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Homeschool Discounts in California

Big-ticket California museums and attractions with homeschool discount days — typically 30–50% off for kids, sometimes free.

✓ Programs verified June 2026 · 21 confirmed programs · 3 call-to-confirm

California's homeschool calendar is anchored across five metros. In Los Angeles, the Natural History Museum of LA County and La Brea Tar Pits both run themed Homeschool Days twice a year — free for the entire family. The California Science Center's $50/session program runs three single-day classes per year for ages 5–13. San Francisco's two science marquees both qualify on school field trip rates — California Academy of Sciences is free for SF homeschool groups (other CA groups $15.95/person), and Exploratorium charges $10/youth K-12 with one chaperone free per ten youth. The East Bay's Lawrence Hall of Science is $15/student school rate and UC Botanical Garden is $8/student. In San Diego, Balboa Park's museum row delivers four published-pricing group programs — USS Midway $10/student, theNAT $12/student, Birch Aquarium $15/student, and Air & Space $8/student. In the South Bay, The Tech Interactive in San Jose runs select-Wednesday Homeschool Days.

A few more California venues run homeschool or school-group programs but quote pricing only on request rather than posting it: the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles (customizable K–12 STEAM tours, with educators free), The Tech Interactive in San Jose (Homeschool Days on select Wednesdays), and Oakland's Chabot Space & Science Center (self-guided group visits). Contact each for current rates. If a California venue near your trip runs a homeschool day and we missed it, email info@discovercheapus.com — we'll verify and add it.

Confirmed homeschool pricing

Published price on the venue's own homeschool page — most under $20 per child.

Offers
Homeschool Days
Twice a year · Spring + fall themed dates
Free
per kid · adult free

Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County

Los Angeles · All ages · Not required — drop in any time during museum hours

NHM runs themed Homeschool Days twice a year — free general admission for the whole homeschool family, with special programming throughout the museum (welcome table with scavenger hunts, exploration stations, relaxation zones, themed activations around the day's topic). Spring 2026's Homeschool Day was April 9 with the "Unearthed: Raw Beauty" mineral exhibit theme. Sign up for the NHM Homeschool mailing list to catch upcoming dates.

Regular admission: $18 adult / $7 child 3–12 — 100% off — free entire family on these dates
Homeschool page at nhm.org →
Offers
Homeschool Days
Twice a year · Morning 10am–12pm + afternoon 1–3pm sessions, themed
Free
per kid · adult free

La Brea Tar Pits

Los Angeles · All ages · Required — register via tarpits.org Homeschool Days page

La Brea Tar Pits runs themed Homeschool Days twice a year, with drop-in morning programming (10am–12pm) and a separate afternoon block (1–3pm) after the lunch break. Past themes include All About Tar, La Brea's Ice Age Ecosystems, Nocturnal Nature, and Terrific Taphonomy. Activities range from discovery tables with staff scientists to crafts, movies and shows, and active-fossil-lab viewing. Most programming is drop-in once you're on site.

Regular admission: $18 adult / $7 child 3–12 — 100% off — free entire family on these dates
Homeschool page at tarpits.org →
Offers
Homeschool Days
3 dates per year · Recent: Feb 24, Mar 24, Apr 28 2026 — 2026–27 dates open in fall
$50
per kid · adult Per student per session

California Science Center

Los Angeles · 5–7, 8–10, or 11–13 (grouped by age band) · Required — enroll online at californiasciencecenter.org

California Science Center runs three Homeschool Days per year, each a single-day 2.5-hour facilitated class focused on a science theme — recent topics: Get Down With Gravity, Bugs and Botany, Exploring Engineering. Students are grouped by age band into morning or afternoon sessions led by Center educators in the Big Lab. Includes hands-on activities, mini STEAM demonstrations, and access to Drop-In Labs. The Center's permanent exhibit halls remain free to explore the rest of the day.

