100 free things to do in metro Phoenix – AZCentral

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Fun in the metro Phoenix area doesn’t have to cost you a fortune.

From hikes to museums to open mic nights, there are plenty of ways to explore the Valley that keep the cash in your wallet.

Here are 100 (yes, 100) free things to do in metro Phoenix: 

1. Hiking Camelback Mountain is nothing short of a rite of passage for Phoenicians. For less experienced hikers, try the 1.42-mile Cholla Trail — the alternate summit hike, Echo Canyon trail, is shorter but rated “extremely difficult.”

2. Check out a Culture Pass at the library, which gives you free admission for two to museums and destinations around the Valley including Arcosanti, Heard Museum and Japanese Friendship Garden.

3. Nama-slay a practice during Free Flow at Mountain Shadows, a complimentary outdoor yoga class held every Thursday in the shadow of Camelback Mountain.

4. Check out the current exhibitions at the ASU Art Museum, where admission’s always free.

5. Take part in First Friday, one of the nation’s largest self-guided art walks held every month in downtown Phoenix. Word to the wise: It’s all about the people-watching.

6. If you really want to spend some time soaking up what the local art scene has to offer, try Third Friday instead.

7. Join the Bird Gang for an Arizona Cardinals Open Practice at State Farm Stadium.

8. Catch the view of the city from the south. The Dobbins Lookout trail at South Mountain offers sweeping views of the Valley. If you’re not up for a 4.8-mile round-trip hike, you can drive to the observation deck at the summit.

9. A Phoenix Public Library card will get you access to free movies, books, music and more. 

10. Swim at one of the Valley’s resorts with pools open to the public. (As in, no room reservations are needed.)

11. Drop in on free fitness classes hosted by Athleta and Lululemon.

12. Join a group run at Runners Den. The Wednesday night Easy Breezy Group run takes place on the canal — and since it’s an out and back, you can make it as long or as short as you want. 

13. Take a stroll through a farmers market. There are dozens around metro Phoenix and many have live music, cooking demos and other activities. 

14. Brush up on your outdoor skills with classes at REI stores around the Valley. Not all are free, but the no-fee events include organized hikes and info sessions on popular nearby destinations.

15. Try your luck at Drag Bingo, which is free to play on Monday nights at the Kobalt Bar.

16. Learn about Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport on its free tour and check out the free museums while you’re there. 

17. Take a self-guided walking tour of downtown Phoenix murals. Some are in plain sight while others are tucked away in alleys. 

18. Relax to the sound of rushing water at Arizona Falls on Indian School Road between 56th and 58th streets in Phoenix. The falls are created by a natural 20-foot drop on the Arizona Canal and have been a gathering spot for more than 100 years.

19. Hike the trails at Papago Park. It’s basically a Phoenix-area tradition to take a picture at one of its main attractions, Hole in the Rock. 

20. Head down Central Avenue to South Mountain Park, the largest city park in the U.S. There are miles of hiking trails, petroglyphs and more — and there’s no admission charge.

21. Pretend you’re getting away to the beach. Tempe Town Lake and Kiwanis Park in Tempe, Encanto Park in Phoenix and Veterans Oasis Park in Chandler have man-made lakes.

22. The Desert Botanical Garden waives its admission charge on Community Day, the second Tuesday of every month. 

23. Hike in the Rio Salado Habitat Restoration Area. The trails run along the Salt River bed in central Phoenix and can be accessed from trailheads at Seventh Avenue, Central Avenue, Seventh Street and 16th Street. 

24. Check out the live bands performing at Tempe Marketplace from 7 to 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. 

25. Take a self-guided walking tour of historic Old Town Scottsdale and discover the self-proclaimed “West’s most Western town.” 

26. You can get into the Phoenix Art Museum for free every Wednesday from 3 to 9 p.m. and on the first Friday of every month from 6 to 10 p.m.  

27. Venture out to Arizona’s national parks and monuments (Grand Canyon, Meteor Crater, Montezuma’s Castle) on fee-free days, which you can find on the National Park Service website. 

28. English and writing majors: Flex your muscles at the First Draft Book Club, hosted monthly by azcentral’s Barbara Vandenburgh at the beer and wine bar inside Changing Hands Bookstore in Phoenix.

29. On Fridays at Cresent Ballroom, Tristan Iseult “curates dance floor rituals” (darkwave/synth/Goth) in “The Witching Hour” at 11 p.m. Flamenco Por La Vida performs Spanish music and dance at 6 p.m. on Saturdays.

