Cancel that gym membership – getting fit can be free and fun! There are options for free fitness classes each week and nearly unlimited hikes and other fun activity around Columbus.
Grab a fitness buddy and enjoy all of the options for free fitness in Columbus. You’re more likely to stick to it if you have a friend for accountability, and it’ll be more fun to be social while you sweat!
Whether you’re looking for yoga, dance, cardio, or bootcamp – you’ll find lots of options here! If exploring nature is more your cup of tea, you’ll find dozens of hikes this fall and winter with Columbus Metro Parks for all levels.
Fill in your calendar with the following options for free hikes, yoga, and fitness in Columbus, and make a commitment to healthy habits.
Free Fitness in Columbus
F3 Columbus Men’s Fitness Group
FREE peer-led men’s workout group at 10 locations (and growing) in Central Ohio. Workouts are outdoors at parks and parking lots. There are 24 workout options located at 10 different parks, so there are options for everyone!
F3 Columbus Men’s Fitness Group started over 6 years ago, and has hundreds of guys participating each week across different sites.
All workouts are FREE, open to all men at any fitness level, and held outdoors, rain or shine, heat or cold. They encourage making connections and accountability. Workouts are held early mornings, Monday-Saturdays.
Read more about the group, and find workouts on the website – and JUST SHOW UP!
FIA Females in Action Fitness Group
FIA (Females in Action) is a women’s workout group that meets regularly. All women are welcome to attend any session. Find on IG @fiacolumbus or the website.
Mission: FiA stands for Females in Action, which is a community of women dedicated to making each other stronger in all areas of our lives through activities that include bodies, minds, and hearts.
A FiA workout is a promise, always free, open to ALL women, held outdoors, and ends with a circle of trust.
There are multiple weekly workouts scheduled in different locations around Columbus. See schedule here.
November Project Columbus
November Project Columbus meets Wednesdays at 5:14am and 6:14am, at stairs behind COSI in Downtown Columbus for a combo of cardio and strength training. ALL LEVELS welcome.
Photo courtesy of November Project
MetroPark Hikes
There are nearly 20 Columbus MetroParks around Columbus offering great hiking trails.
There are various hikes for all levels, hikes for families, ages 50 and over, pet hikes, and more. Guided hikes may require registration.
Scenic Hiking Trails
Check out these great nature walks and scenic hiking trails in Columbus – great for all levels!
Dogwood Blackberries in full bloom along the Great Horned Owl Trail
Hoof Hearted Running Club
Join Hoof Hearted Brewery & Kitchen every Wednesday at 6pm for the Weekly 5k Vision Quest. It’s free to join the run! Afterwards, enjoy half off drafts for the rest of the night! Earn those drinks! #getlitgetfit
German Village Walking Club
Every Saturday at 8 am from the Schiller Park Statue for the German Village Walking Club. There are 3 mile or 5 mile route options through downtown, or Schiller Loops – all walking paces welcome!
See 5 mile rotating routes through downtown – great way to see the city!
Walk with a Doc at Highbanks
Every Saturday at 8:30 AM. The Walk with a Doc walking program for everyone interested in taking steps for a healthier lifestyle.
Dr. Sabgir of Mount Carmel Clinical Cardiovascular Specialists will lead the walk featuring blood pressure checks, pedometers, healthy snacks, recipes and information to make better lifestyle changes, and opportunities to talk with the docs.
There are lots of other Walks with a Doc around Columbus too!
SilverSneakers®
Health and fitness program designed for adults 65+ that’s included with many Medicare Advantage Plans. Membership includes access to every participating gym and fitness center in the network, plus they are now offering live classes to do from home for members!
Get a membership at more than 15,000 locations, plus fitness classes for all abilities led by SilverSneakers trained instructors at gyms and other locations. There’s a Silver Sneakers App too!
Do you know of any other free fitness in Columbus? Let me know in the comments, or send me an email at news@columbusonthecheap.
Summer-only options
Columbus Commons Weekly Fitness Classes
Enjoy free yoga and fitness classes on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at Columbus Commons from May – September 2024
Fitness Classes Columbus Commons credit: Randall L. Schieber
Free Yoga on the Square at Easton:
Every Friday from June 7 through August 30, 2024, do a little yoga at the Easton Town Center Town Square from 8:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.
Brought to you by Life Time Fitness, this basic yoga class is designed for beginner and mainstream fitness participants to focus on strength, conditioning and flexibility.
