November 2026 Free Days at Museums, Zoo, Parks and More Around Colorado
Want to save some cash in November? You’re in luck as Denver Arts Week is happening with a special Night at the Museums that includes free admission and shuttle rides between the museums. This is in addition to a number of Free Days at other museums+ throughout the month.
Let’s take a look to see what is happening around the Mile High City and beyond where you can save with free admission – please note if advance reservations are required (and often, recommended) so I dropped the links to do so!
Saturday, November 7, 2026 – Night at the Museums (Denver Arts Week)
Experience Denver’s top museums like never before! More than a dozen of the city’s best museums and cultural institutions will stay open late from 5 – 10 PM and admission is free. Explore world-class exhibits and discover hidden gems!
Visit Denver offers free shuttles between museums; click here to view shuttle routes and the shuttle map.
2026’s Participating Museums
- Black American West Museum
- Center for Colorado Women’s History
- Children’s Museum of Denver at Marsico Campus
- Clyfford Still Museum
- Counterterrorism Education Learn Lab (CELL)
- Denver Art Museum
- Freyer – Newman Center at Denver Botanic Gardens
- Denver Museum of Nature & Science
- Dinosaur Ridge
- Forney Museum of Transportation
- Colorado History Museum (formerly History Colorado Center)
- The Kirkland at the Denver Art Museum
- Molly Brown House Museum
- Morrison Natural History Museum
- Museo de las Americas
- Museum for Black Girls
- Museum of Contemporary Art Denver
- Wings Over the Rockies
- Here’s more information on Night of the Museums and these museums
Saturday, November 7, 2026 – Denver Art Museum (Full Day)
- SCFD Free Day & Night at the Museums (Denver Arts Week)
- Hours: 10 AM – 10 PM
- What’s Free: Free general admission to the entire Denver Art Museum Campus (Hamilton Building, Martin Building, and The Kirkland)
- What is Included: Free general admission covers the permanent collections and non-ticketed galleries, but does not include special ticketed exhibitions
- Reservations Needed?: You are encouraged to reserve a ticket online ahead of time on the DAM General Admission Page to ensure a smooth entry (choose November 7)
- Walk-In?: Yes, limited walk-in tickets are usually available at the visitor services desk on free days, subject to building capacity
- Beautiful Tip: All visitors 18 and under enjoy free general admission to the DAM every day, thanks to the Free for Kids program presented by Bellco Credit Union
Saturday, November 7, 2026 – Clyfford Still Museum (Full Day)
- SCFD Free Day & Night at the Museums (Denver Arts Week)
- Hours: 10 AM – 10 PM
- What’s Free: Free general admission
- Enjoy free mini-tours at 11 AM and 2 PM – no registration is required, and all ages are welcome. Meet in the Museum lobby!
- Families, join us from 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM at the Still for a free Maker Mornings workshop exploring movement and sound.
- Reservations Needed?: No but you are encouraged to reserve a ticket online ahead of time – opens one week before. Get tickets here
- Beautiful Tip: Children and youth 17 and under, Indigenous people, visitors with disabilities and their aides, and anyone sharing the first name of Clyfford or Patricia Still get in free every day
Wednesday, November 11 + 14, 2026 – Denver Zoo
Mandatory tickets are released two weeks before the SFCD Free Day and have already been claimed =/ BUT you have one more chance – see November 22, 2026 for more info
Wednesday, November 11, 2026 – US National Parks
- Did you know that Colorado has four National Parks?
- While most are familiar with Rocky Mountain National Park, there’s also Black Canyon of the Gunnison, Great Sand Dunes and Mesa Verde!
- What’s included: The fee waiver covers standard entrance and day-use fees only, excluding camping, tours, and specialty services.
- Eligibility: Beginning in 2026, free entrance on these days will be for US citizens and residents only. Nonresidents will pay the regular entrance fee and any applicable nonresident fees – read more on this change and the applicable fees as well as annual pass options here
- Beautiful Tip: Did you know that all US 4th graders and their families get a free annual pass? It’s called the Every Kid Outdoors Pass valid from September through August! Find out more and get your Every Kid Outdoors Pass here! Use it to go sand sledding at Great Sand Dunes NP.
Saturday, November 14, 2026 – Plains Conservation Center
- Location: 21901 E. Hampden Ave., Aurora, CO 80013
- Hours: 10 AM – 3 PM
- Theme: Indigenous Peoples
- NOTE: It’s free to come in, hike the trails, explore the visitor center and check out the tipis and homestead village. There is a fee to attend any guided programs.
- Activities Included: Free guided prairie wagon rides, tours of the 1880s tipi camp and homesteader sod village, and educational exhibits
- Registration: Advance registration or tickets are recommended through Eventbrite as these popular event days can sell out.
