Looking for fun and cheap things to do in Indianapolis? Get ready to dive into an adventure packed with excitement, discovery, and unforgettable memories! We’ve gathered 80 incredible things to do in Indianapolis, and the best part? They all cost $5 or less!
These affordable activities are perfect whether you’re an Indy local or just passing through. Why not enjoy your next outing without breaking the bank?
For more free fun, check out our list of free things to do in Indianapolis with kids or free Indianapolis events this month.Â
The list below offers a wide range of fun budget-friendly activities in Indianapolis for $5 (per person) or less!
*Activities marked with an asterisk (*) are excellent deals, priced at just over $5 per person
Summertime Only
- Try for a turkey with Indy’s Kids Bowl Free Program! Children participating must register online beforehand. Free
- Catch a $1 summer at Regal Cinemas on Tuesdays & Wednesdays in the summer.
- End your day at the water park during twilight hours at Gill Family Aquatic Center. $5 for admission 4 pm-close.
- Spend the day at Morse Beach for $6 per person all summer long.*
Morse Beach. Photo credit: www.facebook.com/myhcpr - Catch a $3 movie at AMC movie theaters.
- Gather around the campfire at Cool Creek Nature Center for their weekly themed Cool Creek Campfire series. Free
Cool Creek Campfire - Attend a free summer concert.Â
- Battle it out during a thrilling Nerf Battle Event at monthly at Pecar Park. Free, $2 to borrow a Nerf gun.
- Enjoy a $5 movie at Flix every Tuesday this summer.
- Go for a swim at Sahm Aquatic Center. Free on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4-6, $4-$5 every other day.
- Catch a free outdoor movie at The Yard at Fishers District on Saturdays in July.
- Cool off at a local splash pad, at many Indy-area parks all summer long.
- Catch a family-friendly movie on the lawn at Movies at Midtown. Free screenings are on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
- Play games as a family every Friday night at The Yard in Fishers. Free
- Go for a swim at one of Indy’s best water parks. Murphy Aquatic Park offers $6 twilight swim hours daily from 4-6 pm.
- Catch a free outdoor movie at Grand Junction Plaza on select summer nights.
- Enjoy twilight swims at Franklin Family Aquatic Center. $2 from 6-8 pm.
- Legacy 9 Theater in Greenfield – free family movies on Wednesday and Thursday mornings during the summer.
- Celebrate the 4th of July by watching fireworks. Free and public firework shows are scheduled all around Indianapols.
Cheap Things to Do in Indianapolis
These activities are priced under $5 per person and available every day they’re open, making them perfect for anyone looking for affordable fun:
- Indy Island Family Aquatic Center – $4/child; $5/adult
- Garfield Park Conservatory – general admission: $4/person
- George Washington Community School Pool – $3/adults, $2/children         Â
- Ride a miniature train with the Indiana Live Steamers. (May-Oct), $4/ride.
- George Washington Community School Pool. Free for children under 2; $2 for children 3-17; $3 for adults.
- Splash around at the Krannert Family Center indoor pool. $3/youth; $4/adults
- Rent bikes through the Indiana Pacers Bikeshare. $1 to ride, plus 15 cents per minute. That’s almost a half-hour of fun for $5!
- Take a ride on the Forest Park Carousel. $2 (Weekend Apr, May, Aug, Sept, Oct.; daily June-July.)
- A self-guided tour at Trader’s Point Creamery – $5
- Enjoy breakfast and a movie once a month with Cereal Cinema. Movie plus cereal bar for $6.*
- Indoor playground at the Broad Ripple Family Center – $2
- Ride the elevator to the top of Soldiers and Sailors Monument. $3/adult, $2/child, stairs are free.
- The Sensory Room located inside the family center at Rhodius Park – $3
- KidCity Indoor Playground – $5 (Resident), $7 (Nonresident)*
- Enjoy a retro movie at Landmark Keystone Art Cinema. $5
- Learn about space at the Carmel Planetarium. Once a month, the planetarium is open to the public for evening shows. $3 for children & students, $5/adult.Â
- Laser Lag at Bowl 32 – $5/game
- Explore Eagle Creek Park* –Â Park admission is $6/car for Marion County residents; $7/car for out-of-county.
