18 Epic Summer Activities in Sacramento (and Nearby!)
While Sacramento is a fun city to visit all year round, there’s something about the summer that makes the city go alive.
Now don’t get me wrong, Sacramento during the summer is HOT. I need to warn you that the average temperatures range from 90°–110°. You need to be prepared when the heat slaps you in the face; stay hydrated, wear sunscreen and a hat, and stay in the shade as much as possible.
Hopefully, I haven’t scared you from visiting Sacramento during the summer. The heat doesn’t stop people from partaking in outdoor activities, exploring the city’s art and restaurant scene, or going to a River Cats game.
Most people just go out really early in the morning or as the sun sets to avoid the heat.
I’ve lived in Sacramento for more than 20 years, and I know all the exciting summer activities and happenings.
Let me help you plan a kickass time with these summer activities in Sacramento!
Note: Not all of these are specifically in the city of Sacramento. But they are all in the vicinity or in the Sacramento Metropolitan Area (with the exception of Lake Tahoe, one of the most popular getaways for Sacramentans).
Disclaimer: This post uses affiliate links, which means I make a commission if you book through this post. If you do decide to book using my links, thank you so much for your support!
Summer Activities in Sacramento
1. River cruise down the Sacramento River
Consider going down the Sacramento River on a 60–90 minute cruise where you can relax and catch a glimpse of the Tower Bridge and the Ziggurat pyramid building in West Sacramento. I recommend going on an evening cruise since you can watch the sunset with that gorgeous golden hour glow. Order a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) or two for the ultimate relaxation!
All river cruises start and end in Old Sacramento by the docking area.
Sacramento River Cruises
- Alive After Five Cocktail River Cruise
- Rock the Yacht Cocktail Cruise (21+ only)
- Sacramento: River Cruise with Narrated History
- Sights and Sips Cruise
- Private Sunday River Cruise with Custom Stops
2. Take a dip in Folsom Lake
With how brutal Sacramento summers can get, Folsom Lake provides extra relief from the heat. Folsom Lake is almost 40 minutes away from Sacramento, and is the perfect spot for swimming, boating, kayaking, and stand-up paddleboarding. There are over 19,000 acres of water and 75 miles of shoreline!
Just be sure to bring an umbrella or a tent because there is no shade by the water!
The most popular area in Folsom Lake is through the Granite Bay entrance, which also has picnic benches and barbeque pits under the shade.
Beal’s Point is another popular spot in Folsom Lake, and it also has an overnight campground and access to a 32-mile bike trail from the American River to Old Sacramento.
Both Granite Bay access and Beal’s Point have a snack bar with beach rental equipment, which includes paddleboards, kayaks, shade canopies, and rafts.
It costs $12 to enter Granite Bay access and Beal’s Point.
If you want to camp overnight in Beal’s Point, it’s $33 for peak season and $58 for the RV campgrounds.
3. Paddle and Kayak at Lake Natoma
Lake Natoma is a small lake in Gold River that is also a part of the larger Folsom Lake. The Sacramento State Aquatic Center is a recreation facility where the rowing teams from the university have their practices.
You can rent paddleboards, kayaks, and canoes from the Sac State Aquatic Center. Click here to learn more information about the rental pricing.
Sac State Aquatic Center also has classes for sailing, paddling, rowing, waterskiing, wakeboarding, and jetskiing!
4. Attend the California State Fair
No list of summer activities in Sacramento is complete without attending the California State Fair at least once. It’s held in July for two weeks.
Going to the fair is quite the classic American summer experience, from gorging on the deep-fried foods and funnel cake to going on janky rides. While my husband Cecilio does not like rides, sometimes I drag him to the go on the Ferris wheel or the Skyride, a gondola where you can capture aerial views of the fair.
I recommend going on the Skyride during sunset, especially as the rides light up. It’s stunning!
