20 Ways to Save Money on Homeschool Field Trips

Field trips provide hands-on learning experiences and are lots of fun too. However, taking field trips can be challenging when money is tight. Fortunately, there are many ways to save money on homeschool field trips! Here are some ways I have found.

Every Kid Outdoors

Every Kid Outdoors is a program sponsored by the National Park Service that gives U.S. fourth graders and their families free admission to over 2,000 federal parks, lands, and waters. If you have a fourth grader in your family, print your free pass here.

Museums for All

Through Museums for All, individuals receiving food assistance (SNAP benefits) can gain free or reduced admission to over 1,000 museums throughout the U.S. by presenting their EBT card. Museums for All’s website provides a searchable directory of participating museums.

Local Businesses

Ask around in your community, and you will likely find that many business owners are willing to offer tours and share about what they do. We have toured a veterinary hospital, a honeybee farm, and other businesses with local homeschool groups, without paying a cent. Additionally, Factory Tour Guide and Factory Tours USA both provide directories of factories that offer tours, many of which are free or low-cost.

Community Services

Learning about community services is another great way to take a free field trip. Homeschoolers in our area have been able to tour fire departments, the public library, the recycling center, and the mayor’s office.

Explore Nature

Explore nature and get exercise with a free family outing to the beach, a nature trail, or even a walk down a country backroad. You could also add geocaching or a scavenger hunt for more fun.

Free Museums

Google “free museums” in areas around where you live. I’ve found that most cities usually have at least one free museum. The most common type of museum to offer free admission seems to be art museums, but I have also found other types.

Homeschool Discounts

Another way to save on field trips is to ask local attractions if they offer homeschool discounts. Be aware that they may ask for proof that you are a homeschooler. You can create a homeschool ID if you don’t have any documentation to show.

Group Discounts

Many places will offer discounts to groups of a specific size. Organize a field trip with a group of friends or a local homeschool group, and everyone will get to save on the field trip.

Discount Days

Some popular field trip destinations offer reduced admission on certain days of the week. For example, a zoo in our area offers half-price Tuesdays. Your family can save a lot of money on homeschool field trips by planning your outings on these days.

Seasonal Passes and Annual Memberships

Consider purchasing a seasonal pass or annual membership to places your family would like to visit frequently, such as a local nature park, zoo, or science museum. These memberships often don’t cost much more than purchasing day passes twice.

Home Improvement Stores

Lowe’s offers DIY-U Workshops for kids, and Home Depot provides Kids Workshops. Both programs offer a free craft or project kit and an in-store class. For a schedule and to register, see the stores’ websites. You may also want to check with other home improvement stores in your area to see if they offer classes or field trip opportunities.

Churches and Places of Worship

Many churches sponsor free or low-cost events for the community. This could include fall festivals, musical performances, missionary fairs, food festivals, and more. Additionally, some historic churches offer free tours.

Community Events

Free community events are another great way to save on homeschool field trips. Often, cities or non-profit organizations will sponsor free events. Keep an eye out for these on local news websites and social media. What’s available will vary by area, but these can include things like cultural heritage events, musical performances, outdoor summer movies, and holiday events.

Library Events

Libraries aren’t just for borrowing books. Many libraries offer activities such as storytimes, crafts, and various educational events and presentations. These programs are especially common during the summer months when school is out.

Volunteer Opportunities

Volunteering is an excellent way for your family to take a field trip while giving back to your community. Volunteering can also be a way for older kids to gain work experience and skills. Check around in your area to find out which organizations allow children to volunteer.

Colleges and Universities

Touring college and university campuses isn’t just for teens making a college decision; it can be a fun learning experience for the entire family. Many campuses feature historical buildings and museums. While these museums aren’t usually free, they are often lower-priced than other field trip options. Also, keep an eye out for community and educational events sponsored by colleges in your area.

Groupon and Other Discount Websites

Websites like Groupon often sell discounted tickets to events and attractions. It can be hit-or-miss, but it’s worth occasionally browsing sites like these for deals that could save your family money on homeschool field trips.

Credit Card Perks

Some credit card companies offer free or discounted tickets as a perk to their customers. One example of this is Bank of America’s Museums on Us program. This program provides free general admission to cardholders during the first full weekend of every month to over 225 museums across the U.S. If you have a credit card, check to see if they offer a similar program.

Travel Off-Season

Planning a big trip? If you are planning on traveling out of town for a longer field trip, try to plan it during the off-season rather than peak travel times, especially if the area is a popular tourist destination. Not only will lodging and other expenses be less expensive, but the places you visit will also be less crowded than during peak travel times.

Virtual Field Trips

If field trips aren’t possible at all right now because of a lack of transportation, illness, or other constraints, you may want to try a free virtual field trip instead. Virtual field trips allow your family to explore the world without leaving home.

Free Printable Field Trip Journal and Log

Before you head out on your next field trip, be sure to print our Field Trip Journal and Log. This 7-page printable set includes pages for your kids to record the details of their field trip, including where they went, what they did, what they learned, and more. You could even compile the field trip journals from every field trip your family takes this year into a binder to create a field trip memory book. The printable set also includes a field trip log for your child to keep a record of every field trip and their rating of each one.

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I hope your family has lots of fun-filled field trips this year!