ASTC Passport Program: ASTC Travel Passport Program (Association of Science and Technology Centers)

Updated 2026-09-04 · Free · No sign-up

Free GENERAL admission only at other participating institutions when traveling outside your local area. Does NOT include special exhibits, planetarium shows, larger-screen theater presentations, museum store discounts, or other standard membership perks unless the specific institution states otherwise. Individual membership (minimum roughly $40 at most centers), Dual membership (two named individuals), or Group/Family membership (minimum roughly $100, generally covers up to 2 adults + 4 children) at a participating home science center/museum. Reduced-cost access/needs-based membership tiers may not qualify or may cost less -- check with the home institution. As of a Jan 1, 2026 program update, participation guidelines were standardized across members. Read from the official ASTC Passport Program roster — 331 US institutions in our map, pulled 2026-09-05. Use the lookup on this page to see the ones near your ZIP with the rules computed.

The rules that matter

  • Distance rule: THE 90-MILE EXCLUSION RULE (verbatim from the official May-Oct 2026 participant list, 'EXCLUSIONS' section): '1. Science centers and museums located within 90 miles* of the science center/museum where the visitor is a member. 2. Science centers and museums located within 90 miles* of the visitor's residence. *This distance is measured "as the crow flies," meaning that it is based on the linear radius, not driving distance. To help determine linear radius distance, use the "Measure Distance" feature on Google Maps.' Both legs of the exclusion (near your home museum AND near your home address) must be checked before a visit.
  • Individual memberships are reserved for the named cardholder only; Dual = two named individuals; Group/Family = up to two adults and four children.
  • Admissions staff may require proof of residence/ID; specific venues that mandate this are marked 'Proof of Residence Required' on the roster (most venues had this flag).
  • Passport Program venues are NOT required to grant benefits to visitors who forget their membership cards -- there is no universal shared visitor database staff can check.
  • Lost cards are handled by the home institution, not by ASTC directly.
  • Always call ahead to confirm a specific venue's current Passport benefits before visiting.
  • Program guidelines were standardized/updated effective January 1, 2026.

The official roster

316 participating science centers/museums counted directly from the official May 1 - October 31, 2026 Standard participant list PDF (53 pages, 11pt font). — published as a Downloadable PDF lists in three formats (2-page summary, 33-page compact/6pt font, 53-page standard/11pt font), all effective through October 31, 2026, PLUS a searchable database tool at myastc.astc.org/passport-program-search (search by name/state/country; results are JS-rendered and were not extractable via automated fetch). Used the 53-page Standard List PDF (https://www.astc.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Standard-List-11pt-Font.pdf) for the state data below. at astc.org. Rosters change quarterly; our map was pulled 2026-09-05 and is refreshed on that rhythm.

Notable participants by state

California: California Science Center, Chabot Space & Science Center, Exploratorium, Fleet Science Center, Discovery Cube Orange County, MOXI, The Wolf Museum of Exploration + Innovation

New York: Brooklyn Children's Museum, Buffalo Museum of Science, Corning Museum of Glass, Intrepid Museum, Cradle of Aviation Museum, Long Island Children's Museum

Illinois: Adler Planetarium, Griffin Museum of Science and Industry, International Museum of Surgical Science, Burpee Museum of Natural History, Discovery Center Museum, Cernan Earth and Space Center at Triton College

Texas: Fort Worth Museum of Science and History, Children's Museum Houston, Corpus Christi Museum of Science & History, Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary, Don Harrington Discovery Center, Bledsoe Miller STEAM Center

Florida: Cade Museum for Creativity and Invention, Florida Museum of Natural History, Cox Science Center and Aquarium, Great Explorations Children's Museum, Loggerhead Marinelife Center, Challenger Learning Center of Tallahassee

Pennsylvania: Children's Museum of Pittsburgh, Kamin Science Center, Da Vinci Science Center, Discovery Space of Central Pennsylvania, expERIEnce Children's Museum, Lancaster Science Factory

Ohio: COSI (Center of Science and Industry), Boonshoft Museum of Discovery, Cincinnati Museum Center, Great Lakes Science Center, Cleveland Museum of Natural History, Imagination Station

Michigan: Air Zoo, Cranbrook Institute of Science, Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum, Grand Rapids Public Museum, Grand Rapids Children's Museum, Flint Children's Museum

Washington: Pacific Science Center, The Museum of Flight Foundation, KidsQuest Children's Museum, Mobius Discovery Center, REACH Museum, Wenatchee Valley Museum & Cultural Center

Massachusetts: Museum of Science, EcoTarium, Harvard Museums of Science & Culture, Berkshire Museum, Springfield Museums, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Ocean Science Discovery Center

Colorado: Denver Museum of Nature and Science, Wings Over the Rockies, Space Foundation Discovery Center, United States Olympic and Paralympic Museum, Fort Collins Museum of Discovery, The Powerhouse

Georgia: Tellus Science Museum

Minnesota: Science Museum of Minnesota, Bell Museum, The Bakken Museum, Duluth Children's Museum, Headwaters Science Center, Pavek Museum of Broadcasting

Missouri: Saint Louis Science Center, Union Station Kansas City, Discovery Center of Springfield, Bootheel Youth Museum

Arizona: Arizona Science Center, Lowell Observatory, Arizona Museum of Natural History, Flandrau Science Center & Planetarium, Meteor Crater & Barringer Space Museum, Science Vortex of the Verde Valley

A sample of well-known participants from the official roster, not the full list — the lookup tool maps all of them.

Pair it with a free day

A reciprocal membership plus a free-day calendar covers most trips: see free museum days in Chicago, New York, Los Angeles — or the full free-days index.

↥ Check another membership →   Browse all reciprocity guides →

FAQ

What does the ASTC Passport Program logo on my membership card mean?

Free GENERAL admission only at other participating institutions when traveling outside your local area. Does NOT include special exhibits, planetarium shows, larger-screen theater presentations, museum store discounts, or other standard membership perks unless the specific institution states otherwise.. Individual membership (minimum roughly $40 at most centers), Dual membership (two named individuals), or Group/Family membership (minimum roughly $100, generally covers up to 2 adults + 4 children) at a participating home science center/museum. Reduced-cost access/needs-based membership tiers may not qualify or may cost less -- check with the home institution. As of a Jan 1, 2026 program update, participation guidelines were standardized across members.

How many institutions participate in ASTC Passport Program?

Our current map holds 331 US roster rows (pulled 2026-09-05); the official roster is at www.astc.org/membership/find-an-astc-member/passport/.

Does ASTC Passport Program have a distance rule?

THE 90-MILE EXCLUSION RULE (verbatim from the official May-Oct 2026 participant list, 'EXCLUSIONS' section): '1. Science centers and museums located within 90 miles* of the science center/museum where the visitor is a member. 2. Science centers and museums located within 90 miles* of the visitor's residence. *This distance is measured "as the crow flies," meaning that it is based on the linear radius, not driving distance. To help determine linear radius distance, use the "Measure Distance" feature on Google Maps.' Both legs of the exclusion (near your home museum AND near your home address) must be checked before a visit.

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