12 FREE Things To Do in Charlotte, NC
Exploring Charlotte is a never ending activity – there is truly so much to do in this growing city. However, exploring a city doesn’t mean you have to spend money! Queen City offers a variety of FREE Things to Do in Charlotte, NC that are perfect for everyone.
Hike at Crowders Mountain
Address: 522 Park Office Ln, Kings Mountain, NC
Crowders Mountain is about 30 minutes away from Uptown Charlotte. It’s easily accessible and offers a great 4 mile hike with wonderful views at the top of the summit. This hike is easy to moderate so a great date idea for beginners. Hiking is always a great outdoor activity in any city and it is one of my favorite free things to do in Charlotte!
Picnic in the Park
Enjoying a picnic in the park is a cliché date idea that never gets old! Pack a picnic and head out to one of the many parks in Charlotte to enjoy a lunch or dinner outside with your significant other. Some park recommendations include: Freedom Park, Romare Bearden and First Ward Park.
Volunteer in Charlotte
There’s no better way to give back than volunteering in your own community! Read Charlotte Agenda’s list of 12 recommendations for places to volunteer here in Charlotte, NC. This is definitely the most rewarding activity from the list of free things to do in Charlotte!
UNCC Botanical Garden
Address: 9090 Craver Road
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNCC) has a beautiful Botanical Garden that is open year round from dawn to dusk and offers free admission. Students of the university are responsible for maintenance and upkeep of the Botanical Garden so it is always in pristine condition.
The UNCC Botanical Garden is one of my favorite things to do in Charlotte in the Spring!
Mural “Tour” in South End
Spend the day walking around South End and finding all of the unique murals throughout the neighborhood. Treat this like a scavenger hunt! I have a full guide with addresses for each mural in South End – its a great thing to do with friends or as a solo activity!
Read More: Best Wall Murals in South End
Watch Planes Takeoff
Address: 6499 Old Dowd Road
Spend a few hours watching planes takeoff at the Airport Overlook. There’s truly something so relaxing about watching planes take off and land. This overlook is open daily until 10:30PM so you can enjoy relaxing here after dinner or pack a picnic and eat outside if the weather is nice! This is one of the free things to do in Charlotte that you can enjoy with kids, significant others, or by yourself!
Billy Graham Library
Address: 4330 Westmont Drive
The Billy Graham Library is a place to experience firsthand the gospel that he preached throughout his life. The library is open Monday-Saturday (closed on Sundays) and always offers free admissions for all.
Front Porch Sundays
Address: 2151 Hawkins Street
The first Sunday of every month between April and November features “Front Porch Sundays” in South End! This event brings tons of local vendors together allowing you to walk through and shop their eclectic work! It is easily accessible as it is located on the Rail Trail near Sycamore Brewery.
River Jam at USWWC
Address: 5000 Whitewater Center Parkway
Okay, this event technically costs $6 for parking, but it is so worth it! Every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday during the summer months (May to September), the US White Water Center hosts River Jam! You can attend for free and enjoy so many talented performers while sitting on their grass hill.
Randy Moss Fitness Bootcamp
Address: 3722 S Tryon St, Charlotte, NC 28217
A free boot camp?! Yes, you read that right! This free event gives you a chance to train with a legendary NFL wide receiver and get your fitness on! Randy Moss hosts a boot camp every Tuesday and Thursday from 6:30PM to 7:30PM at STAX fitness center. Only 100 participants are allowed each class, so be sure to arrive early to secure your spot!
Mint Museum
This is one of the best and most iconic museums in Charlotte. Admission is FREE every Wednesday between 5PM and 9PM. This gives locals (and nonlocals) a great chance to explore the museum free of charge.
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What a great guide! I’d love to have a picnic in the park or explore the murals. Sometimes the things you can do for free are the best experiences!
This is such a great guide! I’m definitely looking to get to Charlotte at some point this year. It looks like a lot of fun. 🙂
Charlotte looks beautiful! Hopefully once COVID is over, I can visit & experience it myself! Great guide, thank you!
Charlotte looks like a lovely city to visit, and I would definitely be going on that hike for those incredible views.
Great free things to do in Charlotte, we skipped Charlotte when we were in North Carolina, but will definitely have to stop next time around.
Omg such a fun list of free things to do! I love checking out local libraries and doing mural tours. So fun! Thanks for sharing.
I love doing a mural hunt in a new city, I’m definitely going to check out your Mural Guide for when we (finally) visit Charlotte. Thanks for the great list of awesome free things to do!