The 10 Best Free Attractions in the St. Louis Area

St. Louis is one of the best places to raise a family. The sheer volume of things to do with kids is incredible. Want animals? St. Louis has them. Want an outdoor park to play in? The area has those in spades. Want indoor spaces to explore or roam? Yeah, those are covered.

The fun doesn’t have to end when you grow up. There are ample things for adults to do, too, whether it’s hiking or learning new things or rocketing backwards on a roller coaster at 60 miles an hour. STL has a lot to offer.

Better still, you can keep things pretty light on the pocketbook if you want to. To be sure, the area offers plenty of places to burn your cash, so if you want to spend on fun, plenty of places will happily take your money. On the other hand, there is no shortage of places that are cheap. Six Flags St. Louis, for instance, has some of the lowest prices on season passes of any theme park in America.

And if you want free? Well, St. Louis serves that up in abundance, too. And I’m not just talking about the St. Louis City and St. Louis County libraries, although those are amazing, too. I’m talking about some attraction gems where you can pay zero dollars and make a day out of it.

Here, then, is our list of the top 10 free attractions in the St. Louis area. If you think we left something off, or if you disagree with our rankings, tell us all about it in the comments.

10. Missouri Botanical Garden

First off, the Botanical Garden isn’t free for everyone, and it isn’t free every day. However, if you live in St. Louis City or St. Louis County, you can get into the Botanical Garden for free between 7 a.m. and noon on Wednesdays and Saturdays. In addition, city and county residents can also get into the Children’s Garden free on Saturdays.

The Garden is a lovely place to explore. Located just south of 44 at Kingshighway, the space offers both indoor and outdoor displays of green spaces, including an iconic Japanese Garden on the south side of the space.

9. Grant’s Farm

A caveat about Grant’s Farm: admission is free, but it does charge for the parking lot, starting at around $17 in 2025. If you’re dead set on not paying to park, there are some nearby parking lots along Grant’s Trail, which in turn runs right to Grant’s Farm, so you can make this a free excursion if you want to. Parking does help support the farm, though, so we generally opt for paid parking.

Grant’s Farm is an excellent experience from start to finish. Before you even enter the farm, you can check out the Clydesdales on the west side of the parking lot. Entrance into the park proper leads off with a tram ride that includes a bit of history, glimpses of animals, and a lot of nature. The farm itself offers animals to pet, shows to take in, and lots more to see and do. You can finish your trip with concessions if you want, and for the adults there is free beer tasting in the courtyard.

8. Missouri History Museum

Forest Park is a trove of top-tier free experiences, and this is just one of them. The Missouri History Museum offers free admission to all parts of its space. The museum carries a collection of both permanent and rotating exhibits, making each visit a little different than ones before. St. Louis features prominently in many of the exhibits, such as the iconic section on the 1904 World’s Fair.

7. Route 66 State Park

There are three major Missouri state parks in St. Louis County, all of them free to park and to explore. You’ve got Babler State Park, which offers a nature center, multiple trails, and camping. Then there’s Castlewood, a day use state park that attracts hikers and walkers and can get a little overcrowded some days.

And then there’s Route 66 State Park. Located on I-44 just west of I-270, Route 66 is built on the remains of Times Beach, a once-bustling resort town that had to be evacuated after a contractor sprayed cancer-causing oil on the roads. The state has since cleaned up the chemical, turning the area into a series of paved trails through where the town used to be. There’s also a visitor center that outlines the history of Route 66 and Times Beach. In terms of both places to walk and places to learn, we think this park is unique enough to be the best in the area.

6. Saint Louis Art Museum

SLAM, as it is affectionately known, is another Forest Park landmark and is the perennial art repository in the region. From ancient art to modern sculpture, SLAM teems with history and perspective. There’s so much here that it’s impossible to soak it in during a single visit.

Admission is free to all parts of the museum except for certain ticketed exhibitions … but if you come on Friday, ticketed exhibitions are free, too.

5. The Muny

Not far from the Saint Louis Art Museum in Forest Park, The Muny serves up Broadway-caliber theater during the summer months, with an annual lineup that runs the gamut from kid classics to shows aimed squarely at adults. And while you can pay for Muny tickets, the establishment has a large number of free seats at the top of the hill.

If you need more theater fix, check out Shakespeare in the Park, another summer theater series with free seats located just a stone’s throw from SLAM.

4. Historic Main Street St. Charles

St. Louis has some truly excellent outdoor districts, but we don’t think any of them compare to the brilliance that is Main Street. Located in view of the Missouri River, this cobblestone-lined district is easy to get to and offers a generous lineup of shopping, dining, and services. It’s worth strolling through even if you don’t spend any money. If you want exercise, Frontier Park and the Katy Trail are just a block away. In addition, if you want some education, you’ve got the First Capitol State Historic Site in the middle of Main Street and the Lewis and Clark Boat House and Museum on the south side, but be aware both charge small fees.

Main Street shines brightest during its festivals, especially during the fall and winter months, but it’s a beautiful stroll any time of the year.

3. Saint Louis Science Center

The fourth Forest Park attraction on this list, the Science Center is an excellent place for kids and adults alike. Exhibits showcase everything from the Earth’s deep past to outer space, with plenty to see and touch. There are also daily shows and other things to do.

The Science Center offers free admission. The south parking lot is paid, while the north lot is free. In addition, there are some paid experiences, including the OMNIMAX theater.

2. Gateway Arch

The Arch is synonymous with with St. Louis. Completed in October of 1965, the iconic monument celebrated its 60th birthday in the fall of 2025. Part of the National Park System, the Arch grounds include outdoor trails and an indoor below-ground museum.

While you do have to pay to ride the tram to the top of the Arch – an experience worth doing at least once – the rest of the Arch experience, including the museum, is free. And while you’re in the area, be sure to check out the adjacent Old Courthouse, which wrapped up renovations in mid-2025 and is also free to enter.

1. Saint Louis Zoo

The fifth Forest Park location on this list, the Saint Louis Zoo also sits atop our rankings of the best free attractions in the area, and for good reason. The Zoo is, quite literally, one of the best zoos in the United States, showcasing animals of all kinds both inside and outside. You can check out bears, survey big cats, or marvel at insect life. River’s Edge, our favorite part of the zoo, winds through the trees as it takes you by all manner of wildlife, including the beloved elephants.

The Saint Louis Zoo is free to enter and explore. There are some paid attractions and shows. Zoo parking is paid, although if you’re willing to walk a little there is nearby free parking in Forest Park.