Utah just might be the best place for big families to enjoy free or low-cost fun. Here is our full list of activities on a budget!
Utah’s natural wonders—from canyons and mountains to water features and trails—are essentially a built-in playground. Paired with a culture that skews toward large families, the state has no shortage of free and low-cost adventures for all ages.
“I just love Utah,” says Tanya Henry, a mom of three who often visits the area. “Even visiting the same place gives you different views every time you look. It is the most beautiful place in the world.”
As a mom with five kids, I always appreciate being able to enjoy family fun without spending a lot of money. Here is a closer look at some of the beautiful, low-cost areas to visit in Utah, along with fun, family-friendly activities.
1. Attend the annual Utah County Fair
- Cost: Free
- Where: 475 South Main Street, Spanish Fork
For many people, nothing says “America” like Utah, and nothing says “Utah” like the state’s annual Utah County Fair. The fair offers free admission and parking, so you can bring the entire family without fear of breaking the bank. Many of the attractions and rides will cost money, of course, but some, like the live musical entertainment and the Western Rodeo, are completely free to enjoy. This year’s fair will be held on July 29 through August 1, 2026.
2. Make a splash at Cory Wride Memorial Park
- Cost: Free
- Where: 5806 Pony Express Parkway, Eagle Mountain
One of the most well-known parks in Utah, the expansive Cory Wride Memorial Park in Eagle Mountain spans dozens of acres and is packed with family fun for all ages. The park features zip lines, rope climbing, inclusive play areas, traditional swings and slides, and a musical play area. In the summer, the free splash pad is the main attraction.
Mom of five and Utah family blogger Natalie Ockey notes that the splash pad—complete with five child-sized waterfalls—is always a hit with her sons. She recommends getting there early to beat the heat and the crowds, adding that there isn’t a ton of shade at the park overall, though there are a few pavilions and shade sails in the splash pad area.
The park also has free sports areas, including outdoor tennis courts, basketball courts, pickleball, and baseball fields, as well as paved walking trails. You can even bring the furry friend of the family as the entire park (minus the splash pad) welcomes leashed pets.
3. Catch a free movie in the park
- Cost: Free
- Where: Throughout Utah
Bring a blanket, lawn chairs, snacks, and the entire fam down to Rock Canyon Park on Monday nights during June for free Provo movies in the park. The event features free movie screenings, local vendors like food trucks, and other free entertainment. The fun starts at 8 p.m., with the movie starting at dusk, around 9:30 p.m.
South Jordan also features its own movies in the park series, running a bit longer through the summer, with free viewings through August. The movies pair free community fun with businesses donating their time and talents, featuring activities like martial arts demonstrations, crafts and face painting, mini golf, and even a rock-climbing wall. It is definitely fun for the whole family! South Jordan Park also offers year-round free summer fun, like its seasonal Pumpkin Promenade and the Light the Night holiday lighted parade.
4. Enjoy free live music (and giveaways)
- Cost: Free
- Where: Throughout Utah
Catching a free summer concert series in the park is a Utah staple, and there are several musical entertainment options to enjoy throughout the state. For instance, Mapleton offers free summer concerts in the park every Monday evening starting at 7 p.m. Bring a blanket or chair and enjoy a musical performance in the warmth of the summer night. The concerts also offer a Farmer’s Market before the concert, so you can get some shopping done or pick up some fresh produce to snack on with the kids.
5. Hike at Bryce Canyon National Park
- Cost: National Parks Entrance Pass required ($35/vehicle or free for America the Beautiful pass holders)
- Where: Highway 63, Bryce Canyon
Hiking is always one of my favorite “hacks” to enjoy with our larger family, and although at least half of my children will grumble at the prospect, we all end up enjoying it. Bryce Canyon National Park is one of Utah’s most famous sites with acres of natural beauty and the world’s largest area of hoodoos, which are towering rock stacks that appear almost otherworldly. You can hike, camp, or just enjoy taking pictures in the park.
“Bryce Canyon is my absolute favorite,” says Henry. “Everywhere you look, there is a new beautiful view!”
