Ventura County family guide
Things to Do in Santa Paula with Kids
Curated by Simir Shah
Reviewed & updated August 2026 · we check listings regularly, but hours and prices change — confirm before you go.
Santa Paula on the map
📍 Where Santa Paula is
Santa Paula sits in Ventura County, Southern California. Nearest major airport: Hollywood Burbank (~41 mi / 67 km). It's roughly 51 mi (82 km) from Downtown LA and 158 mi (254 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 Santa Paula? Start hereRec classes, library cards, school lookup, alerts and getting around.OpenClose
- Rec classes: Santa Paula Parks & Recreation offers youth classes such as gymnastics, archery and tae kwon do at the Community Center.
- Library card: Blanchard Community Library is an independent library district; Californians get a card with ID and a California mailing address.
- Kids' events: Check the library's events calendar for children's programs at its 119 N. 8th Street building.
- Find your school: Santa Paula Unified serves the city; use the district's My School Locator to find your assigned school by address.
- Welcome guide: The city's Welcome Guide gathers resources for new residents, homebuyers and visitors in one place.
- City events: Browse the city calendar for community and downtown events.
- Alerts: Santa Paula Police urge VC Alert sign-up for wildfire and disaster alerts, with a hotline at (805) 648-9283 for help registering.
- Wildfire ready: Ventura County Fire's Ready, Set, Go! program covers defensible space, go-bags and leaving early; the county urges planning two exits from home.
- Getting around: Valley Express runs local buses and Dial-A-Ride in Santa Paula and Fillmore, and VCTC's Highway 126 route connects to Ventura.
Things to do in Santa Paula
Parks & Hiking
George Harding Park
At 12.2 acres this is the city's biggest park, mostly baseball and softball fields with a snack bar, lighted fields and restrooms; it has no playground. It's the place for Little League games, and the park's history mural is part of the city's mural collection.
FreeLas Piedras Park
A 4.5-acre neighborhood park with a playground, lighted soccer field, full basketball court, restrooms, BBQ pits and a walking path. The city's Youth Center is right next door on N. 13th Street.
FreeMill Park
A 2.9-acre north-side neighborhood park with a playground, a basketball half court, restrooms, BBQ pits and picnic tables. It's a quieter alternative to the larger parks.
FreeSteckel Park
A Ventura County park along Santa Paula Creek north of town (8080 Mistletoe Rd, off Hwy 150), with big shade trees, a playground, picnic areas, horseshoe pits and an aviary with common birds and peafowl. It fills to capacity on peak-season weekends, so arrive early; there is also tent and RV camping by reservation.
$2 per vehicle weekdays, $5 weekends/holidaysTeague Park
A 5.7-acre west-side park with a playground, lighted soccer field, full basketball court, restrooms, BBQ pits and picnic tables. Picnic areas can be reserved in person at the Community Center (530 W. Main St.).
FreeToland Park & Loop Trail
A 212-acre natural open-space park in the hills between Santa Paula and Fillmore, with restrooms, picnic tables and BBQs. The loop trail starts at the north end of the park; it's coastal sage scrub with little shade, so go early on warm days.
$2 per vehicle weekdays, $5 weekends/holidaysVeterans Memorial Park & Skate Park
This small 1.5-acre park near downtown is where Santa Paula's skate park sits, alongside a playground, restrooms and a walkway. It suits older kids who skate while younger siblings use the play area.
Free
Museums & Learning
Agriculture Museum (Museum of Ventura County)
Housed in the 1888 Mill building downtown, it has tractors and farm equipment, a living beehive and interactive activity stations for kids. Admission and parking are free; it's across the tracks from the Train Depot, so pair it with a downtown walk.
FreeBlanchard Community Library
Santa Paula's own independent library district (not the county system), part of the Black Gold cooperative catalog. Storytime is Wednesdays at 10:30am, followed by Storytime Craft & Play at 11am, plus LEGO in the Library on Mondays at 1:30pm and Reading with Paws on Mondays at 5pm.
Free
California Oil Museum
Housed in the 1890 Union Oil Company headquarters building, with interactive exhibits, working models, vintage gas-station memorabilia and a real cable-tool drilling rig. Check the museum's site for current hours, price and first-Sunday family activities before you go.
Admission not confirmed — see oilmuseum.netAviation Museum of Santa Paula (First Sundays)
A chain of hangars at the historic Santa Paula Airport (founded 1930) holds vintage and experimental aircraft, race cars, motorcycles and antique electronics. It only opens the first Sunday of the month and is weather-dependent, so check the calendar; the airport is active, so kids can watch planes take off and land.
Free (donations welcome)Arts & Culture
Come See Santa Pancake Breakfast
A free pancake breakfast with a photo with Santa at the Santa Paula Community Center. Pre-register online through the city's RecDesk portal or by calling (805) 933-4226 ext. 358, as space is limited.
Free (pre-registration required)Santa Paula Cruise Night
The Chamber of Commerce's classic-car cruise night lines downtown Main Street near the clock tower with vintage cars. It's an easy early-evening outing for car-loving kids; confirm each month's date with the Chamber, since some months are skipped (no July date in 2026).
