St. Louis might be the best city in the country for a family on a budget. The park system is massive and free, the kids' museums inside Forest Park charge nothing for Missouri residents, and the nature options are genuinely good. A family of four can have an excellent two-day trip spending under $50 total on activities — and that $50 includes lunch money, not admission fees.
Completely Free Activities in St. Louis
These cost $0 to enter, every day.
Francis Park (4.8 stars) — The spray ground here is a summer institution in St. Louis Hills. Toddlers run through water jets, older kids work the splash elements, and there's a big playground and open lawns for frisbee and soccer. Completely free. Pack a picnic or budget $20–$40 for lunch at a Dogtown restaurant nearby. The spray ground is seasonal (Memorial Day–Labor Day) — confirm it's operating before you go.
Stieren Park (4.8 stars) — An inclusive playground in Sunset Hills that's less crowded than bigger county parks and more thoughtfully designed than most. Families with kids of all abilities find the accessible equipment and rubberized surfacing genuinely useful. $0. Bring a picnic.
Zachary's Playground (4.8 stars) — The best inclusive playground in the St. Louis metro. Wide ramps, adaptive swings, sensory panels, and ground-level activities so kids who use wheelchairs or have developmental differences can do everything alongside their peers. Worth driving across the metro for. $0. Bring water — no fountain on site.
Turtle Playground (4.7 stars) — Giant concrete turtles, climbable, ridiculous, and kids go completely wild for them. The turtles range from baby-size to massive, and little ones spend ages scrambling up shells and peering into open turtle mouths. $0. Concrete surfaces get extremely hot in direct summer sun — go morning or evening in July and August.
Lafayette Park (4.7 stars) — One of St. Louis's oldest parks, surrounded by the beautiful Victorian homes of Lafayette Square. Massive open lawns, a duck pond, and a solid playground. $0. Budget $20–$40 if you lunch at one of the walkable Lafayette Square restaurants.
Tower Grove Park (4.7 stars) — 285 acres of Victorian parkland with open lawns, a seasonal splash pad, restored pavilions, and the beloved Saturday Tower Grove Farmers Market (May–October). Vendors hand out samples freely — kids graze and love it. Free park access; $20–$40 if you buy produce and food at the Saturday market.
Bee Tree County Park (4.7 stars) — The wildest and most underrated park in the St. Louis metro. Trails through dense woods to the Mississippi River, creek crossings where kids wade through shallow water, deer and wild turkey in the trees. Kids get muddy. That's the whole point. $0. Pack a full picnic for a true zero-cost family day. Carrier works better than a stroller on natural surface trails.
Willmore Park (4.5 stars) — A neighborhood gem in South St. Louis with a well-maintained playground and a community feel that makes it welcoming immediately. $0. Combine with Turtle Playground and Ted Drewes Frozen Custard for a great South City afternoon.
Forest Park Forever (4.4 stars) — St. Louis's living room. 1,300 acres where kids bike, splash in fountains, feed ducks at Post-Dispatch Lake, and visit world-class free museums. The St. Louis Art Museum, History Museum, and Science Center are all inside Forest Park and all free for Missouri residents. Free park access; $30–$60 if you rent paddle boats or eat at the Boathouse restaurant.
Rayburn Park (4.3 stars) — A quiet neighborhood park in Crestwood. Good for a quick playground outing without the crowds of larger county parks. $0.
Under $20 Per Person — the Sweet Spot
There's genuinely nothing in the St. Louis family activity list that costs between $1 and $14 per person. The city's structure is: free parks (excellent) + City Museum (paid, very worth it) + Go Ape (paid, for older kids only).
Tilles Park Winter Wonderland (4.7 stars) — The park itself is free year-round. The Winter Wonderland drive-through light show from November through December runs $40–$60 for a car. Walk-through nights cost less than drive-through — choose that option if budget matters.
Worth Paying For — Best Value Paid Attractions
City Museum (4.7 stars) — $80–$120 for a family of four An adult-sized jungle gym built from salvaged industrial materials: 10-story caves, 5-story slides, decommissioned airplanes on the roof. Admission ~$18/adult, ~$14/child; food $20–$40; parking $10–$15. Kids under 3 are free. Buy tickets online to save a few dollars. Plan 3–5 hours. This is non-negotiable if you're bringing kids who are old enough to crawl through tunnels.
Go Ape Zipline and Adventure Park (4.7 stars) — $120–$160 for a family of four Tree-top zip lines and obstacle courses through Forest Park's canopy. About $35–$40 per person. Minimum age 10, minimum weight 70 lbs. Book online in advance or check Groupon for shoulder season deals. The first morning slot is the best — cooler and less crowded.
Money-Saving Strategies for St. Louis Families
- Pack every meal on outdoor days. None of the free parks have food vendors. Bringing a cooler saves $40–$80 per day compared to eating near attractions.
- Combine nearby parks. Turtle Playground, Willmore Park, and Tower Grove Park are all within a 5-minute drive of each other in South St. Louis. One gas tank covers all three.
- Ted Drewes Frozen Custard on Chippewa St is the essential budget St. Louis experience: under $20 for four people, iconic, and kids always want to go back. Add it to any South City park day.
- Forest Park museums are free for Missouri residents. Non-residents should check admission prices at the St. Louis Science Center, History Museum, and Art Museum individually — but they're all worth it even at cost.
- City Museum weekday visits. Same price, dramatically better experience — shorter slide lines and more space in the cave tunnels.
- Winter Wonderland walk-through nights at Tilles Park cost less than drive-through nights. Check the website for pricing before you go.
Seasonal Free Events to Watch For
- Tower Grove Farmers Market (May–October, Saturdays) — Vendors hand out samples, kids eat well for free, market has a community festival energy on good weather weekends.
- Forest Park free summer concerts — The main concert stage hosts free performances; check the Forest Park Forever website for the schedule.
- St. Louis Cardinals games — Not free, but reasonably priced compared to other MLB markets; kids under a certain age are often free or discounted on specific promotion nights.
- First Fridays in various St. Louis neighborhoods — Gallery openings and street activity throughout the city, free to browse.
Plan Your Visit
A perfect free St. Louis family day: morning at Bee Tree County Park for a real woods adventure (pack a picnic, wear old shoes), afternoon at Turtle Playground or Tower Grove Park, finish with Ted Drewes Frozen Custard. Total cost: $15–$20 if you packed everything. Add City Museum on day two and you've had a remarkable trip for under $150 in activity spending for a family of four.