Pennsylvania, United States

Pennsylvania Zoos & Aquariums field trips

Compare zoos and aquariums for field trips for school groups, elementary classes, homeschool groups, camps, scouts, youth groups, and family planning with official photos, published prices, booking details, accessibility, lunch, parking, and weather context.

9
options with official info
9
with published prices
9
with usable photo sets

How to use this Pennsylvania guide

This page is aimed at searches like zoos and aquariums for field trips in Pennsylvania, school field trips, and elementary field trip ideas. Start with the places that match your weather plan, grade band, lunch needs, bus/parking plan, and budget. Save a short list, compare up to three, then open the official links for final booking.

Grade and subject match
Zoos & Aquariums options here cover 4 grade-band signals and 11 curriculum tags, so the page can support elementary, homeschool, and mixed-age shortlists.
School/group readiness
9 places include school, student, teacher, group, or field-trip signals from official sources.
Cost and weather filter
9 places have published prices; 5 are indoor-friendly and 7 are outdoor-heavy or weather-sensitive.
Photo/source trust
9 places include official venue photos; places without enough photos stay simple instead of using generic stock images.

What this category is strongest for

Instead of treating every zoos & aquariums page the same, use the current place mix here to decide whether this is a weather-safe shortlist, a budget-first shortlist, or a “verify details before booking” shortlist.

Weather use
Zoos & Aquariums in Pennsylvania still need weather checks

7 options are outdoor-heavy or seasonal, so check closures, heat, rain, and bus unloading plans before locking a date.

Budget use
9 places already expose price signals

That means you can start with venues like Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University, Carnegie Science Center, and Linvilla Orchards before opening each detail page for the matching student, adult, or group rate.

Group planning
3 top examples already show school/group language

Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University, Carnegie Science Center, and Linvilla Orchards already surface school, student, teacher, class, or field-trip signals, which makes them strong first checks for organized group planning.

Photo/source confidence
9 places have usable official photo sets

That helps this page answer image-heavy searches without leaning on review or competitor sources, and avoids padding thin photo coverage with generic images.

Planning questions this category answers

Use this section to compare zoos & aquariums options by grade fit, school/group rules, prices, weather constraints, and day-of logistics.

Zoos & Aquariums field trips
9 zoos & aquariums options in Pennsylvania

Use this page for category-first searches when you need a real comparison set instead of a generic idea list. The current guide includes 11 curriculum tags and 9 official photo-ready places.

Elementary and K-5 ideas
9 places show elementary-age or early-grade signals

That helps teachers and family planners screen for younger-student fit before opening detail pages for exact program ages, class size, and chaperone rules.

School group planning
9 places surface school, student, class, or group language

Those are the strongest first checks for organized trips because they are more likely to expose reservation steps, arrival instructions, group rates, or teacher-facing program notes.

Trip-day logistics
9 price-ready, 9 booking-ready, 9 lunch-aware

Use those signals together when a search is really asking whether the trip will work on a school day: budget, timing, lunch handling, weather, and official booking path.

Public agency and outdoor classroom
8 places look like agency, park, or environmental education options

Use this count for searches around state park field trips, environmental education, and outdoor classrooms, where official pages tend to carry curriculum, cost, reservation, accessibility, and group-capacity details.

Shortlist

Narrow the trip list

9 trip options. Save favorites and compare up to three.

Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University photo from the official site
Philadelphia, PAIndoor natural history museum on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway with three floors of exhibits and live auditorium science shows

Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University

Philadelphia natural history field trip with a clear school booking path, $15 student pricing, free required chaperones, Title I support questions, lunchroom scheduling, auditorium shows, and accessible indoor exhibits.

Published rates found: $2-$18 per person. Use the linked price page for the student, adult, or group line.
Reserve
Book through the official school field-trip request form, call 215-299-1060, or email ANS reservations@drexel.edu; the Academy says responses should arrive within two to three business days.
Lunch
Lunchroom space is free but limited and must be scheduled in advance when booking; confirm storage, lunch timing, and whether your group needs a tight auditorium-show/lunch rotation.
Carnegie Science Center photo from the official site
Pittsburgh, PAMostly indoor North Shore science center with seasonal/weather-permitting USS Requin submarine access and bus parking planning

Carnegie Science Center

Pittsburgh Kamin/Carnegie Science Center field trip with group pricing, a 15 paid-admission minimum, two-week reservation timing, show/workshop add-ons, bus parking before booking.

