How do I choose the right daycare in Salinas?

When choosing a daycare in Salinas, consider visiting facilities in person and checking: Licensing status with California's regulatory agency Staff-to-child ratios (requirements vary by age group in California) Safety measures and cleanliness Daily routines and educational curriculum Parent reviews and ratings Location and hours that fit your schedule

What types of daycare are available in Salinas?

Salinas offers several types of childcare facilities: Child Daycare & Preschools — 35 facilities Headstart Programs — 11 facilities Church Daycare — 2 facilities Before or After School Daycare — 2 facilities Each type serves different needs — center-based facilities typically offer structured programs, while head start programs are federally funded for low-income families.

Child Daycare & Preschools in Salinas, California (35 Results)

Q: What is the average cost of daycare in California?

Daycare costs in California typically range from $200 to $400 per week for full-time care, depending on the child's age, facility type, and location within the state. Infant care tends to be more expensive due to lower staff-to-child ratio requirements. Contact individual facilities in Salinas for current pricing.

Top 10 Best Rated Daycares in Salinas

Ranked using a weighted score that combines Google rating with the number of parent reviews — daycares with more reviews rank higher than those with a high rating but few reviews. Last updated: March 2026.

Laura'S Barn Childcare Center (Pre-School)

4.32 score

4.4(20)

275 River Road A, Salinas, CA · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 30 children

Laura's Barn Childcare Center receives consistently high praise from parents, with all reviews rating it 5/5 stars. Parents highlight the caring and attentive staff, structured educational activities, and strong communication through daily updates and photos via the Procare app. Children reportedly thrive academically and emotionally, with parents feeling confident and relieved leaving their children in the center's care.

caring and attentive teachersplanned educational activities (artfine motorsensory

Laura'S Barn Childcare Center (Infant)

4.32 score

4.4(20)

275 River Road A, Salinas, CA · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 19 children

Laura's Barn Childcare Center receives universally positive feedback from parents, with all reviews rating it 5/5 stars. Parents consistently praise the caring staff, structured learning activities, developmental progress, and transparent communication through daily updates and photos. Families express strong satisfaction with the safe, nurturing environment and enrichment programs offered.

Caring and attentive staffstructured learning activities (artsciencecoo

Alisal Campus Early Education Center

4.25 score

4.4(8)

1752 East Alisal Street, Salinas, CA · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 24 children

Reviews are predominantly positive, with visitors praising the clean, accessible campus and educational opportunities. However, one negative review mentions a poor experience with an instructor in the Diesel program. Note: Many reviews appear to reference a college/vocational campus rather than early education childcare.

Clean and well-maintained facilityaccessible campusgood learning opportunitiesknowledgeable staff

Northminster Presbyterian Preschool/Kinderprep

4.22 score

4.4(6)

315 East Alvin Drive, Salinas, CA · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 72 children

Parents praise Northminster Presbyterian Preschool/Kinderprep as a welcoming, community-oriented facility with great daycare and pre-school programs. The church hosts engaging community events and has a nice music program. Overall, families view it as a quality, well-established institution.

welcoming environmentcommunity-orientedquality daycare and pre-school programsengaging events

Northminster Presbyterian Infant Care

4.22 score

4.4(6)

315 East Alvin Avenue, Salinas, CA · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 12 children

Northminster Presbyterian Infant Care is a small, welcoming church-based daycare in Salinas. Parents praise the daycare and pre-school programs as great, and appreciate the community-oriented atmosphere and family-friendly events.

welcoming environmentcommunity orientedgreat daycare and pre-school programsfamily-friendly events

Child Daycare & Preschools in Salinas, California

There are 35 child daycare & preschools in Salinas, California, making up 70% of the 50 total childcare facilities in the city. Below you'll find a complete directory to help you compare and choose the right daycare for your child.

When choosing a daycare in Salinas, consider visiting facilities in person, checking their licensing status, and asking about staff-to-child ratios, daily routines, and safety policies.

Frequently asked questions

There are 35 child daycare & preschools daycares in Salinas, California, out of 50 total childcare facilities in the city. Browse our directory to compare options and find the right fit for your child.

When choosing a daycare in Salinas, consider visiting facilities in person and checking:

Licensing status with California's regulatory agency
Staff-to-child ratios (requirements vary by age group in California)
Safety measures and cleanliness
Daily routines and educational curriculum
Parent reviews and ratings
Location and hours that fit your schedule

Salinas offers several types of childcare facilities:

Child Daycare & Preschools — 35 facilities
Headstart Programs — 11 facilities
Church Daycare — 2 facilities
Before or After School Daycare — 2 facilities

Each type serves different needs — center-based facilities typically offer structured programs, while head start programs are federally funded for low-income families.

Daycare costs in California typically range from $200 to $400 per week for full-time care, depending on the child's age, facility type, and location within the state. Infant care tends to be more expensive due to lower staff-to-child ratio requirements. Contact individual facilities in Salinas for current pricing.

Yes, daycare centers in Salinas must be licensed by California's childcare licensing agency. Licensed facilities are required to meet standards for safety, health, staff qualifications, and staff-to-child ratios. You can verify a facility's license status through your state's licensing database.

35 Child Daycare & Preschools in Salinas, California

Top 10 Best Rated Daycares in Salinas

Top Rated

Montessori Learning Center

Little Friends Day Nursery

Laura'S Barn Childcare Center (Pre-School)

Laura'S Barn Childcare Center (Infant)

Alisal Campus Early Education Center

Northminster Presbyterian Preschool/Kinderprep

Map

Daycare types in Salinas

Browse by type in Salinas