Free & Cheap Activity Guides

The best free and budget-friendly family activities in every city — parks, free museum days, festivals, and hidden gems.

Other guides:Cost Guides·Toddler Guides·Big Kids Guides·Rainy Day Guides·3-Day Itineraries

Free & CheapWilliamsburg, VA

Free & Cheap Things to Do with Kids in Williamsburg

Free & Cheap Things to Do with Kids in Williamsburg Williamsburg has a reputation as a theme park city, which makes families assume everythi…

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Free & CheapWashington DC, DC

Free & Cheap Things to Do with Kids in Washington DC

Free & Cheap Things to Do with Kids in Washington DC No city in America gives families more for free than Washington DC. The entire Smithson…

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Free & CheapVirginia Beach, VA

Free & Cheap Things to Do with Kids in Virginia Beach

Free & Cheap Things to Do with Kids in Virginia Beach Virginia Beach has a reputation as a place where you spend all day paying for things —…

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Free & CheapTampa, FL

Free & Cheap Things to Do with Kids in Tampa

Free & Cheap Things to Do with Kids in Tampa Tampa has a reputation as a pricey theme park destination, and Busch Gardens will absolutely ea…

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Free & CheapSt. Louis, MO

Free & Cheap Things to Do with Kids in St. Louis

Free & Cheap Things to Do with Kids in St. Louis St. Louis might be the best city in the country for a family on a budget. The park system i…

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Free & CheapSedona, AZ

Free & Cheap Things to Do with Kids in Sedona

Free & Cheap Things to Do with Kids in Sedona Sedona has a reputation for expensive resort pricing. That reputation is earned — but it's als…

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Free & CheapSeattle, WA

Free & Cheap Things to Do with Kids in Seattle

Free & Cheap Things to Do with Kids in Seattle Seattle has one of the best free activity rosters of any major US city for families. Genuinel…

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Free & CheapScottsdale, AZ

Free & Cheap Things to Do with Kids in Scottsdale

Free & Cheap Things to Do with Kids in Scottsdale You can have a great family day in Scottsdale without spending $200 at the Talking Stick E…

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Free & CheapSavannah, GA

Free & Cheap Things to Do with Kids in Savannah

Free & Cheap Things to Do with Kids in Savannah Savannah costs as much as you let it. The hotels and restaurants in the Historic District wi…

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Free & CheapSanta Cruz, CA

Free & Cheap Things to Do with Kids in Santa Cruz

Free & Cheap Things to Do with Kids in Santa Cruz Santa Cruz has enough free and low-cost options that a family of 4 can fill two full days …

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Free & CheapSan Juan, PR

Free & Cheap Things to Do with Kids in San Juan

Free & Cheap Things to Do with Kids in San Juan Puerto Rico is a US territory with US prices in some areas — but the best family experiences…

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Free & CheapSan Francisco, CA

Free & Cheap Things to Do with Kids in San Francisco

Free & Cheap Things to Do with Kids in San Francisco San Francisco has a reputation for being expensive, and for good reason — but the city'…

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Free & CheapSan Diego, CA

Free & Cheap Things to Do with Kids in San Diego

Free & Cheap Things to Do with Kids in San Diego San Diego has a reputation for being expensive. It's a fair one. But the city also has more…

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Free & CheapSan Antonio, TX

Free & Cheap Things to Do with Kids in San Antonio

Free & Cheap Things to Do with Kids in San Antonio San Antonio has more genuinely free, genuinely good family activities than most cities it…

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Free & CheapSalt Lake City, UT

Free & Cheap Things to Do with Kids in Salt Lake City

Free & Cheap Things to Do with Kids in Salt Lake City Salt Lake City has one of the best free outdoor recreation networks of any major Ameri…

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Free & CheapPortland, OR

Free & Cheap Things to Do with Kids in Portland

Free & Cheap Things to Do with Kids in Portland Portland is one of the few major West Coast cities where you can have a legitimately great f…

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Free & CheapPigeon Forge, TN

Free & Cheap Things to Do with Kids in Pigeon Forge

Free & Cheap Things to Do with Kids in Pigeon Forge Pigeon Forge has a reputation as an expensive tourist town, and some of it is earned. Bu…

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Free & CheapPhiladelphia, PA

Free & Cheap Things to Do with Kids in Philadelphia

Free & Cheap Things to Do with Kids in Philadelphia A full family day in Philadelphia does not have to cost $200. The city has a legitimate …

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Free & CheapOuter Banks, NC

Free & Cheap Things to Do with Kids in Outer Banks

Free & Cheap Things to Do with Kids in Outer Banks You're already spending a lot on the rental house. The good news about the Outer Banks sp…

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Free & CheapOrlando, FL

Free & Cheap Things to Do with Kids in Orlando

Free & Cheap Things to Do with Kids in Orlando Orlando doesn't have to mean theme parks. The city has an underrated collection of free parks…

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Free & CheapNew York City, NY

Free & Cheap Things to Do with Kids in New York City

Free & Cheap Things to Do with Kids in New York City The most expensive city in America also has more genuinely free, world-class family act…

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Free & CheapNew Orleans, LA

Free & Cheap Things to Do with Kids in New Orleans

Free & Cheap Things to Do with Kids in New Orleans New Orleans has a reputation as an expensive party city. For families, the reality is dif…

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Free & CheapNashville, TN

Free & Cheap Things to Do with Kids in Nashville

Free & Cheap Things to Do with Kids in Nashville Nashville has a reputation as an expensive city, and hotel rates will back that up. But the…