And of course, you’ve got to visit the animals. Fairs are about agriculture, after all. You can see the goats, sheep, and cows inside the Tractor Supply Co. Big Barn who are competing for a prize at the Livestock Awards Ceremony. Or you can also visit the petting zoo and pay extra to feed them pellets on a cone. The animals in the petting zoo are goats, sheep, pigs, donkeys, llamas, wallabies, ducks, and chickens.
5. Watch a River Cats game
Even if you’re not a huge baseball fan, it’s still fun to watch the Sacramento River Cats, our Minor League Baseball team.
The River Cats play in Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento, right next to the Tower Bridge (which connects West Sacramento and Downtown Sacramento).
Like most baseball stadiums, Sutter Health Park has some pretty good food. Their garlic fries are honestly much better than the ones at San Francisco’s Oracle Park (where the Giants play, and where garlic fries are a specialty). The fries are smaller and crunchier with more parmesan cheese and garlic topped over them.
They also have refreshing wine slushies, which again, Oracle Park doesn’t have! (I don’t really drink beer so I’d rather have the wine slushie).
You might end up seeing Dinger, the River Cats mascot, walking around, interacting, and taking photos with his fans. Don’t forget to snap a shot with him if you see him!
On some days, when the game is almost over, there will be a fireworks show over the Tower Bridge lit up at night. It’s pretty epic to see!
Another bonus? Starting in 2025, the Oakland A’s will be playing in Sutter Health Park for about 3 seasons before they move to Las Vegas. But there’s a chance that they might make Sutter Health Park their permanent home!
6. Support local artists on Second Saturday
Second Saturday is a classic Sacramento summer activity that takes place from May to October every 2nd Saturday of the month in Midtown. All day, there are art walks, mural walks, gallery popups, art markets, and live music featuring local up-and-coming artists and their fantastic works.
Sacramento is one of the most artsy cities in the US, and Midtown is the hub of arts and culture in the city. Second Saturday celebrates Sacramento’s robust art scene.
In addition, there are so many food trucks and Midtown restaurants that offer food and drink specials, and block parties from participating clubs and clubs from 4–8 pm. Then, as the night goes on after 10 pm, there are afterparties hosted by different bars and venues showcasing performances, comedy, dance, and other immersive art experiences.
7. Visit the Midtown Farmers Market on Saturday mornings
While the Midtown Farmers Market is open all year round from 8 am to 1 pm, summer is the best time to visit. The weather is bright and gorgeous (although still scorching hot), and there are so many vendors selling the freshest produce in season like berries, melons, tomatoes, and other vegetables.
Sacramento is known as the Farm-to-Fork capital, with our restaurant and agricultural scene on the rise. Living in the California Central Valley, we are surrounded by farms with rich soil, making it perfect for sourcing produce and supporting local farmers. Plus, the produce tastes much better than buying it at the store!
But that’s not all that the Midtown Farmers Market has to offer; there are tents lined up with small businesses selling arts and crafts, dog bandanas and treats, and clothes. There are also food trucks and stalls selling Belgian waffles, pupusas, fresh bread, honey, juice, and other goods.
The Midtown Farmers Market also has live music and cornhole, making it an extra lively place to be on a Saturday morning!
I suggest parking by Pachamama, one of Sacramento’s best coffee shops, ordering an iced oat latte, and walking down the street to the farmers market!
8. Take a scenic train ride
Taking a train ride gives you a chance to see Sacramento from a different angle, with views of the river and the countryside.
There are two train ride excursions in Sacramento:
- You can book tickets for a train ride excursion from the California Railroad Museum in Old Sacramento overlooking the river; you can either go coach or first class. First class rides provide larger seats, snacks, and refreshments.
- You can take in views of the Yolo County Countryside by riding on the River Fox Train, which starts and ends in West Sacramento. Included in this excursion are drinks like beer, wine, canned cocktails, and mimosas.
9. Celebrate love at the Pride March & Festival
Pride Month is in June, so there’s no better way than to kick off summer in Sacramento than celebrating love alongside the LGBTQ+ residents. Sure, our parade may not be as large as San Francisco’s but the community is tight and mighty.