Published rates found: $10, $2, $4, and more. Use the linked price page for the matching ticket line.
Reserve
Start with the official Group Visits or Field Trips reservation path; group visits must be booked at least two weeks in advance to receive the group rate.
Lunch
Use the group reservation process to confirm lunch timing, cafe availability, food rules, and whether the visit schedule includes shows, workshops, or the USS Requin before promising a full meal stop.
Group Hayrides To The Witch's House
Philadelphia, PAMostly outdoor working-orchard visit with private wagon hayrides, Playland, barnyard animals, picnic grove, seasonal crops, farm market check-in, weather exposure, and free grounds admission/parking context

Linvilla Orchards

Media PA Linvilla Orchards field trip with K-3 school hayrides, 40-50 guest private wagons, $375 spring wagon or $300 fall weekday wagon, $9 extra riders, $75 deposit, 4-day change window, 200-person daily cap, picnic grove, barnyard animals, Playland, free parking/admission.

Published rates found: $300, $19.99 per person, $75, and more. Use the linked price page for the matching ticket line.
Reserve
Book through the office; school groups are not permitted without a reservation. Final changes are due 4 days prior, a second wagon needs notice and deposit, and hayrides depart at the scheduled time.
Lunch
Groups may pack lunch, use the outdoor picnic grove, visit barnyard animals, and use Playland after the hayride. Confirm rain plans and whether students carry lunches or return to buses.
Guests in Wetlands
Pittsburgh, PAMostly indoor North Side aviary with immersive free-flight habitats, classroom or assembly programs, live Animal Ambassadors, live bird shows, dining/gift shop context, and parking/accessibility planning

National Aviary

Pittsburgh National Aviary field trip with $13-$16 school packages, 15-paying-participant minimum, 6-week recommended booking, 2-week minimum notice, chaperone ratios, complimentary required adults and bus driver, sensory/allergy notes.

Published rates found: $4, $5, $99, and more. Use the linked price page for the matching ticket line.
Reserve
Use the official school inquiry form, education email, or 412-258-9439. The Aviary recommends booking at least 6 weeks ahead, requires at least 2 weeks' notice, then sends a field trip agreement that must be signed to finalize the reservation.
Lunch
Confirm lunch or snack timing before arrival; the school page focuses on programs and does not publish a dedicated school lunchroom rule, while onsite dining/gift-shop decisions can affect group pacing.
Guests feed a giraffe during an official Philadelphia Zoo animal experience.
Philadelphia, PAMostly outdoor zoo with indoor animal buildings, weather exposure, picnic areas, free bus parking, and walking-time planning.

Philadelphia Zoo

Philadelphia Zoo field trip with K-12 student pricing, 15+ group rules, complimentary chaperones, Title I CAP support, bus parking, lunch rules, accessibility.

Published rates found: $15, $18, $20, and more. Use the linked price page for the matching ticket line.
Reserve
Use the official Group Tickets page for school booking and CAP requests. Groups must pay before the visit and bring the emailed tickets or confirmation to the turnstiles.
Lunch
Outside food is allowed for school groups, and picnic areas are available, but the zoo cannot store bagged lunches or coolers; plan students carrying lunches, a picnic stop, or card-only food purchases.

Planning FAQ

What are good zoos & aquariums field trips in Pennsylvania?

This guide currently compares 9 options with official info, including Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University, Carnegie Science Center, Linvilla Orchards.

How should I compare cost and booking rules?

9 places have published prices in FieldTripScope. Open each detail page to verify current admission, group rates, chaperone rules, and reservation timing.

Which trips are safest for bad weather planning?

7 options are outdoor-heavy, so check rain, heat, mud, and seasonal closures before booking.

Are the photos and facts from official sources?

9 places have usable official photo sets. FieldTripScope favors venue, agency, museum, park, and official program pages over review or competitor directories.