Capitol Corridor With Kids: A Trip Plan for Every Stop
The Capitol Corridor is the train I recommend to every Northern California family who asks where to start. Trains run almost hourly, nobody needs a reservation, there is a cafe car with family tables, and the stops are strung with exactly the things kids want: a railroad museum with a steam train, a jelly bean factory, a playground where they hand your six-year-old a hammer, and a train that drives down the middle of a street. My mom grew up near Sacramento. This is the line I think she would have picked. Below is every stop from Auburn to San Jose and what to do when you get off.
By Kelsey Lizee Cecil. Checked against the Capitol Corridor timetable and each attraction in October 2026. Hours change; read the "know before you go" notes.If you only have one day
- With a toddler: Sacramento to Davis.Sixteen minutes across the river and the causeway, then the Saturday farmers market and the Central Park playground two blocks from the platform. Ride back after lunch. Jump to Davis.
- Ages 4 to 8: Berkeley's Adventure Playground.Ride to Berkeley on a weekend, walk 20 minutes to the Marina, and let them build a fort with real tools and ride the zip line, all free. Fourth Street pancakes on the way back. Jump to Berkeley.
- The big one: Sacramento to Oakland.The California State Railroad Museum and the steam train in the morning, two hours of river and bay out the right window, then trains down the middle of the street at Jack London Square and the ferry to San Francisco. Jump to Sacramento.
Read this before you go
Three things to know. First, tickets are unreserved, so if you miss a train you take the next one, and on this line the next one is usually within the hour. Second, the cafe car has four-seat tables with a window, and they are first come; board early and head there. Third, bikes ride free in the bike racks, which matters in Davis. Service changes are posted on the Capitol Corridor site (opens in a new tab); weekend track work sometimes replaces a train with a bus.
Tickets, where families sit, bathrooms, strollers and what to pack are all in our Capitol Corridor parent guide. This page is the fun part: where to get off and what to do when you do.
Only one round trip a day goes all the way east to Auburn and Rocklin (train 529 west in the morning, 538 east in the evening). Everything else turns at Sacramento or Roseville, with Thruway buses filling the gap.
Stop 1 of 18ARN1 round trip a day; Thruway buses to Sacramento
Auburn
The eastern end of the line, in the Gold Country foothills at the start of the climb over Donner Pass. One train a day comes here, which makes it a destination rather than a hop: a wooden-sidewalk Old Town, a courthouse on a hill, and a statue of a gold panner so big my son asked if it was real.
Walk up to the Placer County Courthouse on the hill and look back down at the valley you just climbed out of. Then find the enormous gold miner statue by the freeway, a prospector the size of a house, panning for gold.
Right off the platform
- at stopA small modern station with restrooms and parking; the platform sits on a siding next to the Union Pacific mountain main line, so freight trains roll by.
- 10 minOld Town Auburn: wooden boardwalks, the oldest post office in the state, a firehouse and a candy shop.
- 10 minPlacer County Museum inside the 1898 courthouse, free, with a gold display and a sheriff's office.
- 15 minGold Country Museum in the fairgrounds, with a mine tunnel to walk through (small admission, limited days).
- 10 minThe gold panner statue at the Maple Street exit, enormous and climbable at the base.
Half a day between trains
- Walk 10 minutes up to Old Town for the boardwalks and candy (1 hour).
- Courthouse museum, free, and the view (45 minutes).
- Lunch in Old Town, then a Thruway bus or the one afternoon train.
Make it a full day
Stay the night. Auburn is the gateway to the American River canyons: the Confluence trails are a 10-minute drive, and in summer the swimming holes are the whole point. Reboard the single morning train west.
Snack stop: Old Town has a bakery, an ice cream counter and a couple of family restaurants.
Out the window: Leaving Auburn you drop through the foothills with the Sierra behind you. Look back at the mountains on a clear morning.
Only one Capitol Corridor round trip serves Auburn (train 529 in the morning west, 538 in the evening east); the other eastbound trains end at Sacramento or Roseville, and Thruway buses cover the gap.
Stop 2 of 18RLN1 round trip a dayour honest take: ride on
Rocklin
A small clock-tower depot in a town that once quarried the granite for San Francisco's buildings. The old quarry next to downtown is now an adventure park with zip lines, and that is the only reason to get off.
