If you’ve visited St. Louis more than once, you probably already know that there are many free attractions. From the St. Louis Zoo and St. Louis Science Center, to the Anheuser-Busch Tour, this list has you covered when it comes to FREE things to do in St. Louis.
Five Free Things to Do in St. Louis
Grant’s Farm. A popular St. Louis destination since 1954, Grant’s Farm is a 281 acre ancestral home of the Busch family, named for Ulysses S. Grant. Home to history, wildlife, and adventure, Grant’s Farm is the perfect attraction for the whole family! It’s stroller-friendly and wheelchair accessible. You ride up on a small tram, riding by Grant’s Cabin, and Deer Park, where you will see buffalo, antelope, and more. Animal shows are free, check times before visiting.
Extra expenses: Bring a few bucks if you want to feed the goats, or if the kids want to ride the carousel. Goat feeding is $1 for each bottle (they go fast, so get a few!), parakeet feeding is $1 per person, and camel rides are $5 per person. Parking is $12, but if you’re up for a hike you could probably just park at a nearby gas station or grocery store and walk. I guess it depends on the weather, too. If it’s 100 out, it’s not worth walking a mile in the heat to save $10! 🙂
Purina Farms. Free to visit and free to park, Purina Farms is a fun family destination for animal lovers young and old. A baby animal petting area, animal barn and hayloft play area, and wagon rides make it the perfect destination year round.
The Incredible Dog Arena, featuring daily canine performances of dog diving, agility, and flying disk, is adjacent to the Visitor Center. Cow-milking demonstrations take place daily as well. Reservations are strongly encouraged.
Citygarden. A perfect summer destination for kids and grown-ups alike, the Citygarden is an urban oasis located in Downtown. I love going to Citygarden and taking pictures. Whether it’s a cloudy day or a sunny one, they always turn out great! The sculptures and artwork downtown are beautiful, and the splash pad brings out the kid in all of us. You also have a perfect view of the Arch.
Soulard Farmer’s Market. Started in 1779, located a half mile north of Anheuser-Busch Brewery, Soulard Market is open Wednesday through Saturday, year round. The best time to go is on the weekends, because not all of the vendors are there on the other days. Soulard is unique because they feature locally grown goods including produce, meats, cheese, spices, and flowers – plus several eateries that have a diverse group of food options for you to try while you’re shopping.
Be sure to download and print off some coupons before heading to Soulard.
Tower Grove. This park has it all: playgrounds, wading pool, splash pad, horeshoes, bird watching, senior programs, and tennis courts. They have a Children’s Concert Series from June through August. I love walking at this park – there are miles of sidewalks, with lots of scenic areas to take photos. Tower Grove is home to many festivals throughout the year as well.
Do you have your own favorite free things to do in St. Louis? I’d love to hear about them in the comments!
This is a great resource. St. Louis has a lot more to offer than I realized. We’ll have to make it one our next vacation spots!
Speaking of The Arch, I’ve been to St. Louis twice now, but have still yet to make it there Is it worth checking out, or is it just another tourist trap?
Hey that’s really cool. I knew St. Louis was a pretty big tourist spot, but I didn’t know there was so much to actually do there. Thanks a heap for this!
My husband has often mentioned wanting to visit St. Louis. I think he wants to see the arch as much as anything. He would love to see some of these places too. Especially since they are free.
These places sound like excellent places to take the kids to keep them active a learn a little about nature, especially Purina Farms with the cow-milking demonstration. If I ever visit St. Louis I will definetely keep these places in mind.
My daughter lived in St. Louis for a while. There is so much to do there for free. Her favorite is Tower Grove! So many great restaurants in that area too.
St. Louis is still on my bucket list. I know I’ll get there some day! Knowing there are so many fun and free ways to have fun will make budgeting easier.
I have never traveled to St. Louis but there seems to be a lot to do. Seeing the arch would definitely be my top priority.
I have a friend who works with me that lives near St. Louis! I’ve always heard that it was a fun place to visit and this awesome list just proves it!
Thank you so much for sharing this! What a great itinerary to keep handy for someone visiting St.louis! I honestly had no idea there were so many cool places to visit there!
St. Louis is so on my bucket list! I hope to get there this year!
Awesome tips! We’ve been in St. Louis once and I can’t wait to go back to try these! Thanks for sharing!
The Purina Farms sounds like a lot of fun. Kids love to pet animals and we are big-time into dogs.
This is a great guide. Lots of stuff to do in St. Louis. I will have to keep this in mind if I ever get over that way. Would love to, so its great to know theres lots to do!
We’ve been there a couple of times and enjoyed it each time. Discovered Fitz’ root beer… locally made there, is delicious!
oooh – that sounds like something I should try!!
I’d like to go to City Garden. I think a trip to St. Louis would be awesome.