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Free & CheapMyrtle Beach, SC

Free & Cheap Things to Do with Kids in Myrtle Beach

Free & Cheap Things to Do with Kids in Myrtle Beach A Myrtle Beach family trip doesn't have to run $300 a day. The city is stacked with free…

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Free & CheapMoab, UT

Free & Cheap Things to Do with Kids in Moab

Free & Cheap Things to Do with Kids in Moab Moab has a reputation for expensive guided tours and pricey lodging, and that's not wrong. But t…

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Free & CheapMinneapolis, MN

Free & Cheap Things to Do with Kids in Minneapolis

Free & Cheap Things to Do with Kids in Minneapolis Minneapolis runs almost entirely free for families willing to work with what the city's p…

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Free & CheapMilwaukee, WI

Free & Cheap Things to Do with Kids in Milwaukee

Free & Cheap Things to Do with Kids in Milwaukee Milwaukee is legitimately affordable for families. The zoo is cheaper than Chicago's. The l…

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Free & CheapMiami, FL

Free & Cheap Things to Do with Kids in Miami

Free & Cheap Things to Do with Kids in Miami Miami's reputation as an expensive city is overstated. There's a substantial collection of genu…

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Free & CheapMaui, HI

Free & Cheap Things to Do with Kids in Maui

Free & Cheap Things to Do with Kids in Maui Maui is expensive. Resort prices, tourist-area restaurants, and activity operators that charge $…

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Free & CheapLos Angeles, CA

Free & Cheap Things to Do with Kids in Los Angeles

Free & Cheap Things to Do with Kids in Los Angeles LA's reputation as an expensive city is partly deserved and mostly overblown when it come…

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Free & CheapLas Vegas, NV

Free & Cheap Things to Do with Kids in Las Vegas

Free & Cheap Things to Do with Kids in Las Vegas Las Vegas has a reputation as an expensive city. That reputation is well-earned for adults.…

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Free & CheapLake Tahoe, CA

Free & Cheap Things to Do with Kids in Lake Tahoe

Free & Cheap Things to Do with Kids in Lake Tahoe Lake Tahoe has a reputation for expensive ski trips. That reputation is earned. But the ou…

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Free & CheapKansas City, MO

Free & Cheap Things to Do with Kids in Kansas City

Free & Cheap Things to Do with Kids in Kansas City Kansas City has more free than people expect. A Hallmark-sponsored art studio. A nature c…

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Free & CheapJackson Hole, WY

Free & Cheap Things to Do with Kids in Jackson Hole

Free & Cheap Things to Do with Kids in Jackson Hole Jackson Hole has a reputation for being expensive — and in many ways, that's earned. But…

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Free & CheapHouston, TX

Free & Cheap Things to Do with Kids in Houston

Free & Cheap Things to Do with Kids in Houston Houston punches well above its weight for free family activities. Twenty-two of the 61 kid-fr…

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Free & CheapHonolulu, HI

Free & Cheap Things to Do with Kids in Honolulu

Free & Cheap Things to Do with Kids in Honolulu Hawaii has a reputation for being expensive, and it is — if you default to tourist packages …

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Free & CheapHilton Head, SC

Free & Cheap Things to Do with Kids in Hilton Head

Free & Cheap Things to Do with Kids in Hilton Head Hilton Head has a high-end reputation that scares families off — unnecessarily. The islan…

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Free & CheapDestin, FL

Free & Cheap Things to Do with Kids in Destin

Free & Cheap Things to Do with Kids in Destin Destin has a reputation for being expensive, and some of it is earned. But there's a solid lis…

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Free & CheapDenver, CO

Free & Cheap Things to Do with Kids in Denver

Free & Cheap Things to Do with Kids in Denver Denver's outdoor options alone give you weeks of free family activities. But there are solid c…

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Free & CheapDallas, TX

Free & Cheap Things to Do with Kids in Dallas

Free & Cheap Things to Do with Kids in Dallas Dallas has more free and genuinely affordable family activities than most people realize. The …

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Free & CheapChicago, IL

Free & Cheap Things to Do with Kids in Chicago

Free & Cheap Things to Do with Kids in Chicago Chicago's free options are genuinely excellent — not just filler. Lincoln Park Zoo. Maggie Da…

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Free & CheapCape Canaveral, FL

Free & Cheap Things to Do with Kids in Cape Canaveral

Free & Cheap Things to Do with Kids in Cape Canaveral Cape Canaveral surprises people. The Space Coast is known for Kennedy Space Center's $…

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Free & CheapBranson, MO

Free & Cheap Things to Do with Kids in Branson

Free & Cheap Things to Do with Kids in Branson Branson markets itself as a budget family destination, but the Strip will eat your money if y…

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Free & CheapBoston, MA

Free & Cheap Things to Do with Kids in Boston

Free & Cheap Things to Do with Kids in Boston Boston has a reputation for being expensive, and some of it's earned. But the city's parks, pl…

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Free & CheapAustin, TX

Free & Cheap Things to Do with Kids in Austin

Free & Cheap Things to Do with Kids in Austin Austin might be expensive to live in, but it's one of the better family travel destinations fo…

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Free & CheapAtlanta, GA

Free & Cheap Things to Do with Kids in Atlanta

Free & Cheap Things to Do with Kids in Atlanta Atlanta has more genuinely free family activities than most cities its size. You don't have t…

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