The Franklin Institute Free Days

Updated 2026-09-15 · Free · No sign-up

The Franklin Institute has no regular free day right now — here's what exists instead. No free or pay-what-you-wish day — daytime admission is dynamically priced from $23. The standing affordable-access route is the PA ACCESS card: $2 admission for up to four people at the Box Office. Philadelphia high school students get in free anytime through the STAMP pass program. Advance online tickets recommended; open daily 9:30am-5pm Verified on The Franklin Institute's own page, last checked 2026-09-14.

At a glance

Free dayNo regular free day
Who qualifiesEveryone (paid); free for Philadelphia high schoolers via STAMP
ReservationAdvance online tickets recommended; open daily 9:30am-5pm
What's included3 floors of exhibits, live science programs, Fels Planetarium shows, observatory (weather permitting)
Regular adult priceFrom $23 adult (dynamic pricing)
Sourcefi.edu · checked 2026-09-14

What it costs instead

There's no free window to time here, so the math runs the other way: regular admission is From $23 adult (dynamic pricing), meaning a couple pays $46 and a group of four adults up to $92 at the gate. Bringing that down means the routes below: a membership that travels, a discount program you qualify for, or a library pass.

Upcoming free days

No upcoming free dates are published right now. The Franklin Institute announces free days on its official page — that's the place to watch.

Know before you go

  • Who qualifies: Everyone (paid); free for Philadelphia high schoolers via STAMP.
  • Reservations: Advance online tickets recommended; open daily 9:30am-5pm.
  • What's covered: 3 floors of exhibits, live science programs, Fels Planetarium shows, observatory (weather permitting).
  • Schedule detail: No recurring free day or free community night.
  • Worth knowing: Any Philadelphia high school student gets in free with a STAMP pass — one of 20 city museums on the program.

Other ways in, no calendar required

  • There's also Museums for All — show a SNAP EBT card and photo ID at any of 1,700+ participating institutions and up to four people pay $5 or less, every normal operating day. Whether The Franklin Institute participates is on the official roster.
  • Science-center members from 90+ miles away may get in on the ASTC Travel Passport — the 90-mile rule is the catch, and our reciprocity lookup computes it for your ZIP.

Dates don't line up?

Regular tickets (From $23 adult (dynamic pricing)) are on fi.edu; buying direct means no reseller markup. Multi-attraction visitors can compare CityPASS Philadelphia, which packages top Philadelphia sights below walk-up prices; whether The Franklin Institute appears in the lineup changes year to year, so verify before you buy.

Also free in Philadelphia

Philadelphia Museum of Art (fridays (pwyw)) · Barnes Foundation (1st sunday monthly 10am–5pm) · Please Touch Museum (published dates) · Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University (4th friday monthly 5pm–8pm (pwyw)) · Penn Museum (no regular free day) — or see the full free museum days in Philadelphia guide.

Next month's free days, emailed

A single monthly email covering Philadelphia's free days — every date checked against the official pages first.

Nothing but the dates; reply to opt out any time. Our privacy policy has the specifics.

↥ Check another museum →   Browse all free museum & zoo days →

FAQ

When is The Franklin Institute free?

No free or pay-what-you-wish day — daytime admission is dynamically priced from $23. The standing affordable-access route is the PA ACCESS card: $2 admission for up to four people at the Box Office. Philadelphia high school students get in free anytime through the STAMP pass program.

Do I need a reservation for The Franklin Institute's free days?

Advance online tickets recommended; open daily 9:30am-5pm

What does a free day at The Franklin Institute include?

3 floors of exhibits, live science programs, Fels Planetarium shows, observatory (weather permitting)

How much is The Franklin Institute normally?

From $23 adult (dynamic pricing). A free-day visit puts that back in your pocket.

How much does a family save on a The Franklin Institute free day?

At $23 per adult, two adults keep $46 and a group of four paying adult prices keeps up to $92 per visit — before parking and extras.

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