Over Twenty San Diego County Museums are Free Year-round for the Whole Family.

These museums offer free admission or have a donation-based admission policy that doesn’t charge a fixed admission fee but looks to your generosity to help make them accessible to all in our community.

Free Year Round Museums and Exhibits

Donation-based Admission and Pay as You Wish Initiatives

Institute of Contemporary Art North (Encinitas) – ICA San Diego’s exhibitions are always free at both locations for everyone through our Pay-As-You Wish initiative.

Museum of Photographic Arts at The San Diego Museum of Art (MOPA@SDMA) – Pay-As-You Wish initiative

Junípero Serra Museum – Your donation is your admission to our museums. We don’t charge a fixed admission fee but look to your generosity to help make history accessible to all in our community, removing barriers for those who otherwise not be able to experience our region’s history. Suggested minimum donation: $10.

San Diego History Center – Your donation is your admission to our museums. We don’t charge a fixed admission fee but look to your generosity to help make history accessible to all in our community, removing barriers for those who otherwise not be able to experience our region’s history. Suggested minimum donation: $10.

Balboa Park’s Residence Free Days

Balboa Park has Residents Free Days. Park museums offer free general admission on a rotating basis throughout each month to residents of the City and County of San Diego, and to active military personnel and their dependents. Find the details at here.

Please be prepared to present a photographic ID with your address.

First Tuesday

• Fleet Science Center (Not valid for films)
• San Diego Natural History Museum (Not valid for films)
• San Diego Model Railroad Museum (Excluding December)

Second Tuesday

• San Diego Air & Space Museum (Not valid for special exhibitions or December)
• The Veterans Museum at Balboa Park
• Comic-Con Museum (Excluding November and December)

Third Tuesday

• San Diego Museum of Art (Not valid for special exhibitions)
• Mingei International Museum
• Japanese Friendship Garden ((Excluding March, which will occur on the 4th Tuesday and December)

Fourth Tuesday

• San Diego Automotive Museum (Except in September and December)
• Japanese Friendship Garden (MARCH ONLY)
• Museum of Us (Does not include California Tower tours or annual membership to the Museum)

Fifth Tuesdays

• Regular admission prices are in effect

Museums for All (free or reduced admission throughout the year)

Before visiting a museum, please call or check their website to see if they are open or require advance registrations. Many museums are offering virtual resources—check your local museum’s website for more information.

Through Museums for All, those receiving food assistance (SNAP benefits) can gain free or reduced admission to more than 20 San Diego county museums and more than 1200 museums throughout the United States simply by presenting their EBT card.  Search here to find a participating museum near you!

Blue Star Museums is a collaboration among the National Endowment for the Arts, Blue Star Families, the Department of Defense, and museums across America, offering free admission to the nation’s active-duty military personnel and their families, including National Guard and Reserve. The 2023 Blue Star Museums program begins on Armed Forces Day, Saturday, May 18, 2024 and ends on Labor Day, Monday, September 2, 2024. More details at https://www.arts.gov/initiatives/blue-star-museums.

Participating San Diego County Museums Include: 

Find other discount and free admission programs for active duty military and veterans here.

Discover & Go

Visit San Diego attractions for FREE with the San Diego Public Library’s Discover & Go program. The program offers family day passes to several of San Diego’s biggest attractions, including the New Children’s Museum, Museum of Us, The San Diego Museum of Art, Children’s Discovery Museum and Skateworld! Passes can be reserved online, in-person or over the phone with a valid library card. Reserve passes today and discover what San Diego has to offer! Find out more here.

Includes These Museums