150+ Unbelievable EBT Discounts in California

You can save money on everything from groceries to zoo admission if you have a CalFresh card! We’ve found over 100 EBT discounts across the state that could help you save money on essentials, unlock exciting adventures, and improve your life overall.

Let’s talk about all the ways that you can save money with this incredible program!

Getting Started with CalFresh

Before we dive into all the incredible EBT discounts we’ve found, I just want to offer a quick reminder about some essential CalFresh information that most users don’t know.

• You can buy more than just groceries. You can also buy seeds, produce-bearing plants, fruit trees, and even certain gift baskets with your CalFresh benefits!
• You may be able to buy restaurant meals. Some CalFresh users who are over the age of 60, disabled or homeless can buy meals from restaurants like Denny’s, Subway and even Yoshinoya. There are hundreds of restaurants that accept EBT in California!
• You may be able to get cash back. It’s easy and legal to get cash back on your SNAP benefits when you use a rewarded shopping app like Ibotta. Many of our users have used this technique to get free essentials like toilet paper and diapers.

Statewide California EBT Discounts

Most of the EBT discounts in our list are local, so they’re listed below. In this section, we’re going to highlight a few essential discounts that are available to users all across the state.

• Get 50% off Amazon Prime. If you have a CalFresh card, you can sign up for Prime Access for half the regular price! It’s a great way to unlock streaming services and other resources for a fraction of the regular price. Sign up here.
• Erase your cell phone bill. You’re eligible for the Lifeline subsidy if you receive CalFresh benefits. This program can help you get a free cell phone plan and even a free cell phone. Pick your plan now!
• Get free internet. There are many low income internet plans that offer great service for $10 or less each month as long as you have CalFresh benefits. Just pick one of these plans!
• Save at the YMCA. Many YMCA locations offer discounts for low income individuals and families. If you can’t afford the regular membership fee, make sure to ask about their community access programs.

Local EBT Discounts in California

In my opinion, the best EBT discounts in California are the local ones. You can get free or discounted access to 100+ museums, zoos, aquariums, science centers and more through these programs. It’s truly incredible!

However, before you go anywhere, there are a few quick things you need to know:

• Bring your EBT card and ID. You’ll usually need to show your CalFresh EBT card and your valid photo ID in order to get these discounts.
• Bring cash or a debit card. Your EBT card will reduce the admission price but you may need another form of payment, like cash or debit card, to pay the remaining balance. You can’t pay for admission with SNAP benefits.
• Know the rules. Most of the destinations on our list will only provide four discounted admissions per EBT card, so if you have a larger group you may need to plan ahead for that.

In our list, most museums accept EBT cards from any state. Museums that require you to have a CalFresh card are noted with bold titles. Please note that the prices listed are per person unless otherwise noted.

Bay Area

The list of discounts in San Francisco and the surrounding Bay Area has grown rapidly over the last few years. To make it easier to find what you’re looking for, you can also view this list sorted by museum type in our Bay Area EBT Discount list.

USS Hornet Sea, Air & Space Museum (Alameda) – $2 per person

Lawrence Hall of Science (Berkeley) – FREE

Magnes Collection of Jewish Art and Life (Berkeley) – FREE

UC Botanical Garden (Berkeley) – $3 per person (picnics are allo

Habitot Children’s Museum (Berkeley) – $3 per child (each child can bring up to three adults for free)

Computer History Museum (Mountain View) – FREE

Chabot Space & Science Center (Oakland) – $1 per person

Oakland Museum of California (Oakland) – $1 per person (EBT discount for general admission only; special exhibitions are an additional $6)

Oakland Zoo (Oakland) – FREE (Oakland Zoo’s EBT Discount is for general admission only; after-hours or special events not included)

Museum of Children’s Arts (Oakland) – $4 per person

Fairyland (Oakland) – $5 per person (Fairyland’s EBT discount requires a referral from a Community Engagement Program partner; you must live in the area and meet income requirements such as having a CalFresh account)

Camron-Stanford House (Oakland) – FREE

Richmond Museum of History (Richmond) – FREE

California Academy of Sciences (San Francisco) – $3 per person (up to 4 people, but your library may have additional free passes too)

