With the frequency of moves, military families are both the local and the tourist simultaneously. We’ve gathered the best ways to save money with military discounts to see more throughout the Midwest.
From A Christmas Story House to touring the Packers’ stadium, there is a lot to see and explore and we’ve collected it all.
Editor’s note: We recommend contacting the destination or visiting their website to ensure you have the most up-to-date operating hours, rules, and regulations.
Don’t forget to stop by your local base travel office and visit ITT, LTO, or MWR for local discount tickets. They often have tickets available for purchase and can provide a list of regional discounts.
Illinois
The 360 Chicago offers $10 admission for military personnel with valid military ID.
The Adler Planetarium offers up to 5 free museum passes with identification.
The American Blues Theater offers discounted admission to military personnel when purchasing in person at the ticket office and via the phone. There is a code to use online, call the box office to confirm it.
The Brookfield Zoo offers free admission to active duty, reservists, and retired military members.
The Chicago Water Taxi offers free rides to active duty military in uniform or with valid ID.
The Chicago White Sox offers a military discount on tickets and free tickets for the active-duty military member on certain games.
The Escape Game in Chicago offers 15% off games to active military with ID.
The Field Museum offers complimentary admission to active military personnel with ID.
The John G. Shedd Aquarium offers free general admission to active duty U.S. military personnel.
The Lincoln Park Zoo and National Museum of Mexican Art are free to all.
The Museum of Science and Industry offers free admission to active-duty military with ID.
The Pritzker Military Museum and Library offers free admission to all active-duty military with ID.
The Shedd Aquarium has historically offered discounted admission to the aquarium in addition to the Abbott Oceanarium and Wild Reef.
The Willis Tower Skydeck is free for active-duty military with ID.
Indiana
When planning a visit to The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis, the military discount of 10% off tickets is offered for in-person purchases. Check online before arrival as they oftentimes offer higher discounts online.
Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo offers free admission to active-duty military, retired military, Gold Star families, National Guard members, reservists, and their immediate families on their military appreciation day.
Iowa
The Blank Park Zoo offers $10 off Zoo membership to active duty military with ID.
The Buffalo Bill Center of the West offers free admission to active military and their families.
The Figge Art Museum offers free admission to all active-duty military, spouses, and family.
The John Deere Tractor and Engine Museum is free for all.
The Reiman Gardens offers free admission to active-duty military and one guest with a valid military ID.
Kansas
Discounted memberships are offered to military families to the Botanica Witchita.
Tours of Children’s Mercy Park are discounted to military
Discounted admission is offered to all active-duty military to the Kansas Speedway.
The Sedgwick County Zoo historically offers complimentary admission to military personnel and their families on Veteran’s Day.
Michigan
Crystal Mountain offers a discounted military lift tickets except during holiday periods.
The Frederick Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park offers military discounts on memberships.
The Gerald R. Ford Museum of Library offers discounted adult admission to military service members.
The members of the U.S. military are offered free admission year-round to the Henry Ford Museum of America.
Michigan’s Adventure offers free admission to service members on Tribute to Armed Forces days.
The R.E. Olds Transportation Museum offers a $3 discount off adult general admission to military.
SeaLife Michigan and Legoland Discovery Center offer $7 off general admission to individuals with military ID.
Minnesota
Mall of America offers military discounts year-round, inquire at Guest Services for an updated list. Within the mall, Nickelodeon Universe offers $10 off an all-day unlimited ride wristband, 20% off Nickelodeon Universe food locations, 15% Caribou Coffee, and 25% off items in the Nickelodeon Shop, Toy Store+Gear. SeaLife at the Mall offers discounted admission to the aquarium.
Admission to the Minneapolis Institute of Art is free for all.
The Minneapolis Sculpture Garden offers a 50% discount off admission for adults.
The Science Museum of Minnesota offers a military discount, while not advertised, just ask!
Missouri
Check out Big Cedar Lodge in September for their Salute to Heroes deals on lodging and activities like water activities or Bass Pro Shop Shooting Academy.
Call the box office at Dolly Parton’s Stampede Dinner Attraction to get a military discount.
The Grand Country Resort offers a military discount, seasonally dependent.
The Hollywood Wax Museum offers a military discount at the ticket booth, usually about $2-$3 off, depending on the season.
Both Silver Dollar City Amusement Park and White Water Park offer discounts on one-day and two-day tickets historically. In addition, dependent military children up to age 11 get a complimentary two-day ticket when accompanied by a parent purchasing a two-day military ticket.
