Parks, beaches and places to go around San Francisco-Oakland
This list covers 90 public places in 33 towns around San Francisco-Oakland: parks, beaches, boat ramps, trails, dog parks, libraries, pools, museums, farmers markets, rainy-day spots and courts. Every row links to the place's official site and shows the day it was last checked.
Hours and fees change during the year, so they are left off this page. The official site has the current ones.
- Parks
- Beaches
- Boat ramps
- Trails
- Dog parks
- Libraries
- Pools
- Museums
- Farmers markets
- Rainy-day spots
- Courts
All 90 places
Showing 90 of 90
Parks
Park · San Francisco
Alamo Square Park
The accessible entrance is at the southeast corner of the park, where Hayes Street meets Scott Street.
Outdoors
- Accessible
Hayes St and Scott St, San Francisco, CA 94117
Official site · Checked
Park · Castro Valley
Anthony Chabot Regional Park
The park runs along Redwood Road in the hills above Castro Valley and adjoins Lake Chabot to the south.
Outdoors
- Picnic area
9999 Redwood Rd, Castro Valley, CA 94546
Official site · Checked
Park · Berkeley
Berkeley Rose Garden
The terraced city garden on Euclid Avenue was built as a New Deal project and the city lists ongoing renovation work there.
Outdoors
- Accessible
1200 Euclid Ave, Berkeley, CA
Official site · Checked
Park · Walnut Creek
Castle Rock Regional Recreation Area
The recreation area is under the sandstone outcrops on Castle Rock Road, next to Diablo Foothills Regional Park.
Outdoors
- Picnic area
1700 Castle Rock Rd, Walnut Creek, CA 94598
Official site · Checked
Park · Berkeley
Cesar Chavez Park
The city park is on the old landfill at the Berkeley waterfront, with paths out to the bay edge.
Outdoors
- Parking
- Paved path
11 Spinnaker Way, Berkeley, CA 94710
Official site · Checked
Park · Berkeley
Charles Lee Tilden Regional Park
The 2,079 acre park in the Berkeley Hills is one of the district's three oldest, and it holds a botanic garden, a little farm and a merry-go-round.
Outdoors
- Picnic area
- Playground
1500 Central Park Dr, Berkeley, CA 94708
Official site · Checked
Park · San Rafael
China Camp State Park
The state park keeps the buildings of a Chinese shrimp fishing village on the San Pablo Bay shore off North San Pedro Road.
Outdoors
- Picnic area
- Parking
730 N San Pedro Rd, San Rafael, CA 94901
Official site · Checked
Park · Antioch
Contra Loma Regional Park
The park surrounds a reservoir on the south edge of Antioch, and California State Parks lists a boating facility there.
Outdoors
- Picnic area
- Fishing
1200 Frederickson Ln, Antioch, CA 94509
Official site · Checked
Park · Fremont
Coyote Hills Regional Park
The park covers marsh and grassy hills on the bay edge of Fremont, and it carries a visitor center run by the park district.
Outdoors
- Paved path
- Restrooms
8000 Patterson Ranch Rd, Fremont, CA 94555
Official site · Checked
Park · San Mateo
Coyote Point Recreation Area
The county park is on the bay shore off Coyote Point Drive and holds a marina, picnic areas and the CuriOdyssey museum.
Outdoors
- Picnic area
- Parking
- Playground
1701 Coyote Point Dr, San Mateo, CA 94401
Official site · Checked
Park · Livermore
Del Valle Regional Park
The park surrounds Lake Del Valle in the hills south of Livermore, and California State Parks lists the lake as a state recreation area.
Outdoors
- Picnic area
- Fishing
- Boat launch
7000 Del Valle Rd, Livermore, CA 94550
Official site · Checked
Park · San Francisco
Golden Gate Park
The park covers 1,017 acres from Stanyan Street east to Ocean Beach, and the parks department office is at McLaren Lodge on Stanyan.
Outdoors
501 Stanyan St, San Francisco, CA 94117
Official site · Checked
Park · San Bruno
Junipero Serra Park
The county park is in a canyon on the east slope of the San Bruno Mountain ridge, off Crystal Springs Road.
