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Our 15 Favorite Free Activities in Jacksonville, Florida
As North Florida locals, we find ourselves returning time and time to Jacksonville. With its big-city charm and plethora of budget-friendly things to do, this city holds a special place in our hearts. In this article, we’ve rounded up our 15 free activities in Jacksonville, from picnicking in Memorial Park to strolling the Riverwalk!
💡 Two of the activities in this guide aren’t completely free. But at just $3 each, we couldn’t resist including them.
Note: We use affiliate links which provide us a little kickback each time you use one of our links and make a purchase, without any additional cost to you. We do not recommend products that we don’t already love or have heard great things about, so you can trust we’re only suggesting great products to you.
1. Visit the Riverside Arts Market (Saturdays Only)
Located under the Fuller Warren Bridge, the Riverside Arts Market is a community favorite and one of our favorite ways to spend a Saturday morning in Jacksonville. We love browsing all the local crafts and food products, listening to live music, and taking in the views of the St. Johns River. Entry and parking are 100% free, the atmosphere is family-friendly, and it’s a great way to chat with locals and support local businesses if you do end up buying something.
Location: 715 Riverside Ave, Jacksonville, FL 32204
Special Hours: Only open 10 am – 3 pm on Saturdays
Price: Free to enter and free parking
2. Visit the Jacksonville Farmers Market
Visited by over 1 million people annually, the Jacksonville Farmers Market holds the title of the oldest-running farmers market in Florida! With more of a food vibe than that of Riverside Arts Market, this is your place if you’re looking to stock up on locally-grown produce with better-than-supermarket prices. Open every day of the week, this market is a must-visit for locals and visitors alike. As we live nearby, we love stocking up on things like fresh produce, local honey, or even house plants—but sometimes we stop in just to stroll and explore!
Location: 1810 W Beaver St, Jacksonville, FL 32209
Special Hours: Open Daily from 7 am – 5 pm, 9 am – 4 pm on Sundays
Price: Free to enter
3. Take a Free Ride on the Jacksonville Skyway
Did you know that the Jacksonville Skyway is 100% free to ride? We recently discovered this, and have loved hopping aboard for a fun and completely free ride between downtown and Southbank! This 2.5-mile-long elevated monorail system offers impressive views of downtown Jacksonville and the St. Johns River, making it a hit with kids and a unique way to explore the city. The Skyway connects key spots like Central Station, the Riverwalk, and the Museum District. Below we’ve linked its hours and the list of 8 stations throughout Jacksonville.
🐕🦺 Only service animals are allowed a ride on the Skyway, so keep this in mind if you’re traveling with your pet!
Location: Full list of stations
Special Hours: Weekdays 6 am – 9 pm and certain weekend events
Price: Free
4. Visit MOCA (The Museum of Contemporary Art)
Admission to MOCA is now free every Saturday from 11 am to 5 pm! There is also free admission to the museum on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month from 5 pm – 9 pm, during their Free Museum Nights events. Throughout the several floors of the museum, you’ll find temporary exhibitions, their permanent collection, and even a children’s area!
🆓 For even more ways that you might be eligible to enter the museum for free, check out MOCA’s Visitor’s Page.
Location: 333 N Laura St, Jacksonville, FL 32202
Special Hours: Open daily 11 am – 5 pm, Closed on Mondays
Price: Free every Saturday (and in other special cases)
5. Go on an Art Mural Walking Tour
Jacksonville’s street art scene is incredible, with over 60 murals currently on display. Even better? It’s 100% explorable on foot! We mapped our walk using this free online map with 79 stops provided by the Jacksonville Tourism Board and took advantage of the extra steps to also walk our dog, Ollie.
✏️ For an extra activity on your walking tour, bring along some paper and pencils and stop to sketch a mural that stands out to you—then compare your masterpieces!
Location: Consult this map
Special Hours: 24/7
Price: Free
6. Visit the Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens (Special Free Days)
Continuing with the theme of art, our next rec is to plan a visit to The Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens! Not only does this riverside museum house thoughtfully curated permanent and changing exhibitions that bring together national and international artists, but it also is the home to historic gardens recognized by the National Register of Historic Places! They’ve recently expanded their free days to now include:
- Fourth Friday of every month from 4 to 9 pm
- First Saturday of every month from 11 am to 4 pm
💡 For a full list of all those eligible for free entrance, consult the Cummer Museum’s Visitor’s Page.
Location: 829 Riverside Ave, Jacksonville, FL 32204
Special Hours: Closed on Mondays
Price: Free on certain days (see above)
7. Check for Local Festivals and Special Events
When looking for free activities in Jacksonville, we always make it a point to check the Tourism Board’s Events Calendar for upcoming events and festivals—many free to all! From trivia nights to music festivals, there’s always something going on, and almost always something free! One of the most renowned festivals is the Jacksonville Jazz Festival, a huge 4-day free jazz festival that’s been going on since 1981. Another website/app you can check for smaller events is Meetup.com.
👨👩👧👧 If you’re traveling to Jacksonville with kids in November, don’t miss out on Kids Free November, when many of Jacksonville’s top attractions waive admission for children!
Location: Locations vary
Special Hours: Times vary
Price: Many free events
8. Picnic in Memorial Park
The historic, 6-acre Memorial Park in the Riverside neighborhood of Jacksonville is a picturesque spot for picnics with family or friends. With waterfront views of the St. Johns River, lots of shady spots under trees, and ample green space, it is hands down our favorite park in downtown Jacksonville. On our last trip, we packed some sandwiches, fruit, and water, and had lunch here with our dog, Ollie, in the early afternoon. We saw lots of people jogging, walking, and even enjoying a picnic like us.