30. If you’re into Magic: The Gathering or Pokémon, look for gaming nights at geek hangouts such as the Phoenix Gaming Lounge or ManaWerx in Glendale.

31. Take a selfie at the LOVE sculpture, by the late artist Robert Indiana, at Scottsdale Civic Center Mall. Text it to your parents when they ask how you did on your finals.

32. Catch up on what you’ve missed, state-history wise, at the Arizona Capitol Museum. By the way, you’ve missed a lot. More than a century’s worth (the state came into being Feb. 14, 1912, in case you were wondering). 

33. Tour the historic, and very atmospheric, Orpheum Theater in downtown Phoenix. The auditorium resembles a Spanish plaza under an evening sky. Tours are alternating Tuesdays at noon and 1 p.m. 

34. Watch people settle arguments the Old West way — with guns (all temporary deaths are for entertainment purposes only).  The blanks and bodies fly during the free weekend shows (hourly noon to 4 p.m.) at Goldfield Ghost Town in Apache Junction.  

35. Wander the gallery inside the Tempe Center for the Arts. Exhibits rotate often, and more than 2,500 artists have been represented over the past 10 years. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. Closed Sunday and Monday.  

36. See how the beer is made in a behind-the-scenes tour at Four Peaks Brewery. Expand your palate beyond keg beer, and learn the difference between an ale and a stout (you’ll thank us later) at the brewery’s original Eighth Street location in Tempe. Tours are free, but advance tickets are necessary.  

37. If you’ve ever wondered how Amazon is able to deliver that pair of socks you so desperately need on the same day you order it, take a look inside the company’s Phoenix fulfillment center. Free tours are offered Monday through Friday. Registration is required.  

38. Head to the Crescent Ballroom on Sunday evening for trivia night. It’s free to play, and you can win tickets or gift cards. Sadly, the food and drink aren’t free, but they do offer specials that will lessen the dent in your budget. 

39. Would you like fries with your vintage cars? Head to the Scottsdale Pavilions for the McDonald’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Car Show. From 4 to 8 p.m. each Saturday, hundreds of classic-car owners park their rides for visitors to enjoy.  

40. Burn a few calories with a brisk hike up “A” Mountain. Not only will you have a lovely view near the top, but see what you must protect from marauding University of Arizona students prior to the ASU-UA football showdown. 

41. Head up to Scottsdale to hike the Pinnacle Peak Park trail, which winds 1.75 miles through the Sonoran Desert. The one-way trail alternates between uphill switchbacks and downhill stretches with views of the surrounding neighborhoods. 

42. Venture even further into Scottsdale and you’ll find the Brown’s Ranch trail, which offers sweeping views of the McDowell Mountain Preserve. The 3.1-mile round trip uphill starts off gradually, but the final ascent to the viewpoint nears a scramble. You’ll be rewarded with a 360-degree view of the desert and landmarks such as Tom’s Thumb. The trail’s relatively rock-free path makes it a popular mountain-biking destination. 

43. Join Road Runner Sports’s monthly Adventure Runs. The free event starts out at the Road Runner store, and runners collect raffle tickets from checkpoints throughout the surrounding area. These evening runs are a choose-your-distance affair, so runners of all levels are welcome. The evening caps off with raffle drawings for prizes. The Tempe location hosts runs the third Thursday of the month, while the Scottsdale location hosts a run the first Thursday of the month. Be sure to register with Road Runner before participating. 

44. Take a free trolley tour around downtown Scottsdale’s arts and cultural district. Learn the history of areas such as the Scottsdale Waterfront and the Old Town area during the two-hour tour, which runs once a month. Advance reservations are required. 

45. For a heart-pumping workout, trek up Piestewa Peak. Summit the 2,608-foot peak by taking Trail 302, a 1.2-mile path that rises 1,200 feet and offers views of the Dreamy Draw recreation area.

46. Take a mini road trip to the Superstition Wilderness in Gold Canyon and hike to the Wave Cave. The 3-mile trail doesn’t offer much shade and its uphill climb can be difficult, but the picture you’ll get for Instagram will make it all worth it.

47. Catch a free show at Lost Leaf if you’re 21 or older. The downtown Phoenix art bar hosts live music every night of the week. FWIW, we’re partial to Toast Tuesdays. 

48. Get into the swing of things (see what we did there?) with free swing dancing lessons from 7 to 8 p.m. on Tuesdays at The Duce. No partners required. But, fair warning, you will have to pay an $8 cover to dance after 8 p.m.

