21 Best Playgrounds In The Bay Area

The Bay Area is a great place to be a kid if you know where to look. You’re in luck because we have a list of the best playgrounds in the Bay Area for you. Whether you’re in San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose or a surrounding city, these parks are a great option for your kids!

1. Mission Bay Kids Park

Mission Bay Kids Park is a playground in San Francisco. The large footprint features playgrounds for kids of all ages. The open spaces allow for clear view of your kids. The park itself is surrounded by beautiful urban spaces.

• Age range: All ages
• Parking: Around the park, parking can be scarce. You may have to park a few blocks away.
• Restroom Facilities: There is no public toilet at this park.
• Nearby attractions: There are many food and beverage options surrounding. There are also picnic tables you can reserve at the park.

2. Helen Diller Playground

Helen Diller Playground is a park in San Francisco featuring unique design. The park itself contains features the whole family can enjoy. The playground is sure to spark the creativity in your kids of all ages. With bridges, large and small slides, and all sorts of things to climb, this playground feels like an adventure. Round out your stay by walking to the top of the hill for amazing views.

• Age range: All ages
• Parking: There is no designated parking. Street parking and nearby parking garages are options.
• Restroom Facilities: There is a public bathroom on the other side of the park.
• Nearby attractions: There are many food options in the surrounding area. There’s also well-known art within the surrounding park.

3. Magical Bridge Playground

Magical Bridge Playground is an accessible playground in Palo Alto. Kids of all ages can enjoy this park. This includes kids with varying physical abilities and sensory needs. The design of the park allows kids to have fun with creativity and exploration. This park seems to have something for every kid.

• Age range: All ages
• Parking: Free and widely available parking
• Restroom Facilities: Public bathroom at the park
• Nearby attractions: Food, coffee, and ice cream shops are located nearby. There’s also tennis and pickle ball courts within the park, and a library located very close.

4. Koret Playground

Koret Playground is a fun destination for the whole family in San Francisco. The park features a playground for older kids, one for younger kids and massive grass lawns. Plus, there’s a carousel and breaking wave sculptures for climbing!

• Age range: All ages
• Parking: There’s limited, but reasonable parking lot located at the park. Street parking is also available and rarely a problem.
• Restroom Facilities: Clean public bathrooms are available at the park!
• Nearby attractions: Playground is located within a massive park with things to do for the whole family. There are also great food options nearby.

5. Magic Mountain Playground

Magic Mountain Playground is located between Aardvark Beach and Coyote Point Beach in San Mateo. It’s location lends itself to a day full of family fun. The playground itself lives up to the name with a play castle on a hill and a friendly dragon to slide on.

• Age range: All ages
• Parking: There are several parking lots and many places to park. Some lots charge $6, but there is so much attractions around for the whole family.
• Restroom facilities: There is a public bathroom available.
• Nearby attractions: Multiple beaches, recreations areas, and Poplar Creek Golf Course. The park also has a BBQ area and picnic benches.

6. Cabrillo Playground

• Age range: All ages
• Parking: Street parking is available near the park.
• Restroom Facilities: There are restrooms on location.
• Nearby attractions: Located near a club house, basketball court, and the San Francisco Zoo!

 

7. Rockridge-Temescal Greenbelt

• Age range: All ages
• Parking: Limited street parking is available.
• Restroom Facilities: Bathrooms have been known to be less clean and overflowing with trash.
• Nearby attractions: Climbing wall and butterfly garden located on site! Nearby attractions like the University of California Botanical Garden and Children's Fairyland in Oakland, CA.

 

8. Presidio Heights Playground

• Age range: All ages
• Parking: Street parking is limited.
• Restroom Facilities: Public restrooms are available.
• Nearby attractions: This smaller sized playground is near the Golden Gate Bridge, Baker Beach and the Japanese Tea Garden.

 

9. Potrero Hill Playground

• Age range: All ages
• Parking: Street parking and rec center parking are available.
• Restroom Facilities: Public restrooms located in the rec center next to the park.
• Nearby attractions: This playground is connected to the Potrero Hill Recreational Center. There are not many attractions nearby.

 

10. Presidio Wall Playground

• Age range: All ages
• Parking: Street parking available on the dirt shoulder as well as other locations near by.
• Restroom Facilities: Restrooms are located in the clubhouse attached to the playground.
• Nearby attractions: Plenty of trails, fields, and other outdoor activities located near by. Don't forget about the Golden Gate Bridge right across the way from the park!

