47+ Free Things to Do & Affordable Ideas for Families in Greater Lansing

FREE Things to do in Lansing (+ Affordable)

“Free” can be hard to believe – but this great news is true: Lansing has umpteen affordable or FREE things to do (or close to it.)

Living out the “adulting” or parenting phase, it seems like all we do is pay for something. Bills, food, fun, doctor appointments, and the list goes on.

It’s nice to have some fun that doesn’t cost a dime once in a while, yeah? Below are 47 ideas including 117 locations (think parks, museums, events, and the list goes on) for Lansing families that are legit super fun and will take little to nothing from your wallet. 

You may also be interested in:

Where Kids Eat Free // Best Parks & Playgrounds // Where Kids Eat Free // Free Recurring Events // Free Nature Centers // Free Tour of the Capitol

Note: locations or activities may be closed. With the rapidly changing COVID-19 situation, we suggest that you check the website or Facebook page before venturing out and be prepared to possibly find an alternative idea if your first pick is closed.

FREE SOCIAL DISTANCING IDEAS  

5 FREE Things to do, Social Distancing Style

With many options for Lansing fun off the table right now during Covid-19, we’ve got to get creative with what to do. Thankfully, there are still many free things to do during this time. Here are some fun ideas you’ll love to do and your wallet will appreciate, as well!

Get active

Hiking, walking, biking don’t cost a thing and with the number of hiking trails we have in our area you could have a new adventure over and over with just this one idea!

Visit the Animals

Potter Park Zoo is open and they have set a great bar for social distancing and staying safe during this time. With one way walking paths and limiting the number of people inside it’s a great option for fun – year-round! It’s free on Mondays if you’re an Ingham county resident.

Tour the Art

LCC has a sculpture walking tour. It’s pretty great because you not only get to see art but you experience the fun of Downtown Lansing as well. Stop to feed the ducks on the river, and feed the fish in the Japanese Gardens! This trip is packed full of adventure and a sure shot fun time out and about.

Go on the Mural Crawl! There’s SO MUCH ART in our city! Find it all in one day or take time throughout the year to check these pieces off your art bucket list.

Hurry, this one doesn’t last all year. The Lansing ArtPath hosted by the Lansing Art Gallery is awesome this year. It starts at the Turner Dodge House and ends just before Cedar street on the Lansing River Trail.

Play at a Nature Center

The nature center’s welcome centers are closed right now for the most part but the grounds are open! Build and explore at Fenner, hike at Woldumar, climb at Harris, and cool off in Howell.

Play at a Park

Pack a picnic and relax at a park while the kids run around and get the wiggles out. We’ve been loving the parks with great lookouts lately like Frances Park near the rose garden, Granger Meadows Park on the big hill, and Rotary Park on the waterfront in downtown Lansing.

Yippee for FREE! 47 FREE (or close to it) Things to Do in the Lansing Area

Three cheers for not spending a dime! These ideas, as Jenifer lopez would say, “don’t cost a thing!”

Play

Impression 5 has Tadpole Storytime hosted by CADL Library. Bring your card and get free admissions that day. FREE

Play games, puzzles, do a puppet show, crafts, and more at any of these local libraries, FREE:

• Delta District Library. (Story Times all week and tons of options for the older kiddos)
• CADL Downtown Lansing Library
• Okemos
• Grand Ledge
• East Lansing
• DeWitt District Library
• Portland District Library
• Briggs District Library (SJ)
• Ionia Community Library
• Jackson District Library

CLOSED: MSU Union Building has a bowling alley in the basement. After, walk through campus or walk upstairs to stop at the MSU Dairy Store located on the main floor. Under $5 for a game and shoes.

Go swimming Inside FREE

• Schmidt Southside Community Center’s newly opened pool.
• Hanna Community Center East Lansing

Go to a Nature Center to see the beauty in our city all year round. FREE

• Fenner Nature Center Walk the trails or play in their welcome center. Don’t miss the Maple Syrup Festival in Spring and Apple Butter Festivals in the Fall.
• Woldumar They have storytimes and areas to learn about nature in their welcome center. Read, color, explore! Then head outside for a great hike or play in their natural playground.
• Harris holds storytimes and cool adventures during late fall/winter.
• Howell – explore their gorgeous grounds.

Hike/Bike/Walk, FREE

• Lansing River Trail
• Nature Centers: Woldumar Nature Center, Fenner Nature Center, Harris Nature Center, Howell Nature Center
• Fitzgerald Park Ledges and Trails
• Hawk Island
• Granger Meadows Park / Valley Farms Park (DeWitt Township)
• Hawk Meadow Park (Lansing)

Ranney Skate Park in Frandor is free to visit and skate. 3201 E Michigan Ave, Lansing, MI 48912

Go on a story-walk through Valley Farms Park leading to Granger Meadows Park. The story will change each season and is facilitated by the DeWitt Library. FREE

Go Swimming Outside FREE (or affordable)

• Hunter Park is staffed by the YMCA of Lansing lifeguards. Bring ID to sign in. 1400 E Kalamazoo St, Lansing, MI 48912
• Moores Park is staffed by the YMCA of Lansing lifeguards. Bring ID to sign in. 400 Moores River Drive
  Lansing, MI 48910
• Motz Park in St. Johns 4630 N Dewitt Rd, St Johns, MI 48879
• Hawk Island Lake, Lifeguards present. 1601 E Cavanaugh Rd, Lansing, MI 48910
• Lake Lansing South Lake, lifeguards present. 1621 Pike St, Haslett, MI 48840
• Nixon Pool in Jackson is $4 and has a waterslide! 400 E. North St. Jackson, MI 49201

Water Fun – Pools, Beaches, and Splash Pads galore! FREE

Uncle Johns Cider Mill Enjoy watching cider being made, walking around the orchards, hayrides, bouncing pillow, bounce houses, and more! FREE during weekdays.

