30+ Awesome Homeschool Field Trip Ideas Kids Will Love ~ The Organized Homeschooler

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Homeschoolers get to take the best field trips. We are not limited to only places that can accommodate massive groups of children, and we can usually work more than 1 or 2 into the annual budget . . . especially because many of these field trip spots are FREE!

I can recommend these homeschool field trip ideas because I have personally taken my kids to many of these places. Many of these homeschool field trip ideas can even accommodate babies, toddlers, and preschoolers.

Field trips are great because there is almost always something for every grade level. Homeschool students of all ages love to go on field trips! The benefits of field trips include:

Visiting new places and gaining real-world experiences
Learning in a hands-on way
Tying academic subjects to real life
Socializing with other homeschool families

Gather your homeschool group or a few friends and make a day of it!

If you can’t get out on a field trip, a virtual field trip is a great idea! You can actually see more in one day because you are not limited by location.

30+ Homeschool Field Trip Ideas

the best field trip ideas for homeschoolers written over a map — Save these field trip ideas!

1. Zoo

Zoos are a favorite spot for many children, making them one of the top homeschool field trip ideas. Kids can observe animals they might not otherwise see in the wild. Kids can learn map reading skills, animal facts, and even a bit of geography as they read the descriptive plaques.

Bring along one of these zoo scavenger hunts to keep everyone focused.

Can’t get to a local zoo? Try a virtual zoo field trip instead!

Check out our field trips to the National Zoo and the Woodland Park Zoo.

2. Aquarium

Aquariums let kids observe aquatic animals and marine life that they couldn’t see otherwise. After all, it is difficult for humans to view aquatic animals in their natural habitats. Kids learn to care about protecting our planet when they see the wide range of animals impacted by their choices.

Check out these aquariums that are all offering free aquarium webcams.

30 awesome homeschool field trips written under an elephant in a museum

3. Farm

Working farms are amazing places for kids to visit. Some local farmers have farm animals, and others focus on growing produce. Our summer with a CSA taught my children so much about life on a farm and where our food comes from. They were able to pick fresh produce right when it was ripe!

They learned that things grow in seasons and that sometimes hard work is involved in getting food to our table. Find a local farm here.

4. Nature Center

Nature centers frequently host kid-friendly educational opportunities. The employees are a phenomenal resource for learning about the natural world. Outdoor field trips are a great way to get some fresh air while also learning about your local environment. This might be the perfect opportunity for a nature hike. I love adding in related books, either before or after, our nature center visits.

5. Historical Site

I highly recommend checking out the historic sites near your home. My kids love history, and I think that is in part due to all of our field trips. We have moved around the country a bit, and every time we move, I search for more historic homeschool field trip ideas. There are field trip spots that focus on American history all around the United States.

Field trips to historic spots allow your children to really get a feel for what people of the past struggled with in their daily lives. Every historic site is a little different, but my family always enjoys seeing historic houses. Be sure to research any special homeschool days! Some offer discounted tickets, free days, or special hands-on learning opportunities.

Check out our field trip to Williamsburg.

6. Factory

Local factories are excellent places to learn about manufacturing and assembly lines. Touring the Seattle Chocolates factory was one of our favorite field trips last year.

You can even tour an Amazon fulfillment center! Factory tours are offered virtually or in person at a select few locations.

7. Planetarium

A planetarium is an excellent spot for a homeschool field trip if you are studying the solar system or constellations. The light displays are amazing. This is one of the best homeschool field trip ideas if you are studying astronomy!

It does get dark right before the show starts, so it might not be the best field trip idea if your child is afraid of the dark.

Be sure to ask around your community, though. You might find smaller planetariums in specialty high schools.

8. Recycling Center

If you have a child who is fascinated with trash trucks, I highly recommend a visit to a recycling center. You can even take a virtual field trip to a recycling center online.

9. Great Wolf Lodge

A water park might not be at the top of your homeschool field trip ideas list, but P.E. totally counts! This is a great place to burn off some extra energy during the months spent inside due to the weather.

