Play and parties
Parks and Playgrounds Around Sacramento
Twenty-eight parks with playgrounds worth a drive, town by town, with what each park’s own page says about ages, splash pads and their seasons, shade, restrooms, trails and lakes.
The best parks for kids around Sacramento are the big community parks run by the cities and park districts: William Land, McKinley and Southside Park in Sacramento, Elk Grove Park and Derr-Okamoto Park in Elk Grove, Folsom Kids Play Park and Livermore Community Park in Folsom, and Maidu Regional and Mahany Park in Roseville. Most have separate playgrounds for ages 2 to 5 and 5 to 12, restrooms and picnic shade, and many have splash pads that run from about Memorial Day into September or October.
On this page
28 parks and playgrounds around Sacramento, by town
Grouped by town, Sacramento first, then Elk Grove, Folsom and Roseville, and out to the smaller towns. Everything here comes from the park’s own page on its city or park district’s site, read in October 2026, so if a page doesn’t mention shade or restrooms, neither do we. Splash pad seasons change a little every year; check the district’s page before you pack towels.
Parks in Sacramento
The city’s three classic parks, each with a playground, a lake or pool and room for a whole day, plus the region’s newest inclusive playground, which is in unincorporated Arden Arcade, a few minutes east of the city line.
William Land Regional Park
3800 Land Park Dr, Sacramento, CA 95822
Good for A whole Saturday with the zoo or Fairytale Town
Sacramento’s biggest city park, 207 acres, holds Fairytale Town, Funderland and the Sacramento Zoo, each with its own admission, around a free adventure play area, a wading pool, lakes, a jogging path and a rock garden. The city lists restrooms, off-street parking and more than 20 picnic areas, from two-table spots to groups of ten tables with barbecues. Soccer and softball fields, a basketball court and an amphitheater round it out. A dog park is planned; the city held an open house on two possible sites in October 2024.
- 207 acres
- Adventure play area and wading pool
- Fairytale Town and zoo next door
- Restrooms and off-street parking
William McKinley Park
East Sacramento · 601 Alhambra Blvd, Sacramento, CA 95816
Good for A playground plus a pool in one trip
McKinley Park’s 32 acres have an adventure play area, a climbing wall and a separate tot lot, next to a swimming and wading pool run by the city’s aquatics program. Around them are the Frederick N. Evans rose garden, a jogging trail, tennis and basketball courts, a soccer field, horseshoe pits and several large group picnic areas. Restrooms are on the city’s amenity list, and the Clunie Community Center is in the park.
- Adventure play area, climbing wall, tot lot
- Swimming and wading pool
- Rose garden and jogging trail
- Restrooms
Southside Park (Universal Universe playground)
Southside · 2115 6th St, Sacramento, CA 95818
- Ages
- Under 2, 2–5 and 5–12 areas
Good for Kids of all abilities, including wheelchair users
Southside’s solar-system playground, Universal Universe, is the city’s showcase accessible playground: 16,800 square feet with ramps and handrails onto the adventure and tot-lot structures, a merry-go-round, swings, spring riders, spinners and play units with sound, on rubber surfacing redone in 2022. It has separate areas for under 2, 2–5 and 5–12, and a new restroom (2022) nearby. The 19.5-acre park adds a lake with fishing piers, a pool and lighted courts. Access Leisure ran monthly inclusive playdates here for ages 3 to 12 in summer 2026. No alcohol or amplified sound in the park.
- Accessible, sensory-rich playground
- Ramps onto the structures
- New restroom (2022)
- Lake with fishing piers
Empowerment Park
Arden Arcade · 1124 Bell St, Sacramento, CA
Good for A sensory-friendly playground built for every mobility level
The region’s newest inclusive playground opened August 30, 2026, on 1.43 acres SMUD donated at Bell Street and Irma Way, run by the Mission Oaks Recreation & Park District. The district calls it a socially inclusive, sensory-integrated playground with power-themed accessible equipment, shade structures, a picnic and barbecue area, water components, a Bankshot court, accessible parking and a restroom. A ramp reaches the main play structure, spinners sit flush with the ground for wheelchair users, and there are very few stairs. It was busy from the first week, so go early.