Regular admission: Free general admission to the museum (Homeschool Days are facilitated programs on top) — Members save $5 per session
Homeschool page at californiasciencecenter.org →
Offers
Group Visits
Year-round Mon–Sat · 10am–5pm, last admission 4pm
$10
per kid · adult free

USS Midway Museum

San Diego · Grades K–12 · Required at least 1 week in advance — submit form at midway.org

USS Midway Museum offers a published education discount for school and youth groups — including explicitly named home schools — at $10/student, $20/adult for out-of-ratio adults. 10-student minimum, 200-student maximum, 1:10 chaperone ratio. Visit includes self-guided audio tour and access to all decks. Single-day format during normal museum hours. Phone 619-398-8271 for purchase orders or special requests.

Regular admission: $36 adult / $26 youth 6–12 — Roughly 70% off adult admission
Homeschool page at midway.org →
Offers
Field Trips
By reservation
$12
per kid · adult free

San Diego Natural History Museum (theNAT)

San Diego · K–12 (grade-specific programs available) · Required — register via sdnhm.org

The San Diego Natural History Museum offers $12-per-student field trips Tuesday through Friday during the school year. Programs include self-guided gallery exploration, docent-led workshops, and tours. 10-student minimum with grade-level-specific chaperone ratios. Single-day format. Reservations through the museum's field trip registration page. Note: Bookings for the 2026–27 school year open in fall 2026.

Regular admission: ~$24 adult general admission — Roughly 50% off adult admission
Homeschool page at sdnhm.org →
Offers
Field Trips
Year-round on offered dates · Pre-registration required
$15
per kid · adult free

Birch Aquarium at Scripps

San Diego (La Jolla) · All school ages · Required — book via Birch Aquarium School Programs eTicketing

Birch Aquarium at Scripps offers Self-Guided Visits for school and youth groups at $15 per student, with adults within the chaperone ratio admitted free. Pre-registration required. Single-day format during regular aquarium hours. Activity sheets provided for student learning. Field trip is structured as group exploration rather than a docent-led tour. Summer 2026 dates open May 23–September 7.

Regular admission: $39.95 walk-up adult / $34.95 child — Roughly 60% off child admission
Homeschool page at aquarium.ucsd.edu →
Offers
Field Trips
By advance reservation
$8
per kid · adult $12 out-of-ratio

San Diego Air & Space Museum School & Youth Group

San Diego · PK–12 (age-banded tour topics) · Required at least 48 hours ahead — submit Group Visit Request Form

San Diego Air & Space Museum in Balboa Park offers school-group field trips at $8/student (10+ minimum) with self-guided gallery exploration of historic aircraft. Add-on options: $3/student for a 30-minute educator-led tour by grade band (World of Color, Winged Wonders, Animals in Aviation, Careers & Heroes, Aviators Showcase), or $5/student for an interactive workshop. Title 1 scholarship bus funding available.

Regular admission: $25 adult / $18 youth 3–11 — Roughly 60% off general admission
Homeschool page at sandiegoairandspace.org →
Offers
Field Trips
Dates assigned by reservation
$15.95
per kid · adult free

California Academy of Sciences

San Francisco · Pre-K through 12 · Required — apply at calacademy.org/educators/plan-a-trip

California Academy of Sciences in Golden Gate Park — the world's largest natural history museum under one roof, with the Steinhart Aquarium, Morrison Planetarium, Osher Rainforest, and Kimball Natural History Museum — offers field trip rates for school and homeschool groups. The 2024-25 rate is $15.95/person for non-SF California groups, free for SF groups. Pricing may change seasonally — confirm at booking. Single-day format during normal Academy hours.

Regular admission: $44.95 adult / $36.95 child general admission — Roughly 65% off general admission for CA groups; 100% off for SF groups
Homeschool page at calacademy.org →
Offers
Field Trips
Tuesday–Friday · 2026-27 season Sept 22, 2026 – June 4, 2027
$10
per kid · adult free

Exploratorium

San Francisco · Grades K–12 (children 3 & under free) · Required — book via reserve@exploratorium.edu or online form

Exploratorium at Pier 15 is San Francisco's hands-on science and perception museum — 700+ exhibits, the Tactile Dome, the Bay Observatory, and a Pacific-facing waterfront promenade. The school field trip program runs Tuesday-Friday during the school year and admits homeschool co-ops under the same rate ($10/youth, 1 adult free per 10 youth). Single-day group format. 2026-27 season Sept 22 to June 4; reservations open July 1.