The St. Louis Zoo is free for all, with some fees for attractions.
Call or reserve tickets for the Titanic Museum in Branson, and get a military discount for everyone in the military family.
The Johnny Morris’ Wonders of Wildlife National Museum and Aquarium offers $2 off admission to active duty military, veterans, and dependents at the ticket counters.
The World War I Museum offers $4 off adult admission to active duty and veterans.
Nebraska
The Durham Museum offers a discounted membership pass to an active or retired military family with a military ID.
Admission to the U-Pick and Nature Trail is discounted for active duty and retired military at the Kimmel Orchard.
The Lincoln Children’s Zoo offers a military discount when tickets are purchased over the phone and military ID is shown at the visit.
The Lee G. Simmons Conservation Park and Wildlife Safari offers $1 off adult admission to military adults, military children three and up, and military seniors. Children two and under are free.
Active Duty military members are free with ID to the Speedway Motors Museum of American Speed with discounted admission for veterans.
The Omaha Zoo offers a military discount on daily tickets and annual memberships.
North Dakota
Bonanzaville USA is a 12-acre recreation of 1800s bonanza farms and offers free admission to active-duty military.
The National Buffalo Museum offers $2 off adult admission to active duty military.
Admission is always free to the North Dakota Heritage Center and State Museum.
Admission is free for all to the Plains Art Museum.
Ohio
Oh, Fudge! Visit the A Christmas Story House and active duty and retired military save 20% on general admission.
The Cedar Point Amusement Park offers a discounted military ticket to active and retired military personnel and their family members.
The Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden offers $3 off adult admission and $2 off child admission to military members. Historically, the zoo has hosted military days on Memorial Day, July 4th, and Veteran’s Day where active duty and retired military received discounted admission.
The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium offers active and non-active duty military personnel a $2 discount on up to 6 tickets.
The Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens offer 10% off any membership category to military members.
The Legoland Discovery Center in Columbus offers $5 off standard admission for up to 6 people including the service member.
Admission to the National Museum of the Air Force in Dayton is always free.
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland offers $3 off adult admission to active duty military.
Admission to the Toledo Museum of Art is always free.
South Dakota
Admission is free for all to the Museum of Geology.
The Great Plains Zoo & Delbridge Museum of Natural History offers $1 off admission for adult admission.
The Journey Museum offers $2 off adult admission to military.
The Mammoth Site offers discounted admission to active and retired military.
The Old Courthouse Museum and Pettigrew Home and Museum offer free admission to all.
Wisconsin
The Chazen Museum of Art at the University of Wisconsin is free for all.
Discovery World in Milwaukee offers $6 off adult admission with a military with ID.
The Door County Maritime Museum offers free admission to active military and up to 5 family members, and even include a free tugboat tour.
The EAA Aviation Museum in Oshkosh offers a $2 discount on adult admission to active duty military, veterans, and their spouses.
Touring the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame and Stadium with discounted admission for military with ID.
The Harley-Davidson Museum offers free admission for the active-duty military member or veteran, one additional adult, and up to four children under the age of 18 on Veteran’s Day.
The Milwaukee Art Museum offers discounted adult admission to military.
The Milwaukee Public Museum offers $4 off adult admission to military members with ID.
Admission to the National Mustard Museum is always free.
Historically, the NEW Zoo and Adventure Park has offered free zoo admission to all active-duty military and veterans and their families on Veteran’s Day.
Visit Pabst Mansion and military receive $2 off adult admission with military ID.
Related: Exploring the Pacific Northwest? Check out our top destinations.
Throughout the Midwest
A favorite mid-western eatery Culver’s has a reported military discount by several military families, but cannot be confirmed online, and haven’t ever asked to receive it in person.
The America the Beautiful Military pass provides free admission for military families to see and explore the National Parks across the 50 states. Check out Scotts Bluff in Nebraska that we all know from Oregon Trail or Lincoln Home National Historic Site all while using your pass for free entry.
Check out the Blue Star Museums program, a collaboration between the National Endowment for the Arts and Blue Star Families that extends free admission to active duty military and their families to participating museums from Armed Forces Day to Labor Day. Check the list to see the current offerings.
If skiing across the Midwest is a goal of yours, check out the Epic Pass, a discounted ski pass accepted at various ski lodges and resorts across the Midwest.
This is by no means a comprehensive list of all the discounts on offer for the above states in the Midwest. If there is one that we missed, let us know so we can add it!