The march (parade) is free to attend and starts from Southside Park and ends in the State Capitol. You can follow along the performers, marchers, and floats all the way to the Capitol, where the festival is held.
The festival does cost money to get in for a single day or for the whole weekend. Click here to get more information on pricing.
I’ve been to the festival when I worked at the California State Fair and we had a booth there. It’s pretty lively with lots of music, food drinks, and drinks flowing!
Sacramento Pride March & Festival will take place on June 14 and 15, 2025.
10. Attend Concerts in the Park
One of the other lively summer activities in Sacramento includes attending Concerts in the Park, a free music festival every Friday at Cesar Chavez Plaza in Downtown, from 5–9 pm.
Concerts in the Park only last from the beginning of May to the end of July. The weekly lineup features local artists and DJs.
The drinks are flowing, there are food trucks for when you’re hungry. There are also afterparties after 9 pm hosted by participating bars where you can get 20% off anything you order if you show your 21+ wristband from Concerts in the Park.
11. Hike the Lake Clementine Trail
The Lake Clementine Trail is located in Auburn under the Foresthill Bridge, about 40 minutes northeast of Sacramento. The trail is on the North Fork of the American River, is only 1.9 miles long each way, and takes about 2 hours to complete. The elevation gain is gradual, and once you’re at the end of the trail, you’re met with gorgeous views of the waterfall.
There are shady areas along the trails, making it more bearable during the summer.
Since the trail is a part of the Auburn State Recreation Area (ASRA), it costs $10 to enter the park.
12. Learn to whitewater raft or wakeboard
In Sacramento, we have access to the great outdoors at our fingertips. This also includes water activities like whitewater rafting, wakeboarding, tubing, and kneeboarding.
If you’ve never tried any of these things, there are private lessons you can take. They aren’t the cheapest, but your instructor will guide you and ensure you’re safe and comfortable. They will also provide the equipment!
Most of these water activities take place in the Sacramento River and the American River in Auburn.
Water activity lessons
- Full-Day Whitewater Rafting Trip on Middle Fork from Auburn (Class 3–4)
- South Fork Half-Day Whitewater Rafting Trip from Lotus (Class 2–3)
- Wakeboard, Wakesurf, or Kneeboard Private Half-Day Adventure
- South Fork American River – PM Gorge Rafting Trip (Class 2–3)
- Full-Day Whitewater Rafting Trip on South Fork from Lotus (Class 2–3)
- Wakeboard, Wakesurf, or Kneeboard Full-Day
- South Fork American River Rafting Express Trip
- Old Sacramento Boat Tubing Fun Day Full Rental
13. Learn to rock climb
I’ve always wanted to learn to rock climb, but have never gotten around to it. Also, I’ve never been able to do it with Cecilio because he’s dislocated his shoulder too many times. But I guess I can try it by myself someday.
If you’ve always wanted to learn to rock climb but never have done so (or just have done it in a rock climbing gym), now is your chance to take a beginner’s private class in Auburn.
Your instructor will help you learn about safety, the basic techniques, and how to belay. All rock climbing guides are certified by the American Mountaineering Guide’s Association, so you are in good hands. They will also provide your climbing harness, helmet, and shoes.
14. Chase sunflowers in Yolo County
Yolo County (which consists of the cities of Woodland, Davis, Winters, and West Sacramento) is known for its rich agriculture, making it perfect for flower fields.
When summertime rolls around, Sacramentans flock to Woodland to take gorgeous, Instagram-worthy shots of the sunflower fields during sunset.
This self-guided audio tour takes you to some of these sunflower and lavender fields, wineries, and scenic roads in the countryside. It’s flexible and it gives you a taste of Sacramento Valley’s food, wine, and agricultural scene.