Regular admission: $39.95 adult / $29.95 youth general admission — Roughly 75% off adult admission
Homeschool page at exploratorium.edu →
Offers
Group Visits
Mon, Thu, Fri mornings · By reservation
Free
per kid · adult free

Norton Simon Museum

Pasadena · Grades 5–12 for educator-led; K–12 self-guided · Required — submit School Tour Request Form on nortonsimon.org

Norton Simon Museum's free school tour program is a strong fit for homeschool co-ops with 5th-12th graders. Museum Educator-led 60-minute interactive tours focus on specific collection areas; up to 80 students per tour; Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays only. Free self-guided K-12 school tours run anytime during open hours with advance reservation. Children 18 and under already free for regular admission daily.

Regular admission: $20 adult / $15 senior / Free 18 & under daily — 100% off
Homeschool page at nortonsimon.org →
Offers
Homeschool Days
Annual (typically July) · Last event Oct 20, 2025; next July 20, 2026
Free
per kid · adult free

Descanso Gardens

Pasadena (La Cañada Flintridge, 5 mi) · All school ages · Required — register via descansogardens.org

Descanso Gardens (5 miles north of Pasadena in La Cañada Flintridge) runs an annual Homeschool Day with free admission for students plus one adult per student, plus education materials throughout the 150-acre gardens. October 2025 was the last event; next scheduled July 20, 2026. The 9:30-11:30am timing favors morning visits. Single-day drop-in once registered. Free parking.

Regular admission: $18 adult / $14 senior + student / $8 child 3-12 — 100% off for students + 1 adult per student
Homeschool page at descansogardens.org →
Offers
Field Trips
10am-5pm
$15
per kid · adult free

Lawrence Hall of Science

Berkeley · Pre-K to grade 12 · Required — lawrenceinfo@berkeley.edu

UC Berkeley's Lawrence Hall of Science school field trip program is the Bay Area's marquee homeschool fit at $15/student (12 student min). Self-guided exploration of all exhibits including the Karplus Outdoor Nature Lab, the planetarium, Pheena the Fin Whale, and the Cambrian Explosion gallery. Optional add-ons for 3D film or planetarium ($5 each). Single-day group format during normal hours. Transportation scholarships available for the 9 Bay Area counties.

Regular admission: $25 general / $5 on periodic Five Dollar Days — Roughly 40% off general admission
Homeschool page at lawrencehallofscience.org →
Offers
Group Visits
$100 minimum to book
$8
per kid · adult free

UC Botanical Garden at Berkeley

Berkeley · Pre-K through 12 (children must be at least 4) · Required — submit Pre-K-12 youth tour form on botanicalgarden.berkeley.edu

UC Berkeley's Botanical Garden offers $8/student docent-led youth tours aligned to Next Generation Science Standards. Tour options include 'Plant Wonders: A Sensory Walk' (Pre-K-1st), 'Discovering the World of Plants' (all grades), 'Pollination,' 'Trees in the Garden,' 'Plant Evolution,' and 'California Plant Communities.' Picnic lunch in the garden permitted with prior approval. Free chaperone admission. April-May 2026 dates are already nearly full; book early.

Regular admission: $18 adult / $12 senior / $8 youth 5-17 — Roughly 55% off adult admission
Homeschool page at botanicalgarden.berkeley.edu →
Offers
Homeschool Days
Self-guided; optional add-on classes Sept–April
$6
per kid

Turtle Bay Exploration Park

Redding · 4–18 · Reservation required; 10-child minimum for field-trip pricing

Redding's riverfront museum-zoo-garden complex, linked by the landmark Sundial Bridge, charges homeschool groups just $6 per child (ages 4–18) for a self-guided field trip across its natural-science museum, walk-through aviary, and gardens. A co-op of ten kids qualifies; smaller families can use the separate Homeschool Days. Add-on multi-grade classes are available on select dates from September through April.

