Who doesn’t love Free Days?
Southern California can be generous with their free days and discounts at local attractions. Good thing, too. It can get pretty expensive to take the whole family out for a day of enlightenment and education at SoCal’s wonderful institutions.
Here’s our rundown of free days in Los Angeles, Orange County, Inland Empire, and Desert cities.
Plus find out more about the Go Los Angeles Discount Pass that can save you a bunch.
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Los Angeles County Free Days & Deals
Orange County Free Days & Deals
Other SoCal Free Days & Deals
Also See: San Diego Free Days & Deals
LOS ANGELES COUNTY FREE ADMISSION
Griffith Park Observatory in Los Angeles, California
1. Autry Museum of the American West
ADDRESS: 4700 Western Heritage Way, Los Angeles, CA 90027 (inside Griffith Park); phone 323-667-2000.
FREE: Free admission options include the following.
- Admission is free on the first full weekend of every month for BofA and Merrill Lynch cardholders as part of the “Museums On Us” program. (Special exhibits are extra.).
- Free admission for active military
- Free admission for veterans and peace officers.
DISCOUNT: Options include the following.
- Seniors/students get discounts.
- Save 20 percent or more with Go Los Angeles Card.
2. California Science Center
ADDRESS: 700 Exposition Park Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90037. 323-724-3623.
FREE: Always free admission to exhibits. But you’ll need tickets for IMAX and simulators.
DISCOUNT: Options include the following.
- Seniors/students get discounts.
- Save 20 percent or more with Go Los Angeles Card.
3, The Griffith Observatory
ADDRESS: 2800 East Observatory Road, Los Angeles, CA 90027 (inside Griffith Park). 213-473-0800. (Closed Mondays, Tuesdays.)
FREE DAY: Free admission to exhibits and nighttime telescope viewing. Free parking. Tickets required for Planetarium shows.
4. The J. Paul Getty Museums
ADDRESS:
- The Getty Center – 1200 Getty Center Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90049 (Closed Mondays.)
- The Getty Villa (Malibu) – 17985 Pacific Coast Highway, Pacific Palisades, CA 90272 (Closed Tuesdays).
FREE: Always free admission.
Hammer Museum in Los Angeles
5. The Hammer Museum
ADDRESS: 10899 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90024. 310-443-7000.
FREE: Admission to all exhibitions and public programs always free.
6. The Huntington Library
ADDRESS: 1151 Oxford Road, San Marino, CA 91108. 626-405-2100. Closed Tuesdays.
FREE: Free admission on the first Thursday of every month with advance tickets (they go fast, so plan ahead). Parking is free.
DISCOUNT: Seniors/students/children always get discounts.
7. Japanese American National Museum
ADDRESS: 369 East First Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012. 213-625-0414. Closed Mondays.
FREE: Admission is free every Thursday from 5pm to 8pm, and every third Thursday of the month.
DISCOUNT: Couple of options.
- Seniors/students get discounts.
- Save 20 percent or more with Go Los Angeles Card.
8. Kidspace Children’s Space Museum
ADDRESS: 480 N. Arroyo Blvd., Pasadena, CA 91103 (626-449-9144).
FREE: Free Family Night on the first Tuesday of every month from 4pm-8pm. Parking is free.
9. La Brea Tar Pits, Page Museum
ADDRESS: 5801 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90036. 323-934-PAGE.
FREE: Admission is free on the first Tuesday of each month.
DISCOUNT: Options include the following.
- Seniors/students/children get a discount.
- Save 20 percent or more with Go Los Angeles Card.
10. Long Beach Museum of Art
ADDRESS: 2300 East Ocean Blvd, Long Beach, CA 90803. 562-439-2119.
FREE: Admission is free every Friday, and Thursdays 5pm-8pm. Parking is free. Closed Monday- Wednesday.
DISCOUNT: Seniors/students get discounts.
11. Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanical Garden
ADDRESS: 301 North Baldwin Avenue, Arcadia, CA, 91007. 626-821-3222.
FREE: Admission is free on third Tuesdays of every month (no tram on Free days).
DISCOUNT: Seniors/students get $2 off + $4 off Tram.
12. Los Angeles County Museum of Art
ADDRESS: 5905 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, 90036. 323-857-6000. Closed Wednesdays.
FREE:
- Free admission on the second Tuesday of each month to the permanent galleries and non-ticketed exhibitions.
- Also free admission after 5 pm on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday to the permanent galleries and non-ticketed exhibitions for all Los Angeles County residents with proof of residency.
- Admission is free on the first full weekend of every month for BofA and Merrill Lynch cardholders as part of the “Museums On Us” program. (Special exhibits are extra.)
- Free admission on selected holidays offered by Target.
DISCOUNT: Students/seniors get small discounts.
13. Los Angeles Zoo & Botanical Garden
ADDRESS: 5333 Zoo Drive, Los Angeles, CA. 323-644-4200.
FREE: Children under age 2 get in free. Parking is free.
DISCOUNT: Couple of choices.
- The best way to get an LA Zoo discount is with the Go LA discount combo pass.
- Group discounts are available directly from the Zoo for parties of 15 or more people. You can get them at the gate on the day of your visit, or call 323-644-4210.
MOCA PDC in Los Angeles
14. Museums of Contemporary Art
ADDRESS:
- MOCA Main Museum, 250 S Grand Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90012 (213-626-6222).
- The Geffen Contemporary, 152 North Central Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90012.
- MOCA Pacific Design Center, 8687 Melrose Avenue, West Hollywood, CA 90069.
FREE: Free admission to MOCA Grand Avenue/Geffen Contemporary every Thursday 5–8pm. MOCA PDC always free admission.
DISCOUNT: Save 20 percent or more with the Go Los Angeles Card.
