Discounted Admission

Providing opportunities for all to affordably visit.

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The Morton Arboretum is committed to providing opportunities for visitors to affordably access 1,700 acres of trees and nature.

Discounted admission is offered every Wednesday:

  • Adults ages 18 to 64: $12
  • Seniors ages 65+: $11
  • Children ages 2 to 17: $9

The Arboretum also offers free admission on select holidays, including Thanksgiving and Christmas day.

Additional discount admission programs are:

Museums for All

The Morton Arboretum partners with the Museums for All program to offer an affordable admission option.

The Museums for All program allows Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cardholders to obtain discount admission at participating institutions including The Morton Arboretum.

  • Online: Museums for All guests may purchase general admission tickets online by using the Arboretum’s website. First choose the date of your visit, then the number of tickets under Museums for All. A credit or debit card is required for online ticket purchases.
  • Email: Museums for All guests may email tickets@mortonarb.org with their desired date and the number of tickets wanted, as well as a phone number so a staff member can reach out to finalize the order. Advance notice is encouraged. Emails are returned between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. seven days a week.
  • Phone: Guests may also call 630-725-2066 in advance to request this ticket type. Advance notice is encouraged. Phone hours are 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. seven days a week.

Guests will show both their EBT card and their Arboretum admission tickets at the gatehouse for entry. Since peak days may sell out, advance planning is recommended.

Discount Learning Opportunities

A limited number of partial education scholarships are now available for participants eligible for the Museums for All program or anyone who might otherwise not be able to attend a learning course or program at the Arboretum. To request a scholarship, please email the Arboretum Registrar’s Office at least three business days before the program begins.

Frequently Asked Questions about the Museums for All Program

  • Museums for All is a cooperative initiative between the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and the Association of Children’s Museums (ACM) to encourage increased and regular museum attendance by low-income and underserved families. The program launched at the Arboretum on January 1, 2016.

  • Through the Arboretum’s participation in the Museums for All program, Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cardholders may obtain $1 timed-entry passes (up to eight passes) in advance of their visits:

    • Online: Guests may reserve their tickets online by visiting the Arboretum’s ticketing site. First choose the date and time of your visit, then the number of tickets under Museums for All. A credit or debit card is required for ticket purchases.
    • Email: Guests may email tickets@mortonarb.org with their desired date, time, and the number of tickets, as well as a phone number so a staff member can reach out to finalize the order. Advance notice is encouraged. Emails are returned between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. seven days a week.
    • Phone: Guests may also call 630-725-2066 in advance to request this ticket type. Advance notice is encouraged. Phone hours are 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. seven days a week.

    Guests will show their EBT card and timed-entry pass at the gatehouse for entry. It is important to note that peak times may sell out, advance planning is recommended.

  • Admission through Museums for All includes access to the Arboretum’s 1,700 acres, including our award-winning four-acre Children’s Garden, with engaging and interactive spaces and activities designed to foster a love of trees and the outdoors. Visitors can also enjoy hiking, biking, and select special events and festivals year-round.

    Illumination, ticketed events, tram tours, bicycle/ski rentals, and discounts at The Arboretum Store or Ginkgo Restaurant purchases are not included in Museums for All admission program.

  • The Museums for All admission rate to The Morton Arboretum is available every day during current hours of operation. The Museums for All program does not apply to Special Events or Illumination: Tree Lights at The Morton Arboretum. Call us at 630-968-0074 for additional details. A complete list of building hours and holiday closures is available here. All hours are weather permitting, and admission is not refundable.

  • The Morton Arboretum feels strongly that everyone should have access to nature, and we are always looking for ways to engage everyone to be a champion of trees. Partnering with Museums for All allows us to reach a wider audience–to inspire even more people to love trees and advocate for a greener, healthier, and more beautiful world.

Reciprocal Admission Programs

The Morton Arboretum offers complimentary admission through the American Horticultural Society’s Reciprocal Admissions Program (RAP).

Members of reciprocal gardens are eligible for up to two free general admission tickets for each visit. Reciprocal admission requires that general admission tickets be purchased online, and a request for a refund be made at the Visitor Center information desk during open hours on the day of your visit with valid membership card from the home garden.

If you have questions, please email tickets@mortonarb.org or call 630-725-2066 between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.

Check to see if your garden membership is part of the program. Reciprocal benefits do not extend to special event tickets

Military Personnel

Active Duty

The Arboretum provides free admission for active-duty military members and their families by presenting a valid military or military family ID at the gatehouse.

Veteran’s Day

Veterans and those who accompany them to The Morton Arboretum in the same vehicle do not need to purchase general admission tickets and will be admitted free of charge on Veteran’s Day. A day spent at the Arboretum is a great way to celebrate being together, find moments of peace in nature, and share a sense of the beauty of our country.

Museums on Us

The Morton Arboretum partner with Bank of America’s Museums on Us program.

At this time, Bank of America cardholders may obtain free passes only on the first weekend of the month by purchasing tickets online, then bringing your receipt to the Visitor Services desk in the Visitor Center during open hours on the day of your visit for a refund. If you have questions, please email tickets@mortonarb.org or call 630-725-2066 between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.