8 Ways to Get Outside for Free
Photo credit: Andy Quezada for Unsplash+
Summer is here and prices couldn’t be higher! Recession indicators are everywhere, federal student loan repayments are back on and rent is rising in major cities across the U.S.
Your friends are too busy working multiple jobs to afford Cowboy Carter tickets — and so are you. But you don’t want to spend all your free time at home either.
Here are eight ways to get outside for free (or close enough) while making friends, building community and learning new hobbies. Let’s go!
8. Go for a solo walk.
@wellwithkiersten Here is why you should be prioritizing walking in your workout routine! I’ve been seeing a lot of content around walking but we have to remember just how amazing walking is for our overall health, not just how we look! #walkingforhealth #hotgirlwalk #10ksteps #walking ♬ original sound - wellwithkiersten
Hear me out, hear me out.
I know getting outside alone is not the same as getting outside with friends. But a city girl walk is a free or low-cost way to boost your mood, increase your energy levels and improve your health. It can help you “think better, feel better and sleep better” according to the American Heart Association.
So why not start off with a walk. Get to know your neighborhood. Enjoy the sidewalk ballet of families, shopkeepers, street vendors and construction workers.
On the weekends, there’s nothing I love more than a coffee and a long walk. My city has beautiful architecture, parks, greenways and influencer curated lists that include the best spots to catch a sunrise or sunset. I could spend the rest of my life walking here without getting bored.
Lately, instead of driving hours away in pursuit of elevation gain, I’ve been spending more time walking and riding the bus. Sometimes I make my coffee at home and bring it with me; sometimes I walk to a coffee shop or carry-out.
Walking is a great way to get to know your community. Sure, you could go for a run, but it’s not quite the same. Walking takes the focus off the workout and puts it back on enjoyment and human interaction.
Small town edition
If you live in the southern United States or somewhere with lifted trucks and no sidewalks, neighborhood walks may not be a great option. Instead, try walking around the local high school track in the morning. On the weekend check out nearby parks or trails in your county. Bring a friend or a leashed dog!
7. Go to the library.
@pedagogyofthedepressed Truly what the helly!! Go get a public library card neowww #librarytiktok #publiclibrary #librariansoftiktok ♬ WTHELLY - Rob49
For some of us, the last time we stepped foot inside a public library was a decade or two ago…or more!
That’s okay! There’s no time like the present to visit your local library. It’s basically like your local bookstore—but free, with a wider selection, thanks to interlibrary loans and reciprocity agreements.
You’ll notice a lot of other upgrades, like free digital streaming via Kanopy or Hoopla; free music streaming via Freegal; free language learning via Mango and so much more. Your city may also have a Tool Library that lends tools for free to residents. Mine does! It’s volunteer run and accepts donations. Honestly, I’m not sure what I would do with a post-hole digger or pruning pole, 14 inches, but I love the fact that the complete inventory is available online. And yes it includes cat toys and beekeeping equipment. Wait, yours doesn’t?
It’s also okay if you just want to use your library the old fashioned way — to read books and newspapers. Over the past year, I’ve slowly been exploring the public libraries in my city. I have my favorite study rooms, my favorite sunny reading nooks, and I know which libraries have the best parking or are closest to public transit.
So, if you’re looking for a free activity this summer, start with your local public library. Try an in-person or online class, rent tools, attend a book talk, or sign up for a role playing game like D&D. Or better yet, visit every public library in your city. Once you finish, check out free private libraries where you can read, study or browse exhibits.
NYC
If you live in NYC, start with the New York Public Library and its 88 neighborhood branches, Brooklyn Public Library and its 62 branches or Queens Public Library and its 66 branches. After that, there are still 20 private libraries — some membership based, some free and some fee-based — to visit. Take the next year and visit all of them! Reserve a culture pass and visit many local museums for free!
Chicago
Chicago Public Library has 81 locations and is the “largest provider of free WiFi in the city.” Reserve a digital pass for free and discounted admission to local museums and cultural institutions.
Washington D.C.
