45 Budget Friendly Things to do This Spring Break in Columbus

Spring break doesn’t have to mean expensive trips or far-off destinations — especially when Columbus offers so many exciting and affordable adventures right here at home. Whether you’re looking for outdoor fun, family-friendly activities, or a little bit of arts and culture, there are countless ways to make the most of the season without breaking the bank. From exploring scenic parks and unique neighborhoods to discovering hidden gems and local favorites, this list of 45 budget-friendly things to do in Columbus will help you create a memorable and wallet-friendly spring break. Let’s dive in!

Take advantage of the Columbus Library’s Culture Pass. Library cards for the Columbus Metropolitan Library can do more than check out books, they can also grant access to central Ohio cultural institutions. According to the library, the Culture Pass program allows clients to borrow passes to places like BalletMet, Columbus Museum of Art, The Columbus Zoo, Shadowbox Live, and many more. However, there are some caveats, like being required to check out the passes in person, limited times or performances for each organization, and availability of passes at specific locations.

Visit a Central Ohio Nature Center. Each nature center offers hands-on, close-up experiences with the natural world. Days and hours of operation are different at each nature center, so be sure to click the link and check out the details before visiting.

• Alum Creek Lake Visitor Center
• Battelle Darby Creek
• Blendon Woods
• Deer Haven Park
• Grange Insurance Audubon
• Highbanks
• Homestead
• Mary Barber McCoy Nature Center at Hogback Ridge Park
• Shale Hollow Park

Play at the Graeter’s Lil’ Pints Playroom. Play is free at the Graeter’s Lil’ Pints playroom and best for children 9 and under. This play space features multiple ice-cream-themed slides, a banana-split-inspired teeter-totter, an ice-cream-truck photo opp, and more.

Hunt for Dublin Riverboxes. These are artist-created vessels that are inspired by the hobbies of letterboxing and geocaching which combine map-reading or GPS skills and artistic pursuit with delightful ‘treasure hunts’ in beautiful, scenic places. This is a free and easy activity. Just print off and bring along a Riverboxes Passport Booklet, stamp it at each Riverbox, and turn it in to the Dublin Arts Council for a prize.

Explore the children’s space at a local library. 

• Bexley Public Library
• Columbus Metropolitan Library – Main Branch
• Delaware County District Library – Orange Branch
• Grandview Heights Public Library
• Pickerington Public Library
• Upper Arlington Public Library – Tremont Branch
• Wagnalls Memorial Library
• Westerville Public Library
• Worthington Libraries – Old Worthington Library

Enjoy a Free Sunday at the Columbus Museum of Art with the whole family. Explore the Walter Wing, play in the Wonder Room, or build a puzzle together in a gallery. There’s a great experience around every corner.

Visit the “As We Are” exhibit at the Columbus Convention Center and turn yourself into art.

Visit the Ohio State University Airport. Discover more about Ohio State’s aviation history on the centerpiece timeline wall, take in the buzz of activity from the comfy observation deck, explore unique aviation artwork in the gallery, be inspired by the vintage Piper Cub J-3, snap a photo with Barnstormer Brutus Buckeye and enjoy free coffee and tea in the vibrant, new terminal.

Orton Geological Museum – The School of Earth Sciences’ Orton Geological Museum is a public museum with rocks, fossils and minerals, located in Orton Hall. It is also a research facility, housing more than 54,000 numbered specimens, visited by scholars from around the world.

Explore the North Market.  There are now two locations to choose from – the one downtown and the one at Bridge Park in Dublin.

Explore the Topiary Garden found in the Old Deaf School Park which is tucked behind the Main Branch of the Columbus Metropolitan Library in downtown Columbus. The topiaries in this park are designed to replicate a one-of-a-kind artistic recreation of a world-renowned painting.

Discover the Irish Fairy Door Trail in Dublin, Ohio. Grab a passport and follow the path on the trail guide through Historic Dublin and Bridge Park to 11 businesses and find each resident fairy. Record the name of each fairy, fill in your passport and return your completed passport to the Dublin Visitor & Information Center (9 S. High St.) for a FREE Fairy Door t-shirt.

Visit the Stratford Ecological Center. The center features a demonstration farm and nature preserve offering hands-on outdoor experiences for all ages. Discover farm animals, organic gardens, maple sugar, and nature trails. Enjoy an educational excursion, birdwatching, gardening, or picking your own farm produce.

Explore a Columbus Metro Park:

• Take the Canopy Walk at Blacklick Metro Park
• Visit the Slate Run Living Historical Farm
• Walk the Rope Bridge at Scioto Grove Metro Park
• Visit the baby buffalo at Battelle Darby Creek
• Explore the Sister’s Garden at Innis Woods
• Check out the new Playground at Sharon Woods Metro Park
• Experience the Natural Play Area at Blendon Woods Metro Park
• Test your balance in the new Burning Lake area at Pickerington Ponds Metro Park
• Take in the city skyline and test out the playground at Scioto Audubon Metro Park
• Fine tune your Ninja skills at Glacier Ridge Metro Park
• Check out the train caboose at Homestead Metro Park
• Search for Concretions at Highbanks Metro Park
• Walk through the Tall Pines at Walnut Ridge
• Locate the waterfall at the new Quarry Trails Metro Park

Discover the Ohio Statehouse. The Ohio Statehouse offers free guided tours that provide insights into the state’s history, government, and architecture. On weekdays, tours commence every hour from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and on weekends, they start at noon, 1 p.m., 2 p.m., and 3 p.m. Each tour begins in the Map Room, accessible via the Third Street entrance. Self-guided tours are also available, with brochures and cell phone audio guides provided in the Map Room.