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Homeschool Discounts in Tennessee

Big-ticket Tennessee museums and attractions with homeschool discount days — typically 30–50% off for kids, sometimes free.

✓ Programs verified June 2026 · 14 confirmed programs · 3 call-to-confirm

Tennessee's biggest museums, zoos, and historic sites across Nashville, Memphis, and Chattanooga publish dedicated homeschool days with their own pricing. The Frist Art Museum and Cheekwood in Nashville make youth admission free; the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art runs monthly Homeschool Days at no cost; Country Music Hall of Fame runs a flat $10–$15 per-family program; Andrew Jackson's Hermitage and Belle Meade run come-and-go days at $11–$12 per student; the Memphis Zoo and Nashville Zoo run themed grade-banded classes. Chattanooga's Ruby Falls runs a full Homeschool Week each September with discounted Cave Walk tickets, and Rock City offers a homeschool-week discount the same week. We surfaced these by checking each venue's own website. Prices below are what the venue publishes on its homeschool page. Always confirm dates before you drive — homeschool programs are seasonal and registration often opens a month ahead.

Most of these venues offer a child ticket well under $20 on homeschool days, and a few make youth admission free outright. A handful are in the 'call to confirm' bucket because the homeschool-day price hasn't been posted yet for the year. If you find a Tennessee 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.

Recurring
Homeschool Mondays
Last Monday of the month (except May, Nov, Dec)
Free
per kid · adult $16

Frist Art Museum

Nashville · All ages

The Frist's downtown Nashville galleries open at a discounted adult rate on the last Monday of every month (except May, November, and December for the holidays). Homeschool Mondays include priority access to the Martin ArtQuest interactive art-making space, an 11 a.m.–1 p.m. In-Gallery Experience with docents, and a multisensory cart for tactile exhibit interaction. No registration required — walk in on the day.

Regular admission: ~$20 adult / free under 18 — About 20% off adult admission; youth are always free at the Frist
Homeschool page at fristartmuseum.org →
When
Monthly Homeschool Days
Next: May 6, 2026 (Dolly Parton lyric art-making)
$15
/family
per kid

Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum

Nashville · Recommended ages 8 and up, all welcome · Advance registration required; minimum number of students for each program

The Hall of Fame's monthly Homeschool Days are themed around its one-of-a-kind collection — past sessions have covered Hatch Show Print letterpress, RCA Studio B sound science, and country songwriting fundamentals. Each program is roughly an hour with an optional one-hour tour afterward. The flat per-family pricing is unusual and makes this one of the strongest deals on this page.

Regular admission: ~$30 adult / ~$20 youth — A family of four pays $15 total instead of ~$100 in regular admission
Homeschool page at countrymusichalloffame.org →
When
Annual Spring Homeschool Day + Homeschool Mornings
Spring 2026 day was March 18; fall date typically announced by September
Free
per kid · adult $15

Cheekwood Estate & Gardens

Nashville · Best for 5–10, all ages welcome

Cheekwood pairs a 55-acre estate, a mansion, and an art gallery with a once-per-season Homeschool Day featuring crafts, hands-on exploration, and a self-guided scavenger hunt. Pre-registration recommended. The venue also runs come-and-go Homeschool Mornings Tuesday–Friday afternoons for groups that schedule in advance.

Regular admission: ~$26 adult / ~$14 youth — Free youth admission on Homeschool Day plus a discounted adult rate
Note: The spring 2026 date (March 18, themed 'Bees, Butterflies, and Blooms') has passed. A fall date hasn't been announced yet — watch the homeschool page through late summer.
Homeschool page at cheekwood.org →
When
Spring + Fall Homeschool Days
May 22 or 23, 2026 (Revolutionary War) · October 2 or 3, 2026 (Colonial Times)
$12
per kid · adult Free

Belle Meade Historic Site

Nashville · 5 and up; non-participating siblings 4 and under free · Pre-registration recommended; space is limited

The 30-acre former horse-breeding estate runs Homeschool Days twice a year, with Friday or Saturday options each time. Drop in between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. for hands-on themed activities — Revolutionary-era military drills and cipher decoding for spring 2026, colonial laundry and butter-churning for fall. Mansion tour not included, but the ticket covers grounds, restaurants, the mini-games court, and self-guided historic areas all day.

Regular admission: ~$24 adult / ~$12 youth (mansion tour) — Free parent admission per family makes a 1-adult-plus-1-kid combo $12 total
Homeschool page at visitbellemeade.com →
When
Homeschool Days + grades 6–12 workshops
Multiple dates throughout the year
$11
per kid · adult $22

Andrew Jackson's Hermitage

Nashville · Best for 5–10 (Homeschool Days) or grades 6–12 (Workshops)

Andrew Jackson's 1,100-acre plantation runs come-and-go Homeschool Days from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. with hands-on activities like military drills and holiday celebrations. The ticket covers grounds, museum, and the orientation film; mansion tours are an add-on. Older students (grades 6–12) can opt into intensive two-hour Workshops on the Constitution, economics, or the American presidency instead.

