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Homeschool Discounts in North Carolina

Big-ticket North Carolina museums, aquariums, and historic attractions with homeschool discount days — typically free or 20–80% off for kids with NC homeschool registration.

✓ Programs verified June 2026 · 15 confirmed programs · 5 call-to-confirm

North Carolina is one of the strongest homeschool states in the country, and the state’s biggest attractions know it. Registered NC homeschools get FREE admission to the Battleship North Carolina in Wilmington, the NC Aquarium on Roanoke Island, and Roanoke Island Festival Park in Manteo — same eligibility rules as public schools, with individual-family bookings allowed (you don’t need a co-op). The Asheville Museum of Science just launched a standing 20% homeschool discount with a valid NCDPEI ID. Biltmore Estate runs two to three Homeschool Days each year (usually fall), with hands-on workshops and same-day Estate access included. Prices below are what each venue publishes on its homeschool page — always confirm dates before you drive, especially for the NC-school free programs (advance reservations are required, M-F only at most sites).

We've organized the picks by Asheville, Boone-area, Greensboro, Wilmington, Raleigh, Charlotte, Durham, Winston-Salem, and the Outer Banks — the city clusters our directory already covers. NC has more big metros with homeschool programs (Fayetteville's Cape Fear Botanical Garden among them) and we're adding cities regularly — they're on the queue. If you find a North Carolina homeschool program we missed, email us at 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
Field Trips
Reservations required; arrive any time within reserved hour
Free
per kid · adult $14

Battleship North Carolina

Wilmington · K–12 · Book online (no phone/email reservations); pre-pay chaperone tickets for the $12 advance rate

The Battleship North Carolina sits across the Cape Fear River from downtown Wilmington and lets students explore nine decks of a WWII battleship — engine room to bridge, with artifacts and crew memories woven in. NC-registered homeschools get the same free admission as NC public schools, and importantly the program is set up for individual families (“No Homeschool group reservations are allowed” — you book as your own school). Out-of-state homeschools pay $3 (K-5) or $6 (6-12). Optional $3-per-student guided Eagles Island Immersion or Price of Freedom programs add 50-90 minutes of curriculum-aligned content.

Regular admission: $14 adult / $10 child (6–11) — Free admission for NC-registered homeschool kids vs. $10 regular child rate (100% off for the student)
Homeschool page at battleshipnc.com →
Offers
Field Trips
Year-round (M-F) · Reservations for 2025-26 school year through June 5, 2026
Free
per kid · adult free

North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island

Manteo (~5 mi from Nags Head) · K–12 · Required at least 2 weeks in advance; visits M-F only with blackout dates for school break periods

The Roanoke Island aquarium is the OBX science-and-conservation anchor — sharks, sea turtles, alligators, a 285,000-gallon Graveyard of the Atlantic shipwreck tank — and it accepts NC registered homeschools on the same free-admission basis as NC public schools. Note that the Fort Fisher Aquarium near Wilmington closes May 26, 2026 for a 2+ year renovation, so several of its animals are relocating here, which may make Roanoke Island programming even fuller through the rebuild. The aquarium is right across the bridge from Nags Head.

Regular admission: $15 adult / $13 youth (3–12) — Free admission vs. $13 regular youth rate (100% off for the student)
Homeschool page at ncaquariums.com →
Offers
Group Visits
Tuesday–Friday · Reservations 2+ weeks in advance; blackout dates for holidays
Free
per kid · adult free

Roanoke Island Festival Park

Manteo (~5 mi from Nags Head) · K–12 · Required at least 2 weeks in advance; Tue–Fri only with blackout dates for school break periods

Festival Park is the living-history complex on the Manteo waterfront that interprets the first English settlement attempt in the New World. Climb aboard the Elizabeth II (a representation of one of the 1585 expedition ships), explore the American Indian Town and Settlement Site, and watch blacksmithing and woodworking demos. NC-registered homeschools get the same free admission as NC public schools — book through the website booking form at least two weeks ahead.

