Free and low-cost family activities in Pennsylvania

105 entries for Pennsylvania (2 programs and places, 103 Museums for All participants) plus the multi-state programs below. Last verified 2026-10-17. Coverage is growing; this is not a complete list.

Verify before you go. Free days, prices and eligibility change; confirm with the organizer.

Parks, places and programs in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania state parks: no entrance or day-use fees

FreeOutdoorsPennsylvania

DCNR's Bureau of State Parks manages 125 state parks and states that Pennsylvania state parks do not charge an entrance fee; there are no entrance or day-use fees at any state park. Camping, cabins, boating, pools and some activities have separate prices.

Who it's for: Everyone

How: No pass needed for entry. Check each park for hours, pool and activity prices.

Source: official page · more · Last verified 2026-10-17. Confirm hours and prices with the venue.

Pennsylvania DCNR calendar: free children's and family park programs

Free days / free for someOutdoorsPennsylvania

The DCNR Calendar of Events lists children's programs at state parks (for example storytimes, nature crafts and homeschool days); many are marked Free and some require registration or have a fee, so check each event.

Who it's for: Families with children

How: Browse the calendar's Children events filter and read each event's cost and registration notes.

Source: official page · more · Last verified 2026-10-17. Confirm hours and prices with the venue.

Museums for All participants in Pennsylvania (103)

Per the official participating-museums list (retrieved 2026-10-17): visitors showing a SNAP EBT card and photo ID get reduced admission from free to $5 for up to four people per card. The official list does not state each museum's own price, so confirm hours and prices with the museum before you go.

1753 Bachmann Publick House Easton, PA
The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University Philadelphia, PA
Allentown Art Museum Allentown, PA
America On Wheels Allentown, PA
American War of Independence Privateer Museum Quakertown, PA
The Andy Warhol Museum Pittsburgh, PA
ArtLife Studio Freeland, PA
Arts + Education at the Hoyt New Castle, PA
Bloomsburg Children’s Museum Bloomsburg, PA
Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve New Hope, PA
Braddock’s Battlefield History Center North Braddock, PA
Brandywine Battlefield Park (PHMC) Chadds Ford, PA
Brandywine River Museum of Art Chadds Ford, PA
Bucks County Children’s Museum New Hope, PA
Bushy Run Battlefield Harrison City, PA
Carnegie Museum of Art Pittsburgh, PA
Carnegie Museum of Natural History Pittsburgh, PA
Carnegie Science Center Pittsburgh, PA
Chanticleer Wayne, PA
Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh, PA
Colonial Pennsylvania Farmstead Newtown Square, PA
Conrad Weiser Homestead Womelsdorf, PA
Cornwall Iron Furnace (PHMC) Cornwall, PA
Daniel Boone Homestead (PHMC) Birdsboro, PA
Discovery Space of Central Pennsylvania State College, PA
Drake Well Museum and Park (PHMC) Titusville, PA
Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site Philadelphia, PA
Eckley Miners’ Village Museum (PHMC) Weatherly, PA
Electric City Trolley Museum Scranton, PA
Erie Art Museum Erie, PA
Erie Maritime Museum and U.S. Brig Niagara (PHMC) Erie, PA
Everhart Museum Scranton, PA
ExpERIEnce Children’s Museum Erie, PA
Fallingwater Mill Run, PA
Fort Ligonier Ligonier, PA
The Frick Pittsburgh Pittsburgh, PA
Gettysburg Foundation Gettysburg, PA
Glencairn Museum Bryn Athyn, PA
Graeme Park Horsham, PA
Hagen History Center Erie, PA
Hands-On House, Children’s Museum of Lancaster Lancaster, PA
Hanover Area Historical Society Hanover, PA
Heritage Discovery Center Johnstown, PA
Hershey Gardens Hershey, PA
Hershey History Center Hershey, PA
The Hershey Story: The Museum on Chocolate Avenue Hershey, PA
Historic Ephrata Cloister (PHMC) Ephrata, PA
Historic Rock Ford Lancaster, PA
Johnstown Children’s Museum Johnstown, PA
Johnstown Flood Museum Johnstown, PA
Joseph Priestley House Museum Northumberland, PA
The Kemerer Museum of Decorative Arts and Moravian Museum of Bethlehem Bethlehem, PA
Keystone Kidspace York, PA
Lancaster Medical Heritage Museum Lancaster, PA
Lancaster Science Factory Lancaster, PA
LancasterHistory Lancaster, PA
Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum (PHMC) Lancaster, PA
Lewisburg Children’s Museum Lewisburg, PA
Longwood Gardens Kennett Square, PA
Lykens Valley Children’s Museum Elizabethville, PA
Mattress Factory Pittsburgh, PA
Moonshot Museum Pittsburgh, PA
Moravian Historical Society Nazareth, PA
Museum of the American Revolution Philadelphia, PA
National Canal Museum Easton, PA
The National Civil War Museum Harrisburg, PA
National Museum of Industrial History Bethlehem, PA
National Watch and Clock Museum Columbia, PA
North Museum of Nature and Science Lancaster, PA
Old Economy Village (PHMC) Ambridge, PA
Penn Museum (University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology) Philadelphia, PA
Pennsbury Manor (PHMC) Morrisville, PA
Pennsylvania Anthracite Heritage Museum (PHMC) Scranton, PA
Pennsylvania Lumber Museum (PHMC) Ulysses, PA
Pennsylvania Military Museum (PHMC) Boalsburg, PA
Philadelphia Museum of Art Philadelphia, PA
Phillips Museum of Art Lancaster, PA
Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens Pittsburgh, PA
Pittsburgh Botanic Garden Oakdale, PA
Please Touch Museum Philadelphia, PA
Pottstown Children’s Discovery Center Pottstown, PA
PSU Pasto Agricultural Museum Pennsylvania Furnace, PA
Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania (PHMC) Strasburg, PA
Reading Area Firefighters Museum Reading, PA
Reading Science Center Reading, PA
Richard Allen Museum at Mother Bethel AME Church Philadelphia, PA
Seminary Ridge Museum & Education Center Gettysburg, PA
Shofuso Japanese Cultural Center Philadelphia, PA
Sigal Museum Easton, PA
Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum Philadelphia, PA
Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall & Museum Pittsburgh, PA
Somerset Historical Center Somerset, PA
State Museum of Pennsylvania (PHMC) Harrisburg, PA
Susquehanna Art Museum Harrisburg, PA
Thaddeus Stevens & Lydia Hamilton Smith Center for History and Democracy Lancaster, PA
Thaddeus Stevens Museum Gettysburg, PA
Venango Museum of Art, Science & Industry Oil City, PA
Washington Crossing Historic Park Washington Crossing, PA
West Overton Village Scottdale, PA
The Westmoreland Museum of American Art Greensburg, PA
Winters Heritage House Museum & The Seibert Genealogy Research Library Elizabethtown, PA
World of Little League Museum South Williamsport, PA
York County History Center York, PA

