Museum Discount Programs Every Parent Should Know About!

The New Children’s Museum in San Diego participates in a variety of discount programs including Discover & Go, Kids Free San Diego, and San Diego Museum Month.

Unlock the wonder of museums! Explore world-class museums from Long Beach to Los Angeles to San Diego without breaking the bank! We’ve rounded up free and discounted admission programs that make museum adventures easier for families. Hopefully one of these programs helps ignite a lifelong love for the museum!

Editor’s Note: Check program requirements prior to going and visit the museum’s website for more information such as hours and reservations.

LA County Residents

Los Angeles County residents with a valid ID gain free admission to select Los Angeles museums. Free admission tickets are available in person at the museum ticketing windows Monday – Friday after 3pm.

Local participating museums include:

Discover & Go

With the Discover & Go program, your library is your gateway to amazing outings! Score free and discounted passes to museums, science centers, zoos, theaters, and other cultural hotspots. If you meet the age requirement and live within your library’s service area, then you’re good to go!

Local participating library systems:

Los Angeles Public Library
- Grammy Museum
- Los Angeles Zoo
- LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes
- Chinese American Museum
- and more!
Los Angeles County Library
- Academy Museum of Motion Pictures
- California Botanic Garden
- Catalina Island Museum
- La Brea Tar Pits
- LA County Fire Museum
- Natural History Museum
Orange County Public Library
- Aquarium of the Pacific
- Casa Romantica
- Heritage Museum of OC
- Laguna Playhouse
- Mission San Juan Capistrano
- Muckenthaler Cultural Center
- Pretend City
- Santa Ana Zoo
- OCC Planetarium and more!
San Diego Public Library
- San Diego Zoo
- San Diego Archaeological Center
- The New Children’s Museum
- Children’s Discovery Museum
- and more!

NextGenLA

LACMA features NexGenLA, a free membership for children (17 years and younger) who live in Los Angeles County. NexGenLA members visit the museum for free and may bring one guest for free and receive discounts on studio classes and art camps. (So that means, your kids can get you in for free!)

Just note that all visitors, including NexGenLA members and guests, must reserve advance timed-entry tickets. No need to renew. Membership is valid until their 18th birthday.

Museums for All

Museums for All is a program for anyone receiving food assistance (SNAP benefits) to gain free or discounted admission to more than 1,000 museums nationwide! Simply present your EBT card and a photo ID for an awesome adventure with art, history, science, nature, and so much more!

Admission ranges from free – $3.00. This discounted rate is available during normal operating hours for up to four individuals per EBT card. Find even more participating museums by using the Find A Museum feature on their website.

Local participating museums include:

Blue Star Museums (May – September)

Blue Star Museums is a collaboration between the National Endowment for the Arts and Blue Star Families, offering free museum admission to our brave, active-duty military personnel and their families!

The military ID holder and up to five family members are allowed in free. The military ID holder can be either the active duty service member or other dependent family member with the appropriate ID card. The active duty member does not have to be present for family members to use the program.

The Blue Star Museums Map lists over 2,000 participating museums by state, which include children’s museums, art museums, history and science museums, zoos, nature centers, and more. There is no limit on the number of participating museums that military personnel and their families can visit.

Local participating museums include:

San Diego Museum Month (February)

Explore the fun during San Diego Museum Month every February with 50% off admission to 60+ San Diego County museums, historic sites, gardens, zoo/aquariums, and more. Pick up your free pass at 75 libraries throughout San Diego County or get a digital pass.

Every February, the San Diego Museum Council hosts San Diego Museum Month, where visitors get 50% off admission to 60+ San Diego County attractions! Pick up a free pass at the library or get a digital pass that good for up to four half-price admissions to participating museums. You don’t need to be a resident!

Pparticipating museums include:

Kids Free San Diego (October)

During October, kids eat, stay, and play for free with Kids Free San Diego. There’s more than 100 deals on hotels, activities, attractions, and restaurants! Visit the website for a complete list of participating attractions and details.

Participating attractions include: