A trip to the museum is such a fun way to spend an afternoon with your kids — but admission for multiple adults and kids can really add up! And, with so many superb museums in the area, you’ll definitely want to, visit them all! So we consulted our favorite Cincinnati museums to get the scoop on their special deals in 2024.
Get out your calendar — here’s our directory of 2024 Free Museum Days Around Cincinnati and Dayton:
Related Article: 75 Things to do this Winter in Cincinnati
American Sign Museum
Admission is $15/adult. Get FREE admission for up to three children 12 and under with each paying adult. Public Library of Greater Cincinnati/Hamilton County card holders can get two free tickets to the American Sign Museum through the Discovery Pass program.
Behringer-Crawford Museum
This Northern Kentucky gem generally offers several free admission days each year, including Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Smithsonian Museum Day and Veterans Day. Find more information for 2024 free admission dates on their website. Every Wednesday is Grandparents Day: one grandchild admitted free with each paying grandparent.
Ark Encounter and Creation Museum
Children 10 and under are free for the entire 2043 year! This program has been extended for its fourth year.
Cincinnati Museum Center
CMC offers a yearly membership with so many benefits! Free admission to three museums, free parking, incredible discounts on special exhibitions AND special member only events are all included. Infants under age 1 are always free.
COSI
If you have a Cincinnati Museum Center Family Premium Membership, enjoy 50% general admission for up to 6 people with your pass. And teachers always get FREE admission at COSI!
Cincinnati Art Museum
Free every day, 365 days a year — plus lots of free family offerings, like Baby Tours and Rosenthal Education Center.
Cincinnati Zoo
Take advantage of the Zoo’s half-price admission dates: Jan. 9 -March 10.
Contemporary Arts Center
Free admission every day. Check out their Creativity Center, a FREE indoor play place, open during normal CAC hours.Located on the 6th floor of the famous contemporary Zaha Hadid-designed building, the Creativity Center at the CAC opened in October 2022 and is free for all. Welcoming families of all ages, fun at the Creativity Center ranges from toddler-sized squishy balls to a working record player, meant to be turned and explored.
Freedom Center
Free admission on the fifth and third Sunday of each month plus MLK Day and Juneteenth!
National Museum of the U.S. Air Force
Free admission and parking every day!
Newport Aquarium
Check Newport Aquarium’s website and Facebook page throughout the year; last year, they offered free admission for First Responders, Educators and Veterans during the year!
William Howard Taft National Historic Site
Free admission and tours every day.
Airstream Museum
A short drive north of Dayton, the Airstream factory tours offer two ways to tour the production facility. Tours are free, museum admission is free for children, $5 for adults.
Worth the Drive:Â
The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis
- January 16: Martin Luther King Jr. Day
- February 20: Presidents Day
- September (TBD): Fiesta de la Familia
- December 24: Christmas Eve
First Thursday Night: From 4-8 p.m. on the first Thursday of each month, we welcome all visitors to pay $6 for admission. Tickets can be purchased on-site, but we strongly encourage online purchasing. When you buy ahead, you beat the crowds and enjoy every minute of your time at the museum!
Plus: The Children’s Museum is proud to make family learning available to more Indiana families through free or reduced admission days and reduced admission programs like Access Pass. Children under 2 always receive free admission.
If you know of any free dates we missed, please send the details to [email protected], and we’ll be sure to share!