- Opened Aug 30, 2026
- All-abilities, sensory-integrated
- Shade structures
- Restroom and accessible parking
Parks in Elk Grove
Elk Grove’s parks belong to the Cosumnes Community Services District, which runs more than 100 of them. Nearly all its playgrounds are split into a 2–5 and a 5–12 area, and a dozen parks have spray grounds or splash pads. Four to start with, out of many good ones.
Elk Grove Park
9950 Elk Grove-Florin Rd, Elk Grove, CA 95624
- Ages
- 2–5 and 5–12 playgrounds
Good for A whole day with bikes, fishing and a swim
The district’s 122-acre flagship park has 2–5 and 5–12 playgrounds plus Pirates Island, a lake you can fish but not swim or boat in, the Jerry Fox Swim Center, a bike park, a disc golf course, a dog park and a multi-use trail. There are 15 reservable picnic areas and the Rotary Grove, restrooms, sand volleyball, and ball fields. The historic Rhoads School House and the regional veterans memorial are here too. Open sunrise to an hour after sunset.
- 122 acres
- Pirates Island playground
- Lake (fishing only) and bike park
- Restrooms; 15 reservable picnic areas
Derr-Okamoto Park
East Elk Grove · 9550 Mainline Dr, Elk Grove, CA 95624
- Ages
- 2–5 and 5–12 playgrounds
Good for Splash pad plus skate park for mixed ages
A 24-acre park with 2–5 and 5–12 playgrounds, swings with bucket, standard and web seats, and a spray ground that runs 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. from May through September. Big kids get a concrete skate park and a lighted full basketball court. The district lists restrooms, a parking lot, a reservable picnic area under a shade structure and open picnic tables, plus an outdoor amphitheater and stage.
- Spray ground May–Sep, 10–8
- Shaded picnic area
- Skate park
- Restrooms and parking lot
Stephenson Family Park
East Franklin, Elk Grove · 5511 Dorcey Dr, Elk Grove, CA 95757
- Ages
- 2–5 and 5–12 playgrounds
Good for Toddlers who like sand and water
Eight acres packed for little kids: 2–5 and 5–12 playgrounds, a sand play area, climbing rocks, bucket and standard swings and a spray ground open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. May through September. Picnic areas have shade (first come, not reservable), and there are restrooms, a parking lot, walking paths, bike trail access, a labyrinth and a reflexology path. The district’s Tiny Tot Pals preschool program runs in the community building here.
- Spray ground May–Sep, 10–8
- Sand play and climbing rocks
- Shaded picnic areas
- Restrooms
Oasis Park
South Elk Grove · 8015 Poppy Ridge Rd, Elk Grove, CA 95757
- Ages
- 2–5 and 5–12 playgrounds
Good for A spray ground with an adaptive spinner
A 20-acre park with 2–5 and 5–12 playgrounds, bucket and belt swings, a spinner with an adaptive seat and a spray ground that runs 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. May through September (the district’s water play page noted a few features down for maintenance in fall 2026). It has a reservable picnic area with shade, restrooms, a parking lot, walking paths, six lighted pickleball courts, two lighted basketball courts, a dog park and the Oasis recreation center, home to a Tiny Tots program.
- Spray ground May–Sep, 10–8
- Adaptive-seat spinner
- Shaded picnic area
- Restrooms and parking lot
Parks in Folsom
Folsom has 49 city parks, three with water play. City park hours are 7 a.m. to an hour after sunset.
Folsom Kids Play Park (Castle Park)
201 Prewett Dr, Folsom, CA 95630
Good for Climbers and imaginative play
Folsom’s most famous playground is a wooden, fortress-like castle, which is why everyone calls it Castle Park. The city describes web-like rope ladders, giant tires jutting from the ground and a wobbling rubber bridge, and lists picnic tables, a pavilion and a barbecue. Restrooms aren’t on its amenity list; Philip C. Cohn Park is across the street at 100 Prewett Drive. Open 7 a.m. to an hour after sunset.
- Wooden castle playground
- Rope ladders and wobble bridge
- Picnic tables and pavilion
Livermore Community Park
6004 Riley St, Folsom, CA 95630
Good for Water play that feels like a creek
Livermore’s water feature is a flume and creek rather than a flat splash pad, and it’s the biggest of Folsom’s three spray parks. In 2026 it ran daily 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. from May 22 through September 27. The park also has a play structure, restrooms, a pavilion, picnic tables, barbecues, sand volleyball, concession snacks and bike trail access, next to lighted synthetic turf fields for soccer, football and lacrosse.