Regular admission: ~$32 adult / ~$15 youth — Family rate is roughly half off vs. regular admission for the same group
Homeschool page at thehermitage.com →
When
Homeschool Days Week
September 13–19, 2026
$15
per kid · adult $22.50

Ruby Falls

Chattanooga · 4 and up · Submit the request form at least 5 business days ahead; you'll get a discount code by email

America's deepest commercial cave runs a full Homeschool Week each September. The discounted ticket covers the 1.5-hour underground Cave Walk down to the 145-foot waterfall — Ruby Falls' headline experience. Note that you must submit the request form first; it doesn't reserve tickets, it just unlocks the promo code so you can buy them.

Regular admission: ~$28 adult / ~$15 youth — Roughly 20–25% off the standard Cave Walk ticket
Homeschool page at rubyfalls.com →
Recurring
Homeschool Days (monthly)
Second Thursdays, 10am–1pm — 6 dates/year (fall + spring)
Free
per kid · adult Free

Memphis Brooks Museum of Art

Memphis · All ages welcome with a caregiver

Memphis Brooks runs themed Homeschool Days six times a year, three each in fall and spring. Spring 2026 themes are Tiny Books (Feb 12 — students fold coin envelopes into accordion books), Women's History Month abstract watercolor (Mar 12), and Playful Pottery (Apr 9). Each day combines docent-led gallery tours, drop-in studio art-making, and gallery guides with discussion questions.

Regular admission: Free (suggested donation) — Free homeschool program adds themed art-making and docent tours on top of free general admission
Homeschool page at brooksmuseum.org →
Recurring
Homeschool Classes
Select Wednesdays 10am — Feb–May 2026 schedule on site
$35
per kid · adult Included

Memphis Zoo

Memphis · Grade-banded K–12 (each session targets a grade range) · Pre-registration required; closes 48 hours ahead. Adult must stay in class with student.

Memphis Zoo's Homeschool Programs run roughly monthly during the school year as themed grade-banded classes — past 2026 topics included Rainforest Roundup (K–2nd), Endangered Species (3rd–5th), Owl Pellet Dissection (1st–5th), Biomes (3rd–5th), Careers (5th–8th), and Rat Dissection (9th–12th). Each session is a standalone registration; families pick the classes that match their kid's grade.

Regular admission: ~$25 adult / ~$20 child gate admission — Class + 1 adult included for $35; admission discount on top
Note: Class-style format, not a drop-in homeschool day — each session is a 30-60 minute themed lesson (Owl Pellet Dissection, Biomes, Rat Dissection, etc.). Confirm the session topic matches your kid's interest before registering.
Homeschool page at memphiszoo.org →
Recurring
Monthly Homeschool Days
Two days per month, 2026 schedule on site
$25
per kid · adult Separate

Nashville Zoo

Nashville · Grades K–1, 2–4, and 5–8 (three grade-banded sessions per day)

Nashville Zoo's monthly Homeschool Days run as drop-off classes built around live animal presentations, hands-on activities, and a Zoo trail walk. Each day offers three grade-banded sessions: K–1 in the morning, 2–4 midday, 5–8 in the afternoon. Younger siblings and parents can't sit in, so plan for an admission ticket or membership if other family members will tour the Zoo during class time.

Regular admission: ~$26 adult / ~$21 child gate admission — Class registration includes the program; zoo admission is a separate purchase if a parent wants to tour
Note: Class-style format, not a drop-in homeschool day — each session is a grade-banded class. Plan a parent ticket or membership if you want to be in the zoo during class time.
Homeschool page at nashvillezoo.org →
When
Homeschool Days (multiple per school year)
Plus 2 public Living History Days open to homeschoolers
$8
per kid · adult free

Sam Davis Home & Plantation

Smyrna · K–12 · Tickets purchased online for specific scheduled event dates

Civil War scout Sam Davis's boyhood plantation (12 miles north of Murfreesboro in Smyrna) runs homeschool-only program days through the school year covering antebellum daily life, the Civil War, and substantive interpretation of the enslaved community at Davis Farm. No group minimum — single families are welcome. Two public Living History Days (Heritage Days and Days on the Farm) are open to homeschoolers but not exclusive.

Regular admission: $20 adult / $12 child 6–12 — About 60% off regular kid admission
Homeschool page at samdavishome.org →
Recurring
Monthly Homeschool Days
Themed single sessions, ages 5–12
$20
per kid

Ijams Nature Center

Knoxville · 5–12 · Register online per date; cancel by 9 a.m. the day before for a refund

Ijams' monthly Homeschool Days are single-session, themed outdoor programs led by environmental educators — tracking wildlife, birding, spring-wildflower art, evening pond exploration — for homeschoolers ages 5–12. Each date stands alone at $20/student, and one parent must stay onsite. The 320-acre nature center is otherwise free to visit any day.

