35 Cheap, Last-Minute Date Ideas for Valentine's Day and Beyond

Why they'll like it: Easy—it's an excuse to get outside and shake the indoor cobwebs off. It's also a challenge. Companies like Let's Roam have hunts set up across America, so all you really have to do is sign up and pick a date.

Don't spend more than: $35

Goes great with: Snacks along the way

Why they'll like it: With nothing to do and nowhere to go, Airbnb's livestream experiences are very appealing. Browse ahead of time through events like "Sangria and Secrets with Drag Queens," "Dance Salsa and Latin Music from Scratch," and, somewhat morbidly, "Follow a Plague Doctor Through Prague." Book two spots in whichever sounds the most thrilling to you.

Don't spend more than: $30 for two people

Goes great with: A fast Wifi connection

Why they'll like it: You drink wine while you attempt to paint something; it's like kindergarten for adults. Art studios that offer classes like these are exploding, but you can mimic the setup at home with the right supplies and a painting prompt. If you're feeling especially artsy, paint each other's portraits.

Don't spend more than: $60 on wine, cheap paint, two brushes, and two canvasses

Goes great with: A drop cloth and white T-shirts that'd look cool with some paint streaks

Why they'll like it: When you don't have a car, the simple act of being in a car becomes a rarified treat. Rent a cheap ride for 12 hours and get the hell out of Dodge. No itinerary or destination needed—just end up where you end up.

Don't spend more than: $100 on the rental (get collision insurance, too)

Goes great with: A road trip playlist and road trip snacks, naturally

Why they'll like it: Jackbox games, played through phones remotely or in-person, are, frankly, wild. If you've got a double (or more) date in mind, nothing will break the ice and cause uproarious laughter quite like them.

Don't spend more than: $24 on the game itself

Goes great with: Thick skin and quick wit

Why they'll like it: C'mon, you've seen all the movies and TV shows. Ice skating is cute as hell. It also requires a fair amount of skill and grace, so chances are they'll skate circles around you, which they'll also like.

Don't spend more than: $30 for rental skates

Goes great with: Irish coffees and extra thick socks

Why they'll like it: Winter is beautiful in its own way. Bundle up and hit the trails, where fresh snow changes the landscape into a fantasy world.

Don't spend more than: $0

Goes great with: A tumbler of hot coffee

Why they'll like it: Even if your date has to drag your limp body across the finish line, it's the tag-along-to-the-gym afternoon you've never taken them up on before. A search for "Valentine 5K" or "Love the Run You're With" should turn up one of many couples' runs in a nearby city.

Don't spend more than: $45 to register, which goes straight to charity

Goes great with: New joggers (for you) and a hamstring massage (for them)

Why they'll like it: Flash tattoos don't require much forethought; a tattoo parlor will give you a book of small designs to choose from, and ink you both with your chosen designs within a half hour. Easy, but bold, too.

Don't spend more than: $120 (flash tattoos run around $50 each, plus tip)

Goes great with: Petroleum jelly for aftercare. And photographic documentation of the entire process.

Why they'll like it: Bars like these have walls and walls of board games for them to choose from, plus drinks and a great atmosphere.

Don't spend more than: $40 for a couple rounds

Goes great with: A cool deck of cards

Why they'll like it: It's the chance to unplug, unwind, and destress while surrounded by trees. It's one step up from a stay-cation.

Don't spend more than: $80 for one night in a remote Airbnb

Goes great with: A crackling fire, a bottle of wine, and a playlist of these songs

Why they'll like it: If you can book time for a couples-style lesson together with an instructor, you can both fumble through your first cords—and be well on your way to being true musicians. Of course, if guitar doesn't work, then there's always drums, mandolin, piano, flute...

Don't spend more than: $50 for an hour-long lesson for two (guitars included)

Goes great with: A tee from their favorite band

Why they'll like it: These “experiences” are fun and photogenic. Whether it’s the Candytopia in Atlanta, the U.S. Pizza Museum in Chicago, or the Rosé Mansion in New York, they’ll get a great photo for the ‘gram.

Don't spend more than: $90 on two tickets

Goes great with: A disposable camera for some analog snaps

Why they'll like it: You can’t get much more classic than a night at the bowling alley. Grab a pair of shoes and cheer each other on under the neon lights.

Don't spend more than: $70 on shoes, lanes, and fries

Goes great with: Sour Patch kids, like old times

Why they'll like it: You never know what you’ll get on an open mic night, but you know whatever it is will be interesting. Even if a performer chokes on stage, your date will appreciate the bravery it took to get up there. Especially if that performer is you.

Don't spend more than: $15 on two drinks. You probably won’t be staying long.

Goes great with: A journal for writing your own terrible poetry together

Why they’ll like it: You shouldn’t overthink the first date—grabbing food is a fine way to get to know someone. But planning a route so you can try delicious tacos (and accompanying drinks) at different stops along the way is more fun than sitting still. Call it a mini-adventure.

Don’t spend more than: $50 (and eat no fewer than three tacos each)

Goes great with: Colorful food commentary and plenty of hot sauce souvenirs

Why they’ll like it: Cheap drinks, fierce competition, and the chance to prove you wrong. This can be organized over Zoom, too.

Don’t spend more than: $30 on drinks

Goes great with: Slices of pizza afterwards to celebrate your win

Why they'll like it: What’s not to like about arguing over Street Fighter high scores and Pop-A-Shot basket counts?

Don't spend more than: $30. Gotta cut off your quarter supply at some point.

Goes great with: Phone games for the Uber ride home

Why they'll like it: Your date probably hasn't done it in years, and the adrenaline kick couldn't hurt either of you.

Don't spend more than: $60 for the session

Goes great with: Gatorade

Why they'll like it: It's as casual as getting together for drinks, with the perks of open sky and fresh air.

Don't spend more than: $40—half on a bottle of wine, half on cheese and crackers

Goes great with: A bug-repelling candle and a creative vessel to mask the public alcohol consumption