- Flume and creek water play, late May–Sep, 11–7
- Restrooms
- Bike trail access
- Sand volleyball
John Kemp Community Park
1322 Bundrick Dr, Folsom, CA 95630
Good for A splash pad right off the play structure
Kemp Park sits behind the Andy Morin Sports Complex, so it’s busy with games on weekends, and its splash pad is one of the city’s three water features, open 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. from May 22 to September 27 in 2026. The city lists a play structure, restrooms, a pavilion, picnic tables, barbecues, an open play area, concession snacks and lighted ballfields, turf fields and volleyball. Open 7 a.m. to an hour after sunset.
- Splash pad late May–late Sep, 11–7
- Restrooms
- Next to Andy Morin Sports Complex
- Pavilion and barbecues
Folsom City Lions Park
403 Stafford St, Folsom, CA 95630
Good for Pairing a playground with the zoo sanctuary
Lions Park shares its grounds with the Folsom City Zoo Sanctuary and barnyard, so a playground visit can turn into an animal visit. The city’s amenity list includes a play structure, restrooms, a gazebo and pavilion, picnic tables, a barbecue, an open play area, public art, concession snacks, a lighted baseball field and bike trail access. The zoo’s winter light nights are in our Sacramento Christmas lights guide.
- Next to Folsom City Zoo Sanctuary
- Restrooms
- Bike trail access
- Gazebo and pavilion
Parks in Roseville
Roseville moved its park pages to a new site in 2026 and the old park links no longer work, so these entries link to the city’s Parks & Places index; the facts are from the city’s own park descriptions. Roseville parks open at sunrise and close an hour after sunset.
Maidu Regional Park
East Roseville · Rocky Ridge Dr at Johnson Ranch Dr, Roseville, CA
Good for A big day: playground, library, museum and skate park
Roseville’s largest park, 152 acres with 54 developed, has children’s play equipment, numerous picnic areas, a skate park, a full basketball court and a pedestrian and bike path, alongside the Maidu Community Center, the Maidu branch library, the Maidu Museum & Historic Site and a veterans’ rose garden. Sports take up the rest: a four-diamond lighted softball complex, five lighted soccer fields and a covered soccer arena. The city’s page lists restrooms. Open sunrise to an hour after sunset; skate park lights go off at 9 p.m.
- 152 acres
- Playground, skate park, bike path
- Library and museum on site
- Restrooms
Mahany Park
West Roseville · 1545 Pleasant Grove Blvd, Roseville, CA 95747
Good for An accessible playground next to a pool and library
Mahany Park joins the Roseville Sports Center, the Martha Riley Library and the Roseville Aquatics Center at Woodcreek Oaks and Pleasant Grove. The city describes its playground, Project Play, along with nature trails, baseball fields, tennis courts and an all-weather field, and its amenity list marks the playground as universally accessible. When the city last updated the page, the back restrooms at the aquatics complex were closed for repairs. Open sunrise to an hour after sunset.
- Project Play, listed as universally accessible
- Nature trails
- Library and aquatics center next door
Hillsborough Park
East Roseville · 1001 Hillsborough Dr, Roseville, CA 95746
Good for Two play areas with covered picnic tables
A neighborhood park off Sierra College Boulevard and East Roseville Parkway with two play areas and swings, covered picnic areas, two baseball and softball fields, a soccer field and a basketball court. It’s the kind of park where one child can play while another has a game. Open sunrise to an hour after sunset.
- Two play areas and swings
- Covered picnic areas
- Ball fields and soccer field
Harry Crabb Park
1000 Scarborough Dr, Roseville, CA 95661
Good for A playground with a water-play crab
Crabb Park, 18.8 acres at Secret Ravine Parkway and Scarborough Drive, was dedicated in 2013 and has a playground and a water-play crab structure, a covered barbecue picnic area, four sand volleyball courts, two pickleball courts, a tennis court, a soccer field and horseshoe pits. The city’s page doesn’t post a season for the water play, so check before a hot-day trip. Open sunrise to an hour after sunset.
- Water-play crab structure
- Covered picnic area
- Four sand volleyball courts
Parks in Rocklin
Rocklin’s three splash pads, at Johnson-Springview, Kathy Lund and Whitney Parks, run the longest season in the region: daily 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. from May 15 through October 15.