49. Become part of the DIY literary scene by taking a free workshop with Wasted Ink Zine Distro.

50. Wanna flex your funny? There’s a class for that. The Torch Theatre hosts free drop-in improv courses on the first Saturday of every month.

51. Seek out the Secret Garden on the ASU Tempe campus. (OK, it’s not really that much of a secret, but it’s still a cool spot.)

52. Enjoy an alfresco dance performance when Ballet Arizona puts on its annual Ballet Under the Stars program every fall.

53. Join a bike gang. Kidding. But you can join a group bike ride like those hosted by TIP Ride: Tempe Inclusive Pedaling.

54. Visit the bat cave. No, not that bat cave. The one where thousands of Mexican free-tailed bats take flight every night around dusk from May to October. You can find the tunnel near 40th Street and Camelback Road in Phoenix. 

55. Take a step back in time at the Arizona Room. Located on the second floor of Burton Barr Central Library in downtown Phoenix, this collection includes tons of historic records from around Arizona like vintage postcards, historic maps and yearbooks from Phoenix-area high schools over the years. 

56. Attend a poetry slam. They’re hosted regularly by Phoenix Poetry Slam. 

57. Go to Grand Avenue, Phoenix’s quirky arts district and look up. The stretch from about Van Buren Street to Roosevelt Street is home to indie galleries and businesses, crochet-wrapped palms and trees decorated with stuffed animals. 

58. Contemplate light and space at ASU Skyspace: Air Apparent, a public art space on the Tempe ASU campus by internationally renowned artist James Turrell. Seriously, he’s a big deal and even Kanye is a fan of his work. 

59. Watch a free movie at Movies After Dark at The District at Desert Ridge Marketplace. 

60. Check out Palabras, Arizona’s only Bilingual Bookstore, which hosts events ranging from poetry readings to book clubs. 

61. Visit the galleries at Grant Street Studios. Housed in a repurposed cotton factory in the warehouse district, the space houses the Step Gallery and Northlight Gallery as well as more than 60 studio spaces for MFA students at the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts.

62. Practice your meditation skills with Sahaja Yoga Meditation. Classes are always free and held several times a week. 

63. The Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art is free Thursdays and second Saturdays. Exhibitions rotate so there’s always something new to see. Don’t forget to spend some time inside James Turrell’s Skyspace, Knight Rise. 

64. The Mesa Contemporary Arts Museum is always free to visit. 

65. Snap a selfie on the Tempe Town Lake pedestrian bridge, now known as the Elmore Pedestrian Bridge after James Elmore, ASU’s founding dean of architecture.

66. Stop and smell the roses at the Rose Garden at Mesa Community College. With nearly 9,000 rosebushes, it’s the largest rose garden in the Southwest and is free to visit anytime. 

67. The Nina Mason Pulliam Rio Salado Audubon Center, located inside the Rio Salado Habitat Restoration Area, has a free admission center with exhibits, walking and hiking trails and programs such as wildlife encounters, birding classes and bird walks. 

68. Though it’s a bit of a trek up to Cave Creek, this northern suburb offers a 4-acre public botanical garden and one of the largest working sundials in the country. 

69. Practice your shooting skills — as in the soccer kind — at Scottsdale Sports Complex. The 71-acre facility has two drop-in areas with full-sized goals and nets that anyone can use from play to shooting practice on a first come, first served basis. 

70. Head to Encanto Park Sports Complex, where you’ll find eight tennis courts, four volleyball courts, two sand volleyball courts and four full basketball courts. 

71. Go visit the tomb of Arizona’s first governor, George W.P. Hunt. It’s not creepy or anything. It’s a white-tiled pyramid located at Papago Park. 

72. If you’re 21 or older, try a free wine tasting at Hidden Track Bottle Shop in downtown Phoenix. You’ll get to try “4-5 unique, high-quality selections and learn a bit about wine” at the tastings, which are held on Thursdays from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. and on Saturdays from noon to 3 p.m. 

73. Drive the Apache Trail. This highway through the Superstition Mountains is one of the most scenic drives near the Phoenix area, but it’s not for the squeamish. It starts out cutting through the desert, but soon begins to turn sharply, rising and falling with the landscape. There is no fee to access State Route 88 and most of the trail attractions are free.

