Riverside Area Museums for Families

Riverside has several museums that can be fun to visit with children! Unfortunately, Riverside doesn’t have any museums devoted specifically to children (maybe someday!), but these are all museums where I think children (and parents) could find something to enjoy:

  • March Field Air Museum - this is probably my children’s favorite museum in the Riverside area… they love checking out the planes and exploring this big museum!

  • The San Bernardino County Museum is in Redlands, and worth the drive in my opinion! We have bought a family annual pass a few times to this museum, as it’s one of the few indoor locations near Riverside where we can all enjoy the day at a reasonable price… there are hands-on activities for children, something interesting for me to look at and learn, and it works to visit here on rainy or hot days when outdoor options are difficult.

  • Heritage House - this small historic home near CBU offers free tours on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday for a peek at life in Riverside 100+ years ago! While all ages are welcome, it could be stressful to corral toddlers/little ones here. Their events, like their annual Ice Cream Social and Victorian Christmas Open House, are particularly fun for families (including little ones) - they usually have music, hands-on crafts, and space to explore.

  • The Jurupa Mountains Discovery Center - even if you’ve never visited this (mostly outdoor) museum, you’ve probably seen their woolly mammoth statue off the 60! They feature outdoor trails with dinosaur statues, fun field trips, and education about earth science. The outdoor trails don’t have much shade, so I recommend visiting on cooler days.

  • The Southern California Railway Museum in Perris is a bit of a hike from Riverside, but it’s very interesting and kid-friendly! There are a lot of different trains and train parts on display, you can ride on their (full-size) train, and they even host special events like a Polar Express Christmas train, a Dinosaur Train, and a Day with Thomas.

  • Riverside Art Museum in downtown Riverside changes its exhibits periodically, so they’re sometimes more kid-friendly than others. I recommend going for the monthly First Sundays event from 1-4pm on the first Sunday of the month (I don’t think they do it during the summer?) The museum is free that day, and they often have kid-friendly activities to enjoy.

  • The Cheech is located right next to the Riverside Art Museum - they’re affiliated with each other - and I suggest the same advice about visiting for First Sundays. Officially called “The Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art and Culture,” this museum also displays a wide variety of art… sometimes kid-friendly, sometimes not.

  • The Center for Social Justice and Civil Liberties is a small museum located next to the Main Library in Downtown Riverside. Older children may appreciate viewing the art and exhibits about local history, along with an exhibit focused on art by Mine Okubo, who was born in Riverside and survived life in an internment camp during World War II.

  • World Museum of Natural History at La Sierra University - this small museum is free, featuring displays of taxidermied animals, and a collection of gems and minerals. They’re open very limited hours, fyi.

  • The Jensen Alvarado Historic Ranch and Museum is located in Jurupa Valley, and is mostly available for field trips. I’ve heard the school field trips are very interactive and fun! Give them a call if you’re interested in visiting - they’re open by appointment only.

  • The Museum of Riverside has been closed for renovation for many years (aside from operating The Heritage House mentioned above). With a planned reopening in 2027, I’m hoping they’ll reopen soon with some kid-friendly exhibits!

  • Ya'i Heki' Regional Indian Museum at Lake Perris is a small museum with exhibits about local tribes. It’s worth a brief stop if you’ll be at Lake Perris.

  • There is a small visitor center at Citrus State Historic Park that serves as a museum devoted to the history of citrus, around the world and in Riverside. It’s not large, but it’s great to visit the museum and then walk around the orange groves found in the park.

  • Like the other art museums listed above, UCR ARTS - which includes the California Museum of Photography and the Barbara & Art Culver Center of the Arts - sometimes features kid-friendly exhibits, and sometimes doesn’t. I’d recommend it for older children/teens, and note that this is located in downtown Riverside, not at UCR.

Honorable Mentions for a few places that are in Riverside County but are further away from the City of Riverside, like: