$ DISCOVER CHEAP US FREE & CHEAP TRAVEL
Home › Homeschool › Missouri

Homeschool Discounts in Missouri

Missouri zoos, science centers, and museums with homeschool days and co-op field-trip rates — anchored by a cluster of free institutions in St. Louis and Kansas City.

Updated May 2026 · 15 confirmed programs · 0 call-to-confirm

Missouri may be the best free-museum state in the country for homeschoolers. St. Louis's Forest Park alone offers the free Saint Louis Art Museum, Science Center, and Zoo, plus the Missouri History Museum — which runs a free homeschool day one Friday a month, September through May. Kansas City counters with the free Nelson-Atkins Museum and its dedicated Homeschool Days, the free Money Museum, and twice-yearly citywide Homeschool Weeks that discount Science City, the National WWI Museum, and more.

Where venues do charge, the co-op route keeps it cheap: a homeschool group books the National WWI Museum at $17/$9, Science City at $11, or the Discovery Center of Springfield at $9 a person. Magic House runs private Homeschool Mornings at $7.50, and the Mark Twain Boyhood Home in Hannibal is just $6 a child. Dates and exact rates shift each term, so confirm on each venue's own site before you go.

Confirmed homeschool pricing

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

Recurring
Free homeschool day
One Friday/month, Sept–May
Free
per kid · adult Free

Missouri History Museum

St. Louis · All ages · Free; check the events calendar for the monthly date

Free in Forest Park, the Missouri Historical Society's flagship covers Lewis & Clark, the 1904 World's Fair, Route 66, and the civil rights era. Its free monthly homeschool day gives families a themed, hands-on program at no cost — one of the easiest free homeschool outings in St. Louis.

Regular admission: Free — Free homeschool day monthly; museum always free
Homeschool page at mohistory.org →
Recurring
Homeschool Mornings
Select mornings, 9:30am–noon
$7.50
per kid · adult $7.50

The Magic House

St. Louis · All ages · Reserve in advance; recent dates fell in Nov, Feb, and April

Three floors of hands-on exhibits in suburban Kirkwood. During Homeschool Mornings the museum is closed to the general public, so homeschool families get the kid-sized town, beanstalk climb, and art studio to themselves at half the usual price — a relaxed, lower-sensory way to visit.

Regular admission: $15 general admission — Homeschool Mornings $7.50 vs $15 gate
Homeschool page at magichouse.org →
Year-round
Always free
Daily; homeschool/school programs
Free
per kid · adult Free

Saint Louis Science Center

St. Louis · All ages · No reservation for general admission

A free, world-class science center just south of Forest Park. With free admission and 700+ interactive exhibits, it's a go-to free STEM day for homeschoolers — add a low-cost planetarium show or book a scheduled school program for a deeper, standards-based visit.

Regular admission: Free (OMNIMAX & planetarium shows ticketed) — Free general admission
Homeschool page at slsc.org →
Year-round
Always free
Daily; school/homeschool programs
Free
per kid · adult Free

Saint Louis Zoo

St. Louis · All ages · No reservation for general admission

A free, top-tier zoo in Forest Park with 12,000+ animals. Free admission makes it an easy, repeatable homeschool science outing; book a scheduled education program or just roam with a worksheet. The optional Adventure Pass adds the train and carousel.

Regular admission: Free (Adventure Pass & programs optional) — Free general admission
Homeschool page at stlzoo.org →
Year-round
Always free
Daily; free school tours & workshops
Free
per kid · adult Free

Saint Louis Art Museum

St. Louis · All ages · Book school tours in advance; drop-in visits free

Free in Forest Park, SLAM pairs a world-class collection with free, bookable school tours and gallery workshops — a strong, no-cost art resource for homeschool families and co-ops. Special exhibitions occasionally charge, but the permanent galleries are always free.

Regular admission: Free (special exhibitions ticketed) — Free admission + free school tours
Homeschool page at slam.org →
Year-round
Free + Homeschool Days
Daily; periodic Homeschool Days
Free
per kid · adult Free

Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art

Kansas City · All ages · Free general admission; register for Homeschool Days

Free daily, with giant shuttlecocks on the lawn, the Nelson-Atkins layers themed Homeschool Days and free school workshops on top of free admission. A standout no-cost art destination in Kansas City for families and co-ops alike.