Johnson-Springview Park
Central Rocklin · 5480 5th St, Rocklin, CA 95677
Good for A splash pad under heritage oaks
Rocklin’s 132-acre community park follows Antelope Creek through heritage oaks and holds a children’s playground, a splash pad (daily 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., May 15 to October 15), restrooms, a covered picnic area with pavilions you can rent, pathways and free Wi-Fi. For older kids there are a skate park, a roller hockey rink, sand volleyball, an 18-hole disc golf course and lighted tennis courts, and the RRUFF dog park has sections for small, large and special-needs dogs. Open dawn to an hour after sunset.
- Splash pad May 15–Oct 15, 10–8
- 132 acres along Antelope Creek
- Restrooms and covered picnic area
- Skate park and disc golf
Kathy Lund Park
West Rocklin · 6101 W Oaks Blvd, Rocklin, CA
Good for Splash pad days that last into October
One of Rocklin’s three splash pad parks: the pad runs daily 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. from May 15 through October 15, the same schedule as Johnson-Springview and Whitney Park. The city’s recreation guide lists baseball fields here and uses the park for programs, but its website says little else about the park, so expect a neighborhood park rather than a destination.
- Splash pad May 15–Oct 15, 10–8
- Baseball fields
Parks in Loomis
The Town of Loomis itself has two parks, Blue Anchor Park by the train depot and Sunrise Loomis Park on Arcadia Avenue, which got new play structures in 2023. The biggest playground in town is at the county’s Loomis Basin Community Park.
Blue Anchor Park
5775 Horseshoe Bar Rd, Loomis, CA 95650
Good for A small-town splash pad and a summer concert
The town’s park next to the Loomis Train Depot, at Horseshoe Bar and Taylor Roads, has a splash pad open daily 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. in season; you start the water by touching the sensor on the blue pole outside the pad. On the second Friday of May, June, July and August the town holds free concerts at the depot with food vendors and free bounce houses, and the spray pad runs through the evening. The town’s pages don’t list restrooms or playground equipment.
- Splash pad 10 a.m.–9 p.m. in season
- Touch the blue pole to start the water
- Free summer concerts, 2nd Fridays May–Aug
Loomis Basin Community Park (North)
6909 King Rd, Loomis, CA 95650
Good for A big playground with plenty of parking
Placer County’s park in Loomis was built for ballplayers, with three baseball fields, a batting cage and a snack bar that opens during games, but the county also calls out a big playground (a tot lot), plenty of picnic tables, restrooms and lots of parking. The south half of the park, at 3550 Ong Road, has two more tot lots, a basketball court and picnic pavilions among blue and valley oaks, with salmon in Secret Ravine in winter. Open half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset.
- Big playground (tot lot)
- Restrooms and lots of parking
- Oak woodland and creek at the south park
Parks in Fair Oaks
The Fair Oaks Recreation & Park District runs ten parks. All open at 7 a.m. and close at dusk, about 7 p.m. in winter and 9 p.m. in summer.
Fair Oaks Park
11549 Fair Oaks Blvd, Fair Oaks, CA
- Ages
- 5–12 playground
Good for School-age kids who want a skate park too
The district’s main park has a playground for ages 5 to 12, a skate park, a full and a half basketball court, restrooms, drinking fountains, barbecue grills, horseshoe pits, picnic tables and rentable picnic areas, and the district lists it as ADA accessible. It’s where the district runs its youth soccer and ninja classes, and the UC Cooperative Extension demonstration gardens are here. The softball diamonds are for rented use only.
- Playground ages 5–12
- ADA accessible
- Restrooms
- Skate park
Gum Ranch Park
5600 Tuckeroo Way, Fair Oaks, CA
- Ages
- 3–5 and 5–12 playgrounds
Good for The longest splash pad season in Sacramento County
Gum Ranch has separate playgrounds for ages 3 to 5 and 5 to 12, a splash pad that runs from the first Friday of May through the first week of October, dawn to dusk, and restrooms. There are two rentable picnic shelters, grills, picnic tables, a walking path along a seasonal creek, a pickleball court and a drinking fountain. No lifeguards are on duty at the splash pad.
- Splash pad early May–early Oct, dawn to dusk
- Playgrounds 3–5 and 5–12
- Restrooms
- Walking path and seasonal creek
Parks in El Dorado Hills
The El Dorado Hills Community Services District keeps 28 parks and a park locator page with every park’s amenities. These three have the most for kids.
