1000 Hours Outside Ideas: 10 Ways to Spend the Day Outside

Reaching 1000 Hours Outside in a year requires some full days outdoors. I’ve found being intentional and planning outdoor adventure days helps us rack up hours. We spend quite a few hours outside and get great family time together. It’s a win-win. Here are 10 ways to spend the day outside to help you reach your goal of 1000 Hours Outside!

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Free or Low-Cost Outdoor Adventure Day Ideas

This list includes free ideas AND splurge ideas and a whole range in-between! Some are seasonal activities and some can be done anytime. With all of these ideas, try to include outdoor eating as well. Whether it be a picnic in the park, patio seating at a restaurant, or a campfire by the river, eating outside is the goal.

Check out my 5 Easy Ways to Get More Hours for 1000 Hours Outside post for more easy ideas to extend outdoor time.

1. Take a hike

Pun intended–take a hike! It’s the easiest way our family can spend quite a few hours outside. In hot or cold temperatures, I always make sure to pick somewhere with bathrooms and a visitor’s center. That way we can cool off in the summer or warm up in the winter, if needed.

2. Attend a local Department of Natural Resources community event

Check your local Department of Natural Resources (DNR) events. Often DNRs or a local Department of Parks and Recreation host free outdoor events. Sometimes these are guided hikes, free fishing days, wildlife demonstrations, of special holiday-themed events. They are often free to the public and great way to be involved in your local conservation efforts.

3. Try outdoor ice skating, sledding, or snowshoeing

There are so many unique activities to do in the winter, especially with snow and ice. Often gear can be borrowed or sourced second-hand from places like thrift stores or Facebook Marketplace. Many 1000 Hours Outside families also try building an igloo! You can get lots of winter inspiration from the 1000 Hours Outside Facebook group.

4. Join in a local festival or farmer’s market

Often in the summer and fall there are free local events outdoors like festivals, parades, or farmer’s markets. Support local and get outside hours? It’s a win-win.

5. Have a lake day or go creeking

Having a lake day or wading in a shallow creek is a good way to spend time outside and cool off in warm months. Whether swimming, fishing, or boating, spending the day at a local lake in warm weather is a blast. Exploring a local creek and wading to find rocks or critters is a day well spent. Remember to pack snacks and lunch to extend outdoor time by eating outside.

6. Volunteer at your community garden or community clean-up day

A great way to give back to your community is to be involved in a public garden or clean-up effort. This is a good way to spend outdoor time together as a family. It creates that “we’re a team” mindset while showing the importance of being involved members of our community.

7. Visit your local bike path

A family bike ride can truly be an all day adventure! If bikes are too much with your kids’ ages, think outside the box. Take scooters, balance bikes, strollers, or wagons along and make it a nice walk. You can also add in other fun elements like a photo nature scavenger hunt or bringing sidewalk chalk to mix it up.

Even More Outdoor Adventure Day Ideas

These 1000 Hours Outside ideas may require a little more planning. If an entrance fee is charged, look into free days, borrowing a pass from your local library, or purchasing an annual pass to save money. Get creative!

8. Visit a local metro or state park

All over the United States are beautiful metro or state parks. If you live in Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Missouri, Ohio, Pennsylvania, or Tennessee,state park entrance is free. Other states have free days throughout the year or state park passes that allow pass holders unlimited visits to state parks. Spend the day hiking, fishing (with a permit or fishing license), bird watching, or doing a photography nature scavenger hunt together.

9. Go to a zoo, arboretum, or botanical garden

Going to a zoo, arboretum, or botanical garden is a special adventure. This can be a more expensive option, especially depending on how many kids you have. Before going, check your local library and see if they have community or culture passes to these special places you can check out with your library card.

Don’t let the entrance fee scare you away. We’ve gone to many beautiful outdoor places for free by using library passes!

10. Visit a National Park Service site

Go big and visit a National Park Service site. There are over 400 national parks, historic sites, public lands, and monuments maintained by the National Park Service. Start planning your visit and discover sites near you by visiting the Find a Park feature on the NPS official website.

There are Fee-Free Days where all National Park Service sites that charge an entrance fee offer free admission to everyone. Check out my guide: 2025 National Park Free Days: Everything You Need to Know for all the details for 2025.

The standard Annual Entrance Pass for U.S. National Parks is $80.00. Depending on how many National Park Service sites you’ll be visiting, this pass could pay for itself in 3 visits to most parks. In addition, there are reduced rates for seniors, and free passes for military, 4th graders, federal volunteers, and those with a permanent disability.

Plan Your Outdoor Adventure Days

I hope these 1000 Hours Outside ideas inspired you! Planning ahead and setting aside a few days a month to have outdoor adventure days is a game-changer. It will help your family rack up outdoor hours, enjoy time together, and help you reach your 1000 Hours Outside goal.

What other outdoor day ideas should I add to this list? Leave a comment below letting me know what I missed and to inspire other outdoor families!

See you out there!

If you’re looking for more 1000 Hours Outside inspiration, read How to the 1000 Hours Outside Challenge to learn how we did it in 11 months! Or if you’re new to tracking outside hours, learn How to Track Hours for the 1000 Hours Outside Challenge.

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