If you’re searching for free, family-friendly activities around Mount Laurel, you’re in luck. Our area makes exploring nature, culture, and more super accessible. In addition to sitting around a half hour’s drive from both Trenton and Philadelphia and all the amazing museums these cities offer, the area immediately surrounding Mount Laurel boasts a range of parks and nature trails perfect for a day outdoors.

Of course, it can feel like a challenge to find free activities when you don’t know where to look. That’s why Crème de la Crème of Mount Laurel put together this list of totally free attractions close to home. Keep this list on hand for the next time you’re looking for inspiration planning a day out with your family.

Laurel Acres Park

If you’re looking for a day of outdoor fun right here in Mount Laurel, you can’t go wrong with a family day at Laurel Acres Park. Take a stroll along the hiking trails while enjoying nature in this popular local area.

Kids are sure to love trying to spot turtles in the lake or simply taking a leisurely walk on the nature trails, and you can take your dog with you for a day out and about as well. This park is great for fishing in the summer and sledding in the winter, so you’ll want to have it on the top of your list whenever you’re searching for a free way to spend the day without traveling far.

United States Avenue Trail

United States Avenue Trail offers another great way to spend a day out in nature without going far from Mount Laurel. The asphalt trail runs for 2 miles, making it easy to enjoy a range of outdoor activities. Whether you want to go for a family walk or bike ride, you’ll love the picturesque surroundings you’ll find along this trail.

Escape the daily bustle with a trip through the wooded area here. A variety of trees and other vegetation make this trail a welcome oasis from your busy days when you’re looking for a fun escape with the kids.

New Jersey State Museum

Drive over to Trenton to visit the New Jersey State Museum, where general admission is always free. With more than two million artifacts housed here, this museum has something for any curious kiddo. Collections cover topics such as natural and cultural history, archeology, and fine art.

Families can learn more about New Jersey as well as how our home state sees itself in the world overall. You can also check out a variety of interactive, virtual programming while the museum itself is closed to take the educational and fun experience into your own home.

Wagner Free Institute of Science

One great perk of living in Mount Laurel is how easy it is to visit nearby Philadelphia — and indulge in all the fun and educational opportunities this city offers. The first stop on your next trip to Philly if your kids love science? The Wagner Free Institute of Science.

As the name suggests, this museum offers free admission to all educational events (though they do encourage a donation if possible). Once you’re inside, you can treat curious kids to three stories packed with all things natural history, including insects, dinosaur fossils, and more.

PAFA’s Family Arts Academy

Image via Unsplash by sigmund

The Philadelphia Academy of Fine Arts hosts their Family Arts Academy every Sunday, offering free workshops where local artists lead kids and parents in free lessons. It’s a great way to get kids creating, all while having fun as a family.

You’ll find a wide range of activities through this program. Whether your family wants to get up and dance, make prints or mosaics, or anything in between, you’ll find something to inspire your whole group through this series. Keep an eye on their calendar, so you never miss an upcoming event that fits in with your family’s interests.

Fireman’s Hall Museum

Fireman’s Hall Museum is yet another Philadelphia museum offering free admission. If your kids find firetrucks intriguing, this is a must-visit destination. After all, Philadelphia is the birthplace of the first volunteer fire company, making it the ideal location to learn all about fire history and safety.

You’ll find the museum in a renovated 1902 firehouse in Old City Philadelphia. Kids are sure to delight in the array of equipment spanning the history of the city’s fire departments, and you can’t go wrong with a dress-up session in firefighter gear. The museum’s website also offers virtual tours.

Edgar Allan Poe National Historic Site

History buffs and literature aficionados alike will jump at the chance to visit the Edgar Allan Poe National Historic Site in Philadelphia. The former home of the literary giant now functions as a museum showcasing how Philadelphia impacted Poe’s writing and work.

The site covers Poe’s unfurnished home as well as an adjacent building that offers exhibits and a Reading Room. Visits can listen to recordings of Poe’s stories and poems in that Reading Room, making a trip here an interactive and engaging experience.

Liberty Bell Center

We can’t go through free things to do in nearby Philly without mentioning the Liberty Bell Center, of course! As with many historical city park sites, admission here is free. The world-famous bell and symbol of American history is just the start.

Rotating exhibits mean you’ll always have something new to learn whenever you pay a visit to Liberty Bell Center. If you’re making the trip to Philadelphia, you’ll want to include this iconic place on your list of things to do.

There you have it! Crème de la Crème of Mount Laurel just gave you eight amazing places to check out when you want to plan some family fun without leaving a dent in your wallet. Whether your kids want to explore history, art, nature, or anything in between, our location makes it easy. Does your family have a favorite free activity we didn’t include here? Let us know so we can check out your go-to place and add it to our list!