Regular admission: $18 child at the gate — Two-thirds off the child gate price
Homeschool page at turtlebay.org →
Offers
Field Trips
Minimum 12 participants; arrive 10–11am
$17
per kid

Oakland Zoo

Oakland · TK–12 · Reserve at least two weeks ahead via reservations@oaklandzoo.org; 12-person minimum

Oakland Zoo's 100 hillside acres and its grizzly-and-condor California Trail (reached by an included gondola when open) make a strong field trip. The Self-Guided Field Trip program charges a flat $17 per child, $21 per adult, and $17 per senior — no date-based surge — for weekday visits. A homeschool co-op clears the 12-person minimum easily; reserve at least two weeks ahead.

Regular admission: $17.85–$34.65 child / $21–$40.75 adult (regular admission, dynamic by date) — Flat $17/child vs date-based regular admission up to $34.65
Homeschool page at oaklandzoo.org →
Offers
Group Visits
11am–5pm; not the first Thursday of the month
Free
per kid

BAMPFA

Berkeley · K-12 school & youth groups · Request at least two weeks ahead via sgvisits@berkeley.edu

BAMPFA, UC Berkeley's bold contemporary art museum and Pacific Film Archive, admits K-12 students, teachers, and chaperones free on school and youth group visits (non-chaperoning adults $5; an optional docent tour is $60 for up to 30 students). Visits run Wednesday-Friday, 11am-5pm, and a homeschool co-op books as a youth group. Or drop in free any first Thursday with no reservation.

Regular admission: $18 general / $12 senior & student / Free first Thursday monthly — Free for K-12 students, teachers, and chaperones
Homeschool page at bampfa.org →
Offers
Group Visits
10+ tickets; reserve 2+ weeks ahead
$14
per kid

Kidspace Children's Museum

Pasadena · 0–10 · Submit the Group Visit Request form at kidspacemuseum.org; pay 2 weeks ahead; 10-ticket minimum

Kidspace Children's Museum in Pasadena's Brookside Park charges a flat $14 per person for groups of 10 or more — a fit for a homeschool co-op — across its 3.5-acre outdoor-focused campus of water play, the ant-hill climb, the Bug Diner, and the Imagination Workshop. Reserve at least two weeks ahead via the Group Visit Request form; a 1:5 adult ratio applies, and Title I chaperones are free.

Regular admission: $15.50 adults & children / $13.50 seniors 62+ / Free under 1 — $14/person group rate (and free Title I chaperones)
Homeschool page at kidspacemuseum.org →
Offers
Homeschool Days
Sept 8–10, 2026 · 9am–12pm PT; tickets on sale July 24, 2026
$14
per kid

Aquarium of the Pacific

Long Beach · K–12 (mixed-age program) · Advance purchase only (no walk-ups); 2026 tickets on sale July 24

The Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach holds Homeschool Days each September — September 8–10 in 2026, 9am to noon — where aquarium educators staff ocean-themed learning stations throughout the galleries. Admission is just $14 per person (vs. $34.95 for a child at the gate), advance purchase only with no walk-up sales. Tickets for 2026 go on sale July 24.

Regular admission: $44.95 adult / $34.95 child 3-11 / Free under 3 — $14 vs $34.95 child regular admission
Homeschool page at aquariumofpacific.org →
Offers
Field Trips
By reservation; advance request
$12
per kid

Reuben H. Fleet Science Center

San Diego · K–12 · Request a field trip via fleetscience.org; reserve in advance

The Fleet Science Center in San Diego's Balboa Park charges $12 per student for an exhibits field trip that includes a free IMAX film — well under the $20 regular child admission. The free-chaperone ratio (one per 10 students in grades 2+) counts teachers, and one-on-one aides are free, so a homeschool co-op books as a group. Optional guided hands-on workshops are available at a higher flat rate.