District of Columbia Public Library (DCPL) has 26 neighborhood branches in addition to its central location, Martin Luther King Library. Visit The People’s Archive, attend a book talk, take advantage of the tool library or get help — from digital navigators to passport renewal to support for job seekers. Don’t forget to collect reciprocal library cards from surrounding counties in the DMV to level up on Libby. But don’t stop there! Tour the Library of Congress and apply for a card to access reading rooms and collections. Then check out private libraries across the city like the Folger Shakespeare Library and the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry Library.
Small town edition
Your library may be a lot smaller with limited hours and possibly none of the resources above. Please support it anyways. It doesn’t cost you anything to get a library card! Ask about volunteer opportunities, like reading to elementary school kids or adult literacy programs. Also ask about interlibrary loans to keep up-to-date with #BookTok, and don’t forget to download Libby. Who needs impulse shopping when you have Libby? “Your hold is now available” feels like a dopamine shot straight to the bloodstream.
6. Go to a free museum or art gallery.
@notwildlin And you have to get a sweet treat after !!! Key step !
♬ Chopin Nocturne No. 2 Piano Mono - moshimo sound design
If you live in a city — even a mid-sized one — you’ll find lots of opportunities to get outside and escape the heat at a museum, gallery or botanic garden. No, they’re not all free, but many are! Or they offer free admission on certain days for local residents. Check before you go and keep your hard-earned money where it belongs—in your wallet!
NYC
New York has at least 56 museums with free admission, suggested prices or free admission on certain days. There are also over 1,400 art galleries in the city and many offer free admission, like the Bronx museum, or pay-as-you-go or free admission for NY state residents. To learn about free events in city parks, check out NYC Parks & Rec.
Chicago
Chicago has nearly 70 museums to choose from. Not sure where to start? The Art Institute has free museum days for Illinois residents, as long as you reserve tickets in advance.
Washington D.C.
Washington DC has 17 Smithsonians, including free museums and galleries, ranging from the National Portrait Gallery to the National Museum of African American History and Culture. When you’re done with that, check out over 100 monuments and memorials, from the Washington monument to the Old Post Office Tower — all operated by the National Park Service. There are also free national parks, like 1,750-acre Rock Creek Park which boasts hiking, horse stables, biking and more, Roosevelt Island and Anacostia Park Skating Pavilion, which offers free skate rentals in-season.
Small town edition
If your town doesn’t have free museums, monuments or galleries, you could plan a solo trip to a nearby city that does. In the meantime, figure out what you do have locally, even if it’s just the farmers market, a no-headliner country music concert or free bluegrass at the local winery.
5. Take a free class.
@jannehkonneh Having fun isnt hard when youve got a library card #nyc #nycthingstodo #nycfree #nycpubliclibrary #nychacks ♬ original sound - Janneh Konneh | NYC Lifestyle
If you’re tired of $35 paint-and-sips and $100 craft nights being branded as community events, it’s time to fight back.
Like seriously, wtf is that?
Google free classes in your city.
Don’t forget to look for free fitness and outdoor recreation programs through your local Parks and Rec; ask your librarian about free classes and workshops; and check Partiful, Eventbrite, TikTok and Meetup for the same. Learn to sew, skate, or plant a vegetable garden for free. And good luck! The days of scanning the bulletin board at your local coffee shop are over. That doesn’t mean free classes don’t exist—they definitely do!
4. Volunteer at your local food bank or food pantry.
@jakobgalvan_ I actually needed hours and didn’t wanna go alone 😪 #fyp #foryoupage #fypシ #musica #song #volunteer #foodbank #givingback #giveback #foodbank ♬ Marlboro Rojo - Fuerza Regida
Did you know 1 in 7 U.S. households don’t have enough to eat? That means they struggle to afford food or worry about groceries running out before payday. Food insecurity is a problem in your community and mass layoffs aren’t helping. Here’s what you can do to help.
