Virginia Travel on a Budget: 12 Affordable Family-Friendly Activities

From rainy-day fun to spring break vacations, there are tons of family-friendly activities to discover throughout Virginia. However, sometimes it can be a balancing act of sticking to a tight budget while keeping the kids entertained.

To help you keep costs low and spirits high, we’ve put together a list of ideas that are both budget-friendly and family-friendly. Make plans to do a few of these kid-centric activities, all $30 per person or less! 

Want more affordable activities? Check out our Free Things To Do page and start making more memories for less in Virginia. 

Get an up-close look at wildlife, farm animals, and aquatic creatures when you visit a zoo, working farm, or aquarium! 

• Fort Chiswell Animal Park in Wytheville: Adults $20, children 3-12 $15, children 2 & under free.
• Metro Richmond Zoo: Adults $27.95, children 2-11 $20.95, children 1 & under free.
• Virginia Zoo in Norfolk: Adults $20, children 2-11 $17, children 2 & under free.
• Mill Mountain Zoo in Roanoke: Adults $12, children 3-11 $10, children 2 & under free.
• Luray Zoo: 13 and up $12, children ages 3-12 $6, children 2 & under free.

For a working farm experience, stop by Caromont Farm in Scottsville. The goat cheese farm hosts frequent goat snuggle sessions where you and your kids can cuddle adorable baby goats, learn about the cheese-making process, and take home fresh goat cheese. Tickets are $15 each and children 4 & under are free; they tend to sell out fast, so buying well in advance is recommended!

2. Ride Along One of Virginia’s Paved Bike Trails

 Take the bikes out on a trail day with your family. You can ride many family-friendly trails for free if you bring your own bikes, but some parks may require a small entry or shuttle fee. 

• Virginia Creeper Trail in Southwest Virginia: Stretches 34.3 miles through the trail town of Damascus and up to the North Carolina State Line near Whitetop. The trail itself is free, but shuttles from outfitters like The Virginia Creeper Trail Bike Shop have varying costs. 
• Blackwater Creek Trail in Lynchburg: Eight miles of paved and dirt-packed hiking and biking trails along the Blackwater Creek. Entry is free, and you can rent bikes from Bikes Unlimited starting at just $20 an hour. 
• Virginia Capital Trail: Paved trail runs 52 miles from Richmond to Williamsburg. Bike rentals from The Kickstand in Richmond starting at $10 per hour for kids and $17 per hour for adults. 
• High Bridge Trail State Park in Farmville: Former rail bed trail is 31 miles long, including a scenic stretch on the majestic High Bridge over the Appomattox River.

Explore more family-friendly bike trails in Virginia.
 

3. Practice Your Putting at a Miniature Golf Course

You don’t need to swing like the pros to enjoy a game of putt-putt with your family!

• Harbortown Miniature Golf in Moneta: Wild West-themed miniature golf course overlooking Smith Mountain Lake. Adults are $11, children 12 & under are $7, and children under 3 are free. 
• Bethpage Miniature Golf in Urbanna: Cow-themed miniature golf course with an ice cream shop next door. Contact the campsite for current prices. 
• Wilderness Presidential Mini-Golf in Spotsylvania: The course is open year-round and rates are $3 per person. All kids 5 & under are free.
• Pirates Paradise Mini Golf in Virginia Beach: 18-hole pirate-themed miniature golf course. Rates are $14 for adults, $12 for kids 5-12 years old, and free for children 4 & under playing with adults. 
• Burke Lake Park Mini Golf in Fairfax: Rates start at $8 for adults, $7 for kids 12 & under. Other park amenities include a miniature train, old fashioned carousel, ice cream parlor, and playgrounds.

4. Blend Education & Fun at a History, Science, or Art Museum

There are dozens of kid-friendly museums around the Commonwealth, many with hands-on activities that allow kids to learn and play at the same time.