Some locations even host homeschool weeks.

10. Fire Station

You know how important I think it is to teach fire safety to kids. Taking a field trip to visit a fire station is an important part of that lesson.

Kids can tour the station, but most importantly, they can see a firefighter wearing all of the gear. That can look kind of scary, and kids have been known to hide from firefighters during rescue attempts.

Seeing a fully dressed firefighter in a safe setting helps prepare them. Here is a great field trip response worksheet to help kids process everything they learned.

This is one of those homeschool field trip ideas that I can really make a difference in terms of safety.

11. Police Station

Police stations are a natural fit for any child learning about community helpers or the criminal justice system. I recommend setting up a field trip with your local police station AND the helicopter unit.

My kids thought the police station was interesting, but they really gained useful information from the helicopter unit tour. These are the officers who respond to situations such as lost children and catastrophic injuries, so they reinforce safety tips, like always wearing a bike helmet when riding on wheels.

12. Grocery Store

Grocery stores provide another piece of the ‘where does my food come from’ puzzle. Kids also learn about the point of sale, bakeries, and delis. Some grocery stores even offer nutrition lessons. I recommend making a phone call to your favorite grocery store and asking if they offer any educational programs or tours.

Print out this grocery scavenger hunt, and kids can find items and compare prices.

13. Pet Store

Pet stores are one of the easiest homeschool field trip ideas if your child loves animals. Many pet stores sell a very limited variety of animals, but they do sell everything needed to care for a pet.

Use this pet scavenger hunt at the pet store to lead a discussion about proper pet care.

14. Art Museum

Even young kids can enjoy art museums if they have the right preparation and their parents have the right expectations.

Plan to keep the visit fairly short if your kids are young or high-energy. We found it worked well to focus on one exhibit each visit until Hannah and Ben were older and had longer attention spans.

Choose 1 or 2 pieces to analyze with this handy guide.

Check out our field trip to the Portland Art Museum.

15. History Museum

History museums make the list of homeschool field trip ideas because they can tie in with history curriculum lessons. These museums come in a range of sizes and cover a plethora of topics.

You might even find small local history museums located in little old towns.

16. Science Museum

Science museums usually contain a wide range of science topics, so you are almost guaranteed to find something that correlates with a lesson. These museums are usually full of hands-on exhibits and experiments to keep little learners interested and engaged.

Be sure to check out the online exhibit guide before you go, so you can see everything you want to see. Here is a list of science centers in the US. Sort it by state to make it a little easier to search. Hopefully, you can find an interesting exhibit near you to add to your homeschool field trip ideas list.

17. Children’s Museum

Children’s museums are a great place for the 3-8 crowd to burn off a little energy while learning a bit, too. Typical exhibits include building with large blocks, water play, light tables, and make-believe. Interactive exhibits are always a hit with kids.

Many children’s museums offer discount nights every so often.

18. Fish Hatchery

Fish hatcheries are perfect if your kids have any interest in fish.

We toured our local fish hatchery as the salmon were returning to spawn and were able to see gorgeous salmon in all stages of life.

My kids care a little more about keeping our streams healthy because they have seen salmon fighting their way back to the hatchery.

19. Pumpkin Patch

Pumpkin patches feel like one of the iconic homeschool field trip ideas. I am partial to pumpkin patches that actually grow pumpkins instead of the fall entertainment centers that seem to be common.

Some pumpkin patches host a homeschool day each year with discounted entrance and educational classes.

20. State Parks

State parks frequently host seminars led by park rangers. Some of these seminars are open to the public, and some are by special request. Check out the state park website for your state and see what is available.

21. National Parks

National parks tend to either have gorgeous scenery or historical sites. Kids can even take part in the Junior Ranger program. Be sure to check out the visitor center.

Many National Park Service visitor centers display exhibits that explain what the children will see in the park. Find a national park near you here.

Check out our field trip to Fort Clatsop.

