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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.

✓ Programs verified September 2026 · 17 confirmed programs · 1 call-to-confirm · 12 museums free

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 free Missouri History Museum. Kansas City counters with the free Nelson-Atkins Museum and its free school tours and workshops, 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, the Discovery Center of Springfield at $9 a person, or the Magic House school field trip at $7.50. 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.

Your Missouri homeschool toolkit

Local resources worth bookmarking
Start here

Missouri homeschool laws

Notice, recordkeeping & assessment rules — straight from the source.

Read Missouri's requirements →

Check your local library

Free museum passes, classes, makerspaces & interlibrary loan — the cheapest field trips there are. Ask what they offer homeschoolers.

Find Missouri libraries →

Always ask about homeschool rates

Many venues give 30–50% off (sometimes free) and never advertise it. Call ahead and ask for a homeschool, education, or co-op rate before you pay.

State parks & history

Free and cheap educational programming statewide — nature centers, historic sites, junior-ranger days.

State parks → · Missouri history →

Free Missouri homeschool printables

Print, pin & take along — no email needed

Free PDF worksheets to bring on any Missouri field trip. Print as many copies as you like.

My Missouri Study

A one-page state study your child fills in — capital, state symbols, flag, and a place to visit.

Download PDF →

Field trip scavenger hunt

A find-it checklist that works at any museum, park, or downtown outing. Reusable every trip.

Download PDF →

Nature journal

A draw-and-observe page for park, trail, and garden days — senses, sketches, and a leaf rubbing.

Download PDF →

Landmarks I want to see in Missouri

A checklist to fill in — the parks and famous places in Missouri you want to visit, with a box to tick off each one.

Download PDF →

See all our free printables →

Confirmed homeschool pricing

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

Offers
Free Admission
Free every day, for everyone
Free
per kid · adult Free

Missouri History Museum

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

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. Free every day for everyone, so a homeschool family or co-op can visit any time without booking or paying — one of the easiest free outings in St. Louis.

Regular admission: Free — Free admission every day
Homeschool page at mohistory.org →
Offers
Field Trips
Year-round; school & group rate
$7.50
per kid · adult $7.50

The Magic House

St. Louis · All ages · Book a school/group field trip in advance

Three floors of hands-on exhibits in suburban Kirkwood — a kid-sized town, beanstalk climb, and art studio. A homeschool co-op books the standard school field trip at $7.50 per student and chaperone, half the usual gate price.

Regular admission: $15 general admission — Field-trip rate $7.50 vs $15 gate
Homeschool page at magichouse.org →
Offers
Free Admission
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 →
Offers
Free Admission
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 →
Offers
Free Admission
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 →
Offers
Free Admission
Free every day; free school tours
Free
per kid · adult Free

Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art

Kansas City · All ages · Free general admission; book school tours in advance

Free daily, with giant shuttlecocks on the lawn, the Nelson-Atkins pairs free admission with free school tours and workshops a co-op can book. A standout no-cost art destination in Kansas City.

Regular admission: Free — Free admission daily + free school tours
Homeschool page at nelson-atkins.org →
Offers
Field Trips
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 →
Offers
Group Visits
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+ get a discounted group rate, and the twice-yearly KC Homeschool Weeks open the same deal to individual families plus cheap planetarium shows — a budget STEM day reachable by the free streetcar.

Regular admission: $17.25 general admission — Group/Homeschool Week rate about $11 vs $17.25
Homeschool page at unionstation.org →
Offers
Free Admission
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 →
Offers
Field Trips
Year-round; 18th & Vine
$12
per kid · adult $15

Negro Leagues Baseball Museum

Kansas City · All grades · Book a group/school visit in advance; groups need 25+

A nationally significant museum at historic 18th & Vine telling the story of Black baseball, anchored by the 'Field of Legends' statues. Group field-trip rates and guided experiences are available to co-ops of 25 or more; pair it with the adjacent American Jazz Museum, which sells its own ticket.

Regular admission: $15 adult / $12 youth 5–12 — Group/school field-trip rates for co-ops of 25+
Homeschool page at nlbm.com →
Offers
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 school and group field-trip rate is $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 →
Offers
Free Admission
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 →
Offers
Free Admission
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 →
Offers
Group Visits
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 →
Offers
Group Visits
By reservation
$10–$13
per kid

St. Joseph Museums (Glore Psychiatric Complex)

St. Joseph · Middle school & up (some all-ages) · Book via the group form; programs for groups of 10–20

The four-museum complex on Frederick Avenue — anchored by the Glore Psychiatric Museum, the world's largest — runs single-day, hands-on group programs: Intro to Osteology, Native American artifact handling, the Glore 'Emotional Toolbox,' Rocks & Minerals, and Black Archives history workshops. Each includes a guided museum tour, and homeschool co-ops book as a group.