Search for organizations fighting hunger on VolunteerMatch.org. Or Google “food bank” or “food pantry” in your city, parish or ward. Depending on their size and digital literacy, you may have to give them a call to see if they need volunteers. Ew. I know cold calling sucks, but staying in your apartment all summer is worse.
A lot of food programs may be struggling right now. That’s because the Trump administration froze $117 million in Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP) funds in January 2025. That’s bad news for food banks, food pantries and meal programs for seniors, the disabled and the unhoused.
You can help fill the gap.
NYC
Check out Food Bank for NYC to find a “soup kitchen, food pantry, senior center, or SNAP enrollment site near you”. Or volunteer with Midnight Run which has been distributing “food, clothing, blankets and personal care items” to people living on the street since 1984.
Chicago
Find food assistance programs in Chicago, where 1 in 5 families experience food insecurity. Start with Greater Chicago Food Depository or use Community Kitchen Chicago’s mutual aid map to find a kitchen, pantry or meal program.
Washington D.C.
In D.C., volunteer with Capital Area Food Bank or find a food pantry in your neighborhood through DC Food Project. You can also support hyper-local food distribution by volunteering with mutual aid organizations in your ward. Or find an urban farm near you and start composting, harvesting and distributing food to community members.
Small Town Edition
Faith organizations run a lot of food banks, soup kitchens and pantries in rural areas. Start there!
Don’t want to run into people from work, the grocery store or small group? Volunteer at a food pantry the next town over.
Not sure how much time you can commit? Sign up for a single shift. Nervous about showing up alone vs with a group? Call ahead and ask what to expect, wear or bring with you.
3. Roll up your sleeves and learn a new technical skill.
@mariachireyesnyc @Stitches by Hugo ♬ original sound - MariachiReyes
Learning new technical skills and hobbies can definitely feel harder and harder —and more expensive — as we age. There are fewer and fewer opportunities to really be bad at something — you know, beginner level stuff. And for free? Not a chance!
Random fact: I spent two years in my late 20s learning basic aircraft maintenance with a local flying club. We met in the evenings once a week in a small town
That’s right. This was before I moved to the city and it’s a great example of an opportunity that really only exists in smaller towns: hanging out with retirees while cleaning spark plugs, and changing brake pads.
These were mostly tradesmen who worked blue collar jobs for decades, wore the same jeans every day and pinched pennies in order to build lightweight experimentals or afford 1/16 ownership of a tailwheel aircraft in their 60s. The club was close enough to a mid-sized city that I wasn’t the only person of color to show up for free maintenance nights. Yay!
It doesn’t have to be airplanes. Learn woodworking at your local community center; learn how to use the 3D printer at the library; or ask your neighbor to show you how to change the oil in your car or winterize an RV. Help someone tile their bathroom, hang dry wall or cook a traditional dish. Yes, it may be an inconvenience in the moment but your new technical skills may come in handy one day.
Too shy to ask your neighbors for help? You can also learn new skills like crocheting, embroidery, carpentry, auto maintenance, mountaineering and more through local clubs.
I don’t know what your plans for the future are but they might require a certain set of skills (cue Liam Neeson voiceover). For example, if you want to backcountry hike, you might need to learn more about gear, Leave No Trace and wildlife. If you want to cross-country ski or snowshoe, you might need to learn more about snow pack and avalanche risk. In the U.S., a lot of the technical knowledge and soft skills that you need to navigate the outdoors are being gatekept by a certain race and gender. Do what you need to do to get access and try not to pay for it.
Local outdoor clubs offer scholarships to cover fees for wilderness first responder and avalanche rescue courses (AIARE 1). Mountaineering clubs offer the same for crevasse rescue, glacier skills and alpine climbing basics. These are all technical skills you’ll need and they cost a lot to acquire. Don’t pay out of pocket.