Quarry Park Adventures, a few minutes' walk from the depot, has a kids' course and a zip line across the old granite pit. Book ahead and check ages.
Right off the platform
- at stopA small depot with a waiting room and restrooms.
- 8 minQuarry Park, a city park built in the old granite quarry, with an amphitheater and the Quarry Park Adventures ropes course (ages vary, book ahead).
- 10 minOld Town Rocklin's handful of cafes.
Half a day between trains
- Stay aboard unless the adventure park is the plan.
Make it a full day
A ropes-course day: one train in, Quarry Park Adventures, dinner in old town, the evening train back east to Auburn or a bus to Sacramento.
Snack stop: Cafes in old town Rocklin.
Out the window: Granite outcrops in the fields. The whole town is built on them.
Stop 3 of 18RSV9 trains on weekdays, fewer weekends
Roseville
Roseville has the biggest rail yard west of the Mississippi, and the station sits right beside it. Kids who like trains can stand on the platform and watch a hundred freight cars get sorted. The old downtown is a 5-minute walk, with a park, a carnegie museum and a telephone museum that is better than it sounds.
Stand on the platform ten minutes early and watch the yard. Then walk the Vernon Street bridge over the tracks for the full view of the hump yard, where cars roll downhill and get sorted by gravity.
Right off the platform
- at stopA replica depot with restrooms and a memorial to railroad workers; the Union Pacific yard is next door.
- 5 minDowntown Roseville's Vernon Street: cafes, a bakery and the Carnegie Museum (free, limited hours).
- 8 minRoyer Park: a creek, a big playground and picnic lawns.
- 10 minThe Roseville Utility Exploration Center, a free hands-on science space for kids (check days).
- 10 minThe Roseville Telephone Museum, Saturdays, with old switchboards to try.
Half a day between trains
- Watch the yard from the platform and the bridge (30 minutes).
- Walk 8 minutes to Royer Park for the playground and creek (1 hour).
- Downtown for a snack and the next train.
Make it a full day
Pair the yard and the park with a Thruway bus or the one train up to Auburn's Old Town, then back. Or make it a Sacramento day with Roseville as the morning stop.
Snack stop: Vernon Street bakeries and a family taqueria.
Out the window: West of Roseville the yard runs for miles on the left side westbound. Count the locomotives.
Most Capitol Corridor trains start or end here or in Sacramento; check which trains serve Roseville on the day.
Stop 4 of 18SACEvery train; up to 15 round trips a day
Sacramento Sacramento Valley Station
The California State Railroad Museum is a 7-minute walk from the platform, and it is the best train museum in the country for kids: a full-size steam engine you walk through, a sleeping car that rocks, a toy train room and a real steam train ride on weekends. With trains leaving almost every hour, this is the easiest train day in California.
Walk through the Governor Stanford, the big black steam engine, and then stand on the real train for the 45-minute excursion along the river. Blow when the whistle blows.
Right off the platform
- at stopA big renovated station with restrooms, a cafe and a staffed counter.
- 7 minCalifornia State Railroad Museum at 111 I St in Old Sacramento. Open daily 10 to 5; adults $12, 6 to 17 $6, 5 and under free.
- 7 minOld Sacramento's wooden sidewalks, candy stores and the riverfront.
- 8 minExcursion train rides from the Central Pacific depot at Front and J, weekends April to mid-October (plus summer Fridays), about 45 minutes, adults $18, kids 6 to 17 $10, under 6 free.
- 10 minDelta King riverboat hotel, which you can walk through.
- 15 minCrocker Art Museum, with a family room, and the Capitol park a mile east.
Half a day between trains
- Walk 7 minutes to the Railroad Museum at opening (3 hours).
- Excursion train at 11:15 or 1:00 on a weekend (1 hour).
- Lunch in Old Sac and a train home; they leave about hourly.
Make it a full day
Museum and steam train in the morning, Old Sacramento and the Delta King at lunch, the Crocker's family room or the Capitol in the afternoon. Sleep aboard the Delta King if you want the full story.
Snack stop: Old Sacramento candy stores, the station cafe, and a dozen cafes along the Old Sac boardwalk.
Out the window: Leaving Sacramento westbound you cross the Sacramento River on the I Street Bridge, a two-level swing bridge, right next to Old Sac.
The excursion train is weekends only, April to mid-October, plus Fridays in summer. Check the museum calendar for steam versus diesel days.
Stop 5 of 18DAVEvery train
Davis
The college town where everyone rides bikes, with a 1914 Mission-style depot two blocks from a downtown full of cafes and a Saturday farmers market with a playground beside it. Sixteen minutes from Sacramento, which makes it the perfect first hop.
Watch the bikes. At the morning rush, hundreds of students stream past the station on bikes, and my kids counted them like a game.
Right off the platform
- at stopThe depot and restrooms.
- 3 minDowntown Davis: a toy store, a bakery, and the Avid Reader bookstore.
- 5 minCentral Park, with the Saturday morning farmers market (8am to 1pm) and a great playground.
- 12 minThe UC Davis Arboretum along Putah Creek, a flat path with ducks, turtles and redwoods.
- 10 minExplorit Science Center, small and hands-on, for ages 2 to 8.
Half a day between trains
- Saturday: walk 5 minutes to the farmers market for breakfast and the playground (90 minutes).
- Walk the Arboretum path to the redwood grove and back (1 hour).
- Downtown for a snack and the next train.
Make it a full day
Farmers market, Arboretum, lunch downtown, Explorit, and the campus's Bohart Museum of Entomology (walking sticks and a live tarantula) on a weekday.
Snack stop: The farmers market on Saturday, Upper Crust Bakery downtown, and the Davis Creamery for ice cream.
Out the window: Flat farmland and the Yolo Bypass causeway, which floods into a shallow lake in winter and fills with birds.
A fire in March 2025 damaged part of the depot; the platform and waiting area are open, but check the station page if you need the restrooms.
Stop 6 of 18FFVMost trains
Fairfield-Vacaville
A newer station in the fields between the two towns, and the closest stop to the Jelly Belly factory, which is a 10-minute cab ride. There is nothing to walk to, but the factory tour is one of the great kid outings in Northern California.
The elevated walkway over the Jelly Belly production floor, where kids watch millions of beans get polished in spinning drums. The free bag of beans at the end is the second moment.
Right off the platform
- at stopAn island platform with shelters, bike lockers and parking; no building.
- at stopJelly Belly Factory at 1 Jelly Belly Lane, about 4 miles by cab or the FAST bus. Self-guided tours 9:15 to 4, adults $8, kids 3 to 17 $4, under 3 free, with a small train ride and a cafe.
- at stopTravis Air Force Base's Jimmy Doolittle Air and Space Museum, by car, free, with big planes outside.
Half a day between trains
- Cab to Jelly Belly, do the walkway tour and the train (2 hours).
- Lunch in the Jelly Belly cafe (jelly bean pizza exists) and cab back for the next train.
Make it a full day
Jelly Belly in the morning, then the Western Railway Museum near Suisun on a weekend, which has streetcar rides across the fields. Both need a cab or a car.
Snack stop: The Jelly Belly cafe; nothing at the station.
Out the window: Wind turbines on the hills to the west and the Suisun Marsh ahead.
Factory production runs on weekdays; weekends the machines may be idle, though the tour still runs.
Stop 7 of 18SUIEvery train
Suisun-Fairfield
A 1914 wooden depot with a long porch, a 3-minute walk from Suisun City's little waterfront: a marina, a plaza, a playground and a promenade along the slough where the marsh starts. This is the quietest pleasant stop on the line.
Walk out to the end of the promenade at the marina and look across the Suisun Marsh. Birds everywhere, and if a train comes through behind you, the whole town rumbles.
Right off the platform
- at stopThe restored depot with a porch and restrooms.
- 3 minSuisun City Waterfront: a marina, a plaza with fountains, a playground and a promenade.
- 5 minMain Street's handful of cafes and a bakery.
- at stopWestern Railway Museum, 12 miles east by car, with vintage streetcar rides on weekends.
Half a day between trains
- Walk 3 minutes to the waterfront playground and promenade (1 hour).
- Snack on Main Street and the next train.
Make it a full day
A Saturday at the Western Railway Museum (rides on real streetcars across the marsh), with the waterfront before or after. You need a car or a long cab.
Snack stop: A bakery and cafes on Main Street, ice cream on the waterfront in summer.
Out the window: West of Suisun the train crosses the marsh on a long causeway, then the Benicia-Martinez bridge over the Carquinez Strait, high above the water. Right side westbound.
Stop 8 of 18MTZEvery train, plus Gold Runner and the long-distance trains
Martinez
The station sits at the west end of a small downtown, with a waterfront park across the tracks and John Muir's house a short cab ride up the hill. Martinez also has wild beavers in the creek downtown, which is the detail my kids remember.
Walk over the footbridge from the station to the shoreline park and watch the ships on the Carquinez Strait. Then find the beaver pond in Alhambra Creek downtown.
Right off the platform
- at stopA modern station with restrooms and a staffed counter.
- 5 minMartinez Regional Shoreline across the footbridge: a marina, lawns, a playground and a fishing pier.
- 5 minDowntown Martinez's Main Street, with a toy store and the beaver habitat in Alhambra Creek.
- at stopJohn Muir National Historic Site, a 2-mile cab ride: free, with Muir's house and a fruit orchard. Kids get a Junior Ranger badge.
Half a day between trains
- Footbridge to the shoreline park and the playground (1 hour).
- Main Street for a snack and a beaver search along the creek (45 minutes).
- The next train, about every hour.
Make it a full day
Cab to the John Muir house for the morning, lunch on Main Street, the shoreline in the afternoon.
Snack stop: Main Street bakeries and the marina snack bar.
Out the window: Leaving Martinez westbound the train runs right along the water of the Carquinez Strait and San Pablo Bay for 20 miles. Right side westbound, and it is one of the great stretches of track in California.
Stop 9 of 18RICEvery train; BART connection
Richmond
A transit center where Amtrak and BART share a station, which makes it the easiest place to switch to San Francisco without a bus. The station itself is in a workaday downtown; the reason to get off is a 10-minute cab ride away on the waterfront, where Rosie the Riveter's shipyard is a free national park.
At the Rosie the Riveter visitor center, kids can see the real wartime shipyard and sometimes meet a ranger who is in her nineties and built the ships. Ask if a Rosie is in.
Right off the platform
- at stopA transit center with elevators, restrooms, BART and a staffed window.
- at stopBART straight into San Francisco, about 35 minutes to Embarcadero.
- at stopRosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park visitor center on the Marina Bay waterfront, 2 miles by cab, free, with Junior Ranger badges and the SS Red Oak Victory ship nearby.
- at stopPoint Richmond's small downtown and the Plunge, a huge historic indoor pool, 2 miles by cab.
Half a day between trains
- Cab to the Rosie the Riveter visitor center and the Bay Trail (90 minutes).
- Back for the next train or BART into the city.
Make it a full day
BART into San Francisco for the Exploratorium and the cable cars, then BART back to Richmond and the train home. Or the Plunge for a swim on a hot day.
Snack stop: Nothing great at the station; Point Richmond has cafes and a bakery.
Out the window: Oil refinery tanks, then the bay and the Richmond bridge out to the right westbound.
Strollers and bikes go through the BART gates easily; the Amtrak and BART platforms are a short walk apart.
Stop 10 of 18BKYEvery train
Berkeley
A platform under the University Avenue overpass, one block from Fourth Street's shops and a 20-minute walk from the Berkeley Marina, where the Adventure Playground lets kids build forts with real hammers and saws and ride a zip line, free, on weekends.
The zip line at the Adventure Playground, which kids run themselves. Then the fort building, with paint, nails and a staff member who hands over a hammer and tells them to go.
Right off the platform
- at stopA platform with a shelter and benches; no building.
- 3 minFourth Street: a bakery, a toy store, and benches in the sun.
- 20 minBerkeley Marina and the Adventure Playground at 160 University Ave, free, Saturdays and Sundays 11 to 5, closed in rain.
- 20 minShorebird Park Nature Center next to the playground, free, with a tide pool tank.
- 15 minAquatic Park, a long lagoon with a path and a playground.
Half a day between trains
- Walk or bus 20 minutes to the Marina and the Adventure Playground (2 hours).
- Shorebird Nature Center and the bay views (30 minutes).
- Fourth Street bakery on the way back.
Make it a full day
Adventure Playground in the morning, lunch on Fourth Street, then a bus up to campus for the Lawrence Hall of Science (the big one on the hill, with the whale to climb). It takes two buses; a cab is easier.
Snack stop: Fourth Street: Bette's Oceanview Diner for pancakes, the bakery next door, and a Peet's.
