Illumination tickets go on sale soon! Members have the first opportunity for tickets starting on October 16. Tickets go on sale to the public on October 23. Learn more.
Providing opportunities for all to affordably visit
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:
The Arboretum also offers free timed-entry admission on select holidays, including Thanksgiving and Christmas day.
Follow the arrows below to browse other discount admission programs.
The Morton Arboretum partners with the Museums for All program to offer an affordable admission option.
Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cardholders can reserve $1 timed-entry passes (up to eight passes) in advance of their visits by using one of the following convenient methods:
Guests will show their EBT card and timed-entry pass at the gatehouse for entry. Peak dates and times may sell out, so 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.
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:
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.
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. The Arboretum currently uses a timed-entry ticketing system to moderate the flow of guests onto the site at this time. Free passes require that timed-entry 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
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. Timed-entry passes are not required for admission.
Veterans and those who accompany them to The Morton Arboretum in the same vehicle do not need to purchase advanced timed-entry admission 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.
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.