16 Fun and FREE Things to do in St. Louis
St. Louis is known as the gateway to the west, the home of westward expansion. While there are so many fun activities in the city, I’m here to show you how you can travel here on a budget. How? There are so many FREE Things to do in St. Louis that you could stay a while and not spend any money on activities.
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When we travel, we usually do so on a smaller budget. We like to splurge on really fun stuff sometimes, so if we do, we try to fill in the trip with cheap or no-cost things to do. Luckily, it’s not hard to find free activities in St. Louis.
We were able to find SO many free attractions for the whole family. It made our trip tons of fun and our wallets happy.
From chocolate tours and state parks to days on the lake or even at top free attractions, there are plenty of free activities in St. Louis for the whole family to enjoy. Here’s your guide to making that perfect, affordable vacation to St. Louis without blowing the budget.
Table of Contents
1. Visit Gateway Arch National Park
This is one of the national parks in the US that is FREE to visit. Note, this does not include riding the tram to the top of the arch.
But you can visit the grounds and go inside for an incredible museum featuring the history of Missouri and engineering of the arch. We all had a great time walking through the museum. There are a few hands-on activities that are great for the kids, or being able to sit in a canoe in one of the exhibits.
It’s quite interesting learning about the area’s history, walking into a house from long ago, and getting a feel for how people lived.
The museum is not to be missed. You’ll want to plan at least an hour to go through the museum at an average pace (not reading everything, but taking time to read some things that interest you!)
In addition, you can participate in a free ranger-led tour through the national park. These happen every day.
You can choose which type of tour you’d like. Want a tour of the outdoor grounds? Or the museum? Even runners are catered to with a 2-mile run through the grounds with ranger insight along the way.
And if you’d like to start a little slower, meet with a ranger for coffee at the museum cafe.
Tours meet in or just outside the visitor center. Check times in advance.
2. Union Station Outdoors
Union Station is one of the best places to find fun in the city. But if you are wanting free activities in St. Louis, it’s a great place to hang out.
The outdoors of Union Station features a large reflection pond that is great for relaxing. But try and time your visit with one of the fountain shows that happen daily for a real treat. You’ll get both fountain and fire displays that coordinate along to music.
The fountain shows happen beginning at noon and play each hour on the hour until its last show at 9pm.
If you need a place to eat afterward, there are a few restaurants right at Union Station:
- The Soda Fountain– burgers, soda, shakes and malts
- The Train Shed– delicious apps, sandwiches, salads, steaks, chicken…everything for everyone.
- Taco Container– Tacos. ‘nuf said.
3. Whispering Arch
Whispering Arch was simple, yet one of fun free things to do in St. Louis that my kids thought was super cool.
If you go around to the back of Union Station to the Union Station Hotel, you can walk right in and find a large arch that goes side to side.
My kids got a kick out of whispering things to each other from opposite sides of the entryway.
Have one child stand on one side and another on the other side. The whisper secret messages to each other and hear them nice and clearly on the other end!
While at whispering arch, also admire the architecture and design of this awesome hotel. You’ll notice 3 women in stained glass. These are the three maidens constructed into the Allegorical Window, as it is named.
Each symbolizes the 3 major railway stations passengers rode through in the 1980’s. They represent New York, St. Louis, and San Francisco.
4. Laumeier Sculpture Park
Laumeier Sculpture Park isn’t in the downtown area, but it’s worth the short drive for this free family activity in St. Louis.
The park is pretty big, and we ended up walking around looking at the sculptures for probalby around an hour.
The sculpture park is filled with unique artwork in the form of sculptures. Each has a name and sometimes a story. You’ll find one of the largest eyeball sculptures in the world among the unique structures.
Do not climb on anything! Admire as you walk the paths around this huge park area.
There is ample space to run around and play, a pavilion shelter for eating lunch in the shade (with bathrooms), and even a few short trails that take you into the trees. While sculptures are the highlight of the park, there’s plenty of space and activity for a long stay.
