Free things to do in Brownsville

25 places in Brownsville with free entry or no charge, based on guide listings and map data.

Ranked with the travel guide's picks and well-known places first.

Do
Belden Trail
Mile-long trail connecting West Brownsville to other commercial areas. Pedestrian and family-friendly.
Free
Do
Brownsville Sports Park
Sports park with baseball and soccer stadiums. It also has a new fitness center and a volleyball court. Very family friendly.
Free
Do
Brownsville Sports Park Hike & Bike Trail
A trail in the Brownsville Sports Park with access to a lake, boardwalk and hiking pathways.
Free
Do
Charro Days Fiesta
Unique event celebrating the friendship between Brownsville and its next door neighbor Matamoros. Celebration starts in the end of February and features people dressed in Charro costumes, food, music and a parade.
Free
Do
Christmas Parade
A longstanding tradition which many schools participate in by making floats and performing songs based on pop culture and traditional Mexican music.
Free
Do
CycloBia Nights
Event where several streets in Downtown close to allow bicyclists to ride their bicycles around the area. Participants are also allowed to walk, skate, etc. Takes place three times a year: in June, August and October.
Free
Do
Dean Porter Park
Clean park with many museums and a playhouse in a walking distance. It includes a pavilion and a playground. Park is next to a resaca.
Free
See
Fort Brown
Fort Brown Memorial Center
A military post used during the late 19th century and early 20th century. It is regarded as one of the most haunted sites in the city.
Free
Do
Historic Battlefield Trail
9-mile-long trail running north-south in the middle of the city.
Free
Do
Holiday Village
Cottages decorated with lights and live performances celebrating Christmas. Event starts from the first of November until the first of January.
Free
Do
Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge Trails
Trails around the Wildlife Refuge leading to tall, grassy areas. Watch out for any wild animals such as Ocelots and Cougars.
Free
Do
Lincoln Park
Park next to the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. Great for picnics or family events. A stone's throw from the U.S.-Mexico border.
Free
See
Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge
Situated in nearby La Feria, is a popular birding and wildlife sanctuary with over of dedicated land for animals and other species to live in. Resacas (or floodplains) can be found throughout the site.
Free
Do
Monte Bella Mountain Bike Trail
A 6.2-mile-long trail in the outskirts of the city. The trail also includes a 21-hole Disc Golf Course.
Free
See
Old City Cemetery Center
One of the oldest cemeteries in the city. This was the burial location for many soldiers during the Civil War and Mexican-American War as early as the 1830s. Ghost tours are available.
Free; tours: $7 (for groups of 14 or less), $4 (for groups 15 or more)
See
Palmito Ranch Battlefield
The last battle of the American Civil War. It is close to the US-Mexico border. There is much speculation that the site is haunted.
Free
See
Palo Alto Battlefield National Historic Park
The site of Battle of Palo Alto. Indoor museum includes artillery and a gift shop. A tour is provided along a walkway to the actual battle site with replicas of the artillery used in the war scattered throughout the place.
Free
Do
Paseo de la Resaca Trails
A 76-mile-long trail running through over 4 miles of resacas and of parkland.
Free
See
Puente Art Studio
Studio used to teach art classes to children. Admission for this is $20. Also has a gallery with exhibitions. To its exterior, windows and doors are paint in brown, a similar trend with galleries and bars in this area.
Mon-Sat 10AM-6PMFree
See
Resaca de la Palma National Battlefield
The site of Battle of Resaca de la Palma. A beautiful candle-lighting ceremony takes place each year around mid-November to honor the fallen victims of the war. Each candle is placed in the parameter of the site.
Free
Do
Resaca de la Palma State Park Trails
7-mile trail offering binoculars and bicycles for rent. The trail has the largest native habitat part of the World Birding Center.
Free
Do
Southern Pacific Linear Park
Family-friendly park next to Gladys Porter Zoo and the Brownsville Museum of Fine Arts.
Free
See
The Stillman House
The home of several important figures in Brownsville and Mexico. Charles Stillman, the settler who founded Brownsville lived here, as well as Mexican presidents and generals.
Free
Do
Washington Park
Large park in the heart of Downtown. Perfect for strolls at night, bicycle rides and picnics. Features a fountain at the center.
Free
Do Not mapped
Brownsville Latin Jazz Festival
Popular festival created by Latin Jazz legend, Tito Puente, celebrating local artists of the genre.
Free

Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Brownsville (CC BY-SA 4.0).