Exploratorium (San Francisco) – $3 per person

Aquarium of the Bay (San Francisco) – $3 per person

Asian Art Museum (San Francisco) – FREE

de Young Museum (San Francisco) – FREE

Legion of Honor (San Francisco) – FREE

International Art Museum of America (San Francisco) – FREE

Conservatory of Flowers (San Francisco) – FREE

Japanese Tea Garden (San Francisco) – FREE

San Francisco Botanical Garden (San Francisco) – FREE

Children’s Creativity Museum (San Francisco) – FREE

Contemporary Jewish Museum (San Francisco) – FREE

MoAD (San Francisco) – $3 per person

Tenderloin Museum (San Francisco) – FREE

American Bookbinders Museum (San Francisco) – $3 per person

Letterform Archive (San Francisco) – $1 per person

Museum of Craft & Design (San Francisco) – FREE

GLBT Historical Society Museum & Archives (San Francisco) – FREE

Bay Area Discovery Museum (Sausalito) – $2 per person (up to 6 people)

Marine Mammal Center (Sausalito) – FREE

Vacaville Museum (Vacaville) – FREE

Lindsay Wildlife Experience (Walnut Creek) – $3 per person

Ruth Bancroft Garden & Nursery (Walnut Creek) – $3 per person (must arrive by 3:15pm)

Central California

Don’t miss out on amazing EBT discounts at the Fresno Chaffee Zoo, the Monterey Bay Aquarium, and many more! If you’re looking for a specific type of adventure, you can find all of the discounts in this area organized by category in our Central California EBT Discounts list.

Bakersfield Museum of Art (Bakersfield) – FREE

Buena Vista Museum of Natural History & Science (Bakersfield) – $2 per person

Grace Episcopal Gallery (Boulder Creek) – FREE

Santa Cruz Children’s Museum of Discovery (Capitola) – $3 per person

Faye G. Belardi Memorial Gallery (Felton) – $3 per person

Fresno Chaffee Zoo (Fresno) – $5 per person (Wednesdays only; 4 people maximum)

Goleta Valley Historical Society (Goleta) – FREE

Guadalupe Nipomo Dunes Center (Guadalupe) – $3 or less per person

Lompoc Museum (Lompoc) – FREE

Kids Discovery Station (Merced) – $1 per person

Modesto Children’s Museum (Modesto) – $3 per person

Casa del Herrero (Montecito) – FREE

Monterey Bay Aquarium (Monterey) – FREE

MY Museum (Monterey) – $2 per person

Monterey History & Art (Monterey) – $3 per person

Monterey Museum of Art (Monterey) – FREE

The Children’s Museum (Paso Robles) – $3 per person

Sacramento Children’s Museum (Rancho Cordova) – $3 per person

California Museum (Sacramento) – $2 per person

Crocker Art Museum (Sacramento) – FREE for general admission only

Sacramento History Museum (Sacramento) – $2 per person

SMUD Museum of Science and Curiosity (Sacramento) – FREE for general admission only

SSVMS Museum of Medical History (Sacramento) – FREE

San Luis Obispo Children’s Museum (San Luis Obispo) – $3 per person

Art, Design & Architecture Museum (Santa Barbara) – FREE

Casa de La Guerra (Santa Barbara) – FREE

El Presidio de Santa Barbara (Santa Barbara) – FREE

Ganna Walska Lotusland (Santa Barbara) – $3 per person

MOXI (Santa Barbara) – $1 per person

Museum of Contemporary Art (Santa Barbara) – FREE

Museum of Sensory & Movement Experiences (Santa Barbara) – FREE

Old Mission Santa Barbara (Santa Barbara) – $3 per person

Santa Barbara Botanic Garden (Santa Barbara) – $3 per person (or $20 for an annual family membership)

Santa Barbara Historical Museum (Santa Barbara) – $3 per person

Santa Barbara Maritime Museum (Santa Barbara) – $2 per person (or $20 for an annual family membership)

Santa Barbara Museum of Art (Santa Barbara) – FREE

Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History (Santa Barbara) – $3 per person

