Free & Affordable Activities in Raleigh

The North Carolina Museum of Art offers an extensive permanent collection of artwork open to the public to view free of charge. Free museum tours are offered on a daily basis, taking place at 1:30pm on Tuesday through Friday, and at 11:30am and at 1:30pm on the weekends. The Daily Museum Tours lasts around an hour and discuss ideas, cultures, and art, serving as an introduction to the museum’s permanent collection. These tours meet at the Information Desk in the West Building. Weekend Family-Friendly Tours are offered at 10:30am on weekends. Tours are first come, first serve.

2110 Blue Ridge Rd, Raleigh, NC 27607, Phone: 919-839-6262

The North Carolina Museum of History offers visitors from all around a chance to discover hidden gems and interesting secrets about the past of North Carolina. Located in the heart of Raleigh’s downtown, the museum lets guests explore its collection of over 150,000 different artifacts with no admission fee. This extensive collection of historical objects span across six centuries. The collection encompasses a wide array of items that help to interpret the rich history of the state. Hours for the museum are 9:00am until 5:00pm Monday to Saturday and 12:00pm until 5:00pm on Sundays.

5 East Edenton St, Raleigh, NC 27601, Phone: 919-814-7000

The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences is the country’s Southeast region’s largest museum of its kind. Through field experiences, programs, and many exhibits, the museum provides visitors with a chance to get up with nature and science. There is no charge for general admission and is open Monday through Saturday from 9:00am until 5:00pm and on Sundays from 12:00pm until 5:00pm. The location in downtown Raleigh includes the Nature Research Center and the Nature Exploration Center. The Discovery Room and the Living Conservatory, also known as the butterfly room, are generally closed on Monday.

11 West Jones St, Raleigh, NC 27601, Phone: 919-707-9800

The Haywood Hall House and Gardens is a city oasis in downtown Raleigh, North Carolina. Just two blocks away from the Capitol building, the historic house is nestled amongst grand oak trees within a picturesque garden. Haywood Hall is the former home of one of the city’s most prestigious families. It is now available for rental and open for tours. Built back in the year 1799 by John Haywood, the residence is a rare survivor of the Federal period in Raleigh. It is the oldest house on its original foundation within the city’s original limits.

211 New Bern Pl, Raleigh, NC 27601, Phone: 919-832-8357

The Pope House Museum was constructed back in the year 1901 and is found just a few blocks from the Capitol in downtown Raleigh. The historic house museum is open to the public for tours on Saturdays from 10:00am until 3:00pm. Guided tours take place on the hour, every hour during this time with the last tour starting at 2:00pm. The Pope House Museum is the state’s only African-American house museum and provides a look into the life of Dr. Manassa Thomas Pope, the only African-American to run for Mayor in a Southern capital during the Jim Crow Era.

511 South Wilmington St, Raleigh, NC 27601, Phone: 919-996-2220

The North Carolina Railway Museum & New Hope Valley Railway are located approximately thirty minutes outside of the city of Raleigh. Here, guests can take a one-hour train ride on a true locomotive. Visitors can learn more about the history of the railroad at the North Carolina Railway Museum; look at antique train cars, memorabilia, and other artifacts; view the G-Scale garden railroad; or browse the museum’s gift shop during their time at the museum and railway. Monthly locomotive rides are offered at the New Hope Valley Railway, with trains operating between the months of April and December.

3900 Bonsal Rd, New Hill, NC 27562, Phone: 919-362-5416

The North Carolina State Capitol was built back in 1840 and is one of the best-preserved and finest examples of in the architectural Greek Revival style of any major civic building. The building is also listed as a National Historic Landmark. The Capitol is open to visitors for self-guided tours Monday through Saturday from 9:00am until 5:00pm, and guided tours are offered at 11:00am and at 2:00pm on Saturdays. The State Capitol is closed on Sundays. The historic building has been restored to how it looked from 1840 to the year 1865.

1 E. Edenton St, Raleigh, NC 27601, Phone: 919-733-4994

The American Tobacco Trail is a rails-to-trails project that consists of more than twenty-two miles throughout the state of North Carolina’s Triangle region. The portion of the trail in Wake County is a recreational rail-trail that is open to runners, walkers, horseback riders, cyclists, and dog walkers. Cultural, history, and environmental programs are often offered along the American Tobacco Trail as well. The American Tobacco Trail runs from western Wake County in rural New Hill through the northeastern part of Chatham County to the downtown area of Durham and out to around the Durham Bulls Athletic Park.

The Cary Heritage Museum is housed within the Page-Walker Arts and History Center in the heart of downtown Cary, just a short distance from Raleigh. The museum, which is open to the public free of charge, highlights the history of Cary, North Carolina through a timeline exhibit. While the Cary Heritage Museum is quite small, situated within somewhat small space on the third floor, there are still numerous exhibits for visitors to see with many significant artifacts. Exhibits include a timeline that uses a railroad track to help guide guests through the history of Cary among several others.

119 Ambassador Loop, Cary, NC 27513, Phone: 919-460-4963