Out the window: The bay opens up on the right westbound with the Golden Gate in the distance.
The walk to the Marina crosses the freeway on a pedestrian bridge; it is flat and stroller friendly but windy.
Stop 11 of 18EMYEvery train; Amtrak bus to San Francisco
Emeryville
Emeryville is the stop for San Francisco: an Amtrak bus meets the train and drives you over the Bay Bridge to downtown in 30 minutes. There is not much at the station itself, but the bus ride over the bridge is a thing in its own right.
Sit on the right side of the Amtrak bus to San Francisco. The Bay Bridge, then Treasure Island, then the city rising straight up in front of you.
Right off the platform
- at stopA modern station with restrooms, next to the Amtrak Thruway bus stop.
- 10 minBay Street shopping center, with a cinema and a LEGO store.
- 15 minThe Emeryville Marina and the Bay Trail, for bay views and a playground.
- at stopThe Amtrak bus to San Francisco's Salesforce Transit Center, about 30 minutes, ticketed with your train.
Half a day between trains
- Bus to San Francisco, Ferry Building lunch, the Embarcadero and the sea lions at Pier 39, bus back (4 hours).
Make it a full day
A San Francisco day or two: the Exploratorium, the cable car, the Golden Gate Park playgrounds and the Cal Academy. The Amtrak bus to and from Emeryville is included in a ticket to SFC.
Snack stop: Nothing at the station. Bay Street has a Peet's and restaurants.
Out the window: Leaving Emeryville you run along the bay shore with the San Francisco skyline across the water on the right.
Book your ticket to SFC (San Francisco) and the bus is included; the Thruway bus leaves from right outside the station.
Stop 12 of 18OKJEvery train
Oakland Jack London Square
The train runs down the middle of the street here, through Jack London Square, with the waterfront, a ferry to San Francisco and a presidential yacht all within three minutes of the platform. Kids who have never seen a train on a street will not forget it.
Stand on the sidewalk at the corner of Embarcadero and Webster and watch the next train roll down the middle of the street with its bell ringing. Then ride the ferry to San Francisco.
Right off the platform
- at stopA small station with restrooms and a waiting area.
- 3 minJack London Square: the waterfront, a playground, Heinold's First and Last Chance Saloon (the crooked floor is the attraction) and the Sunday farmers market.
- 4 minThe USS Potomac, Franklin Roosevelt's presidential yacht, open for tours a few days a week.
- 5 minThe San Francisco Bay Ferry to the Ferry Building, about 30 minutes, with outside seats.
- 15 minOakland Museum of California, with a great kids' gallery.
Half a day between trains
- Jack London Square playground and the waterfront (1 hour).
- Ferry round trip to San Francisco, sitting outside (90 minutes).
- Lunch on the square and the next train.
Make it a full day
A full San Francisco day by ferry: Ferry Building, the Embarcadero, Exploratorium, back on the evening ferry, dinner on the square.
Snack stop: The square has ice cream, pizza and a market hall.
Out the window: The street-running section through Jack London Square is slow and wonderful. Both sides.
The Potomac has limited open days; check before promising it.
Stop 13 of 18OACMost trains; BART and airport connectorour honest take: ride on
Oakland Coliseum
A bare platform with a footbridge to the Coliseum and the BART station, which has a driverless train to the Oakland airport. Useful for a game, a flight, or the Oakland Zoo by cab. Not a place to wander.
The airport connector is a short, driverless elevated train, and riding it one stop and back is a legitimate small adventure for a four-year-old.
Right off the platform
- at stopA platform with canopies; the footbridge leads to BART and the Coliseum.
- at stopOakland Zoo, a 10-minute cab ride, with a gondola over the hills and a great kids' area.
- at stopThe Oakland Airport Connector from the BART station, 8 minutes to the terminal.
Half a day between trains
- Stay aboard unless the zoo or a game is the plan.
Make it a full day
Zoo day: cab from here, the gondola, the California Trail area, cab back.
Snack stop: Nothing.
Out the window: Industrial Oakland and the airport flats.
The station is unstaffed; buy tickets ahead.
Stop 14 of 18HAYMost trainsour honest take: ride on
Hayward
A platform near downtown Hayward with a Japanese garden a 10-minute walk away and a small nature center with rescued animals a short cab ride up the hill. Pleasant, but not a destination on its own.
