Visiting museums can get expensive, especially for families. However, many Denver area museums and attractions offer FREE admission every month — some even offer special activities on those days. The free days are funded, in part, by taxes collected through the Science and Cultural Facilities District and/or donations from generous sponsors. Because free days are so popular, you are wise to reserve tickets in advance if the attraction has a timed-entry policy.
While admission is FREE, special exhibitions or other add-on activities may incur a fee. Dates and times may change, so always double-check before you visit.
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Free Museum Days 2026
Denver Botanic Gardens at Chatfield
Clyfford Still Museum
April 26, June 14, July 26, September 19, November 7.
Pay-What-You-Wish Days: January 2, February 6, March 6, April 3, May 1, June 5, July 3, August 7, September 4, October 2, November 6, December 4. 1250 Bannock St., Denver, 720-354-4880.
Colorado Railroad Museum
TBA. 17155 W. 44th Ave., Golden, 303-279-4591.
Denver Art Museum
January 13, February 10, March 10, April 26, May 12, June 9, July 14, August 1, September 12, October 13, November 7, December 8. General admission is FREE for kids 18 and younger every day. 100 W. 14th Ave. Pkwy., Denver, 720-913-0130.
Denver Botanic Gardens at York Street
January 19, February 12, March 9, April 22, June 9, July 1, August 25, November 27. Advanced online registration is required. Tickets will be available three months at a time (on a rolling basis) and the tickets will be released on the 1st of the month. Go here to find the link for tickets. 1007 York St., Denver, 720-865-3500.
Denver Botanic Gardens Chatfield Farms
January 19, February 12, March 9, April 22, June 9, July 1, August 25, November 27. Advanced online registration is required. Tickets will be available three months at a time (on a rolling basis) and the tickets will be released on the 1st of the month. Go here to find the link for tickets. 8500 W. Deer Creek Canyon Rd., Littleton, 720-865-3500.
Denver Museum of Nature & Science
January 11, February 1, February 9, March 6 (free only from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.), April 13 & 26, June 19, August 24, September 1 (4 p.m. to 9 p.m.), October 11, November 7 (free only from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.) and November 16. Check here for more information on programming. (Note: FREE admission does not include IMAX or Planetarium.) 2001 Colorado Blvd., Denver, 303-370-6000.
Denver Zoo
January 9 & 25, February 22, April 19, November 11, 14 & 22. The Zoo provides a limited number of tickets for each Free Day, using a first-come, first-served online lottery system. If you want to visit on a free day, you must grab your tickets online when they are released. Tickets are typically posted 14 days before each Free Day. Go here for more Free Days info. 2900 E. 23rd Ave., Denver, 720-337-1400.
Four Mile Historic Park
January 23, February 27, March 27, April 24, May TBA, June 26, July 24, August 28, September 25, October 23, November 20, December 18. Free days are the fourth Friday of each month (but this sometimes changes so check first on the Park’s website). 715 S. Forest St., Denver, 720-865-0800.
Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA) Denver
January 3, February 7, March 7, April 4, May 2, June 6, July TBA, August 1, September 5, October 3, November 7, December 5. Admission is 1¢ for Colorado residents on the first Saturday of each month. 1485 Delgany St., Denver, 303-298-7554.
Plains Conservation Center
January 15, February 19, March 21, June 11, July 11, August 20, November 14, December 17. Advance registration is not required. Go here to check for free day hours. 21901 E. Hampden Ave., Aurora, 303-326-8380.
In addition, smaller museums, including strictly local ones, tend to have more free days (some are always free):
Broomfield Veterans Museum is FREE Tuesday & Thursday (10 a.m. to 2 p.m.) and Saturday (9 a.m. to 3 p.m.). 12 Garden Center, Broomfield, 303-460-6801.
Golden History Museum is open and FREE Wednesday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., 923 10th St., 303-278-3557.
Hudson Gardens is FREE every day. Hours vary by season. 6115 S. Santa Fe Dr., Littleton, 303-797-8565.
Longmont Museum and Cultural Center is FREE on the second Saturday of each month. 400 Quail Rd., Longmont, 303-651-8374.
Mines Museum of Earth Science features minerals, fossils, gemstones, meteorites and historic mining artifacts. Always FREE. General Research Lab (GRL) Building, 1310 Maple St., Golden, 303-273-3815.
Nederland Mining Museum. Celebrates hard-rock mining in Boulder County in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. FREE. Open from early June through late October. 200 N. Bridge St. (at the traffic circle), Nederland.
University of Colorado Museum of Natural History is open to the public and FREE seven days a week. Donations are appreciated. 15th and Broadway, Boulder, 303-492-6892.
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