The Ultimate Guide to Free Things to Do in Des Moines
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Des Moines has plenty of places where the price of admission is simply showing up. You can circle a lake, see major works of art, walk through the State Capitol, attend a neighborhood movie, or spend a morning at a museum without buying a ticket.
This guide focuses on places and programs that are genuinely free to enter or attend. Food, rentals, metered parking and optional purchases may still cost money, and seasonal schedules can change. Use the official links before making a special trip.
Practical Tip
Bookmark this page instead of taking a screenshot. Market seasons, park programs and event dates change. We update the guide as official schedules are released.
Six Free Places to Start
New to the metro or short on time? These are the easiest places to recommend first.
Gray’s Lake Park
A 2.1-mile lake loop, skyline views, an inclusive playground and a seasonal free sprayground.
Pappajohn Sculpture Park
A free 4.4-acre downtown sculpture park that stays open from sunrise to midnight.
Des Moines Art Center
Free admission, notable architecture and changing exhibitions in Greenwood Park.
Iowa State Capitol
Free guided and self-guided tours Monday through Saturday beneath the gold dome.
Downtown Farmers’ Market
A 12-block Saturday market that is always free to browse from May through October.
Des Moines Public Library
Free cards for Iowa residents plus storytimes, talks, workshops and rotating programs.
Parks, Trails and Water
The easiest free day in Des Moines starts outside. The metro’s parks range from quick downtown walks to long paved trail rides.
Gray’s Lake Park, 2101 Fleur Drive, is the familiar starting point. The Kruidenier Trail makes a 2.1-mile loop around the lake and crosses the illuminated Chris and Marcie Coleman Bridge. Summer park hours are 5 a.m.–10 p.m.
The park’s inclusive playground and sprayground opened in May 2026. The playground follows normal park hours. The sprayground operates free from May 1 through September 30, 9 a.m.–8 p.m. daily. The beach is also free, but swimming conditions are monitored, so check the city page for advisories.
Practical Tip
Saturday mornings can include another free activity. Yoga in the Park runs at 9 a.m. on scheduled Saturdays through September 26, 2026. A waiver is required, and rain cancels the class.
Across Fleur Drive, Water Works Park covers nearly 1,500 acres of open and wooded land. It is a good place for biking, jogging, picnics and fishing, with tables and grills in several areas.
Dale Maffitt Reservoir Park is a separate destination southwest of Des Moines near Cumming. Its nature trail runs about 4.5 miles around the lake. Fishing, hiking and picnicking are free; standard fishing rules still apply.
Downtown, the Principal Riverwalk follows a roughly 1.2-mile riverfront loop and connects the Court Avenue area, East Village and riverfront attractions by pedestrian bridges. For spring color, the Lilac Arboretum at Ewing Park spreads across 35 acres with more than 1,000 shrubs representing over 250 varieties.
For a longer ride, the High Trestle Trail runs about 25 miles through Ankeny, Sheldahl, Slater, Madrid and Woodward. The signature bridge spans the Des Moines River valley. In West Des Moines, Raccoon River Park adds a lake loop, beach and large public park setting.
Gardens and Public Art
These stops work well when you have an hour, want an easy walk or need a free place to take visiting family.
The John and Mary Pappajohn Sculpture Park, 1330 Grand Avenue, covers 4.4 acres in Western Gateway Park. It is free and open during city park hours, from sunrise to midnight. Metered street parking surrounds the park.
Worth Knowing
You can add context without joining a tour. The Art Center offers a free cell-phone audio tour. Dial the posted number, then enter the number shown on the plaque beside an artwork.
Behind the Des Moines Art Center, the Clare and Miles Mills Rose Garden occupies 4.5 acres in Greenwood Park. The current city brochure lists more than 2,000 roses and 100 distinct varieties. Summer brings the strongest color, but the grounds are worth walking whenever the garden is open.
Along the river, the Robert D. Ray Asian Garden is a free outdoor garden next to the paid Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden. The two-acre space includes a 37-foot pavilion, pond and stone features honoring Governor Ray’s work welcoming Southeast Asian refugees to Iowa.
The grounds at Salisbury House & Gardens offer another quiet option. Its six acres include woodland paths and formal English- and French-inspired gardens. Walking the grounds is free during posted grounds hours, while touring the historic house requires paid admission.
Museums and Historic Sites
Des Moines has several indoor places where free admission is the normal policy, not a once-a-year promotion.
The Des Moines Art Center, 4700 Grand Avenue, is always free to enter. Its three connected buildings were designed by Eliel Saarinen, I.M. Pei and Richard Meier. Exhibitions change, and the calendar includes free public tours and programs alongside paid studio classes.
The State Historical Museum of Iowa, 600 East Locust Street, is free. Current hours are 9 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 9 a.m.–3 p.m. Saturday. A free public parking garage is across the street at East Grand and Pennsylvania avenues.
At the Iowa State Capitol, free guided and self-guided tours are available Monday through Saturday. Weekday building hours run 8 a.m.–4:45 p.m.; Saturday hours run 8 a.m.–3:45 p.m. Call 515-281-5591 for current tour times. Groups of ten or more should schedule ahead.
