500+ Free Things to Do in America
Explore America without spending a penny - from world-class museums to stunning natural wonders, all completely free
17
Free Smithsonians
5
Free Park Days/Year
100+
Free City Museums
1000s
Free Beaches
National Parks Free Days 2025
All national parks waive entrance fees on these dates
2025 Fee-Free Days
January 20, 2025
Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Winter Visit
April 19, 2025
First Day of National Park Week
Spring Visit
August 4, 2025
Anniversary of Great American Outdoors Act
Summer Visit
September 27, 2025
National Public Lands Day
Fall Visit
November 11, 2025
Veterans Day
Fall Visit
National Parks That Never Charge
Great Smoky Mountains
TN/NC
Most visited park, never charges admission
Hot Springs
Arkansas
Historic bathhouse row, thermal springs
Congaree
South Carolina
Old growth forest, fireflies in May
Cuyahoga Valley
Ohio
Waterfalls, scenic railroad views
New River Gorge
West Virginia
Bridge views, rock climbing
Always-Free World-Class Museums
Smithsonian Museums
Washington, DC • 17 museums
Highlights:
💡 Timed passes required for some, book online same day
National Gallery of Art
Washington, DC
Highlights:
💡 Free concerts Sundays at 6:30pm
Getty Center
Los Angeles, CA
Highlights:
💡 Free admission but $20 parking, take Metro to avoid fee
Brooklyn Museum
Brooklyn, NY
Highlights:
💡 First Saturday of month: free 5-11pm with music and art
Free City Attractions
San Francisco
Golden Gate Bridge Walk
Iconic 1.7 mile walk with bay views
Cable Car Museum
See the giant wheels that pull the cables
Lombard Street
The "crookedest" street, beautiful gardens
Fisherman's Wharf Sea Lions
Hundreds of sea lions at Pier 39
Golden Gate Park (mostly)
Japanese Tea Garden free before 10am Mon/Wed/Fri
New York City
Central Park
843 acres of paths, lakes, and lawns
High Line
Elevated park on former railroad tracks
Brooklyn Bridge Walk
Iconic views of Manhattan skyline
Times Square
Bright lights and street performers
Staten Island Ferry
Free ferry with Statue of Liberty views
Chicago
Millennium Park
The Bean, Crown Fountain, free concerts
Lincoln Park Zoo
One of last free admission zoos in USA
Chicago Cultural Center
Free art exhibits and performances
Navy Pier Fireworks
Summer Wednesdays and Saturdays
Green Mill Cocktail Lounge
Free Sunday night poetry slam
America's Best Free Beaches
No parking fees, no entry fees, just sand and surf
Carmel Beach
California
White sand, dog-friendly, sunset fires allowed
Parking: Free street parking
Best Time: September-November for weather and parking
Coast Guard Beach
Massachusetts
Cape Cod beauty, seal watching, dune trails
Parking: Free shuttle from Salt Pond Visitor Center in summer
Best Time: September after crowds leave
Driftwood Beach
Georgia (Jekyll Island)
Haunting driftwood formations, photography paradise
Parking: Free parking areas
Best Time: Sunrise for photos, winter for solitude
Rockaway Beach
New York
NYC's surf beach, boardwalk, food vendors
Parking: Free street parking off-season
Best Time: September for surfing, fewer crowds
Major Free Festivals & Events
Spring
National Cherry Blossom Festival
Washington, DC
March-April
French Quarter Festival
New Orleans
April
Fiesta San Antonio
San Antonio
April
Summer
Concerts in the Parks
NYC (all boroughs)
June-August
Grant Park Music Festival
Chicago
June-August
Oregon Shakespeare Festival Green Shows
Ashland
June-October
Fall
Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta (viewing)
New Mexico
October
Village Halloween Parade
NYC
October 31
Macy's Thanksgiving Parade
NYC
Thanksgiving
Winter
Christmas Tree Lightings
Nationwide
December
First Night
Boston and others
New Year's Eve
Chinese New Year Parades
San Francisco, NYC
January/February
Free Natural Wonders
Multnomah Falls
Oregon620-foot waterfall visible from highway
Access: Free viewing, minimal walk from parking
Best Time: Weekday mornings to avoid crowds
Horseshoe Bend
ArizonaDramatic Colorado River overlook
Access: Free after 1.5 mile round trip hike
Best Time: 2 hours before sunset for best light
McWay Falls
California80-foot waterfall onto beach
Access: Free overlook trail in Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park
Best Time: Sunset for golden light on falls
Niagara Falls State Park
New YorkAmerica's oldest state park
Access: Free to walk and view falls
Best Time: Early morning for rainbows in mist
Free Urban Exploration
Architecture Tours
Chicago
Free Architecture Center tours daily
Detroit
Guardian Building free lobby tours
Los Angeles
Free Griffith Observatory and grounds
Seattle
Free Central Library architecture tours
Markets & Food
Seattle
Pike Place Market watching and samples
Philadelphia
Reading Terminal Market free samples
Los Angeles
Grand Central Market browsing
Boston
Faneuil Hall street performers
Gardens & Parks
Portland
International Rose Test Garden
San Francisco
Japanese Tea Garden (free before 10am MWF)
Denver
Denver Botanic Gardens free days
Atlanta
Atlanta BeltLine trail system
Money-Saving Secrets
Transportation Hacks
- ✓Many cities offer free downtown circulators or trolleys
- ✓National Park shuttles often free from nearby towns
- ✓Airport viewing areas usually free with picnic spots
- ✓Free factory tours often include transportation (breweries, etc.)
Timing Secrets
- ✓Museums often free on specific days/times - check websites
- ✓Happy hours at observation decks (half-price not free)
- ✓State parks free for residents on certain days
- ✓Off-season visits eliminate many fees
Local Programs
- ✓Library cards often include museum passes
- ✓Bank of America cardholders: free museums first weekend
- ✓Student/teacher/military IDs unlock many free entries
- ✓City tourism cards sometimes free for residents