Regular admission: $24 adult / $20 child general admission — $12/student (vs $20 child gate) and a free IMAX film
Homeschool page at fleetscience.org →
Offers
Field Trips
American History 7 days/week; STEAM at Sea weekdays
$12
per kid

San Diego Natural History Museum (theNAT)

Los Angeles (San Pedro) · Grades 1–12 (program varies) · Reserve via groupsales@labattleship.com / Make an Inquiry; advance booking

Climb aboard the WWII battleship USS Iowa in San Pedro for a daytime field trip: the 1.5-hour American History Field Trip ($12 per person, grades 2–12, seven days a week) or the 3-hour STEAM at Sea program ($15 per person, NGSS-aligned). Teachers are free and one chaperone per 10 students is free, so a homeschool co-op books as a group. Title 1 schools can apply for scholarship help.

Regular admission: $25 adult / $19 child 6–17 general admission — $12–$15/person field trip vs $19 child gate
Homeschool page at pacificbattleship.com →
Offers
Field Trips
Groups of 10+; book 3 weeks ahead; rate varies by date
~$11.50
per kid

The Living Desert Zoo & Gardens

Palm Desert (~15 mi from Palm Springs) · TK–12 · Book at least 3 weeks ahead; select dates Oct 1–May 7, Tuesday–Friday

The Coachella Valley's big desert zoo-and-garden is its priciest gate ($34.95 for a child), but school and group field trips run roughly $11.50 per student for a self-guided visit. A homeschool co-op of ten books as a field-trip group. Field trips run Tuesday–Friday from October through early May; rates shift by date, so check the calendar and book three weeks out.

Regular admission: $34.95 child / $44.95 adult at the gate — About two-thirds off the child gate price
Homeschool page at livingdesert.org →

Worth calling about

These venues run homeschool programs but don't publish pricing online. Call before you go.

Offers
Group Visits
Year-round by appointment
Call
no public price

Petersen Automotive Museum

Los Angeles · K–12 (customizable) · Required — submit inquiry form via petersen.org

Petersen Automotive Museum books guided 75-minute STEAM-based tours for youth and homeschool groups year-round, fully customizable to K–12 ages and aligned with California curriculum standards. The tour uses the automobile as a lens into history, social studies, art, and STEM. Title 1 school assistance available. Submit the General Inquiries form and the School Programs Coordinator responds within 3–5 business days with dates and pricing. Email: schooltours@petersen.org

Regular admission: $21 adult / $13 child 4–17
How to reach them: Pricing not published on the Petersen's own site — group tour rates for school and homeschool groups are quoted after the inquiry form. Educators get free general admission with school/institute ID.
Homeschool page at petersen.org →
Offers
Homeschool Days
Select Wednesdays · 2025–26 program concluded; 2026–27 dates pending
Call
no public price

The Tech Interactive

San Jose · K–12 (mixed-age workshops) · Required — contact The Tech education team

The Tech Interactive in downtown San Jose runs Homeschool Days on select Wednesdays each school year, with mini STEAM demonstrations led by Tech educators, hands-on Drop-In Labs, special homeschool workshops, and full self-guided access to all exhibits. Single-day drop-in format. The 2025–26 program has concluded; check thetech.org/explore/upcoming-events/homeschool-days-at-the-tech-interactive/ for 2026–27 dates as they're announced.

Regular admission: $38 adult / $28 child 3-17, student, or senior
How to reach them: Pricing for Homeschool Days is not published on The Tech's Homeschool page — general admission is $38 adult / $28 child 3-17 + students + seniors, but the HS Days rate may differ. Subscribe to the educator newsletter at thetech.org for upcoming dates and pricing announcements.
Homeschool page at thetech.org →
Offers
Workshops
Call
no public price

Chabot Space & Science Center

Oakland

Oakland's hilltop science center — planetarium, big research telescopes, and free weekend stargazing — hosts school and homeschool groups for self-guided daytime visits, with workshops available outside summer. The group rate runs below the $19 child gate price but isn't published, so you'll need to email group sales for a quote and to book.