5. St. Louis Zoo
The St. Louis Zoo is one of the top rated zoos in the US, according to USA Today who ranked it #8 in 2023. The best part? Everyone has access to this educational attraction since it is one of the free attractions in St. Louis.
Kids will love the elephants, tigers, lions, penguins, flamingos, and so many other animals. The zoo doesn’t cost anything, so if you’re able, support it through concessions. Because snacks will make everyone’s visit more enjoyable 🙂
We were pleasantly surprised by how much shade was at the zoo. While main, common areas with concessions and plazas were out in the open, whenever we walked into a specific habitat we found the paths to be well-shaded. This helped a lot in helping to keep cool on a hot summer day.
If you aren’t planning on buying concessions, I would make sure to bring a backpack of snacks and water.
6. World Chess Hall of Fame
The World Chess Hall of Fame is located right in St. Louis, and it’s free to visit! Donations are gladly accepted.
Take a walk through culture and history as you explore the history of chess. Discover all sorts of themed chess sets, and you can’t miss the world’s largest chess piece that sits right outside.
Side Note: If you have a child that enjoys chess, I highly suggest the movie The Queen of Katwe, which explores a girl in Africa destined for poverty who finds a love (and skill) of chess. It’s one of my favorite movies around the world for kids.
7. Explore Forest Park
Forest Park encompasses over 1,300 acres of green space, fountains, trails, pavilions, and free attractions in St. Louis. While some attractions within the park (like paddle boating or canoeing at the boathouse) have a price tag on them, others don’t.
As mentioned already, the zoo is a great, FREE place to go within Forest Park. There are specified parking lots for the zoo that do cost money, but you can also try your luck at finding parking along the streets of Forest Park (where allowed) to park. This does mean some extra walking.
You can also visit the St. Louis Art Museum in Forest Park. This is free admission everyday for everyone, though there are some ticketed experiences inside. But there’s enough to see, like Native American art or even a Van Gogh piece.
The Missouri History Museum welcomes guests for free as well. You’ll get 6,000 square feet of exhibits dedicated to the civil rights movement, the 1904 World’s Fair, and other historical aspects of Missouri.
Families will love walking the paved trails of Forest Park. You’re sure to run into plenty of other walkers and bikers as you meander around the beautiful areas.
You can also find a great fountain, like the one pictured above, to lay a picnic out at. Note, you are NOT supposed to get in the fountain.
8. City Garden
City Garden is a beautiful, free area for families to gather in St. Louis. If you need a free activity in St. Louis where you can stay cool on summer days, this is where to go!
City Garden is a great place to pack a picnic and head over with the kids on a hot day. You can enjoy 20+ sculptures around the area, but the big draw is the big spray plaza that kids can run through and play.
There’s also a large, 180-foot long pool area with a waterfall. Unlike the fountains at Forest Park, you can get into this and splash around.
Visitor Center at Babler State Park
9. Visit a State Park in Missouri
Great news… State Parks in Missouri are all FREE to visit. And they have some great ones!
We’ve been impressed way down south by Haha Tonka State Park or Lake of the Ozarks State Park. There are so many state parks up near St. Louis you can visit as well and be just as impressed!
After getting a feel for those parks farther away, we knew we wanted to check out the parks closer to the city.
A few nearby state parks include:
Castlewood State Park-One of the best places to go mountain biking in St. Louis! View the Meramec River as you hike along the trails in Ballwin.
Babler State Park– another great area for hiking, located in Wildwood.
Ted and Pat Jones Confluence State Park- Where the Lewis and Clark expedition went up the Missouri River. This is where the Mississippi and Missouri rivers meet.
10. Stand in Awe of the St. Louis Basilica
This church is amazing and you’ll be in awe as you walk through. It was completed in the early 1900’s and and is the head of the archdiocese in St. Louis. It also holds the largest mosaic collection in the US.
No matter where you look (the pillars, the ceiling, the walls, the floor), you’ll be graced with intricate and decorative designs that make this one of the top visited places in St. Louis.
You can walk around the basilica for free on your own. You’ll have to pay a minimal amount if you want a guided tour.
