12 Affordable Family Activities in Arizona You Can’t Miss
Are you searching for exciting and budget-friendly ways to spend quality time with your family in Arizona?
Look no further!
This vibrant state is packed with activities that cater to all ages and interests, ensuring that every family member can create lasting memories without overspending. In this blog post, we’ll highlight 12 affordable family activities that showcase the best of Arizona’s entertainment, education, and outdoor fun.
1. Start by getting a POGO pass!!!
There’s no doubt this is #1…. This is the key to MANY family activities that will cost you little to nothing.
Once you learn all that it has to offer- it may sound a little too good to be true! Let’s dive in!
The POGO pass is a one time charge that gives you admission to over 20 attractions throughout the Phoenix/Tucson area. You can purchase the POGO pass for adults and/or children. There are not any age requirements but it is non-transferable. So each person needs to have their own pass with their name on the pass for admission.
Once you validate your POGO pass it is good for one entire year. So you have plenty of time to plan out your upcoming adventures!
There is also a POGO pass app where you will be able to download your pass so you can show the pogo pass barcode to scan at each location. I have included a screenshot example of ours below.
The pass includes admission to the following:
(Keep in mind that there is new experiences being added frequently, so it may slightly differ than this list through time)
- Golfland Sunsplash
- Multiple ASU Sports Games
- Arizona Science Center
- Arizona Diamondbacks Games
- Phoenix Zoo
- Arizona Rattlers
- Phoenix Mercury
- Desert Dreams F.C.
- Fat Cats
- KTR – Indoor Action Sports Playground
- Phoenix Rock Gym
- Uptown Jungle
- Mic Drop Mania
- AZ Ice
- Rush Extreme
- Luv2Play
- Pecan Lake
- Stratosphere Adventure Park
- Arena23
- Ninja Nation
- Fun Box
- Golf n’ Stuff
Use the link below to get the POGO pass for only $59.99!!! (Regularly $119.98)
2. McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park
The McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park is one of our favorite places to visit!
We frequently do the ~25 minute drive from the East Valley because it’s well worth it. The only small cost is if you want to ride the carousel or take their train ride! Otherwise the entire park, playground, museum and model railroad exhibit is completely free to visit!
The train ride costs $3 per person or 8 people for $20. They also offer an all day wristband for $12!
The carousel I believe is around $1-2 per person. I cant remember the exact amount, but I know it is around that.
There is a lot to see and do here! You can expect to spend a couple of hours exploring and playing.
Things to check out:
- Carousel ride – My kids always say this feel like Disneyland for them, haha!
- Train ride – My kids loved it! We don’t do it every time. I usually have them pick one (between this or carousel) before we arrive.
- Newly renovated playground with playground spaces dedicated to ages 2-5 years and ages 5-12 years
- Gift shop
- Scottsdale railroad museum
- Model railroad exhibit
Address:
7301 E Indian Bend Rd, Scottsdale, AZ 85250
3. Summer movies- Harkins
For only $8 your child can enjoy a movie a week for 8 weeks during the summer time heat!
This is a great escape to beat the heat when it’s 100+ degrees outside.
This deal is offered throughout many Harkins location in AZ.
This link will provide you with further details on locations.
2025 Harkins summer movie line up
4. Mansel Carter Oasis Park
This is a beautiful park in Queen Creek, AZ with so much to offer and it’s all FREE.
This park has a playground, shipwreck-themed splash pad, 5-acre fishing lake, three restroom facilities (two family restrooms), six tennis courts, six sand volleyball courts, four pickleball courts, four lighted baseball fields, and so much more.
Address:
19535 E Appleby Rd, Queen Creek, AZ 85142
Hours of Operation:
Mansel Park: 7 a.m. – 10 p.m
Lake at Mansel Park: 7 a.m. – 10 p.m.
9 a.m. to 7 p.m. (March, April, October)
8 a.m. to 9 p.m. (May, June, July, August, September)
Wheel Friendly Plaza: 7 a.m. – 9:30 p.m.
5. Arizona Capitol Museum
This might be good for when your kiddos are a bit older. My son is 6 and he still got something out of it and learned many things- I felt it was worth coming to for him. My daughter on the other hand is 3 and she was over it pretty quickly. There is a lot of things to learn around the state capitol and it was really nice and peaceful the day we went.
The museum offers tours and field trips- or you can explore the museum independently.
When we went to the museum we walked it independently. Although, when my son is a little older I’d love to go back and do their tour. I think we’d both get more out of it.
Address:
Arizona Capitol Museum
1700 W Washington St Phoenix, AZ 85007
Hours:
Open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (Sept. – May)
6. Desert Botanical Garden
This is one we have on our list to do- so we have not been yet! But, with the mass of positive google reviews, we are certain this one will not disappoint.
Mark your calendars for the next SECOND Tuesday of the month- that day they offer FREE admission to the garden. It is called Community Day.
They highly recommend you reserve a time slot for these free admission days to ensure you’re admitted and there’s not an overcrowd.
You can reserve your time slot here.
