St Louis is the perfect destination for free family fun. Its home to one of the best zoos in the country, well curated museums, historical sites and plenty of free parking and affordable places to grab lunch. Although there are many places to spend an afternoon with a splurge, there are even more places to visit for free or cheap.
The best times to visit St Louis are in the spring and fall for comfortable weather but even if you stop here during the dog days of summer or dead of winter, you will find fantastic ways to keep the whole family entertained on a budget. Travel through the city for a single afternoon or spend a week here, you'll never run out of things to see and do!
Here are our top 10 favorite free family activities in St Louis
1. St. Louis Zoo- admission to the zoo is free every day. Arrive early (within the first hour of opening 8am-9am) and snag a great free parking spot outside of the paid parking lots, free admission to the children's zoo, conservation carousel and free (seasonal) admission to the stingrays at caribbean cove. That will save $11 per person and $15 per car!
2. St. Louis Science Center- Also near Forest Park with the Zoo, admission to the science center is free every day. Parking at the main entrance is $12 per car but you can get free parking at the James S. McDonnell Planetarium or along the street near the Planetarium and enjoy the skybridge over Interstate 64/Highway 40.
3. St. Louis Art Museum- Another forest park favorite with free admission every day. Admission to featured exhibits is free on Friday. Paid parking is available in the garage for $15 per car but if you arrive early in the day, you can get very close free parking in the lots across the street or all along the road. The art museum is a perfect afternoon on rainy days or days when it's too hot to enjoy the rest of Forest Park
4. The Muny- The Muny the oldest and largest outdoor musical theater in the US. Check the website for a schedule of current and upcoming shows. Every show has over 1,4500 free seats in the last 9 rows on a first come, first served basis. The gates to the free seats open at 7pm. You can bring your own food and drinks (no alcohol or cans) as long as your soft-sided cooler can fit under your seat. Also enjoy pre-show designated picnic areas.
5. Cahokia Mounds- Although not technically in St. Louis, Cahokia Mounds is 8 miles from the downtown area. Cahokia is an ancient city with the largest earthwork structure in North America. Dress in comfortable clothes and shoes and enjoy a breathtaking view of downtown St Louis and the surrounding ancient city from the top of Monk's Mound. Parking is free and the free visitor's center is a must. Enjoy a short documentary film about Cahokia, view ancient artifacts from the site and see what the people who lived here and their homes looked like. Donations to maintain this site are welcome.
6. Purina Farms
in Gray Summit, just 40 minutes from downtown St Louis is free to visit and park every day except during special events. Make sure to check the events calendar before your visit. Enjoy wagon rides, cow milking demonstrations, baby animal petting and dog shows. There is no outside food or drink allowed anywhere on the property so keep your cooler in the trunk and drive just 15 minutes to Robertsville State Park for a picnic by the Missouri River.
7. World Bird Sanctuary
Situated in Valley Park, the World Bird Sanctuary is an over 300 acre home to birds who cannot be released into the wild. Eagles, Falcons, Owls, Parrots, Vultures and even some bats and reptiles live at the sanctuary. The sanctuary provides free educational shows to the public featuring birds, reptiles and mammals on weekends from memorial day to labor day from 11am to 3pm. Also enjoy hiking trails for all ages throughout the sanctuary and a beautiful drive to spot animals in nearby Lone Elk Park. Admission and parking is free.
8. Free outdoor movies
Movies on Art Hill - In the summer, there's no shortage of free outdoor movies for families. Bring a picnic basket, blanket and relax with a movie under the stars.
Food Truck Frolic at St Charles Community College with food trucks and a free family movie
St. Charles County Park outdoor movies, check the events calendar or St. Charles County Parks Facebook page
9. Go Bowling- Kids bowl free all summer at kidsbowlfree.com. Register your children online and choose any of the 9 participating bowling alleys in the St Louis area. Just pay for shoe rental or bring your own. Each kid (ages 15 and younger gets to play 2 free games per day, any day. If you have kids over age 15 or if parents want to bowl too, get a great deal on a family pass.
10. The Magic House The Magic House is our local children's museum and has been a local favorite since 1979. Although tickets to the magic house are $11 per person, take the whole family and don't spend a dime on the 3rd friday of the month from 5:30pm to 9:00pm. Parking is also free.
St. Louis and the surrounding area is a great place for a family vacation or staycation on a budget. There are many more amazing free and affordable destinations in St. Louis.
Be sure to follow along for updates and more tips for families who travel on a dime
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