6. Visit a Farmer’s Market
- Cost: Free
- Where: Throughout Utah
Browse, sample, shop, or just learn more about local offerings throughout Utah by planning a (free) visit to a farmer’s market. If you are on a budget, it is perfectly acceptable to just walk around and take in the sights and sounds without buying anything, but many local vendors will also welcome the opportunity to share about their businesses and products. Heck, it can even count as an educational experience!
Some of our favorite Utah farmers’ markets include Orem’s Park Market and the Saratoga Springs Farmers’ Market.
7. Stop in at the Bean Life Science Museum
- Cost: Free
- Where: 645 E 1430 N., Provo
The Bean Life Science Museum, located on the campus of Brigham Young University, has completely free admission for the family. It is open Monday-Saturday and features daily free programs, ongoing and traveling exhibits, and an on-site nature preserve to explore. See sights such as a full-size mounted elephant, the largest fiberglass Earth globe in the world, a water ecosystem exhibit, and a fascinating tree of life. There is also a fun play area themed like animal houses for the littles to explore.
8. Fly into the Hill Aerospace Museum
- Cost: Free
- Where: 7961 Cottonwood Street, Building 1955, Hill Air Force Base
The Hill Aerospace Museum on the Hill Air Force Base offers free admission and plenty of aviation-themed fun. Admission and viewing all of the exhibits are free, but there are some paid attractions, like the virtual reality simulator that lets you “take flight” over Utah’s mountains.
The kids (and you!) can enjoy over 70 displayed aircraft, along with historical aviation-themed artifacts. The museum even houses the history of aviation, with one of the first airplanes ever made and larger, modern stealth fighter jets to marvel at.
9. Pop into the Clark Planetarium
- Cost: Free exhibit admission
- Where: 110 S 400 W., Salt Lake City
The Clark Planetarium offers free admission to all its exhibits, which are hands-on and span three floors of on-earth and out-of-earth experiences and artifacts—including meteorites, a moon rock, and a tiny piece of Mars you can view. The actual planetarium shows do cost money, but they are pretty affordable, at only $10/person for ages 13 and up and $8 for ages 2-12.
10. Drop into the Dripping Rock Trail in Spanish Fork
- Cost: Free
- Where: Spanish Fork
Gather up the fam and hiking backpacks and hit the Dripping Rock Trail for a family-friendly hike that is less than a mile long. Marked as an “easy” trail, your hike will take you along the Spanish Fork River and through the trees, providing scenic views and shaded respite in the summer months. As the name suggests, part of the trail displays natural springs with rocks that appear to be “dripping” with water, a sight the kids are sure to enjoy.
Some trail reviewers have mentioned that kids will also enjoy spotting painted rocks that other hikers have left behind.
11. Peruse the BYU Museum of Paleontology
- Cost: Free
- Where: 1683 North Canyon Road, Provo
Another Brigham Young University gem is the BYU Museum of Paleontology, which offers free admission and one of the largest collections of dinosaur fossils and artifacts in the world. The museum also features ancient Egyptian exhibits and displays.
If you are planning a visit, keep in mind that the museum is only open weekdays, Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m.
12. Go to the Gale Center Museum
- Cost: Free
- Where: 10300 South Beckstead Lane, South Jordan
As a mom of five children, I am the world’s largest fan of museums—especially the free ones. They are a wonderful way to pass the day with kids of differing ages. And they are good to enjoy in any weather, whether you need an escape from the heat or a reprieve from the cold. In my personal experience, the best museums have always been the free versions, and the Gale Center Museum is no exception.
Admission to the museum is free (donations are accepted), and the area is ideal for families with young kids, as hands-on play is encouraged, rest areas for little legs are scattered throughout, and there are plenty of diaper changing and pumping or private nursing areas, should you require one. Some of the exhibits to enjoy at the Gale Center Museum include an exploration of mining history, an 1800s schoolhouse and farmhouse, and historical artifacts of the area.