You can spend a morning with art, Iowa history and the Capitol dome without paying admission.
Libraries and Year-Round Programs
A library card is useful, but many library events and public spaces can be enjoyed even before you check anything out.
Des Moines Public Library maintains a changing calendar of storytimes, author talks, workshops, crafts and community programs across six branches. Most events are free, although registration may be required when space or supplies are limited.
Any Iowa resident can apply for a free Des Moines Public Library card. Some digital services—including Libby, Kanopy and the Iowa Adventure Pass—are limited to residents of Des Moines, Windsor Heights and Saylor Township. Check the eligibility notes before promising the kids a free attraction pass.
Practical Tip
Central Library is a useful no-cost downtown stop. The glass-walled building at 1000 Grand Avenue has seating, Wi-Fi, public computers and a convenient location near Western Gateway Park.
Farmers Markets: Free to Browse
The browsing is free. The pastry, flowers and produce you decide to carry home are a separate matter.
The Downtown Farmers’ Market fills 12 blocks of the Historic Court District on Saturdays from May 2 through October 31, 2026. Hours are 7 a.m.–noon through September and 8 a.m.–noon in October. The 2026 season includes 305 vendors from 42 Iowa counties.
The Valley Junction Farmers Market runs Thursdays from 4–8 p.m., May through September, along Fifth Street. More than 80 weekly vendors participate, and free live music takes place in the Railroad Park beverage garden during the season.
The Global Greens International Market runs Saturdays from May 23 through October 31, 9 a.m.–12:30 p.m., at 3200 University Avenue. The market supports former refugees building farm businesses and accepts cash, cards, SNAP/EBT and eligible farmers-market nutrition checks.
| Market | 2026 schedule | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Downtown Farmers’ Market | Saturdays, May 2–Oct. 31 7 a.m.–noon; 8 a.m.–noon in October |
Historic Court District |
| Valley Junction Farmers Market | Thursdays, May–September 4–8 p.m. |
Fifth Street, West Des Moines |
| Global Greens International Market | Saturdays, May 23–Oct. 31 9 a.m.–12:30 p.m. |
3200 University Ave. |
Free Events and Festivals
Summer adds free movies, music and festivals to the year-round list. These are the dates most likely to change, so confirm before leaving home.
Free Flicks brings family movies to neighborhood locations on a large outdoor screen. Admission is free, and blankets, lawn chairs and snacks are welcome. The remaining 2026 dates at the time of this update are August 14 at Reichardt Community Recreation Center and August 21 at Gray’s Lake Park.
Vibes in the Village returns to Simon Estes Amphitheater on August 22, 2026, from noon–5 p.m. The free East Village event includes live music and neighborhood activities. Purchases from food, drink and retail vendors are optional.
The World Food & Music Festival returns to Western Gateway Park August 28–30, 2026. Admission, live entertainment and cultural programming are free. Food and drinks are sold by vendors representing 29 countries and culinary regions.
Heads Up
Brenton Skating Plaza is not a generally free attraction. Regular admission currently costs $10 for adults, $6 for children ages 6–12 and seniors, and $2 for children five and younger. Skate rental costs extra. Watch for limited free clinics or special promotions instead.
Free Things Around the Metro
A short drive opens more trails, beaches, nature centers and seasonal programs beyond Des Moines proper.
Big Creek State Park near Polk City has a swimming beach, lake access and a connection to the 27-mile Neal Smith Trail. Iowa state parks do not charge a general entrance fee, although rentals, camping and some services cost money.
At Jester Park Nature Center near Granger, admission to the park and nature center is free. The nearby bison and elk educational area and natural playscape make this one of the better no-cost family outings north of the city.
Terra Park in Johnston offers accessible trails around Terra Lake and large play areas. Johnston also operates free seasonal community events, but registration rules and dates change, so use the city calendar for current offerings.
In winter, the Johnston Town Center Skating Rink is free for visitors who bring their own skates. Skate rentals cost $5. That makes it the better fit for this guide than a standard visit to Brenton Skating Plaza.
Other reliable free options include the Clive Greenbelt Trail, an 11.3-mile route along Walnut Creek; the paved Summerset Trail between Carlisle and Indianola; and Copper Creek Lake Park in Pleasant Hill, where a lit trail circles the lake.
Families looking for free water play can check the Ankeny splash pads, Fox Creek Splash Pad in Waukee and the Waterworks Park Splash Pad in Grimes. Ankeny also hosts the Uptown Ankeny Farmers Market during its posted summer season.
Heads Up
Check suburban park pages before driving across the metro. Splash-pad seasons, trail closures, construction and weather cancellations are managed by each city. A listing can be free and still be temporarily unavailable.
The main pattern is simple: start with public parks, trails, libraries, museums and community calendars. Des Moines has enough free options to build an afternoon, a Saturday or a full weekend without making every stop a purchase.
Know a free place we missed?
Send us the trail, event, program or public space. We will check the details and consider it for the next update.
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