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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 June 2026 · 18 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 →
Recurring
Group education programs
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.

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 →
Recurring
Group nature programs
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 →
Year-round
Free center + programs
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 →

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 $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 →

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 under 3
  • 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 under 6
  • 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 →