13. Find respite at Red Hills Desert Garden
- Cost: Free admission
- Where: 375 E. Red Hills Parkway, St George
I have not had the pleasure of visiting the Red Hills Desert Garden yet, but after simply perusing the website, I am truly shocked that admission is free. There is just so much to do and see there, from walking through a valley of fossilized dinosaur footprints (they are 200 million years old!) to following the 1,150-foot endangered fish stream to exploring the nearby parks and desert reserves. The desert garden is a Utah first, as it is the state’s first conservation garden.
14. Be enchanted at Ensign Peak Trail
- Cost: Free
- Where: Salt Lake City
If you are looking for sweeping views of Utah’s majestic skyline, the Ensign Peak Trail is where you will want to go. The hike is a family-friendly 0.9-mile loop, and even if you have complaining kids, the views of Salt Lake City and the Great Salt Lake will be worth it. AllTrails.com rates the hike as “moderate” due to some steep elevation at the end, so you may want to plan for older kids or grab the hiking backpack for the younger kids in the crowd.
We love that the hike has built-in education, with signs and information about Native Americans who once lived in the area and Mormon settlers who used the land’s valleys.
15. Visit Vineyard Grove Park
- Cost: Free
- Where: 350 N 100 E, Vineyard
A state with a larger family-size population than the national average knows the importance of quality parks. The Vineyard Grove Park is 18 acres of family-friendly fun, with jungle gyms, separate play areas for younger and older kids, a kid-favorite spiral climbscape, a full splash pad, and lots of other play structures. There are also restrooms and pavilions to picnic at.
16. Cruise into Miss Cavanaugh’s Chocolate Factory
- Cost: $5/person
- Where: 835 Northpointe Circle, North Salt Lake City
I truly cannot think of a better way to spend 5 bucks than touring (and sampling) a chocolate factory. A tour at Miss Cavanaugh’s Chocolate Factory only costs $5, but after the tour is over, each tour group member is given a $4 voucher redeemable for any sweet treats, including chocolate or ice cream, in the store. Talk about a sweet deal! The tour itself also includes plenty of chocolate and ice cream samples, so everyone will leave this tour a happy camper.
17. Soar on a scenic ski lift
- Cost: $13/adults; kids 12 and under are free
- Where: 2250 Deer Valley, Park City
During the summer months, when skiing is off the table, Deer Valley lets visitors enjoy the scenic views from their ski lifts. One child aged 12 and under can enjoy a free ski lift ticket over the mountain for every paid adult lift ticket. Be sure to choose the “scenic lift” ticket when purchasing, as it is considerably cheaper than the regular ski lift tickets.
We have done a similar ski lift package over the summer with our kids, and it was such a unique and enjoyable experience to soar through the air and take in the sights.
18. Wheeler Historic Farm
- Cost: Free admission
- Where: 6351 S 900 E, Murray
The Wheeler Historic Farm lives up to its name as a historic site of Utah’s homesteading past. The property is a real farm from the late 1800s and today, honors its heritage by maintaining its status as a real working farm while also inviting visitors to enjoy the property.
Admission to the farm is free, and visitors can explore some areas of the property for free, but some attractions, like a farm tour, cow milking, and wagon rides, require a paid ticket.
19. Find inner peace at the International Peace Gardens
- Cost: Free
- Where: 1160 Dalton Ave S, Salt Lake City
Any member of a large family can attest that finding quiet time with a brood can be a challenge at times. That’s why a visit to the International Peace Gardens of Utah may be a gift for everyone.
The botanical garden has free admission and invites visitors to enjoy a variety of blooming flowers from May through October. The garden is also open until 10 p.m., so you can enjoy a quiet nighttime stroll as well.
20. Explore Park City Museum
- Cost: Kids 17 and under: free; Adults: $18
- Where: 528 Main St, Park City
Park City Museum has one of the best deals for large families that we have found, as they offer completely free admission to all children ages 17 and under. If you have a big family, you will definitely be saving some money!
The exhibits are interactive and hands-on, inviting kids and adults to experience how early miners and settlers lived and worked, explore the original jail cells beneath City Hall, and learn more about how the area evolved from a mining town to a ski town.
