Looking for cheap summer fun in the Springfield, Missouri area? Check out our 18 ideas for FREE summer fun for kids and families in Springfield:
1. Visit a playground in Springfield
We are lucky to have so many great parks and playgrounds to explore in the Springfield, Missouri Area. From swings to slides, to climbing walls and water features, Springfield's parks and playgrounds keep my kids active, are great places to meet old friends (and make new! friends), and they're FREE!
Some of our family's favorite playgrounds are:
- Mr. Nick's Inclusive Playground at McBride Elementary
- Immaculate Conception School Playground
- Rutledge-Wilson Farm Park
Visit our complete Springfield Area Parks and Playground Guide HERE!
 Jordan Whitt via Unsplash |
2. Splash at Lost Hill Park
Lost Hill Park is a natural resource park boasting fields, wooded areas, with water features along the South Dry Sac River.
There are plenty of shallow spots that are perfect for wading and splashing on hot summer days!
3. Explore Springfield Conservation Nature Center
Explore 3 miles of walking trails while connecting with nature! Situated on 80 acres, the Springfield Conservation Nature Center is a great place to take in the beauty of the Ozarks. How many squirrels can you count? Bring along binoculars to spot birds and other wildlife!
 Getty Images via Canva |
4. Go to the Springfield-Greene County library!
Sign up for a library card at Springfield-Greene County Libraries and you'll have access to a plethora of FREE family fun in Springfield! Aside from all the books your heart desires, you can check out toys and games, too! Looking for adventure? The Library has filled 20 backpacks with all the tools you need to explore the great outdoors, or just a nearby city park. They’re located at the Republic Branch Library or you can request one at your local branch. Take a stroll through a local park for a Storywalk, perfect for babies through school-aged children! Want to encourage imaginative play? Visit the Library Station branch for the Play & Learn Center, where children from birth through age 12 can learn with interactive toys.
Check our events calendar for weekly library activities and other special events!
5. Enjoy live music in Springfield
Find local FREE summer concerts and live music listed on our Macaroni KID Springfield MO events calendar!
6. Take a hike in Springfield
Explore Valley Water Mill Park's 1.5-mile hiking trail around the lake. Stop along the way to see the natural spring and the dam. The trails take you through diverse habitats including glades, woods, bluffs, and stream beds.
7. Go on a mural hunt in Springfield
Springfield is full of incredible street art and murals painted by local artists. Grab your camera and head out for a fun day of photo opportunities with unique local murals! From giant legos at the Downtown YMCA, to a variety of butterfly wings and inspiring quotes, you'll find plenty of perfect spots to capture fun photos with your family!
 Getty Images Pro via Canva |
8. Walk, bike, or run along the Ozark Greenways Trails
Our family loves visiting the Greenways trails year-round. We love the versatility for easy walking terrain on paved paths for our toddler, and easy use with the stroller or bikes. Our favorite trails include Tal's Trailhead and Fulbright Spring Greenways, but there are over 75+ miles of trails to explore!
9. Get wet at a splash pad
Jordan Valley Park and Farmers Park offer FREE splash pads in Springfield!
Howard Smith Park in Strafford also offers a FREE splash pad to keep cool this summer!
Check out our Summer Splash & Swim Guide for details.
10. See a movie under the stars
We love outdoor movies under the stars in the Ozarks, and know your family will too!
Get your entertainment fix this summer with free (or cheap) outdoor movies in the Springfield, Missouri Area.
Click HERE for our 2024 Outdoor Movies Guide!
11. Visit the farm animals at Rutledge Wilson Farm Park
It's always fun to see and pet the farm animals at the farm park! My toddler loves trying to find the barn cat, and I'm a big fan of the goats! There are handwashing stations and hand sanitizer available, and for a very small cost, you can purchase food to feed the animals. Stop over to the playground for slides and climbing on a barn-themed playset.
Visit the website to download a free farm scavenger hunt for your visit!
12. Visit a Museum
The Missouri Institute of Natural Science is home to hundreds of animal, plant, and mineral specimens to learn about.
Have dinosaur fans in your family? You can even see a triceratops right here in the Ozarks!
13. Bass Pro Shops
The original Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World location in our hometown of Springfield is known as The Grandaddy of All Outdoor Stores®. The store boasts 7 large aquariums to view fish native to Missouri. Watch divers feed the fish on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at 3 p.m. in Uncle Buck's Auditorium on the ground floor. You can spot alligators and turtles in the "swamp". Walk over to the lobby and entrance of Wonders of Wildlife Aquarium, and you can view several tanks for free without entry into the aquarium.
Be sure to check out our events calendar for Bass Pro Shops' special events.
14. First Friday Art Walk
Located throughout downtown Springfield, First Friday Art Walk happens on the first Friday of each month from 6-10pm. Follow the map to see artwork created by local artists on display, while visiting local businesses. Click HERE to get the map!
15. Sculpture Walk of Springfield
Available 24/7, 365 days a year, Sculpture Walk Springfield has sculptures located throughout downtown Springfield and features local and national artists’ works, with larger-than-life sculptures installed throughout the downtown area. Don't forget your camera! These sculptures change annually. Click HERE for a printable map.
16. Springfield Art Museum
The Springfield Art Museum is a community treasure, introducing people of all ages to the beauty, wonder, and imagination of art. Explore the permanent collection of artwork and temporary exhibits, and take a stroll through the sculpture garden. Your kids will love to pick up a FREE project bag to create their own work of art! Project Bags contain materials and instructions for projects inspired by works in the museum's collection. Project bags are ideal for children ages 3-12.
17. Kids Bowl Free
The Kids Bowl Free Program is back again for 2024! It's a great way to keep the kids entertained and enjoy some indoor fun with your family! Kids enrolled in the program receive 2 free games of bowling EVERY DAY, all summer long! Signing up is easy and just takes a few minutes. You can add on an affordable Family Pass which allows adults and teens to also receive 2 games daily when they bowl with a registered child. *Shoe rental is required.
18. Check out the Macaroni KID Springfield MO calendar!
We have all the FREE summer events we can find on our Macaroni KID Springfield MO events calendar.
Visit our events calendar to find FREE family-friendly events and activities happening this Summer in the Springfield, Missouri area!
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