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Affordable Winter Activities in Missouri

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Missouri offers an abundance of affordable winter activities that will entertain the whole family. Whether you’re looking for an active indoor excursion, some family-friendly competition in an arcade or an educational museum experience, there’s something for everyone to enjoy without breaking the bank.

Northeast Region

  • Evelyn E. Jorgenson Fine Arts Gallery, Moberly: A hub of artistic expression and creative exploration, the Evelyn E. Jorgenson Fine Arts Gallery has free admission and showcases a diverse array of exhibits – work created by local artists and the students from the Moberly Area Community College.
  • Mark Twain Boyhood Home & Museum, Hannibal: Step back in time at the birthplace of Mark Twain, where exhibits bring his legendary stories and childhood to life. Tickets provide admission for the entire museum complex, and guests can wander through some of Twain’s most famous novels – ride a raft with Huck and Jim, explore a cave with Tom and Becky, pilot a steamboat, and paint the famous whitewashed fence.
A Mark Twain Statue sits in a maroon, wing-backed chair, reading a book. The space is decorated as a study. The statues of Huck and Tom are also in the space.
The displays at the Mark Twain Boyhood Home & Museum bring the author’s most famous works to life.

St. Louis Area Activities

  • World Bird Sanctuary: Enjoy a close-up view of native birds in a natural setting. Entry is charged per car, and visitors will have an exciting adventure exploring aviaries and scenic hiking trails at the World Bird Sanctuary.
  • The Rawlings Experience: Sports fans will love this free, interactive experience. Celebrating Rawlings’ baseball history, the Rawlings Experience gives visitors the chance to swing the latest Rawlings bat, design a custom glove and see priceless artifacts highlighting the game’s greatest moments and careers.
A large building has glass windows from top to bottom. There's a sign on the front of the building that reads "Rawlings Experience, St. Louis." There is also a massive baseball figurine that sits outside the building.
Take me out to the Rawlings Experience and get a selfie with the large baseball on display. Credit: Mark Hermes/Explore STL
  • Saint Louis Science Center: Featuring hands-on exhibits, interesting galleries, and fascinating STEM demonstrations, the St. Louis Science Center is an enthralling, academic experience. Not to mention, general admission is free!
  • Saint Louis Zoo: The St. Louis Zoo is a family favorite. Entry is free and families can view wildlife from around the globe.
  • Neon Museum of Saint Louis and Old Chain of Rocks Bridge: This nonprofit museum is the perfect addition to a Route 66-themed afternoon. Vintage signs and memorabilia fill the space, including the infamous neon signs from days bygone. (Be sure to plan ahead because the museum is only open four days per month.) After, stop by the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge. Spanning the Mississippi River, this was the original river crossing on Route 66. The bridge’s distinctive 30-degree turn in the middle is a unique feature you’ll want to see!

Southeast Region

  • Missouri Mines State Historic Site, Park Hills: This historic site showcases Missouri’s mining heritage. The entry fees are budget friendly, and visitors will learn about the historic, social and economic impacts of mining on the local communities.
  • Discovery Playhouse, Cape Girardeau: Play, learn and discover at the Discovery Playhouse. Kids will love the variety of interactive activities – see the inside of an airplane, work in a bank or grocery store, learn about what it’s like to be firefighter, and so much more!
  • American Tractor Museum, Perryville: Tour the impressive collection that walks visitors through the evolution of the machine that plowed, planted and harvested the American dream for centuries.
  • Rodgers Theatre, Poplar Bluff: Book a ticket at the Historic Rodgers Theatre. Entertaining audiences since 1949, this beloved community staple is a great indoor activity during the cold winter months.
  • The Centre, Rolla: Indoor swimming, exercise equipment, basketball and volleyball courts – pay an affordable fee for all-day, all-facility access at The Centre.

Central Region

  • Museum of Anthropology, Columbia: Explore history and culture at the Museum of Anthropology on the University of Columbia’s campus. Admission is free, and the museum’s collection is the largest holding of prehistoric Missouri artifacts in the world.
  • Runge Conservation Nature Center, Jefferson City: Learn about the state’s natural beauty and wildlife at the Runge Conservation Nature Center. Featuring an indoor wildlife viewing area, a 3,580-gallon aquarium, hands-on activities for children, live amphibians and reptiles, the center offers a top-tier educational experience for free.
  • Route 66 Museum and Murals, Lebanon: Take a free, self-guided tour at the Route 66 Museum. Showcasing the legendary highway’s role in American history, the museum has recreations of a 1950s gas station and a classic diner, along with displays of antique cars. It’s a blast to the past the entire family will enjoy. Thereafter, take a drive to Boswell Route 66 Park, where three large murals are on display, depicting Lebanon’s Route 66 heritage.
A classic diner has black and white tiled floors, a jukebox, a mannequin with a 1960s diner uniform and an old-school counter with short, blue counter seats.
The Route 66 Museum in Lebanon gives a glimpse into life during the road’s heyday.

Southwest Region

  • Rutledge-Wilson Farm Park, Springfield: The 207-acre farm park has free entry and provides an authentic farm experience. In addition to interacting with animals, the park includes animal barns, a visitor center and gift shop, a farm-themed playground and more!
  • The Branson Trolley, Branson: Take a scenic afternoon trip around downtown Branson. There is no cost to ride the trolley, and it includes several stops along Main Street and the Branson Landing.
  • Tilt Studio, Joplin: Have “fun at full blast” at Tilt Studio in Joplin. With attractions like black light laser tag, bumper cars, mini-golf, plus hundreds of arcade and video games, your entire day will be filled with laughter and memories.

Northwest Region

  • Hangar Cinema, Maryville: Catch a movie at the Hangar Cinema, which offers reasonably priced tickets for the latest releases. The building is – as the title indicates – designed to look like an airplane hangar. Furthermore, the space includes arcade games and dinner options.
  • Jesse James Home, St. Joseph: Visit the house where the notorious outlaw spent his final days. The entry fee is budget-friendly, and the museum offers an interesting glimpse into Jesse’s life of crime.
A 10-year-old kid stands in Jesse James' home and looks at a portrait of him on the wall.
Learn about Jesse James and his outlaw associates in St. Joseph.

Kansas City Area Attractions

  • Kaleidoscope: Discover magic at Kaleidoscope, a place where children and their families are invited to be creative, have fun and feel good about their own special ideas. Crafts and engaging, hands-on displays will spark your kids’ intellectual creativity. What’s more, entry is free!
  • Lakeside Nature Center: Learn about native Missouri plants, animals and their natural habitats. Free and open to the public, the award-winning facility houses approximately 60 animals, including bald eagles and other birds of prey, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and fish.
  • Federal Reserve Bank and Money Museum: Tour Kansas City’s Federal Reserve Bank and Money Museum and learn about the U.S. monetary system. Be sure to arrive early so your kids can snag a free bag of shredded cash! Additionally, see one of the nation’s largest cash vaults and browse coin collections from various presidential administrations.

Cold weather is no reason to be bored at home. Missouri has a variety of low-cost, family-friendly activities throughout the state. Delve into history at a museum, admire art exhibitions, get your game on at an arcade room – it can all be found, at a budget-friendly rate, in the Show-Me State.