Outdoors
- Playground
- Picnic area
1801 Crystal Springs Rd, San Bruno, CA 94066
Official site · Checked
Park · Castro Valley
Lake Chabot Regional Park
The park opened to the public in June 1966 in the southern Berkeley Hills, and the marina is about two miles past the main entrance.
Outdoors
- Picnic area
- Fishing
17600 Lake Chabot Rd, Castro Valley, CA 94546
Official site · Checked
Park · San Francisco
Lake Merced Park
The lake is at the southwest corner of San Francisco, ringed by a trail loop and picnic areas run by the city parks department.
Outdoors
- Picnic area
- Fishing
1 Harding Rd, San Francisco, CA 94132
Official site · Checked
Park · Oakland
Lake Merritt
The tidal lagoon is just east of downtown Oakland with a path running the whole way around it.
Outdoors
- Paved path
Lake Merritt Path, Oakland, CA 94610
Official site · Checked
Park · Oakland
Martin Luther King Jr. Regional Shoreline
The shoreline park wraps the marsh at Arrowhead Marsh near the airport, with picnic areas listed by the park district.
Outdoors
- Picnic area
- Kayak launch
7250 Doolittle Dr, Oakland, CA 94621
Official site · Checked
Park · Oakland
Middle Harbor Shoreline Park
The Port of Oakland runs this waterfront park inside the seaport, looking across the bay from the West Oakland shoreline.
Outdoors
- Picnic area
- Restrooms
2777 Middle Harbor Rd, Oakland, CA 94607
Official site · Checked
Park · San Francisco
Mission Dolores Park
The park runs from 18th Street to 20th Street between Dolores and Church, covering close to 16 acres on a slope above the Mission.
Outdoors
- Picnic area
19th and Dolores St, San Francisco, CA 94114
Official site · Checked
Park · Clayton
Mount Diablo State Park
California State Parks runs the mountain that the whole valley is named for, with the Mitchell Canyon entrance on the Clayton side.
Outdoors
- Restrooms
- Parking
96 Mitchell Canyon Rd, Clayton, CA 94517
Official site · Checked
Park · Richmond
Point Pinole Regional Shoreline
The park runs out to a point on San Pablo Bay, and the district lists a second entrance on Atlas Road.
Outdoors
- Parking
- Fishing
5551 Giant Hwy, Richmond, CA 94806
Official site · Checked
Park · Point Reyes Station
Point Reyes National Seashore, Bear Valley
Bear Valley is the main entrance to the national seashore, and the National Park Service keeps its visitor center there.
Outdoors
- Restrooms
- Parking
- Picnic area
1 Bear Valley Rd, Point Reyes Station, CA 94956
Official site · Checked
Park · Fremont
Quarry Lakes Regional Recreation Area
The park is on former gravel quarries along Alameda Creek, with picnic areas listed by the park district.
Outdoors
- Picnic area
- Fishing
2100 Isherwood Way, Fremont, CA 94536
Official site · Checked
Park · Lagunitas
Samuel P. Taylor State Park
The state park is along Lagunitas Creek on Sir Francis Drake Boulevard, with redwoods and a paved bike path through it.
Outdoors
- Picnic area
- Restrooms
8889 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, Lagunitas, CA 94938
Official site · Checked
Park · Pleasanton
Shadow Cliffs Regional Recreation Area
The lake here was a gravel quarry before the park district took it on, and the district lists swimming and picnic areas at the site.
Outdoors
- Picnic area
- Fishing
2500 Stanley Blvd, Pleasanton, CA 94566
Official site · Checked
Park · San Francisco
Sunset Dunes
The 50 acre park runs about two miles along the former Great Highway roadway from Sloat Boulevard north to Lincoln Way, and it opened in April 2025.
Outdoors
- Paved path
Great Highway between Lincoln Way and Sloat Blvd, San Francisco, CA
Official site · Checked
Park · Walnut Creek
The Gardens at Heather Farm
The public garden is beside Heather Farm Park on Marchbanks Drive and is open daily from sunrise to sunset.
Outdoors
- Accessible
1540 Marchbanks Dr, Walnut Creek, CA 94598
Official site · Checked
Beaches
Beach · San Francisco
Baker Beach
The beach is on the Presidio shoreline inside the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, reached from a trailhead above the sand.
