22 of the Best Free Things To Do in San Antonio With Kids

Are you looking for the best free things to do in San Antonio with kids? We’ve got you covered. This essential list of things to do in the city ranges from pristine nature preserves to art museums to cultural centers. Your family can learn about San Antonio’s history, see the local wildlife, and discover iconic sights, all at no cost.

Cool off in the pool, learn about the Wild West, or craft an art project with your kids. Children of all ages will enjoy these fun activities, parks, and museums. Read on to discover all the best free things to do in San Antonio, Texas with kids!

Where To Find Free Things for Kids in San Antonio, Texas

1. The Riverwalk
2. Brackenridge Park
3. San Antonio Fire Museum
4. Slab Cinema
5. Audubon Center
6. Briscoe Western Art Museum
7. Lakeshore Learning
8. Cibolo Nature Center
9. Yanaguana Garden
10. Artpace
11. San Pedro Pool
12. Japanese Tea Garden
13. The Alamo
14. El Mercado
15. Murals
16. Schertz Library Storywalk
17. Phil Hardberger Park
18. Headwaters Sanctuary
19. The DoSeum
20. Witte Museum
21. Mcnay Art Museum
22. Main Plaza

The Riverwalk

A trip to San Antonio wouldn’t be complete without a visit to the iconic Riverwalk. Robert H. H. Hugman pioneered the unique design in 1929 and envisioned a stone construction surrounding the waterway. Over the next few decades, San Antonio created the beautiful Riverwalk we know today.

The Riverwalk is one of the top tourist destinations in downtown San Antonio. The best part about it is that it’s completely free! You don’t have to pay admission for the Riverwalk, as it’s officially a public park in San Antonio.

Kids will love exploring the stone pathways, bridges, and statues along the river’s edge. The river sits between shops, restaurants, and hotels, but you can make it a free experience with a self-guided walking tour. 

Brackenridge Park

Brackenridge Park is slightly north of the downtown area, on North St Mary’s St. It’s a sprawling natural area with 349 acres of greenery, and it’s one of the best things to do in San Antonio with kids.

The park admission is free, and there’s even free parking on Red Oak Rd. The San Antonio River cuts through the park, and kids will enjoy playing along the river’s edge. Swimming isn’t allowed, but you’ll see many kayakers and paddleboarders in the water.

Brackenridge Park has countless winding trails, and the spot is perfect for a family nature hike. Pack a lunch and take the kids on an unforgettable hike through San Antonio’s natural scenery.

San Antonio Fire Museum

San Antonio Fire Museum is a true hidden gem for children in the city. It houses a collection of vintage firefighting memorabilia, and the antique fire trucks and gear will fascinate kids.

Admission to the San Antonio Fire Museum is free, and you can learn all about the city’s fire fighting history in a kid-friendly way. The museum is on East Houston St, not far from the Alamo. The building is small, so it’s perfect for a quick trip with kids. 

Slab Cinema

Slab Cinema provides free movies nearly every week in San Antonio. From animated children’s films to art house flicks, the program offers a wide variety of cinema.

Check the Slab Cinema schedule to find a date that works with your schedule. The movies happen at many locations, including the Mission Marquee Plaza, the Alamo, the Bexar County Courthouse, and multiple public parks.

This no-cost drive-in theater is one of our favorite choices for the best free things to do in San Antonio with kids. Take your family out on a movie night, without the cost, and see some of the city’s historic locations.

Mitchell Lake Audubon Center

Head down to south San Antonio and check out the Mitchell Lake Audubon Center, a nature preserve and wildlife refuge. It’s free, kid-friendly, and interactive for the whole family.

The preserve gets its name from John James Audubon, an American naturalist-artist famous for his study of birds. The Mitchell Lake Audubon Center focuses on birds, and your kids can learn about hundreds of species at the center.

You can enter this free park and go birdwatching with your kids or take a leisurely walk down the nature trails. The extensive grounds have protected wildlife, beautiful local plants, flowers, and outdoor science classes.

Briscoe Western Art Museum

Are your kids fascinated with the wild west? Briscoe Western Art Museum might be perfect for your family.

The cultural museum celebrates the heritage and tradition of the American west, and you’ll find an extensive collection of western art and memorabilia. It sits on the edge of the Riverwalk and is perfect as part of a downtown tour.

