SF gets real rain from November through March, and even outside that window, the famous fog can make outdoor plans miserable with zero notice. The good news: San Francisco has an unusually deep bench of indoor family activities. Here's how to fill a rainy day without anyone melting down.
Best Indoor Museums and Cultural Spots
Osher Rainforest at the California Academy of Sciences is the top pick on any rainy day. The whole Cal Academy museum is indoor, but the four-story glass Rainforest dome — with free-flying tropical birds, butterflies, and reptiles — is the centerpiece. Budget 3–5 hours for the full museum and $130–$160 for a family of 4. Book timed tickets in advance; rainy days drive everyone indoors and it fills up fast.
Conservatory of Flowers is a Victorian greenhouse in Golden Gate Park that's especially atmospheric when it's wet outside. $30–$50 for a family of 4 (adults $9–$14, children under 5 free). SF residents get discounted admission. 1–2 hours.
CuriOdyssey in San Mateo combines live animals and hands-on science exhibits indoors. $70–$90 for a family of 4. 4.6 stars. Plan 2–3 hours and pair it with a food court lunch nearby.
Children's Discovery Museum of San Jose is a full-scale children's museum with 2–4 hours of hands-on exhibits for ages 2–10. $70–$90 for a family of 4. Worth the 45-minute drive from SF on a rain day when you need real indoor time.
Explorit Science Center in Davis runs $30–$50 for a family of 4 — among the most affordable science museum options in the Bay Area. 1–2 hours of hands-on exhibits.
Entertainment Venues
Great Big Game Show Fisherman's Wharf is the single best rain-day activity in SF. Perfect 5.0 stars across 1,598 reviews. A live hosted game show where your family competes as actual contestants — buzzing in, playing on giant screens, the whole format. $80–$140 for a family of 4, runs 1–2 hours. Book ahead; rainy days fill every available slot.
Immersive Gamebox at Stonestown Galleria is the other 5.0-star indoor pick. Floor-to-ceiling immersive gaming rooms where kids physically collaborate to complete challenges. $100–$140 for a family of 4, 1–1.5 hours per session. Inside a mall so you can extend the day with food after.
Activate San Francisco in Stonestown: technology-infused active gaming with laser grids, light panels, and physical challenges. 4.9 stars. $80–$120 for a family of 4, runs 1–1.5 hours. Book weekday sessions for lower pricing.
Bay Area Discovery Museum in Sausalito is largely outdoor but has substantial indoor components for all ages. $90–$120 for a family of 4. 2–4 hours. One of the best children's museums in the Bay Area overall.
Museum of 3D Illusions at Fisherman's Wharf is fully indoor and runs 45–90 minutes at $90–$120 for a family of 4. Book online for discounts. Magowan's Infinite Mirror Maze next door is a quick add-on at $50–$70, 20–40 minutes.
Aquarium of the Bay at Fisherman's Wharf: fully indoor, $100–$140 for a family of 4, 1–2 hours. Walkthrough tunnels under Bay water with sharks and rays overhead. Solid rainy day activity that doesn't require booking in advance.
Trampoline Parks and Active Indoor Play
Urban Air Trampoline and Adventure Park: $100–$150 for a family of 4 with full-attraction pass. Trampolines, climbing walls, warrior course. 2–3 hours of physical energy expenditure — exactly what kids need on a day when outdoor play is off the table.
House of Air Trampoline Park and Café at the Presidio: $80–$120 for a family of 4, 1–2 hours. Has a café on-site. Smaller than Urban Air but the Presidio location is easier to reach from SF hotels.
Sky Zone Trampoline Park: $90–$130 for 2 kids (90-minute session), adults watching free or reduced. 1.5–2 hours.
The Bounce Place - Tanforan: $50–$70 for 2 adults + 2 kids. Socks required and sold on-site. 1.5–2 hours.
Half Moon Play: $60–$80 for a family of 4. Cozy coastal indoor playground, better scaled for toddlers through age 7. 1.5–2.5 hours.
Smaller Indoor Play Options (Under $60)
WOW Kids Playground: $40–$60 for 2 adults + 2 kids. Polk Gulch location, 1–2 hours.
Peek-a-Boo Factory SF: $40–$60 for 2 adults + 2 young kids. Richmond District, 1–2 hours. Peek-a-Boo Factory Daly City: $30–$50, slightly cheaper.
HaPPi Hands: $30–$50 for 2 children, parents typically free. Oakland-based, 1–1.5 hours.
Bay Play: $30–$50 for 2 children + 2 adults. Oakland, 1–2 hours.
Little Oceanauts, Inc: $35–$55 for 2 adults + 2 young kids. Ingleside Terraces, 1–2 hours. Best for under-5s.
Habitot Children's Museum: $35–$55 for 2 adults + 2 young children. Berkeley-based, designed specifically for toddlers and early elementary. 1–2 hours.
Jump N Play: $50–$70 for 2 kids + adults. 1.5–2.5 hours of bouncing.
Imagination Playhouse: $35–$55 for 2 adults + 2 kids. Richmond District, 1–2 hours.
Flyer Thrill Zone & 7D Experience at Fisherman's Wharf: $60–$90 for a family of 4. Quick 30–60 minute experience combining flight simulation and 7D film.
Quick Picks by Age Group
Toddlers (ages 0–4): - Little Oceanauts, Inc — $35–$55, designed for under-5s - HaPPi Hands — $30–$50, parents often free - Habitot Children's Museum — $35–$55, Berkeley toddler museum - Half Moon Play — $60–$80, well-scaled for little kids
Big kids (ages 6–12): - Great Big Game Show — $80–$140, 5.0 stars, the top pick - Immersive Gamebox — $100–$140, 5.0 stars - Activate SF — $80–$120, 4.9 stars - Cal Academy / Osher Rainforest — $130–$160, 3–5 hour museum
Teens: - Urban Air — $100–$150, warrior course and climbing - Museum of 3D Illusions — $90–$120, photo-driven - Immersive Gamebox — $100–$140, genuinely challenging for older kids
Bottom line: A solid SF rainy day runs $80–$160 for a family of 4 if you pick one anchor activity. The Great Big Game Show and Immersive Gamebox are the two experiences that consistently get the strongest family reactions. Book both in advance — rainy days drive everyone to the same indoor options simultaneously.