2. Find other creatives.
@lienflickashit I’m so excited to launch DC’s newest social club, Black Girls Love Coffee Shops (BGLC). BGLC is a club by and for Black women who are looking to build community, celebrate one another and move toward liberation and wellness together. We will host our first meet up in February of 2024 so follow us on Instagram at Blackgirlslovecoffeeshops for more details. Until then, we love and can’t wait to meet you! #dmv #dmvtiktok #washingtondc #maryland #blackdmv #thingstodoindc #thingstodoindc📍 #baltimoretiktok #blacktiktok #fyp #wellness #coffeeshops #workfromhome #blackwomen #blackwomenoftiktok #thingstodoinmaryland #cafe #blackgirlsindc #blackwomenindc #dmvlife #dmvcheck #dmveats #maryland #virginia #blackgirlmeetup #CapCut ♬ original sound - Lorna 💓| DC & Coffee Shops 🍵
Maybe what you need is more creative friends.
After I graduated from college, I spent nearly two decades hanging out with other athletes—at first runners, then skydivers and hikers. That made sense to me at the time—they were people who enjoyed the same outdoor activities I enjoyed.
But I also missed writing and drawing. I missed co-writing cringeworthy screenplays with friends.
So, if you are looking for other creatives, I am too. Let’s look together.
So far, in my city, I’ve found Black Girls Love Coffee Shops which hosts hobby happy hours where you can “sip, chat and craft” with new friends. And that’s not the only option. My local lesbian bar has craft nights. There are also so many writing circles in my city I’ve lost count. I have my eye on a creative writing meetup at a local coffee shop—no sharing required.
Yes, we need mountains and fresh air and blue skies, but we may also need watercolors, community choir, and open mic nights. After all, anyone can be creative. Long ago most of us were taught that if we couldn’t monetize our creative skills in some way, they probably weren’t worth a damn. So we put away puzzles, sketchpads, crochet yarn and sheet music. We stopped doodling, and gave up singing in the shower. We came to view creativity as childish in the same way we looked down on adults at the skate park.
What if we were wrong?
1. Join a hiking group
@thehikecrew Our first hike of the season and this is crowd 🥹 We can’t thank you enough! DC wasn’t ready for us! #thehikecrew ♬ My People - Webbie
Run clubs are the new speed dating—literally. They’re also a great place to meet new friends in between interval workouts. They’re popping up in major cities and small towns across the U.S. Not into running?
Okay good, I’m not either.
Have you considered hiking groups and local walking clubs?
NYC
If you live in NYC, check out City Girls Who Walk, which organizes walks, happy hours and book clubs. Want to join? No sign up required. They meet on Sunday at the Central Park West & 72nd St entrance.
Brooklyn Walk Club meets on Thursdays at 7pm in front of McCarren Parkhouse. Or join a hike with Black-owned, Brooklyn-based outdoor retailer Outlandish or national organization, Outdoor Afro.
You can also walk and garden for free with Latino Outdoors NYC by signing up on Eventbrite.
Chicago
Do you live in Chicago? RSVP for a free hike with Chicago Girls Who Walk. Leashed pets and children (unleashed) are allowed. Women and non-binary people are welcome. Or join Black People Outside for their free monthly group hike. Want to catch up with Latino Outdoors Chicago? Check out their events page or find them on Evenbrite.
Washington D.C.
In DC, there are too many run clubs to keep track of. Ignore them all and go for a free walk with new friends at The Hike Crew—which partners with D.C. Parks & Rec— We Be Walkin’, Goombay Adventurers, DC Urban Hikers or Outdoor Afro. There are many other groups for evening hikes, urban hikes, hikes to bars and weekend adventures.
Remember: If you’re nervous about showing up alone or are not sure about what to expect, contact the organizer and ask questions, like, do people come to this event alone? Will I be left behind if I’m a slower walker? What does parking look like? Is this a good hike for a first-time hiker or a newer hiker?
Photo credit: Andy Quezada
That’s it! Even if you don’t live in any of the cities mentioned, hope you feel inspired to get outside for free!
Summer is here and prices couldn’t be higher! Recession indicators are everywhere, federal student loan repayments are back on and rent is rising in major cities across the U.S. But you don’t want to spend all your time at home either. Here are eight ways to get outside for free (or close enough) while making friends, building community and learning new hobbies. Let’s go!