Low-Cost Summer Activities

With the gorgeous, sunny weather and longer days, summer encourages tons of fun activities and reconnecting with friends. But it’s easy to forget how much money is getting spent with so much going on.

That’s why we’ve compiled a list of over 50 low-cost activities to partake in this season. Try out some of these inexpensive activities that will keep your summer days busy and fun without breaking the bank:

Get Outdoors

• Go for a walk in the park
  Take time to enjoy the beautiful summer weather outside at a local park. While you’re getting some fresh air, take in the gorgeous scenery and discover your new favorite trail. Many local parks offer summer concerts or other free activities for the community. Be sure to check your town’s local activity calendar to enjoy.

• Go camping
  Camping is a great inexpensive way to do something different and explore nature. You could camp for free in your backyard or find an affordable campground near you to go camping on a budget.

• Hike
  There’s no better way to explore the outdoors than to go on a hike. For a truly scenic hike, find a national park near you and spend the day basking in nature. There are even free national park days you could take advantage of.

• Go fishing
  “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.” You don’t need to have a boat to go fishing. Find a place near you to go fishing and be sure to turn your fresh catch into fish tacos for dinner.

• Start a garden
  Looking to grow your own produce? Start a garden full of tasty, seasonal fruits and vegetables of your choice. Or opt to learn how to grow gorgeous flowers that you can turn into stunning bouquets for your home or as gifts for friends and family.

• Minor league baseball game
  Heading to a Major League Baseball game can be costly, but the minor league tickets are often much more inexpensive, and the games are just as fun to watch. Find a minor league baseball game near you for a fun-filled night at the ballpark with the whole family.

• Yoga
  Take your mat outside to get grounded in nature with this rejuvenating activity. Nowadays, there are plenty of options for affordable or even free yoga that you can stream right from your phone for a relaxing and invigorating flow.

• Workout
  You’ll always feel better after a good workout, but getting your sweat on outdoors adds an extra layer of fun. If you enjoy working out with others, check out the November Project, which offers free outdoor workouts in 58 different locations throughout the world.

Get Creative

• Crafts
  Crafting is not just for kids. Whether you want to decorate an old table, tie-dye some T-shirts or spruce up the house with some cute decor, there are plenty of inexpensive crafts to do that bring you in touch with your creative side.

• Coloring books
  Coloring books are a great way to stay busy or relieve stress. You can purchase inexpensive ones or download free coloring pages online. Feel free to color outside the lines and make a masterpiece that could rival Picasso.

• At-home spa day
  Get creative by having your own DIY spa day where you can relax and unwind from the comfort of your own house. Try some loved and tested face masks and lay back in your robes for an affordable, stress-free experience.

• Vision board
  Create a vision board to create a motivating and positive reminder of your goals. Use old magazines to create your destiny and hang the image up on your wall so you are reminded and encouraged to chase your dreams every day.

• Painting
  Pick your paint of choice, from watercolor to acrylics, and channel your inner artist to create your next masterpiece. Whether you decide to paint along to Bob Ross or improve as you go, painting is a fun and low-cost activity to try this summer.

• Science experiment
  The days of entering science fairs might be over, but the science experiments don’t have to end. Try a volcano experiment using common household items for some explosive fun.

• Diorama
  An old shoebox can become a diorama with some crafting supplies. Choose a theme for your diorama and then let your imagination run wild as you decorate your setting and create a miniature scene of your choosing.

• Learn a second language
  It’s never too early to start learning a second language. Best of all, there’s plenty of free or inexpensive language apps designed for a wide range of ages and education levels. Get the experience of another culture by learning their language this summer.

• Write a letter
  Who doesn’t love receiving a letter in the mail? In our digital age, it is nice to bring back letter writing and reach out to a family member or friend who would love to hear from you. Get creative and make custom stationery with their initials on it to create a fun and cute letter anyone would love to receive.

Get Out of the House

• Museums
  Head to a nearby museum for a day of culture and education. Many museums will have free or discounted days, and certain banks and credit card companies also offer free museum perks.

• Zoo
  The zoo is a great place to learn about animals and a perfect way to spend a summer day. Zoos will often offer discounted pricing on certain days and/or times.

• Aquarium
  Like the zoo, the aquarium teaches you about the animal kingdom under the sea. You can see a wide array of fish and underwater creatures and aquariums commonly offer discounted pricing on certain days as well.

• Library
  Your local library can be a mecca of summer activities. Not only are there plenty of books and movie rentals that will keep you busy all summer long, but libraries typically host fun and unique events that are free or low-cost.

• Photoshoot
  It’s your turn to be on the cover of Vogue. Pick out some fun outfits and/or costumes and dress up. Then, take a series of photos and experience life as a pretend model with a photoshoot. You can use the FreePrints app to get photos from your phone printed at no cost, or simply post your photos to social media for friends to enjoy.

• Trampoline park
  Search sites like Groupon or Living Social offer discounted tickets to a trampoline park near you. Visiting a trampoline park will not only provide hours of fun, but it’s also a great way to get some exercise.