15. Ride the Brew Bike
Sacramento has a growing beer scene, and the Brew Bike proves that. On the Brew Bike, you mingle with other people on the 2-hour tour, pedaling while you sip some beer, wine, and cider. During your tour, your driver/guide will take you to some of Sacramento’s most popular bars and pubs where you can sample delicious bites and craft beer.
Drinks are not included in the price and you will need to pay out of pocket if you want to order some.
16. Watch a drive-in movie at night
If you’re looking for another summer activity in Sacramento where you won’t melt, consider watching a movie at West Wind Sacramento Drive-In! The earliest show time for most movies is 9:15 pm.
You can also order food and drink from their concessions, like popcorn, candy, ice cream, hot dogs, beer, and cocktails.
So roll your seats back, relax, and enjoy the show!
17. Cool off at Golfland Sunsplash
Sunsplash is a family-friendly water park in Roseville, a large suburb 30 minutes away from Sacramento. There are so many different waterslides, a giant wave pool, and a lazy river called the Bermuda Triangle.
In addition to the water activities, Sunsplash also has a mini golf course, laser tag, arcades, go-karts, and bumper cars.
Food options include Subwave (a play on the sandwich chain Subway, as Subwave also sells sandwiches), pizza, and ice cream.
I’ve been to Sunsplash before, but when Cecilio and I have kids, I definitely want to take them there to beat the heat!
18. Plan a getaway to Lake Tahoe
Lake Tahoe is the ultimate playground for Sacramentans, as it’s only less than two hours away.
While Lake Tahoe is more known for its winter activities like skiing and snowboarding, it’s still a popular getaway during the summer, especially for Sacramento residents who want to beat the heat and swim in the fresh, alpine water.
There are so many activities you can do in Lake Tahoe, like sunbathing by the beaches, paddle boarding, kayaking, swimming, hiking, parasailing, biking, and going on sunset cruises.
I HIGHLY recommend visiting Sand Harbor Beach (located on the Nevada side of Tahoe) for paddling, kayaking, swimming, and snorkeling. The water is crystal clear and fresh, and it reminds me SO much of the beaches in Hawaii (without having to shell thousands of dollars on flights and hotels to go there).
I also recommend Commons Beach in Tahoe City (on the California side); in addition to the water activities, there are some shops, cafes, and restaurants in Tahoe City…it’s a pretty cute town! Truckee River also runs through Tahoe City, which is a popular spot for tubing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Sacramento summers like?
Summers in Sacramento are brutally hot. On an average summer day in Sacramento, it’s around the 90s, but it can get as hot as 105° or higher. The nights are cooler though, ranging from 65°–80°. Sacramento rarely, if ever, rains during the summer.
Is Sacramento hotter than San Francisco?
Sacramento is much hotter than San Francisco in the summer (although it’s colder during the winter). On average, San Francisco during the summer doesn’t go above 75°. There are occasions when there’s a 90° heat wave, but that is very rare. Meanwhile, that’s the norm in Sacramento.
Is Sacramento humid or dry?
Sacramento’s heat is dry. There are occasions when it gets humid, but it doesn’t happen too much and it rarely goes above 30%. This is because Sacramento is landlocked in a valley, and it doesn’t get the moisture from ocean water that causes extreme humidity.
Wrapping up the best summer activities in Sacramento
Summer in Sacramento brings forth cooler nights, days at the river and lake, and memorable outdoor adventures! If this is your first time visiting California’s capital city, I recommend exploring Old Sacramento and going on a 90-minute river cruise with cocktails as the Delta breeze kisses your cheeks.
If you’re a big-time foodie, I can’t recommend going to the State Fair enough to try all the deep-fried goods (and the funnel cake). Or you can try something unique and ride the 15-seat Brew Bike which you stop at local pubs to try craft beer and delicious bites.
And of course, all of your summer activities in Sacramento must include hiking in the foothills, and taking a nice, cool dip in Folsom Lake or Lake Tahoe.
Whether you’re a local or a first-time visitor, I hope this guide inspires you to make the most of your summers in Sacramento. And don’t forget to stay cool and hydrated!
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