St. Louis is an incredibly family-friendly city, so it’s no surprise they offer many awesome free things to do. These free activities are not your ordinary free activities that might consist of going to the park or star gazing. St. Louis offers free admission to cool places like the zoo, museums and so much more. Whether you are looking to vacation, enjoy a weekend getaway, or plan a quick day trip, I hope you make your way to one of the awesome free attractions St. Louis has to offer.
St. Louis, a little about it-
St. Louis is a large metropolitan area in the state of Missouri. It was built along the Mississippi River and is known for its delicious cuisine, vibrant culture, and unique architecture, including the city’s most iconic sight the Gateway Arch. Did you know the Gateway Arch is now considered a National Park?
St. Louis is my family’s absolute favorite affordable place. We go at least once a year. St. Louis has our hearts because it has so much to offer & its affordable. As a matter of fact – many of its activities are free! We are blown away with how kid-friendly St. Louis is.
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St. Louis, MO Weather
The best times to visit St. Louis according to its weather are during April, May, and September, October. St. Louis summers are really hot and humid while the winters are known to be cold.
Free things to do in St. Louis
All of the places mentioned in this list offer free admission. Some of them may charge a parking fee if you choose to park in their parking lot.
Gateway Arch National Park (you may have to pay for parking)
Gateway Arch National Park (previously Jefferson Expansion National Memorial) recently went through some major renovations and they are spectacular. The grounds are still park-like and inviting and the Museum is out of this world. Before the renovations took place, the museum was small and dark. Now the museum is bright, spacious & modern.
The Museum at The Gateway Arch (previously the Museum of Westward Expansion) & Arch grounds are free and fun to explore. You can walk up to the Gateway Arch and get a sense of its size (spoiler alert- It’s HUGE). The park lies along the Mississippi River and it’s very common to see working ships and trains. My son has made us sit and watch the entire train on many occasions. You will also see a lot of horse & carriage rides cruising around, helicopters flying above, and riverboats. So pack a lunch and go hang out for a while.
*The tram ride to the top of The Gateway Arch is pretty spectacular. It is not free, but I highly recommend it if you can go.
www.gatewayarch.com, 200 Washington Ave, St. Louis, MO 63102
Grants Farm (pay for parking)
Grants Farm is named after Ulysses S. Grant, who once owned the land and built a house on it. Today it is home to some of Budweiser’s Clydesdale’s and much more.
Things to do at Grant’s Farm-
- Learn all about the Budweiser Clydesdale’s and even see them up close.
- See & learn about Grant’s cabin
- Take a ride through Deer Park
See many kinds of animals in their natural habitat. Some of the animals that you will see are Bison, Black Buck Antelope, and Zebras. - Visit Tier Garten
You can feed goats, and parakeets, watch an animal show and see tortoises, wallabies, elephants, lemurs, and more. - Explore The Bauernhof.
The Bauernhof has a courtyard that is similar to a 19th-century Bavarian farm. It is very cool. Here you can find stables and a carriage house that houses the Busch family’s world-renowned carriage collection and stables.
Feeding the baby goats from bottles is so much fun but be careful they are very obnoxious and can scare little kids. Before purchasing the bottle to feed them, stand back and watch how the goats act. Make sure your child can handle it.
www.grantsfarm.com, 10501 Gravois Rd, St. Louis, MO 63123
St. Louis Zoo (pay for parking)
*You can get free parking along the side of the road if you get there early enough. It fills up pretty fast.
The St. Louis Zoo was voted America’s best free top attraction and best zoo in USA Today. It is located on 90 acres of land and is home to 600 species. Some of the animals that you’ll see there are polar bears, zebras, Asian elephants, flamingos, bald eagles, penguins, reptiles, and more. St. Louis Zoo is one of our favorite zoos and we’ve been to a lot of them! It is seriously one of the best zoos.
The Saint Louis Zoo also has plenty of paid attractions. The free zoo is fantastic as is, but if you are wanting to make your day a little extra special add on one of these attractions: Zooline Railroad, Dinoroarus, Stingrays at Caribbean Cove, Sea Lion show, Conservation Carousel, or the 4D Theater.
www.stlzoo.com, One Government Drive St. Louis, MO 63110
St. Louis Science Center (pay for parking)
The science center is very large and has a lot of activities. Here you will find large exhibits on space, giant dinosaur replicas, shows, slides, interactive exhibits and so much more. We spent a lot of time here exploring all exhibits and our kids had a blast.
Keep an eye out for the bridge over the highway. Kids can check the speeds of cars passing under them. My son loved this!
www.slsc.org 5050 Oakland Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63110
Lone Elk Park
This park is just outside of St. Louis and consists of 546 acres in Valley Park, Missouri. Lone Elk Park is home to Bison, Elk, Deer, and Turkeys. In the park, there is a paved path that you can drive on to look for the animals.
We went early in the morning and saw so many Bison and Elk. We actually had an elk stop in front of our car and block the road. The Bison were also right next to the road. It was a little scary as the animals roam free and are not in cages. However, I would not miss a visit to Lone Elk Park, its truly a unique experience.
Lone Elk Park 1 Lone Elk Park Rd, Saint Louis, MO 63088
Missouri History Museum
The Missouri History Museum showcases exhibits on none other than Missouri’s history. One exhibit is a continuing exhibit on the 1904 World’s Fair. This is a great place to see very old pictures of St. Louis.