If you visit on Tuesdays between 4-9 pm, you can gain free admission for the whole family. Check the calendar for additional free days and special exhibits.

Lakeshore Learning

Lakeshore Learning is a teaching and craft center with frequent free events. It’s just off the northwest loop, near the Crownhill Park area.

The center is ideal for kids who enjoy hands-on experiences and crafts. Children can create art projects and embrace their creative sides.

Head to Lakeshore Learning on Saturdays from 11 am to 3 pm for free craft sessions with your kids. Children ages three and older are welcome to participate.

Cibolo Nature Center

Cibolo Nature Center is one of our top picks for the best free things to do in San Antonio with kids. It’s convenient for anyone staying on the north side of San Antonio, as it’s just outside a little town called Boerne, Texas.

The center has free admission year-round and focuses on hands-on activities. The staff encourages kids to get involved and in touch with nature. Your little ones will love the interactive experience!

Visit the website for an events schedule, and you can find a fun outdoor experience like a concert or outdoor exhibit. Consider taking part in a family night hike or visiting the summer farmer’s market.

Yanaguana Garden

Yanaguana Garden is a no-cost playground in the heart of San Antonio. It has funky, modern structures that are fun and challenging for athletic kids.

Take a walk around the park and view colorful art murals, or play a game of giant chess on the life-size chessboard. You can take a picnic, sit by the jewel-encrusted panther statue, and even view the Tower of the Americas in the distance.

Artpace

Check out Artpace, a contemporary gallery that highlights local art and creativity. It has free daily admission and is a fun and affordable way to spend an afternoon.

Artpace has a massive collection, ranging from San Antonio artists to international creators. They invite artists from around the globe to keep an art residency at Artpace and curate annual exhibits, and the museum has a global and multicultural touch.

There’s always something going on at Artpace, and kids will enjoy the exhibits and interactive art festivals. Check the website to see if a chalk festival is coming up, and your child can participate in decorating San Antonio’s sidewalks with art.

San Pedro Pool

Are you looking for a fun way to cool down on a hot San Antonio day? Your kids will love San Pedro Pool. It’s in the Alta Vista neighborhood, north of downtown, and the pool is in San Pedro Springs Park, one of the oldest parks in the country.

You can take a relaxing walk down the two-mile trail, splash in the water, or set up a lunch spread by the pool. The spot is open to the public and has seasonal hours.

This pool is among the best free things to do in San Antonio with kids, as it’s no-cost and easy to get to from downtown. You can also take your family to the nearby public library or stop and see the natural spring.

Japanese Tea Garden

Your children are sure to feel enchanted by this magical garden. It’s been a San Antonio landmark since 1901 and has free admission, making it the perfect tourist destination for families.

The Japanese Tea Garden is by Brackenridge Park, next to the San Antonio Zoo. You can enjoy waterfalls, natural wildlife, and a stunning lake, or walk down to the stone bridges and see the koi ponds.

One of the most beautiful features of this free garden is the pavilion, with stone columns, lily ponds, and magnificent views of the gardens. Don’t forget to show your kids the wild bamboo trees!

The Alamo

The Alamo is an essential place to visit in San Antonio. The best part about the historic location is that it’s free to visit and has many fun activities for kids.

The former mission was a battleground in the war for Texas’s independence from Mexico. Although Texas lost the historic fight in 1836, the site of the Alamo became a crucial part of the state’s history. Today, you can visit the Alamo and learn about military history, life in the 1830s, and Texas’s early days.

You can walk in the courtyard free of charge and see antique cannons, gardens, and historical artifacts. Admission to the museum’s interior is free, but you’ll need to reserve a timed ticket.

Take part in a guided tour, see a hands-on demonstration, or visit on an event day. The staff is friendly, knowledgeable, and happy to answer any questions your kids may have about the Alamo’s history.

El Mercado

There’s no better place to go for kid-friendly arts and culture than San Antonio’s El Mercado. It’s the biggest Mexican traditional marketplace in the country and features dozens of market stalls with art, crafts, and trinkets.

The colorful plaza is famous for its bright banners and music concerts. It’s completely free to walk around the plaza and take in the culture of San Antonio.

