Ventura County family guide
Things to Do in Camarillo with Kids
Curated by Simir Shah
Reviewed & updated August 2026 · we check listings regularly, but hours and prices change — confirm before you go.
Camarillo on the map
📍 Where Camarillo is
Camarillo sits in Ventura County, Southern California. Nearest major airport: Hollywood Burbank (~39 mi / 63 km). It's roughly 47 mi (76 km) from Downtown LA and 150 mi (242 km) from San Diego — SoCal traffic can make a drive take far longer than the distance suggests, so plan around it.
Visiting? See SoCal at a glance, getting around and which airport.
🏡 New to Camarillo? Start hereRec classes, library cards, school lookup, alerts and getting around.OpenClose
- Rec classes & camps: Pleasant Valley Recreation & Park District, separate from the city, runs parks, classes and Camp Funtastic, with an Activity Guide three times yearly.
- Pool: PVRPD's indoor, heated Pleasant Valley Aquatic Center on Temple Avenue offers swim lessons, lap swim, rec swim, toddler time and a spiral waterslide.
- Library card: Camarillo Public Library has been city-run since 2011, after leaving Ventura County Library; it offers toddler and preschool storytimes.
- Find your school: Pleasant Valley School District uses a tract code book: search your street to find your elementary and middle school.
- High school lookup: Camarillo high schoolers attend Oxnard Union High School District schools; its School Locator map shows your assigned campus.
- City news: Read CityScene, the city's monthly newsletter, online, and sign up for city email notifications.
- Alerts & readiness: The city urges VC Alert sign-up and publishes a Ready Camarillo Preparedness Guide with storm and wildfire tips.
- Getting around: Camarillo Area Transit, not Gold Coast, runs the city's fixed-route bus and Dial-A-Ride; the trolley costs $1 for students.
- Navy families: NBVC's Navy Housing page lists the Catalina Heights housing office in Camarillo, the School Liaison Officer and local school districts.
Things to do in Camarillo
Parks & Hiking
Arneill Ranch Park
This park was fully renovated in 2022. It has a playground for ages 3–12, fitness stations, restrooms and Camarillo's only non-school running and walking track. Parents can do laps while kids play.
FreeCamarillo Skate Park (Bob Kildee Community Park)
This 12,000 sq ft skate park, open since 1998, is on the north side of Bob Kildee Community Park. It has pools, stair sets and rails, and both skateboards and freestyle bikes are allowed. The same park has a playground, restrooms and the Pleasant Valley Aquatic Center.
FreeCommunity Center Park
This 12.9-acre park is home to the Pleasant Valley Rec & Park District offices and Community Center. It has a playground, fitness equipment, a picnic shelter, shady trees and restrooms. It's also the base for the district's Halloween in the Park, Cookies with the Clauses and Santa's Village events.
FreeDos Caminos Park
This shady neighborhood park has a sandy, fenced playground that's ideal for toddlers, plus a big flat lawn for picnics and frisbee. There's a parking lot.
FreeFreedom Park BMX Raceway
This BMX raceway in Freedom Park, near Camarillo Airport, welcomes riders of all ages and abilities, and any bike, including mountain bikes, is allowed. Riders need long sleeves, long pants, closed shoes and an approved helmet. The park also has an R/C car track, an inline hockey rink, a snack bar and restrooms.
check siteHeritage Park
This 9-acre park has two playgrounds, rolling grassy hills, walking paths, lots of shade and mountain views. It's a quieter alternative to the bigger community parks.
FreeMission Oaks Park
This 20-acre east-Camarillo community park has a playground, three picnic shelters, lighted walkways, a snack bar and restrooms. It also has an off-leash dog park along Fieldcrest. The reservable picnic shelters make it a popular spot for birthday parties.
FreeConstitution Park
A 20-acre downtown Camarillo park with a playground, picnic pavilions, a rose garden, and free summer concerts.
FreeAnimals & Nature
Camarillo Grove Park & Nature Center
This 24.5-acre rustic park sits at the base of the Conejo Grade. Its new Nature Center has an interactive water table, nature-play boulders and logs, and native gardens with braille signs. The easy lower trail loop winds past oaks and volcanic rock, while the upper loop is a moderate 1+ mile with about 600 ft of climb. Pay for parking at the gate booth with cash or check.