11. Spend the Day At Creve Coeur Lake Park
Creve Coeur Lake is a beautiful area filled with trails, archery, fishing, and a beach area. While you can’t swim in the water, you can bring out non-motorized watercraft. So grab that stand up paddle board and a towel and get your flow on at this beautiful lake.
While you can’t get in the water, you can still stay cool at the spray fountain. Kids will love the 4 playgrounds on site and everyone will love trails going through the park.
Creve Coeur Lake is about 20 miles from city-center but worth the drive for a day on the lake. You can find the park at 13725 Marine Ave, St. Louis.
12. See a Show at the Muny in Forest Park
The Muny is claimed to be the largest and oldest outdoor musical theater in the US. It holds over 10,000 seats and holds plenty of shows, musicals, and acts.
While the majority of those tickets are for sale, the theater sets aside 1,500 tickets each night in its back rows for FREE seating.
This is based on a first come, first served basis, so you’ll want to arrive early.
St. Louis tradition includes bringing a picnic to wait in line as you await your free spot at the Muny, so it’s all part of the experience.
13. Take a Chocolate Factory Tour
The Chocolate Chocolate Chocolate company has been run by the Abel family since 1981. The St. Louis factory opened in 2012 and offers FREE tours! Get on the factory floor to see and smell and, best of all, TASTE some of their chocolate candies.
Watch live as their candy makers craft delicious chocolates right in front of you.
Make sure to wear close-toed shoes and book your tour in advance, then head off for a delicious tour.
Free Things to do a Short Drive from St. Louis
These free activities in St. Louis are actually just a short drive away. You’ll need 30 minutes or less to access these great places. Totally worth it for some free fun!
Hiking around Powder Valley
14. Conservation areas
There are plenty of outdoor nature education areas around St. Louis. For something to enjoy the outdoors in the St. Louis area, try out one of these.
Powder Valley– Located in Kirkwood, you can visit this free nature center filled with local river life, snakes, turtles, and more inside. Then hike the trails in the area.
Rockwoods Reservation– Located in Wildwood, visitors will enjoy springs, caves, trails, nature, and animal sightings at this beautiful area.
Pleasant Valley Nature Preserve– Located in Eureka, the Pleasant Valley Nature Preserve is 40 acres of secluded peace. Enjoy trails filled with old trees, wildflowers, and possible animal sightings.
Young Conservation Area– Also located in Eureka, here you’ll find trails and colorful ponds. The area boasts over 50 species of fish. Enjoy 6 miles of hiking trails.
15. Lone Elk Park
Take a drive on the wild side as you head to Lone Elk Park. This is just outside of St. Louis in Valley Park. You can drive through the area and try to spot elk, bison, turkey, or deer. There are also trails to get out on. Just be aware during rutting season and keep your distance.
16. Hike Around the Cahokia Mounds
For a deeper history dive, head to the Cahokia Mounds roughly 10 miles east of the city in Collinsville, Illinois.
Here you’ll find the largest pre-Columbian settlement north of Mexico. What was once pyramids or grounds for civic leaders is now covered by rolling green grass.
There are various trails to lead you through and around the mounds, as well as free guided tours to help you get the most out of your visit.
Where to Stay in St. Louis
I recommend staying at the Drury Plaza hotel. The Drury Plaza Hotel is the best location as its just a short 1.5 blocks from The Arch. It also provides free breakfast and an indoor pool. Free breakfast is another great way to take a budget vacation to St. Louis!
Free Things to do in St. Louis
If you are on a budget, St. Louis is such a great place to visit. From plenty of nature options to seeing a show at the theater, there is something for every interest. Take the kids to the zoo, drive through a park filled with elk, hike through a state park, or just play at a spray plaza in the city. You could spend a weekend in St. Louis without spending any money on activities.
Next time you head to the gateway to the west, the home of westward expansion, make sure to make a list of all the great free things to do in St. Louis to help your budget stay on track. You can still have a ton of fun without spending a dime.
Need more ways to save on vacation? Check out these Budget Tips for Family Travel!