22. Post Office

Post offices are busy places with lots of moving parts. Schedule a behind-the-scenes tour and see how mail gets from one part of the country to another.

Print out this copy of Post Office I Spy and keep toddlers entertained while their older siblings learn all about the mail process.

23. Military Base Museum

Military bases can be tricky places to visit, so I hesitated to add them to this list of homeschool field trip ideas, but if you have access to a military base museum, I recommend you arrange a visit. The exhibits will be specific to the base. When we were in Barksdale, LA, we saw old bomber planes. The base in Quantico, VA, featured Marine involvement in various wars.

24. State Capitol

Touring your state capitol building is a great way to garner interest in state politics.

Every state capitol follows a different protocol for setting up field trips, so you will need to check with your state officials to find out how to set up a tour.

25. Botanical Garden

Botanical gardens are beautiful, enchanting places. We like to just walk around and enjoy all of the gorgeous plant life. If you have an artist on your hands, be sure to bring a sketchbook.

Here are a few fun nature activities for kids to complete in a botanical garden.

26. Symphony

Attending a symphony or concert is a great way to foster a love for music. Many symphonies perform special concerts for children. They are shorter in length and play more recognizable tunes.

Some even host instrument petting zoos so the kids can get up close and personal with the instruments.

27. Restaurant

A restaurant might seem like a weird addition to a list of homeschool field trip ideas, but they can be great! Gather a few friends and call up a local restaurant to schedule a homeschool field trip.

Restaurant field trips often include a behind-the-scenes tour of the kitchen. You might even be able to get a little snack. Here is a list of restaurants that offer field trips.

28. Movie Theater

My family is a big fan of heading to the movie theater after we finish reading a book.

Read the book, watch the movie, and compare which you liked better. My kids start looking forward to this as soon as they start seeing the new movie trailers.

29. Performing Arts Center

Live performance homeschool field trip ideas include puppetry arts shows, plays, and dances, just to name a few. Kids seem to love watching live performances.

Follow all of the coupon and local mom blog/Facebook pages for your area because they usually have the inside scoop on performance dates and reduced-price tickets.

30. Storytime

Story times are often hosted by libraries or bookstores, and they are perfect for young children. Many times the story times have themes. It is great when you can coordinate the theme with a lesson or unit study, but listening to stories is always educational in its own right.

31. Civil War Battlefields

Civil War battlefields are scattered all throughout the Southeast portion of the United States. Visiting a historic battlefield can be a great addition to a United States history curriculum. Check out Battlefields.org to see if there are any sites near you. If not, try their virtual tours.

32. Governor’s Mansion

Many states allow visitors to the Governor’s Mansion; however, this is definitely a field trip that requires advance planning. The website for each state’s executive mansion typically explains the field trip procedure.

If you live near DC, or will be in town, consider planning a field trip to the White House!

Frequently Asked Questions About Homeschool Field Trips

How do homeschool field trips work?

Every homeschool field trip is different, but generally, they work the same way any family trip works. Choose when you want to go and make reservations if necessary.

You can go on the field trip alone or with multiple families. Sometimes there are discounts available for large groups, so it might be worth a little extra planning work to coordinate.

What are good field trip ideas?

Good field trips are anything that keeps your kids interested and learning. I think the homeschool field trip ideas listed above are great educational experiences.

What is the best homeschool field trip?

The best homeschool field trip is one that:

Is interesting to your family
Is affordable for your family
Is in your area

Every family will have a different opinion about the best field trip, and that is okay. My favorite places have been Colonial Williamsburg and the Seattle Chocolate Company.

Should field trips be educational or fun?

Ideally, a homeschool field trip will be educational and fun. They are a unique learning experience. If a child isn’t having fun, they are likely tuning out anything educational.

What if I don’t live near many field trip locations?

Virtual field trips are a great option if you don’t live near many traditional field trip opportunities. Taking a virtual tour can be even better sometimes because you don’t have to stand in any lines.

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