Updated August 2026 • Curated by NaperKids
Museum trips add up fast for a family — but there are several legitimate ways to visit area museums for free or at a big discount. Below we explain how each program actually works and who qualifies. We do not list specific free dates unless we can verify them, because these programs and calendars change; always confirm on the museum's own calendar before you go.
Many Chicago-area public libraries participate in the Museum Adventure Pass program, which lets cardholders reserve free or discounted admission to dozens of area museums. Availability is limited and reserved on a first-come basis, so check your library's pass page for what is offered and how many passes are left this week.
Several larger museums and zoos offer free or reduced admission to Illinois residents on select days (often weekdays in the off-season). The specific dates change every year, so we do not list them here — check the individual museum's calendar. The DuPage Children's Museum in downtown Naperville also periodically offers reduced-admission times; see their calendar for current offers.
Bank of America and Merrill cardholders get free general admission to hundreds of museums on the first full weekend of each month through the Museums on Us program — just show your card and a photo ID. Several Chicago-area museums participate; confirm the current list on the program page.
Naperville-area museums in our directory are listed below.
Hidden gem. Unique museum with Chinese jade carvings, animal dioramas, mineral specimens, gemstones, interactive geological exhibits. Fully accessible...
Under 14 always free. Illinois residents get free admission on winter weekdays 11am-close through end of Feb 2026. Also free for Chicago teens under 1...
500-acre park. Tank Park (kids can climb tanks!), playground, gardens, walking trails, water features, picnic grounds. McCormick Museum and First Divi...
Hidden gem. FREE admission. 13,000-year-old woolly mammoth skeleton, microscopes, spotting scopes, animal tracks. Nature backpacks available for trail...
Living history museum recreating pioneer life through educational demonstrations and hands-on fun. Admission includes unlimited rides on train, hay wa...
Includes Storytime at the Museum, IKEA Storytime, bilingual storytime, cultural crafts, and LEGO Club (grades 1-5). Free to all but registration requi...
Interactive exhibits in historic fire station, designed to educate kids about fire safety.
Free admission, tours by appointment Wed-Sat 10am-4pm. Kids Time is a free family event for play and museum exploration. Kids Train Club also availabl...
Worth the drive. Check chicagochildrensmuseum.org for all 2026 free days.
Check sheddaquarium.org for complete 2026 free day calendar.
Free zoo established 1915 with 100+ animals from 41 species. Bald eagles, wolves, mountain lions, otters, reptile house. Free splash pad and playgroun...
13-acre outdoor history museum with interactive exhibits, guided tours, seasonal events, Early Learning Playscape, splash pad, and summer camps. Admis...
Award-winning 13-acre outdoor history museum with 31 historical structures from the 1830s. Offers Sensory Friendly Saturdays with hands-on activities ...
YS Play Area with forts, mini climbing wall, games, LiteZilla. Take & Make crafts. Explore More Illinois (free museum/attraction passes for cardholder...
Interactive exhibits in math, science, and art designed for young minds. Features bubble station, mini river for water play, and hands-on learning act...
Birthday parties where guests explore, create, build, wonder, discover, think, and play. Educational and hands-on party experience at the museum.
Offers Adaptive Play Time and Sensory Friendly Saturday programs with modified environments for children with disabilities, autism, and sensory proces...
Hands-on adventure where kids explore materials, chase curiosity, and experiment. Part of museum summer programming.
Spring Break week activities in Billy Graham Center Museum, Sports & Rec Complex, Wade Center. Story time, scavenger hunts, open gym, open pool, movie...
Step back in time to experience 1890s DuPage County farm life. Restored farmstead with historically-costumed interpreters. Hands-on farm activities fo...
Related events happening in the Naperville area
Three common ways: reserve a Museum Adventure Pass through your public library, visit on an Illinois resident or museum free day (dates vary by museum and year), or use the Museums on Us program if you hold a Bank of America or Merrill card, which gives free admission on the first full weekend of each month.
The DuPage Children's Museum in downtown Naperville periodically offers reduced-admission times and special programs. The specifics change, so check the museum's own calendar for current offers rather than relying on a fixed schedule.
The pass itself is free to reserve with a participating library card, and it provides free or discounted admission depending on the museum. Passes are limited and go quickly, so reserve early through your library's Museum Adventure Pass page.
Subscribe to "This Week in Naperville" — a free weekly email with all upcoming kids events.
Subscribe Free