Outdoors
1779 Gibson Rd, San Francisco, CA 94129
Official site · Checked
Beach · San Francisco
East Beach at Crissy Field
East Beach is at the Presidio end of the Crissy Field promenade, with the restored marsh just inland of the shoreline.
Outdoors
- Restrooms
- Parking
1199 East Beach, San Francisco, CA 94129
Official site · Checked
Beach · Moss Beach
Fitzgerald Marine Reserve
The county runs this marine reserve at Moss Beach, just north of Pillar Point Harbor, where tide pools are below the bluff.
Outdoors
- Restrooms
- Parking
200 Nevada Ave, Moss Beach, CA 94038
Official site · Checked
Beach · Half Moon Bay
Half Moon Bay State Beach
California State Parks runs the beach at the end of Kelly Avenue, where the Coastside Trail follows the bluff north and south.
Outdoors
- Restrooms
- Parking
- Picnic area
95 Kelly Ave, Half Moon Bay, CA 94019
Official site · Checked
Beach · San Rafael
McNears Beach Park
Marin County Parks runs this bay shore park on Cantera Way, and California State Parks lists a boating facility there.
Outdoors
- Picnic area
- Parking
- Fishing
201 Cantera Way, San Rafael, CA 94901
Official site · Checked
Beach · Montara
Montara State Beach
The state beach is below Highway 1 at Montara, with stairs down from the highway pullouts.
Outdoors
- Parking
8305 Cabrillo Hwy N, Montara, CA 94037
Official site · Checked
Beach · Muir Beach
Muir Beach
The beach is at the mouth of Redwood Creek off Pacific Way, reached from the parking lot above the lagoon.
Outdoors
- Restrooms
- Parking
Pacific Way, Muir Beach, CA 94965
Official site · Checked
Beach · San Francisco
Ocean Beach
The National Park Service describes a beach of about three and a half miles along the western edge of the city, next to Golden Gate Park.
Outdoors
Great Highway, San Francisco, CA
Official site · Checked
Beach · Pacifica
Pacifica State Beach
Surfers call this one Linda Mar Beach because it fronts the Linda Mar neighborhood, and the city runs the parking lots.
Outdoors
- Restrooms
- Parking
Coast Highway at Linda Mar Blvd, Pacifica, CA 94044
Official site · Checked
Beach · Alameda
Robert W. Crown Memorial State Beach
The beach runs along the Alameda shoreline of the bay, and Crab Cove at its north end is a marine reserve with its own visitor center.
Outdoors
- Restrooms
- Parking
8th St and Otis Dr, Alameda, CA 94501
Official site · Checked
Beach · Sausalito
Rodeo Beach
The dark sand beach is at the foot of the Marin Headlands, below the old Fort Barry buildings at Bunker Road.
Outdoors
- Parking
- Restrooms
Lagoon Trail, Sausalito, CA 94965
Official site · Checked
Beach · Stinson Beach
Stinson Beach
The National Park Service runs this three mile stretch of sand on the Marin coast north of Mount Tamalpais.
Outdoors
- Restrooms
- Parking
- Picnic area
Stinson Beach, CA 94970
Official site · Checked
Boat ramps
Boat ramp · Berkeley
Berkeley Public Boat Ramp
California State Parks lists the public launch ramp at the Berkeley Marina, on Spinnaker Way off University Avenue.
Outdoors
- Boat launch
- Parking
1-1/2 Spinnaker Way, Berkeley, CA 94710
Official site · Checked
Boat ramp · San Francisco
Lake Merced Boating and Fishing
California State Parks lists Lake Merced among its boating and fishing facilities, and the lake also carries the city parks department's own listing.
Outdoors
- Boat launch
- Fishing
1 Harding Rd, San Francisco, CA 94132
Official site · Checked
Boat ramp · Half Moon Bay
Pillar Point Boat Launching Facility
California State Parks lists the launching facility at Pillar Point Harbor, which the county harbor district runs at Princeton.
Outdoors
- Boat launch
- Parking
214 Princeton Ave, Half Moon Bay, CA 94018
Official site · Checked
Boat ramp · Pleasanton
Shadow Cliffs Boat Launch
California State Parks lists a boating facility at Shadow Cliffs, the quarry lake the park district runs on Stanley Boulevard.