Regular admission: $24 adult / $19 ages 2–12
How to reach them: Chabot welcomes school and homeschool groups for self-guided visits with optional planetarium shows and workshops, but the discounted group rate isn't posted online — email groupsales@chabotspace.org for current per-student pricing. Regular admission is $24 adult / $19 child.
Homeschool page at chabotspace.org →
Free field-trip days: when California's museums are free for everyone No group minimums, no booking forms — our verified guide to every recurring free museum day in California →

Gear up for your field trip

A few inexpensive things that turn a museum or nature day into a richer lesson — favorites from homeschooling families.

Kids' field journal
Sketch and note what they see at each stop
Shop on Amazon →
Compact binoculars for kids
Zoos, nature centers, living-history farms
Shop on Amazon →
Bug viewer & magnifier
Turn any nature trail into a science lesson
Shop on Amazon →
Kids' sketchbook
Art-museum and outdoor sketching days
Shop on Amazon →
Scavenger hunt cards
Keep little ones engaged on long visits
Shop on Amazon →
Junior ranger activity book
Pairs with park and museum trips
Shop on Amazon →

Homeschool resources we love

Homeschool curriculum Science experiment kits Kids' art supplies Educational workbooks

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Plus more free and cheap educational outings in California

Already on DiscoverCheapUS — free and low-cost California attractions homeschool families plan whole field-trip days around.

Los Angeles

11 free or cheap
  • Griffith ObservatoryFree (planetarium shows $12 adults / $8 children 5-12)
  • The BroadFree general admission
  • Getty CenterFree admission / Parking $25 ($15 after 3pm / Free after 5pm)
  • Walt Disney Concert HallFree self-guided audio tour
  • California African American MuseumFree admission
  • La Brea Tar Pits & Museum$18 adults / $7 children 3-12 / Free under 3 / LA County residents free M-F 3-5pm
  • Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County$18 adults / $7 children 3-12 / Free under 3 / LA County residents free M-F 3-5pm
  • California Science CenterFree general admission / Endeavour Experience $4-8 timed tickets
  • El Pueblo de Los Angeles & Olvera StreetFree entry to the plaza, Olvera Street, and most museums
  • Union StationFree
  • Watts TowersFree to view from outside / Guided tours $12 / $6 seniors & students / Free minors
See all Los Angeles attractions →

Long Beach

9 free or cheap
  • Rancho Los Cerritos Historic SiteFree (donations appreciated)
  • Rancho Los Alamitos Historic Ranch & GardensFree
  • Earl Burns Miller Japanese Garden (CSULB)Free (reservation required)
  • East Village Arts DistrictFree
  • Long Beach Museum of Art$15 adults / $10 students+seniors / Free 12 & under
  • Museum of Latin American Art (MOLAA)$15 adults / $10 students+seniors / Free under 12 / Free 1st Sunday of every month
  • El Dorado Nature CenterTrails free / Vehicle entry $6 weekday / $7 Friday / $8 weekend / $9 holiday
  • Queen Mary (harbor walk view)Free to walk the harborfront and photograph the exterior / Tours from $45
  • Billie Jean King Main LibraryFree
See all Long Beach attractions →

Pasadena

12 free or cheap
  • Pasadena City HallFree
  • Colorado Street BridgeFree
  • Caltech CampusFree
  • Bungalow Heaven Historic DistrictFree to walk
  • Tournament House (Wrigley Mansion)Free tours / Free gardens year-round
  • Norton Simon Museum$20 adults / $15 seniors 62+ / Free 18 and under daily / Free students with ID / Free first Fridays 4-7pm
  • Pasadena Museum of History$9 adults / $7 seniors 62+ / Free under 18 / Free PMH members + students
  • USC Pacific Asia Museum$15 general / $12 seniors / $9 students 15+ / Free 14 & under / Free every Second Sunday
  • Kidspace Children's Museum$15.50 adults & children 1+ / $13.50 seniors 62+ / Free under 1 / Free members
  • Castle GreenFree exterior view
  • Descanso Gardens (La Cañada, 5 mi)$18 adults / $14 seniors 65+ / $14 students / $8 children 3-12 / Free under 3 + members
  • Vroman's BookstoreFree entry / Free author events
See all Pasadena attractions →

