Harrisburg · Dauphin County, PA
Free things to do in Harrisburg
Scout analyzed 87 Harrisburg places and surfaced the ones that actually fit free.
Places analyzed
87
Matches
24
Typical spend
—
Typical visit
1.6 hr
Best neighborhoods for free
Ranked by how many matching spots Scout found in each area.
Scout-verified spots
Outdoors
Swatara State Park
The fields, woods & streams draw visitors for fishing, hunting, hiking & cross-country skiing.
Outdoors
Reservoir Park
Public green space for 150+ years with basketball & tennis courts, a playground & a sprawling lawn.
Sports & Recreation
Olewine Nature Center
Rustic park building with kid-friendly educational exhibits & interactive programs about wildlife.
Outdoors
Pine Grove Furnace State Park
This 696-acre park features Laurel Lake, Fuller Lake, hiking, biking & the Appalachian Trail Museum.
Outdoors
Wildwood Park
Dog-friendly preserve with trails & boardwalks through marshes & wet woodlands plus a nature center.
Midtown
The Millworks
Lofty space built with reclaimed timber featuring a full bar, art galleries & farm-fresh local fare.
Outdoors
White Rocks Trail
Outdoors
Little Buffalo State Park
This 923-acre historic park features trails, Holman Lake, a grist mill & Blue Ball Tavern Museum.
Outdoors
Boyd Big Tree Preserve Conservation Area
1,025 acres of open space with an interconnected trail system, ridgetop views & seasonal hunting.
Outdoors
Hawk Rock Overlook
Downtown Harrisburg
The Forum Auditorium
Downtown Harrisburg
City Island Harrisburg
Downtown Harrisburg
Riverfront Park
Outdoors
Kohl Memorial Park
Family
Hickory Falls Family Entertainment Center
Outdoors
Adventure Park
Park featuring a handicap-accessible playground as well as soccer, disc golf & a fitness trail.
Family
Urban Air Trampoline and Adventure Park
Family
Hersheypark
Hershey's chocolate-themed park for rides, kids' activities, dining, live shows & all-things cocoa.
Outdoors
Fort Hunter Mansion and Park
Preserved 18th-century mansion & other period buildings open for tours, plus walking trails.
Outdoors
Hershey Gardens
Garden park offers 23 acres of flowers, rare trees, a butterfly house & a children's garden.
Arts & Culture
The National Civil War Museum
Smithsonian-affiliated museum with Civil War artifacts, lectures & re-enactment events.
Outdoors
George Park
62-acre park with soccer & baseball fields, plus a serene nature trail through a wetland preserve.
Sports & Recreation
Deer Valley Golf Course
Downtown Harrisburg
Capitol Park
Outdoors
Patio, trail, or open-air.
No reservation needed
Walk in tonight.
Book ahead
Book tours and tickets in Harrisburg
Lock in the parts of the plan that sell out — tours, tastings and timed-entry tickets across Harrisburg.
See what's bookable in Harrisburg(opens in a new tab)Scout Places may earn a commission when you book through links on this page.
Make it a night out
Staying over in Harrisburg?
Hotels, resorts and vacation rentals across Harrisburg — book the stay and make a full weekend of it.
Find places to stay in Harrisburg(opens in a new tab)Scout Places may earn a commission when you book through links on this page.