22 listings in Baltimore, MD: free days out with kids: museums, workshops, storytimes and more.
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Trails daily, sunrise to sunset
Howard County Conservancy, Mt. Pleasant FarmsteadBaltimore
The Howard County Conservancy's 232-acre Mt. Pleasant Farmstead has 5 miles of trails open free from sunrise to sunset every day. The nature center is open Monday to Saturday, 9am to 3pm (closed Saturdays in winter).
Verified Oct 27 · howardnature.org
No catch
Mon–Thu 7am–8pm; Fri 7am–midnight; Sat 9am–midnight; Sun 9am–7pm (no service Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's Day)
Charm City Circulator (downtown Baltimore)
Five free bus routes connect more than 100 stops downtown and nearby, from Mount Vernon and Federal Hill to Harbor East and the University of Maryland. Buses come every 10 to 20 minutes (40 on the Banner route to Fort McHenry). Runs Monday to Thursday 7am to 8pm, Friday 7am to midnight, Saturday 9am to midnight and Sunday 9am to 7pm.
Verified Oct 27 · baltimorecity.gov
Catch: Children 12 and under must ride with an adult
Tuesday–Saturday, 10am–4pm (closed state holidays)
Banneker-Douglass-Tubman MuseumBaltimore
The state's official museum of African American heritage sits in a historic church in downtown Annapolis. Admission is free. The current exhibition, She Speaks: Black Women Artists and the Power of Historical Memory, runs through January 16, 2027. Open Tuesday to Saturday, 10am to 4pm.
Verified Oct 27 · bdmuseum.maryland.gov
No catch
Tuesday–Sunday, 8am–5pm
Cylburn ArboretumBaltimore
Baltimore's public arboretum has gardens, tree collections and woodland trails around an 1860s mansion. Grounds are open Tuesday to Sunday, 8am to 5pm; the Nature Education Center is open Tuesday to Saturday, 10am to 4pm, plus the first and second Sundays. Leashed dogs are welcome.
Verified Oct 27 · cylburn.org
No catch
Daily, 8:30am–5pm (closed Christmas and New Year's Day)
Maryland State HouseBaltimore
The oldest state capitol still in legislative use, where George Washington resigned his commission and the Treaty of Paris was ratified. It's open daily, 8:30am to 5pm, with self-guided tour information by the Archives Room on the first floor.
Verified Oct 27 · msa.maryland.gov
Catch: Photo ID and security screening required
Tue & Thu 1–4pm, Wed 1–7pm (walk-in); Sat 9am–1pm by appointment
Howard County Food Bank (Community Action Council)Baltimore
Choose your own groceries, grocery-store style, at the Howard County Food Bank in Columbia: produce, dairy, frozen meat, bread, shelf-stable food, diapers, formula and hygiene items (based on donations). Walk in Tuesday and Thursday 1 to 4pm or Wednesday 1 to 7pm (an online 'Join the Line' opens at 12:30pm); Saturday 9am to 1pm is by appointment.
Verified Oct 27 · cac-hc.org
Catch: Apply first (online application on the Community Action Council site) · Shopping up to twice a month
Nature center daily 9am–5pm (closed county holidays); park sunrise to sunset
Oregon Ridge Nature CenterBaltimore
Baltimore County's first nature center has a collection of live animal ambassadors, exhibits and a network of hiking trails in the 1,100-acre Oregon Ridge Park. The center is open daily, 9am to 5pm; the park is open sunrise to sunset.
Verified Oct 27 · baltimorecountymd.gov
Catch: Groups of 10+ must contact the center before visiting
Wed & Fri–Sun 10am–5pm; Thu 1–8pm (closed Mon–Tue and major holidays)
The Walters Art MuseumBaltimore
The Walters in Mount Vernon shows art from cultures around the world, and admission is always free. Open Wednesday and Friday to Sunday, 10am to 5pm, and Thursdays 1 to 8pm. Public tours are free too.
Verified Oct 27 · thewalters.org
No catch
Wednesday–Sunday 10am–5pm; Thursdays until 9pm
Baltimore Museum of Art
The BMA in Charles Village is always free for general admission, with the Matisse collection, rotating shows and the sculpture gardens. Reserve a free ticket online or at the Welcome Desk. Open Wednesday to Sunday, 10am to 5pm, and Thursdays until 9pm.
Verified Oct 27 · artbma.org
Catch: Free timed reservation required · Special ticketed exhibitions cost extra
Mon & Wed–Sat 9am–5pm; Sun 10am–4pm (closed Tue and federal holidays)
U.S. Naval Academy Museum (Preble Hall)Baltimore
Two floors of exhibits in Preble Hall on the Naval Academy grounds trace the history of sea power, the U.S. Navy and the Academy, with ship models, art and artifacts. Admission is free. Visitors without a DoD ID park outside and walk in through Gate 1.