Sunday, November 15, 2026 – Dinosaur Ridge
- Location: 16831 W. Alameda Parkway, Morrison, CO 80465
- Hours: 9 AM – 4 PM
- Exhibit Hall & Visitor Center: Free admission during scheduled SCFD Free Days.
- Guided Bus Tours: Typically receive a $4 to $5 discount on free days (normally $21 for adults and $15 for children).
- NOTE: The 1.1-mile self-guided walking trail is free every day from sunrise to sunset
Monday, November 16, 2026 – Denver Museum of Nature & Science
- Location: 21901 E. Hampden Ave., Aurora, CO 80013
- Hours: 9 AM – 5 PM
- Tickets: Advance online reservations are not required for free days or nights. You can walk up anytime during regular hours
- What is Covered: Free admission includes the main museum halls, wildlife dioramas, and permanent collections
- Extra Fees: Separate tickets are still required if you want to visit the Sturm Infinity Theater, the Gates Planetarium, or special temporary exhibitions
Wednesday, November 18, 2026 – Museum of Outdoor Arts – Marjorie Park
- Location: 6331 S. Fiddler’s Green Circle, Greenwood Village, CO 80111
- Hours: 10 AM – 4 PM
- Tickets: Register for tickets here
- Note that the Park is open during special events, scheduled tours, SCFD Free Days, and by appointment only.
Saturday, November 22, 2026 – Denver Zoo
Denver Zoo Community Free Days Important Notes
- Sunday, November 22 – tickets released on November 8
- Hours: 9 AM – 4 PM
- Note that only a limited number of tickets are offered for each Free Day, available on a first-come, first served basis and only available online
- No tickets will be available at the Zoo entrance.
- All guests must have a timed ticket for entry, including children two and under.
- Tickets are valid only for the specific Free Day and entry time you reserved.
- You may book up to five tickets for each Free Day based on the number you need for your group. Limit one registration per person, per Free Day.
Saturday, November 27, 2026 – Denver Botanic Gardens – York Street and Chatfield Farms
- Hours: 10 AM – 10 PM
- What’s Free: Free Days are for regular Gardens hours only and do not include ticketed events.
- What is Included: Free general admission covers the permanent collections and non-ticketed galleries, but does not include special ticketed exhibitions
- Reservations Needed?: Highly recommend as most dates are sold out
- Tickets will be available three months at a time (on a rolling basis) and the tickets will be released on the 1st of the month.
- Register for York Street Free Days HERE
- Register for Chatfield Farms Free Days HERE
- Walk-In?: Yes but only if not sold out
- NOTE: Friday, Nov. 27 (day after Thanksgiving) – York Street is SOLD OUT. Tickets will not be available onsite. There are tickets available for Chatfield Farms Free Day.
Getting SNAP Benefits? You Get Discounted Tickets Year Round!
If you get Colorado Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, you and your family also get Explorer Pass! You can get into many Denver area museums for $1-3 in most cases. Explorer Pass works at the Children’s Museum ($5/person), Denver Museum of Nature and Science ($3/person up to 10), Denver Zoo ($3/person up to 10), History Colorado Center ($1/person), and many other places!
Explorer Pass is built into your Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card. Just present your EBT card when buying tickets! Some places need reservations, or have coupon codes you can use online. Check out a list of participating Explorer Pass locations on Denver’s official site here with pricing, restrictions and important information!
Also With SNAP, You Are Eliglible for Discounted Amazon Prime!
All of Prime, half the price. Eligible government assistance recipients and income verified customers can access full Prime benefits via Prime Access for $6.99/month. For more info on this, here’s my post about Prime Access and Prime for Young Adults
About Author
Rosemary is a travel hacker, points nerd, money maximizer, and female solo traveler who’s explored 70+ countries without a trust fund, sugar daddy, or sponsored content. Every mile, upgrade, and trip is completely self-funded using a mix of points, miles, and cash or earned with elite status.Through firsthand experience and plenty of trial and error, she teaches everyday travelers the art of travel hacking ie how they too can travel for cheaper, better, and more often (and she provides receipts along with a mildly concerning amount of spreadsheets)
While Rosemary doesn’t take herself too seriously, she does take award travel, making her money work harder (and searching for the best ice cream) seriously – and shares it all here because she believes that seeing the world or living your most beautiful life shouldn’t be reserved for the rich, the retired, or content creators with brand deals.
When not traveling, she is based in Denver, Colorado and loves to share the amazing things you can do, see, and experience (many of which are free!) in the Centennial state (which she feels absolutely blessed to be able to call home)