• The Mariners’ Museum and Park in Newport News: Museum about the ocean and the people that have traveled it. Sits on a 550-acre park that is free and open to the public. Admission to the museum is only $1 per person and free for children 3 and under. 
• Science Museum of Virginia in Richmond: Contains experiential exhibits, interactive technologies, hands-on makerspace projects, and lab demonstrations. Admission starts at $18.50 for ages 13 & up, $15.50 for ages 6-12, $11 for ages 3-5, and free for children under 2. 
• Children’s Museum of Virginia in Portsmouth: Largest children’s museum in Virginia with fun, interactive, and hands-on things to keep kids entertained for hours. Adults $11, children and youth 2-17 $10, children 1 & under are free. 
• National Air and Space Museum, Steven Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly: Companion facility of the Smithsonian’s National Air & Space Museum. Free admission, parking $15
• Virginia Museum of Natural History in Martinsville: Adults $12, children and youth 3-17 $6, free for children 3 & under. 

Still looking for the perfect getaway? Explore more museums around Virginia.
 

5. Get Outdoors at a Virginia State Park or National Park

In addition to gorgeous natural scenery, many state and national parks contain beginner-level hiking trails suitable for the whole family at Virginia State Parks and National Parks.

• Shenandoah National Park: Biking and walking fee is $15 per person
• Assateague Island National Seashore: $25 per vehicle.
• Blue Ridge Parkway: Free
• Cumberland Gap: Free

Reach new heights when you conquer these family-friendly trails in Virginia.
 

6. Pick Your Own Produce at a Berry Farm or Orchard

Bring the kids to a you-pick farm or orchard, where they can learn about farming practices while gathering fresh fruits and veggies. Bonus points if you bring it home and teach them how to turn delicious Virginia produce into a home-cooked meal or dessert!

• Swover Creek Farms in Edinburg: Has an indoor children’s play area and an outdoor dog park. Free admission, pay per pound for seasonally picked fruit, including blackberries, blueberries, and raspberries. 
• Great Country Farms in Bluemont: Pick your own strawberries, cherries, raspberries, peaches, blackberries, plums, apples, and pumpkins (check seasonal calendar for current availability). Farm also has mazes, giant slides, farm animals, rope swings, and more. Admission ranges from $10-16 depending on the season and events. 
• Chesterfield Berry Farm in Chesterfield: Grows over 50 different varieties of fruits and vegetables that are sold in their on-site Farm Market. Pick-your-own produce includes strawberries (mid-April through May), blackberries (mid-June through July), and pumpkins (mid-September through October). $2 entry fee for pick-your-own. 
• Mackintosh Fruit Farm in Berryville: Open May through October for a variety of pick-your-own vegetables and fruits, including peaches, apples, and berries. Free to visit the farm store; pay per pound for picked fruits and vegetables. 
• F.T. Valley Farm at Mont Medi in Sperryville: Seasonally open for pick-your-own apples and peaches. Free admission to the orchard, pay per bushel for apples and peaches.

7. Explore Virginia’s Caverns

There are several different caverns in Virginia, all found within the Southwest and Shenandoah Valley regions of the Commonwealth. 

• Gap Cave in Ewing: Adults $8, children 5-12 are $4. No children under 5 are admitted.
• Dixie Caverns in Salem: Adults 13 and over $18, children 5-12 $8, children 5 & under are free.
• Endless Caverns in New Market: Adults 13 and over $30/tour, children 4-12 $17, ages 3 & under are free.
• Luray Caverns in Luray: While adult admission is $36, admission for children 6-12 is only $18, and children under 6 are free. 

8. Soar Through the Treetops at an Outdoor Adventure Park

Conquer great heights and speeds on the ziplines at a Virginia Outdoor Adventure Park. 

• Bear Mountain Zipline in Luray: The Baby Bear High Ropes Course at Bear Mountain Ziplines is only $25 for two trips and is for ages 5 and up, at least 36” tall, and 40-250 pounds. They also have a rock climbing wall that is $20 per half hour. 
• Massanutten Resort Family Adventure Park in McGaheysville: The kids adventure course is $20 for two trips around per person.
• Danville Zip Line in Danville: Danville Zip Line offers summer programs and most are only $12 per person.
• The Rope Adventure Park in Luray: $8 for kids under 48” and $12 for 48” and taller. 

