Free things to do in Raleigh: the N.C. Museum of Art and its park, the science museum, the Capitol, Dix Park's trolls and playground, and the greenways.

Last checked Oct. 12, 2026. Facts come from each museum’s and park’s own website, linked below. Hours change on holidays; check before you go.

Raleigh’s biggest attractions cost nothing to get into: the state’s art and science museums, the State Capitol, Dorothea Dix Park and more than 100 miles of greenway. Parking at Dix Park is free, and downtown’s city decks are free on weekends.

Who to call

  • N.C. Museum of Art: 919-839-6262
  • N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences: 919-707-9800
  • N.C. State Capitol: 984-867-8340
  • Dix Park staff: 919-996-3255
  • Emergency: 911

Free museums

Museum Address Free hours
N.C. Museum of Art 2110 Blue Ridge Road Galleries 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday to Sunday; Museum Park dawn to dusk daily
N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences 11 W. Jones St. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday to Sunday
N.C. State Capitol 1 E. Edenton St. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday
  • N.C. Museum of Art: general admission to the permanent collection, which the museum calls the People’s Collection, is free in both the East and West buildings. Some special exhibitions, concerts and films charge. The outdoor Museum Park is free and open daily, holidays included. The galleries are closed Mondays, Tuesdays and some holidays.
  • N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences: free general admission; live animals and two buildings on Jones Street. Its Prairie Ridge Ecostation is closed to drop-in visits until 2027.
  • N.C. State Capitol: free self-guided visits, plus free guided tours Saturdays at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m., no reservation needed. Closed Sundays and state holidays.
  • N.C. Museum of History: closed for a renovation the museum expects to take two to three years (museum).

Dorothea Dix Park

Dix Park is free, with free parking, open dawn to dusk seven days a week:

  • The trolls. A family of five giant trolls built of reclaimed wood by artist Thomas Dambo is hidden among the pines and oaks; download the troll map from Dix Park and go looking.
  • Gipson Play Plaza, 715 Biggs Drive: 18.5 acres of playgrounds, a 91-foot mega-swing and a splash pad. The playground is open 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. See our kids’ activities guide.
  • The sunflower field, 1700 Umstead Drive: free in summer. Stay on the paths, do not pick the flowers and do not eat the seeds; the field is planted on a former landfill. The 2026 bloom was over by August (Dix Park sunflowers).
  • The dog park, 1800 Umstead Drive: see our dog-friendly Raleigh guide.

Outdoors

  • Greenways: more than 100 miles of city trails, dawn to dusk. Our walking and biking trails guide has distances and parking.
  • Splash pads: John Chavis Memorial Park, Moore Square and Gipson Play Plaza, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily from April to October (splash pad page).
  • William B. Umstead State Park, 8801 Glenwood Ave.: free day use, with 34.5 miles of hiking trails (N.C. State Parks).
  • Pullen Park, 520 Ashe Ave.: free to walk in, 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily; the carousel, train and boats charge.

Downtown

  • First Friday: galleries and studios stay open late on the first Friday of every month (First Friday).
  • City of Raleigh Museum, 220 Fayetteville St.: city history; its greenway exhibit runs through Oct. 22.
  • Free parking: city non-event decks are free on weekends and for the first two hours on weekdays. Details are on our downtown Raleigh guide.

What this means for you

  • Monday is the hard day: the art and science museums are both closed.
  • Go troll-hunting at Dix Park before dusk; the park closes at dark.
  • Weekend downtown? Park free in a city deck.

More: things to do this month and farmers markets.

Frequently asked questions

Is the North Carolina Museum of Art free?

Yes. General admission to the People’s Collection in the East and West buildings is free, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday to Sunday. Some special exhibitions charge. The Museum Park is free, dawn to dusk daily.

Where are the trolls in Raleigh?

Five giant trolls by artist Thomas Dambo are hidden around Dorothea Dix Park. They are free to visit seven days a week, dawn to dusk; Dix Park posts a troll map.

When do the Dix Park sunflowers bloom?

The sunflower field blooms in summer. Dix Park said in August 2026 that the field was no longer in bloom; watch its sunflower page for next summer’s dates.

What free museums are in downtown Raleigh?

The N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences (free general admission, Tuesday to Sunday) and the N.C. State Capitol (free; guided tours Saturdays). The N.C. Museum of History is closed for renovation.