Budget-Friendly Kid Activities: How To Save on Family Fun

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Taking a vacation on a budget can seem even tougher when you have kids, since the more people present, the more your costs rise. 

Fortunately, there are plenty of budget-friendly kid activities your family can enjoy. 

As a parent of two myself, I’ve had over a decade of practice in making plans that include the kids without going over our budget. 

Here are some of the best ways I’ve found to save money while making fun memories. 

Look for Free and Low-Cost Attractions

First of all, trust me on this: You can find inexpensive and even free attractions for your family. Saving money starts by considering the free options first.  

Nature trails and parks

If you don’t think you’re outdoorsy, I challenge you to test that assumption. My family has found county and state parks, nature trails, and forest preserves to be some of the most beautiful and relaxing places to take the kids, and they’re usually free. 

You can load up the whole family for a short drive (or visit while on vacation) and enjoy picnics, hiking, skipping rocks in streams, and just soaking up fresh air away from your screens. 

For parks that charge admission, it’s usually a nominal fee for a day or an annual pass. 

READ MORE: National Parks Perfect for Family Adventures

Local festivals 

Whether you’re traveling far away or hanging out at home on the weekends, check out local festivals, especially during months with milder weather. These may feature bands, rides, and great food. 

While you have to watch out at festivals and carnivals because things like food and drinks can be ridiculously inflated in price, there are solutions. You might pack a picnic in the car so no one’s starving when you get there, or pick one item to splurge on at the event. 

Free admission dates for museums and attractions

While lots of museums, zoos, aquariums, and theme parks can have hefty price tags, don’t give up on them yet.

Many kids’ attractions offer occasional free admission days. Check online for the latest options before you go, so you can plan accordingly. 

Set an Activity Budget for Each Day

Setting a budget for your trip provides a baseline of what you can spend. Set your total goal budget and divide it by the number of days to help you plan.  

In addition to the attractions themselves, consider other costs like meals, transportation, souvenirs, and other extras. 

Will you allow the kids to pick out something from the gift shop or choose special add-ons like a VR experience? Those kinds of bonuses are fun, but your budget can get out of hand if you don’t have a plan first. 

When creating your activity budget, you might include a mix of paid and free experiences. Spending a few days exploring free nature trails can open up the funds to splurge on a day at a theme park or a whitewater rafting excursion. 

COMPARE: Best Theme Parks for Family Travel

Take Advantage of Deals and Discounts

Scouring the internet for deals is still a great way to save money on your family’s kid-friendly activities. 

You don’t need to be anti-spending, but be willing to look for deals that save you money. 

City attraction passes 

For some family trips, a city pass is a smart way to bundle expenses. Basically, you purchase one pass for admission to multiple attractions, and the more of them you visit, the better the value. 

For example, CityPASS lets you explore up to five attractions in a major city over a nine-day period (or you can choose the three-attraction option). 

Each person in the family must have their own pass, and you can see your estimated savings online (for example, the five-attraction CityPASS for Seattle can save you up to 49% off regular admission prices). 

These can be a great option when you’re spending several days in one major city. However, be sure you actually plan to take full advantage of the pass. It’ll still cost you more than if you’d stuck to spending most days at the beach or a free park, so it depends on your priorities. 

And keep your energy in mind as well as cost. If one day at the zoo leaves you exhausted, a CityPASS® or Go City® Pass may not be worth it, because you’ll need too much recovery time to make it to all the attractions you intended to see. 

Discounts and coupons on attractions

Chances are, if you’re taking the kids on a family vacation, you’ll have at least one attraction that comes with a cost. 

If you’re unable to catch the zoo or museum on designated free days (they can be quite limited), look for other discounts before you buy your tickets. 

This can be as simple as checking Groupon and other coupon websites for deals. And although those brochures in hotel lobbies may not save you a ton, even a few bucks off parking or admission can add up over several days of activities.

Be sure to research prices in different ways, too. Prices may be discounted if you purchase online versus in person. 

Lastly, don’t forget Rakuten, which has a variety of offers, like a percentage off certain travel booking websites. You receive it as cashback after purchasing experiences like cruises, car rentals, and airfare. 

RELATED: Best Travel Apps to Save Money on Flights & Hotels

Last-minute activity deals 

It can be worthwhile to wait until it’s nearer to the dates of your trip to buy tickets to theme parks and other attractions.

Check a variety of online travel sites to get a good idea of what’s available. 

Last-minute deals on flights, hotels, and vacation packages can save you money, too.  

Use Travel Rewards to Cover Costs

With a flexible cash or points-based rewards card, you can redeem rewards for budget-friendly kids’ activities. 

Maybe you don’t use your rewards for flights or hotels, but instead toward the cost of admission to the zoo, aquarium, or museum, making those outings free or greatly discounted. 

For example, if you have a Chase card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, you can redeem rewards for family-friendly activities like theme parks and city tours through Chase Travel^SM. 

The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is another travel rewards card. You can redeem your rewards for tickets for sporting events, theater performances, and concerts through Capital One Entertainment.

If you have the more premium The Platinum Card® from American Express, you can access perks like Global Dining with Resy and Amex Experiences, which may provide VIP access or early admission to entertainment events.

(You know your family: Certain experiences could be perfect for certain kids!)

Pro tip: Sign up for “offers” on a Chase Sapphire or other similar credit card program. Every week or so, I check the offers on my Chase card and add any that apply to me. 

These provide cashback on purchases from specific retailers, hotels, gas stations, and airlines, which can add up to significant travel savings. 

FAQs About Budgeting for Activities

TL;DR: Affordable Kid-Friendly Activities

With kids, your family vacation can include plenty of adventures and entertaining activities that pluck you out of your everyday routine. But you don’t have to spend a lot to make the most of your time off. 

By curating a mix of free and paid activities and planning ahead to take advantage of the best deals, you can maximize your travel budget. 

There’s no reason your family vacation can’t be both fun and affordable! 

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Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.