Have any fun plans you’re looking forward to this weekend, next weekend, or even next month? If the answer is, sadly, no, then you might want to check out this list for some ideas about free things to do in Arizona. Everything listed here is totally free; you just need to make sure to plan in advance for your visit. You won’t regret it!
- Hiking and nature walks.
Dave Bezaire/Flickr This is a no-brainer. While some areas require a permit, you can also find plenty of other areas where you just need to pull up in your car and step outside to start hiking. And trust us: every last one of them is breathtaking!
- Or try out another kind of walk that involves art and music.
Dh/Flickr First Fridays, Third Fridays. Whatever your town calls it, these free art walks are a great way to get out of the house and into amazing local galleries without spending a dime (that is, unless you find some great artwork you want to take home). If crowds aren’t quite your thing, Third Fridays is a much more low-key event.
- Get a bit of culture by visiting an art museum or concert in the park for free (on select days).
TEDxPhoenix/Flickr Most museums around the state sponsor free admission days! For example, the Phoenix Art Museum is admission-free on First Fridays, or on Wednesday afternoons (for basic admission - special exhibits require a ticket still). Meanwhile, places like the Tempe History Museum and the Pioneer Museum in Flagstaff are always free (but make sure to double-check their websites for most up-to-date hours and closure information).
- Check out a replica ghost town at Goldfield.
Bill in Arizona/Flickr This cool little place is perfect to visit year-round, though we feel like it’s the best during the milder months of the year. Walk around and explore to get a taste of what the Old West was like, and watch a couple of the live shows while you’re there.
- …or, visit the real thing!
Mlhradio/Flickr Visiting a real ghost town is free as well! One suggestion is Fairbank, in southeastern Arizona, where you can see some old buildings still standing to remind you of a time that now seems so far away. It was first settled in 1881!
- Take a hike to see some very old ruins.
Cathy/Flickr Places like Canyon de Chelly and Sycamore Canyon have well-preserved ruins that you can visit for free. Just remember when visiting to be respectful of the people who once lived there and the history they left behind: stay on designated paths, do not leave graffiti, and do not take anything from the area. Look, don’t touch - and keep it amazing for generations to come. Make sure to double-check their websites for the most up-to-date hours and closure information while planning your trip.
- Spend some time at a “movies in the park (or on the square)”.
Eric Harmatz/Flickr Depending on where you live in the state, free movies in a public place is something you may find all year round (weather permitting, of course). Phoenix and Flagstaff are just two cities where movies-in-the-park are held, usually on weekends.
- Pay a visit to a swimming hole, like Grasshopper Point.
Christine Riggle/Flickr Keep places like this in mind when the temperatures start to rise again! Grasshopper Point is a beautiful area on Oak Creek, just outside Sedona, that fills up quick - your best bet is to visit during the week, or early in the day!
- Watch the stars way out in the wilderness, or from the planetarium at Mesa Community College.
CEBImagery/Flickr Other planetariums and other science museums also offer free admission days, just check ahead of time! One of our favorites is Lowell Observatory, in Flagstaff.
- Pretend you’re a tourist by exploring your hometown.
JR P/Flickr This is especially good if you haven’t visited your town’s historical district or main sights in a while, or at all. You don’t know what you don’t know, and you never know what’s just waiting for you to find it!
- Walk the beautiful grounds of a historic church.
Paucal/Flickr Mission San Xavier del Bac in Tucson, Chapel of the Holy Cross in Sedona, the Islamic Community Center in Tempe, the Mormon temples in Mesa and Snowflake, and countless other fascinating historic churches offer free tours of their buildings at select times.
What are some other fun, free activities do you enjoy doing in our terrific state? Be sure to let us know your suggestions in the comments below, or on our Facebook fan page.
Dave Bezaire/Flickr
This is a no-brainer. While some areas require a permit, you can also find plenty of other areas where you just need to pull up in your car and step outside to start hiking. And trust us: every last one of them is breathtaking!