Outdoors
- Boat launch
2500 Stanley Blvd, Pleasanton, CA 94566
Official site · Checked
Trails
Trail · Antioch
Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve
The preserve is on the old coal mining district south of Antioch, and the district runs a visitor center at the Greathouse portal.
Outdoors
- Parking
5175 Somersville Rd, Antioch, CA 94509
Official site · Checked
Trail · Martinez
Briones Regional Park
The park covers open ridge country between Martinez and Lafayette, with staging areas on both sides of the hills.
Outdoors
- Picnic area
2537 Reliez Valley Rd, Martinez, CA 94553
Official site · Checked
Trail · Oakland
Dr. Aurelia Reinhardt Redwood Regional Park
The park holds a stand of coast redwoods in the Oakland hills, reached from the staging area on Redwood Road.
Outdoors
- Picnic area
7867 Redwood Rd, Oakland, CA 94619
Official site · Checked
Trail · Redwood City
Edgewood Park and Natural Preserve
The county preserve off Edgewood Road is known for its serpentine grassland and the wildflowers that grow on it.
Outdoors
- Parking
10 Old Stage Coach Rd, Redwood City, CA 94062
Official site · Checked
Trail · San Francisco
Fort Funston
The National Park Service describes 200 foot coastal bluffs above the ocean here, with a network of trails and beach access below.
Outdoors
Fort Funston Road, San Francisco, CA 94132
Official site · Checked
Trail · Woodside
Huddart Park
The county park climbs the redwood slopes above Woodside from the Kings Mountain Road entrance.
Outdoors
- Picnic area
- Parking
1100 Kings Mountain Rd, Woodside, CA 94062
Official site · Checked
Trail · San Francisco
Lands End Lookout
The lookout stands at the northwest corner of the city above the coastal trail, on the Point Lobos side of Lands End.
Outdoors
- Parking
680 Point Lobos Ave, San Francisco, CA 94121
Official site · Checked
Trail · Mill Valley
Mount Tamalpais State Park
California State Parks runs the slopes of Mount Tamalpais from the Panoramic Highway, with trails down to Stinson Beach.
Outdoors
- Restrooms
- Parking
3801 Panoramic Hwy, Mill Valley, CA 94941
Official site · Checked
Trail · Mill Valley
Muir Woods National Monument
The National Park Service requires a parking or shuttle reservation to visit the old growth redwood grove on Muir Woods Road.
Outdoors
- Restrooms
- Paved path
- Accessible
1 Muir Woods Rd, Mill Valley, CA 94941
Official site · Checked
Trail · Pacifica
San Pedro Valley Park
The county park is in the valley behind Linda Mar, with trails up the flank of Montara Mountain.
Outdoors
- Restrooms
- Parking
600 Oddstad Blvd, Pacifica, CA 94044
Official site · Checked
Trail · Sunol
Sunol Wilderness Regional Preserve
The preserve covers open hill country south of Sunol, with a visitor center listed by the park district at the Geary Road entrance.
Outdoors
- Restrooms
1895 Geary Rd, Sunol, CA 94586
Official site · Checked
Trail · Richmond
Wildcat Canyon Regional Park
The park climbs the hills above Richmond from the McBryde Avenue entrance at Alvarado Park.
Outdoors
- Picnic area
5755 McBryde Ave, Richmond, CA 94806
Official site · Checked
Dog parks
Dog park · Richmond
Point Isabel Regional Shoreline
The 50 acre shoreline came into the regional park district in 1975 and is used by walkers, windsurfers, kayakers and people with dogs.
Outdoors
- Dogs allowed
- Off-leash area
- Parking
2701 Isabel St, Richmond, CA 94804
Official site · Checked
Libraries
Library · Berkeley
Berkeley Public Library, Central Library
The Central Library stands on Kittredge Street at Shattuck Avenue in downtown Berkeley.
Indoors
- Wi-Fi
2090 Kittredge St, Berkeley, CA 94704
Official site · Checked
Library · Concord
Concord Library
The Concord branch of the county library is on Salvio Street near Todos Santos Plaza downtown.