Regular admission: $15 adult / $13 youth (3–12) — Free admission vs. $13 regular youth rate (100% off for the student)
Homeschool page at roanokeisland.com →
Offers
Self-Guided Visit
Plus periodic “Homeschool Takeover” themed days
$9.20
per kid · adult $9.20

Asheville Museum of Science (AMOS)

Asheville · All ages (museum recommended for ages 3+) · Not required for general admission — walk in any day with your NCDPEI ID. Themed Homeschool Takeover events do require advance tickets.

AMOS sits in downtown Asheville on Patton Avenue and runs hands-on STEAM exhibits across a compact two-story space — the Colburn gem and mineral collection, a paleontology lab, the Climate Lab, and rotating travelling exhibits like the recent “Gear Up: The Science of Bikes.” The 20% standing homeschool discount launched in May 2026 alongside their “Homeschool Takeover” themed events, which give homeschoolers run of the museum for 3 hours one morning at the same $9.20 rate.

Regular admission: $11.50 (everyone 3+); kids 2 and under free — 20% off for the whole family with NCDPEI ID
Homeschool page at ashevillescience.org →
Offers
Homeschool Days
Typically early September; 2025 ran Sept 5. 2026 date TBA in summer.
Free
per kid · adult free

Mordecai Historic Park

Raleigh · All ages

The City of Raleigh's historic park hosts a free annual Homeschool History Day each September with hands-on 19th-century crafts, demonstrations by a blacksmith, leatherworker, and woodworker, a townball game, and a special kid-focused tour of the 1785 Mordecai House — the oldest house in Raleigh on its original foundation. The 2025 event ran on September 5; the 2026 date is announced each summer on the Mordecai Park page.

Regular admission: $7 adult / $4 senior+youth / Free under 7 (regular tour)
Homeschool page at raleighnc.gov →
Offers
Self-Guided Visit
Apply 5 days ahead; valid all open hours
$8
per kid · adult $8

Marbles Kids Museum

Raleigh · Designed for ages 1-10 · Apply via marbleskidsmuseum.org/homeschools; allow 5 days

Downtown Raleigh's children's museum offers NC homeschool families a small discount on regular admission September-May. The discount itself is modest ($1 off), but Marbles is a major Raleigh kids destination — three floors of imaginative-play exhibits including the Sportsality climbing wall, an Around Town pretend-play streetscape, a Splash water play area, and the IMAX dome theater (separate admission).

Regular admission: $12 same-day / $9 advance / Free under 1 — About $1 off advance-purchase ticket
Homeschool page at marbleskidsmuseum.org →
Offers
Homeschool Days
Spring (May 29, 2026) + fall; check programs/events calendar for next date
$7.51
per kid · adult $5

Charlotte Museum of History

Charlotte · K-6 typical (varies by theme) · Sign up via the event page on the museum's events calendar

The Charlotte Museum of History runs themed Homeschool Days in spring and fall around the 1774 Hezekiah Alexander House — the oldest dwelling in Mecklenburg County. Each event pairs a guided historic site tour, an exhibit tour tied to the season's theme (recent: Catawba Pottery & Oral Traditions), and a related craft activity. Drop-in single-family format; pre-registration required online.

Regular admission: $10 general / Free under 4
Homeschool page at charlottemuseum.org →
Offers
Homeschool Days
Typically early March (March 6 in 2026); check site for next date
$2
per kid · adult free

Bennett Place State Historic Site

Durham · 5-18 (best grades 3-8) · Tickets via NC Historic Sites event page

The Durham site where the largest Confederate surrender of the Civil War took place hosts an annual Homeschool Day each spring with hands-on activity stations on NC Civil War history. Staff from other NC State Historic Sites also attend with stations covering additional eras. Drop-in single-family registration with published per-student pricing.

