You can build an entire San Francisco weekend around animals, and a surprising amount of it is free. Here is where to go, roughly in order of how much it costs.
Free
The Sea Lions at Pier 39
They took over K-Dock in 1989 and never left. Numbers swing wildly with the season, so some days there are hundreds hauled out and barking and other days there are almost none. Check the live webcam before you drive across town.
K-Dock, Pier 39 · Free · pier39.com
The Randall Museum
A free city museum with a live animal room organized by California habitat, rescued residents who cannot be released to the wild, and keepers who are happy to talk to a curious five-year-old. There is also a model railroad and drop-in art and science activities.
199 Museum Way · Free · Tue–Sat 10am–5pm · Small free lot that fills fast on Saturdays · randallmuseum.org
The Bison of Golden Gate Park
There has been a bison herd in Golden Gate Park since 1892. They live in a paddock along JFK Drive west of Spreckels Lake, and you watch them from the fence line whenever you like. It is a ten-minute stop that kids remember for years.
JFK Drive near 38th Ave · Free
Birds at Heron’s Head Park and Lake Merced
Heron’s Head in the Bayview is one of the city’s best birding spots, with over a hundred species recorded and an EcoCenter on site. Lake Merced is the other: a flat loop with waterfowl the whole way around, good for a scooter or a first long bike ride.
Cargo Way at Jennings St; Lake Merced Blvd · Free
Harbor Seals and Sea Lions at Lands End
Look out toward Seal Rocks from the Lands End Lookout and you will usually find pinnipeds piled on the offshore rocks. Bring binoculars, because they are a long way out.
680 Point Lobos Ave · Free
Worth the Ticket
California Academy of Sciences
An aquarium, a rainforest dome, a planetarium and a colony of African penguins under one living roof, which makes it the single best rainy-day animal destination in the city. Penguin feedings are the highlight for most kids. Adult tickets run about fifty dollars and child tickets about forty, with higher peak pricing in summer and around the holidays, and five-dollar admission for EBT and Medi-Cal cardholders.
55 Music Concourse Dr · Mon–Sat 9:30am–5pm, Sun 11am–5pm · Three dollars off with same-day transit proof · calacademy.org
San Francisco Zoo
Out at the far western edge of the city, next to Ocean Beach, so dress for fog even in July. The Little Puffer miniature steam train and the Dentzel carousel cost a few dollars each on top of admission and are usually the actual highlight for younger kids. San Francisco residents pay a reduced rate with proof of address, and the zoo runs occasional resident free days.
Sloat Blvd at the Great Highway · Adults about thirty-two dollars, children about twenty-two, less for residents · Daily 10am–5pm, last entry 4pm · sfzoo.org
Aquarium of the Bay
Small, but the walk-through tunnels put kids eye to eye with sharks and rays from the bay itself, and it is indoors and right at Pier 39, which makes it a good rescue plan on a cold day at the Wharf. Stroller-friendly, with touch pools.
Pier 39 · Roughly thirty dollars adult, twenty-two child online · Daily 10am–5pm, last entry 4:30pm · aquariumofthebay.org
Conservatory of Flowers
Not animals exactly, but the warm tropical house is full of the kind of insects, carnivorous plants and enormous lily pads that fascinate kids, and it is a reliable escape from a cold Golden Gate Park afternoon. Free to everyone on the first Tuesday of the month, and discounted for San Francisco residents.
100 John F. Kennedy Dr · Closed Mondays · gggp.org
Free or Paid: Where Should You Go to See Animals?
Three of the six best animal outings in the city are free, and two of them are outdoors in the fog belt, so check the forecast before you commit.
| Place | What you see | Cost | Indoor? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pier 39 sea lions | Wild sea lions on the docks | Free | No |
| Golden Gate Park bison | A herd kept here since 1892 | Free | No |
| Randall Museum | Rescued California wildlife | Free | Yes |
| California Academy of Sciences | Aquarium, penguins, rainforest | About $49 adult | Yes |
| San Francisco Zoo | Full zoo, train and carousel | About $32 adult | No |
| Aquarium of the Bay | Bay species, walk-through tunnels | About $30 adult | Yes |
Local Legend: The Sea Lions of Pier 39
What is actually true: The timing checks out. Pier 39 Marina says the Loma Prieta earthquake struck on October 17, 1989, and that in December 1989 one large male sea lion arrived in its West Harbor; by February 1990 there were more than 300. The marina credits dock space, plenty of herring and a sheltered harbor for why they stayed. Nobody has shown that the earthquake sent them.
Prices and hours were checked in September 2026 and can change, so confirm before you go.
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San Francisco Zoo or the California Academy of Sciences?
The Zoo is better for under-fives: it is outdoors, there is a steam train and a carousel, and it costs about ten dollars less a head. The Academy is better for ages five and up and for bad weather, because the aquarium, rainforest, planetarium and penguins are all indoors. The Zoo is also at the foggiest corner of the city, so dress for it.
Where can you see sea lions in San Francisco for free?
K-Dock at Pier 39, any day, at no cost. They colonized the docks after the 1989 earthquake. Numbers swing with the season, so check the live webcam on the Pier 39 site before making a special trip.
Is there anywhere free to see animals with kids?
Four places: the Pier 39 sea lions, the bison paddock on JFK Drive in Golden Gate Park, the live animal room at the free Randall Museum, and the birds at Heron’s Head Park in the Bayview. You can build a whole day out of them and spend nothing but parking.
How much does the San Francisco Zoo cost?
Around $32 for adults and $22 for children aged two to eleven on a weekday, a couple of dollars more at weekends, with a reduced rate for San Francisco residents who show ID. The Little Puffer train and the carousel cost a few dollars each on top.
More to Explore
Happening Soon
- Treasures of the Pharaohs Sat, Aug 1, 2026 – Jan 31, 2027 · de Young Museum
- Ferry Plaza Farmers Market Sat, Sep 12 – Dec 31 · Ferry Building Plaza
- Heart of the City Farmers Market Sun, Sep 13 – Dec 31 · Fulton Plaza, Civic Center
- SF State Observatory Public Nights (Wed–Fri, through Dec 4) Thu, Oct 1 – Dec 4 · SF State Observatory, Thornton Hall
Places to Check Out
- Alta Plaza Park Parks & Playgrounds
- Asian Art Museum Museums
- Bi-Rite Creamery Ice Cream & Treats
- Cable Car Museum Museums
Cite this page: Project SF, “Where to See Animals in San Francisco with Kids”, projectsf.com/guides/see-animals-san-francisco-kids/ (updated ).