Denver's outdoor options alone give you weeks of free family activities. But there are solid cheap indoor spots too. Here's the honest breakdown — no filler, just what's actually worth your time and money.
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Completely Free
Playgrounds & Parks
Denver Museum of Nature and Science Park — The playground outside DMNS is free and doesn't require museum admission. A bighorn sheep-themed adventure playground with boulders, tunnels, and natural materials. Best visited on weekdays — the museum campus gets crowded on weekends. Limited shade; bring sunscreen. Combine with nearby City Park for a full outdoor morning.
City Park Nature Play — Free nature play area within City Park. Combine with the Denver Zoo next door (paid) or just make it a full City Park morning — the lake, the playground, the views of the mountains.
Central Park Playground — Free playground in Denver's Central Park neighborhood (formerly Stapleton), one of the most family-dense communities in the city. Combine with a stop at Stanley Marketplace for lunch or coffee.
Washington Park Playground — Free playground within Washington Park. Stroller-friendly neighborhood paths make a post-playground walk easy. One of Denver's most beloved parks.
Nature Playground at 39th Ave Greenway — Free public nature playground. Natural materials, water features, and space to explore.
Westlands Park Playground — Free. Greenwood Village — expect well-maintained equipment. The 4.8 rating from 68 reviews says everything.
Ruby Hill Park — Free park with free summer concerts at the Levitt Pavilion. Check the Levitt schedule before you go — outdoor concerts are genuinely great for families.
Westminster Station Nature Play Park — Free public nature play park in Westminster.
Great Lawn Park — Free. Open space with room to run.
Central Park — Free public park. The neighborhood itself is one of the most walkable family areas in Denver.
Paco Sánchez Park — Free. Bring your own food and drinks.
Paco Sanchez Playground — Free playground attached to the park.
City Park Playground — Free playground within City Park. Already in the neighborhood if you're visiting the zoo.
Garland Park — Free. Bring your own food.
Park Playground — Free. Green Valley Ranch Town Center area.
Downtown Playground — Free public playground in downtown Denver.
Free Nature & Wildlife
Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge — Free. This is one of the best free family outings in the Denver area, full stop. Bison herds, bald eagles, white-tailed deer, prairie dogs — 20 minutes from downtown on a former chemical weapons site that's now a thriving wildlife refuge. Drive-through or walk the trails. It's impressive.
Denver Audubon Kingery Nature Center — Free outdoor nature education center. Good for curious kids who like wildlife and trail exploration.
Morrison Nature Center — Free. Wetlands and prairie trails. Pack snacks and make a morning of it.
Bluff Lake Nature Center — Free. Urban nature area with trails and wildlife watching.
Leon A Wurl Wildlife Sanctuary — Free. Wildlife sanctuary in the metro area.
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Under $60 for a Family of 4
Spark the Senses Indoor Playground — $35–$55. Sensory-focused indoor play. Good for younger kids. Memberships available for regular visitors.
Tumble Haus — $40–$60. Indoor gymnastics-style play space. Good for toddlers and young kids who need to climb and tumble.
Play Street Museum - Lowry — $40–$55. Themed indoor play museum for young children. Membership pays off quickly for monthly visitors.
SweetPlay Greenwood Village — $40–$60. Indoor play in Greenwood Village. Members get the best rates.
Kids Wonder — $45–$65. Indoor exploration play.
Kids Dig — $45–$65. Fossil dig experience. The 6–12 crowd finds the excavation genuinely engaging. Worth the price for curious kids.
Butterfly Pavilion — $45–$65. Thousands of free-flying butterflies plus invertebrate exhibits. Wear bright colors — butterflies land on you. Arrive early before school groups fill the atrium. One of the best price-to-experience values in the Denver area.
Denver Botanic Gardens Chatfield Farms — $30–$50. Seasonal farm activities. Spring and fall are the best times to visit.
Lava Island — $40–$65. Indoor play venue. Check current online pricing.
BOUNCE AND PLAY — $40–$65. Local bounce venue; generally more affordable than national chains.
Kids Empire Aurora City Place — $50–$70. Large indoor play with foam structures and themed zones. Weekday mornings are much quieter and sometimes cheaper.
Kids Empire North Glenn — $50–$80. North Glenn location. Check kidsempire.com for current pricing.
Go Bonkers — $50–$80 (admission for 2 kids; adults often free or nominal). The 4.8 rating from nearly 400 reviews is real — this is one of the best-value indoor playgrounds in the metro. Sunday hours limited; plan accordingly.
Plains Conservation Center — $20–$40. Prairie education center east of Denver. Affordable and genuinely educational.
The Hudson Gardens & Event Center — $20–$35. Gardens with seasonal events.
Funcity Adventure Park — $60–$90 (2 kids ~$15–$20 each; adult fees vary). Check current pricing online.
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$60–$100 and Worth It
Museum of Illusions — $60–$80. Illusion rooms, infinite mirrors, anti-gravity chambers. Self-paced so you're not rushing.
The Wild Animal Sanctuary — $50–$80. Rescue sanctuary for rescued bears, lions, tigers, and wolves. Elevated walkways over the habitats. Not a zoo — a genuinely unique experience.
Denver Botanic Gardens — $30–$55 covers the full campus including the Freyer-Newman Center and Boettcher Conservatory. Good value for a 2–4 hour outing.
Adventure Forest at Children's Museum of Denver — $55–$80 (included with Children's Museum admission ~$16 per person). The outdoor nature forest plus full indoor museum is easily a 3–4 hour day.
The Bounce Place Colorado Mills — $55–$80 (admission ~$14–$18 per child; adults often free). Located at Colorado Mills.
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Tips to Keep Denver Cheap
The Arsenal is free and genuinely great. Rocky Mountain Arsenal is 20 minutes from downtown, completely free, and has bison herds. Don't skip it because it's not on a tourist list.
Pack food for outdoor days. Denver Botanic Gardens Chatfield Farms and most nature centers have no food vendors. A packed cooler turns a $30 admission into a full free day of eating.
Botanic Gardens membership. Covers all three campuses (York Street, Chatfield Farms, and the Chatfield Wetlands). If you visit twice, the membership pays for itself.
Weekday mornings. Go Bonkers, Kids Empire, and most indoor play venues are significantly less crowded Tuesday–Thursday before noon. The experience is better and sometimes cheaper.
Free concerts at Levitt. Ruby Hill Park hosts free outdoor concerts at Levitt Pavilion throughout the summer. Check the schedule — it's a legitimate free family evening out.