Promontory Community Park
2700 Alexandra Dr, El Dorado Hills, CA 95762
Good for A splash pad with a view and a picnic
El Dorado Hills’ big family park has children’s play structures and a water spray ground open Memorial Day through Labor Day; the park’s page says 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and the district’s locator 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., so plan on 7. The district lists restrooms, drinking fountains, a parking lot, a reservable group picnic area, barbecues and a lawn, plus lighted bocce and tennis courts and lighted sports fields. Spray ground rules: no pets in the spray ground or playground areas, don’t drink the water (it’s recirculated), and stay out for 30 minutes after lightning. Open sunrise to 10 p.m.
- Spray ground Memorial Day–Labor Day
- Restrooms and parking lot
- Reservable group picnic area
- No pets in the play areas
Blackstone Park
1881 Blackstone Pkwy, El Dorado Hills, CA 95762
- Ages
- 2–5 and 5–12 playgrounds
Good for A zip line and a nature walk
Opened in 2023, Blackstone’s 13.6 acres include separate 2–5 and 5–12 playgrounds with swings and a zip line, a covered picnic shelter with a group barbecue, a big lawn and a half-mile paved loop with four fitness stations and eight signs about local animals and plants. Look for the oversized frog sculptures and the rabbit, deer, coyote and leaf imprints in the concrete. Restrooms, a drinking fountain with a bottle filler, bike racks, dog-bag stations and a lighted parking lot are listed, and the path connects to the HOA trails and to Valley View Sports Park. Preserved wetlands edge the park.
- Zip line
- Half-mile paved loop with nature signs
- Covered picnic shelter
- Restrooms and lighted parking
El Dorado Hills Community Park
1021 Harvard Way, El Dorado Hills, CA 95762
- Ages
- 2–5 and 5–12 playgrounds
Good for A brand-new toddler playground
The district’s 40-acre home park reopened its 2–5 playground on March 11, 2026, after a full replacement: new play panels, music equipment, slides, spinners and a free-standing playhouse. The 5–12 playground, a skate park (free, open 6:15 a.m. to 9 p.m., closed on rainy days and holidays), a fenced dog park, basketball courts, a competition pool and wading pool, picnic tables and barbecues at the north field and restrooms share the site with three sports fields and the New York Creek nature area. Open sunrise to sunset.
- New 2–5 playground (March 2026)
- Skate park and wading pool
- Restrooms
- New York Creek nature area
Parks in Rancho Cordova
Cordova Recreation & Park District’s newest parks are in the Anatolia and Rio Del Oro neighborhoods on the city’s east side. All are open sunrise to sunset.
Eagle’s Nest Park
Anatolia, Rancho Cordova · 11810 Chrysanthy Blvd, Rancho Cordova, CA 95742
Good for Two playgrounds and room to run
A 12.75-acre community park across from the Anatolia clubhouse with two playgrounds, a climbing surface, a covered picnic pavilion and a large open lawn the district describes as unobstructed play space. Lighted basketball and dual-striped tennis and pickleball courts work after dark. There’s no trail access. Open sunrise to sunset.
- Two playgrounds and a climbing surface
- Covered picnic pavilion
- Lighted courts
Exploration Park
Sunridge Park, Rancho Cordova · 12145 Hetch Hechy Dr, Rancho Cordova, CA 95742
- Ages
- 2–5 and 5–12 play areas
Good for Space-themed climbing for preschoolers
Built in 2024, this six-acre neighborhood park has a 2–5 play area and a 5–12 play area around artistic, space-themed equipment and climbing structures, with picnic areas, pickleball courts, a half basketball court and turf. It’s half a mile east of Hummingbird Park and under a mile from Sunridge Park if you want a second stop. Open sunrise to sunset.
- Space-themed play structures
- 2–5 and 5–12 areas
- Built in 2024
Gold Rush Park
Rio Del Oro, Rancho Cordova · 11556 Lagarto Way, Rancho Cordova, CA 95742
Good for A themed playground with a shaded picnic
Turned over to the district in summer 2024, Gold Rush Park is a 5.1-acre neighborhood park built around a mining theme: a gold-rush playground, a shaded picnic area, meandering paths, drought-tolerant planting and turf areas. It sits between the Sutter and Placer neighborhoods at Rio Del Oro, near a main road and shops. Open sunrise to sunset.