Regular admission: Free general admission to the nature center — $20/student themed nature program at an otherwise-free 320-acre center
Note: Single-day themed sessions (not a multi-week series) — register for any individual dates. One parent or guardian must remain onsite for the whole program.
Homeschool page at ijams.org →
Recurring
Monthly Science Days
Mondays, spring & fall
$12
per kid

Zoo Knoxville

Knoxville · K–6 (open to all family members) · Register online per program; registration closes the Thursday before each date

Zoo Knoxville's monthly 'Science Days' turn the zoo into a hands-on research lab — single-session, expert-led classes for grades K–6 that repeat weekly so you can pick a date. They run $12 per person ($10 for members), each child needs an accompanying adult, and everyone 3 and older registers. (The separate semester-long Homeschool Academy is a multi-week commitment at $89–$109.)

Regular admission: $26.95 adult / $21.95 child gate admission — single-day homeschool class at $12/person ($10 members)
Note: Science Days are $12/person per program ($10 members); per zoo policy, attendees also need zoo admission or a membership to reach the classroom, so factor that in if you aren't a member.
Homeschool page at zooknoxville.org →
Year-round
Self-guided, by reservation
Tue-Fri, 10 am - 3 pm
$10
per kid · adult $15

Tennessee Museum of Aviation — Homeschool Tours

Sevierville · 5-18 · Home School ID required; 14-day notice

Tennessee's official aviation museum gives homeschooling families a discounted self-guided rate to roam its 50,000-square-foot hangar of restored Warbirds — fighters, trainers, helicopters, and jets — plus galleries tracing flight from before the Wright Brothers. Single families book at $10 per youth and $15 per parent; co-op groups of 15 or more drop to $9.50 per student.

Regular admission: $18 adult / $12 ages 6-12 general admission — homeschool self-guided rate: $10/youth, $15/parent
Note: The single-family homeschool rate covers 2 parents and up to 8 children at $10 per youth and $15 per parent (self-guided). Homeschool co-op groups of 15+ pay $9.50 per youth and $12 per adult chaperone. Present a homeschool membership card or enrollment letter to qualify.
Homeschool page at tnairmuseum.com →
Recurring
Single-day classes
2026 topics incl. Sound (Jun 23), Light (Jul 21)
$8–12
per kid

American Museum of Science & Energy — Homeschool Learning Expeditions

Oak Ridge · K-6 (K-2 and 3-6 groups) · Register & pay per class online; members get a discount

In the Manhattan Project's 'Secret City,' the American Museum of Science & Energy runs Homeschool Learning Expeditions — single-day, hands-on science classes on rotating topics like geology, sound, and light, split into a K-2 session and a grades 3-6 session on the same day. Several are co-presented with River and Rail Theater. Pricing is $8 for the younger group and $12 for the older.

Regular admission: $8 adult / $5 ages 6-17 general admission — $8 (K-2) / $12 (grades 3-6); AMSE members less
Note: Each Expedition is a single-day, one-topic class with two grade sessions on the same day: K-2 at 9:30 a.m. ($8) and grades 3-6 at 11:00 a.m. ($12). AMSE members pay a discounted rate. Register and pay per class on the AMSE form — classes sell out.
Homeschool page at amse.org →

Worth calling about

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

When
Fall Homeschool Days
September 13–19, 2026
Call
no public price

Rock City Gardens

Chattanooga

Lookout Mountain's iconic rock-formation gardens with the famous 'See Seven States' lookout run a Homeschool Week the same week as sister attraction Ruby Falls. Discount details only show at the ticket desk on the day, so plan a phone call before you drive. Timed tickets are required, and discounts apply only to the next available time slot.

Regular admission: ~$30 adult / ~$22 youth
How to reach them: Discount pricing isn't published — call group sales at 706-719-4031 to confirm. Bring a letter of intent, attendance record, or homeschool ID card to the ticket desk. Walk-up purchase only; not available online.
Homeschool page at seerockcity.com →
When
Homeschool Learning Pods
Select Thursdays — current dates TBA
Call
no public price

Discovery Center at Murfree Spring

Murfreesboro · All ages

The 32,000-square-foot STEAM museum in Murfreesboro (about 35 miles southeast of downtown Nashville) runs Homeschool Learning Pods on select Thursdays with discounted adult chaperone pricing. Drop in for a single Thursday — no series commitment. Regular admission is already inside our budget directory's $20 wheelhouse; the homeschool angle is the chaperone discount and the chance to join other homeschool families on a field-trip day.

