Your guide to 12 fun & frugal family outings in Iowa

Uncover 12 budget-friendly family activities in Iowa, from historic sites to natural wonders. Have fun without spending a fortune!

Whether you live in Iowa or are just visiting, it’s good to know there are plenty of affordable, family-friendly activities to try. To help inspire your next outing, we’ve gathered a list of hidden gems from across the state that are either free or less than $15 per person. From movie sites to museums and markets, check out what Iowa has to offer.

Eastern Iowa

Check out NewBo City Market

Located near downtown Cedar Rapids, NewBo City Market is a community hub, home to a range of unique food and retail vendors, farmers’ and artisans’ markets, and many other community arts, entertainment, and educational events. If you are visiting in the summer, bring the whole family to the market on Friday nights for Rock the Block, a free weekly concert series.

Admire Grant Wood’s Art

Did you know that Cedar Rapids was home to the famous artist, Grant Wood? You’d probably recognize his most celebrated work, American Gothic, which has a special place in American pop culture. Cedar Rapids is home to various Grant Wood sites, including the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art, which has the world’s largest collection of works by the artist. Admission to the museum ranges from $5 to $10 per person; however, there is free admission on Thursday nights from 5 pm to 8 pm.

Explore Maquoketa Caves State Park

One of Iowa’s earliest state parks, Maquoketa Caves, has been a popular spot for picnickers and hikers since the 1860s. Like the name suggests, it also contains more caves than any other state park. Admission is free.

Please note that caves in the park are closed annually from November 15 to April 1.

Central Iowa

Visit the Iowa State Capitol

If you are in Des Moines, it is almost impossible not to admire the bright gilded dome of the Iowa State Capitol building. The building has served as an iconic symbol of Iowa government and politics since 1886. Both self-guided and formal tours are available at no cost. While the whole building is beautiful, the library is especially stunning and something you don’t want to miss.

Go to the Downtown Des Moines Farmers’ Market

Every Saturday from May through October, downtown Des Moines hosts what is considered one of the best farmers’ markets in the country. Here you will find several blocks of vendors selling everything from meat and produce to flowers and handmade art. There are also lots of prepared foods, music, and activities. So, grab a Dutch letter and spend your Saturday morning exploring all that Iowa farmers and artisans have to offer.

Stroll through Reiman Gardens 

See more than 6,000 different types of plants at Iowa State University’s Reiman Gardens. This botanical site spans 17 acres and features 26 distinct garden areas, along with several structures, including the Christina Reiman Butterfly Wing and the Conservatory. There is even an agricultural-themed children’s garden, which is great for visiting families with younger kids. Admission ranges from $6 to $12 per person. Though there are discounts and free admission options for select groups.

Western Iowa

Enjoy Cone Park

Open year-round, Cone Park is a great place to bring the family to get outside and burn off some steam. It is primarily known for its winter activities, including tubing and ice skating. In the summer, the ice skating rink turns into a free public splash pad, plus the park has hiking and mountain biking. There is even summer tubing, which uses misters in place of snow. Tubing costs $10 to $15 per person. Ice skating is $5, with skate rental an extra $3.

Stop by the Sioux City Public Museum

Take the whole family to learn about the history and culture of the area at the Sioux City Public Museum. While there are plenty of traditional museum displays, what makes this place even more special is the plethora of interactive and kid-friendly exhibits. For example, to learn about early area dwellings, the museum features a Native American lodge house and tipi, along with a pioneer log cabin. Children are encouraged to role-play in each of these spaces.

Admission is free to the public, and parking is also free on the weekends.

Tour the Squirrel Cage Jail

Want to see something a little spooky? The Squirrel Cage Jail is one of three remaining revolving jails in the United States and is the only three-story one that has ever existed. The jail was built in 1885 and used until 1969. It had three floors of revolving pie-shaped cells inside a cage. The idea was that the cells would come to the jailer instead of the jailer walking to each individual cell.

The site is now the Official Museum of the Iowa State Sheriffs’ and Deputies’ Association. The former jail is thought to be haunted and regularly hosts ghost hunters. Admission to the museum ranges from $5 to $10 per person. While younger children are welcome, due to its macabre history, it may be better suited for middle or high school-aged children.

Northern Iowa

Play ball at the Field of Dreams Movie Site

Come visit the actual farm where the iconic baseball field and farmhouse scenes from the 1989 movie “Field of Dreams” were filmed. The site is located in Dyersville, Iowa, just 25 miles west of Dubuque, and is open to the public from sunup until sundown all year long. Entry to the site is free, but donations are appreciated and encouraged.

Travel through Music Man Square

Famous musician, composer, and writer, Robert Meredith Willson was born in Mason City, IA in 1902. He is most remembered for his famous Broadway musical, “The Music Man.” When you visit Mason City today, you can find a range of sites and attractions dedicated to Wilson’s legacy and career. Perhaps the most interesting for movie lovers is the 1912 Streetscape, a studio replica from the Warner Bros. movie “The Music Man.” Admission costs between $5 and $10 per person and includes access to the 1912 Streetscape, the Meredith Willson Museum, and the Meredith Willson Boyhood Home.

Swing by the MacNider Art Museum

Also located in Mason City is the MacNider Art Museum. The museum is free to the public and features both permanent and rotating exhibits. The famous Lonely Goatherd puppets from “The Sound of Music” are on display here as part of the permanent Bil Baird Collection.