Verified Oct 27 · usna.edu
Catch: Valid photo ID required for adults 18+ to enter the Academy grounds
Saturdays and Sundays, 10:30am–7:30pm (through Dec 6)
Harbor Connector (Pier 1, Harborplace and other stops)Baltimore
Through December 6, Baltimore's free water bus runs two weekend loops, 10:30am to 7:30pm: the Inner Harbor Loop (Pier 1 at Harborplace, Harbor East, Federal Hill, Fells Point, Locust Point) and the Outer Harbor Loop (Fells Point, Locust Point, Canton Waterfront Park).
Verified Oct 27 · baltimorecity.gov
Catch: Children 12 and under must ride with an adult
Sundays, 2–5pm
Baltimore Museum of Art, Joseph Education Center Studio
Every Sunday from 2 to 5pm, teaching artists lead hands-on art projects in the BMA's Joseph Education Center Studio, inspired by the museum's exhibitions and collection. Designed for families with children ages 6 to 9.
Verified Oct 27 · artbma.org
Catch: Designed for kids ages 6–9 with their families
Sat, Nov 14, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
The Book Thing of Baltimore
The Book Thing gives away thousands of donated books, all completely free, on one weekend day a month. Saturday, November 14, 9am to 5pm. At recent openings people line up outdoors and enter in timed groups each hour for a 55-minute browse; there are no reservations, and lines are shortest in the afternoon. Books are stamped 'Not for Resale.' Details are posted 7 to 10 days before.
Verified Oct 27 · bookthing.org
Catch: Children must come with an adult (up to 3 children per adult)
Sat, Nov 14, 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
The Walters Art MuseumBaltimore
An afternoon of free family activities celebrating Native American Heritage Month through the foodways and stories of Native cultures, plus gallery games and art projects all day.
Verified Oct 27 · thewalters.org
Catch: Free RSVP requested
Sat, Dec 12, 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Annapolis Harbor (City Dock, Ego Alley, Spa Creek Bridge)Baltimore
Dozens of boats covered in thousands of lights parade through Annapolis Harbor for two hours on Saturday, December 12, starting at 6pm. Watch for free from the Spa Creek Bridge, City Dock, Ego Alley, the Naval Academy seawall or the Eastport streets that dead-end at the water. Expect heavy traffic and leave early.
Verified Oct 27 · eyclightsparade.org
No catch
Sun, Dec 13, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
The Book Thing of Baltimore
Pick up free books for holiday gifts or your own shelves at The Book Thing's monthly giveaway. Sunday, December 13, 9am to 5pm. At recent openings people line up outdoors and enter in timed groups each hour for a 55-minute browse; there are no reservations, and lines are shortest in the afternoon. Books are stamped 'Not for Resale.' Details are posted 7 to 10 days before.
Verified Oct 27 · bookthing.org
Catch: Children must come with an adult (up to 3 children per adult)
Borrow any time (3-week loan)
Howard County Library System branchesBaltimore
Howard County Library System lends ukulele kits (ukulele, tuner and case) for three weeks from any branch, with no overdue fines. Request one online with a free library card.
Verified Oct 27 · hclibrary.org
Catch: Library card required (free to people who live, work or study in Maryland) · Ages 13 and up
Any day
Baltimore City Fire Department (call 311)
Baltimore City residents can call 311 to get free 10-year, tamper-resistant smoke alarms installed by the Fire Department on every level of their home, usually within two hours. Alarms for people who are deaf or hard of hearing are available through the Fire Marshal's office at (410) 396-5752.
Verified Oct 27 · baltimorecity.gov
Catch: Only for: Baltimore City residents · Request by calling 311
Borrow any time
Carroll County Public Library branchesBaltimore
Carroll County Public Library lends birding backpacks with binoculars, a phone adapter for a spotting scope and a Birds of Maryland and Delaware field guide. Place a hold and pick it up at any of the six branches.
Verified Oct 27 · library.carr.org
Catch: Library card required
Borrow any time (1-week loan)
Anne Arundel County Public Library branchesBaltimore
Anne Arundel County Public Library lends a group pass that admits up to four people to the Museum of Historic Annapolis and the William Paca House and Garden, home of a signer of the Declaration of Independence. Check it out for one week.
Verified Oct 27 · aacpl.net
Catch: Library card required (free to people who live, work, study or own property in Maryland) · One-week loan; limited passes
Borrow any time (1-week loan)
Anne Arundel County Public Library branchesBaltimore
Every Anne Arundel County Public Library branch has a free family pass for four to Historic London Town and Gardens, a 24-acre public garden and colonial port town on the South River with a Sound and Sensory Garden for kids. Borrow it for a week.
Verified Oct 27 · aacpl.net
Catch: Library card required (free to people who live, work, study or own property in Maryland) · One-week loan; one pass per branch
Borrow any time (7-day loan)
Anne Arundel County Public Library branchesBaltimore
Anne Arundel County Public Library lends a pass that gets one vehicle with up to 10 people into every Maryland State Park for free day use, including boat launching. Loans last seven days and can't be renewed.
Verified Oct 27 · aacpl.net
Catch: Library card required (free to people who live, work, study or own property in Maryland) · Limited passes: 7-day loan, no renewals