- Gold-rush themed playground
- Shaded picnic area
- Built in 2024
The best all-abilities (inclusive) playgrounds around Sacramento
Every City of Sacramento playground is accessible by the city’s own standard: rubber or engineered-wood surfacing a wheelchair can cross, ground-level play panels and swings, and either a ramp onto the structure or a transfer station. A few parks go well beyond that, and their pages say so.
- Southside Park, Sacramento. The Universal Universe playground has ramps and handrails onto both the adventure and tot-lot structures, a merry-go-round, spinners, group rockers and sound play, with separate areas for under 2, 2–5 and 5–12. The city’s Access Leisure program hosts inclusive playdates here in summer.
- Empowerment Park, Arden Arcade. Mission Oaks Recreation & Park District’s new park (opened Aug 30, 2026) was designed from the ground up as a socially inclusive, sensory-integrated playground: a ramp to the main structure, flush-mounted spinners, inclusive swing seats, very few stairs, shade and an accessible restroom and parking.
- Kloss Park and Baker Park, Elk Grove. The Cosumnes CSD calls these its two fully universal playgrounds. Kloss has a wheelchair-accessible swing. Adaptive swing seats are at Beeman, Town Square and Unity Parks, adaptive-seat spinners at George, McConnell and Oasis Parks, inclusive outdoor instruments at Entrican, Kammerer and Unity Parks, and partly enclosed play areas (helpful for runners) at Castello, Jordan Family, Mendoza and Miwok Parks. The district says all its water play areas are accessible.
- Mahany Park, Roseville. The city’s amenity list marks its Project Play playground as universally accessible.
- Dogwood Park, Sacramento (3075 Macon Dr). On the city’s accessible playgrounds list, with a disc swing and a trike track with activity panels and street signs; there’s no ramp onto the structure, so a child transfers from a wheelchair.
Folsom’s and Fair Oaks’ park pages don’t single out an inclusive playground, though Fair Oaks Park is listed as ADA accessible. If your child is a regional center client, the Alta California Regional Center posts Access Leisure’s playdate dates.
Splash pads and water play, and when they run
Nearly every district around Sacramento runs free-standing spray grounds in its parks, and each sets its own season. None has lifeguards, and most pads need a child to press a button or touch a sensor to start the water. Dates below are what each agency posted for 2026; most repeat the pattern year to year, but check in May.
| Who runs it | Where | Season | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cosumnes CSD (Elk Grove) | 12 parks: Derr-Okamoto, Stephenson, Oasis, George, Horseshoe, Kammerer, Morse, Backer (spray grounds); Adreani, Kunsting, Nottoli, Wright (splash pads) | May through September | 10 a.m.–8 p.m. daily |
| City of Folsom | Livermore (flume and creek), John Kemp, Nisenan | May 22–Sep 27, 2026 | 11 a.m.–7 p.m. daily |
| City of Rocklin | Johnson-Springview, Kathy Lund, Whitney | May 15–Oct 15 | 10 a.m.–8 p.m. daily |
| City of Sacramento | 14 spray parks (McClatchy, North Natomas Regional, Oki, Muir and more) and the Mama Marks splash pad, 1140 Roanoke Ave | Memorial Day–Oct 1 (2026 season extended) | 10 a.m.–8 p.m. daily |
| Fair Oaks RPD | Gum Ranch Park | First Friday of May–first week of October | Dawn to dusk |
| El Dorado Hills CSD | Promontory Community Park | Memorial Day–Labor Day | 10 a.m.–7 or 8 p.m. (its pages differ) |
| Town of Loomis | Blue Anchor Park | Summer (no dates posted) | 10 a.m.–9 p.m. daily |
| Cordova RPD | White Rock Community Splash Park, 10488 White Rock Rd | Summer; late-season weekends Aug 2–Sep 6 and Labor Day in 2026 | 90-minute sessions from 11 a.m.; 90 people a session |
White Rock is the odd one out: it’s a small water park with a dump bucket, water cannons and two slides, and the slides cost $1 a session, cash only, with 42-inch and 46-inch height minimums. Anyone too short for the slides gets in free to use the spray areas. Roseville’s Crabb Park has a water-play crab structure, but the city hasn’t posted a season for it. For a wading pool instead, Land Park and McKinley Park in Sacramento and El Dorado Hills Community Park each list one next to the playground.
