Atlanta has more genuinely free family activities than most cities its size. You don't have to spend money to have a full day out — the parks are good, the free playgrounds are well-maintained, and the budget paid options are worth every dollar.
Completely Free Activities
These cost nothing. Bring water, pack a lunch, and go.
Ethridge Inclusive Playground is rare — a fully inclusive playground in Sagamore Hills designed for children of all abilities. Community-funded. No admission, no parking fee. The 4.9 Google rating says everything about how much this space means to its community.
Lake Claire Playground sits in one of Atlanta's most walkable intown neighborhoods. Free, well-maintained, and easy to combine with a coffee stop in Little Five Points or a walk through Candler Park next door.
Morgan Falls Overlook Park in Sandy Springs earns 4.7 stars with 3,700+ reviews. The Chattahoochee River overlook is genuinely scenic — bring binoculars for kids. It's completely free. Arrive early on weekends; parking fills by mid-morning.
Cobb Park and Kidscape Village I & II in Smyrna has themed play equipment that feels like a play world. Two separate sections (Kidscape I and II) keep kids rotating. Pack a picnic and plan 1–2 hours.
Chastain Park Playground in north Buckhead is free with free parking. Combine with a walk on the park trail or a visit to the adjacent amphitheater. Shaded picnic spots throughout the park.
Abernathy Greenway Park North in Sandy Springs has a greenway trail system built for strollers and bikes alongside the playground. It's one of Sandy Springs' best parks and it doesn't cost a thing. Bring bikes and helmets for the trail sections.
Candler Park Playground is the neighborhood park Atlanta families actually use. Disc golf in the adjacent course, a park trail, and a walkable neighborhood for food stops after. Free.
Noguchi Playscape in Piedmont Park is one of Atlanta's most iconic playgrounds — designed by sculptor Isamu Noguchi. The playground is free. Parking in Piedmont Park lots costs $3–$10; street parking on 10th or 14th Street is often free on weekday mornings.
Mayor's Grove Playground is also inside Piedmont Park — same $0 admission, same parking situation. Combine both Piedmont Park playgrounds with a walk around the park for a full morning at zero cost.
Grant Park is Atlanta's historic city park with a playground, trails, picnic areas, a dog park, and seasonal pool. The park itself is free — Zoo Atlanta inside it costs extra. Street parking fills on nice weekends, so arrive early.
Hammond Park Playground in Sandy Springs near Perimeter Mall is free and open until 9PM on Sundays — slightly later than weekdays.
Pea Ridge Park in Decatur is a local gem — well-maintained with a genuine neighborhood feel. Free. Pack a picnic.
Texas Science & Natural History Museum — wait, wrong city. Atlanta's free options are primarily parks and playgrounds, but the Outdoor Activity Center in Oakland City runs free and low-cost outdoor education programs worth checking — it's a nonprofit run by the West Atlanta Watershed Alliance.
Cheap Paid Options (Under $20/child)
These cost money but not much. The per-child admission is under $20 and adults often get in free or at a steep discount.
Catch Air Tucker — child admission ~$12–$17; parents typically reduced. Family of 4 runs $50–$80. A clean, well-supervised indoor playground with a 4.9 rating — the staff are attentive and the equipment stays in good repair. Bring your own socks. Weekday mornings before 11AM are the least crowded.
Ready Set FUN! in Sandy Springs — child admission ~$12–$16; adults typically reduced or free. Family of 4 runs $50–$75. Closes at 6PM every day — arrive by 3PM to get your money's worth.
TKT Playtime Inflata Park in Decatur — admission ~$12–$18/child; adults often reduced or free. Family of 4 runs $50–$80. Inflatables and bounce houses built for energy release. Monday is closed. Tuesday opens at noon.
Kids Avenue Buckhead — children ~$12–$18/session; adults often free. Family of 4 estimate ~$30–$45. Upscale Buckhead soft-play with coffee bar for parents. Saturday early opening at 8AM beats the crowds.
Boomerang Play Center in Morningside — children ~$12–$18/session; adults often free. Family of 4 estimate ~$30–$45. Neighborhood soft-play for 0–8 year olds. Consistently praised for cleanliness and staff attentiveness.
Pokiddo Indoor Playground in Duluth — child admission ~$12–$18; parents typically reduced or free. Family of 4 runs $50–$80. Large multi-level climbing structures and themed zones. Opens 3:30PM on weekdays — plan accordingly.
Funville Factory Indoor Playground in Johns Creek — admission ~$15–$18/child; adults often free or reduced. Family of 4 runs $60–$80. Toddlers and young kids love the ride-on vehicles and pretend-play areas.
Budget Outdoor Adventures
SkyHike at Stone Mountain is an elevated ropes course where the family of 4 cost runs $80–$120 (park admission plus the SkyHike add-on). It's $15–$20/person for the SkyHike on top of park entry. Stone Mountain annual pass holders get better value if you plan multiple visits.
Kids Playground at Zoo Atlanta is included with Zoo Atlanta admission — no extra cost. Zoo admission runs $120–$160 total for a family of 4, so it's not cheap overall, but the KidZone playground adds no cost. Use it as a break mid-visit. Splash pad runs seasonally — bring swimwear in warm months.
Ways to Save More
- Pack your own lunch. Morgan Falls, Chastain Park, Grant Park, and most of the free playgrounds have picnic areas. Skip the $15 snack stop by bringing food from home.
- Free parks first, paid activity second. Start your day at a free park when kids have peak energy; do the paid venue in the afternoon when you need structure.
- Buy trampoline socks once. Every trampoline/inflatable park charges $2–$3/pair at the door. One Target purchase before the trip and you never pay again.
- Always buy Kids Empire tickets online. Walk-in pricing is higher. The app sometimes has additional discounts.
- Piedmont Park street parking beats the lots. Park on 10th or 14th Street on weekday mornings and skip the $3–$10 lot charge.
- Check ASTC/ACM membership for Children's Museum of Atlanta. If your home science center or children's museum is in the reciprocal network, admission is free.
Bottom line: You can fill multiple days in Atlanta spending almost nothing — the free park network is genuinely strong. When you do pay, the indoor playgrounds in the $12–$18/child range are reliable and well-run. Save the big-ticket experiences like Sandbox VR and Zoo Atlanta for one special day and keep the rest of the trip free.