exploratorium

School Field Trips

Prices and Discounts

You may qualify for free museum admission.

We want the Exploratorium to be accessible for everyone. Here are some ways you can visit the Exploratorium without paying anything at all:

Free Admission for Title I Schools 
Title I schools receive free admission for school field trips. Ask about this program when you make your reservation. 

Free Visits for Teachers
At the Exploratorium, we support teachers. Here are a few ways teachers can visit the museum for free:

  • If you’re the lead teacher on a field trip that's already been scheduled, you can preview the museum for free before the date of the trip. When you arrive, tell Guest Services that you are preparing for an upcoming field trip. Show a copy of the confirmation e-mail you received from us, and we’ll sign you in free of charge. For more information, call (415) 528-4444.
  • See how the Exploratorium would work for your class at our annual Field Trip Open House, taking place November 11, 2019 (Observed Veteran's Day). You'll get free daytime admission for yourself and two guests, plus access to Explainers and resources to help you and your students get the most out of your field trip.
  • Apply here for our program offering free Exploratorium admission for all California public school K–12 teachers.

Field Trip Prices

Youth (Grades K–12)

$7.50

Children (3 or younger) Free
Teachers/Adults 1 admitted free per 10 youth
Additional Adults $10.00
Members While members receive complimentary year-round general admission, these admission privileges do not extend to the field trip program, which is separately funded. Please include any members in your overall head count.
Title I Schools Title I schools receive free admission for school field trips, subject to availability. Please ask about this program when you make your reservation. 
Tactile Dome $8 for half-hour excursions starting at 10:30 a.m., 11:15 a.m., 12:00 p.m., 12:45 p.m., and 1:30 p.m. (must be age 7+; visitors under age 12 must be accompanied by an adult)

Field trip days are Tuesdays through Fridays, starting at 10 a.m. If you're planning to arrive outside of field trip hours, please make a group reservation by calling (415) 528-4444 and choosing option 5 for reservations.

Tactile Dome
Take your students on an interactive excursion through total darkness in our Tactile Dome. They'll crawl, slide, and bump their way through the pitch-dark Dome using their sense of touch as their only guide through its chambers and mazes.

Paying for your field trip

  • We accept the following forms of payment for group and field trip reservations: checks, MasterCard, VISA, Discover, and American Express.

  • A deposit of 50% of the total amount is due on the 1st of the month prior to the date of your intended visit. This deposit will be applied to your total amount due, which must be paid in full on arrival or sooner. Deposits are nonrefundable if a reservation is canceled within two weeks of the intended arrival date. No refunds of under $50 will be issued.
  • Apart from the deposit, payment must be made in one lump sum even if you're paying for several classes. If you would like to pay separately for different classes, please make separate reservations. Group members paying separately are not eligible for group pricing and will be charged general admission rates.
  • Please have ready an exact head count—the total number of youth (grades K–12), children (5 or younger), and adults in your entire group.