- Play a game of mini golf at Forest Park. $3
- Weekend public tour at Holcomb Observatory and Planetarium – $5 for children and students under 18 and $8 for adults.Â
- Learn about the best of the best at the NCAA Hall of Fame. Admission is $7.50* for adults and $5 for kids and seniors (kids under 5 are free).Â
Discount Days
These activities are available at discounted prices 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 Bowling – Sunday mornings 9 am-noon – $3.50/game
- First Thursday Night at the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis – First Thursday of the month from 4-8 pm – $6/admission*
- Early bird bowling at Royal Pin Bowling – Sunday mornings 9 am-noon – $3/game
- Value Day at Reagle Theater – Every Tuesday, tickets priced $5-7 all day
- Roller Skating at Fun Factory – Tuesdays, 6-8:30 pm – $2
- Sunday Funday at Roller City – $5 skate sessions, $4 mini golf
- Flix Brewhouse Discount Movie Day – $5.25 all day on Wednesdays
- Half-priced games at Pinheads Arcade – Half-priced games on Thursdays, $10 of games for $5
- Check out our Free Museum Days Guide for when to visit local museums without spending a dime.
Free Activities
These activities are always free!
- Have an adventure at one of the 12 coolest playgrounds in Indianapolis.
- Take in the fresh air on one of Indianapolis’ hiking trails.
- Play a family game of ping pong, shuffleboard, corn hole, or bocce ball at Midtown Plaza Carmel.
- Free Indoor Playgrounds:
- Rent a free Nature Exploration Backpack from Fishers Parks.Â
- Learn about agriculture at AgriPark in Fishers.
- Participate in a Lowe’s DIY Workshop. Free monthly classes are offered at participating Lowe’s stores.
- Relax or play at The Portico at College Park Church. Part playground, part community space (with free wifi)
- Borrow an adventure backpack and explore Mounds State Park. Free
- Create a masterpiece 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 the Cool Creek Nature Center.
- Climb away on the Treehouses at Flat Fork Creek.
Flat Fork Creek Park - Have an archeologist’s adventure at River Road Park. This one-of-a-kind park includes features you’ll see nowhere else around Indy.
- Take a family bike ride on one of our favorite bike paths in Indianapolis.Â
- Learn to exchange sports cards at Indy Card Exchange.
- Free DIY kids workshop the first Saturday of every month at Home Depot.
- Explore the ruins at Holliday Park.Â
- Read a book and play inside at one of these best libraries for indoor fun.Â
- Meet the live animals that reside at the Pecar Park Nature Center.
- Explore Indianapolis in the form of a scavenger hunt.Â
- Work out as a family at the Colts Fitness Park.
- Stroll the Children’s Garden at Coxhall Gardens, one of Indy’s most beautiful parks.
The Children’s Garden at Coxhall Gardens. - Visit the interactive and fun Holliday Park Nature Center.
- Upcoming Special Events:
- Critter Tales –Â Select Thursdays – Free
- Beastly Brunch –Â Select Wednesdays – Free
- Homeschool Explorers – Select Thursdays – $5
- Upcoming Special Events:
- Volunteer together as a family at the Humane Society of Indianapolis.
- Grab your frisbee and head to one of these local disc golf courses.Â
- Walk around the ArtsPark at the Indianapolis Art Center.
- Take a stroll along the Indianapolis Cultural Trail.
- Head inside to one of these 10 places to play inside for FREE.
- Visit the Kawachinagano Japanese Garden in Carmel.Â
- Visit the Indiana State Police Museum.
- Climb to the highest point in Indianapolis, where you’ll find the tomb of famous Hoosier poet James Whitcomb Riley at Crown Hill Cemetery.Â
- Discover the world of Geocaching as a family and explore Indianapolis in a whole new way.Â
- Browse the galleries at the Indy Art Center.Â
- Create your own bath bomb at Buff City Soaps. Free with purchase from the shop.Â
- Spend the day watching traffic go by at The Idle. Benches are set up to watch traffic at the intersection of I-65 and I-70.
- Discover Grand Junction Plaza, a newly opened space in downtown Westfield.
- Scope out The Carmel Fire Buffs and Fire Department Museum. Donations at the door are appreciated.
- Discover Indiana flora and fauna at the Zionsville Nature Center.
- Did you know the Monon Trail stretches through Indy for 26 miles? Get the family outside on bikes, blades, or by foot and enjoy one of Indy’s local treasures!
- Â Climb on Funky Bones at the Virginia B. Fairbanks Art & Nature Park.
Funky Bones - Â Climb to the top of the Soldiers and Sailors Monument on the Circle.
- Browse our free things to do this month calendar for even more ideas!Â
- Stuck at home? Here are 70 Activities to try anytime!Â
