Traveling as a family is so rewarding, but it can be so expensive! When we visit a new place, we try to find the best deals and discounts on attractions and activities we are interested in trying. We list some of our best ways to save money on activities when we travel below. Any money saved on traveling means more money for your next trip, right?
Short On Time? Pin It For Later!
Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, we may receive a commission if you click through and make a purchase.
How to Save Money on Activities & Attractions in Major Cities
When visiting a major city, prices tend to get more expensive than smaller towns. There are several ways to save money on activities and attractions, however, you’ll have to do a little bit of research and planning.
Purchase a City Sightseeing Pass
City sightseeing passes like Go City and Sightseeing Pass allow you to buy access to several attractions at a discounted price. These passes have a lot of value IF you are planning on visiting the included attractions. Keep in mind what you and your family really want to see, and then determine if the passes are right for you!
Sightseeing Pass and Go City offer two different types of passes. One pass, you can choose to have a certain number of attractions to for a set price. The other pass is based on length of stay. That pass allows you to visit as many attractions as you’d like within the specific time frame. Either pass is a great option to save money.
Buy Discounted Vouchers on Groupon or Living Social
Websites like Groupon and LivingSocial offer discounts on activities, as well as restaurants and hotels. Before you leave for your vacation, do some research on each site. Sometimes they offer discounts on attractions you are interested in visiting. And don’t forget to utilize discount codes to save you even more money!
Use Your Museum or Zoo Membership For Free or Discounted Admission
Do you have a membership to a museum, zoo, or aquarium? You may qualify for free or discounted admission to other museums or zoos.
The Association of Zoos & Aquariums has a reciprocity program. Not every zoo or aquarium participate. Check the most updated list on the AZA website. Depending on which zoo you have a membership to determines if you will receive free admission or a discount of 50% off the admission price. Either way saves you money!
Similarly, the Association of Science and Technology Centers also offers reciprocity program. You can learn more about the program and which museums participate here. Typically one or two adults and their children are given free entrance to the museum. However, the museum must over 90 miles “as the crow flies” from the members “home” museum.
Visit Museums with “Pay What You Wish” and Free Admission
If your family loves museums, check their website to see if the museum offers FREE or “pay what you wish” admission. For example, all of the Smithsonian museums in Washington, DC, as well as the National Museum of the American Indian in New York City, offer complimentary admission.
The American Museum of Natural History in New York City offers the “pay what you wish”. Other museums in various cities also have a similar program. When deciding what attractions you want to visit, check to see if any of the museums on your list offer “Pay What You Wish”!
How to Visit National Parks for FREE
While many of the National Parks in the United States are free, some of the most-popular parks change an entrance fee. For example, Shenandoah National Park costs $30 for a seven day pass.
The National Park System uses the proceeds from admission fees to help fund the maintenance of the parks, especially the larger and more popular ones. But you can still visit them for FREE or even at a reduced cost.
Free Entrance Days to the National Parks
Every year, the National Parks allows free entry on specific dates. Days include Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, the first day of National Park Week, National Park Service Birthday, National Public Lands Day, and Veterans Day.
National Parks Fourth Grade Pass
Is your child in or entering fourth grade? They qualify for a free annual pass from the National Parks! Every Kid in a Park encourages families to visit the National Parks for FREE! The Fourth Grade pass offers the same admittance privileges as the annual pass (see above).
National Parks Annual Pass
If the above options aren’t right for you, but you still want to save money when visiting National Parks, consider purchasing an annual pass. An annual pass covers the driver and everyone in the vehicle for parks with “per vehicle” fees. For parks with “per person” fees, the pass covers up to 4 adults. Children under 15 are FREE! The price for the pass varies based on the age of the applicant.
Keep in mind: If you are a current member of the United States military, you can obtain a pass for FREE.
Tips to Save Money at Amusement Parks
It almost seems impossible to visit any amusement park at a decent cost these days. However, depending on your touring style, there are a few ways you can save money at amusement parks and theme parks.
Buy a Season Pass to an Amusement Park Chain
Amusement park season passes can be a great deal if you plan on visiting the park more than once. Depending on the chain, the pass can pay for itself in 2-3 visits! Many of these parks are a part of a larger company that operate parks across the country.
For example, Sea World Entertainment owns and operates 11 parks in 5 different states. Their season passes have the option to include admission to all 11 parks, as well as discounts for merchandise and food. Six Flags and Cedar Fair also offer passes that are good at any of their parks.
If your family plans to visit more than one of these parks during a calendar year, consider purchasing a pass to save you money!
Purchase Discounted Amusement Park Tickets Before Your Trip
Big theme parks like Walt Disney World and Universal Studios are more expensive than other amusement parks. However, there are few ways to save money, including discounts on their high ticket prices. We save money by purchased tickets through authorized ticket sellers. Companies like ParkSavers and Undercover Tourist (our preferred seller) sell discounted tickets. Local tourism boards, like Visit Orlando, offer discounts too!
Beware of scammers though. Some companies will offer a ridiculously low price on tickets to these popular parks, only to have you sit through a timeshare presentation. If the price looks too good to be true, it probably is!
Other Tips to Save Money on Activities & Attractions
Look for the offered discounts! There are few ways to find and utilize discounts to save money on admission to popular attractions.
Organization and Military Discounts
Are you a member of the military? Do you hold a AAA membership? Does your employer participate in “Tickets at Work”? Many times you can purchase discounted tickets if you are a member of the military, or of specific organizations. Don’t forget to use them! Many attractions list the discount on their website, so double check before you head to the gate!
Discounts Offered Online and On Social Media
Another reason to visit an attraction’s website before you visit is for additional discounts. Many places will offer a few dollars off their gate price if you purchase your admission ahead of time.
Also, check the attraction’s social media accounts! Discount codes are often offered to their loyal followers, and you can capitalize on those deals!
Related Money-Saving Posts:
- Planning a trip to New York City? We found some FREE and inexpensive ways to entertain kids while visiting the Big Apple.
- Walt Disney World vacations can be expensive. Use our best tips to save money on your next trip!
- We love shopping at the Dollar Tree before our vacations! You can save money on great items for traveling with kids.
Read It Now, Pin It For Later!
