Capitol Park

For the outdoor park, enter from any surrounding downtown block. Guided park tours meet inside the park at 13th Street and Capitol Avenue on Hiram Johnson Memorial Parkway, directly behind the Capitol.

The museum is open Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m., and closed weekends and most holidays. Outdoor park access and security conditions are separate, so check current state notices for closures or events.

Yes. Capitol Park, State Capitol Museum admission, official guided tours, and self-guided materials are free. Downtown meters and garages charge separately.

Highlights include the World Peace Rose Garden, memorials and monuments, state-symbol plantings, hundreds of global tree and shrub species, and views of the Capitol. Use the official self-guided map for named stops.

The park is a compact downtown grid of developed paths across roughly 40 acres. Most major routes are paved, though construction, security barriers, ceremonies, and garden work can create detours.

Yes. Official maps support self-guided exploration on the developed path network. Contact the museum before a visit if you need a particular accommodation or need to confirm access around construction and security zones.

Capitol Park has no single visitor lot; use downtown Sacramento meters, public garages, transit, or active transportation. Select parking based on whether your destination is the museum entrance, rose garden, memorials, or a tour meeting point.

Guided outdoor park tours are postponed in inclement weather. Summer tours normally run Sundays and Wednesdays at 11:00 a.m.; winter tours run those days at 1:00 p.m. Confirm the current calendar before traveling.

The Capitol has no public visitor lot. Limited metered spaces surround the grounds, and the nearest garage is the City of Sacramento Capitol Garage at 10th and L Streets. Public transit, walking, and bicycling are encouraged.

Yes, dogs are allowed outdoors in Capitol Park under posted rules. Only trained service animals may enter the Capitol building, so a park walk and an indoor museum visit have different pet rules.

Wheelchair-accessible restrooms are on the Capitol building's first floor on both sides of the rotunda during building hours. The park remains open daily, but the building is generally open weekdays only and requires security screening.

Capitol Park's arboretum includes more than 860 trees and provides extensive natural shade, especially along older walks and groves. The west lawn, rose garden, memorial clearings, and construction edges can still be exposed. Park tours are postponed for inclement weather, and the Capitol building is available only during its posted hours and after security screening. Trees are unsafe in lightning or high wind; use an open substantial building or enclosed vehicle during severe weather or dangerous heat.

The State Capitol Museum does not list conventional playground equipment in Capitol Park. Family visits focus on the arboretum, memorials, gardens, self-guided exploration, free Capitol tours, and the seasonal Junior Ranger program for ages 7–12. Choose a Sacramento recreation park for swings or slides. In Capitol Park, children should remain with an adult around streets, security areas, memorials, construction boundaries, and dense plant collections; check the Museum schedule because building access and programs use separate hours.

Yes. The State Capitol Museum specifically presents the shaded lawns as a place for an informal picnic among the trees, gardens, and memorials. Bring a blanket and prepared food rather than cooking: fires, barbecues, candles, and other flame-producing equipment are prohibited on state grounds unless exceptionally approved. Organized groups, tents, equipment, or events should apply through the Capitol Permit Office at least 10 business days ahead.

No splash pad, pool, or public swimming area is listed for Capitol Park. Its water features are ornamental, including the fountain at the center of the World Peace Rose Garden, so plan to view them rather than enter them. Families seeking water play should choose a separately managed Sacramento aquatic or spray facility and confirm its seasonal schedule before leaving.