Regional parks and lakes for a whole day
When a playground isn’t enough, the region’s big parks add water, trails and room to ride. These are the ones that charge, and what they charge, from the agencies’ own fee pages in October 2026.
- American River Parkway (Sacramento County Regional Parks). The river parks from Discovery Park out to Folsom, with the bike trail, beaches and picnic groves at Discovery Park, Ancil Hoffman Park and the rest. The county’s vehicle entrance fee is $8 ($15 with a trailer or RV), $3 more on Easter, Memorial Day, July 4 and Labor Day weekends; a vehicle annual pass is $70. Bannister Park in Fair Oaks is a free back door to the parkway, with a three-hour parking limit on weekdays before 5 p.m. and on weekends.
- Folsom Lake State Recreation Area. Swim areas at Beals Point, Granite Bay, Nimbus Flat and Black Miners Bar. Day use is $12 a vehicle at Beals Point, Granite Bay, Folsom Point, Brown’s Ravine and the Peninsula, and $10 at Nimbus Flat, Black Miners Bar and the smaller lots; rates can rise on peak weekends. Dogs can walk the trails and swim, but not in the four swim areas. State Parks posted an E. coli advisory for parts of the lake in 2026, so check the park page before you let kids in the water.
- Elk Grove Park. The lake is for fishing only (no swimming or boating), but with the bike park, the swim center, the trail and Pirates Island, it’s the easiest full day in Elk Grove, with no entrance fee.
- William Land Park. Pair the free adventure playground and wading pool with Fairytale Town, Funderland or the zoo, which each sell their own tickets. Picnic areas can be reserved through the city.
City and district parks on this page have no entrance fee and are open from sunrise (7 a.m. in Folsom and Fair Oaks) to around sunset: an hour after sunset in Elk Grove, Folsom, Roseville and Rocklin, dusk in Fair Oaks, sunset in El Dorado Hills and Rancho Cordova.
Tips: shade, summer heat, restrooms, dogs
- Heat. Sacramento afternoons regularly pass 100°F from late June into September, and play structures and rubber surfacing get hot enough to burn. Go before 10 a.m. or after 5 p.m., and touch the slide before your child does. The Cosumnes CSD notes that its poured-in-place surfacing breaks down fast in the sun, so expect patches.
- Shade. Few playgrounds are shaded; where a page lists a shade structure it’s usually over the picnic tables (Derr-Okamoto, Stephenson, Oasis, Gold Rush, Blackstone’s shelter, Hillsborough’s covered picnic areas, Empowerment Park). Bring a pop-up canopy or umbrella for splash pad days.
- Restrooms. Most community parks on this page list them; smaller neighborhood parks often don’t, and Folsom Kids Play Park’s amenity list has none. Fair Oaks posts restroom hours at Village Park (7 a.m. to 7 p.m. in fall and winter, to 8 or 9 p.m. in spring and summer); Southside Park and El Dorado Hills Community Park note new or recently redone ones.
- Water safety. No park district here staffs lifeguards at a spray ground; every page says adult supervision is advised. At Promontory, the water is recirculated, so no drinking, and play stops for 30 minutes after lightning.
- Dogs. Most parks allow leashed dogs on paths and lawns, but not in play areas: El Dorado Hills bars pets from the spray ground and playground areas at Promontory, and Folsom Lake keeps them out of the swim areas. Off-leash dog parks sit inside Elk Grove Park, Oasis Park, Johnson-Springview (RRUFF), Phoenix Park in Fair Oaks, El Dorado Hills Community Park and Prospector Park in Folsom; Fair Oaks closes its dog park every March for maintenance.
- Rules worth knowing. Southside Park allows no alcohol or amplified sound. Reservable picnic areas (Cosumnes CSD, Folsom, Roseville, Fair Oaks, El Dorado Hills, Rocklin’s $125 pavilion units) book up for spring birthdays; the unreserved tables are first come. For party ideas indoors, see our Sacramento birthday party guide.
Questions parents ask
What are the best parks in Elk Grove for kids?
Start with Elk Grove Park (9950 Elk Grove-Florin Rd), the 122-acre district park with 2–5 and 5–12 playgrounds, Pirates Island, a fishing lake, a bike park and a swim center. For a splash pad, Derr-Okamoto, Stephenson Family and Oasis Parks each have a spray ground open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. May through September, shaded picnic areas and restrooms. For a child with a disability, the Cosumnes CSD names Kloss Park and Baker Park as its two fully universal playgrounds.
