Discounts and Benefits
Members of The Morton Arboretum enjoy a variety of daily discounts and benefits throughout the year. Members always receive the lowest pricing for ticketed Arboretum events. They also get early access to special event tickets such as the Easter Brunch, Illumination, and Summer Science Camps before tickets are available to the general public.
Daily Admissions Benefit
Members get free daily admission, including free parking and the use of electric car charging stations. In addition, members have exclusive access to the Arboretum from 7:00 to 9:00 a.m. daily and early entry to the Children’s Garden on Fridays at 9:00 a.m.
Discounted Add-On Admission
Members get special $10 per person add-on admission for guests, up to the number included in their member level benefits, for guests arriving in the same car or in the car immediately behind them.
Save at The Arboretum Store
Members get a 10% discount every day in The Arboretum Store, as well as additional discounts during Member Appreciation Month. Members at the levels of Tree Advocate, Thornhill Society, and President’s Council enjoy two Double Discount Days a year.
With more than 2,000 nature-inspired books for adults and children, as well as jewelry, art, home decor, apparel, and accessories, The Arboretum Store offers you the rare chance to give a loved one the precious gift of nature.
Frequent Visitor Rewards Program
Earn points toward a free small drink or pastry with every visit through the Arboretum’s Frequent Visitor Rewards program (FVR).
Simply show your digital or physical membership card when you arrive at the gatehouse to have your digital Frequent Visitor Rewards points recorded. One point is available per membership household per day.
Points may be redeemed immediately at the Member Services Desk on the same visit they are earned, even if the updated balance is not yet reflected on the digital membership card. Special events, programs, camps, field trips, and volunteer admissions are not eligible for Frequent Visitor Rewards point stamps.
Acorn Express Tram Tours
Members get a $2 discount on tram tour tickets. Tours are available daily late April through mid-November, weather permitting. To get an overview of the entire Arboretum without driving, hop aboard the Acorn Express for a shaded open-air tram tour that departs near Arbor Court. The driver will explain what you see as you pass. Purchase discounted tickets the day of your visit in the Visitor Center.
Enjoy Early Ticket Releases and Discounts on Special Events
Members get access before the general public and the best ticket prices at all times for special events such as Easter Brunch, Illumination, and Supper with St. Nick. They also get discounts on popular offerings such as Arbor Evenings concerts and the Cider and Ale Festival. Watch your email or check this website regularly for the latest events and benefits.
One-of-a-Kind Seasonal Experiences
Members can get early access and save on one-of-a-kind events at The Morton Arboretum like the annual holiday light show Illumination. Members get early access and the best price on all Illumination tickets.
Throughout the month of October, the Arboretum holds the Fall Color Festival, celebrating the gorgeous colors and mild temps of the Arboretum. Members can visit during the Fall Color Festival without purchasing general admission tickets and can secure add-on admission for those visiting with them.
Summer Science Camps
Members and donors have the opportunity to register for the Arboretum’s popular Summer Science Camps before registration is opened to the public, as well as a discount on registration fees. Register early, as many of the weekly camps sell out quickly.
Arboretum Classes and Wellness Programs
Members receive a 15% discount on all Arboretum classes and wellness programs and get early access to registration on many programs. Watch for member-exclusive offers throughout the year.
Reciprocal Admissions
Your Arboretum membership provides you with free or discounted admission at more than 380 arboreta and botanical gardens across North America through the American Horticulture Society’s Garden Network.
Other Discounts
On special Dog Admission Days and during Tails on the Trails events, members save on dog admission tickets for their leashed, furry friends.
Save on bike rentals when available. During the winter season, save on snowshoe and cross-country ski rentals.
Receive a discount on Children’s Garden rentals and photography permits.
Events for Members
Members enjoy the benefit of exclusive and early-access events throughout the year. Watch your email for information or check the Events webpage for updates.
Member Trail Mixers
Whether you’re new to the Arboretum or have visited many times before, the free Member Trail Mixers are a great way to connect with fellow members and explore its trails.
Temperate Asia Collection Member Trail Mixer
On Saturday, May 16, 2026, the Temperate Asia Collection Member Trail Mixer invites Arboretum members to explore the newly renovated trails and interpretation signs, designed to create a more immersive experience within this significant collection.
February Is Member Appreciation Month
Throughout the month of February, the Arboretum celebrates its members through Member Appreciation Month. Special programs and offers are available throughout the month. Keep an eye on your email messages for information on exclusive offers.
Events Just for Members
Throughout the year, The Morton Arboretum thanks its members with a variety of exclusive member-only events for all ages. Watch your email and check the Events webpage for details.
Here are a few upcoming events to put on your calendar:
Wednesday, April 22: At the annual Arbor Day Plant Sale, members at the levels of Tree Advocate and above have the first opportunity to shop at the Plant Sale Donor Preview event. All Arboretum members receive early access to purchase tickets and get discounts at the sale, Thursday, April 23, through Saturday, April 25.