Programs that apply in many states

Some of these list examples from specific libraries or states; check that the program is offered where you live.

Museums for All (SNAP EBT card admission)

Low costProgram / passMultiple states

Free to $5 admission for up to 4 people per SNAP EBT card at participating museums (1,600+ nationwide). EBT cards from any state are accepted.

Who it's for: EBT cardholders

How: Bring your EBT card and a photo ID. No registration. Each museum sets its own rate and some ask for walk-in purchase, so check the museum page.

Participating list by state: see source. Rates vary by museum.

Source: official page · more · Last verified 2026-10-17. Confirm hours and prices with the venue.

Bank of America Museums on Us

Free days / free for someProgram / passMultiple states

Free general admission on the first full weekend of every month to Bank of America, Merrill or Bank of America Private Bank credit or debit cardholders at participating museums. Next weekend: Nov 7-8, 2026.

Who it's for: Bank of America / Merrill cardholders

How: Show your active card and a government photo ID. One general admission per cardholder; special exhibitions excluded. Check the museum's listing on the Bank of America map.

Not a Bank of America endorsement; this is an informational listing with no affiliation.

Source: official page · Last verified 2026-10-17. Confirm hours and prices with the venue.

Every Kid Outdoors (4th grade pass)

FreeProgram / passMultiple states

2026-27 school year pass: free entry at federal lands and waters (national parks, wildlife refuges, etc.) for the 4th grader, all children under 16 and up to 3 adults in one private vehicle. Expires Aug 31, 2027.

Who it's for: Families with a 4th grader

How: The 4th grader completes a short online activity and prints a paper voucher at EveryKidOutdoors.gov (we never collect any information). Does not cover state parks, parking, camping or tours.

Source: official page · more · Last verified 2026-10-17. Confirm hours and prices with the venue.

Library museum and park passes

DiscountedProgram / passMultiple states

Many public libraries lend or reserve free or discounted passes for museums, zoos, farms and parks. Examples: Boston Public Library lists Boston Children's Museum at $12 per person for up to 4; Oxford (MA) and Athol (MA) list free-admission passes to several museums; Attleboro (MA) lists a free RISD Museum pass.

Who it's for: Library cardholders (rules vary by library)

How: Search your own library's website for 'museum passes'. Each library has its own pass list, reservation system and return rules. Passes are limited and set by the participating attractions.

Example pages only; your library's list will differ.

Source: official page · more · more · more · Last verified 2026-10-17. Confirm hours and prices with the venue.

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