Looking for cheap things to do in Indianapolis with the kids? We rounded up 105 free and low-cost activities across Indy and the surrounding suburbs, including plenty of things that cost $5 or less and a handful of slightly pricier picks that still earn their keep. Whether you’re a local or just passing through, here’s how to fill a day without emptying your wallet.
For more low-cost ideas, check out our list of free things to do in Indianapolis with kids or free Indianapolis events this month.
Prices and schedules can change, so check each venue’s website before heading out.
Jump to Section
- Cheap Summer Activities in Indianapolis
- Cheap Things to Do in Indianapolis All Year
- Discount Days
- Free Recurring Programs
- Free Places to Play in Indianapolis
- Worth It, But Slightly Over $5
105 Cheap Things to Do Under $5 in Indianapolis with Kids
Cheap Summer Activities in Indianapolis
- Try for a turkey with Indy’s Kids Bowl Free program. Kids register online ahead of time. Free.
- Catch a $1 movie at Regal Cinemas Mondays through Thursdays at 11 a.m. during the summer.
- Watch a movie from the water at Flix and Floats, the poolside movie series at Forest Park Aquatic Center in Noblesville. $5 per person, members free.
- End the day during twilight hours at Gill Family Aquatic Center in Danville. The twilight pass, available from 4 to 7 p.m., is $3 for residents and $3.50 for nonresidents.
- Catch a $3 movie at AMC theaters on Mondays and Wednesdays this summer.
- Gather around the campfire for the weekly themed Cool Creek Campfire series at Cool Creek Nature Center. Free.
- Attend a free summer concert.
- Battle it out at a monthly Nerf Battle event at Pecar Park. Free, or $2 to borrow a blaster.
- Enjoy a $5 movie at Camp Flix every Tuesday this summer at Flix Brewhouse Carmel.
- Go for a swim at Sahm Aquatic Center. Free on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4 to 6 p.m., $4 to $5 every other day.
- Catch a $5 outdoor movie at White River State Park.
- Cool off at a local splash pad at parks all over the Indy area.
- Catch a family movie on the lawn at Movies at Midtown in Carmel. Free screenings are offered on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
- Play games as a family every Friday night at The Yard in Fishers. Free.
- Catch a free outdoor movie all around Indy.Â
- Swim during twilight hours at Franklin Family Aquatic Center. $2 from 6 to 8 p.m.
- Catch a free family movie at Legacy 9 Theater in Greenfield on Wednesday and Thursday mornings in the summer.
- Celebrate the Fourth of July at a fireworks show. Free public displays happen all around Indianapolis.
Cheap Things to Do in Indianapolis All Year
These all cost $5 or less per person unless noted.
- Garfield Park Conservatory. General admission is $5 per person.
- George Washington Community School Pool. Free for children under 2, $2 for ages 3 to 17, $3 for adults.
- Ride a miniature train with the Indiana Live Steamers, May through October. $4 per ride.
- Splash around at the Krannert Family Center indoor pool. $3 per youth, $4 per adult.
- Take a ride on the Forest Park Carousel in Noblesville. $2. The carousel is open weekends in April, May, August, September and October, and daily in June and July.
- Take a self-guided tour at Traders Point Creamery. $5.
- Play at the indoor playground at the Broad Ripple Family Center. $2.
- Ride a pony at Natural Valley Ranch in Brownsburg. $5.
- Visit the Sensory Room inside the family center at Rhodius Park. $3.
- Catch a retro movie at Landmark Keystone Art Cinema. $5.
- Learn about space at the Carmel Planetarium. The planetarium opens to the public for evening shows once a month. $3 for children and students, $5 per adult.
- Play laser tag at Bowl 32. $5 per game.
- Play mini golf at Forest Park in Noblesville. $3.
Discount Days
These are available at a discount on specific days.
- Free First Thursday at Newfields. First Thursday of each month. Free.
- Emagine Noblesville $5 Tuesday matinee. $5 movie tickets every Tuesday.
- Early bird bowling at Royal Pin. Sunday mornings from 9 a.m. to noon. $3.75 per game.
- First Thursday Night at the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis. First Thursday of the month, 4 to 8 p.m. $6 per person.
- Value Day at Regal. Every Tuesday, discounted tickets are available all day.
- Roller skating at Fun Factory. Tuesdays, 6 to 8:30 p.m. $2.
- Sunday Funday at Roller City. $5 skate sessions, $4 mini golf.
- Half-priced games at Pinheads in Fishers. Thursdays, $10 of arcade games for $5.
- Check our free museum days guide for when to visit local museums for free.
Free Recurring Programs
These free programs run on a recurring schedule each month. For more, find free events this month.
- Build something at a Lowe’s DIY workshop. Participating stores offer free workshops each month.
- Make a craft at a free in-store workshop at Michaels.
- Join a free kids workshop at Home Depot, held the first Saturday of each month.
- Wear your favorite pajamas to Pajama-Rama, a monthly program at Cool Creek Nature Center.
- Learn something new at a free monthly workshop at the Lakeshore Learning store.
- Stretch during Free Yoga Wednesdays in Fishers.
