When considering California’s most walkable cities in 2025, what better place to go to for that information than Walk Score? It provides a Walk Score rating for every address, averaging those out for cities as well as for neighborhoods.
For our purposes, we will look at its nationwide ranking of the most walkable cities while only considering the ones that are located in California.
Note that this list only includes cities with a population of at least 200,000.
San Francisco
There are so many places within walking distance for those in this compact city, and its Walk Score of 89 actually leads the entire country, placing it one point ahead of New York. Several of its neighborhoods have Walk Scores of 100, including Chinatown.
Oakland
Just across the bay is Oakland, which comes in second in California and ninth nationally with a Walk Score of 75. If you want to head to an especially walkable neighborhood in this city, consider Downtown, which has a Walk Score of 98. Even with a high walkability score, Oakland has seen a number of pedestrian accidents including 52 that resulted in in jury or death in 2022.
Long Beach
Long Beach, with a Walk Score of 73, has a lot to offer its residents and visitors, including access to the Port of Long Beach and the numerous boats that pick up and drop off passengers there. Meanwhile, its top neighborhood for walkers is Franklin School, which has a Walk Score of 93.
Los Angeles
Although Southern California has a reputation for being highly dependent on cars, Los Angeles is another city where you can simply walk to get to many of the places that you need and want to be as evidenced by its Walk Score of 69. Within L.A., Central Hollywood has the top neighborhood Walk Score: 95.
Santa Ana
The top city on this list that is in Orange County is Santa Ana; its Walk Score is 67. If you want to move here and do as many of your errands and other activities through walking alone, you may want to head to Downtown, which has a Walk Score of 89.
Anaheim
Nearby Anaheim is also a decent city for walkers as its Walk Score is 56. Although that figure is more average than excellent, if you go to the North Euclid neighborhood, you will enjoy a much higher Walk Score of 73.
San Diego
San Diego is just behind Anaheim with a Walk Score of 53. Although many of its neighborhoods are, admittedly, not very walkable, several are to a high degree as nine have Walk Scores in the 90s. Topping that list is Little Italy at 98.
San Jose
We head back to the Bay Area for the eighth spot on this list as the largest city in Silicon Valley has a Walk Score of 51. Notably, it has two neighborhoods with Walk Scores in the 90s: St. Leo’s at 92 and East Virginia at 90.
Fremont
Nearby Fremont is next with a Walk Score of 50. The best neighborhood in this city for those who highly value walking is Irvington. Its Walk Score is 78, making it Fremont’s only neighborhood with a figure that is in the 70s.
Sacramento
The state capital wraps up this list of California’s 10 most walkable cities. Although its Walk Score is 49, just below average, two of its neighborhoods have Walk Scores in the 90s: Midtown at 94 and Downtown at 93.