Indoors
- Wi-Fi
- Parking
2900 Salvio St, Concord, CA 94519
Official site · Checked
Library · Fremont
Fremont Main Library
The Fremont Main Library on Stevenson Boulevard is the largest branch of the Alameda County Library system.
Indoors
- Wi-Fi
- Parking
2400 Stevenson Blvd, Fremont, CA 94538
Official site · Checked
Library · San Francisco
San Francisco Main Library
The Main Library anchors the Civic Center block across Fulton Plaza from the Asian Art Museum.
Indoors
- Wi-Fi
- Accessible
100 Larkin St, San Francisco, CA 94102
Official site · Checked
Library · San Francisco
San Francisco Public Library, Sunset Branch
The Sunset branch is on 18th Avenue in the Sunset District and is one of 27 neighborhood branches in the city system.
Indoors
- Wi-Fi
1305 18th Ave, San Francisco, CA 94122
Official site · Checked
Pools
Pool · Walnut Creek
Castle Rock Pool Complex
The park district lists a swim complex at Castle Rock, on the same Castle Rock Road site as the recreation area.
Outdoors
- Restrooms
1700 Castle Rock Rd, Walnut Creek, CA 94598
Official site · Checked
Pool · San Francisco
Hamilton Pool
The city pool on Geary Boulevard is heated and indoors, and the parks department lists two water slides there.
Indoors
- Accessible
1900 Geary Blvd, San Francisco, CA 94115
Official site · Checked
Pool · Hayward
Hayward Plunge
The indoor pool on Mission Boulevard is closed for renovation from fall 2025 through fall 2026, so check the park district page before going.
Indoors
- Accessible
24176 Mission Blvd, Hayward, CA 94544
Official site · Checked
Pool · San Francisco
Sava Pool
The Sunset District pool on 19th Avenue holds a 25 yard, eight lane tank used for lap, recreation and competitive swimming.
Indoors
- Accessible
2695 19th Ave, San Francisco, CA 94116
Official site · Checked
Museums
Museum · San Francisco
Asian Art Museum
The museum occupies the former main library building on Larkin Street, across Fulton Plaza from the current Main Library.
Indoors
200 Larkin St, San Francisco, CA 94102
Official site · Checked
Museum · Sausalito
Bay Model Visitor Center
The Army Corps of Engineers keeps a working hydraulic model of the bay and delta inside this Bridgeway warehouse.
Indoors
- Parking
- Accessible
2100 Bridgeway, Sausalito, CA 94965
Official site · Checked
Museum · Danville
Blackhawk Museum
The museum is at Blackhawk Plaza in Danville and holds galleries of classic cars alongside its other collections.
Indoors
- Parking
3700 Blackhawk Plaza Cir, Danville, CA 94506
Official site · Checked
Museum · San Francisco
California Academy of Sciences
The building in Golden Gate Park holds an aquarium, a planetarium and a rainforest under one roof.
Indoors
- Accessible
55 Music Concourse Dr, San Francisco, CA 94118
Official site · Checked
Museum · San Francisco
de Young Museum
The museum is on the Music Concourse in Golden Gate Park, across the concourse from the California Academy of Sciences.
Indoors
50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Dr, San Francisco, CA 94118
Official site · Checked
Museum · Danville
Eugene O'Neill National Historic Site
The playwright's Tao House is in the hills above Danville, and the National Park Service asks visitors to arrange a ride to the gate.
Indoors
1000 Kuss Rd, Danville, CA 94526
Official site · Checked
Museum · Woodside
Filoli
The historic house and formal gardens are on Canada Road in Woodside, and the National Trust for Historic Preservation owns them.
Indoors
- Parking
86 Canada Rd, Woodside, CA 94062
Official site · Checked
Museum · Martinez
John Muir National Historic Site
The National Park Service keeps John Muir's house and fruit ranch on Alhambra Avenue in Martinez.
Indoors
- Parking
4202 Alhambra Ave, Martinez, CA 94553
Official site · Checked
Museum · San Francisco
Legion of Honor
The museum opened in 1924 on a rise in Lincoln Park, and it shares a parent organization with the de Young.
