Free Fall Activities for Families: Simple Ways to Make Memories

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Fall is filled with things we’re told we should do as a family—apple picking, pumpkin patches, hayrides, festivals, and more. They can all be wonderful experiences, but they’re not always affordable.

I remember going apple picking and enjoying fall activities like these when I was little. Now that I have a child of my own, I’d love to share some of those experiences with him. But the cost of many traditional fall outings has changed, and spending a lot of money on one afternoon isn’t always realistic for our family.

I’d still like to find an affordable fall outing for us this year, and I’ll be looking around to see what’s available locally.

But if we don’t find one that works for our budget, I know Brayden won’t be missing out.

Some of our favorite family memories have come from incredibly simple things we’ve done together. Kids don’t need an expensive admission ticket to experience fall. The changing leaves, cooler weather, earlier sunsets, and everything happening in nature give us plenty to enjoy for free.

If you’re also looking for budget-friendly fall activities for families, here are some simple ways to make fall memories without spending a fortune.

Take a Fall Foliage Hike or Bike Ride

One of the best things about fall is completely free: watching the leaves change colors.

Take a family hike or bike ride at a local park, trail, or nature preserve and enjoy the changing scenery. You don’t have to travel somewhere famous for fall foliage, either. Even a familiar park can feel completely different once the leaves begin to change.

Last year, we visited the same park every few days and were amazed by how quickly everything changed. There was one tree in particular that I loved watching. Its leaves went from orange to bright red before eventually falling.

Visiting the same place throughout the season can be a fun activity for kids, too. They can watch which trees change first, notice the different colors, and see how the park transforms as fall progresses.

Pack some water and snacks from home, and whether you walk, hike, or ride your bikes, you have a simple fall family outing that doesn’t have to cost anything.

Play in the Leaves

Sometimes the simplest fall activities are the ones kids enjoy the most.

Brayden loves gathering leaves into a giant pile so he can jump in, bury himself, and throw them into the air to make “leaf rain.” He also loves collecting leaves, so we like to see how many different colors and variations we can find.

It’s such a simple way to spend time outside together, and it doesn’t cost anything.

The leaves don’t go to waste when we're finished playing with them, either. At the end of the season, we plan to add them to our garden, giving us one more way to make use of something nature provides for free.

Go on a Fall Nature Scavenger Hunt

Fall is the perfect time to switch up an ordinary nature scavenger hunt and turn a family walk into a little adventure.

Brayden recently got into taking pictures, so this year we’re going to incorporate photography into our fall scavenger hunts. Instead of just finding each item, he can take a picture of some of his discoveries along the way.

You don’t need to print anything or buy special supplies. Write a quick list on a piece of paper, keep it on your phone, or simply call things out as you walk.

You can also adjust the scavenger hunt for your child's age and interests. Keep the list short and simple for younger kids, add more challenging finds for older children, or let your little photographer document the adventure with pictures.

Collect Nature for Fall Crafts

Brayden loves collecting things when we’re outside, and what’s better than free craft supplies?

While you’re on a walk, look for fallen leaves, pinecones, acorns, small twigs, and other natural materials that you can bring home and turn into another activity.

Before collecting anything, make sure it’s allowed where you’re exploring and stick to fallen materials rather than picking living plants.

Once you get home, let the kids get creative. Make leaf collages, nature pictures, fall decorations, or even use some of your finds to decorate a real pumpkin.

It’s a simple way to turn one free outdoor adventure into another activity for later—without buying a bunch of new craft supplies.

Make Leaf Rubbings

We tried this last year after Brayden was disappointed to learn that his colorful fall leaves wouldn’t last forever. Making leaf rubbings gave us a fun way to preserve a little memory of the leaves he collected.

And you probably already have everything you need:

• Fallen leaves

• Paper

• Crayons

Place a leaf underneath a piece of paper and gently rub the side of a crayon over it. Kids can experiment with different colors, leaf shapes, and sizes or combine several rubbings to create their own fall picture.

It’s a simple, free fall craft that gives kids a closer look at the leaves they’ve collected—and a little piece of fall they can keep long after the real leaves are gone.

Have a Fall Picnic

Fall might actually be my favorite time for a picnic. The weather is cooler, there are fewer pesky bugs to worry about, and you can relax outside without breaking a sweat.

Pack a lunch or snacks you’d already be eating at home and head to a local park, playground, trail, or even your own backyard. With the cooler weather and changing leaves, an ordinary lunch can feel like a special fall outing without adding anything to your regular food budget.

When we set out for a picnic, we usually make an afternoon of it. We might play at the playground, kick a ball around, take a walk, or simply enjoy being outside together.

Bring a blanket, enjoy your lunch, and stick around afterward. Sometimes the simplest outings turn into the best family afternoons.

Bake Something Together

Once summer is over, we look forward to baking again. It can be too hot to turn on the oven during the summer, so those first cooler fall days are the perfect excuse to get back into the kitchen.

I try to stock up on baking supplies when they're on sale so we have plenty on hand when we're ready to bake. Before buying anything new, check your pantry and see what you can make with ingredients you already have. Apple muffins, cinnamon bread, oatmeal cookies, baked apples, or an old family favorite can all make the house feel a little more like fall.

Brayden loves helping in the kitchen—and, of course, enjoying the treat after all his hard work. But my favorite part is how much he remembers about the time we spend baking together. He'll bring up the time we made cookies and spilled flour all over the floor or when he baked a Halloween cake with Nana.

