Go ahead and bookmark this one. Museums are a go-to for getting kids out of the house, keeping them learning, and helping them burn off some energy along the way!
Tuesdays
Houston Museum of Natural Science
Free admission: Tuesdays, 5–8 PM (permanent exhibits only)
Lone Star Flight Museum
Free admission: Every Tuesday (advance reservation required)
Houston Zoo
Free admission: First Tuesday of each month (reservation required)
Thursdays (Most Popular Free Day)
Museum of Fine Arts, Houston
Free admission: Thursdays, 11 AM–9 PM (permanent collections)
Children’s Museum Houston
Free admission: Thursdays, 5–8 PM
The Health Museum
Free admission: Thursdays, afternoon hours (typically 2–7 PM)
Asia Society Texas Center
Free admission: Thursdays, 12
Holocaust Museum Houston
Free admission: Thursdays, 2–5 PM
Always Free Museums
The Menil Collection
Contemporary Arts Museum Houston
Rothko Chapel
Lawndale Art Center
Houston Museum of African American Culture
Bonus: Free Museum Weekends
If you have a Bank of America card, you can take advantage of their “Museums on Us” program. Cardholders receive free admission on the first full weekend of each month at participating museums.
Before You Go
Many free days require advance reservations. Popular spots, especially Children’s Museum Houston and the Houston Zoo, fill up quickly. Hours can change seasonally, so it’s always worth double-checking before heading out.