Regular admission: Free — Free admission + dedicated Homeschool Days
Homeschool page at nelson-atkins.org →
Year-round
Group field-trip rate + Homeschool Weeks
15+ groups; KC Homeschool Weeks fall & winter
$9
per kid · adult $17

National WWI Museum and Memorial

Kansas City · All grades · Reserve a group visit 14+ days ahead

America's official WWI museum, beneath the Liberty Memorial tower. A homeschool co-op of 15+ books the $17/$9 group rate year-round, and the citywide Homeschool Weeks each fall and winter add deeper discounts and a guided tour — among the best war-history field trips in the country.

Regular admission: $19.50 adult / $11.50 youth general admission — Group rate $17/$9 for 15+; deeper Homeschool Week discounts
Homeschool page at theworldwar.org →
Year-round
Group rate + Homeschool Weeks
15+ groups; KC Homeschool Weeks
$11
per kid · adult $11

Science City at Union Station

Kansas City · All ages · Buy group tickets in person; book 2+ weeks ahead for groups

A 120-exhibit hands-on science center inside the free-to-enter Union Station. Homeschool groups of 15+ pay $11 year-round, and during the twice-yearly KC Homeschool Weeks individual families get the same deal plus cheap planetarium shows — a budget STEM day reachable by the free streetcar.

Regular admission: $17.25 general admission — Group/Homeschool Week rate $11 vs $17.25
Homeschool page at unionstation.org →
Year-round
Always free
Mon–Fri; free guided group tours
Free
per kid · adult Free

The Money Museum at the Federal Reserve

Kansas City · All ages · Walk-in free; book ahead for a guided group tour

A genuinely fun, free economics lesson. Homeschool families can drop in Monday–Friday or book a free guided group tour. The free bag of shredded money is a guaranteed kid hit — bring a photo ID for the security checkpoint.

Regular admission: Free — Free admission + free group tours
Homeschool page at kansascityfed.org →
Year-round
Group field-trip rate
Year-round; 18th & Vine
$5
per kid · adult $10

Negro Leagues Baseball Museum

Kansas City · All grades · Book a group/school visit in advance

A nationally significant museum at historic 18th & Vine telling the story of Black baseball, anchored by the 'Field of Legends' statues. Already cheap at $5 youth, with group field-trip rates and guided experiences a homeschool co-op can book; pair it with the adjacent American Jazz Museum.

Regular admission: $10 adult / $5 youth — Group/school field-trip rates for co-ops
Homeschool page at nlbm.com →
Year-round
Homeschool group field trips
Year-round; schools & homeschool groups
$9 + program
per kid · adult $9

Discovery Center of Springfield

Springfield · All grades · Book a field trip 2+ weeks ahead

A six-floor hands-on science museum in downtown Springfield. Its field-trip program names homeschool groups directly — $9 per person plus a cheap add-on lesson aligned to Missouri science standards — well below the $17 gate. A strong, affordable STEM field trip for a co-op.

Regular admission: $17 adult / $12 child general admission — Group field-trip rate $9/person + program $3–$7
Homeschool page at discoverycenter.org →
Year-round
Group field-trip rate (15+)
Year-round; optional Mini Classes
$7
per kid · adult $9

Dickerson Park Zoo

Springfield · All grades · Book a group visit; 15+ paying, single payment

A 500-animal Springfield zoo that welcomes homeschool groups at the school/group rate — $9 per adult or teen and $7 per child for parties of 15 or more, about half the gate price. Add an On-Site Mini Class for an up-close animal encounter aligned to science standards; a co-op of 15 is an easy bar to hit.

Regular admission: $19 adult-teen / $14 child 3–12 / 60+ $16 / under 2 free — Group rate $9/$7 for 15+ vs $19/$14 gate
Homeschool page at dickersonparkzoo.org →
Year-round
Always free
Wed–Sat; free school/group programs
Free
per kid · adult Free

Boone County History & Culture Center

Columbia · All ages · Free; arrange group programs ahead

Free year-round in Columbia, with rotating history exhibits and the outdoor Village at Boone Junction. A no-cost history stop for homeschool families, with bookable school/group programming and a genealogy library — pair it with the free surrounding Nifong Park.