The Hayward Japanese Gardens, free, with koi and a bridge, is the kind of calm place that works after an hour on the train.
Right off the platform
- at stopA platform with shelters; downtown is a few blocks east.
- 10 minHayward Japanese Gardens, free, open daily.
- 10 minDowntown Hayward's B Street cafes and a playground at Portuguese Park.
- at stopSulphur Creek Nature Center, by cab, free, with owls and reptiles.
Half a day between trains
- Japanese Gardens and a snack on B Street (1 hour).
Make it a full day
Skip, or make it a short garden stop.
Snack stop: B Street cafes.
Out the window: The East Bay hills on the left heading south.
Stop 15 of 18FMTMost trains
Fremont Centerville
A small Centerville depot a walk from Fremont's Central Park and Lake Elizabeth, which has a huge playground, paddle boats and a train ride around the lake. On weekends, the Niles Canyon Railway steam and diesel trains run from the Niles district a few miles away.
The Niles Canyon Railway, on a Sunday, pulled by a real steam engine through the canyon. Charlie Chaplin made movies in Niles; there is a silent film museum there too.
Right off the platform
- at stopA small depot with a waiting room and restrooms.
- 15 minCentral Park and Lake Elizabeth: a big playground, paddle boats, ducks and a miniature train on weekends.
- at stopNiles district, 2 miles by cab: the Niles Canyon Railway (Sundays, seasonal), the Essanay Silent Film Museum, antique shops.
- at stopArdenwood Historic Farm, by cab, with a farm train and animals (Thursday to Sunday).
Half a day between trains
- Walk to Central Park, playground and paddle boats (90 minutes).
- Snack and the next train.
Make it a full day
Niles Canyon Railway on a Sunday morning, lunch in Niles, Ardenwood Farm in the afternoon. A cab or a car links them.
Snack stop: Centerville has taquerias and a bakery near the station.
Out the window: South of Fremont the train runs along the salt ponds at the bottom of the bay, pink and white squares out the right window.
The Niles Canyon Railway runs on select Sundays; check the calendar.
Stop 16 of 18GACMost trains
Santa Clara Great America
The stop for California's Great America theme park and Levi's Stadium, both a short walk from the platform. If the roller coasters are the trip, this is where you get off. The park has a good kids' area with Peanuts characters.
Planet Snoopy inside Great America, with rides a three-year-old can do. If you have older kids, the Gold Striker wooden coaster.
Right off the platform
- at stopA platform with shelters, next to the ACE and Caltrain platforms.
- 10 minCalifornia's Great America theme park, seasonal, with Planet Snoopy for little kids.
- 10 minLevi's Stadium, home of the 49ers.
- 15 minUlistac Natural Area, a quiet riverside trail.
Half a day between trains
- Great America for the morning, if it is open (3 hours).
Make it a full day
A theme park day. Buy tickets online ahead; the park is seasonal and closes for the winter.
Snack stop: Inside the park.
Out the window: Office parks and the stadium.
Great America's seasons and days change year to year; check before you go.
Stop 17 of 18SCCMost trainsour honest take: ride on
Santa Clara Transit Center
An 1860s depot next to Santa Clara University and its mission, with a small railroad museum inside the station on weekends. Quiet and pretty; San Jose, one stop on, has the children's museum.
The South Bay Historical Railroad Society museum inside the old depot, open Tuesday evenings and Saturdays, with model railroads and an old tower.
Right off the platform
- at stopThe historic depot with a waiting room; the railroad museum is inside.
- 5 minMission Santa Clara and the university's rose garden.
- 10 minSanta Clara's Franklin Street cafes.
Half a day between trains
- Saturday: the railroad museum (45 minutes) and the mission gardens (30 minutes).
Make it a full day
Skip, or combine with San Jose, 15 minutes on.
Snack stop: Franklin Street cafes.
Out the window: The university's palm trees.
Stop 18 of 18SJCEvery train; Caltrain and VTA light rail
San Jose Diridon Station
A big Spanish-style 1935 station where you can connect to Caltrain and light rail, with one of the best children's museums anywhere a 15-minute walk away along the river. This is the western end of the line and the best reason to ride all the way.
At the Children's Discovery Museum, find the real fire truck and the water play area, and plan to leave soaking wet. Pack a change of clothes in the day bag.
Right off the platform
- at stopDiridon Station: a long waiting hall with benches, restrooms, a cafe and a staffed counter.