Free Fitness with Motivation at the Station in Hilliard
Saturdays from 8-8:50 a.m., June 1 through September 28
The classes are open to all fitness levels and are 50 minutes long. Bring a mat, towel, or a blanket, plus water. Details here.
June 1-July 13 (except July 6): Mat Happy Yoga
July 20-September 28 (except Sept 7) Alive MVMT
Can’t get out of the house?
YouTube: There are tons and tons and tons of fitness videos on YouTube. Whether you want yoga, kickboxing, calisthenics, or something else, you’ll find it on YouTube. Stick with the ones with tons of followers, likes, and positive reviews, so you don’t waste your time.
Fitness apps: There’s an app for that! There are plenty of free exercise apps on iTunes or GooglePlay. Popular exercise apps include 30 Day Fitness Challenge, 7 Minute Workout, and more. Download the app, commit to opening it once a day, and do SOMETHING! Even a little bit of exercise will help!
Find more FREE at-home workouts here!
Willing to pay for fun fitness events?
Canoeing and Kayaking
Get on the water for some fun and exercise! There are plenty of places to rent kayaks, canoes, and SUP, and great places to explore by water around Columbus!
Roller Skating in Columbus
(admission applies, but many discounts are available)
- Skate America in Grove City: Great pricing and plenty of discounts
- Skate Zone 71 near Morse Rd: Tons of skate parties with character visits. Little kids skate is on Saturday mornings. There are also discounted days, young teen nights, and adult nights, and more
- United Skates of America on Refugee Rd: Lots of family skates, character skates and discount days
Active fun for kids and teens
Scroll down for the active fun section, including trampoline parks, indoor swimming, open gym, and more (admission applies for most).
So many Indoor Play Places and Activities for kids around Columbus
Beauty Boost Fitness and Social events
Check out Beauty Boost Fitness events. They host fun social fitness events, perfect for meeting up with your friends, OR making new friends! Options include yoga, stand-up paddle boarding, hiking, fitness classes, and more!
Unique Yoga Classes
Try these unique yoga classes!
Yoga in breweries, yoga in caves, goat yoga, and so much more!
Goat Yoga at Harrison Farm!
Yoga with goats, or goats with yoga! Whichever appeals to you more! Either way, it’s so fun and you will LOVE these silly goats at Harrison Farm!
photo credit: Heidi Shapiro
Mark your calendar for some upcoming fitness classes in Columbus!
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Winter Fitness Options
Sledding Hills in Columbus: Sledding may seem like more fun than fitness, but you’re sure to feel all of the uphill walking in your legs the next day. It totally counts (and burns calories), so hit these hills when it snows!
Indoor and Outdoor Ice Skating in Columbus: Once you get your legs under you, you’ll get a great workout! Indoor ice rinks have sessions year round. (admission applies to indoor sessions)
Columbus Metro Parks Winter Hike Series: Hike specific Metro parks each month, and get your passport stamped to earn a prize.
Here are some other fun hikes for the winter!
Alley Park: This park in Lancaster has more than 350 acres to get lost in and the covered bridges look gorgeous covered in the winter snow.
Clear Creek Metro Park: Clear Creek in Rockbridge is Ohio’s largest nature preserve, and with nine trails you’re bound to come across many of the 2,200 plant and animal species that call this preserve home. Insider Tip: Check out the Creekside Meadow trail for the best views.
Chestnut Ridge: Chestnut Ridge is the first ridge in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains in Carroll, Ohio, and is great for bird watching. Bundle up and enjoy the scenic walk around the lake.
Indian Run Falls: Only about 20 minutes from Columbus, find beautiful icicles and frozen waterfalls on this easy, family-friendly hike.
Hayden Run Falls: Hit a frozen waterfall double feature and check out Hayden Run Falls in Dublin. Fun fact – I got engaged at Hayden Run Falls one January in front of the frozen waterfall.
Tim Thurston says
Highly recommend F3 Columbus!
F3 workouts…
Are free of charge
Are open to all men
Are held outdoors, rain or shine, heat or cold
Are led by men who participate in the workout in a rotating fashion, with no training or certification necessary
End with a Circle of Trust
Doris (DYOGI) Caceres-Schumick says
Yoga at the Church
Every Saturday from 10:00am-11:00am. Hatha Yoga. Free weekly event; however, a monetary or food donation is appreciated for the church’s needs and Food Pantry. No RSVP. Just show up 5-10 minutes before class with a yoga mat/or large towel and water. For people new to yoga or wanting additional support, if able, two blocks and a strap also recommended. Kirkersville United Methodist Church, 180 E. Main St., Kirkersville, OH 43033. See you then!