How To Visit Great Museums Without Spending a Dime

From a very early age, bringing your kids to a museum will expand their little horizons beyond Bluey (although we kinda love Bluey, ya know?) and playgroups to amazing hallways of art, natural history and culture.  Free museum days open up local culture for families — and allow parents to create a conversation with kids about things that are way beyond their home's four walls! Mommy Poppins has scouted out the best museum options to make sure they’re worth you packing everything up and making the drive. And best of all? This list includes only truly free museums, not the ones that say free but charge for every additional feature. 

 
See all kinds of cool exhibits at these Connecticut museums with free admission. Photo courtesy of the Eli Whitney Museum

What Are the Best Kid-Friendly Always-Free Museums in Connecticut?

Yale Peabody Museum - New Haven

Every Connecticut kid has to go to the Peabody at least once in their childhood. The Peabody is a world-reknown natural history and science museum  - but don't they aren't stuffy at all! There are tons of great exhibits, but we have always loved the Hall of Dinosaurs, minerals, and the North American Dioramas. They have added  a "living lab" with poison dart flags, small fish and other living things. Peabody welcomes families and is always free. Parking is a bit challenging and somewhat limited so prepare to bring a stroller to walk in - the museum itself is stroller friendly.

Free admission: Always free
Ages: Best for 6 and up
Insider Tip: Plan ahead for parking

Submarine Force Library and Museum - Groton

Something unique to Connecticut is the presence and heritage of our Naval forces. The museum contains a large collection of submarine artifacts in addition to the amazing USS Nautilus itself. Children will be able to see what life is actually like when living underwater - where did the service men eat? Sleep? Meet with one another? This is a great museum for all ages - even your teens will think it's worth the trip. Note: the submarine is a tight squeeze and not stroller-friendly.

Free admission: Always free
Ages: Best for 4 and up
Insider Tip: Not everyone will love the claustrophic submarine tour although it is really a highlight of the trip.

Yale University Art Gallery - New Haven

Share African, Ancient, Modern Arts and the sculpture garden with your kids. Packed with all kinds of rare and special art, it really is a "hands-off" museum for kids (even for the grown-ups really...), so you may need to remind younger children. Look for their Family Day events and programming. The gallery is free and open to the public Tuesday through Sunday. It is located in the heart of New Haven and visitors can park in metered street spaces or in the Chapel-York garage.  Louis Lunch, Sally's Apizza and Pepe's are just a stones throw for a delicious lunch.

Free admission: Always free
Ages: Best for 6 and up
Insider Tip: Plan ahead for parking

Eli Whitney Museum - Hamden

Named after the inventor of the cotton gin, the Eli Whitney Museum is always free. This museum caters to kids of all ages, with their programming and their exhibits. The Water Lab is open during the warmer months of the year and boasts seven different tables with water experiments for children. They can learn about the water cycle, waterwheels, pumps, canals, boats and more. In the main building, kids can see many vintage games and toys on display as well as an amazing train display during the holidays. 

Free admission: Always free
Ages: Best for 6 and up
Insider Tip: Go in the warmer months to enjoy the grounds, covered bridge and water works.

CT Antique Machinery Association Museum - Kent 

The pet-project of collectors and machinery admirers, this little museum tucked into the North West corner of Connecticut is a great place for any kid who loves machines, steam trains, blacksmithing and history! Best during the warmer months, the displays teach and allow for questions and some touching. The museum has events during the year for the whole family.

Free admission: Always free
Ages: Best for 4 and up
Insider Tip: Open in the warmer months, kids will love the machinery and trains

When Are the Free Museum Days in Connecticut?

Connecticut Museum of Culture and History - Hartford

The first Saturday and Sunday of the month, the museum offers family programming on a different theme. It's free and great for kids up to 10. The museum has rotating displays, relating to Connecticut history - some you have never heard of! The second floor is VERY kid-friendly with walk in playscapes based in history for kids to get their hands on. A worthwhile trip! This is a drop-in program, no registration is needed. 

Free admission: Free family program in the first weekend of the month.
Ages: Best for 2 and up
Insider Tip: Don't miss the second floor!

White Memorial Conservation Center - Litchfield

Through the donation of local businesses, White Memorial offers families Museum Children Free Weeks almost every month. During this week, children 12 and under are welcome to take advantage of the nature center for free. Families can enjoy 40 miles of trails and grounds and the nature museum with exhibits designed for learning and touching! 

Free admission: Free admission during Children Free Weeks (monthyl)
Ages: Best for 5 and up
Insider Tip: Pack a lunch and bring it on the trail

New Britain Museum of American Art - New Britain

NBMAA offers period Community Access Days (Black History Month, Native American Heritage Month, Juneteenth, etc) where entrance is completely free for all ages. NBMAA offers exhibits of major American artists both modern and classic. To see a complete list of Community Access Day, go here. They often have kid-centric exhibitions like Norman Rockwell, Pop Art, Pulp Art, and a whole exhibit of Santa paintings! 

Free admission: All Community Access Days are free - there are approximately 10 per year
Ages: Best for 6 and up
Insider Tip: Shoot for a time when the exhibitions appeal to young hearts

American Mural Project - Winsted

Wadsworth Museum Second Saturdays

Which Free Museums Are Best for Different Ages?

Toddlers and Preschoolers and Elementary Age Kids​

• National Helicopter Museum - Stratford (free for all)
• Ballard Institute of Puppetry - Storrs (free, $5 donation if you decide)

Tweens and Teens

• Yale British Art Museum - New Haven (free for all)
• Husky Heritage Sports Museum (Storrs) (free for all)
• New England Civil War Museum - Vernon (free or all)
• Benton Museum of Art - Storrs (free or all)

Hidden Gem or Off-the-Beaten-Path Free Museums in Connecticut

New England Accordion Museum - Canaan (free or all)

Free admission: Always free
Ages: Best for 6 and up
Insider Tip: Great or kids who loves music and instruments 

Clock and Watch Museum - Bristol (Free under 5)

Free admission: Always free
Ages: Best for 6 and up
Insider Tip: Great for local history or kids that love machinery and how things work

Pez Museum - Orange (free under 3)

Free admission: Free under 3
Ages: Best for 4 and up
Insider Tip: Local history and candy, made right here in Connecticut, a quick field trip

How To Make the Most of Free Museum Days

• Avoid large school groups by not heading out to the museum at the end of the school year
• Come prepared with a little cash for gift shops and museum store (yes, the kids will see them!)
• Plan ahead and know how long the drive will be - yessir, I do allow handheld games for rides over 45 minutes!
• Either bring food with you or locate an inexpensive place near the museum you will be visiting
   

 
Some of these free museums offer hands-on fun for Connecticut kids! Earthplace photo by Zoe Brown for the center.

 
Connecticut River Museum photo by Ally Noel