No school budget for field trips? Here are 50 places in Georgia you can take your class for free. We divided these destinations into three categories: Science, Social Studies, and Other. Please let us know when your school visits one of these sites.

Science:

Albany

Radium Springs Gardens

One of Georgia's seven natural wonders, Radium Springs gushes forth 70,000 gallons of 68-degree water per minute from an underground cave.

Athens

Bear Hollow Zoo

The zoo is home to a variety of non-releasable wildlife. An intimate zoo with fewer than 30 species of animals.

Georgia Museum of Natural History

Explore these 14 natural history collections: Archaeology, Arthropod, Botany Herbarium, Economic Geology, Herpetology, Ichthyology, Invertebrate, Mammalogy, Mycological Herbarium, Ornithology, Paleontology, Pollen and Plant Microspore, Rocks and Minerals, and Zooarchaeology.

State Botanical Garden of Georgia

This 313-acre preserve, with its specialized theme gardens and collections, more than five miles of nature trails, and four major facilities including a tropical conservatory, is visited by over 200,000 people each year.

Atlanta

CDC Museum

The museum features changing exhibits throughout the year, in addition to its permanent installations. Four temporary exhibitions are on display each year.

Fernbank Science Center

Experience the exhibit hall, observatory, and outdoor gardens. Be sure to check out the teacher resources on their website.

Augusta

Phinizy Center

Come see a variety of wildlife such as Blue Herons, Red-Shouldered Hawks, Otters, and Alligators in their natural habitat. Visitors can experience the thrill of hearing Kingfishers or delight in the many summer dragonflies in the Nature park.

Columbus

Oxbow Meadows

This nature center offers a view of the ecoregion of West Georgia and the Chattahoochee Valley, while providing access to the area’s plants and animals.

Dunwoody

Dunwoody Nature Center

(near Atlanta) Nature center, field trip activities, gardens, resources for teachers, conservation programs, and more.

Elberton

Elberton Granite Museum

(east of Athens)

Offers exciting historical exhibits, artifacts and educational displays. The three levels of self-guided exhibits allow visitors to see unique granite products, as well as antique granite working tools.

Jackson

Dauset Trails Nature Center

Nature center with a variety of activities. See both farm exhibits and wildlife.

Johns Creek

Autry Mill

Listen to their phone audio tour to enhance your experience, and learn about the historic features as you walk along the paths.

Lithonia

Arabia Mountain

More than 2,000 acres, two monadnock mountains, three lakes, and many historic sites. Rich with plant life, Arabia Mountain hosts five endangered plants grow at Arabia Mountain.

Locust Grove

Noah’s Ark Rehabilitation

This 250-acre wildlife rehab center showcases over 1,500 animals. Walk the 1-mile trail to see both exotic animals and farm animals.

Milledgeville

Natural History Museum and Planetarium

A museum dedicated to Earth sciences, with an emphasis on fossils and evolution. Check out the educational resources on their website too.

Statesboro

Botanical Garden at Georgia Southern (east Savannah)

See the 11 acres of gardens on this early twentieth century farmstead. Wander the trails, paths, and courtyards and explore the intriguing natural wonders of the southeastern coastal plain.

St Simons Island

Canon Point Preserve

Over 600 acres managed by the Nature Conservancy. Be sure to check out the lesson plans on the website.

Social Studies:

Andersonville

Camp Sumter Prison

(north-west of Cordele)

The Camp Sumter military prison in Andersonville was one of the largest Confederate military prisons of the Civil War.

Atlanta

Federal Reserve Bank

Discover the story of money—from barter to modern times. Learn about the history of banking in America and see examples of rare currency.

Georgia State Capitol

Offers both guided and self-guided tours of this 120+ year old building.

Governor’s Mansion

The tour is a hybrid of a guided and self-guided tour. Docents are stationed in each room to teach you about the items.

Jimmy Carter Presidential Library & Museum

The museum showcases photographs and historical memorabilia from the Carter presidency. A replica of the Oval Office and gifts received by the Carters are also on display.

The King Center

See Ebenezer Baptist Church, Dr & Mrs King’s crypt, Dr King’s birthplace, and more.

