Highest-rated free things to do in California by visitors

Being an American can be incredibly expensive. While workers in the United States have seen a 1,015% increase in wages over the past 50 years, those gains haven't caught up with the, according to a 2025 report from Consumer Affairs. Between 1973 and 2023, the national consumer price index increased by 586%.

Although Americans have about 63% more purchasing power than 50 years ago, that quickly dissipates when factoring in the increased costs of housing and education. Housing costs have jumped about 1,045%, private college tuition has risen by 158%, and public college tuition has increased by 177%.

That imbalance has put a huge strain on the average American. In 2023, a record-high 42.9 million households were, according to an analysis of Census Bureau data by the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies.

It's no wonder that maintaining savings, paying down debts and mortgages, and regular expenses are taking precedence. But not everything that's enjoyable has to come at a high price. In fact, there's a roster of completely free things to do in California.

From touring landmarks and historical sites to getting out into nature, you can find all this and more without swiping your credit card or crossing state lines.

To help you find your next free activity, compiled a list of the highest-rated free things to do in California using data from . Tripadvisor ranks places using a combination of metrics, including overall rating, reviews, and number of page views. As a result, an activity with a 5 out of 5 overall rating might rank lower than one with a 4 out of 5. Data is as of Aug. 18, 2025. Only locations that received at least 20 reviews were included.

Read on to start planning a weekend of free fun near you!

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#30. The Getty Villa

- Rating: 4.7/5 (2,592 reviews)
- City: Malibu
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#29. Pacific Coast Highway

- Rating: 4.8/5 (1,682 reviews)
- City: not available
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#28. La Jolla Shores Park

- Rating: 4.6/5 (2,726 reviews)
- City: La Jolla San Diego
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#27. Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk

- Rating: 4.2/5 (3,688 reviews)
- City: Santa Cruz
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5 / 30

#26. Santa Monica State Beach

- Rating: 4.4/5 (6,769 reviews)
- City: Santa Monica
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6 / 30

#25. Redwood National and State Parks

- Rating: 4.8/5 (1,175 reviews)
- City: Redwood National Park
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#24. Coronado Bridge

- Rating: 4.5/5 (5,807 reviews)
- City: San Diego
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#23. Seaport Village

- Rating: 4.2/5 (4,766 reviews)
- City: San Diego
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#22. Rodeo Drive

- Rating: 4.2/5 (5,615 reviews)
- City: Beverly Hills
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#21. Glacier Point

- Rating: 4.9/5 (4,629 reviews)
- City: Yosemite National Park
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11 / 30

#20. Venice Canals Walkway

- Rating: 4.4/5 (2,070 reviews)
- City: Los Angeles
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#19. Downtown Disney District

- Rating: 4.3/5 (8,838 reviews)
- City: Anaheim
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#18. Ferry Building Marketplace

- Rating: 4.5/5 (7,458 reviews)
- City: San Francisco
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#17. Twin Peaks

- Rating: 4.6/5 (6,443 reviews)
- City: San Francisco
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#16. Little Italy

- Rating: 4.4/5 (2,064 reviews)
- City: San Diego
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#15. Sunset Cliffs Natural Park

- Rating: 4.7/5 (2,148 reviews)
- City: San Diego
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#14. Palace of Fine Arts Theatre

- Rating: 4.6/5 (4,524 reviews)
- City: San Francisco
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#13. Coronado Island

- Rating: 4.7/5 (3,073 reviews)
- City: Coronado
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#12. The Grove

- Rating: 4.4/5 (2,574 reviews)
- City: Los Angeles
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#11. Hollywood Sign

- Rating: 4.0/5 (7,753 reviews)
- City: Los Angeles
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#10. Golden Gate Park

- Rating: 4.6/5 (9,652 reviews)
- City: San Francisco
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#9. Fisherman's Wharf

- Rating: 4.1/5 (19,699 reviews)
- City: San Francisco
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#8. Pier 39

- Rating: 4.2/5 (23,056 reviews)
- City: San Francisco
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#7. Lombard Street

- Rating: 4.3/5 (18,438 reviews)
- City: San Francisco
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#6. Santa Monica Pier

- Rating: 4.1/5 (19,443 reviews)
- City: Santa Monica
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#5. Balboa Park

- Rating: 4.7/5 (13,151 reviews)
- City: San Diego
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#4. Golden Gate Bridge

- Rating: 4.7/5 (49,930 reviews)
- City: San Francisco
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#3. The Getty Center

- Rating: 4.8/5 (14,842 reviews)
- City: Los Angeles
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#2. La Jolla Cove

- Rating: 4.6/5 (13,833 reviews)
- City: La Jolla San Diego
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#1. Griffith Observatory

- Rating: 4.6/5 (20,810 reviews)
- City: Los Angeles
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This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Jill Jaracz, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 51 states.

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