74. Stroll through the Scottsdale Arts District at the weekly ArtWalk. You can browse local galleries located primarily along Main Street and Marshall Way at the year-round event, which happens every Thursday except Thanksgiving from 7 to 9 p.m. The people-watching isn’t bad either.   

75. Make friends while you cycle at the Crescent Community Bike Ride every Thursday evening. Bikers can meet at the Crescent Ballroom patio for two types of rides: The “Caliente,” for those who want an intense workout, meets at 7 p.m., and the “Fresca,” a more casual ride, meets at 8 p.m. The best part? Discounts on cold drinks and hot burritos await when you get back. 

76. Attend — or perform at — an open mic night at Jobot Coffee & Bar. They host one each Thursday from 8 to 11 p.m. with no cover, and they’ll even provide a guitar and amp if you want to perform. 

77. Shake up your Monday night routine with a drawing night at Jobot Coffee & Bar. “All drawing mediums, styles, and creative minds” are welcome at the free weekly event on Jobot’s patio from 8 p.m. until close. They’ll have a DJ, drink specials and even drawing materials, but you do have to bring your own paper.   

78. Learn to salsa dance and then show off your moves right after at Gypsy Bar. The bar hosts “Caliente Tuesdays” each week, starting with a free salsa class from 8 to 9 p.m. followed by dancing from 9 p.m. to midnight. 

79. Relax and clear your head at a Mindfulness Session. The Phoenix Art Museum hosts free 30-minute sessions each Thursday at noon, rain or shine, in the Dorrance Sculpture Garden. 

80. People-watch at a local college campus. Enough said.

81. Check out the “Her Secret Is Patience” structure at the Civic Space Park in downtown Phoenix.

82. Partake in free game night every Monday at Valley Bar. You can play pool, darts, skee ball and shuffle board for free all night long starting at 4 p.m. — but you must be 21 and up. Bonus: If you don’t mind spending money on a drink or two, draft beers are $1 off. 

83. You can tour the PING factory in Phoenix for free. All you have to do is call the company’s customer service line at 800-474-6434 to schedule one. They’re conducted Monday through Friday starting at 9 a.m.

84. Stroll ASU’s scenic Palm Walk. The corridor is apparently the most photographed site on the university’s Tempe campus. 

85. Perform at — or sit in on — an open mic night at Tempe Center for the Arts. The center’s “Walk-in Wednesdays” from 6 to 10 p.m. run September through November and January through May, with no cover.  

86. Learn how to line dance at Charlie’s in Phoenix. The country-themed bar offers free lessons on Thursdays and Saturdays at 7 p.m. 

87. Sing your heart out at one of the karaoke nights at Monkey Pants Bar and Grill in Tempe. The fun starts at 8 p.m. on Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

88. Play a round of trivia with Geeks Who Drink, a homegrown Pub Trivia Quiz. Check out their schedule to find a game at a bar near you. 

89. Join Carly’s Bistro for the “Best of Phoenix” Wednesday Night Trivia. Test your knowledge on current events, science, history, the arts, and pop culture every Wednesday from 7 to 9 p.m.

90. Explore The Farm at Agritopia. Visitors are welcome to see what’s sprouting at the farm on East Ray Road near South Higley Road in Gilbert. While you’re there, check out everything from the community garden to on-site restaurants, though those will cost you.

91. Go to a concert at the Yucca Tap Room in Tempe. There’s live music every night, and they don’t charge a cover. 

92. Attend a poetry reading from the University of Arizona Poetry Center series at the Burton Barr Central Library in Phoenix.  

93. Try the Tempe Scavenger Hunt. No tour guide or reservation is required for this app-led scavenger hunt through ASU’s Tempe campus.   

94. Get your laughs in at Comedy Night every Tuesday at GenuWine Arizona. The free comedy show features eight local comedians from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m.

95. Check out a drag show at Karamba Nightclub. The club hosts a Top 40 night every Sunday, with a drag show at 10:30 p.m. — and there’s no cover charge. 

96. Play free games — from pool to skee ball to shuffleboard — at the Little Woody every Monday for Industry Night.

97. Check out — and take a selfie in front of — Mesa’s historic neon “diving lady” sign.  

98. Explore the best places for wildflowers in the Valley. 

99. Volunteer at the Phoenix Zoo. You can sign up to help out with a daylong event if you’re looking for a short-term opportunity, or pick from a few different options for long-term volunteer opportunities. 

100. Bird-watch — or try a monthly Birds ‘n’ Beer Happy Hour — at the Rio Salado Audubon Center. 

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