Grades 9–12 Self-Guided Field Trips

Plan Your Visit

• Self-Guided Field Trip Availability

  
  

  Self-guided field trips are available on select dates from Monday, September 9 through Thursday, October 31, 2024.

  Requests for Spring 2025 self-guided field trips will open at 10:00 AM on Wednesday, January 22, 2025.

  
  

• Self-Guided Field Trip Capacities

  
  

  A minimum of 15 students is required to request a field trip.  

  200 students maximum per day.

  Maximum of 400 students per school, per school year (September–June).

  
  

• What is Included with Self-Guided Field Trips?

  
  

  Self-guided field trips are free for school groups with 15 or more students in grades pre-K through 12 (ages 4–18). We are delighted to make field trips accessible to all, keeping with our mission of bringing joy and inspiration to everyone through the beauty of nature, conservation, and learning. 

  Field trips include complimentary admission for:  

  Students (ages 4–18)

  1 chaperone (ages 19+) for every 10 students attending the field trip. 

  Longwood Gardens requires 1 chaperone (19+) for every 10 students (19+) attending the field trip.

  1:1 student support staff, school nurses (19+)

  Bus Drivers

  Additional Chaperones

  Additional chaperones (19+) may use their Longwood Membership to enter the Gardens or must purchase timed tickets at tickets.longwoodgardens.org. Member Reservations may be required; see the Member section of our website for more details. Sell-out is possible.

  
  

• Transportation

  
  

  Groups must travel by bus.

  View directions and parking information.

  
  

• Lunch

  
  

  A Picnic Area is located outside the main part of our Gardens and across the street from the main parking lot (two-minute drive) for Longwood visitors, available seasonally (mid-April through late-October). Plan on having your lunch before or after your field trip, as re-entry to the Gardens is not currently permitted. 

  Food is available for purchase in The Café.

  Picnicking or bringing in any outside food or beverages (except water) is not permitted in the Gardens. 

  The Café Tent is not available for self-guided field trips.

  
  

• Weather

  
  

  Field trips occur rain or shine. Dress for the weather and wear comfortable walking shoes. Bringing water bottles and wearing sunscreen and bug spray are recommended.

  To ensure guest safety, Longwood may cancel your field trip due to predicted severe weather conditions in the Gardens. Notification will occur up to one day prior to your field trip. Your field trip date will be rescheduled based on current availability.

  
  

• Arrival to the Gardens

  
  

  All buses will park in the designated bus lot.  

  The lead teacher will check in at the podium in the bus lot with the final student and chaperone count. Students should remain on the bus. Longwood staff will provide your group with further instructions.  

  The lead teacher will distribute tickets to chaperones. All students will be combined on one ticket. Students must enter the Gardens as a group.  

  All personal belongings must be left on the bus. Longwood will not store any personal belongings including backpacks or coolers 

  Restrooms are available inside the Group Visits entrance.   

  Connect to "FreeGardenWifi" free of charge during your visit.

  
  

• Cancellations

  
  

  Cancellation of a field trip less than three weeks prior to visit date may affect a school’s ability to receive complimentary field trips in the future.