Perennial Partner Recognition Week
Those who have been members for 10 consecutive years or more are treated to a week of surprises and special activities June 7–12, 2026. Watch your email and check the Perennial Partner Recognition Week webpage closer to the date for details.
Arboretum Classes and Wellness Programs
Members receive a 15% discount on all Arboretum classes and wellness programs and get early access to registration on many programs such as Summer Science Camps. Also watch for special member exclusive offers throughout the year.
Ways to Explore the Arboretum
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What you see will be different every time you visit, since the living trees and plants change throughout the year. There is variety in the Arboretum, as different parts of the grounds are used for different purposes. Near the Visitor Center you will find more formal, carefully tended gardens and other areas for guest enjoyment. The tree collection areas are arranged to showcase special groupings of trees. The natural areas, such as the woodlands and prairies, are deliberately less tended, with fallen leaves carpeting the ground and dead trees left where they fall to provide wildlife habitat.
What to See and Do in the Central Area
There are many things to do within walking distance of the main parking lot and Visitor Center. This central area provides the most accessible activities and includes the Ginkgo Restaurant and Café, accessible restrooms, The Arboretum Store, the Information and Membership desks, and indoor and outdoor seating areas. Nearby are the Children’s Garden, the Maze Garden, the Meadow Lake Trail, The Grand Garden, and the Ground Cover Garden.
When you are ready to explore beyond the central area, head out for a trail hike, or drive or bike the scenic one-way Main Route road that circles the entire Arboretum. You can stop at smaller parking areas and access miles of tranquil, well-tended walking trails through woods, prairies, and collections of magnificent trees. A map and guide, also available in printed form at the Visitor Center, will help you plan your visit.
For answers to many questions about visiting the Arboretum, see the FAQ.
Self-Guided Hikes
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Many visitors to The Morton Arboretum enjoy starting at the Visitor Center and walking through The Grand Garden before heading to the fully ADA-accessible Conifer Trail, which loops back to Meadow Lake. A stroll around the lake then brings you back to the Visitor Center. The Hiking Map, also available in printed form at the Visitor Center, shows the trails.
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There are many options for longer walks at the Arboretum. If you start at the Visitor Center, follow the Meadow Lake Trail along the lake’s shore. You will find the connection to the numbered Mail Loop Trails on the other side of the lake. Cross the road and head up the short hill, where you can choose between forks. If you go straight ahead, you can walk a mile or two into the East Woods, then either head back along the same trail or pick up another Main Loop trail that returns to the Visitor Center.
You can also farther into the East Side and park in any of the areas from parking lot P-8 to parking lot P-13 to start a walk in the woods.
On the West Side, park next to the Thornhill Shelter at parking area P-21 and walk toward the Thornhill Education Center. Take a quick detour through the Fragrance Garden on your right before starting your walk down historic Joy Path, Arboretum founder Joy Morton’s favorite place to stroll. The paved trail leads down a slope. When you come to a crossroads along the path, take a right toward Lake Marmo or continue straight toward the DuPage River. Follow the Main Loop trail signs for directions.
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Many visitors enjoy exploring both the East and West Sides for longer hikes. One option is to park next to the Thornhill Shelter at parking area P-21, where there are restrooms. Then follow the Joy Path next to the Thornhill Education Center and continue straight, across the DuPage River, then go to the left at parking area P-33 toward the Route 53 underpass to the Visitor Center. Walk through the Gerard T. Donnelly Grand Garden to pick up the Conifer Trail. Continue straight on the trail to catch the Woodland Trail toward the East Woods. The walk from Thornhill to the far end of the East Woods is approximately 3 miles one way.
Member Scavenger Hunt
Members can pick up a seasonal scavenger hunt activity sheet at the Member Services Desk inside the Visitor Center.
This fun scavenger hunt features things to do in all seasons at the Arboretum, and takes you from the East Woods all the way to the Schulenberg Prairie on the Arboretum’s West Side.
Stop by the Visitor Center to pick up a scavenger hunt and start exploring!
Save on Acorn Express Tram Tours
Members get a $2 discount on tickets for the Acorn Express Tram Tours, available daily from late April through mid-November, weather permitting. Tickets must be purchased onsite at the Visitor Center on the day of your visit.
Experience Something New Each Time You Visit
Every day is different at The Morton Arboretum, as the weather changes, blooms come and go, leaves change color, birds migrate, and woodland creatures go through their yearly life cycles.
A variety of special events and classes are offered in every month of the year, and members often receive discounts on or early opportunities to sign up.
Family Fun
The Morton Arboretum’s 1,700 acres offer an immersive experience where families with children of all ages can discover the wonders of nature, explore kid-friendly trails, enjoy colorful gardens, splash and play in the 4-acre Children’s Garden, and participate in accessible and fun activities that engage all senses.
See our Visiting with Children guide for more information, including food options, restrooms and changing areas, play spaces, what to bring, and accessibility services.
