Many Smithsonian museums and the National Zoo offer daily or weekly highlights tours, as well as a range of regularly scheduled activities—from elephant baths at the Zoo to tarantula feedings at Natural History; from scavenger hunts at American Art to paper airplane contests at Air and Space.

Use the Find Field Trips Search at left to find regularly scheduled field trips by subject, grade level, or keyword.

If scheduled tours aren’t what you’re looking for or don’t fit your schedule, write, email, phone, or fax education departments in the building you want to visit. Smithsonian educators will make every effort to help you tailor your visit to your curriculum needs, meet students’ special needs, or plan a series of visits. No matter the length of your trip, the Smithsonian can help you customize an itinerary.

You can also create a package that includes dining, IMAX screenings, and other entertainment. Click here for group tour information.

Looking for ideas for a personalized Smithsonian field trip?

• Find self-guides and other resources on the education home pages of Smithsonian museums.
• Consult Visitor Information for the basics of a Smithsonian visit—museum hours, addresses, etc.—as well as regularly updated features such as “Events for Kids.”
• Visit GoSmithsonian.com for Washington, D.C., lodging and dining tips and transportation information. You can also book hotel rooms at the site.
• Purchase a comprehensive Official Visitor’s Guide for an overview of Smithsonian collections and permanent exhibitions.
• Visit Smithsonian.org, the homepage of the Smithsonian, which links to hundreds of virtual exhibitions and online brochures, and includes maps and floor plans.

Under the name Smithsonian Student Travel, the Smithsonian has partnered with EF Education, a leading tour operator for teachers and students, to offer educational tours to destinations around the country—including Smithsonian museums in Washington, D.C.—for middle and high school students. Funds from this partnership support a range of Smithsonian education and public programs. For more information about available tours, teachers should call (800) 503-2323 or visit Smithsonian Student Travel.

Although the tour program carries the Smithsonian name, the Institution welcomes many other student tour companies. These companies receive Smithsonian educational materials and benefit from group rates for meals and IMAX theater tickets.