Free Activities For Kids in Phoenix

1201 N Galvin Pkwy, Phoenix, AZ 85008, USA

Desert Botanical Garden

Take a trip to the Desert Botanical Garden to see a stunning collection featuring thousands of unique desert plants. From cacti to desert flowers and everything in between, the Desert Botanical Garden will surely impress kids and adults alike. On the second Tuesday of every month, you can visit the Garden for free!

Anywhere!

Go for a Bike Ride

Whether you’re biking around downtown or somewhere in the desert, the Valley offers lots of great options for family bike rides! A cool free activity to do with kids in Phoenix! For desert rides on paved paths, consider a trip to Papago Park or South Mountain. For rides more city-focused, you can’t beat a long ride on the Canal Trail or a fun cruise around the Tempe town Lake.

1625 N Central Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85004, USA

Phoenix Art Museum

The Phoenix Art Museum is a world-class facility that features revolving exhibits as well as a permanent collection of more than 19,000 works of art from around the world. This is a great place to teach your kids about the world of art! Phoenix Art Museum is Pay-What-You-Wish on Wednesdays from 3 PM – 9 PM, and First Fridays from 6 PM – 10 PM.

1700 W Washington St, Phoenix, AZ 85007, USA

Arizona Capitol Museum

Kids and adults alike will love to explore the history of Arizona at the historic Arizona Capitol Museum! This museum hosts rotating art and history exhibits, as well as a permanent collection of amazing artifacts and relics. Arizona Capitol Museum is always free, and open Monday-Friday from 9 AM – 4 PM & Saturdays from 10 AM – 2 PM in September-May.

Downtown Phoenix

First Friday Art Walks

On the first Friday of every month, Roosevelt Row Art District in Downtown Phoenix comes alive with art, celebration and fun. Here you will find a multitude of art vendors, street performers, delicious food and drinks, and so much more. First Friday Art Walks take place from 6 PM – 10 PM.

4925 E McDonald Dr, Phoenix, AZ 85018, USA

Camelback Mountain & Echo Canyon Recreation Area

For families with kids who are outdoorsy and experienced hikers, a hike to the top of Camelbak Mountain is one of the ultimate Phoenix adventures! There are two hikes that will take you to the top, the Echo Canyon Trail and the Cholla Trail. Cholla is the easier option, but both are considered advanced hikes, so prepare accordingly!

625 N Galvin Pkwy, Phoenix, AZ 85008, USA

Papago Park

For a more leisurely desert hike, take a trip to Papago Park! Trails here are moderate and include paved paths if you want to take the bikes out. Papago Park also has awesome rock formations that you can hike up, including the famous “hole in the rock” that is an easy hike to get to and offers a natural window into the city of Phoenix.

All over!

Find a Festival

With the majority of our months being sunshine and nice temps, finding outdoor & free festivals in and around Phoenix is an easy task! Among the many activities for kids in Phoenix, festivals are a perfect plan! From holiday events to music festivals and so much more, make sure to keep an eye out on what is taking place near you!

310 S Mill Ave #A201, Tempe, AZ 85281, USA

Mill Ave-Tempe Town Lake

Mill Ave is the heart of Tempe and hosts a great selection of restaurants, stores and entertainment. You can take a quick (but strenuous) hike up “A Mountain” at the end of Mill to get amazing views of Phoenix, or head down to the Tempe Town Lake where you can enjoy a great walking/biking path around the water. Boat rentals are also available for added fun.

815 N 2nd St, Phoenix, AZ 85004, USA

Roosevelt Row Art District

Roosevelt Row Art District is a bustling hub of art, food, and entertainment that has something for everyone to enjoy. Beyond being the site of the First Friday Art Walks, Roosevelt Row is always alive with fun and entertainment. Walking around this part of Phoenix will surely entertain.

1 E Main St, Mesa, AZ 85201, USA

Mesa Arts Center

Mesa Arts Center hosts a variety of plays, concerts, and other special events throughout the year. Also on site is their MAC Museum that is always free admission! Here you will find fun art workshops, amazing collections of visual art, and so much more. Their hours vary and are open Tuesday-Sunday, see website for details.

10919 S Central Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85042, USA

South Mountain Park & Preserve

The largest municipal park in the country, South Mountain Park & Preserve offers a wide variety of activities that include hiking, biking, and horseback riding. Here you will find more than 51 miles of trails to explore, as well as stunning views of Phoenix. You can drive your car all the way to the top of the mountain, making it a very popular destination for famous AZ sunsets.

215 N 7th St, Phoenix, AZ 85034, USA

Children's Museum of Phoenix

The Children’s Museum of Phoenix is one of the best places in all of Arizona to bring kids aged 10 and younger. This huge museum offers over 300 interactive play areas. There are exhibits and fun activities for babies up to kids aged 10 at the Children’s Museum.

All over

Free Splash Pads

In the summertime, you can cool off in a variety of free splash pad areas all around Phoenix! Among the many free activities for kids in Phoenix, this is one of the most popular! From local parks to malls and lots of places in between, look for local splash areas near you where kids can cool down and have fun to escape the desert heat!

9200 N Bush Hwy, Mesa, AZ 85215, USA

Float the Salt River

When the summer heat starts to hit Phoenix, you can take a short drive out to the Salt River for a fun day of tubing! You can bring your own tubes and multiple vehicles to make this a totally free experience, otherwise you can check out Salt River Tubing for tube rentals and round-trip transportation for a cheap cost. Tubing the salt will not only cool you down, but offer stunning views of the wild AZ desert, and if you’re lucky you might even see some wild horses!