Free and Cheap Things to Do in Charlotte
Here are the tips, deals and discounts that prove the Queen City is both fun and affordable.
by Rosa Sprinkle
Budget conscience? Never fear. Charlotte has plenty of activities that don't cost a dime. Many options on this curated list are priced under $10, keeping your focus on the memories.
Save on top museums and attractions with the Explore CLT Pass.
Use Charlotte Experience Passes to Save Money
Take advantage of Charlotte Experiences Passes to save money and visit some of the city’s most popular attractions and breweries. Choose from either a one-, two- or three-day pass, offering discounted entry to museums, gardens and the Raptor Center, as well as discounts on beer and merchandise at various breweries.
Visit a Museum on a Free Day
Many of Charlotte’s finest museums offer free days. Wednesday Night Live offers free admission to the Mint Museum Uptown, Bechtler Museum of Modern Art and the Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture and often includes live entertainment and programming.
Take a Self-Guided Art Tour
Use the Art Walks CLT guide to create your own Charlotte Mural Tour in all corners of the city, including Uptown, NoDa and South End. Or spend a day taking selfies in front of Charlotte’s Public Art, like “The Firebird” in front of the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art.
Attend a Free Festival
Charlotte hosts many festivals and events that are free or low cost. Can’t-miss events include Charlotte SHOUT!, Festival in the Park, Juneteenth Festival of the Carolinas and Charlotte Pride Festival and Parade.
Explore Charlotte’s Neighborhoods
Make your way around Charlotte via the LYNX Blue Line light rail or Gold Line. Start anywhere along the line and hop off for easy access to some of Charlotte’s most happening neighborhoods.
Sip Your Way along the Craft Beer Trail
Craft beer aficionados can explore the many flavors along the NoDa Craft Beer Trail. Save money on your next brewery adventure with a Charlotte Brewery Pass. With the pass you’ll receive a $10 voucher to participating breweries. Many breweries in Charlotte also offer free tours for a behind-the-scenes look.
Head to the Library
Charlotte Mecklenburg Libraries host free events such as family story times, author lectures and film screenings. Search by location to find an event that piques your interest. You can also take the kids to the library created just for them. ImaginOn has activity spaces that encourage kids of all ages to explore and learn.
Spend the Day at a Local Park
Charlotte has a number of playgrounds and parks throughout the city. Whether you’re looking for jungle gyms or pickleball courts, nature trails or dog runs, you can find the one that fits your needs and make a day of the outdoors. Pack a basket and blanket and find a perfect picnic spot.
Make a Splash
Make a splash at one of Mecklenburg County’s public pools, parks and spraygrounds. Most are open Memorial Day to Labor Day, but Ray’s Splash Planet is open all year long.
Embrace Charlotte’s Natural Beauty
Treat yourself to gardens full of lush flowers, bushes and trees, all planted to attract birds at Wing Haven Gardens & Bird Sanctuary. Explore all 10 acres of one of Charlotte’s prettiest outdoor gardens at the UNC Charlotte Botanical Gardens, complete with a sensory garden and gigantic orchids. Wander the McGill Rose Garden while enjoying a glass of wine or coffee from Rosie’s Wine Bar.
Get Moving
Use the Charlotte Trail Guide to navigate the Queen City’s greenways and trails full of wildlife, history, art and other scenery. Take a leisurely stroll along the 0.8-mile Audubon Loop at Latta Nature Preserve. Bring your mountain bike or hiking shoes and explore the beautiful 2,100 acres of Anne Springs Close Greenway. The walking and mountain biking trails at the U.S. National Whitewater Center are free to use after the price of parking.
Explore Charlotte by Bike
Take a Joy Ride, a pedal-assist electric bike that makes exploring easier. Zip along one of the many nearby sections of the Carolina Thread Trail, tour the beautiful Johnson C. Smith University campus, meander through Uptown or wind your way through Freedom Park.
Dive into Local History
Learn how Charlotteans influenced the American Revolution on a Charlotte Liberty Walk. Retrace Billy Graham’s dynamic journey from humble farm boy to “America’s Pastor” at the Billy Graham Library. Take a guided tour of the James K. Polk Historic Site as you learn about our country’s 11th president. Explore the mines and try your hand at panning for gold at Reed Gold Mine.
Explore Camp North End
There’s always something interesting happening at Camp North End. This 76-acre converted industrial complex is home to shops, food stalls, galleries and murals, along with pop-up markets, food trucks and festivals year-round. It’s free to wander around, play games and snap pictures.
Listen to Live Music
Enjoy live music at one of the many free outdoor concerts Charlotte has to offer during the summer. For just a few dollars, enjoy a night of live music at The Evening Muse on Monday Open Mic Night.
Watch a Movie under the Stars
Enjoy movies in the great outdoors, during the summer and fall months, at Camp North End’s Crossroads Cinema, Movies on the Green in South Charlotte, Movies in the Park in Huntersville, Outdoor Cinema Series in Cornelius and Movies in the Park in Belmont.
Take Part in Friendly Competition
Many activities time at Pins Mechanical Company, including patio pong, giant Jenga, skee-ball and arcade games, to name a few, are always free. Mini golf at Frankie’s Fun Park is just $10. Children 3 and under can play for free with a paying adult. Or, trade cash for quarters and get your arcade game fix at Super Abari Game Bar.
Visit a Farmers Market
Charlotte is home to farmers markets both large and small. From the airport to Uptown, Dilworth and Camp North End, find a market and discover the season’s freshest fruits and vegetables, flowers, plants and local crafts from local vendors.
Pick Your Own Produce
For a more hands-on experience with your fruit and vegetables, there are many area farms and orchards that offer pick-your-own opportunities. Hunter Farm in Weddington, Hodges Family Farm in east Charlotte, Wise Acres Organic Farm in Indian Trail and Windy Hill Orchard in Fort Mill, S.C. are just a few of the places you can pick tomatoes, apples, pumpkins, berries and more.
Learn about Earth’s Natural History
The Schiele Museum of Natural History & Planetarium in Gastonia is one of the most informative and affordable museums in the region. Admission is under $10 for adults and youth and provides entry to indoor and outdoor exhibits.
Bowl for Free
During spring and summer kids are eligible for two free games of bowling each day through KidsBowlFree.com. Participating venues in Charlotte include El Thrifty, Queen Park Social and Sports Connection.
Attend a Comedy Show
You can laugh until your ribs ache and not bust your budget when you take a class or attend a show put on by CATCH Improv.
Get a Team Together for Trivia
Test your knowledge at free trivia. Restaurants, breweries and more in Charlotte offer general knowledge trivia, along with themed nights and music bingo, throughout the week.
Tour a Local Television Station
See where some of your local television shows are made by taking a tour of the PBS Charlotte studio.
Volunteer in the Community
Lend a hand by volunteering. Find hundreds of opportunities with local nonprofits on Share Charlotte that are searchable by interest, location and skill, connecting you with causes that need a hand.
Watch Planes Take Off
A popular spot for families, photographers and aviation enthusiasts, the Charlotte Douglas International Airport Overlook will give you a free, front-row seat to watch airplanes take off and land.
