School and Camp Group Field Trips

Pricing

• General Admission (includes admission to more than 40 permanent Museum halls and the Rose Center for Earth and Space, but does not include special exhibitions, giant-screen film, or Space Show.): $12
• General Admission + One (Includes General Admission plus one special exhibition, giant-screen film, or Space Show.): $15.50
• General Admission + All (Includes General Admission plus two or more special exhibitions, giant-screen film, and Space Show.): $19.50

Follow steps 1-4 above to register

• Preregistration and tickets are required.

Resources for Learning has hundreds of online resources designed to help you meet national science, social studies, and global studies standards and to get the most out of your group's visit to the Museum. Select "Museum Hall Guides" to see resources for specific permanent and special exhibitions. If you have additional questions about curriculum connections or trip planning please email [email protected].

Public Transportation:
Subway: Take the B (weekdays only) or C to 81st Street. Two blocks west of the Museum, the 1 train stops at Broadway and West 79th Street. For a complete subway map, visit the MTA website. Groups arriving by subway may enter via the Subway entrance, located at the downtown end of the 81st Street B and C station. 

• Please note: The 81st Street subway station and subway entrance to the Museum are not wheelchair accessible. The closest accessible subway station is the 72nd Street station for the 1, 2, and 3 trains, with a connection on the northbound M7 on Amsterdam Avenue.
• Bus: The M79 bus travels east/west on West 79th Street across Central Park, with a stop next to the Museum on West 81st Street. Other buses also stop at or near the Museum, including the M7, M10, M11, M86, and M104 buses. For complete bus information, visit the MTA website.
• Train: From North of New York City: See the Metro North Railroad website for maps and schedule information.
  • From Long Island: See the Long Island Railroad website for maps and schedule information.
  • From New Jersey: See the New Jersey Transit website for maps and schedule information.
  • From Outside the New York City Metro Area: If you are traveling from outside the New York City Metro Area, please visit the Amtrak website for route and schedule information and to purchase tickets.

Yellow and Charter Buses
Charter and Yellow School Buses: Groups arriving by bus or on foot must use the loading area in front of the Rose Center for Earth and Space on the 81st Street driveway. Accessible by wheelchair.

For GPS devices use the following address: 56 West 81st Street, New York, NY 10024

• Do not load or unload buses unless directed to do so. 
• A Museum Transportation Greeter will greet all buses. The Greeter will: 
  • log in school name, bus company, and arrival time 
  • assign a departure time 
  • assign a parking area for the driver to park the bus 
• Buses may not layover on 81st Street. 
• Buses must return at their assigned departure time. 
• Drivers must stay with their vehicles at all times. 
• For departure, groups with buses will assemble on the plaza at the 81st Street entrance.

Checking in at the Museum

Once in the Museum, please provide the Museum Representative at the ticket desk with your order number, which can be found in your confirmation email, and final count of students and adults.

If payment has not been made, be sure to have your payment method on hand when you arrive. If paying with a purchase order, you will be asked to sign an acknowledgement of the balance due.

Download our free Explorer app for turn-by-turn directions and highlights.  Available on iOS and Android. You can also Download a PDF map of the Museum.

If You Have Reservations for the Giant-screen Film or Space Show

• Please arrive 30 minutes before your scheduled show time.
• We cannot guarantee space or seating for any additional adults or students.
• In consideration for our other visitors, groups arriving late will not be seated if a show is already in session. No refunds will be issued for shows missed due to a late arrival.

Coat Check

Coat check is not available. Please keep all coats, hats, or backpacks with you at all times.

Lunchrooms

A limited number of spaces are available to reserve in the school lunchrooms. The Museum’s Ross Terrace and select lawns in Theodore Roosevelt Park are also available for school or camp lunches. Students should be prepared to carry lunches during their visit.

No drinking fountains are available. 