Regular admission: Free / Small tour fee for guided
Homeschool page at historicsites.nc.gov →
Offers
Homeschool Days
e.g., Nov 16, 2026, 10am-1pm
$5
per kid

Historic Bethabara Park

Winston-Salem · All ages · Register via the City of Winston-Salem activity portal (linked from the park site)

North Carolina's first Moravian settlement (1753), now a free 180-acre historic park with reconstructed colonial buildings, a palisade fort, and a 1761 medicinal garden. Its seasonal Homeschool Living History Days bring costumed colonial trade and craft demonstrations, guided tours, and hands-on activities for a $5 per-child fee.

Regular admission: Park & trails always free
Homeschool page at historicbethabara.org →
Offers
Homeschool Days
Group field-trip rate for co-ops of 12+
$12
per kid

Old Salem Museums & Gardens

Winston-Salem · K-12 · Groups of 12+ book via Group Tours 336-721-7345; smaller families buy same-day

America's most authentically restored Moravian town, where costumed interpreters work the gunsmith, bakery, and pottery shops of 18th-century Salem. Old Salem holds dedicated Homeschool Days each spring with smaller crowds, and homeschool groups of 12 or more receive the regular school field-trip rate (one free adult per twelve students).

Regular admission: $22 adult / $12 child two-stop
Homeschool page at oldsalem.org →
Offers
Homeschool Days
e.g., May 21, 2026, 10am-3pm
$5
per kid · adult free

Reynolda House Museum of American Art

Winston-Salem · 5-15 · Register via reynolda.org

An acclaimed American art collection (Frederic Church, Georgia O'Keeffe, Thomas Eakins) in the 1917 Reynolds mansion on the 170-acre Reynolda estate. Its self-directed Homeschool Day lets families explore the galleries for art- and history-based learning at $5 per student, one adult free per child. Children and students are free for general admission, too.

Regular admission: Adults ~$17 / children & students free
Homeschool page at reynolda.org →
Offers
Group Visits
By appointment (Tue–Sun grounds open daily) · Free Ranger Meet & Greet for homeschool groups by request
Free
per kid

Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site

Flat Rock (~25 mi from Asheville) · All ages · Free, required for the Ranger program (min 10 participants); individual families visit free without one

Connemara was Carl Sandburg’s home for the last 22 years of his life and the place where he wrote a third of his work; the site preserves the house (free first-come tours at 11, 12, 1, 2, 3), the working goat dairy his wife Lillian ran, five miles of hiking trails, and a small lake. Free Ranger Meet & Greet programs are available to homeschool groups of 10–60 students by request. The bridge over Front Lake is currently closed; expect a 0.7-mile walk (15–20 minutes) from the parking lot to the program spaces.

Regular admission: Free (NPS site)
Homeschool page at nps.gov →
Offers
Homeschool Days
Self-guided any open day for 10+ groups; watch the calendar for Homeschool Day events
$18
per kid

Greensboro Science Center

Greensboro · All ages · Submit the Group Visit Request Form at least two weeks ahead

Greensboro's marquee attraction bundles an aquarium, a zoo, and a hands-on science museum on one 22-acre campus. Groups of 10 or more pay a flat $18 per person (versus nearly $24 at the gate) for a self-guided visit — an easy win for a homeschool co-op, which clears the 10-person minimum without trouble. The center also hosts periodic single-day Homeschool Days, and you can add a $125 live science presentation if you want a led program.

Regular admission: $23.99 adult / $21.99 child at the gate — About 25% off gate admission for a 10+ group
Homeschool page at greensboroscience.org →
Offers
Group Visits
Groups of 10+ students; guided programs Mon-Fri (none May-Aug)
$5–$6
per kid

WNC Nature Center

Asheville · Pre-K through 12 (program topics by grade) · Reservation required at least 2 weeks ahead; 10+ students for the group rate

Asheville's 42-acre living museum is home to 60+ native species — black bears, gray and red wolves, river otters, red pandas, and bobcats — in naturalistic habitats. A self-organized homeschool group of 10 or more books the published home-school group rate ($5–$6 per student) for a self-guided visit, and can add a live-animal Creature Feature or a guided habitat tour for $1 more per student. Self-guided visits run year-round.

