Free ways to exercise around Richmond

You don’t need to pay a membership fee to stay active around the River City

RICtoday_PickleballCourts_BryanPark

Pickleball courts are available at Bryan Park.

Photo by RICtoday

While Richmond has no shortage of gyms to chose from, not all exercise has to come with a membership fee. Here’s our guide to getting your workout in without spending money.

🎾 Go to court

Richmond’s parks have public tennis courts galore, but these days it’s the local pickleball courts that have people talking. You can access courts for free at parks across the Richmond area, including Bryan Park, Forest Hill Park, and Broad Rock Sports Complex.

👟 Hit the road

Whether you’re a walker, a runner, a road cyclist, a mountain biker, or some combination, Richmond is a pretty great place to explore. The trails around the James River are beloved among hikers, runners, and mountain bikers alike.

Though better bicycle infrastructure is ongoing, road cyclists still ought to be careful where they chose to ride. If you’re new to cycling, we collected be-spoke advice from our readers on biking around Richmond safely.

RICtoday_BikeLane_FranklinStreet

Whether you ride in bike lanes or on single track trails, Richmond’s a great place to traverse on two wheels.

Photo by RICtoday

💪 Pump some iron

If you’re looking for a workout closer to the sort you’d get in a gym, several public parks around the Richmond area have workout equipment available.

Petronius Jones Park has workout gear at the corner of Idlewood and North Allen. The VITA Course at Byrd Park also features calisthenics equipment like pull-up bars. Both of these spots also feature gravel loops for walking and running, if you’re looking to mix in some cardio.

A brand-new, state-of-the-art fitness complex is opening at Broad Rock Sports Complex on Thursday, Sept. 19. The outdoor gym is available in tandem with a free app which coaches users through workouts on the equipment.

More from RICtoday
Take a look at seven of the oldest restaurants in Richmond, Virginia, ranging from diners to restaurants and pubs.
Wisteria is a tell-tale sign of spring in Richmond, but there’s more to this beautiful plant than meets the eye.
See where to stock up on seasonal produce around the city, from year-round shopping to in-season markets.
As gas prices spike, which Richmond businesses offer deals when it comes time to treat yourself?
Grab your tickets ahead of time for these upcoming summer concerts bringing big names to the River City.
We took the advice of a local content creator and ventured to find Japanese fruit sandos in Richmond.
Throughout the month, Richmond Police will forgo citations and instead issue violation warnings to drivers illegally parked in bike lanes.
Cracking the code to urban farming.
Bookmark this page to your favorites tab so you can quickly return and find the top events happening each month in Richmond.
Directly north, east, south, and west, cities across the world await.