• Go to a matinee
  There’s always something new out at the movie theater. Choose from the various options at your local theater, but go during the day for a matinee to save some cash. If you’re lucky enough to have an independent, aka “indie,” movie theater near you, they’ll often have cheaper tickets than big box movie theaters.

• Volunteer
  Give back to the community by spending some time volunteering for a day. Find a wide array of volunteer opportunities near you and help a cause that speaks to you.

• Be a tourist in your own city
  There may be a lot of history near you that you don’t even know about. Check out Trip Advisor for the best free historical sights to see in your town.

For the Foodies

• Ice cream
  We all scream for ice cream. Grab a sweet treat from a local shop or buy a tub of ice cream at the grocery store and create a toppings bar for a fun and delicious DIY treat.

• Farmers market
  Sometimes the freshest produce is also the most affordable. Take a trip to the local farmers market to enjoy seasonal delicacies, like watermelon, peaches and cherries.

• Picnic
  Picnics date back to the 18th century – learn the art of picnicking with these fun and tasty picnic ideas. Grab a blanket and head outdoors to have a true picnic experience with friends and family.

• Make cookies
  For a rainy summer day, there’s nothing quite like biting into a warm chocolate chip cookie. Make cookies from your own kitchen for a fun and delicious activity that will cure your sweet tooth.

• Visit a fruit farm
  Check out your local fruit farm for a unique, pick-your-own experience. Afterward, you could turn what you’ve picked into a pie or other tasty dessert, or just enjoy nature’s candy in its natural state.

• Have a potluck
  Host a potluck with friends, family and neighbors. Each guest can bring their own dish for a large selection of mouth-watering food while enjoying each other’s company.

• Watermelon basket
  Watermelon embodies the taste of summer. After you cut the watermelon in half, use a melon baller to create melon spheres. Once complete, place all of the melon spheres in an empty half of the melon for a fun and unique edible centerpiece.

• Have a tea party
  Enjoy high tea by hosting your own tea party. Tea is an inexpensive, yet delicious, beverage, and cucumber sandwiches make for the perfect afternoon snack. Get creative with decorations and create a cool theme that will make your guests eager to attend.

• Make your own popsicles
  Pick up a popsicle mold and fill it with juice and/or fruit to make homemade popsicles that are the perfect way to cool down during the hot summer days. For an adults-only twist, add some sparkling wine and fruit for an extra special treat.

Family-Friendly Fun

• Visit a public pool
  Sometimes parks or local rec centers will have free or low-cost pools for families to enjoy. Pick a hot day and head over to splash around and have some fun in the sun.

• Make your own playdough
  Rather than just breaking out the canister of playdough, you can make your own and create a fun bonding experience with your kids. Try this simple recipe for some summer fun at home.

• Day camp
  While overnight camps can be costly, day camps are usually much more affordable and provide summer activities for kids to enjoy with other children. Check out your local YMCA to find the right camp for your child.

• Hide-and-seek
  Nothing beats a game of Hide-and-Seek. Get the whole family involved and explore your home in a whole new way in this classic game.

• Sprinkler
  Set up a sprinkler, splash pad or slip-and-slide for your kids to run around and cool off during hot summer days.

• Fly a kite
  Enjoy the summer breeze by flying a kite. Teach your kids the ins and outs of kiting – you can even help them craft their very own kites.

• Game night
  Host a game night and enjoy an evening of classic board games, like Monopoly or the Game of Life.

• Blow bubbles
  See who can blow the biggest bubbles with this DIY bubble wand. For some extra fun, turn it into a competition and give the child who blows the biggest bubble a prize.

• Pillow forts
  Grab all of the pillows and blankets in your house and build a fort.

• Do a puzzle
  Puzzles are a great way to engage your child’s mind. You can find a puzzle on just about anything these days, and most kid's puzzles are very affordable. You can even check Facebook Marketplace for used puzzles, then resell the puzzle when you’re done with it.

• Marbles
  It’s often the simplest of toys that create hours of fun. Introduce your child to marbles – there are countless games you can play with these beautiful glass spheres.

• Puppet show
  As a perfect activity for the young ones, help your child craft some homemade finger puppets, then gather the family around to watch them perform a puppet show with their newfound friends.

• Face painting
  Embrace your inner artist and offer to paint a cool design or character on you or your child’s face, just like at the carnival.

• Water balloons
  There’s nothing like a good old-fashioned water balloon fight in the heat of summer to cool off with some friendly competition. Pick up some water balloons, then host a water balloon fight that people will still be talking about next summer.

• Lemonade stand
  Setting up a lemonade stand is a classic childhood rite of passage. Search for a lemonade recipe, then take your child to the grocery store to pick up the ingredients, as well as any items you may need, like a pitcher or cups. Set up a stand in your neighborhood where your kids can start their own mini-business that passersbys will appreciate in the heat. This summer activity could even make some money, which will help you turn your kids into smart savers.

Enjoy your summer

As you can see, there are a lot of exciting and inexpensive summer activities for you to enjoy. Share your favorite low-cost summer activities with @OneMain on social media with the hashtag #SaveCation to share the fun.