Regular admission: $13.95 adult / $9.95 ages 3–15 general admission — About half the child gate price for a 10+ homeschool group
Homeschool page at wildwnc.org →
Offers
Field Trips
1–1.5-hr modules; some programs April–October, others year-round
$12
per kid

Grandfather Mountain

Linville (~30 mi from Boone) · K through high school (specific programs map to NC curriculum standards) · Required at least 2 weeks ahead; Mon–Fri business hours for booking

Grandfather Mountain runs Classroom in the Clouds for school and homeschool groups across its mile-high preserve and wildlife habitats (black bears, cougars, river otters, eagles, elk). Hour-long, NC-curriculum-aligned programs cover plants, animals, weather, rocks, and landforms, with 1.5-hour deep dives like Bio-Indicators and Ecosystem Interactions. A homeschool co-op books as a school group; the $12 student rate bundles in park entry and the shuttle to the Swinging Bridge.

Regular admission: $24 adult / $11 child (4–12) for general visits — About half off regular admission at $12 per student, with park access bundled in
Homeschool page at grandfather.com →

Worth calling about

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

Offers
Homeschool Days
Typically fall — 2026 dates not yet posted
Call
no public price

Biltmore Estate

Asheville · School-age (specific bands set per program) · Required — advance booking through Biltmore Group Sales

Biltmore runs two or three themed Homeschool Days each year, each a roughly two-hour workshop on a single topic (recent themes: stewardship and renewable energy, George Vanderbilt’s role in modern forestry, Appalachian crafts and culture) with hands-on activities and a take-home craft. The big value is the after-program access — your Homeschool Days ticket includes a self-guided visit to Biltmore House, the gardens, conservatory, Antler Hill Village, and the winery for the rest of the day, which at regular admission would be a serious price (\$85+ per adult).

Regular admission: ~$85+ adult Biltmore House admission
How to reach them: Biltmore posts dates and pricing for each Homeschool Day on its educational programs page once it’s scheduled. Contact Biltmore Group Sales at 866-851-4661. Past programs (Sustainability & Stewardship, Forestry, Appalachian Culture, Barn Tales) included same-day Estate access after the workshop.
Homeschool page at biltmore.com →
Offers
Homeschool Classes
September – May, with themed Homeschool Exploration Days at 10 am - 12 pm
Call
no public price

NC Museum of Natural Sciences

Raleigh · K-12 (class-specific age groupings) · Register per class via the museum events calendar

The Southeast's largest natural history museum runs monthly homeschool/track-out classes September-May tied to museum research, with topics rotating through ecology, paleontology, geology, and biology. Beyond the dedicated classes, the museum's regular programs (Discovery Room, Curiosity Classes, Living Conservatory, Investigate Lab) are well-suited to homeschool families with free general admission as the baseline.

Regular admission: Free (general admission)
How to reach them: Per-class pricing not published online. Topics rotate monthly (ecology, paleontology, geology, biology). Contact museum education or check the events calendar for current pricing and registration. Also: museum's regular Discovery Room, Curiosity Classes, and Investigate Lab programs are open to homeschool families with general (free) admission.
Homeschool page at naturalsciences.org →
Offers
Homeschool Days
Specific 2026 dates published on the museum's program calendar
Call
no public price

Discovery Place Science

Charlotte · All ages (programs grouped by grade) · Tickets purchased on the day or via event page; bring NCDNPE certificate

Charlotte's flagship science museum (ranked a Top 10 US Science Museum by National Geographic) runs an annual Homeschool Day with discounted museum admission, IMAX films, class demonstrations, and discounted parking. Beyond the dedicated day, monthly homeschool program classes pair lab time with in-depth single-topic exploration taught by trained science educators. Bring a valid NCDNPE home school certificate for discounts.