Which Sacramento parks have splash pads?
The City of Sacramento runs 14 spray parks, including McClatchy Park, North Natomas Regional Park, Oki Park and Muir Park, plus the Mama Marks splash pad at 1140 Roanoke Avenue, all open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily from Memorial Day through October 1 (the 2026 season was extended). Land Park and McKinley Park have wading pools instead. Outside the city, Elk Grove has 12 water play parks, Folsom three, Rocklin three, and Fair Oaks, El Dorado Hills, Loomis and Rancho Cordova one each.
Are there inclusive playgrounds in Folsom or Roseville?
Roseville’s city amenity list marks the Project Play playground at Mahany Park (1545 Pleasant Grove Blvd) as universally accessible. Folsom’s park pages don’t single out an all-abilities playground, though many of its play structures have accessible surfacing. The fully inclusive playgrounds nearest Folsom are Kloss and Baker Parks in Elk Grove, Southside Park’s Universal Universe in downtown Sacramento and the new Empowerment Park in Arden Arcade, which opened in August 2026.
Do Sacramento County regional parks charge for parking?
Yes, at the parks with staffed entrances along the American River Parkway and other county regional parks. The vehicle entrance fee is $8, or $15 for a vehicle with a boat or horse trailer or an RV, and summer holiday weekends (Memorial Day, July 4, Labor Day, plus Easter Sunday) add $3. An annual vehicle pass is $70. Folsom Lake State Recreation Area is separate: $12 a vehicle at Beals Point, Granite Bay and Folsom Point, $10 at Nimbus Flat and Black Miners Bar.
What are the best parks in Folsom for kids?
Folsom Kids Play Park (201 Prewett Dr), the wooden castle playground everyone calls Castle Park, is the one to see first. For water play, Livermore Community Park has a flume-and-creek feature and John Kemp Community Park a splash pad, both open 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. from late May to late September, with restrooms and picnic pavilions. Folsom City Lions Park puts a playground next to the Folsom City Zoo Sanctuary, and Broder Family Homestead Park has a farm-themed kiddie corral among historic olive trees.
When do splash pads open around Sacramento?
It depends on who runs the park. Rocklin opens earliest, May 15, and runs to October 15. Elk Grove’s Cosumnes CSD opens in May and closes at the end of September. Fair Oaks’ Gum Ranch Park runs from the first Friday of May to the first week of October. Folsom opened May 22 and closed September 27 in 2026. The City of Sacramento and El Dorado Hills open on Memorial Day weekend; Sacramento’s pads ran to October 1 this year and El Dorado Hills’ to Labor Day. All run roughly 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
How we made this list
We searched the web for parks and playgrounds across the Sacramento area and kept 28 whose own city or park district pages (Cosumnes CSD, City of Folsom, City of Roseville, City of Rocklin, Town of Loomis, Placer County, Fair Oaks Recreation & Park District, El Dorado Hills CSD, Cordova RPD, Mission Oaks RPD and the City of Sacramento) describe a playground and what’s around it. Every amenity, age range, season and fee here is as those pages stated it in October 2026; where a page was silent on shade or restrooms, we left it out. Fees for regional parks come from Sacramento County Regional Parks and California State Parks.
No one paid to be on it. It’s information to start from, not medical or legal advice: check services, costs and coverage with each provider before you book. Spotted something out of date, or run a place that belongs here? Write to hello@summerground.com.
Sources
- Cosumnes CSD: Water Play Areas (seasons and hours)
- Cosumnes CSD: Inclusion and Accessibility (Kloss and Baker Parks)
- City of Folsom: Spray Parks
- City of Roseville: Parks & Places
- City of Rocklin: Splash Pads
- Town of Loomis: Summer in Loomis
- Fair Oaks Recreation & Park District: Parks
- El Dorado Hills CSD: Park Locator
- Cordova Recreation & Park District: Fall/Winter 2026–27 Recreation Guide (White Rock Splash Park)
- City of Sacramento: Spray Parks
- City of Sacramento: Accessible Playgrounds
- Mission Oaks Recreation & Park District: emPOWERment Park
- Sacramento County Regional Parks: Entrance and Annual Pass Fees
- California State Parks: Folsom Lake State Recreation Area