Missouri History Museum 5700 Lindell Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63112 (located in Forest Park)
St. Louis Art Museum
St. Louis Art Museum is known for its comprehensive collection. Their collection covers 5,000 years of cultures & genres. In this 3-story art museum, you’ll find not only paintings, but also, sculptures, cultural objects, and ancient masterpieces from all over the world.
General admission to the Saint Louis Art Museum is always free, but special exhibits are free of charge on Fridays.
*Parking in the art museum’s parking garage costs $15. However, there is free public parking in the 2 lots on the north side of Fine Arts Drive. Located across from the museum.
St. Louis Art Museum 1 Fine Arts Dr, St. Louis, MO 63110 (located in Forest Park)
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Fire & Light Show – St. Louis Union Station
The Union Station is a National Historic Landmark and has a lot to offer. Most attractions at the Union Station have an admission fee, but the fire and light show is a fun attraction that doesn’t cost anything unless you need parking. In that case, I’d recommend parking along the road for a small fee.
The Fire & Light Show takes place at the Union Station lake daily, and every hour on the hour from 12-9 pm.
As if this fire, water, light & music show isn’t spectacular enough, it also features a 100-foot-long waterfall.
Union Station 1820 Market Street St. Louis, MO 63103
Laumeier Sculpture Park
Laumeier Sculpture Park is an outdoor museum that sits on 105 acres of land. It features over 70 unique large-scale sculptures including a giant eyeball, deer, and more.
Laumeier Sculpture Park 12580 Rott Rd, Sappington, MO 63127
Purina Farms Visitor Center
Watch the Purina Incredible Dog Team demonstrate their amazing skills, visit the Pet Center, which features a 20-foot, multi-level home for cats, and explore the Barn and Play area, which houses domestic farm animals.
Purina Farms Visitor Center 500 William Danforth Way, Gray Summit, MO 63039
More Family-Friendly Activities in St. Louis (Cost Money)
These family-friendly things to do in St. Louis are not FREE but they are worth mentioning. These activities are awesome and completely worth the money if you choose to spend it.
City Museum
The City Museum isn’t your typical museum. This one is loud and full of families running around. How could you not be loud when the museum is full of surprises, which includes the world’s largest pencil, a 10-story slide, a rooftop terrace with a ferris wheel, a bus and so much more? With its creative and unusual exhibits, the City Museum of St. Louis is a must-see for any traveler.
We loved everything but our favorites were the 10 story slide, hidden tunnels and finding a bathroom hidden in a fish’s mouth.
City Museum 750 N 16th St, St. Louis, MO 63103
Magic House
The Magic House has plenty of interactive exhibits to keep you and your family busy for hours. They constantly feature new exhibits so that you never get bored. This children’s museum has a giant beanstalk that kids can use in place of stairs (my kids had so much fun on this), a construction zone, a bubble room, an outdoor play garden, and more.
Magic House 516 S Kirkwood Rd, St. Louis, MO 63122
St. Louis Aquarium at Union Station
Located in a historic train station, this unique aquarium is 120,000 square feet and 2 stories high. It is home to over 13,000 aquatic animals and explores animals in many bodies of water from Missouri and Mississippi waterways to the Ocean.
St. Louis Aquarium at Union Station 201 S 18th St, St. Louis, MO 63103
Tips for Visiting St. Louis Free Attractions-
- Plan to go early in the day
Free activities are known to get busy really fast. We have had the best of luck going first thing in the morning. - Go during the week
Places are often less busy on weekdays - Wear comfortable shoes
Any time you plan on doing a lot of walking, comfortable shoes are a must. - Check the website before you go
Many of these places will host other fun events. You’ll appreciate knowing beforehand if something special is happening on the day you plan to attend. Not only can events make parking tricky, but they can also get busy fast which can lead to a miserable time if you don’t particularly care about the event. Checking the website beforehand can help you plan better.
Where to Stay When Visiting St. Louis
St. Louis has a variety of free family-friendly attractions, including the Gateway Arch, the St. Louis Zoo, and Grant’s Farm. When visiting these attractions, you may want to consider staying in one of the following areas:
- Downtown: If you want to be close to the Gateway Arch and other downtown attractions, consider staying in a hotel in the downtown area. You will be close to the action and have easy access to restaurants and shops.
*We loved staying at Hampton Inn St. Louis Downtown. This hotel offers rooms with a view of the Arch and their pool also has an Arch view. - Forest Park: Forest Park is a large public park that’s home to several of St. Louis’ top attractions, including the St. Louis Zoo, and the St. Louis Science Center. Staying at The Cheshire might be a good idea if you plan on spending most of your time near Forest Park.
- Downtown West: Downtown West is just enough outside of downtown that you may not be able to walk to everything, but it is home to Union Station. Union Station is an old train station that has been turned into fun attractions and accommodations. The St. Louis Union Station Hotel is a unique and fun place to stay.
- Illinois Border: Consider staying on the Illinois border for more affordable accommodations. It is a quick and easy drive to downtown St. Louis. This area is close to several attractions, including the Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site and the World’s Largest Catsup Bottle. Consider staying at Hampton Inn Collinsville.
Helpful tools for planning your next trip-
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Accommodations- We love and swear by HiltonHonors, but when we want to stay someplace different, we use Hotels.com. You can search for deals on hotels, cabins, houses & more.
Getting There- Roadtripping with our car is how we prefer to travel. That being said, Skyscanner has great deals on flights and RVShare has deals on RV rentals.
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As you can see the city of St. Louis is full of free museums, free tours, free events, and free attractions. These free activities are a great way to explore some of the area’s top attractions without breaking the bank or spending a dime.
I will keep updating and adding to this list. So keep checking back! What free
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