Discover more zip line and ropes courses in Virginia.
 

9. Play a Round of Disc Golf

Disc golf combines the precision of golf with the easygoing sport of Frisbee, resulting in an affordable and fun sport that players of any age can enjoy. 

• Mayflower Disc Golf Course at Explore Park in Roanoke.
• The Tides Inn in Irvington: Disc golf course on the resort grounds with nine holes. Free to guests.
• Jim Barnett Park Disc Golf Course in Winchester: 18-hole course that is free to play, with disc rentals for $2 each rented at the War Memorial Building near the first hole. 
• Westover Park Disc Golf Course in Harrisonburg: 18-hole disc golf course that is free to play. Discs can be checked out from the front desk of the park. 
• Munden Point Park in Virginia Beach: 18-hole course that is free to play. The park also has playgrounds, horseshoe pits, volleyball and basketball courts, and a fishing area. 

10. Float Down a River on a Tubing Excursion

Spend an afternoon with the family leisurely float down a Virginia waterway. Pro tip: In addition to being relaxing and affordable, this option also forces the kids to leave the phones behind! 

• Reeling & Rafting in Scottsville: A 4-mile tubing trip on the James River starts at $28 per person and includes transportation to the river’s entrance point. Must be 6 years and older. 
• Shenandoah River Outfitters in Luray: 4-5 hour tubing trip down the South Fork of the Shenandoah River. $28 per person and includes transportation to the river’s entrance point. Must be 5 years and older. 
• Roanoke Mountain Adventures in Roanoke: A 3-4 hour tubing trip down the Roanoke River. Trips are $20 for adults and $16 for children ages 6-12.

See our top recommendations for family-friendly floats.
 

11. Bond Over a Family Camping Trip

Create beautiful memories with an overnight family camping trip. Don’t forget the s’mores! 

• Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park in Luray: While campsites at this camping resort tend to run $50 & up, that includes a campsite that fits the whole family, including your four-legged family members! Your camping fee also includes a wide array of on-site activities, including a playground, basketball court, soccer field, fishing pond, pedal boats, petting zoo, nature trails, mini golf course, outdoor movie theater, and a water park complete with swimming pools, water slides, and a spray fun zone. 
• Sun Outdoors in Cape Charles: Summer rates begin at $40 per night, but your entry fee includes five swimming pools, games like cornhole, horseshoes, and shuffleboard, a game lounge, mini golf, and three playgrounds. 
• Misty Mountain Camp Resort in Greenwood: Campsites start at just $28 per night and are pet-friendly. Camp resort amenities include a jump pad, two playgrounds, a stocked fishing pond, games like cornhole and horseshoes, a splash park, and a pool.

Got some first-time campers in your group? Check out our tips for camping beginners in Virginia. 
 

12. Experience Hands-On History at an Iconic Virginia Site

Put the history books away and instead visit some of Virginia’s most iconic historic sites, where the kids can learn through interactive exhibits and activities. 

• Mount Vernon: Adults $28, ages 6-11 are $15, children 5 & under are free. Stop by the Pioneer Farm, where you can watch 18th-century demonstrations like wheat harvesting, sheep shearing, and cooking over and open fire. 
• Monticello: Grounds ticket are $22 for adults, $8 for ages 12-18, $2 for ages 5-11, and free for children under 5. Explore add-on guided tours, like the Women at Monticello Tour or the From Slavery to Freedom Tour. 
• Jamestown Settlement: Adults 13 and up are $20, ages 6-12 are $10, children 5 & under are free. Kids can participate in navigation and piloting demonstrations aboard the Jamestown Settlement Ships, where they will learn what life was like aboard a 17th century ocean voyage. 
• American Revolution Museum at Yorktown: Adults 13 and up $20, ages 6-12 $10 children 5 & under are free. The Continental Army encampment offers vivid portrayals of a soldier’s life during the Revolutionary War, such as musket and artillery firing, daily routines, and 18th century surgical and medical practices.

Keep planning your historic getaway by checking out these iconic sites in Virginia.