ADDRESS:
1201 N Galvin Pkwy, Phoenix, AZ 85008
General Admission
Now – May 30: $24.95 – $34.95
June 1 – Labor Day : $16.95 for guests of all ages
Youth 3 – 17 | $14.95- $19.95
Children under 2 & Members | FREE
Community Day | FREE
(Second Tuesday of every month)
Active Military Personnel | FREE
(with valid government ID for General Admission only)
7. Queen Creek Library
This library is our little escape, especially when it comes to homeschooling! It’s completely free to get a library card for property owners in Maricopa county and QC residents. If you live outside of Maricopa county there is a small fee to obtain a library card.
This is where we spend time reading books as well as checking out books so we aren’t spending money on a book, just to read it a few times. I also like going to this library to check out material to lessen the amount of “stuff” at home. Our homeschool storage is limited so I really try to only invest and bring home what can cater to us long term or pass onto my daughter when she starts kindergarten.
Things we love about the QC library
- Free library events including but not limited to: preschool story time, time or toddlers, baby time, family story time, cozy crafters – knit, crochet and crafting, and so much more! View event calendar here
- Summer reading program
- NO overdue fines
- You can renew your items online
- You can request materials online for them to hold it for you
- Culture passes to get admission to museums, performances, gardens and other AZ attractions
- Seed library – free vegetables, herbs and flower seeds
- Study rooms
- and a whole lot MORE!
LOCATION:
21802 S Ellsworth Road
Queen Creek, AZ 85142
+1 602-652-3000
Current operating hours are:
Mon – Thu 9 AM – 8 PM
Fri & Sat 9 AM – 5 PM
Sun Closed
At This Location
- ADA Parking Spots(opens in a new window)
- Computers
- Drive-up book drop
- Early literacy computer
- Friends of the library bookstore
- Restrooms + water fountains
- Study rooms
- Wi-Fi accessible in the building and parking lot
8. Schnepf Farms
This family friendly farm has free admission during non-event durations. They offer a cafe, bakery, gift shop, train rides, petting zoo, playground and much more! It’s a great way to get out of the house and explore and play with as little cost as you want to make it!
We have also been to their pumpkin patch time which is super fun and I highly recommend it! We will be going to it again this year. During their events they open up their vintage amusement park rides and the kids love it.
Schnepf Farms offerings (varies during different times of the year)
- U-Pick garden
- Peach picking
- Bakery
- Country store
- Weddings
- School field trip
- Glamping
- Christmas at Schenpf Farm
- Pumpkin and chili party (Pumpkin Patch w/ rides)
ADDRESS:
24810 S Rittenhouse Rd, Queen Creek, AZ 85142
9. Arizona Science Center
The Arizona Science Center was full of interactive activities for my 3 year old and 6 year old. There are four different floors to explore- you could easily spend an entire day here.
My husband and I even found it to be really interesting and we would even come back just us two.
This would make a great family activity!
Exhibits
- Mission future
- All about me
- The W.O.N.D.E.R. Center
- Flight zone
- Get charged up
- Evans family SkyCycle
- Forces of nature
- My digital world
- Solarville
- Good vibrations: where science gets loud
Visitors info
(free admission with pogo pass)
Parking info for discounted validation
Offers + promotions (military discounts for active duty)
ADDRESS:
600 E Washington St, Phoenix, AZ 85004
10. Pecan Lake Entertainment
While there is a lot of things here that cost money, like a variety of dining or go karts. It’s also a fun place to chill at and keep it simple and low cost by ordering a family pizza.
Also, with tho POGO pass you can enjoy one free round of putt putt golf or one 4D VR experience!
There’s even a huge TV screen outside thats nicely set up with large picnic table and outdoor games for the kiddos to enjoy while you sit back and relax.
While they offer many options to splurge, it’s also a great place to spend quality time together while keeping it budget friendly.
Address:
25004 S. 206th St
Queen Creek, AZ 85142
11. Fat Cats
Fat Cats offers a ton of family fun all under one roof. We like to enjoy their $5 Tuesdays for all of their movies, EVERY Tuesday! And once a week with your POGO pass you can enjoy one game of bowling per week OR one game of glow golf! There is a small shoe rental charge for bowling around $3 when using your POGO pass.
fat cats offers:
- Arcade games
- Luxury movie seating at no extra cost
- A great amount of bowling lanes
- Glow golf with 9 holes
- Banquet and party rooms
- and MORE!
Address:
4321 E Baseline Rd, Gilbert, AZ 85234
12. Arizona’s Boardwalk
Home to many cool attractions- including but not limited to:
- OdySea Aquarium
- Butterfly Wonderland
- UFO Experience
- Ripley’s believe it or not
- Museum of illusions
- and MORE
While there’s many things to see and do here that do cost money, it’s also just overall a fun place with good vibes to hang out, walk around and eat lunch. They offer many free events throughout the month as well that is worth checking out! It is free parking.
When we went on a random day and we happened to arrive during an event. There was a lot of fun for the kiddos to enjoy, all free activities!
Click here for their event calendar
ADDRESS:
9500 East Vía de Ventura, Scottsdale, AZ 85256
