Boston isn't cheap. A family of four doing two paid activities in a day plus lunch can easily hit $300 before they've seen Fenway Park. But there's a real mix here — the city's best playgrounds and waterfront parks are completely free, and if you sequence your days right, you can alternate high-cost and zero-cost stops to keep the trip manageable.
Here's the honest breakdown across 53 activities.
The Expensive End (But Worth It)
Trapology Boston — $100–$130 for 4 Rooms run $25–$32 per person. Private rooms cost slightly more than joining a public group, but the experience is far better with kids. A group of 4–6 hits the best per-person value.
Activate Games — $100–$140 for 4 $25–$35 per person. Book online — walk-in pricing is sometimes higher. Group packages for 6+ reduce cost per person.
Southwick's Zoo — $100–$140 for 4 Adults ~$27, kids ~$22, parking $10, food $25–$40, plus paid animal encounters. This is a full-day trip so the cost per hour is actually reasonable. Arrive at 10am.
Urban Air Trampoline and Adventure Park — $100–$150 for 4 The Ultimate package is $25–$35 per person and includes everything. Cheaper base packages leave out half the park — don't go that route with kids. Grill on-site.
Launch Family Entertainment Park (Woburn) — $100–$140 for 4 Activity packages $25–$35 per person plus arcade credits and food. Closed Mondays. The restaurant makes this a full afternoon.
Launch Family Entertainment Park (Methuen) — $90–$120 for 4 Same concept as Woburn, limited food — plan for a meal nearby. Open 7 days, which is actually rare for this type of venue.
Launch Family Entertainment Park (Norwood) — $100–$135 for 4 Packages $25–$33 per person. Food $25–$45 on-site. Closed Mondays.
Franklin Park Zoo — $80–$110 for 4 Adults ~$23, kids ~$17. The giraffe feeding is extra but kids remember it. Stone Zoo is run by the same organization — a membership covers both.
Stone Zoo — $75–$100 for 4 Adults ~$22, kids ~$16, food $20–$35, parking $5–$10 nearby. Compact enough to do in a morning.
Sky Zone Trampoline Park — $80–$110 for 4 $20–$28 per person per hour. Buy 90-minute sessions minimum — 60 minutes goes fast.
XtremeCraze Woburn — $90–$120 for 4 Package deals for laser tag plus activities. Closed Mondays. Limited food on-site.
Nova Adventure Park — $90–$120 for 4 Activity packages, limited food. Check the website seasonally for current pricing.
Mid-Range ($50–$100 for 4)
LEGO Discovery Center Boston — $80–$100 for 4 Adults $25, kids $20, under 3 free. Book timed entry online — walk-up lines on weekends are long.
Museum of Illusions Boston — $75–$95 for 4 Adults $22–$25, kids $16–$18. No food on-site. Buy at moiboston.com before you go.
Space Zero — $60–$90 for 4 Drop-in or session rates. Check for sibling discounts. Morning weekday sessions are less crowded.
Magic Wings Butterfly Conservatory — $65–$85 for 4 Adults ~$17, kids ~$11. No restaurant — bring snacks. Gift shop on-site.
VinKari Safari — $60–$90 for 4 Kids $15–$22, parents free or minimal. Arrive near session start for best access.
New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill — $70–$90 for 4 Adults ~$18, kids ~$10. Light café snacks $20–$30. Free parking. Arrive early on weekends.
Kidztopia — $55–$75 for 4 Kids $14–$18, adults typically reduced. Snacks $10–$15. West Roxbury location.
Jump On In — $70–$100 for 4 Kids $18–$25, adults free or nominal. Arrive early in the session for maximum time.
Altitude Trampoline Park — $75–$105 for 4 Sessions $18–$26 per person per hour. Grip socks if needed. Open 7 days from 10am.
Zoo in Forest Park — $50–$70 for 4 Adults ~$14, kids ~$9. Concessions $15–$25. Free parking. Combine with the rest of Forest Park.
Lupa Zoo — $50–$65 for 4 Adults ~$14, kids ~$10. Call ahead — hours vary significantly by season.
J7 Adventureland — $50–$75 for 4 Admission plus limited food. Floor 2 of 75 Middlesex Turnpike — easy to combine with Burlington Mall.
Budget Picks (Under $50 for 4)
Cowabunga's Indoor Kids Play (North Reading) — $55–$80 for 4 Kids $12–$15, snack bar on-site. Closed Mondays.
Tropical Forest — Free Free access. A small tropical forest exhibit — call ahead for current hours.
Mass Audubon's Broad Meadow Brook — $15–$25 for 4 Small admission for non-members. Trails are often free. Closed Mondays.
Mass Audubon's Broadmoor Wildlife Sanctuary — $20–$30 for 4 Free for Mass Audubon members. Closed Mondays.
Mass Audubon's Boston Nature Center — $20–$30 for 4 Small fee for non-members. Trails free. Check for free family programs.
Completely Free
These cost nothing beyond snacks and parking:
- Martin's Park — Free. Boston's best inclusive playground, Seaport District.
- Castle Island Playground — Free playground. Budget $20–$40 for Sullivan's food.
- Esplanade Playground — Free. Charles River views, seasonal food carts.
- Artesani Playground Wading Pool and Spray Deck — Free. Open late June through Labor Day. No concessions.
- Piers Park Children's Playground — Free. Boston Harbor waterfront, East Boston.
- Robbins Farm Park — Free. Hilltop park with Boston skyline views. Great for kites.
- Christian Herter Park — Free. Allston. Skate park, fields, river access.
- Franklin Park — Free park. Zoo inside costs $10–$15 extra.
- Park Swings — Free. Rose Kennedy Greenway. Seasonal installation.
- Children's Wharf Harborwalk — Free walk. Budget $20–$40 for nearby snacks.
- Boston Playground — Free. Pack a picnic.
- KidPort Terminal A — Free airport play area. Budget for airport food separately.
Cost Summary by Trip Length
Day trip (2 paid activities + lunch): $150–$300 for a family of four Weekend trip (mix of paid/free): $400–$700 total activities 3-day trip with smart sequencing: $600–$900 if you alternate paid days with free playground/park days
Money-Saving Tips
Memberships pay off fast. Zoo New England membership covers both Franklin Park Zoo and Stone Zoo. Mass Audubon membership covers all their sanctuaries. If you're doing more than two visits, do the math.
Book online. Escape rooms, trampoline parks, and museums consistently offer 10–15% discounts vs. walk-up pricing. There's no reason to pay full door price.
Free mornings, paid afternoons. Start at a free waterfront park or playground, then hit a paid venue in the afternoon when kids need a change of scenery and you've spent nothing yet.
Closed Mondays. Multiple major venues (Launch, XtremeCraze, Cowabunga's, both Mass Audubon locations) are closed Mondays. Plan around this or you'll drive to a locked door.