Kids are expensive — but entertaining them doesn’t have to be. When your crew’s off school, you can enjoy lots of fun, family friendly things on a dime dollar! From museums and parks to roller rinks and mini golf, it’s easy to enjoy Cincinnati on a budget — in fact, many of Cincinnati’s most iconic buildings and experiences are very affordable for families!
Related Article: 100 Things Every Cincinnati Kid Needs to Do
Here are 50 fun activities for $5 or less in Cincinnati:
1. Ride Carol Ann’s Carousel — twice! Ride tokens are just $2 each.
2. Never miss a free event with our new Free Events calendar!
3. Ride bikes on the Loveland Bike Trail. Free!
4. Muddy? No problem, go play at one of these mud-free playgrounds! Free!
5. Travel back to Medieval times at the Loveland Castle! Kids 5 and under are free; 6 and up are $5. Check out these 7 castles that are worth-the-drive!
6. Enjoy the views from the Summit Park Observation Tower! Free!
7. Although possibly a little far, check out these Worth the Drive Playgrounds.
8. Admire larger-than-life sculptures at Pyramid Hill. Admission is $5 for children 6-12 and free for ages 5 and under!
Pyramid Hill
9. Explore the Rosenthal Education Center at the Cincinnati Art Museum. Free! (While we’re at it, admission to the Art Museum is always free!)
10. Visit an Only-in-Ohio Landmark!
11. Explore Big Bone Lick State Park. Free.
12. Let your inner gamer loose at Arcade Legacy. $5 for an entire hour of fun!
13. Walk around and window shop at the Findlay Market. Free!
14. Sign up for a program at your local library branch. Learn more about the Ohio Summer Library Program.
15. Visit one of these amazing epic playscapes.
16. Learn about Ohio History at the Heritage Village Museum. Take a self-guided tour for just $8/adult and $4/child ages 4-11. During the spring/summer months, take a guided tour for $12/adult and $8/child ages 4-11.
17. Splash around at Sharon Woods! The Harbor splash pad is free with a motor vehicle permit ($5/day for Hamilton County residents, $8/day for non-residents).
18. Walk across the Purple People Bridge! Free.
19. Check out the ArtWorks murals. Download a map and take a self-guided tour with your kids! Free.
20. Go to the Salty Dog Museum! Free. Suggested $7 donation.
21. Visit the World’s Only Cardboard Boat Racing Museum. While you’re out east, explore the rural town of New Richmond! Free; donations accepted.
22. Visit the American Sign Museum to see the evolution of signage from the 1870s to the 1970s. Kids under 12 are free with a paid adult!
23. Tour your local fire station. Free.
24. Fossil hunt at Trammel Fossil Park. You can keep any fossils you find! Free.
25. Give disc golf a shot on Stonelick State Park’s course. Free.
26. Take a day trip to one of these 5 outdoor locations!
27. Be a firefighter for the day at The Fire Museum of Greater Cincinnati. Kids 6 and under are free with a paying adult.
28. Spend an Afternoon in Walnut Hills.
29. Learn about nature at Highfield Discovery Garden. Admission is $7/person; classes are included with your admission.
30. Visit the animals at Gorman Heritage Farm.
31. Visit Mt. Airy Forest to play around on the giant tree house! Free.
32. Check out the Spring Grove Arboretum, famed for its scenery. Free.
33. Visit Blooms & Berries!
34. Walk the Ohio River Trail. Free.
35. Spend a rainy morning playing indoors at one of these indoor playgrounds.
36. Take the day at Smale Riverfront Park in Downtown Cincy. Free!
37. Visit Miami University’s many museums: the Art Museum & Sculpture Park, the Karl E. Limper Geology Museum and the Hefner Museum of Natural History are all FREE!
38. Check out the Krohn Conservatory!
39. Take the kids to Wednesdays in the Woods at the Clifton Cultural Arts Center. Kids get to make art for free!
40. Sign up for Kids Bowl Free.
41. Find out who is giving Birthday Freebies on your special day!
42. Have a picnic in one of these worthy spots. Free.
43. Admire old trains at The Railway Museum of Greater Cincinnati. $2/child under 10. Open the first Saturday of each month, June through October.
44. Wander around the William Howard Taft National Historic Site. Free.
45. Take a tour of the Cincinnati Observatory. $5 child admission for daytime history tours.
46. Watch a family feature at the Starlite Drive-In.
47. Put on your rain boots and go creek stomping.
48. Have dinner at Clear Mountain Food Park. Prices vary depending on what you get!
49. Visit Tom Jones Commons in Eden Park. Free.
50. Check out one (or more!) bakeries on the Butler County Donut Trail. A few dollars a donut — unless you visit multiple locations along the trail!