Location: 1620 Riverside Ave, Jacksonville, FL 32204
Special Hours: Open daily until 10 pm
Price: Free
9. Visit the Jacksonville Main Public Library
We love a good public library, and the Jacksonville Main Public Library doesn’t fall short. This library offers more than just books. It’s an impressive building with free events and exhibits throughout the year. With tons of programming almost daily, we recommend checking out their events page for events like storytime for kids, craft nights for adults, and seated yoga for seniors. Even if you’re just looking to get some work done, this library does the trick!
Location: 303 N Laura St, Jacksonville, FL 32202
Special Hours: Closed on Sundays
Price: Free
10. Walk the Jacksonville Riverwalk
Stretching along the St. Johns River, the Jacksonville Riverwalk in the Brooklyn neighborhood of Jacksonville provides scenic views, public art, and a dose of fresh air. Stretching 1.25 miles, it’s a local favorite strolling spot by far, with its convenient location just next to downtown Jacksonville. Our favorite time to walk this riverwalk is later in the evening, when the lights from downtown Jacksonville reflect off the water and it’s not as hot, especially in the summer.
Location: 1 Riverside Ave, Jacksonville, FL 32202
Special Hours: Open daily until 10 pm
Price: Free
11. Visit Big and Little Talbot Island State Parks
Located a short 30-minute drive outside of downtown Jacksonville, Big Talbot Island State Park as well as Little Talbot are paradises for hikers, birdwatchers, and avid campers. Known for spots like Boneyard Beach, these parks’ shorelines are known for offering lots of birdwatching opportunities, from sandpipers to bald eagles.
If you’re looking to fit a hike in, we found the Dune Ridge Loop, a 1.25-hour hiking trail in Little Talbot that takes you to Atlantic Beach. Keep in mind that dogs are not allowed on this particular trail. If you’d like to explore even more trails in the greater Jacksonville area, we recommend checking out AllTrails’ roundup of the Best Trails in Jacksonville.
💵 There is a $3 per vehicle fee that you are asked to leave at the entrance’s dropbox, but as the amount is so low, we’ve decided to still include this recommendation!
Big Talbot: A1A Jimmy Buffett Mem Hwy, Jacksonville, FL 32226
Little Talbot: 12157 Heckscher Dr, Jacksonville, FL 32226
Special Hours: Open daily until 8 pm
Price: $3 per vehicle in Big Talbot, $5 per vehicle in Little Talbot ($4 for motorcycles and $2 for pedestrians or bicyclists)
12. Visit the Kingsley Plantation
The Kingsley Plantation, located just south of Big Talbot Island State Park, takes you back in time to when it was first built in 1798. Here, you’ll learn about the history of the people who lived here, like Zephaniah Kingsley, the owner of the plantation. 100% free to explore, the grounds contain the old slave quarters, barn, gardens, and more. On our last visit, we popped our headphones in and listened to this free audio tour from the National Parks Service that lasts for about an hour!
Location: 11676 Palmetto Ave, Jacksonville, FL 32226
Special Hours: Closed Mondays and Tuesdays
Price: Free
13. Explore the Surrounding Beaches (Jacksonville, Neptune, & Atlantic Beach)
One of our favorite free activities in Jacksonville is to visit its miles of pristine public beaches. We love how each beach has its unique vibe, from the lively Jacksonville Beach to the more serene Neptune Beach and Atlantic Beach. If we’ve slept well the night before, we sometimes drive over early morning to catch the sunrise on the water with our dog, Ollie.
We find the most dog-friendly beach to be, Atlantic Beach, which now allows leashed dogs year-round and any time of day! Jacksonville and Neptune Beaches only allow dogs on the beach from 5 pm to 9 am during peak season (April 1st to September 30th).
Location: Various locations
Special Hours: Open 24/7
Price: Free Beach Access Everyday
14. Learn about Local History at the Beaches Museum
If you’re in the area of Jacksonville Beach, we recommend checking out the Beaches Museum. This free little museum holds permanent as well as changing exhibits that tell the story of the region’s past. The volunteers here were super friendly and happy to chat and answer all of our questions. Besides the main building, the grounds include a historic chapel as well as an old steam train. It’s not the most jaw-dropping museum you’ll ever visit, but worth a stop if you’re in the area with an hour of free time!
Location: 381 Beach Boulevard, Jacksonville Beach, FL 32250
Special Hours: Closed Mondays
Price: Free Everyday
15. Stroll Through the Jacksonville Arboretum & Gardens
Although Jacksonville’s Arboretums now costs $3 per ticket, the price is so reasonable we still wanted to include it in our favorites list! This peaceful retreat is located a short 15-minute drive from downtown Jacksonville. With the measly admission, you gain access to 120 acres of natural beauty, well-maintained trails, and many wildlife sightings. Bonus points for the Jacksonville Arboretum being dog-friendly! Ollie was pleased about this.
Location: 1445 Millcoe Rd, Jacksonville, FL 32225
Special Hours: Open daily from 8 am – 5 pm
Price: Free on certain days
🗺️ Map of Free Things to Do in Jacksonville, FL
How to use this map: We have saved the locations from this guide on this map. You can save this map to your Google Maps by pressing the star icon. In your Google Maps, click the menu icon and then Saved Maps, where this map will appear.
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