- 15 minChildren's Discovery Museum of San Jose at 180 Woz Way. Weekends 9:30 to 4:30, weekdays 9:30 to 1 during the school year; $22 for everyone over 1.
- 12 minGuadalupe River Park and the Rotary PlayGarden, a playground built for every kind of body, free.
- 10 minSAP Center, home of the Sharks, if there is a game.
- 15 minDowntown San Jose's Tech Interactive (The Tech), for ages 6 and up.
Half a day between trains
- Walk 15 minutes along the river path to the Children's Discovery Museum (2 hours).
- Rotary PlayGarden on the way back (45 minutes).
- Lunch downtown and a train home.
Make it a full day
Museum in the morning, the PlayGarden, lunch at San Pedro Square Market, then The Tech in the afternoon for bigger kids.
Snack stop: San Pedro Square Market downtown, 15 minutes, with a dozen stalls, and the station cafe.
Out the window: The last stretch runs through Santa Clara's neighborhoods, flat and quick.
The museum closes at 1pm on weekdays during the school year. Weekends it is open all day.
Start with the short one
If you have never taken your kids on a train, this is the line to start on. Buy a ticket from your phone, walk onto the platform, and ride sixteen minutes to Davis for a pastry and a playground. That is the whole trip. They will ask to do it again, and the second time you can go farther: the steam train in Sacramento, the hammers in Berkeley, the ferry in Oakland. My mom never got to do any of these with my kids. I do them, and I write them down here, and I hope you do them too.
Next in this series: the Gold Runner, which shares the tracks from Oakland to Martinez and heads south to Yosemite's bus, and the Coast Starlight trip plan. Every route is on the Train Trips With Your Kids page.
Capitol Corridor trips with kids: questions parents ask
What is the best Capitol Corridor stop for a toddler?
Davis. The station is two blocks from a playground, a bakery and the Saturday farmers market, the ride from Sacramento is 16 minutes, and trains run about hourly so nap timing is easy. Sacramento's railroad museum is a close second for any age.
Which side of the Capitol Corridor has the water?
Right side heading west (toward San Jose) from Martinez to Oakland, where the tracks run along the Carquinez Strait and San Pablo Bay. Left side heading east. The Benicia bridge crossing is high and dramatic from either side.
Do kids pay on the Capitol Corridor?
Kids 2 to 12 pay half the adult fare, and one child under 2 rides free on each adult's lap. There are also family and group discounts on the Capitol Corridor site, and kids ride free on some promotional days.
Can we take the Capitol Corridor to San Francisco?
Yes, two ways. Book to SFC and an Amtrak bus meets the train at Emeryville and drives over the Bay Bridge. Or get off at Oakland Jack London Square and take the ferry, which kids prefer, or at Richmond for BART.
How long is Sacramento to San Jose with kids?
About 3 hours 10 minutes, with Oakland roughly 2 hours in. Most families break it: Sacramento to Oakland one day, Oakland to San Jose another, because the children's museum in San Jose is worth its own trip.
Is there food on the Capitol Corridor?
Yes, a cafe car with snacks, sandwiches, coffee and kids' options, plus four-seat tables. It is first come, so board early. You can bring your own food aboard too.
Which Capitol Corridor stops should we skip with kids?
Rocklin, Oakland Coliseum, Hayward and Santa Clara Transit Center are platforms with little within walking distance. Fairfield-Vacaville is only worth it for the Jelly Belly factory, which needs a cab.
Can we bring a stroller or a bike?
Both. Strollers fold and ride in the luggage racks or stay open in the accessible seating area. Bikes go in the bike racks in the cafe car or the bike car, free, no reservation.
Sources and how I checked
- Capitol Corridor timetable, October 2026, and Amtrak station pages
- California State Railroad Museum: hours, admission and excursion train schedule as posted October 2026
- Children's Discovery Museum of San Jose, Jelly Belly factory tours (2026 pricing), Berkeley Adventure Playground, Explorit: hours and admission as posted October 2026
- Great American Stations and Wikipedia station articles for addresses and station history, cross-checked with Amtrak
- City park pages: Royer Park, Suisun City Waterfront, Martinez Regional Shoreline, Fremont Central Park
Hours, prices and bus routes change. I update this page when they do; if you spot something out of date, tell me.