Beacon Fields play a game of soccer with friends or just drop by. FREE

Parks and Playgrounds Check out the epic parks in our area for swimming, sledding, and tubing! Year round fun awaits all over Greater Lansing.

Sled, Go Tubing/sledding during winter. FREE

Indoor Playgrounds at Restaurants – we recommend these locations:

• McDonald’s – Jolly/Dunckel Road is known for the tall. Located at 2530 E Jolly Rd, Lansing, MI 48911. FREE to play.
• Chick-Fil-A in Lansing and in Okemos
• McDonald’s – Grand Ledge
• Burger King – Frandor

The Mall Talk with friends as your kids play at the play areas in Lansing and Okemos. We like to grab a coffee at Barnes and Noble in the Lansing Mall before heading to the play area right outside the doors. Stop by the little free Library located next to the play area as well. FREE

Watch

Family Movie Festival at NCG Lansing. FREE

Family Movie Matinee See a movie each month on Saturday morning at the Downtown CADL. FREE

Create

Delta District Library Pop in for their DIY craft every Thursday during the school year starting at 3 PM. FREE

Art Lab by the MSU Broad is open to the public all week long. Make crafts, or new projects they have available throughout the week. If you want to have a peaceful, fun, and inspiring creative time, this place is for you. FREE

Cheap Crafts – Michaels stores have various crafts on the weekend that often cost just a few dollars and also offer Make Breaks throughout the year that are FREE. Check out their stores in Lansing and Jackson.

Family Day at the Eli & Edyth Broad Art Museum is every first Saturday of the month and it’s a blast! FREE

Kids DIY Workshops at Home Depot, FREE

• Lansing
• Okemos

Walk-In-Wednesday’s at REACH Art Studio is donation based and has new fun art opportunities each week. 4:30 pm.

Habikids classes are fun, creative, and donation-based with a suggested donation of $5.

Explore

Stop By a Nature Center and hang out in their welcome centers where you’ll find animals and more! FREE

Take a guided or self-guided tour of the Michigan State Capitol,  Michigan Justice Building, and Beaumont Tower. FREE

MSU Museum (Dino) Visit the Dino bones, grizzly bear, and much more! If it’s nice out take a walk to shops on Grand River Ave, or the MSU Dairy Store’s two locations! FREE, a Parking fee of $2 per car.

Preuss Pets Visit to see all kinds of awesome creatures. Feed the Koi fish in their indoor or outdoor (Opens in May) ponds, hear the parrots and birds, and say hi to the store counter/pet rat, alfredo. FREE to visit. $1 to feed the fish.

MSU Children’s Garden Center/Horticulture Center Here you’ll enjoy indoor and outdoor storytimes. Kids love to stroll through the greenhouses and outdoor children’s garden. FREE

Walk or bike the path between the Michigan State Capitol and Michigan Justice Building. FREE

Walk/Tour Greenhouses at Van Attas on the East Side, Horrocks on the West Side, Lansing Gardens on the Southside, and Cottage Gardens near Holt. FREE

Visit Animals at the MSU Farms. Horses, Sheep, Cows, and more. Milking procedures can be observed every afternoon. Bring some carrots or apples to feed the Horses. FREE

Michigan Historic Center Museum is FREE on Sundays. See the museum or attend the Fly-tying instruction event located in the special exhibit area on the first floor.

Visit a Farmers Market FREE to visit (but we can’t promise you won’t want to buy something amazing.) 

Visit the wonder Horrocks plus they offer FREE coffee while you shop. #parentwin

Potter Park Zoo is FREE on Monday mornings till Noon on non-holidays for Ingham county residents. They also have storytimes each day through the summer months.

Visit a garden, FREE:

• Community Gardens at Westside Park, and Hunter Park
• MSU River trail and Gardens and Greenhouses
• Cooley Law School Garden
• LCC Japanese Garden

Free Events

Be a Tourist in Your Own Town is held annually in June and is so much fun for the whole entire family. $1 gets you a passport to experience locations all over town. Use this guide (updated annually) to help navigate which events are family-friendly.

Concert Series and Movies in the Park – There’s nothing like hearing beautiful music outside with the wind and sky as the backdrop. Plan to attend, you won’t be disappointed. FREE

Festivals, FREE to Attend

• Lansing, Old Town, ReoTown
• East Lansing
• Grand Ledge
• DeWitt Ox Roast
• St. Johns Mint Festival
• Three Stacks Music Festival
• StoopFest
• Annual Michigan Nordic Fire Festival
• Below the Stacks Mural Festival

LCC Amphitheatre Performances These are such special events to attend. Enjoy sitting in Lansing’s city center during the warm summer nights taking in a great performance. FREE

The Bug House at MSU has FREE open house times.

Art/Drawing Marathon at Eli & Edyth Broad Art Museum is one of my favorite events during the summer. There are lots of stations for the kids and demonstrations that make this a great experience. FREE

MSU Butterfly House Experience holding a butterfly in your hand. They will be open to the public until April 30. FREE

MSU Science Festival Families look forward to this massive event every year! It’s packed full of amazing opportunities for fun and learning. You’ll need to plan what you’d like to attend ahead of time. Here’s the guide to help you decide. The guide is updated each year.

Reciprocal Benefits with Impression 5:

Take a drive in May to get FREE entry to the Grand Rapids Children’s Museum and in February to the Air Zoo with your Impressions 5 Membership Card. The Michigan Science Center in Detroit is FREE all year long to I5 cardholders because it’s more than 90 miles away!