 

11. Sue Bierman Park

• Age range: All ages
• Parking: Paid street parking is limited.
• Restroom Facilities: Public restrooms are available near the park.
• Nearby attractions: Located right next to the pier's of San Francisco Bay there is plenty to do next to this park. The Exploratorium, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art and the Oakland Bay Bridge are all right next to this quaint little playground with nice grassy picnic areas.

 

12. Ryder Park

• Age range: All ages
• Parking: Limited parking available on site.
• Restroom Facilities: Restrooms located on the park grounds.
• Nearby attractions: Enjoy the Hilsdale Shopping Center, Parkside Aquatic Park, and the Bay hiking trail near the San Mateo Bridge.

 

13. Mission Playground

• Age range: All ages
• Parking: Limited street parking is available.
• Restroom Facilities: Restrooms located on the park.
• Nearby attractions: Soccer fields, a swimming pool, tennis court and other fun activities located on site!

 

14. Helen Diller Civic Center Playground

• Age range: All ages
• Parking: Parking garages and paid street parking available near the civic center.
• Restroom Facilities: Clean public bathrooms are available at the park!
• Nearby attractions: The Asian Art Museum and shopping centers located all around the Mid-Market area across from San Francisco City Hall!

 

15. West Sunset Playground

• Age range: All ages
• Parking: Street parking is available but limited.
• Restroom Facilities: Restrooms on location.
• Nearby attractions: Located near the San Francisco Zoo and Lake Merced Park, as well as the Japanese Tea Garden. There are also baseball diamonds, tennis courts, and a picnic area.

 

16. J.P. Murphy Playground

• Age range: All ages
• Parking: Limited street parking on site.
• Restroom Facilities: Clean public bathrooms in the park
• Nearby attractions: Located near the Twin Peaks area there is plenty to do. This smaller playground is tucked away near the Laguna Honda Reservoir and the Golden Gate Heights Park.

 

17. Junipero Serra Playground

• Age range: All ages
• Parking: Street parking is available and limited.
• Restroom Facilities: Clean bathrooms on site.
• Nearby attractions: Across from Lake Merced Park and the San Francisco Zoo. This park is also a short drive from San Bruno Mountain State & County Park.

 

18. Joe DiMaggio Playground

• Age range: All ages
• Parking: There’s limited, but reasonable parking lot located at the park. Street parking is also available and rarely a problem.
• Restroom Facilities: Available restrooms at the park.
• Nearby attractions: Playground is located within a massive park with things to do for the whole family. There are also great food options nearby the Fisherman's Wharf and North Beach areas!

19. Golden Gate Park 45th Avenue Playground

• Age range: All ages
• Parking: Paid parking.
• Restroom Facilities: Bathrooms available on site.
• Nearby attractions: Basically inside the Japanese Tea Garden there is so much do do in the Golden Gate Park. With trails, playgrounds, and other outdoor activities for the kids!

 

20. Cayuga Playground

• Age range: All ages
• Parking: Street parking is limited.
• Restroom Facilities: Restrooms available on the grounds.
• Nearby attractions: Located in the Oceanview and Outer Mission neighborhoods, this is a great place to get away from the hustle and enjoy some quality time at the park.

 

21. Mission Dolores Park

• Age range: All ages
• Parking: Limited street and paid parking.
• Restroom Facilities: Public restrooms are available.
• Nearby attractions: Right in the middle of San Francisco in the Dolores neighborhoods there are plenty of food options and things to do within the park itself!

Help Local Kids Experience The Joy Of The Bay Area

The Bay Area is home to fantastic places for your kids to play. It is also home of Make-A-Wish Greater Bay Area, where kids facing critical illness get to experience their greatest wish! You can help spread the joy to local Bay Area kids. Wheels For Wishes makes it easy to help make dreams come true! Here’s how:

• Wheels For Wishes is a nonprofit car donation organization.
• We benefit Make-A-Wish Greater Bay Area with the proceeds from car donations.
• Generous donors like you can simply donate your unwanted car, and we take care of the rest!
• We come to you with FREE towing.
• You get a tax deduction!
• Your donation benefits kids! 

To donate, simply call 1-855-278-9474 or fill out our easy online donation form.