Regular admission: $21 adult / $17 youth 2-13
How to reach them: Homeschool Day offers discounted museum admission (specific 2026 pricing not posted online). 10% off homeschool programs and family memberships purchased on-site. Discounted parking. Valid NCDNPE home school certificate required for discount. Monthly homeschool classes are separately ticketed.
Homeschool page at discoveryplace.org →
Offers
Homeschool Classes
Specific dates and pricing published on the museum's Learn page
Call
no public price

Museum of Life and Science

Durham · All ages (programs grouped by grade) · Register per program; bring proof of NCDNPE for any homeschool discounts

Durham's 84-acre family science museum (indoor exhibits plus outdoor butterfly house, dinosaur trail, lemurs, and a working farmyard) runs a year-round Homeschool Program with science-based classes. Pricing isn't publicly published. Beyond the homeschool program, Durham County residents get free admission on 21 designated Durham Community Days per year — a strong on-ramp for local homeschool families.

Regular admission: $23 adult / $18 child 3-12 / Free Durham residents (21 days/year)
How to reach them: Per-program pricing not publicly listed. Museum runs a year-round Homeschool Program alongside camps and drop-in family programs. Durham residents also get 21 free Community Days per year (proof of Durham address required) — those days are open to homeschool families too.
Homeschool page at lifeandscience.org →
Offers
Self-Guided Visit
Letter of Intent required
Call
no public price

Kaleideum

Winston-Salem

Winston-Salem's reimagined children's and science museum (opened 2024) packs three floors of hands-on STEAM and play exhibits plus a Digital Dome planetarium into a downtown space. Homeschool families get a discount off the standard $12 youth admission on school-year weekdays with proof of homeschool registration; the discounted figure isn't published online.

Regular admission: $15 adult / $12 youth 1-19
How to reach them: Kaleideum offers a homeschool admission discount off the $12 youth rate on school-year weekdays (bring a Registration Record, Verification Card, or Letter of Intent; not valid Saturdays, summer, or holidays, and not for children under 5). The exact homeschool figure isn't posted online — confirm at the Welcome Desk or call 336-767-6730.
Homeschool page at kaleideum.org →
Free field-trip days: when North Carolina's museums are free for everyone No group minimums, no booking forms — our verified guide to every recurring free museum day in North Carolina →

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 North Carolina

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

Asheville

7 free or cheap
  • Asheville Botanical GardenFree
  • Folk Art CenterFree
  • River Arts DistrictFree
  • Asheville Urban TrailFree
  • Asheville Pinball Museum$17 adults / $12 ages 10 and under (unlimited all-day play)
  • WNC Nature Center$13.95 adults / $9.95 ages 3-12 (under 3 free)
  • Riverside CemeteryFree
See all Asheville attractions →

Boone

5 free or cheap
  • Moses H. Cone Memorial ParkFree
  • Daniel Boone Native Gardens$5 donation, ages 16 and up / Free under 16
  • Turchin Center for the Visual ArtsFree
  • Hickory Ridge History Museum$8 adults / $5 ages 5–12
  • Jones House Cultural CenterFree
See all Boone attractions →

Wilmington

9 free or cheap
  • New Hanover County ArboretumFree
  • Airlie Gardens$10 adults / $5 New Hanover residents & military / $3 children 4-12
  • Fort Fisher State Historic SiteFree
  • Battleship North Carolina$14 adults / $6 ages 6–11 / Free under 6
  • Bellamy Mansion Museum$15 adults / $7.50 ages 4–13 / Free under 4
  • Carolina Beach State ParkFree day use
  • Wrightsville Beach Museum of HistoryFree
  • Cameron Art Museum$17 adults / $14 seniors & students / $6 ages 6–17 / Free under 5
  • Thalian Hall Historic Theater Tour$15 adults / $8 students / Free under 5
See all Wilmington attractions →