Enjoy the Children’s Garden Anytime
Far more than just a playground, the Children’s Garden is a 4-acre outdoor play space that encourages children to safely romp, climb, splash, see new things, and wonder about trees and nature.
There are ponds, streams, things to fiddle with and climb on, and plenty of places for grownups to sit while children play. Many of the garden’s interactive features are based on tree science. It is designed for children from toddlers to 12-year-olds.
The Children’s Garden is included in the daily member admission benefit. Take advantage of member-only early entry to the Garden at 9:00 a.m. on Fridays.
Next to the Children’s Garden is a twisty Maze Garden made of living green shrubs. Find the secret to reach the big sycamore tree for a towering view! Children love to solve the puzzle.
Birthdays in the Children’s Garden
The entire Children’s Garden can be rented and reserved for birthdays and private events of up to 75 people on select Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from Saturday, May 2, through Labor Day.
Rental fees for children’s events are always lower for Arboretum members.
Family-Friendly Festivals and Fun Events
Throughout the year, The Morton Arboretum offers a wide variety of festivals and events for the entire family. Watch your member e-newsletter and check this website for upcoming events. Many are free with your membership admission. Members always get discounts for ticketed events. Here are a few to add to your calendar.
Spring
The Arboretum Discovery Day and Touch-a-Truck event offers a chance to get up close with the trucks and equipment that tree care crews use to keep the Arboretum’s trees healthy and growing strong.
Nature Play for All is a free spring event in the Children’s Garden where children of all abilities can play and explore nature through accessible activities.
Summer
Arbor Evenings outdoor concerts take place Wednesday evenings in the summer near Meadow Lake. Lawn games and food trucks make them a great night out! Tickets required.
Destination Asia Festival brings together performers, food vendors, and cultural demonstrations from Asian countries and cultures.
Fall
Celebración de los Árboles is a free festival that celebrates the vibrant cultures and trees of Latin America during Hispanic Heritage Month.
Fall Color Festival brings seasonal events, special concessions, and one-of-a-kind offerings to The Morton Arboretum to celebrate the changing fall colors.
Holidays
From mid-November through early January, the Arboretum’s trees are artistically lit for the festive, interactive Illumination experience. Members get first access and the best price on Illumination tickets.
Winter
LEGO® Trains is a member-only event where families can explore a sprawling scene built of LEGO bricks and watch the trains run along bustling avenues, between towering skyscrapers, and past colorful city gardens.
Juniper Junction showcases trains much larger than standard models, offering a captivating experience for visitors of all ages. Children will love wandering through a miniature world of trains and buildings built to their scale, while adults admire the intricate, lifelike details
Seasonal Family Dining Events
Members get first access to tickets for Arboretum dining events and always get discounts. Here are a few family favorites.
Early Childhood Programs
The Arboretum offers a variety of programs and classes for children from 18 months to 6 years old. Use your membership to drop in for Wednesday Storytime in the Sterling Morton Library, every Wednesday at 10:30 a.m.
Watch for special free programs throughout the year, such as Nature Play for All, a free spring event in the Children’s Garden where children of all abilities can play and explore nature through accessible activities.
Summer Science Camps
Through science experiments, STEM, art, and creative play, The Morton Arboretum’s innovative Summer Science Camps will inspire your child to become a tree champion.
Discover more than 100 weeklong camps during June, July, and August for children in prekindergarten through eighth grade. Designed by Arboretum experts, these camps provide a foundation for the next generation of young conservation and environmental scientists, artists, and outdoor enthusiasts.
Members have first access to camp registration, before registration opens to the general public, as well as discounted pricing.
Your Impact
With your membership support, The Morton Arboretum is able to strengthen its work in science, conservation, preservation, and engagement with trees.
Trees are crucial to addressing a warming planet, global species loss, and damaging weather events. They are a necessary resource for sequestering carbon, and provide an invaluable safety net for our communities—cooling homes and cities, mitigating flooding, improving public health, and supporting entire ecosystems.
As a member, you help to maintain the grounds to welcome more than 1 million visitors a year and create meaningful connections with nature. You support the Arboretum’s community forestry program, the Chicago Region Trees Initiative, which is recognized nationally as a model for urban forestry. Around the globe, you are helping our scientists preserve endangered oak species in Mesoamerica, the region stretching from the U.S.–Mexico border south through Panama, and are supporting their collaborations in Southeast Asia.
See the 2025 Donor Impact Report for more highlights and stories showing the important work that your membership impacts.
Membership powers The Morton Arboretum’s efforts to create a greener, healthier, more beautiful world where people and trees thrive together.
Learn More about the Important Work of The Morton Arboretum
Twice a year, the Arboretum publishes Trees: Stories from The Morton Arboretum, an e-publication hosted on its website. Through these engaging articles, you can learn more about the Arboretum, its trees, its nature, and its work in science and conservation in Chicago and around the world.
