Hi everyone! It’s Scott Asner here.

When people ask me for free things to do in Kansas City, I usually laugh because this town has more good options than most visitors expect. I have lived here long enough to know that a fun weekend does not have to come with a big price tag. Between our museums, parks, markets, and public art, Kansas City makes it easy to stay busy without opening your wallet.

Here are some of my favorite low-cost and free ways to spend a day around town.

Spend a Free Afternoon at the Nelson-Atkins and Kemper Museums

If you have not been to the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art lately, it is worth another visit, especially since general admission is always free. The permanent collection includes everything from ancient sculpture to contemporary works, and the lawn out front with the giant shuttlecocks is a great spot for photos. Just down the street, the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art is also free to enter and rotates its exhibits often enough that there is usually something new to see. I wrote more about both of these spots in my post on must-see Kansas City attractions, and they still make my list every year.

Hop on the KC Streetcar and See Downtown for Free

The KC Streetcar is one of the easiest ways to explore downtown without spending anything on parking or rideshares. It runs along Main Street from the River Market down through the Crossroads and the Power and Light District, and it does not cost a cent to ride. I like hopping on it when I am running errands or just want to see a different part of the city for an hour.

Browse City Market and the Farmers Markets Around Town

City Market in the River Market district is free to walk through, even if you do not buy anything. There are local vendors, produce stands, and small shops that make for a relaxing morning, especially on weekends when it is busiest. If you want more ideas for markets around the metro, I put together a longer list in my post about Kansas City’s best farmers markets that covers a few spots outside downtown too.

Relax in Loose Park or Walk One of the City’s Trails

Loose Park near the Country Club Plaza is one of my go-to spots when I want to be outside without any plans. There is a rose garden, a pond, and plenty of open grass for a picnic, and none of it costs anything. If you want a bit more distance, the trail systems around town connect several parks together, which I broke down in more detail in my post on the best parks in and around Kansas City.

Catch First Fridays in the Crossroads Arts District

On the first Friday of nearly every month, the Crossroads Arts District opens its galleries to the public for free, and the whole neighborhood turns into a walkable art crawl. Local artists set up in studios and small businesses along the way, and it is one of those nights where you can spend two or three hours wandering without spending a dollar unless you want to. I touched on a few of the city’s public art installations in an earlier post if you want a preview before you go.

Take In the Skyline from the City Hall Observation Deck

Not many people know that Kansas City’s City Hall has a free observation deck near the top with one of the best views in the city. It is a quick elevator ride, and on a clear day you can see for miles in every direction. I like sending visitors here first because it gives them a sense of the layout before they start exploring on their own.

Check Out Free Library Programs and Museum Deals

The Kansas City Public Library hosts free classes and events for all ages throughout the year, from author talks to hands-on workshops, and most branches have something going on every week. If you have a Bank of America or Merrill Lynch card, it is also worth remembering the Museums on Us program, which gets you into more than one hundred and fifty museums nationwide for free on the first full weekend of each month. Between programs like these and the spots above, it does not take much effort to fill a weekend around here without spending anything.

None of these spots require a ticket, a reservation, or much planning at all, which is exactly why I keep coming back to them. If you want to build out a full weekend, my post on the ultimate summer bucket list for Kansas City has a few more ideas that pair well with the free stops above. At the end of the day, this list is proof that some of the best free things to do in Kansas City do not cost a thing.

Scott Asner, Founding Principal of Eighteen Capital Group (18CG) in Kansas City, Missouri

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