Santa Barbara Zoo (Santa Barbara) – $3 per person

Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History (Santa Cruz) – FREE

Village Santa Cruz (Santa Cruz) – Subsidized Memberships Available (for local residents only)

Santa Maria Valley Discovery Museum (Santa Maria) – $3 per person

Santa Ynez Valley Historical Museum & Parks (Santa Ynez) – $3 or less per person

California Nature Art Center (Solvang) – FREE

Elverhøj Museum of History & Art (Solvang) – FREE

Carnegie Arts Center (Turlock) – FREE

KidZone Museum (Truckee) – $3 per person

Imagine U Museum (Visalia) – $3 per person (CalFresh card required)

Northern California

Discover hidden gems and family-friendly fun across Northern California with these EBT discounts, making unforgettable experiences more accessible for everyone.

Chico Children’s Museum (Chico) – $3 per person

Clarke Historical Museum (Eureka) – FREE

Morris Graves Museum of Art (Eureka) – FREE

Sequoia Park Zoo (Eureka) – $4 per person (up to 5 people)

Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens (Fort Bragg) – $2 per person

Sacramento Children’s Museum (Rancho Cordova) – $3 per person

California Museum (Sacramento) – $2 per person

Crocker Art Museum (Sacramento) – FREE for general admission only

Sacramento History Museum (Sacramento) – $2 per person

SMUD Museum of Science and Curiosity (Sacramento) – FREE for general admission only

SSVMS Museum of Medical History (Sacramento) – FREE

KidZone Museum (Truckee) – $3 per person

Vacaville Museum (Vacaville) – FREE

Playzeum Yuba-Sutter (Yuba City) – $3 Per Person (must bring photo ID)

Southern California

Dreaming of a Southern California getaway but worried about the cost? Your EBT card can unlock a world of affordable fun! Discover incredible discounts at museums, zoos, aquariums, and more throughout the region.

Los Angeles & Surrounding Area

There are more than 45 EBT discounts in the LA area. You can find a more organized version of this information in our Los Angeles & Surroundings list.

