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Free Botanical Gardens in the US
Short answer: 13 gardens in our directory say on their own website that admission is free. Several others are free for local residents or on set days. Check the garden’s site before you go, since some need a free timed reservation.
Gardens with free admission
Each of these gardens says on its own website that general admission is free. Parking, special events and tours can still cost money.
- Aldridge Botanical Gardens (Hoover, AL): Free admission
- Asheville Botanical Garden (Asheville, NC): Free admission. Parking is also free.
- Balboa Park Gardens (San Diego, CA): Free. The park's own site says admittance to the Park itself is free, as is the Botanical Building and most of the gardens.
- Bartlett Arboretum and Gardens (Stamford, CT): Free (select events require ticket purchase).
- Bellevue Botanical Garden (Bellevue, WA): Free
- Birmingham Botanical Gardens (Birmingham, AL): Free admission
- Knoxville Botanical Garden and Arboretum (Knoxville, TN): Free. The Knoxville Botanical Garden does not charge admission to visitors.
- Lincoln Park Conservatory (Chicago, IL): Free; timed-entry reservations are free and required.
- Mildred E. Mathias Botanical Garden (Los Angeles, CA): Admission to the garden is free and open to the public seven days a week.
- North Carolina Botanical Garden (Chapel Hill, NC): Free, no reservation necessary.
- Regional Parks Botanic Garden (Berkeley, CA): Entrance: no fee.
- Sarah P. Duke Gardens (Durham, NC): Free. Admission is free thanks to members and donors.
- United States Botanic Garden (Washington, DC): Free. No tickets required.
Free for some visitors
Some paid gardens are free for local residents or members of programs. Here are examples from the gardens’ own pages.
- Garfield Park Conservatory (Chicago, IL): Admission fees are waived with proof of Chicago residency.
- San Francisco Botanical Garden (Strybing Arboretum) (San Francisco, CA): Free for San Francisco residents with ID, veterans, Museums for All participants and members.
- Brooklyn Botanic Garden (New York, NY): Children under 12 free; free community tickets each day; pay what you wish on winter weekdays.
- Desert Botanical Garden (Phoenix, AZ): Community Day on the second Tuesday of each month: pay what you can.
Last checked Oct 29, 2026.
Sources
- Aldridge Botanical Gardens: aldridgegardens.com/welcome/visitingthegardens/locationhours.html, checked Oct 29, 2026
- Asheville Botanical Garden: ashevillebotanicalgarden.org/planavisit/, checked Oct 29, 2026
- Balboa Park Gardens: balboapark.org/plan/visitors-center, checked Oct 29, 2026
- Bartlett Arboretum and Gardens: bartlettarboretum.org/plan-a-visit, checked Oct 29, 2026
- Bellevue Botanical Garden: bellevuebotanical.org/admission-hours-directions-parking/, checked Oct 29, 2026
- Birmingham Botanical Gardens: bbgardens.org/, checked Oct 29, 2026
- Knoxville Botanical Garden and Arboretum: www.knoxgarden.org/faqs, checked Oct 29, 2026
- Lincoln Park Conservatory: www.lincolnparkconservancy.org/conservatory-reservations/, checked Oct 29, 2026
- Mildred E. Mathias Botanical Garden: www.botgard.ucla.edu/page/15, checked Oct 29, 2026
- North Carolina Botanical Garden: ncbg.unc.edu/?p=9684, checked Oct 29, 2026
- Regional Parks Botanic Garden: ebparks.org/parks/tilden/botanic-garden, checked Oct 29, 2026
- Sarah P. Duke Gardens: gardens.duke.edu/visit/, checked Oct 29, 2026
- United States Botanic Garden: www.usbg.gov/visit, checked Oct 29, 2026
- Garfield Park Conservatory: garfieldconservatory.org/tickets/, checked Oct 29, 2026
- San Francisco Botanical Garden (Strybing Arboretum): gggp.org/celebrate-the-season/, checked Oct 29, 2026
- Brooklyn Botanic Garden: www.bbg.org/visit/hours, checked Oct 29, 2026
- Desert Botanical Garden: dbg.org/visit/, checked Oct 29, 2026