San Diego

11 free or cheap
  • Balboa ParkFree entry to the park (museums separately ticketed)
  • Cabrillo National Monument$20 per vehicle (7-day pass) / $10 walk-in / Free under 16
  • Old Town San Diego State Historic ParkFree
  • Mission Basilica San Diego de Alcalá$8 adults / $5 senior/military/student / $3 children 6-12 (free for Mass)
  • Mormon Battalion Historic SiteFree
  • Spreckels Organ PavilionFree outdoor concerts
  • Timken Museum of ArtFree admission
  • Village Arts Center (Spanish Village)Free admission
  • Gaslamp QuarterFree to walk
  • Hotel del CoronadoFree to walk lobby, grounds & beach side
  • Sunny Jim Sea Cave$13 adults / $7 youth 3-17 / Free under 3
See all San Diego attractions →

Palm Springs

5 free or cheap
  • Indian Canyons$12 adults / $7 seniors & students / $6 ages 6-12
  • Tahquitz Canyon$15 adults / $7 ages 6-12
  • Moorten Botanical Garden$7 adults / $3 children 5-12 / Free under 5
  • Palm Springs Art MuseumFree Thursdays 5-8pm / $25 adults otherwise
  • Palm Springs Air Museum$25 adults / $23 seniors & military / Free ages 12 & under with adult
See all Palm Springs attractions →

San Francisco

14 free or cheap
  • Golden Gate BridgeFree to walk
  • Painted Ladies at Alamo SquareFree
  • Pier 39 Sea LionsFree
  • Coit TowerFree to walk grounds & murals lobby / Elevator $11 adult non-resident, $8 SF resident
  • Lands End Trail & Sutro Baths RuinsFree
  • Crissy Field & Palace of Fine ArtsFree
  • San Francisco Cable Car MuseumFree
  • Asian Art Museum$20 adults / $17 seniors 65+ / $14 students+youth 13-17 / Free 12 & under / Free First Sundays
  • de Young Museum$20 adults / $17 seniors / $11 students / Free 17 & under / Free Saturdays for Bay Area residents through Dec 31, 2026 / Free first Tuesdays
  • Mission Dolores~$10 suggested donation adults / ~$5 students (no fixed admission)
  • ChinatownFree
  • Balmy Alley MuralsFree
  • North Beach (Little Italy)Free
  • Japanese Tea Garden (Golden Gate Park)$15 adults / $7 seniors 65+ & youth 12-17 / $3 children 5-11 / Free under 5 / Free Mon, Wed, Fri 9-10am
See all San Francisco attractions →

Berkeley

10 free or cheap
  • UC Berkeley CampusFree
  • Sather Tower (Campanile)$6 general / $5 seniors 65+, youth 3-17, CAA members / Free UC Berkeley affiliates
  • Lawrence Hall of Science$27 general / $5 on periodic Five Dollar Days
  • UC Botanical Garden at Berkeley$18 adults / $12 seniors 65+ & non-Berkeley students / $8 youth 5-17 / Free under 5
  • BAMPFA (Berkeley Art Museum & Pacific Film Archive)$18 general / $12 seniors+students / Free first Thursday monthly / Free UC Berkeley affiliates
  • Tilden Regional ParkFree (some paid amenities: Merry-Go-Round $3.50; Lake Anza summer swim ~$4)
  • Berkeley Rose GardenFree
  • Berkeley Central LibraryFree
  • Tilden Park Steam Trains (Redwood Valley Railway)~$5 per ride / Free under 2
  • Berkeley Art CenterFree
See all Berkeley attractions →

Oakland

6 free or cheap
  • Chabot Space & Science Center$24 adults / $19 ages 2-12, seniors & students / $1 EBT
  • Oakland ZooFrom $21 adults / From $17.85 ages 2-14 / Free under 2
  • Oakland Museum of California$25 adults / $18 youth 13-17 & students / Free under 13 / Free first Sundays / $1 EBT
  • Mountain View CemeteryFree
  • African American Museum & Library at OaklandFree
  • Paramount Theatre$10 adults / $5 youth 8-17 (Saturday tours)
See all Oakland attractions →