Regular admission: $12 adults / $8 students
Note: Per-person rates run about $10–$13 depending on program (e.g., $13 Glore scavenger hunt with goodie bag), for groups of 10–20 — email Kami Jones to book. Walk-in admission otherwise is $12 adults / free under 4.
Homeschool page at stjosephmuseum.org →
Offers
Group Visits
By reservation
$3
per kid · adult $5

Remington Nature Center

St. Joseph · All ages · Book programs by phone (816-676-3204)

On the Missouri River, this city nature center pairs a 7,000-gallon aquarium and regional wildlife exhibits with single-day group programs for students — topics from archaeology to Lewis & Clark to the science of tornadoes, each tied to nature. Homeschool groups book a program on top of the low standard admission.

Regular admission: $5 adult / $3 youth 4-15 / free under 4
Note: Standard admission ($5 adult / $3 youth 4–15 / free under 4) applies alongside the booked group program. Call the center to schedule a homeschool group.
Homeschool page at stjosephmo.gov →
Offers
Free Admission
Tue–Sat
Free
per kid

Shepherd of the Hills Conservation Education Center

Branson · All ages · Free programs by registration via the MDC events calendar

Missouri's largest trout hatchery, just below Table Rock Dam, anchors this free Missouri Department of Conservation education center that opened in 2024: a 7,500-gallon aquarium, hands-on wildlife exhibits, classrooms, trout-feeding along the raceways, and trails. A strong free science stop for homeschool families.

Note: Everything here is free, including MDC's guided tours and programs — check the MDC events calendar and register ahead. Open Tuesday–Saturday.
Homeschool page at mdc.mo.gov →

When everything’s free

Big-ticket museums with a recurring free-admission day — open to everyone, no homeschool sign-up needed.

Year-round
12 museums
FREE
Admission days
Free-for-all guide

Free museum days across Missouri

St. Louis · St. Joseph · Kansas City · Columbia

No group minimums and no booking forms — just show up on the right day. From free weeknights and weekend days to resident-free museums, these are the recurring free-admission days at Missouri’s major museums, each verified on the museum’s own site.

Why it’s here: the cheapest field trip there is — no per-kid ticket and no reservation.
See all Missouri free museum days →

Worth calling about

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

Offers
Field Trips
Year-round; optional Mini Classes
Call
no public price

Dickerson Park Zoo

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

A 500-animal Springfield zoo that welcomes homeschool groups at a school/group rate for parties of 15 or more. 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 / under 2 free
How to reach them: The zoo takes school and group visits for parties of 15 or more and offers optional On-Site Mini Classes with animal encounters, but the group rate is no longer posted online. Call 417-833-1570 to book and confirm the rate.
Homeschool page at dickersonparkzoo.org →

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 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 $15–$19 adults
  • Saint Louis Art MuseumFree / some special exhibitions ticketed
  • Saint Louis Science CenterFree / OMNIMAX & planetarium shows ticketed
  • Saint Louis ZooFree / Adventure Pass $15.95 online
  • Missouri History MuseumFree
  • Laumeier Sculpture ParkFree
  • Soldiers Memorial Military MuseumFree
  • Missouri Botanical Garden$16 adults / Free 12 & under / $6 St. Louis city & county residents
  • The Magic House$15 / Free 3rd-Friday nights & $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$15 adults / $12 children 5–12 / Free under 5
  • American Jazz Museum$15 adults / $10 youth 6–18 / Free 5 & under
  • Arabia Steamboat Museum$16.50 adults / $6.50 children 4–14 / Free 3 and under
  • Science City at Union Station$17.25 / Free under 1
  • National Museum of Toys and Miniatures$12 adults / $6 youth 6–17 / Free under 6
See all Kansas City attractions →

Springfield

10 free or cheap
  • Wilson's Creek National BattlefieldFree
  • Springfield Botanical GardensFree (gardens & Botanical Center) / $6 Japanese Stroll Garden
  • 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 / $10 students K-12 / Free pre-K / $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 →

Branson

5 free or cheap
  • Table Rock Dam & Dewey Short Visitor CenterFree (center closed Dec–Feb)
  • Shepherd of the Hills Fish Hatchery & Conservation CenterFree
  • College of the Ozarks ("Hard Work U.")Free (museum extra)
  • Ralph Foster Museum$10 adults / Free high-school age & under
  • Branson Centennial MuseumFree (donations welcome)
See all Branson attractions →

St. Joseph

7 free or cheap
  • Pony Express National Museum$10 adults / $5 students / Free 3 & under
  • Patee House Museum & Jesse James Home$10 adults / $6 students 6-17 / Free 5 & under
  • Glore Psychiatric Museum & St. Joseph Museums$12 adults / $8 students / Free under 4 (all 4 museums)
  • Remington Nature Center$5 adults / $3 youth 4-15 / Free under 4
  • Albrecht-Kemper Museum of Art$10 adults / $7 students / Free 4th Tuesday 4–7pm
  • Walter Cronkite MemorialFree
  • Robidoux Row Museum$4 adults / $2 youth 4-15 / Free under 4
See all St. Joseph attractions →

See all 79 Missouri attractions on the directory →