15. Museum of Latin American Art
ADDRESS: 628 Alamitos Avenue, Long Beach, CA 90802 (562-437-1689). Closed Mondays, Tuesdays.
FREE: Admission is free on the first full weekend of every month for BofA and Merrill Lynch cardholders as part of the “Museums On Us” program. (Special exhibits are extra.)
DISCOUNT: Seniors/students $2 off.
16. Natural History Museum of Los Angeles
ADDRESS: 900 Exposition Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90007 (213-763-DINO).
FREE: Admission is free on the first Tuesday of each month. Always free for active military, and USC students (except on USC game days), must present photo ID.
DISCOUNT: A few options include the following.
- Seniors/students/children get around $2 off.
- Save 20 percent or more with Go Los Angeles Card.
Nethercutt Collection in Sylmar CA (San Fernando Valley region of LA)
17. The Nethercutt Museum and Collection
ADDRESS: 15151 Bledsoe Street, Sylmar, CA 91342. 818-364-6464. Closed Sundays, Mondays.
FREE: Admission is always free. Reservations suggested for The Collection, one of the world’s greatest automobile collections.
18. Norton Simon Museum
ADDRESS: 411 W. Colorado Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91105. 626-449-6840.
FREE: Admission is free on the first Friday of every month from 6pm to 9pm. Free admission for students. Parking is free.
DISCOUNT: Seniors get a few dollars off.
19. USC Pacific Asia Museum
ADDRESS: 46 North Los Robles Ave, Pasadena, CA 91101. 626-449-2742.
FREE: Admission is free on second Sundays of every month, and on Thursday’s from 5 – 8pm. Parking is free.
DISCOUNT: Other days seniors/students $2 off.
20. Rancho Los Alamitos Ranch and Gardens
ADDRESS: 6400 Bixby Hill Road, Long Beach, CA 90815. 562-431-354.
FREE: Always free admission. Closed Monday, Tuesday.
21. Rancho Los Cerritos Museum and Library
ADDRESS: 4600 Virginia Road, Long Beach, CA 90807. 562-570-1755.
FREE DAY: Always free admission. Closed Monday, Tuesday.
22. Southcoast Botanical Gardens
ADDRESS: 26300 Crenshaw Boulevard, Palos Verdes Peninsula, CA 90274. 310-544-1948.
FREE: Admission is free on the third Tuesday of each month.
DISCOUNT: Seniors/students get $2 off.
23. Travel Town
ADDRESS: 5200 Zoo Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90027, inside Griffith Park. 323-662-5874.
FREE DAY: Admission is always Free. Parking is also Free.
24. Zimmer Children’s Museum
ADDRESS: 6505 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90048. 323-761-8989. Closed Mondays, Saturdays.
FREE: Grandparents get in free when accompanied by a grandchild. Parking is free.
DISCOUNT: Save 20 percent or more with the Go Los Angeles Card.
ORANGE COUNTY MUSEUM FREE ADMISSION
Bowers Museum, Santa Ana, California
25. Bowers Museum
ADDRESS: 2002 North Main Street, Santa Ana, CA 92706. 714-567-3600.
FREE: Free admission to permanent exhibits for Santa Ana residents with proof of residency on the first Sunday and third Tuesday of every month. Closed Monday.
26. Discovery Science Center
ADDRESS: 2500 North Main Street, Santa Ana, CA 92705.
FREE: Admission is free on the first full weekend of every month for BofA and Merrill Lynch cardholders as part of the “Museums On Us” program. (Special exhibits are extra.)
DISCOUNT: Save 20 percent or more with Go Los Angeles Card.
27. Fullerton Arboretum
ADDRESS: 1900 Associated Road, Fullerton, CA 92831. 657-278-3407.
FREE: Always free admission. Parking is also free.
28. La Habra’s Children’s Museum
ADDRESS: 301 South Euclid St, La Habra, CA 9063. 562-905-9793.
FREE: Target free day is the first Saturday of the month. Closed Mondays. Children 2 and under Free.
29. Laguna Art Museum
ADDRESS: 307 Cliff Drive, Laguna Beach, CA. 92651 949-494-8971.
FREE: Admission is free on the first full weekend of every month for BofA and Merrill Lynch cardholders as part of the “Museums On Us” program. (Special exhibits are extra.)
30. Orange County Museum of Art
ADDRESS: 850 San Clemente Drive, Newport Beach, CA 92660. 949-759-1122.
FREE: Admission is free on the second Sunday of every month. Closed Mondays and Tuesdays. Parking is free.
OTHER SOCAL MUSEUM FREE DAYS
Palm Springs Art Museum
31. The Living Desert
ADDRESS: 47900 Portola Ave, Palm Desert, CA 92260. 760-346-5694.
FREE: Admission is free on the first full weekend of every month for BofA and Merrill Lynch cardholders as part of the “Museums On Us” program. (Special exhibits are extra.)
DISCOUNT: Senior discount.
32. Palm Springs Art Museum
ADDRESS: 101 Museum Dr, Palm Springs, CA 92262. 760-322-4800. Closed Mondays.
FREE: Options include the following.
- Admission is free on the first full weekend of every month for BofA and Merrill Lynch cardholders as part of the “Museums On Us” program. (Special exhibits are extra.)
- Free admission every Thurdsay during Villagefest from 4-8pm. Free admission on the second Sunday of the month.
DISCOUNT: Senior/student discount.
33. Riverside Art Museum
ADDRESS: Riverside Art Museum, 3425 Mission Inn Ave, Riverside CA 92501. 951-684-7111. Closed Sundays.
FREE: Admission is free on the first full weekend of every month for BofA and Merrill Lynch cardholders as part of the “Museums On Us” program. (Special exhibits are extra.)
DISCOUNT: Senior/student discount.
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