Dh/Flickr
First Fridays, Third Fridays. Whatever your town calls it, these free art walks are a great way to get out of the house and into amazing local galleries without spending a dime (that is, unless you find some great artwork you want to take home). If crowds aren’t quite your thing, Third Fridays is a much more low-key event.
TEDxPhoenix/Flickr
Most museums around the state sponsor free admission days! For example, the Phoenix Art Museum is admission-free on First Fridays, or on Wednesday afternoons (for basic admission - special exhibits require a ticket still). Meanwhile, places like the Tempe History Museum and the Pioneer Museum in Flagstaff are always free (but make sure to double-check their websites for most up-to-date hours and closure information).
Bill in Arizona/Flickr
This cool little place is perfect to visit year-round, though we feel like it’s the best during the milder months of the year. Walk around and explore to get a taste of what the Old West was like, and watch a couple of the live shows while you’re there.
Mlhradio/Flickr
Visiting a real ghost town is free as well! One suggestion is Fairbank, in southeastern Arizona, where you can see some old buildings still standing to remind you of a time that now seems so far away. It was first settled in 1881!
Cathy/Flickr
Places like Canyon de Chelly and Sycamore Canyon have well-preserved ruins that you can visit for free. Just remember when visiting to be respectful of the people who once lived there and the history they left behind: stay on designated paths, do not leave graffiti, and do not take anything from the area. Look, don’t touch - and keep it amazing for generations to come. Make sure to double-check their websites for the most up-to-date hours and closure information while planning your trip.
Eric Harmatz/Flickr
Depending on where you live in the state, free movies in a public place is something you may find all year round (weather permitting, of course). Phoenix and Flagstaff are just two cities where movies-in-the-park are held, usually on weekends.
Christine Riggle/Flickr
Keep places like this in mind when the temperatures start to rise again! Grasshopper Point is a beautiful area on Oak Creek, just outside Sedona, that fills up quick - your best bet is to visit during the week, or early in the day!
CEBImagery/Flickr
Other planetariums and other science museums also offer free admission days, just check ahead of time! One of our favorites is Lowell Observatory, in Flagstaff.
JR P/Flickr
This is especially good if you haven’t visited your town’s historical district or main sights in a while, or at all. You don’t know what you don’t know, and you never know what’s just waiting for you to find it!
Paucal/Flickr
Mission San Xavier del Bac in Tucson, Chapel of the Holy Cross in Sedona, the Islamic Community Center in Tempe, the Mormon temples in Mesa and Snowflake, and countless other fascinating historic churches offer free tours of their buildings at select times.
Looking for more fun things to do in Arizona? You should check out our article, 16 Things Everyone MUST DO In Arizona, for ideas!
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.
The OIYS Visitor Center
Free Things To Do in Arizona March 13, 2021 Tori Jane What’s a fun Arizona day trip? Well, that depends - what kind of things do you like to do? Arizona is a big place with big lists of possibilities. If you enjoy hiking, take your pick from any one of the literal thousands of trails all over the state. Whether you’re a desert rat, a forest-dweller, a lover of the plains, or a connoisseur of mountains, you will find hundreds of trails to choose from in your ideal landscape. Some are short and simple, and others are long and strenuous. Check this article out for some details about one of our very favorite Arizona day trips, the stunning Havasu Falls near the Grand Canyon. Where are some budget-friendly places to stay in Arizona? Arizona is home to some fun and affordable places to stay if you’re planning a visit. For example, in Flagstaff, Arizona, there’s a hostel/motel called the Motel DuBeau that will provide a place for you to rest your head for much less than your average hotel room. It’s a warm, friendly place with its own lounge and all the memories you could ever hope to make. Another option is choosing a local Airbnb in whatever town or city you plan to visit - there are hundreds of affordable options! It’s fairly easy to do an inexpensive adventure-trip in Arizona. What are some fun things to do in Arizona? Where do we begin? Arizona is a state filled with incredible geology, amazing landscapes, awe-inspiring mountains, crystal-clear rivers and lakes, and so much more. Some of our favorite outdoor activities in Arizona include visiting beautiful Saguaro Lake, hiking any of the unforgettable red-rock trails in Sedona, or camping in the seemingly-endless Ponderosa Pine forests of northern Arizona. If you’re thinking you want to head east instead of north, you can’t miss the Tonto Natural Bridge near Payson. No matter what you’re looking for, you’ll probably find it here!