FreeSanta Paula Downtown Murals
About a dozen large history murals around downtown cover the Chumash, citrus ranching, the oil boom, early aviation and Latino culture; the 'Main Street, ca 1910' mural at Main and Mill streets is the classic starting point. The city's murals page lists each one, and the Santa Paula Art Museum runs occasional guided mural walking tours.
FreeSanta Paula Art Museum
Exhibition space in the historic Limoneira building at 117 N. 10th St, plus the Cole Creativity Center next door. Kids and students are free, and Free Family Day on the first Sunday includes art activities with all materials provided. It also takes Museums for All (EBT) admission.
$4 adults, $3 seniors, children and students free; free for everyone on first SundaysFestivals & annual events in Santa Paula
What Santa Paula is known for — the events locals plan the year around.
Santa Paula Christmas Parade
A 10am downtown parade that welcomes Santa and starts the holiday season, co-sponsored by the City and the Optimist Club. Tip: the 2025 parade was an evening event, and the city lists 2026 as 10am on a Saturday, so re-confirm the time on the city page. Pair it with the pancake breakfast with Santa on Dec 5 (pre-registration required).
Free
Aviation Museum of Santa Paula First Sundays (Young Eagles Flights)
On the first Sunday of each month the hangars are open 10am-2pm with free admission and free EAA Young Eagles first flights. Tip: Young Eagles flights are for kids roughly 8-17, so check age and sign-up rules with the museum.
Free
Santa Paula Halloween Carnival
A city Halloween carnival at the Community Center (530 W Main St) with trunk-or-treat, games and food. Tip: check the city Special Events page for the start time and fees.
Local restaurants in Santa Paula
Cocina 1912
Mexican restaurant at 1069 E Main St serving chile relleno, mole, birria tacos, caldo de res, menudo and chilaquiles, with weekend breakfast and a kids menu. Open Wed–Sun.
Rabalais' Coffee, Bakery & Bistro
New Orleans-style bistro and bakery at 861 E Main St in historic downtown serving gumbo, po'boys, biscuits and gravy, house-baked breads and pastries, with beignets and coffee. Open daily from 7am.
Parque 1055
California-cuisine restaurant at 1055 E Main St in a restored historic building with a large patio, full bar and weekend brunch (Sat 11–2, Sun 9–2). A seasonal menu features local seafood and produce; best for an upscale family meal.
Hozy's Grill
Racing-themed grill at 1760 E Lemonwood Dr serving breakfast, lunch and dinner (dinner Wed–Sat) with seasonal, locally sourced dishes and a weekly chef's menu, and a popular local breakfast.
Enzo's Italian Restaurant
Scratch-made Italian and California dishes at 134 N Mill St inside the historic Glen Tavern Inn, including arancini, chicken piccata and wood-fired pizza, with live music on weekends. Open evenings only; closed Tuesdays.
Local shops in Santa Paula
Santa Paula Trading Co.
Curated thrift store at 848 E. Main St. with resale items and gifts for the whole family, plus 30+ locally made products from regional artisans. Open daily.
Lily Fields Vintage
Owner-run vintage shop at 838 E. Main St. selling vintage finds and Miss Mustard Seed paint, and offering workshops and classes.
Seasonal & outdoors near Santa Paula
The closest splash pads, patches, lights and more — distances from Santa Paula.
More Ventura County family guides
Browse all SoCal city guides →Santa Paula family FAQ
What are the best things to do in Santa Paula with kids?
Family favorites in and around Santa Paula include Come See Santa Pancake Breakfast, Santa Paula Cruise Night, Santa Paula Downtown Murals and Santa Paula Youth Center, and more. Our guide lists 16 spots, each with a price note and practical tips where we have them.
Are there free things to do in Santa Paula?
Yes — free family spots near Santa Paula include Come See Santa Pancake Breakfast, Santa Paula Cruise Night, Santa Paula Downtown Murals and Agriculture Museum (Museum of Ventura County). Our free things to do page lists more across Southern California.
What can kids do in Santa Paula on a rainy day?
Indoor options in and around Santa Paula include Come See Santa Pancake Breakfast, Santa Paula Youth Center, Agriculture Museum (Museum of Ventura County) and Blanchard Community Library, and more. Each listing in our guide is marked indoor or outdoor, so you can filter for the weather.
How can families spend a day in Santa Paula?
One easy plan: start outside at Santa Paula Cruise Night while kids have the most energy, break for lunch at Cocina 1912, then head indoors to Come See Santa Pancake Breakfast for the afternoon. Our guide has prices and tips for each stop, plus 14 more ideas to swap in.
Where can families eat in Santa Paula?
Local, family-friendly spots in Santa Paula include Cocina 1912, Rabalais' Coffee, Bakery & Bistro, Parque 1055 and Hozy's Grill, and more — independent, SoCal-only eateries, never national chains.
What does the YourSoCal Santa Paula guide cover?
Our Santa Paula family guide includes 16 things to do, 5 local eats and 2 local shops — with independent, non-chain eats and shops.
Listings are curated and may change — confirm hours and details before you go.
Where to stay in Santa Paula
Hotels & rentals via Stay22 · we may earn a commissionCompare hotels, resorts, and vacation rentals near Santa Paula on one map — then book on your favorite site.