Victor Valley Museum (Apple Valley) – $1 per person

Muzeo Museum & Cultural Center (Anaheim) – $3 per person or less

Arboretum of Los Angeles County (Arcadia) – FREE

Virginia Robinson Gardens (Beverly Hills) – FREE

Sherman Library & Gardens (Corona Del Mar) – FREE

California Botanic Garden (Claremont) – FREE

Raymond M Alf Museum of Paleontology (Claremont) – FREE

Orange County Children’s Museum (Fountain Valley) – $3 per person or less

Pretend City Children’s Museum (Irvine) – $4.25 per person

Jurupa Mountains Discovery Center (Jurupa Valley) – FREE

Museum of Neon Art (Glendale) – $3 per person

The Children’s Museum (La Habra) – $3 per person

Descanso Gardens (La Cañada Flintridge) – FREE

African American Firefighters Museum (Los Angeles) – FREE

Autry Museum of the American West (Los Angeles) – FREE

Holocaust Museum (Los Angeles) – FREE

Japanese American National Museum (Los Angeles) – FREE

La Brea Tar Pits & Museum (Los Angeles) – FREE

La Plaza de Cultura Y Artes (Los Angeles) – FREE

Los Angeles County Museum of Art (Los Angeles) – FREE

Museum of Contemporary Art (Los Angeles) – FREE

Museum of Tolerance (Los Angeles) – FREE

Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County (Los Angeles) – FREE

Skirball Cultural Center (Los Angeles) – FREE on Thursdays

USC Fisher Gallery (Los Angeles) – FREE

Agape Children’s Museum (Long Beach) – $3 or less per person

Long Beach Museum of Art (Long Beach) – FREE

Museum of Latin American Art (Long Beach) – $2 per person

Kidspace Children’s Museum (Pasadena) – $3 per person

Norton Simon Museum (Pasadena) – FREE

Pacific Asia Museum (Pasadena) – FREE

Southern California Children’s Museum Garden (Pasadena) – $3 per person

The Living Desert Zoo & Gardens (Palm Desert) – $3 per person

South Coast Botanic Garden (Palos Verdes Peninsula) – FREE

American Museum of Ceramic Art (Pomona) – $3 per person

Cabrillo Marine Aquarium (San Pedro) – Suggested Donation

Santa Ana Zoo at Prentice Park (Santa Ana) – $3 per person

Channel Islands Maritime Museum (Oxnard) – $2 per person

Children’s Discovery Museum of the Desert (Rancho Mirage) – $2 per person

Riverside Art Museum (Riverside) – $1 per person

Kimberly Crest House & Gardens (Redlands) – FREE

San Bernardino County Museum (Redlands) – $1 per person

California Heritage Museum (Santa Monica) – $2 per person

Cayton Children’s Museum (Santa Monica) – $15 annual family pass

Santa Monica History Museum (Santa Monica) – FREE

Santa Paula Art Museum (Santa Paula) – $3 per person or less

Museum of Ventura County (Ventura) – FREE

San Diego & Surrounding Area

There are around 30 different EBT discounts in the San Diego area as well. For a more organized version of this list, check out our San Diego area EBT discounts page.

Museum of Making Music (Carlsbad) – $1 per person

Institute of Contemporary Art North (Encinitas) – FREE

San Diego Botanic Garden (Encinitas) – $1 per person

California Center for the Arts Escondido Museum (Escondido) – FREE

San Diego Children’s Discovery Museum (Escondido) – $2 per person

Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution of Oceanography (La Jolla) – $3 per person

Museum of Contemporary Art (La Jolla) – FREE

Barona Cultural Center & Museum (Lakeside) – FREE

Fleet Science Center (San Diego) – $3 per person

Institute of Contemporary Art (San Diego) – FREE

Legacy Center (San Diego) – $3 per adult

Maritime Museum of San Diego (San Diego) – $3 per person

Marston House Museum & Gardens (San Diego) – $3 or less per person

Mingei International Museum (San Diego) – FREE

Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego (San Diego) – FREE

Museum of Photographic Arts (San Diego) – Suggested Donation

New Children’s Museum (San Diego) – $2 per person

San Diego Archaeological Center (San Diego) – FREE

San Diego Art Institute (San Diego) – FREE

San Diego Automotive Museum (San Diego) – $3 or less per person

San Diego County Fair (San Diego) – FREE on certain days

San Diego History Center (San Diego) – FREE

San Diego Museum of Art (San Diego) – $3 per person

San Diego Model Railroad Museum (San Diego) – $2 per person

San Diego Natural History Museum (San Diego) – FREE

Timkin Museum of Art (San Diego) – FREE

USS Midway Museum (San Diego) – $3 per person (daytime admission only)

The Warner-Carillo Ranch House (Warner Springs) – FREE

FAQs about EBT Discounts in California

We get it – you’ve got questions about EBT discounts in California! We’ve been fielding those questions for years, and we’re here to help.

How did you decide which museums to include on your list?

We strive to provide the most comprehensive and up-to-date list of EBT discounts available, and we achieve that through extensive research and a focus on providing real value.

• In-depth Research: We delve deep into programs like Museums for All and other discount initiatives to ensure we capture all eligible museums.
• Focus on EBT-Specific Discounts: We prioritize museums that offer explicit discounts or benefits for EBT cardholders. While some museums may be free for everyone, we aim to showcase those with special offers tailored to EBT users.
• Comprehensive Coverage: Our goal is to be the most complete resource online, so we include any museum we can find that offers an EBT discount.

We hope this list helps you and your family experience all that California’s museums have to offer!

Does Universal Studios have an EBT discount?

No, Universal Studios Hollywood does not currently offer a direct EBT discount. However, you may be eligible for a California Neighbor Pass. This is a discounted pass but it is not free.

Does Disneyland have an EBT discount?

No, Disneyland does not offer an EBT discount. The best rates for Disneyland tickets that we have found are military tickets.

Does Legoland have an EBT discount?

No, Legoland does not offer an EBT discount. However, you may be able to find a “kids go free” ticket discount elsewhere online that can help you save money on your trip.

Relief Recap

There are over 150 venues across California that offer EBT discounts to low income guests! Browse our lists by selecting the area you’re interested in on this page. Make sure to bookmark this page and check back often, because we’re always finding new and interesting discounts for CalFresh cardholders.