great option for multi-generational visits, too. Grandpa might enjoy reminiscing over a 1940s Packard while your child is fascinated by the gullwing doors of a DeLorean.
When You Go
For families visiting in early March, be sure to take advantage of Free Museum Weekend. Tickets sell out quickly, so be sure to book in advance. Many of these museums participate. And, for families that live near Sacramento, take advantage of unlimited visits through yearly memberships. It’s a great way to stay cool (and keep kids learning) during summer!
Where to Stay in Sacramento
The affordable Governor’s Inn Hotel is steps away from eateries and shops in Old Sacramento. A free airport shuttle picks families up, there’s an outdoor pool and hot tub, and it’s hard to beat a complimentary breakfast buffet – especially for the price.
Embassy Suites by Hilton sits on the riverfront and is packed with amenities. Our family loved that all-day snacks and drinks are included along with breakfast, especially with how much my boys eat some days. There is also an indoor pool and a complimentary shuttle that can be used to get around the city – ask the front desk for more info.
Not far from the Crocker Art Museum and Sacramento Zoo, Westin Sacramento Riverfront offers upscale lodgings, with many rooms having features like balconies or claw-foot tubs. Families can rent bikes from the hotel to get around, and there’s an outdoor pool and hot tub.
Traveling to Sacramento Kids Museums from Los Angeles
Sacramento, California, is north of Los Angeles. Families can travel I-5 almost the whole way to Sacramento. Alternatively, take a coastal drive for sea views, traveling through areas like San Francisco, Big Sur, San Jose, and Santa Barbara, or opt for a train ride.
Flying is also an option for families who don’t want to make the 6+ hour drive. Non-stop flights from LAX to Sacramento International Airport are available through Frontier, Delta, American, United, and Southwest Airlines.
An excellent discount site for rental cars and flights is Booking! We literally save hundreds using it.
To get discounts on tours in the area, we recommend Get Your Guide or Viator (which offers 51% off last-minute tours!).
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