Dating can be rough- and expensive! Make it sweeter- and a lot more fun- by doing all of the free and cheap date activities in Dallas-Fort Worth. Whether you’re looking for free museum days in DFW or a comedy show, you can find it all here.

Read more below for our list of the best Free and Cheap Date Ideas in Dallas-Fort Worth:

 

  1. Stroll the Texas Discovery Gardens and go butterfly-hunting {don’t actually hunt the butterflies!} Admission for two is just $13 plus taxes and fees! That’s almost half-off!
  2. No better way to get to know someone than a free, outdoor workout! Klyde Warren Park has free workouts several days a week and an awesome maker-space playground where you can geek out and act like a kid again. Check out our guide to free fitness classes in DFW.
  3. We know dinner and a movie isn’t your ideal date night but what if you could get 25% off? Head to Regal Cinema for just $9.50 per person!.
  4. Get cultured at the Dallas Museum of Art. With four floors and special exhibits on the regular, there is always more to see at the DMA. Plus, the permanent collections are always free!
  5. Go underwater- or at least, it will feel like you are! Visit the Grapevine Aquarium and get ANY TIME ADMISSION for $15.99. That’s a savings of more than 50%!
  6. Speaking of free museums…Crow Museum of Asian Art at the University of Texas at Dallas is also free! They’re closed on Mondays but open every day for the rest of the week.
  7. Get lost at the Dallas Farmers Market. You can get all your fresh produce, see some art, have lunch, take selfies, and even grab a drink!
  8. Visit the pedestrian bridge at the Trinity River for paletas while you watch free style dancers. Park near Trinity Groves and walk- you can’t miss it.
  9. Get educated about sea life! SeaQuest Interactive Aquarium is now offering general admission for two people for just $25 { 17% off!} OR a Family-Four Pack with five (5) Activity Tokens for just $36. That’s a savings of 50%!
  10. Public ArtWalk Dallas is a free, self- guided tour about 3.3 miles long in the heart of downtown. The walk features more than a dozen works of art.
  11. Go shopping at North Park Center. This isn’t your average mall, it’s the home of the Modern Art Collection. They have dozens of sculptures, paintings, and other installations. It’s totally Instagram-worthy.
  12. Learn about flight and navigation at the Frontiers of Flight Museum. Admission for two is just $12  for a limited time.
  13. Explore the walking trails at Twelve Miles Nature Center. This nature preserve in central Dallas is full of wildflowers and butterflies. They’re open every day, dawn to dusk, for free.
  14. For something totally offbeat and original, visit the Mary Kay Museum in Addison. The museum is free to visit and is open from 9 am to 4 pm every Monday through Friday.
  15. Meet at The Rustic for drinks and a show, then take the M-Line Trolley from McKinney through the heart of downtown and back again! It’s great people watching and a great chance for conversation!
  16. White Rock Lake has tons of fun, free things to do from kayaking to walking on the beach or visiting the other attractions on site like the Bath House Cultural Center and the Dallas Arboretum.
  17. Go Geocaching at B. B. Owen Park-or play a game of disc golf! No one cares if you’re good!
  18. Bookmark our guide to the Best Dog-Friendly Bars & Restaurant in Dallas and bring your four-legged friends for some fun on the patio. Playing with dogs is a great way to bond- and see if they like dogs or not!
  19. Catch a free, live show at Sundown at Granada. This restaurant and event venue offers live music and great food, right off of Greenville Avenue. There are both free and ticketed shows so check before you go!
  20. Watch planes land and take-off at DFW Airport. Founder’s Plaza offers great views as well as radio broadcasts, picnic tables, telescopes, a monument, and more.
  21. Visit area- favorite, Deem Ellum Brewery, for free concerts on the patio. Their free concert series kicks off April 4, 2019.
  22. Explore history, sit on the hill, and come up with your own conspiracy theory at Dealy Plaza. Don’t forget to visit the 6th Floor Museum and learn about JFK. You can also take a tour of the Lee Harvey Oswald Trail of Tears if you know the right spots to go!
  23. Go mural hunting in Deep Ellum or the Bishop Arts District. Don’t worry about all of the people staring at you- they’ll be jealous of your Instagram.
  24. Get in touch with your inner-kid and play free arcade games every Tuesday. Barcadia also offers $1 off all Texas pints so you can have beers while you’re killing it at Pacman.
  25. Dating on a Wednesday? Perfect. Head to the Dallas Fish Market for booze and free sushi. For each alcoholic beverage you order between 5- 7 pm, a sushi roll is complimentary!
  26. Explore the tunnels of Downtown Dallas. The Dallas Pedestrian Network is made up of underground tunnels as well as above ground skywalks connecting various restaurants, bars, and hotels.
  27. Laugh your butt off with a free open mic comedy show at Dallas Comedy House. They have both affordable and free events- just contact them before you go!
  28. Have an outdoor dinner at the fountains at Fountain Place. This amazing piece of architecture also has gorgeous, synchronized fountains that put on quite a show and make awesome backdrops. Go at night to see them all lit up.
  29. Explore the true meaning of Thanksgiving at Thanksgiving Square. They have special exhibits, public art, lovely gardens, and a chapel open every day.
  30. Go savage selfie-mode at Pioneer Plaza. Get your exercise in with their gravel walking paths, then have a photo shoot at the Cattle Drive Sculptures.
  31. Check out the Free Wine Tastings and Cannoli Pop- Ups at Veritas Wine Room. You can get an education while sipping wine!
  32. Catch free live music every Friday and Saturday from 8- 10 pm at The Foundry. This live music venue is right next door to the delicious kitchen, Chicken Scratch. Their weekend shows are free with no cover. They are also dog-friendly, just put Fido on a leash!
  33. Visit the Nasher Sculpture Center and the Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House. The Sculpture Center is only $5 for students, $8 for DART riders {show your ticket from that day}, and $10 for everyone else. The Opera House has an amazing reflecting pool where you can get your feet wet!
  34. Check out Free Thursdays at the Meadows Museum of Art. After 5 pm, the SMU gallery waives their $12 admission fee so you can get cultured on the cheap.
  35. Get crafty with a Home Depot workshop. There are DIY classes for kids and adults- everything from staining wood to creating your own herb caddie.
  36. Feed the ducks at Cottonwood Park in Addison- just don’t feed them bread! It’s bad for them and the environment- corn, seeds, and lettuce are much better for everyone.

 

For more ideas, make sure you check out our guide to the best things to do in Dallas-Fort Worth every weekend.

Do you have any more ideas for free and cheap dates in the Dallas- Fort Worth area? Let us know in the comments below:

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