Parking $3 weekdays, $5 weekends per vehicle; annual pass $55McGrath Family Farm
A working organic farm since 1871 with real seasonal u-pick strawberries — a genuine answer to Oxnard/Camarillo's "Strawberry Capital" reputation — plus an on-site farm store.
U-pick $10 (under 2 free)Museums & Learning
Camarillo Ranch House
An 1892 Queen Anne Victorian with a big red barn, gardens, and grassy grounds — docent house tours plus room to roam make for a gentle history outing.
Tours ~$5–$10
Camarillo Public Library (storytimes)
The City of Camarillo runs its own library, separate from the Ventura County system, in a 65,000+ sq ft building on Las Posas Road. It offers weekly toddler (ages 1–3) and preschool (ages 3–5) storytimes, a First 5 parent-and-child program, K–8 homework help, PAWS reading-to-dogs sessions and teen clubs. Some craft programs require registration.
FreekidSTREAM Children's Museum
This is Ventura County's only children's museum, with hands-on science, technology, reading, engineering, arts and math play. Storytime is included on Tuesday, Friday and Saturday at 10:30am, and there's a Thursday sing-along. Military families get a discount, and EBT/WIC holders pay $3 (walk-in).
$16 ages 1+; seniors & military $13; under 1 free; EBT/WIC $3CAF SoCal Wing Aviation Museum
A World War II warbird museum at Camarillo Airport with eight flyable historic aircraft and docent-led tours.
Free (donations welcome)Arts & Culture
Camarillo Concerts in the Park
The free summer concert series at Constitution Park (Carmen Dr & Paseo Camarillo) is a long-running Camarillo tradition, with live bands and food trucks. It's co-presented by Pleasant Valley Rec & Park and the City. Bring a blanket and arrive early for a lawn spot.
FreeCamarillo Fourth of July Fireworks
The city's free 18-minute fireworks show is best seen from the Camarillo Premium Outlets parking lots, and you can tune to 95.1 KBBY for the soundtrack. Spaces are first come, first served, and traffic is heavy from 6 to 10:30pm, so arrive early. Personal fireworks are illegal citywide.
FreeCookies with the Clauses
This indoor holiday morning in the Community Center Auditorium has cookie decorating, crafts, letter-writing to Santa and photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus. Holiday pajamas are encouraged. Registration is required.
$10 per participant (adults free unless decorating)Halloween in the Park (Camarillo)
Pleasant Valley Rec & Park's free Halloween night at Community Center Park has trick-or-treating, games, crafts, pumpkin painting and a 6pm costume contest. Food trucks sell dinner on site.
FreeShopping & Treats
Old Town Camarillo
Camarillo's original 1910 town site along Ventura Boulevard is lined with restaurants and small boutiques. It's an easy stroll and treat stop. The city's Saturday-morning farmers market is held here.
Free to strollCamarillo Premium Outlets
A major outlet mall with roughly 150 stores — one of the larger outlet destinations in the region, easily worth a half-day.
Free to browseMore for families in Camarillo
From our researched guides: the Camarillo spots for splash pads, pickleball courts, classes, camps. Hours and prices change, so check the venue's site before you go.
Splash pads
All SoCal splash pads →Pleasant Valley Aquatic Center
Eight-lane pool with a 65-foot spiral slide and a kids' splash zone, ringed by 13-acre Bob Kildee Park with playgrounds and ballfields.
$ low-cost (~$3–5)
Pickleball courts
All SoCal pickleball courts →Pitts Ranch Park
Two multi/dual-use tennis and pickleball courts. The district notes players of both sports follow a dedicated schedule here, but that schedule is not published online - call ahead.
Venue website ↗Camarillo Athletics
Indoor pickleball courts inside a long-established indoor baseball and softball training facility on S Dawson Drive. Strongly family-oriented: a Ventura County youth league for ages 9–14, clinics and pickleball birthday parties. This is a batting-cage facility that added courts, not a dedicated pickleball club.
$40 per court per hour
Venue website ↗Classes & lessons
All SoCal classes →Coach Patty's Gymnastics
Veteran Ventura County coach (30+ years) running toddler through competitive gymnastics, tumbling and trampoline.
$$ enrollment
Venue website ↗Camps
All SoCal camps →Pleasant Valley Rec & Park — Camp Funtastic
Popular Camarillo day camp at the community center with Wednesday field trips; come for a day or all summer.
$ low-cost
Venue website ↗Farmers markets in Camarillo
Camarillo Certified Farmers Market
Saturday market in Old Town Camarillo with farm-fresh produce, flowers, and prepared foods — rain or shine.