San Jose

13 free or cheap
  • Japanese Friendship GardenFree entry
  • San Jose Municipal Rose GardenFree
  • Heritage Rose GardenFree
  • Cathedral Basilica of St. JosephFree entry / Suggested $5 donation for guided tour
  • South First Fridays (SoFA District)Free
  • History Park at Kelley ParkFree entry (some special-event days have separate fees)
  • San Jose Museum of Art$20 adults / $15 seniors / Free 17 and under / Free first Friday evenings
  • Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum$15 adults / $12 senior 65+ / $12 student / $10 children 7-17 / Free 6 & under
  • Mexican Heritage PlazaFree entry (most events free; some ticketed performances)
  • New Almaden Quicksilver Mining MuseumFree (~$2 donation suggested)
  • Intel Museum (Santa Clara)Free
  • Mission Santa Clara de AsísFree
  • Children's Discovery Museum of San Jose$22 adults & children / Free under 1 / $5 EBT/SNAP/CalFresh (up to 4)
See all San Jose attractions →

Sacramento

8 free or cheap
  • California State Capitol & Capitol ParkFree
  • Old Sacramento Waterfront Historic DistrictFree walking
  • Crocker Art Museum (free admission days)Free with EBT card; Pay What You Wish 3rd Sundays
  • Sutter's Fort State Historic Park$5 adults, $3 kids 6-17, under 6 free
  • California State Railroad Museum$12 adults / $6 youth (6–17) / Free under 6
  • The California Museum$10 adults / $8 youth 6-17, students & seniors / Free under 6
  • California Automobile Museum$14 adults / $12 senior/military/student / $8 youth (6–17) / Free under 6
  • Leland Stanford Mansion State Historic ParkFree
See all Sacramento attractions →

Fresno

7 free or cheap
  • Fresno Chaffee Zoo$20.95-28.95 adults / $12.95-20.95 children / Free under 2
  • Forestiere Underground Gardens$25 adults / $14 youth 5-17 / Free under 4
  • Fresno Discovery Center$8 / Free under 2 / $3 first Saturdays
  • Fresno Art Museum$10 adults / $7 youth 5-17 / Free under 5 / Free 1st & 3rd Sundays
  • Meux Home Museum$10 adults / $7 ages 6-17 / Free under 5
  • Kearney Mansion Museum & Park$12 adults / $8 children 5-12 / Free under 5 (+ $5 park parking)
  • Shinzen Friendship Garden$5 adults / $1 ages 4-14, seniors & students / Free under 4 (+ $5 park parking)
See all Fresno attractions →

Redding

4 free or cheap
  • Turtle Bay Exploration Park$22 adults / $18 ages 3-15 & seniors / Free under 3
  • McConnell Arboretum & Botanical GardensFree ($5 suggested donation)
  • Shasta DamFree
  • Shasta State Historic ParkFree grounds / Small museum fee
See all Redding attractions →

San Luis Obispo

6 free or cheap
  • Mission San Luis Obispo de TolosaFree (donations welcomed)
  • San Luis Obispo Museum of Art (SLOMA)Free admission
  • History Center of San Luis Obispo CountyFree (donations welcomed)
  • Poly Canyon (Architectural Graveyard)Free
  • Pismo State Beach Monarch Butterfly GroveFree
  • San Luis Obispo Botanical Garden$10 adults / Free 12 & under
See all San Luis Obispo attractions →

Monterey

4 free or cheap
  • Cannery RowFree to walk
  • Monterey State Historic ParkFree (some interior tours require advance reservations)
  • Point Pinos LighthouseDonation suggested (~$5 adults / Free under 12)
  • San Carlos Cathedral (Royal Presidio Chapel)Free
See all Monterey attractions →

Santa Barbara

5 free or cheap
  • Old Mission Santa Barbara$17 adults / $12 youth 5–17 / Free under 5 / SNAP EBT $3
  • Stearns WharfFree to walk
  • Santa Barbara County CourthouseFree
  • A.C. Postel Memorial Rose GardenFree
  • The Funk Zone Arts DistrictFree
See all Santa Barbara attractions →

See all 195 California attractions on the directory →