Grades 9–12 Self-Guided Field Trips

Plan Your Visit

• Self-Guided Field Trips

  
  

  Field trips are available in Spring and Fall. 

  Fall 2025 field trip requests will open August 20, 2025 at 10:00 am.

  
  

• What is Included with Self-Guided Field Trips?

  
  

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

  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:  

  Up to 400 students (ages 4–18) per school, per academic year (September–June)

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

  • Free chaperone admissions are valid for any adult, teacher, or parent (ages 19+) attending the field trip.
  • Longwood Gardens requires 1 chaperone (19+) for every 10 students attending the field trip.

  Paraprofessionals

  School Nurses

  Bus Drivers

  
  

• Student Capacity

  
  

  170 students per day.

  Student Groups

  All students must be with an adult chaperone (19+) at all times. All guests must observe our visiting guidelines. Adult chaperones are responsible for communicating these guidelines to ensure the safety of all guests, exhibit and plant collections.

  
  

• Chaperones

  
  

  Longwood Gardens requires 1 chaperone (19+) for every 10 students attending a self-guided field trip. 
  
  The number of free chaperone admissions are dependent on the final number of students. 
  
  Free chaperone admissions are valid for any adult, teacher, or parent (19+) attending the field trip.

  Additional Chaperones

  Additional chaperones (19+) must purchase timed tickets prior to arrival at tickets.longwoodgardens.org. 
  
  Additional chaperones (19+) may use their Longwood Membership to enter the Gardens. 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 or 15 passenger van. 

  View directions and parking information.

  
  

• Longwood Grant for Title I Schools

  
  

  The Longwood Grant for Title I Schools provides reimbursement of up to $500 per school bus for schools visiting the Gardens as an educator-guided or self-guided field trip. Learn More

  
  

• 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. 

  The Café

  Food is available for purchase in the Café.  Purchased food must be eaten in the Café, it cannot be taken into the Gardens. To view current menu options; visit: Café Menu

  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, wearing sunscreen and bug spray are recommended.

  To ensure guest safety, Longwood Gardens may cancel field trips due to predicted adverse weather conditions in the Gardens. Notification will occur up to 1 day prior to your field trip. Field trips will be re-scheduled based on current availability. 

  
  

• 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.