Free Admission to Museums in Orange County

Get out and explore! with this list of museums you almost have no excuse as they all offer a way to visit them for free. From planes, trains and automobiles and art from around the world there is surely something for everyone on this list. Be sure to verify Free days and check out what restrictions apply.

The Bowers Museum Celebrates world cultures through their arts and enriches lives through the world's finest arts and cultures. Santa Ana residence get in free on the first Sunday of the month for Target Free Sundays and is free every Sunday for Santa Ana residents. Visit them HERE

Non Santa Ana residence Children Under 12 FREE GA
(Must be accompanied by paying adult)

2002 N. MAIN STREET
SANTA ANA, CA 92706

Tuesday - Sunday
10:00 am - 4:00 pm

Discovery Science Center  Created to inspire and educate young minds through
engaging science based programs and exhibits. Offering free admission for the following days:

1. First Tuesday of every month is Santa Ana Free Day. Admission is free to current residents of Santa Ana.
2. First Sunday of every month is Bank of America cardholder day as part of the Museums On Us program.

Credentialed teachers get free general admission every day! Simply bring valid credentials (ID/badge or pay stub and valid ID) with you to verify current teacher status. Identification must have current year listed. Benefits do not apply to school visits or sleepovers. More info HERE

2500 N. Main Street
Santa Ana, CA 92705

Muzeo offers FREE admission to their Carnegie Gallery exhibitions, and admission fees vary with each Muzeo Main Gallery exhibit. Please see their list of current and upcoming exhibitions for individual pricing in their Main Gallery. Visit them HERE

241 S. Anaheim Blvd.
Anaheim, CA 92805

Wednesday — Sunday: 10am to 4pm
Monday and Tuesday: Closed

Hilbert Museum Free admission and free parking: includes oils, watercolors, sketches and lithographs of urban and industrial scenes, coastal views, farms, ranches and landscapes of everyday life – is a significant repository of images of the 20th century by California artists, celebrating the unique artistic and cultural development of the Golden State. Visit them HERE

Chapman University
167 N. Atchison Street
Orange, CA 92866

Phone:  714-516-5880  Email: hilbertmuseum@chapman.edu

Tuesday – Saturday, 11am – 5pm
Sunday and Monday, Closed

The Irvine Museum Collection At The University of California, Irvine Their collection is dedicated to the assemblage, display, and study of California Impressionism, a regional variety of the larger Impressionist movement that flourished between 1890 and 1930. Visit them HERE

18881 Von Karman Avenue, Ste. 100 Irvine, CA 92612 (directions)

Free admission & Parking validation available for museum guests.

Tuesday – Saturday. 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.

LYON AIR MUSEUM: Lyon Air Museum has on exhibit some of the rarest operational aircraft and vehicles in the world. Docent led tours take visitors for a walk through history as they stroll among the machines and artifacts that helped define the 20th century. This online section highlights the main exhibits at Lyon Air Museum. Visit them HERE

19300 Ike Jones Road
Santa Ana, CA 92707
Phone: 714-210-4585

Under 5: Free

HOURS OF OPERATION 10 AM to 4 PM, every day

The Marconi Automotive Museum is all about style, and class, with a touch of adrenaline. View the Marconi Automotive Museum’s car collection with over 75 rare and exotic vehicles. The museum is opened for tours Monday through Friday from 9am to 4:30pm except on days when there is a private event. This is a self-guided tour ranging from 30 minutes to an hour and a half. Please see the calendar for museum tour availability. Not open to the public on weekends. Visit them HERE

$5 suggested donation per person. Kids 12 and under are FREE.

1302 Industrial Drive  Tustin, CA 92780

Fullerton Train Museum The railcar collection consists of three historically significant cabooses, representing the three railroads that served Orange County in its early days, and two 1940s Union Pacific lounge cars in period décorThe museum is open the 1st and 3rd Saturdays of each month. Admission is FREE. Visit them HERE

Fullerton Train Museum
200 East Santa Fe Avenue
Fullerton, CA 92832

Have a favorite place that offers free admission that I missed on this list? I'd love to add it so just leave a comment below with any leads you have!