El Mercado is great for kids with a lot of energy, and the bustling plaza will be fun for them to explore. Your family can see the traditional Mexican pottery, clothing, and other artistic traditions or enjoy the smell of freshly baked Mexican pastries.

Murals

Going mural hunting is an easy and fun thing to do for the whole family. The San Antonio Street Art Foundation sponsors dozens of colorful murals across the city, and your kids will have a great time spotting the outdoor paintings.

Conveniently, this engaging activity is free, as all the art is on public property. Head to Essex St for a series of pop art portraits, or check out the Fiesta Murals on St Mary’s St.

Phil Hardberger Park

Phil Hardberger Park is a free nature hub in the North central area. It’s a sprawling park with a playground, dog park, ecology center, and walking trails.

The nature play area is ideal for young children, and older teens can learn from exhibits at the nature education center. The geology trail is fun for the whole family, and the picnic area is a great place to relax after a long walk.

The area is a nature preserve, so it’s untouched and features lush trees and local plant life. Make sure to take your trash with you when you leave!

Headwaters Sanctuary

Headwaters Sanctuary is a nature preserve in the University of the Incarnate Word. The institution cares for the sanctuary, which is free and open to the public. 

The sanctuary covers 53 acres of natural beauty and sits on the banks of the San Antonio River. Check out the extensive hiking trails, or choose a short walk for smaller kids. You can even go birdwatching and see the local wildlife.

The river’s source sits inside the preserve, and locals call it the Blue Hole. Kids will have fun peering into the stone loop circling the water source.

The DoSeum

The DoSeum is a hands-on museum for creative kids who love to discover. Instead of a traditional museum with still exhibits, the DoSeum is fully interactive and engaging.

The museum brings STEM subjects to life with creative projects and games, and kids can learn about literacy, art, and science through different programs. Check out the Free Family Night on the first Monday of every month.

Witte Museum

The Witte Museum is the largest natural history museum in the area and is perfect for kids and families. Learn all about Texas culture, wildlife, and natural science. Kids can also discover Texas history, from prehistory to the Alamo.

The museum features short-term exhibits, movies, and interactive, hands-on learning centers. Dinosaur-loving children will enjoy seeing the dinosaur remains and the life-size T-rex statue.

You can gain free admission to the Witte Museum on Tuesdays from 3 pm to 6 pm. We recommend getting there early, as spaces tend to fill up.

Schertz Library Storywalk

The Schertz Library Storywalk is a fun and engaging activity for younger children. Just a few minutes from San Antonio in Schertz, Texas, it’s convenient for families in the northeast part of the city.

The library is on Ebel Rd in the center of town, and the spot has an adjoining park. Venture outside to discover the Storywalk, a creative path of trails with enjoyable story cards for kids. This activity is a great way to experience the outdoor scenery, and the library and park are free for families.

Mcnay Art Museum

The Mcnay Art Museum is in the Terrell Heights neighborhood, right by Alamo Heights. It’s an engaging activity for older kids, and the museum features works by American and European masters.

The museum sits in a mansion that dates back to 1929, and architecture-loving kids will enjoy the property and exhibits. Your family can see revolving exhibits, glasswork, sculptures, paintings, and more objects from the massive collection of over 22,000 works. 

Admission for children under 12 is always free, and teens and adults can gain free tickets on Thursdays from 4 pm to 9 pm. Visit on select weekends for an outdoor festival, including food, live music, and art.

Main Plaza

The San Antonio Main Plaza is the city’s traditional hub, next to the Riverwalk and the Bexar County Courthouse. The plaza includes a cathedral and over 30 historical markers, and the spot is a fun way to learn about history with your kids.

The San Fernando Cathedral runs a free light show every night at dusk. The colorful show, accompanied by music, presents the story of San Antonio’s vibrant history and culture. During the day, you can tour the 18th-century cathedral for free.

On the second Saturday of every month, you can visit the plaza for an outdoor festival. Kids will enjoy the live music and vibrant culture, and adults can learn more about the city’s history.

Final Thoughts

Whether you have small children, an older teen, or are going with a group of families, these activities and sites are sure to satisfy everyone. San Antonio is a hub of free, family-friendly things to do, from traditional Japanese koi ponds to chalk art festivals.

Make your trip to San Antonio memorable, or discover new sites if you’re a local. We hope you enjoy the best free things to do in San Antonio with kids!