Even though California regularly ranks as one of the most expensive states in the US, that doesn’t mean your visit to Sacramento has to break the bank.
From natural beauty to urban art, make the most of your budget with our roundup of the best free (or nearly free!) things to do in River City.
Explore the California State Capitol and Its Plant-Filled Park
The grand California State Capitol takes pride of place in downtown Sacramento, with the wide Capitol Mall boulevard offering a preview of the building for half a mile on the journey from Tower Bridge. Completed in 1874, the gleaming white Capitol here was designed to resemble the US Capitol in Washington, DC, featuring neoclassical columns and a lofty dome.
The Capitol Museum is temporarily closed, but docents are still giving free 90-minute tours of the 40-acre Capitol Park on Wednesdays and Sundays. This vast green space contains hundreds of trees, dozens of monuments and memorials, a camellia grove, and a rose garden with a burbling fountain.
Admire Sacramento’s Urban Art with Wide Open Walls
Sacramento has been splashed with color in a big way. Thanks to a mural festival started in 2016, the city has transformed blank building sides and alleyways. Wide Open Walls has now chalked up some 155 murals across Sacramento, painted by artists from California and beyond, including famous names such as Shepard Fairey.
The art spans the city; however, the densest concentration is in Downtown and Midtown. You can create a DIY free walking tour using helpful maps available online.
Appreciate Victorian Architecture at the Leland Stanford Mansion
The stunning Leland Stanford Mansion stands out even brighter against the backdrop of a drab governmental office block. Built in 1856, this 19,000-sq-ft mansion is adorned with Victorian details, including dark carved-wood moldings, crystal chandeliers with gas fittings, and original furniture from its famous second owners.
Purchased in 1861 by Leland Stanford, who is also the name behind Stanford University, the house was once used as the governor’s official office. It continues to serve as a reception hall for political events, which may lead to temporary closures for the public. Guided tours are free and begin with a short video in the visitor center and museum behind the mansion.
Get Outdoors at Effie Yeaw Nature Center
If you need a break from the city and don’t want to travel too far, head to Effie Yeaw Nature Center, encompassing 100 acres of wooded land along the American River. Walking trails wind through trees and lead to the river’s shoreline. The small museum and outdoor spaces showcase the flora, fauna, and the Nisenan Maidu people who have historically inhabited this area. Kids will love observing live creatures on display, ranging from the northern Pacific rattlesnake to resident birds of prey.
Effie Yeaw Nature Center is free to visit, although parking costs $5.
Watch Salmon Swim and Spawn at the Nimbus Fish Hatchery
Every year in late fall, thousands of Chinook salmon return to a stretch of the American River in Sacramento to spawn. However, the construction of a dam in the 1950s blocked their route, requiring a ladder and fish hatchery for the species to continue to thrive in this area.
A visit to the Nimbus Fish Hatchery is one of Sacramento’s great free activities for kids, where they can marvel at the salmon jumping up the ladder. View the fish from above along the upper walkways, or gaze down through the huge gallery windows. Steelhead trout also spawn here in January.
Walk the American River Bike Trail
Stretching alongside the Nimbus Fish Hatchery and all the way back to Old Sacramento, the 32-mile American River Bike Trail is a delightful free outdoor activity in Sacramento. The trail hugs the river, providing close views of the water and wildlife, with various access points allowing you to tackle as much or as little as you’d like.
Time Travel in Old Sacramento
In contrast to the modern buildings on the other side of Interstate 5, Old Sacramento offers a Wild West time capsule. Old Sacramento State Historic Park is home to California’s largest collection of buildings from the Gold Rush era, complete with old-timey signage and overhanging balconies shading the raised wooden boardwalks below. It’s free to stroll through this historic district unless you decide to embrace the experience and arrange for a sepia photo shoot.
One of the best free events in Sacramento is Gold Rush Days, occurring over Labor Day weekend in early September. Truckloads of dirt are hauled in to cover the cobblestone streets, with costumed actors bringing the old town to life.
Experience Sacramento’s Best Museums During Free Museum Weekend
What museums are free in Sacramento? For most of the year, the answer is none (though Sutter’s Fort and the State Indian Museum have entry fees of just $5 each).
However, the annual Free Museum Weekend allows visitors to access many of the capital’s cultural institutions over two days. The dates may vary each year, and advance registration is recommended to ensure you don’t miss out on this opportunity.