Nags Head

11 free or cheap
  • Jockey's Ridge State ParkFree
  • Wright Brothers National Memorial$10 adults / $35 annual / Free under 16
  • Bodie Island LighthouseFree grounds / $10 adults to climb / $5 youth & seniors
  • Nags Head Woods PreserveFree
  • Jennette's Pier$2 walk-on / $14 fishing day pass
  • Fort Raleigh National Historic SiteFree
  • Pea Island National Wildlife RefugeFree
  • Roanoke Island Festival Park$15 adults / $13 youth (3-12) / Free under 3
  • The Elizabethan Gardens$12 adults / $8 youth (3-12) / Free under 3
  • NC Aquarium on Roanoke Island$15 adults / $13 children (3-12) / Free under 3
  • Roanoke Marshes LighthouseFree
See all Nags Head attractions →

Raleigh

6 free or cheap
  • North Carolina Museum of ArtFree permanent collection / Special exhibitions ticketed
  • North Carolina Museum of Natural SciencesFree / Special exhibits and 3D films ticketed
  • North Carolina State CapitolFree
  • Mordecai Historic Park$7 adults / $4 youth / Free under 7
  • Historic Oakwood CemeteryFree
  • Historic Yates Mill County ParkFree park / Free mill tours
See all Raleigh attractions →

Charlotte

5 free or cheap
  • ImaginOn: The Joe & Joan Martin CenterFree library & interactive spaces / Theater shows ticketed
  • Independence Square SculpturesFree
  • Bechtler Museum of Modern Art$10 adults / Free under 11 / Free Wednesday 5-9 pm
  • Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture$10 adults / $7 youth / Free under 6
  • Mint Museum Uptown$15 adults / Free under 18 / Free Wed 5-9 pm
See all Charlotte attractions →

Durham

7 free or cheap
  • Sarah P. Duke GardensFree admission / $2 per hour parking (8am–7pm)
  • Duke University ChapelFree
  • Nasher Museum of Art at Duke UniversityFree
  • Bennett Place State Historic SiteFree admission / Small tour fee for guided experience
  • Historic Stagville State Historic SiteFree outdoor self-guided / $2 guided tours
  • Duke Homestead State Historic SiteFree admission / $1-4 guided tours
  • Pauli Murray Center for History and Social JusticeFree outdoor exhibit / Indoor by appointment
See all Durham attractions →

Winston-Salem

6 free or cheap
  • Old Salem Museums & GardensStreets free / Buildings $22 adult, $12 child
  • Reynolda House Museum of American ArtAdults ~$17 / Children & students free
  • Kaleideum$15 adults / $12 youth / $3 SNAP-EBT
  • Historic Bethabara ParkFree
  • Lam Museum of AnthropologyFree
  • Körner's Folly$14 adults / $7 children 6-12 / Free under 6
See all Winston-Salem attractions →

Greensboro

11 free or cheap
  • Greensboro Science Center$23.99 adults / $21.99 ages 3-13 / Free under 3
  • International Civil Rights Center & Museum$20 adults / $15 K-12 (signature guided tour)
  • Guilford Courthouse National Military ParkFree
  • Greensboro History MuseumFree
  • Weatherspoon Art MuseumFree
  • The Bog Garden at Benjamin ParkFree
  • The Greensboro ArboretumFree
  • Tanger Family Bicentennial GardenFree
  • Frank Sharpe Jr. Wildlife Education Center at Bur-Mil ParkFree
  • Miriam P. Brenner Children's Museum$12.95 per person / $6 Fridays 5-8pm / Free under 12 months
  • Blandwood Mansion$5 self-guided tour
See all Greensboro attractions →

See all 104 North Carolina attractions on the directory →