- Discover something each month at the Zionsville Nature Center’s Drop-In Discovery program.
- Get an up-close look at animal ambassadors during Beastly Brunch at Holliday Park Nature Center.
- Stop by the Garfield Park Conservatory for Critter Chat.
Free Places to Play in Indianapolis
These activities are always free.
- Have an adventure at one of the coolest playgrounds in Indianapolis.
- Hit the trails on one of Indianapolis’ kid-friendly hikes.
- Play ping pong, shuffleboard, cornhole or bocce at Midtown Plaza in Carmel.
- Visit an indoor playground at one of these spots: The Treehouse at Plainfield Christian Church, The Commons in Columbus, Cornerstone Lutheran Church, The Park at Traders Point Christian Church, Playzone at The Community Center at AFC, The Center at The Well Community Church or the Fishers Community Center.
The Treehouse at Plainfield Christian Church - Rent a free Nature Exploration Backpack from Fishers Parks.
- Learn about agriculture at AgriPark in Fishers.
- Cozy up for free community movie nights at the Butler Arts and Events Center.
- Relax or play at The Portico at College Park Church, part playground and part community space with free Wi-Fi.
- Read, play, and explore at one of these kid-friendly libraries near Indianapolis with amazing children’s areas.
- Borrow an adventure backpack and explore Mounds State Park.
- Make something at Ignite Art Studio and Makerspace in Fishers.
- Explore the trails and wetlands at Marian University’s EcoLab.
The EcoLab at Marian University - Ride the zip line at the Nature Adventure Playground at Jill Perelman Pavilion.
- Explore The Learning Curve at Central Library.
- Play a game of pickleball. Find public pickleball courts here; many are free.
- Learn about Indiana’s woodlands at Cool Creek Nature Center.
- Climb on the treehouses at Flat Fork Creek.
Flat Fork Creek Park - Dig into an archaeologist’s adventure at River Road Park, with features you won’t find anywhere else around Indy.
- Take a family bike ride on one of our favorite bike paths in Indianapolis.
- Learn to trade sports cards at the Indy Card Exchange.
- Explore the ruins at Holliday Park.
- Stroll the downtown Canal Walk.
- Explore the Stutz Building and its vintage cars on display inside the renovated historic factory. You can usually spot a 1914 Stutz Bearcat and a vintage Ferrari. Free.
- Spend a rainy afternoon at a local library with space for kids to read, build, play and explore.
- Meet the live animals at Pecar Park Nature Center.
- Explore Indianapolis on a scavenger hunt.
- Work out as a family at the Colts Fitness Park.
- Stroll the Children’s Garden at Coxhall Gardens in Carmel.
The Children’s Garden at Coxhall Gardens - Visit the interactive Holliday Park Nature Center, home to recurring free programs like Critter Tales, Beastly Brunch and Playdate at the Park.
- Volunteer together at the Humane Society of Indianapolis.
- Grab a frisbee and head to one of these local disc golf courses.
- Walk the ArtsPark at the Indianapolis Art Center.
- Take a stroll along the Indianapolis Cultural Trail.
- Head to one of these free places to play indoors.
- Visit the Kawachinagano Japanese Garden in Carmel.
- Visit the Indiana State Police Museum.
- Climb to the highest point in Indianapolis to visit James Whitcomb Riley’s tomb at Crown Hill Cemetery.
- Try geocaching as a family and explore Indy in a new way.
- Browse the galleries at the Indy Art Center.
- Make a bath bomb at Buff City Soap. Free with a purchase from the shop.
- Spend an afternoon watching traffic go by at The Idle.
- Discover Grand Junction Plaza in downtown Westfield.
- Visit the Carmel Fire Buffs and Fire Department Museum. Donations at the door are appreciated.
- Discover Indiana flora and fauna at the Zionsville Nature Center.
- Bike, skate or walk the Monon Trail, which runs 26 miles through Indy.
- Climb on Funky Bones and the Oracle of Intimation at the Virginia B. Fairbanks Art and Nature Park.
- Browse our free things to do this month calendar for even more ideas.
- Stuck at home? Here are 70 activities to try anytime.
Worth It, But Slightly Over $5
These run a little above $5, usually only for adults, but they earn the splurge.
- Swim during twilight hours at Murphy Aquatic Park in Avon. $6 twilight swim, daily from 4 to 6 p.m. (Summer)
- Indy Island Family Aquatic Center. $5 per child, $6 per adult.
- Have breakfast and a movie once a month at Cereal Cinema. Movie plus cereal bar, $8.
- Play at KidCity indoor playground at the Greenwood Community Center. $6 residents, $8 nonresidents.
- Explore Eagle Creek Park. Admission is $6 per car for Marion County residents and $7 per car for out-of-county visitors, or $1 per person if you walk or bike in.
- Ice skate indoors at Perry Park. $5 for ages 17 and under, $7 for adults.
- Take a weekend public tour at the Holcomb Observatory and Planetarium at Butler. $5 for children and students under 18, $8 for adults.
- Discount movie day at Flix Brewhouse Carmel. $5.55 all day on Wednesdays.