Indoors
100 34th Ave, San Francisco, CA 94121
Official site · Checked
Museum · Oakland
Oakland Museum of California
The museum on Oak Street covers California art, history and natural sciences in one building near Lake Merritt.
Indoors
1000 Oak St, Oakland, CA 94607
Official site · Checked
Museum · Richmond
Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front Visitor Education Center
The National Park Service center is in the old Ford Assembly Building on the Richmond waterfront where wartime workers built vehicles.
Indoors
- Parking
1414 Harbour Way S, Suite 3000, Richmond, CA 94804
Official site · Checked
Museum · San Francisco
San Francisco Cable Car Museum
The museum is inside the working powerhouse on Mason Street where the cables that pull the cars are wound.
Indoors
1201 Mason St, San Francisco, CA 94108
Official site · Checked
Museum · San Francisco
San Francisco Museum of Modern Art
The museum stands on Third Street beside Yerba Buena Gardens, a block south of Market Street.
Indoors
151 Third St, San Francisco, CA 94103
Official site · Checked
Museum · Alameda
USS Hornet Sea, Air and Space Museum
The aircraft carrier is berthed at Pier 3 at Alameda Point, on the former naval air station waterfront.
Indoors
- Parking
707 W Hornet Ave, Pier 3, Alameda, CA 94501
Official site · Checked
Farmers markets
Farmers market · San Francisco
Alemany Farmers Market
The city runs this market on Alemany Boulevard, and it is the oldest farmers market in San Francisco.
Outdoors
- Parking
100 Alemany Blvd, San Francisco, CA 94110
Official site · Checked
Farmers market · San Francisco
Ferry Plaza Farmers Market
The market sets up outside the Ferry Building on the Embarcadero at the foot of Market Street.
Outdoors
1 Ferry Building, San Francisco, CA 94111
Official site · Checked
Farmers market · San Francisco
Heart of the City Farmers Market
The city moved this market from United Nations Plaza to Fulton Plaza in 2024, between the Main Library and the Asian Art Museum.
Outdoors
147 Fulton St, San Francisco, CA 94102
Official site · Checked
Farmers market · San Rafael
Sunday Marin Farmers Market
The market sets up on the Marin County Civic Center grounds, and the county has been reviewing a permanent market building there.
Outdoors
- Parking
3501 Civic Center Dr, San Rafael, CA 94903
Official site · Checked
Rainy-day spots
Rainy-day spot · Sausalito
Bay Area Discovery Museum
The museum is in the old Fort Baker buildings under the north end of the Golden Gate Bridge.
Indoors
- Parking
557 McReynolds Rd, Sausalito, CA 94965
Official site · Checked
Rainy-day spot · Oakland
Chabot Space and Science Center
The center is on Skyline Boulevard in the Oakland hills and runs a planetarium and public observatories.
Indoors
- Parking
10000 Skyline Blvd, Oakland, CA 94619
Official site · Checked
Rainy-day spot · San Mateo
CuriOdyssey
The science and wildlife museum is inside Coyote Point Recreation Area on the San Mateo bay shore.
Indoors
- Parking
1651 Coyote Point Dr, San Mateo, CA 94401
Official site · Checked
Rainy-day spot · San Francisco
Exploratorium
The science museum is on Pier 15 on the Embarcadero at Green Street, with about 600 hands-on exhibits indoors.
Indoors
Pier 15, San Francisco, CA 94111
Official site · Checked
Rainy-day spot · San Carlos
Hiller Aviation Museum
The museum is beside San Carlos Airport on Skyway Road, with aircraft and helicopters indoors.
Indoors
- Parking
601 Skyway Rd, San Carlos, CA 94070
Official site · Checked
Rainy-day spot · San Francisco
Randall Museum
The city museum on the slope of Corona Heights covers science, nature and the arts, and it is run with the parks department.
Indoors
199 Museum Way, San Francisco, CA 94114
Official site · Checked
Courts
Courts · San Francisco
Lisa and Douglas Goldman Tennis Center
The rebuilt tennis center is on Bowling Green Drive inside Golden Gate Park and is run for the city parks department.
Outdoors
- Lights
50 Bowling Green Dr, San Francisco, CA 94122
Official site · Checked
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This directory was last checked as a whole on September 23, 2026.
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