Regular admission: Free — Free admission + free school/group programs
Homeschool page at boonehistory.org →
Year-round
Always free
Free; school tours by request
Free
per kid · adult Free

Museum of Art and Archaeology

Columbia · All ages · Free; book a school tour in advance

A free university museum in Columbia with Greek, Roman, and Egyptian antiquities alongside European and American art. Free admission plus bookable guided school tours make it a low-effort, no-cost humanities outing for homeschool families on or near the Mizzou campus.

Regular admission: Free — Free admission + free school tours
Homeschool page at maa.missouri.edu →
Year-round
Cheap youth rate + group/school tours
Year-round; groups 20+
$6
per kid · adult $20

Mark Twain Boyhood Home & Museum

Hannibal · All ages · Walk-in; book a school/group tour for 20+

Tour the National Historic Landmark home and seven more Twain properties on one two-day ticket. At $6 a child it's already a budget literature-and-history day, and homeschool co-ops of 20+ can book a school tour with classroom materials — the cornerstone homeschool stop in Hannibal.

Regular admission: $20 adult / $6 youth 6–17 / Free under 6 — $6 youth admission; school/group tours for co-ops
Homeschool page at marktwainmuseum.org →

Plus more free and cheap educational outings in Missouri

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

St. Louis

9 free or cheap
  • Gateway Arch National ParkFree (grounds & museum) / tram to top $39+
  • Saint Louis Art MuseumFree / some special exhibitions ticketed
  • Saint Louis Science CenterFree / OMNIMAX & planetarium shows ticketed
  • Saint Louis ZooFree / Adventure Pass $12.50–$16.50 optional
  • Missouri History MuseumFree
  • Laumeier Sculpture ParkFree
  • Soldiers Memorial Military MuseumFree
  • Missouri Botanical Garden$16 adults / Free under 12 / Free Wed & Sat mornings for city-county residents
  • The Magic House$15 / Free Family Night 3rd Friday 5–8pm / $3 after 3pm for area residents
See all St. Louis attractions →

Kansas City

10 free or cheap
  • Nelson-Atkins Museum of ArtFree
  • The Money Museum at the Federal ReserveFree
  • Kemper Museum of Contemporary ArtFree
  • The Museum of Kansas CityFree
  • National WWI Museum and Memorial$19.50 adults / $11.50 youth 6–15 / Free under 6
  • Negro Leagues Baseball Museum$10 adults / $5 youth 4–17 / combo with Jazz Museum $15
  • American Jazz Museum$10 adults / $5 youth 6–18 / combo with Negro Leagues $15
  • Arabia Steamboat Museum$16.50 adults / $6.50 children 4–14 / Free under 3
  • Science City at Union Station$17.25 / Free under 1
  • National Museum of Toys and Miniatures$10 adults / $5 youth 6–17 / Free under 6
See all Kansas City attractions →

Springfield

10 free or cheap
  • Wilson's Creek National BattlefieldFree
  • Springfield Botanical GardensFree (outdoor gardens) / $6 Botanical Center building
  • Bass Pro Shops Outdoor WorldFree
  • History Museum on the Square$16 adults / $10 children 4–12 / Free under 4
  • Dickerson Park Zoo$19 adults & teens / $14 children 3–12 / Free under 3
  • Air & Military Museum of the Ozarks$6 adults / $4 children 6–11 / Free age 5 & under
  • Route 66 Car Museum$15 adults / $5 children 3–10 / Free under 3
  • Springfield Conservation Nature CenterFree
  • Discovery Center of Springfield$17 adults / $12 children 3–15 / $2 cash discount / Free under 3
  • Gray-Campbell FarmsteadFree
See all Springfield attractions →

Columbia

5 free or cheap
  • Museum of Art and ArchaeologyFree
  • Francis Quadrangle & The ColumnsFree
  • Shelter GardensFree
  • State Historical Society of Missouri (Columbia)Free
  • Boone County History & Culture CenterFree
See all Columbia attractions →

Hannibal

6 free or cheap
  • Mark Twain Boyhood Home & Museum$20 adults / $15 seniors 60+ & veterans / $6 ages 6–17 / Free 5 & under
  • Mark Twain Memorial LighthouseFree
  • Old Baptist CemeteryFree
  • Rockcliffe Mansion$18 adults / $17 seniors 65+ / $5 Hannibal residents
  • Molly Brown Birthplace & Museum$5 self-guided / Free under 12
  • Jim's Journey: The Huck Finn Freedom CenterFree / donations welcome
See all Hannibal attractions →

See all 63 Missouri attractions on the directory →