The OIYS Visitor Center
Free Things To Do in Arizona
March 13, 2021
Tori Jane
What’s a fun Arizona day trip? Well, that depends - what kind of things do you like to do? Arizona is a big place with big lists of possibilities. If you enjoy hiking, take your pick from any one of the literal thousands of trails all over the state. Whether you’re a desert rat, a forest-dweller, a lover of the plains, or a connoisseur of mountains, you will find hundreds of trails to choose from in your ideal landscape. Some are short and simple, and others are long and strenuous. Check this article out for some details about one of our very favorite Arizona day trips, the stunning Havasu Falls near the Grand Canyon. Where are some budget-friendly places to stay in Arizona? Arizona is home to some fun and affordable places to stay if you’re planning a visit. For example, in Flagstaff, Arizona, there’s a hostel/motel called the Motel DuBeau that will provide a place for you to rest your head for much less than your average hotel room. It’s a warm, friendly place with its own lounge and all the memories you could ever hope to make. Another option is choosing a local Airbnb in whatever town or city you plan to visit - there are hundreds of affordable options! It’s fairly easy to do an inexpensive adventure-trip in Arizona. What are some fun things to do in Arizona? Where do we begin? Arizona is a state filled with incredible geology, amazing landscapes, awe-inspiring mountains, crystal-clear rivers and lakes, and so much more. Some of our favorite outdoor activities in Arizona include visiting beautiful Saguaro Lake, hiking any of the unforgettable red-rock trails in Sedona, or camping in the seemingly-endless Ponderosa Pine forests of northern Arizona. If you’re thinking you want to head east instead of north, you can’t miss the Tonto Natural Bridge near Payson. No matter what you’re looking for, you’ll probably find it here!
The OIYS Visitor Center
The OIYS Visitor Center
Well, that depends - what kind of things do you like to do? Arizona is a big place with big lists of possibilities. If you enjoy hiking, take your pick from any one of the literal thousands of trails all over the state. Whether you’re a desert rat, a forest-dweller, a lover of the plains, or a connoisseur of mountains, you will find hundreds of trails to choose from in your ideal landscape. Some are short and simple, and others are long and strenuous. Check this article out for some details about one of our very favorite Arizona day trips, the stunning Havasu Falls near the Grand Canyon.
Where are some budget-friendly places to stay in Arizona?
Arizona is home to some fun and affordable places to stay if you’re planning a visit. For example, in Flagstaff, Arizona, there’s a hostel/motel called the Motel DuBeau that will provide a place for you to rest your head for much less than your average hotel room. It’s a warm, friendly place with its own lounge and all the memories you could ever hope to make. Another option is choosing a local Airbnb in whatever town or city you plan to visit - there are hundreds of affordable options! It’s fairly easy to do an inexpensive adventure-trip in Arizona.
What are some fun things to do in Arizona?
Where do we begin? Arizona is a state filled with incredible geology, amazing landscapes, awe-inspiring mountains, crystal-clear rivers and lakes, and so much more. Some of our favorite outdoor activities in Arizona include visiting beautiful Saguaro Lake, hiking any of the unforgettable red-rock trails in Sedona, or camping in the seemingly-endless Ponderosa Pine forests of northern Arizona. If you’re thinking you want to head east instead of north, you can’t miss the Tonto Natural Bridge near Payson. No matter what you’re looking for, you’ll probably find it here!