Holidays in Camarillo
Lights, parades, Santa and more this season. Confirm details with the organizer before you go.
Cookies with the Clauses
Sat Dec 5, 2026, 10:00am–1:00pm.
Morning event at the Community Center Auditorium (1605 E.
Official 2026: $10 per person; adults free unless they decorate cookies.
Gemini & Waverly Holiday Lights
Typically December, evenings
Camarillo's best-known light streets, with cartoon characters, trains, Santas, snowmen and lots of lights.
Free
Festivals & annual events in Camarillo
What Camarillo is known for — the events locals plan the year around.
Camarillo Christmas Parade & Santa's Village (64th Annual)
The 'A Coastal Christmas' parade starts at 10am at Temple Ave and Las Posas Rd and ends at Community Center Park (1605 E. Burnley St). Santa's Village runs 10am-2pm with vendors, food trucks, crafts, inflatables and photos with Santa from 12:30pm. Tip: the parade lasts 1.5-2 hours, so park at the Community Center lot when it opens at 12:30pm or walk in.
Free
Local restaurants in Camarillo
Lure Fish House
A family-owned seafood house focused on fresh, sustainable fish, local produce, and regional wines — a bright, approachable spot for a family dinner.
Ottavio's Italian Restaurant
A family-run Italian restaurant since 1969 with an in-house deli and market.
Shooby's
A smashburger spot from a third-generation meat-market family, grinding its own beef in-house.
999 Pizza & Arcade
A pizza-and-arcade combo in Old Town Camarillo, built as a family entertainment destination.
Rori's Artisanal Creamery (Camarillo)
A scoop-shop location of the small-batch SoCal artisanal ice cream maker, at The Mark in Camarillo.
Local shops in Camarillo
Window Box Antiques
Mom-and-pop antiques shop giving Old Town Camarillo its vintage-Americana character.
American Pie Records
Old Town Camarillo record shop crate-digging spot for vinyl across genres and eras.
Sterling Silver Comics
Old-school comic shop in Old Town Camarillo with back issues, new books, and collectibles.
Green Goddess Boutique
Designer-and-vintage consignment in Old Town Camarillo, curated by an owner with deep fashion-industry roots.
The Bookworm
A woman-owned independent bookstore that has operated continuously in Camarillo since 1973.
Bricks & Minifigs – Camarillo
A LEGO-focused hobby shop selling new, used, and rare sets and minifigures.
Seasonal & outdoors near Camarillo
The closest splash pads, patches, lights and more — distances from Camarillo.
More Ventura County family guides
Browse all SoCal city guides →Camarillo family FAQ
What are the best things to do in Camarillo with kids?
Family favorites in and around Camarillo include Camarillo Ranch House, Camarillo Grove Park & Nature Center, Camarillo Concerts in the Park and Camarillo Fourth of July Fireworks, and more. Our guide lists 20 spots, each with a price note and practical tips where we have them.
Are there free things to do in Camarillo?
Yes — free family spots near Camarillo include Camarillo Concerts in the Park, Camarillo Fourth of July Fireworks, Halloween in the Park (Camarillo) and Camarillo Public Library (storytimes). Our free things to do page lists more across Southern California.
What can kids do in Camarillo on a rainy day?
Indoor options in and around Camarillo include Cookies with the Clauses, Camarillo Public Library (storytimes) and kidSTREAM Children's Museum. Each listing in our guide is marked indoor or outdoor, so you can filter for the weather.
How can families spend a day in Camarillo?
One easy plan: start outside at Camarillo Ranch House while kids have the most energy, break for lunch at Lure Fish House, then head indoors to Cookies with the Clauses for the afternoon. Our guide has prices and tips for each stop, plus 18 more ideas to swap in.
Where can families eat in Camarillo?
Local, family-friendly spots in Camarillo include Lure Fish House, El Tecolote, Ottavio's Italian Restaurant and Shooby's, and more — independent, SoCal-only eateries, never national chains.
What does the YourSoCal Camarillo guide cover?
Our Camarillo family guide includes 20 things to do, 8 local eats, 6 local shops and 1 farmers market — with independent, non-chain eats and shops.
Listings are curated and may change — confirm hours and details before you go.
Where to stay in Camarillo
Hotels & rentals via Stay22 · we may earn a commissionCompare hotels, resorts, and vacation rentals near Camarillo on one map — then book on your favorite site.