Free & Low-Cost Kids Activities in St. Louis City, County & Metro

St. Louis has one of the best free-family-fun scenes in the country, and most of it isn't obvious unless you know where to look.

The permanently free anchors

Several of the region's biggest attractions charge nothing for general admission. Between the zoo, the art museum, the science center, the history museum and Grant's Farm-style seasonal offerings, you could visit a marquee attraction every week of the summer and pay only for parking and snacks.

Splash pads and spraygrounds

Nearly every municipality in St. Louis County operates a free or nearly-free splash pad, and they open around Memorial Day. These are the single best return on effort for hot afternoons with toddlers and early elementary kids.

Your library card is an activity pass

Public library systems across the city, county, St. Charles and the metro east run free storytimes, STEM clubs, teen maker nights, summer reading programs with prizes, and — in many branches — passes to paid attractions. If you only do one thing on this list, get library cards for everyone in the house.

Parks department programming

Municipal parks departments run free concerts, movies in the park, nature hikes, holiday events and drop-in sports. These rarely advertise beyond a city newsletter, which is exactly why they're often uncrowded.

Low-cost, not free — but close

• Community center day passes and open-gym hours
• $1–$5 matinee movie series in the summer
• Farmers markets with kids' activity tents
• Free-admission days at otherwise paid attractions
• Church and school festivals with free entry

Build the habit

The families who do the most free stuff aren't better researchers — they just check one calendar regularly. Browse the free category on Play Time Stl, filter by your area, and put two things on the calendar every week. That's the whole trick.