Augusta

Augusta Canal

Built in 1845 for power, water, and transportation use, it is the only industrial canal in the American South in continuous use.

Chickamauga

Chickamauga National Military Park

(north of Dalton) Learn about the Civil War’s Atlanta Campaign with the

1,400 monuments and historical markers on these battlefields. Don’t miss the indoor exhibits, either.

Columbus

The Columbus Museum

One of the largest museums in the southeast, it is unique for its dual concentration on American art and regional history. Offers a variety of educational programming, interactive gallery opportunities, school programs, and teacher workshops.

National Infantry Museum

Thousands of artifacts, monuments, interactive exhibits, and video presentations make the National Infantry Museum, one of the nation’s leading military history destinations.

Dalton

Prater’s Mill Heritage Park

Peek into the heritage of rural, northwest Georgia.

See a working 19th-century grist mill, a cotton gin, general store, wildlife, and more.

Duluth

McDaniel Farm Park

This farm has been restored to depict a typical 1930s farm in Gwinnett County. See the farmhouse, barn, blacksmith shed, carriage house, and tenant house.

Kennesaw

Kennesaw Mountain Battlefield

A 2,965 acre National Battlefield that preserves a key Civil War battleground of the Atlanta Campaign.

Museum of History and Holocaust Education

See a number of World War II exhibits, and learn about the museum's educational programs and resources.

Macon

Museum of Aviation

Twenty or more aircraft are on display in one of the nation’s most popular Air Force museums.

Ocmulgee National Monument

Ocmulgee is the ancestral homeland of the Muscogee (better known as Creek) Nation, who now reside in Oklahoma. See the mounds that were constructed for the elite members of their culture.

Marietta

Marietta Fire Museum

A collection of items used by the Marietta Fire Department since the 1800s, including vehicles, clothing, equipment, antiques, photos, displays, and more.

Morrow

National Archives at Atlanta

Over 180,000 cubic feet of microfilm and

textual records, as well as maps, photographs, and architectural drawings.

Sandy Springs

Anne Frank Exhibit

Over 500 photographs and a replica of her room are used to tell the story of Anne Frank, a young Jewish girl who hid with her family from the Nazis.

Savannah

Savannah Belles Ferry

See Savannah’s historic harbor with a free ferry ride.

St Simons Island

Fort Frederica

British forces defeated the invading Spanish near here in 1742 to ensure Georgia’s future as an English colony.

Other:

Albany

Thronateeska Heritage Center

Thronateeska's campus includes a history museum, science museum, railcar display, the Georgia Museum of Surveying & Mapping, and the South Georgia Archives.

Atlanta

Atlanta Contemporary

This museum’s ever-changing exhibits feature consequential artists from the local, national, and international art scenes.

Museum of Papermaking

This internationally renowned resource on the history of paper and paper technology features a collection of over 10,000 watermarks, papers, tools, machines, and manuscripts.

Athens

Dodd Galleries

The galleries’ programming and five exhibits

examine the cultural and social contexts around us while challenging contemporary perceptions of art making.

Georgia Museum of Art

With over 10,000 objects in the permanent collection alone, this art museum has something for everyone.

Lyndon House Arts Center

Come see the generous number of unique exhibits in this art museum. Includes work from local artists.

Augusta

Westobou Gallery

The gallery offers curated exhibitions by national, regional, and local artists, with a focus on emerging and mid-career contemporary and experimental artists.

Duluth

Hudgens Center for Art & Learning

The Hudgens Center displays rotating exhibits with works from their private collection, as well as local artists and guest curators.

Lilburn

Mandir Temple

Enjoy beauty and discovery at BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir – a Hindu temple that showcases exquisite Indian design and workmanship.

Rome

Oak Hill and the Martha Berry Museum

Tour the Oak Hill house and see the art gallery and temporary exhibitions in the museum.

Savannah

Cathedral of St John the Baptist

This 19th-century Catholic cathedral is said to be one of the top 10 historic sites to visit in the United States.

Disclaimer:

Inclusion in this list is not an endorsement or intended to be representative of USATestprep or the author’s views.