Free & Cheap Things to Do in El Paso

History & Culture

A unique National Park Service site commemorating the peaceful 1963 resolution of a nearly 100-year border dispute between the U.S. and Mexico, Chamizal is both a park and a cultural center. The grounds feature beautiful walking paths along the Rio Grande, public art installations, a museum chronicling the border history, and a performing arts theater that hosts free and low-cost cultural events throughout the year.

Address: 800 S San Marcial St, El Paso, TX 79905

Tip: Check the NPS website for free cultural performances and festivals — Chamizal hosts excellent events celebrating U.S.-Mexico border heritage, especially around Cinco de Mayo and Diez y Seis. The museum is small but thoughtful. The park grounds are open daily during daylight hours. Free parking on site. The views across the Rio Grande into Ciudad Juárez are striking.

Arts & Culture

One of the finest free art museums in Texas, the El Paso Museum of Art houses an impressive permanent collection including the renowned Kress Collection of Renaissance and Baroque European paintings, as well as significant American and Mexican art. The museum reopened in February 2026 after a $3.5 million renovation that modernized its climate control and security systems to meet the highest national museum standards.

Address: One Arts Festival Plaza, El Paso, TX 79901

Tip: The Kress Collection alone is worth the visit — it includes significant Old Masters works rarely seen in museums of this size. The museum is open Tuesday–Saturday 9am–5pm, Sunday noon–5pm (closed Mondays). Free parking in the nearby El Paso Convention Center garage on weekends. Check the website for special exhibitions and free public programs.

Parks & Nature

At nearly 27,000 acres, Franklin Mountains State Park is the largest urban state park in the United States — a rugged desert wilderness rising dramatically within the city limits of El Paso. Over 100 miles of trails wind through the Chihuahuan Desert terrain, offering hiking, mountain biking, rock climbing, and sweeping panoramic views of El Paso, the Rio Grande Valley, and Mexico from the mountain ridgelines.

Address: 1331 McKelligon Canyon Rd, El Paso, TX 79930

Tip: The Tom Mays Unit off US-54 is the most accessible entry point with parking and trailheads. The Cottonwood Trail and North Franklin Peak Trail offer the best views. Go early in summer — temperatures spike by midday. Bring extra water (at least 2L per person), sunscreen, and wear sturdy shoes. Sunrise hikes are magical. The park is open year-round; winter months offer ideal hiking temperatures.