Those little moments stick with kids. The finished treat is nice, but spending time together in the kitchen and making memories is really the best part.

Look at Fall and Halloween Decorations

We drive around to look at Christmas lights every year, so why not do the same thing in the fall?

Take an evening walk or drive around your neighborhood and see how many decorated houses you can find. Kids can look for pumpkins, scarecrows, ghosts, skeletons, lights, and other fall or Halloween decorations—and everyone can choose their favorite house.

When I spot an interesting house while we’re out driving, I try to remember where it is so we can come back and see it together. Some families really go all out with their Halloween displays!

If you don't see many decorated houses along your usual routes, check local Facebook or community groups. People often share neighborhoods or houses with displays worth visiting.

It’s a simple way to turn an ordinary evening into a free fall family outing.

Visit the Library for Fall Books

I know I’ve mentioned the library in other posts, but that’s because I truly believe it’s one of the best free resources available to families. No matter the season, there’s almost always something new to discover without spending anything.

Fall is a great time to look for books about changing leaves, apples, pumpkins, Halloween, harvest season, and animals preparing for winter. Bring home a stack and you have everything you need for a cozy fall reading afternoon.

Books are only part of what the library has to offer. Check your library’s calendar for free seasonal crafts, story times, scavenger hunts, and special fall events for kids.

I’ll probably continue mentioning the library throughout Thrifty Family because it offers families so many opportunities to learn, have fun, and spend time together for free.

Looking for even more free family activities? Check out my Free Things to Do With Your Family series for more ideas you can enjoy throughout the year.

Plant Something Together

Fall can also be a great time to get outside and plant something together—and it doesn’t have to be a big garden.

This year, we planted a small fall garden with lettuce, carrots, and spinach. Nothing major, but it gives us another reason to get outside together and see what we can grow.

What you can plant in fall depends on where you live, but possibilities may include cool-season vegetables, spring-blooming bulbs, and other plants suited to your area. Kids can help dig, plant seeds or bulbs, water, and check on everything as it grows.

We’re also starting to plan our spring garden and deciding whether we want to add some bulbs this fall. I especially love the idea of planting something together now and then waiting for that little surprise when it comes up in the spring.

Want to try some fall planting of your own? Check out my What to Plant in Fall: Budget-Friendly Ideas for Your Garden for more ideas and tips to help you get started.

Prepare the Yard or Garden for Winter

Yard work probably doesn’t sound like a fall family activity, but with kids, almost anything can turn into one.

Let them help rake leaves, pick up sticks, gather seeds, clean outdoor toys, or help put the garden to bed for the season. Brayden especially likes cleaning his outdoor toys before we pack them away for winter.

I like giving him simple jobs that he can accomplish on his own. It gives him a sense of responsibility, and I’ve noticed how proud he is when he finishes something by himself. Those little accomplishments can be a great way to help build confidence, too.

You might not get everything done quite as quickly as you would without their “help,” but that’s okay. You’re spending time outside together while accomplishing something that needs to be done anyway.

And when the work is finished, there’s always that pile of leaves waiting to be jumped in one more time.

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This post contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission, at no cost to you, if you make a purchase through a link.

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Fall Activities Essentials

You don’t need to buy anything new to enjoy the activities in this post. But if you’re looking for a few reusable items, I like choosing things that can serve more than one purpose. These are items your family can use for fall activities, outdoor adventures, creative projects, and plenty of fun throughout the year.

Kids’ Binoculars
Great for nature walks, scavenger hunts, bird watching, and outdoor exploring. This is one of those items kids can use for different adventures throughout the year.

Reusable Picnic Blanket
Useful for much more than fall picnics. Keep it handy for park days, outdoor events, family outings, and other adventures throughout the year.

Kids’ Gardening Tools
A reusable set kids can use season after season for planting, watering, digging, and helping with garden cleanup. They’re great for both fall and spring gardening projects.

Kids’ Sketch Pad
Use it for leaf rubbings, nature drawings, scavenger hunts, and everyday art projects. It’s an easy item to bring outside or keep with your regular craft supplies.

Crayola Art Kit
Great for leaf rubbings and nature crafts, but useful for plenty of other creative activities throughout the year. Having basic art supplies on hand also makes spontaneous craft projects easier.

Kids’ Magnifying Glass Set
A simple tool that can make outdoor exploring more interesting. Kids can examine leaves, rocks, insects, plants, and other discoveries during nature walks, gardening, and backyard play.

Final Thoughts

There’s nothing wrong with spending money on a special fall experience if it’s something your family will enjoy and it fits your budget. I’d love to take Brayden on a special fall outing this year, too—but I’m going to look at the price before deciding where we go.

Apple picking, pumpkin patches, hayrides, and fall festivals can get expensive quickly once you add admission, activities, food, and all the extras. Instead of feeling like we have to do them because they’re traditional fall activities, I’m going to research our local options and see what makes sense for our family. Community events, libraries, local farms, churches, and town festivals may offer more affordable—or even free—alternatives.

If we don’t find an affordable option this year, that’s okay.

Kids don’t need an expensive fall outing to make wonderful memories. Jumping in leaves, collecting acorns, baking together, or riding bikes under the changing trees can be just as special.

If we find a fun outing that fits our budget, we’ll enjoy it. If we don’t, I know Brayden won’t be missing out. We’ll make our own memories—and sometimes the simplest ones are the ones our kids remember most.

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