Regular admission: $15 for ages 1 and up
Note: Right now the Learning Pods page shows 'no upcoming events' — the program runs in batches, so the next round may not yet be scheduled.
How to reach them: Adult chaperone discounts apply on Homeschool Learning Pod Thursdays; specific pricing not posted online. Regular admission is $15 for ages 1+ (under 12 months and members free). Email info@explorethedc.org or call 615-890-2300 to ask about the next pod.
Homeschool page at explorethedc.org →
When
Homeschool Days + Guided Tours
Themed events (e.g., "Log Cabin Living in the Winter")
Call
no public price

Cannonsburgh Village

Murfreesboro · 5+

An open-air pioneer village in downtown Murfreesboro runs themed Homeschool Days through the school year — log cabin living, blacksmithing demonstrations, gristmill operations — plus a Family Backpack self-guided program free to anyone. The village itself is free year-round; the homeschool day program adds docent-led interpretation, hands-on activities, and themed seasonal lessons for an additional fee. Specific upcoming dates aren't always on the public calendar — email to schedule.

Regular admission: Free (self-guided)
How to reach them: Past homeschool events priced at $5/person; School Tours are $3/student by appointment (groups). Email Mary Beth Nevills at mbnevills@murfreesborotn.gov or call 615-890-0355 for the next homeschool day date.
Homeschool page at murfreesborotn.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 Tennessee

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

Chattanooga

6 free or cheap
  • Bluff View Art DistrictFree
  • Hunter Museum of American Art$20 adults / Free under 18 / Free first Thursdays 4-8pm
  • Sculpture Fields at Montague ParkFree
  • Ross's Landing & The PassageFree
  • Bessie Smith Cultural Center$10 adults / $7 students/seniors / Free under 5
  • National Medal of Honor Heritage Center$17 adults / $11 children/students / $6 military
See all Chattanooga attractions →

Nashville

7 free or cheap
  • Centennial Park & The ParthenonFree (Parthenon museum interior $15 adults, $10 seniors/kids)
  • Tennessee State CapitolFree
  • Tennessee State MuseumFree
  • Bicentennial Capitol Mall State ParkFree
  • Fort Negley ParkFree
  • Frist Art Museum$20 adults / Free ages 18 and under
  • Lane Motor Museum$15 adults / $10 seniors / $3 ages 6–17 / Free under 6
See all Nashville attractions →

Gatlinburg

6 free or cheap
  • Great Smoky Mountains National Park & Sugarlands Visitor CenterFree entry / $5 daily parking tag
  • Cades Cove Loop RoadFree entry / $5 daily parking tag
  • Mountain Farm MuseumFree
  • Mingus MillFree
  • Elkmont Historic District (Daisy Town)Free
  • Great Smoky Arts & Crafts CommunityFree to browse
See all Gatlinburg attractions →

Memphis

4 free or cheap
  • Sun Studio$20 adults / $15 children 5–11 / Free under 5
  • Stax Museum of American Soul Music$20 adults / $16 seniors 62+
  • Mud Island River ParkFree
  • Crystal Shrine GrottoFree
See all Memphis attractions →

Murfreesboro

6 free or cheap
  • Stones River National BattlefieldFree
  • Cannonsburgh VillageFree
  • Discovery Center at Murfree Spring$15 ages 1+ / Free under 12 months
  • Oaklands Mansion$15 adults / $10 students / Free under 6
  • Sam Davis Home & Plantation$20 adults / $12 children 6–12 / Free under 6
  • Bradley Academy Museum & Cultural Center$5 adults / $3 seniors+students / $1 under 13
See all Murfreesboro attractions →

Knoxville

6 free or cheap
  • Knoxville Museum of ArtFree
  • McClung Museum of Natural History & CultureFree
  • Ijams Nature CenterFree (programs and rentals extra)
  • Zoo Knoxville$26.95 adults / $21.95 ages 3-12
  • Museum of East Tennessee HistoryFree through Feb 2027 (normally $5 adults)
  • Muse Knoxville$12 (ages 1-64)
See all Knoxville attractions →

Oak Ridge

6 free or cheap
  • American Museum of Science & Energy$8 adults / $5 ages 6-17 & seniors / Free under 6
  • Manhattan Project National Historical ParkFree
  • K-25 History Center$15 adults / $10 ages 6-17, seniors & military / Free under 6
  • Children's Museum of Oak Ridge$10 adults / $8 ages 2-17 / $5 seniors & military
  • Oak Ridge Art CenterFree
  • University of Tennessee ArboretumFree
See all Oak Ridge attractions →

Pigeon Forge & Sevierville

2 free or cheap
  • The Old Mill SquareFree
  • Tennessee Museum of Aviation$18 adults / $12 ages 6-12 / Free under 6
See all Pigeon Forge & Sevierville attractions →

See all 86 Tennessee attractions on the directory →