Free Things to Do with Kids in Asheville
23 free kid-friendly activities in Asheville. No admission fees — parks, playgrounds, trails, and more. Age ratings and parent tips for every listing.
Highest rated: Pisgah National Forest - Black Balsam Knob, Tempie Avery Montford Center Playground, Mountain Farm Museum - Blue Ridge Parkway. 1 are indoor. 20 are outdoor. Every listing includes age ratings, stroller access, and parent tips.
Top Picks
Pisgah National Forest - Black Balsam Knob
4.9 starsBlack Balsam Knob sits above the treeline at 6,214 feet and is one of the most dramatic alpine landscapes in the eastern US. The 1.7-mile roundtrip tr
Tempie Avery Montford Center Playground
4.9 starsThe Montford Center playground is a community hub for this historic neighborhood, with solid equipment and the bonus of being in one of Asheville's mo
Mountain Farm Museum - Blue Ridge Parkway
4.8 starsMountain Farm Museum is an open-air collection of authentic 19th-century Appalachian farm buildings relocated to a single site — log cabins, barns, a
Looking Glass Falls
4.8 starsLooking Glass Falls is a 60-foot waterfall that drops directly into a swimming hole accessible from a short paved path — you can walk right up to the
Blue Ridge Parkway - Craggy Gardens
4.8 starsCraggy Gardens sits above 5,500 feet on the Blue Ridge Parkway and offers one of the most dramatic above-the-treeline landscapes in the eastern US. Th
FreePisgah National Forest - Black Balsam Knob
Ages: Best for ages 8 and up
FreeTempie Avery Montford Center Playground
Ages: 2–10
FreeMountain Farm Museum - Blue Ridge Parkway
Ages: All ages — best for ages 4 and up
FreeLooking Glass Falls
Ages: All ages
FreeBlue Ridge Parkway - Craggy Gardens
Ages: Best for ages 5 and up
FreeRiver Arts District Studios
Ages: Best for ages 6 and up
FreeLake Louise Park
Ages: All ages
FreeAsheville Urban Trail
Ages: Best for ages 6 and up
FreeHike Inn to Catawba Falls
Ages: Best for ages 5 and up
FreeBearwallow Mountain Trail
Ages: Best for ages 6 and up
FreeVance Monument & Downtown Asheville History
Ages: Best for ages 8 and up
FreeCarrier Park
Ages: All ages
FreeGrove Arcade Public Market
Ages: All ages
FreeJake Rusher Park
Ages: 2–12
FreeFrench Broad River Park
Ages: All ages
FreeBent Creek Community Park
Ages: 2–12
FreeBuncombe County Sports Park
Ages: 5–17 for organized sports; playground for younger
FreeAsheville Botanical Garden
Ages: All ages
FreeAsheville Recreation Park
Ages: All ages
FreePack Square Park
Ages: Best for ages 1-9
FreeWeaver Park Playground
Ages: 2–10
FreeJones Park Playground
Ages: 2–10
FreePisgah Playground
Ages: 2–10
Common Questions
- What are the best free things to do with kids in Asheville?
- Asheville has 23 free family-friendly activities. Top-rated picks include Pisgah National Forest - Black Balsam Knob, Tempie Avery Montford Center Playground, Mountain Farm Museum - Blue Ridge Parkway, Looking Glass Falls, Blue Ridge Parkway - Craggy Gardens. All are free admission — no tickets needed.
- Are there free outdoor activities for kids in Asheville?
- Yes — 20 of the 23 free activities in Asheville are outdoors, including parks, playgrounds, and trails.
- What free activities in Asheville are good for toddlers?
- 15 free activities in Asheville are rated for toddlers (ages 1-3). Parent favorites: Tempie Avery Montford Center Playground, Mountain Farm Museum - Blue Ridge Parkway, Looking Glass Falls.
- How many free activities in Asheville are stroller-friendly?
- 17 of the 23 free activities in Asheville are fully stroller-friendly.
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