Rest Rooms

• Lower level, near the subway entrance (accessible)
• Lower level, Rose Center for Earth and Space (accessible)
• First floor, Milstein Hall of Ocean Life (located on hall's lower level, access via elevator on mezzanine level) (accessible)
• First floor, Rose Center for Earth and Space (accessible)
• First floor, near the Grand Gallery (family and gender-neutral restroom; accessible)
• First floor, near Linder and Kaufmann Theaters
• Second floor, outside The Whitney Memorial Hall
• Third floor, Hall of Primates
• Fourth floor, Wallach Orientation Center (accessible)

Lactation Station

Lower level, Rose Center for Earth and Space (accessible)

To ensure that we are providing a safe environment for all, groups must follow our Code of Conduct.

These rules apply to all areas of the Museum including the Ross Terrace and the student lunchroom.

• One adult chaperone is required for every 10 students. Chaperones must always remain with their group.
• Use “inside voices” and be mindful of others.
• Running, climbing, sitting on exhibits or railings, yelling, listening to radios, or using Museum exhibit cases as drawing surfaces is not allowed.
• Many of the Museum’s artifacts, specimens, paintings, and murals are not to be touched.
• Eating and drinking (other than water) is prohibited in Museum galleries.
• Keep coats, hats, or backpacks with you always.
• Rose Center for Earth and Space Escalators: use caution, hold handrails, and exit promptly.
• Photography is allowed with handheld cameras (except where noted) and with available light or electronic flash attachments. Tripods and lights may not be used. Reproduction or sale of photographs is not allowed without permission. Photography is not permitted in the theaters and in special exhibitions.
• Please bring all students outside of the Museum building before dismissing them. Dismissal from fieldtrips may not take place inside the Museum.
• All visitors must comply with directions of security guard or any other Museum employee.

The Museum reserves the right to ask any school or camp group not following
these guidelines to leave the Museum. 

Chaperone Guidelines

Chaperones play an essential role in creating a positive field trip experience for all. As a chaperone, you are responsible for the behavior and safety of your group throughout their visit. Use these guidelines for a safe and enjoyable visit: 

• One adult chaperone is required for every 10 students. The students in your assigned group are your responsibility. Be sure that all are present and accounted for throughout your visit. Always remain with your group.
• Familiarize yourself with the Museum’s Code of Conduct prior to the field trip and enforce these with your group throughout your visit.
• Chaperones are responsible for maintaining the good behavior and safety of their group. Remind field trip participants to use inside voices, walking feet and calm bodies. Participants should also always keep belongings with them throughout their visit. 
• Please bring all students outside of the Museum building before dismissing them. Dismissal from school trips may not take place inside the Museum.

Should you require assistance, Security Desks are located on the lower level at West 77^th Street and Central Park West Entrance.  Ask for directions at any ticket desk or information kiosk.  Our floor staff will gladly assist you. 

To ensure everyone’s safety, all visitors must comply with directions of security guard or any other Museum employee.  Thank you for your cooperation and enjoy your visit!

Payment Policies

Payment must be received two weeks prior to your visit. Your reservation is subject to cancellation if payment is not received in advance. The Museum is not responsible for lost or missing payments.

• The Museum accepts checks, money orders, Discover, Visa, MasterCard, and American Express. Please make checks/money orders payable to the American Museum of Natural History, include your confirmation number and date of your visit on your check.
• Purchase orders need to be sent in advance and a copy with the confirmation number must be brought in on the day of your visit.
• NYC DOE Schools paying via purchase order only: Our vendor number is AME565000

Cancellations and Rescheduling

If you need to make changes to your booking (new trip date, reduction/increase of reservation numbers, or cancellations), please call Central Reservations at 212-769-5200, Monday–Friday, 9am–5pm.

Use our Temporary Hall Closures Page to verify that the Halls and Exhibitions you plan to visit will be open on the day of your scheduled trip.

Visit the first-floor security desk in the Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Hall, email [email protected], or call 212-769-5222.