Free Things to Do with Grandkids in Westchester County, NY

Westchester has an extraordinary amount to offer without spending a dollar. The county’s park system alone contains hundreds of acres of waterfront, forest, and open lawn — much of it free to enter. Add the nationally recognized Untermyer Gardens, a riverside trail system, and some of the most scenic state park preserves in the Northeast, and you have enough free programming to fill an entire season.

Here are the best free destinations in Westchester County for grandparents and grandkids.

---

The Best Free Venues in Westchester

Untermyer Gardens — Yonkers

4.8 ★ | 5,897 reviews | Free

The most striking free public garden in Westchester — 43 acres of restored 1900s formal gardens with a Persian garden, reflecting pools, ancient columns, and sweeping Hudson River views. Free to enter, open dawn to dusk, parking free. Allow 90 minutes.

---

Croton Gorge Park — Croton-on-Hudson

4.8 ★ | 5,060 reviews | Free

The New Croton Dam overflow creates a thundering waterfall that’s genuinely dramatic — grandkids reliably stop and stare. The park below has picnic areas, a playground, and trails along the gorge. Free to enter; free parking. One of the highest-rated parks in Westchester.

---

Kensico Dam Plaza — Valhalla

4.7 ★ | 4,244 reviews | Free

A massive open plaza at the base of the Kensico Dam with open lawns, a reflecting pool, tennis and volleyball courts, and walking paths. More of a people’s park than a nature destination — it’s lively, social, and spacious. Free, ample parking.

---

Scenic Hudson RiverWalk — Tarrytown

4.8 ★ | 2,297 reviews | Free

A flat, wide riverside trail below the Mario Cuomo Bridge with unobstructed Hudson views. The best grandparent-grandkid walk in Westchester. Stroller-accessible, accessible for slower walkers. Free parking in the lot off Palmer Ave.

---

Rockefeller State Park Preserve — Pleasantville

4.8 ★ | 485 reviews | Free to enter (nominal parking fee)

1,400 acres of former Rockefeller estate with wide, flat carriage roads ideal for walking with grandkids of any age. Stroller-accessible throughout the main loops. Swan Lake overlook is the destination within. Small parking fee applies.

---

Teatown Lake Reservation — Ossining

4.8 ★ | 735 reviews | Free

A 1,000-acre nature preserve with a lake trail, a Nature Center with live animals, and educational programming for grandkids. The animal exhibits alone are worth the drive for younger grandkids. Free to enter, free parking.

---

Tibbetts Brook Park — Yonkers

4.5 ★ | 3,453 reviews | Free (pool admission in summer)

161 acres with a pool complex, walking paths, and picnic areas. The park grounds are free year-round; pool admission applies in summer. Well-maintained and consistently reviewed.

---

Pierson Park — Tarrytown

4.7 ★ | 1,637 reviews | Free

Tarrytown’s main waterfront park — playground, fishing pier, and direct Hudson River access. Connects to the RiverWalk trail. Free parking in the adjacent lot.

---

Harbor Island Park — Mamaroneck

4.6 ★ | 1,906 reviews | Free to walk (beach fee in summer)

A peninsula park on the Sound with a marina, beach, and open lawns. Beach admission applies in summer; the park is free to walk year-round.

---

Kingsland Point Park — Sleepy Hollow

4.6 ★ | 534 reviews | Free

Sleepy Hollow’s waterfront park with a river-end lighthouse accessible by pier walk. Open lawns, seasonal carousel, trail connections. Free.

---

Tips for Free Days in Westchester

Pack food: Most of these parks have picnic areas. Bringing lunch transforms a two-hour park visit into a full-morning outing at zero cost.

Pair venues: Untermyer Gardens and Tibbetts Brook Park are both in Yonkers — easy to combine. The RiverWalk and Pierson Park connect in Tarrytown.

Seasonal note: Some parks charge seasonal fees for specific amenities (pools, beaches) while keeping the grounds free year-round. Verify current rates before visiting.

Browse all Westchester venues at grandkidsguide.com/westchester-ny.