A museum field trip to the Orlando Museum of Art (OMA) typically costs $10 per student, but select Orange County Public Schools can visit free through United Arts of Central Florida. OMA’s Orlando field trips are docent-led, built around the exhibitions on view, and meet Florida educational standards in art, social studies, language arts, and more.
Fall is when most of the year’s trips get planned. If you’re working out how to plan a field trip at OMA, this puts the logistics first: how to book, what it costs, chaperones, and the day itself. After that, you’ll find what students can expect to see this season, classroom resources for before and after your visit, a short checklist, and answers to the questions we hear most from teachers.
OMA Field Trips at a Glance
| Detail | What to know |
|---|---|
| Cost | $10 per student |
| Free trips | Select Orange County Public Schools, funded by United Arts of Central Florida |
| Chaperones | One free per 10 students; $14 for each additional adult |
| How to book | Two request forms (OCPS teachers / all other educators and groups) on the School Field Trips page |
| Lead time | At least two weeks; earlier is better |
| Not available | Holiday closures, Festival of Trees (November 14–22, 2026), and other closure dates; Mondays by request only |
| Cancellation | Cancelling within 10 days of the trip forfeits the deposit |
| Lunch | No indoor space; eat outdoors in Loch Haven Park |
| Contact | Education Department, education@omart.org, 407.896.4231 ext. 262 |
Prices and policies are current as of October 2026. The School Field Trips page has the latest details and both request forms.
Why Bring Students to an Art Museum?
A field trip to OMA puts students in front of original works of art, which is a different experience from a slide on the classroom screen. Students notice the scale and surface of a work in ways a projector flattens, and they have questions about it.
Our docents lead tours as inquiry discussions. Instead of a lecture, students look closely, say what they see, and back up their ideas with evidence from the artwork. That’s critical thinking practice that carries straight back to writing and history class.
Every program is cross-curricular. A single tour can touch art, social studies, and language arts, and programs meet Florida educational standards across subjects. Because tours are tailored to current exhibitions, the content changes throughout the year, and a class that visited last spring will see something new this fall.
What Students Can See This Fall
Tours are tailored to what’s in the galleries, so the best way to plan is to look at the current exhibitions and share what you’re teaching when you request a date. School tours can include Ancient American artifacts, original picture book illustrations, and contemporary and traditional works.
A few exhibitions on view this season make natural classroom connections:
- The Wild Path: Connecting the Florida We Don’t See, through January 3, 2027. Seventy photographs by National Geographic conservation photographer Carlton Ward Jr. follow the Florida panther and the Florida Wildlife Corridor. It’s a strong tie-in for life science and Florida geography.
- Floridiana: Material Culture from The Sunshine State, through January 10, 2027. More than 130 mid-century souvenirs, from rubber alligators to roadside attraction brochures, show how tourism shaped Florida’s identity. It works well for Florida history and social studies.
- Hello Sophie! The Artwork of Sophie Blackall, through January 3, 2026. Featuring original artwork from award-winning children’s book illustrator and author Sophie Blackall.
How to Book a Field Trip at OMA
Booking takes three steps, and all of them start on the School Field Trips page.
- Choose the right form. There are two request forms: one for Orange County Public Schools teachers, and one for all other educators and groups, including private schools, charter schools, and homeschool groups. Both are linked from the School Field Trips page.
- Pick a date with enough lead time. Book a minimum of two weeks in advance, but we recommend earlier. Field trips can be scheduled most days, except holiday closures, Festival of Trees, and other closure dates. The museum is closed to the public on Mondays, so contact the Education Department directly if you need a Monday.
- Confirm your group size. Group sizes vary by tour, and the booking forms list the details. Have your student count and grade levels ready before you start.
If you’re not sure which tour fits your class, the Education Department can help at education@omart.org or 407.896.4231 ext. 262.
Costs, Free Trips, and Funding
School field trips at OMA are $10 per student. Select Orange County Public Schools can visit free through United Arts of Central Florida, which funds those trips.
To find out whether your school is eligible for a free trip, contact the Education Department before you submit your request. Funding may also be available for schools outside Orange County, so it’s worth asking even if your school is in Seminole, Osceola, or another county.
Plan your budget around the cancellation rule, too. If you cancel within 10 days of the field trip, you forfeit the deposit.
Chaperones and Group Size
OMA allows one free field trip chaperone for every 10 students. Additional chaperones are $14 each.
A class of 30 students, for example, comes with three free chaperones. A fourth adult would be $14. If your school or district sets its own chaperone ratio, compare the two early so you know whether to budget for extra adults.
Before the day, give each chaperone the names of the students they’re responsible for and a short list of gallery guidelines. Chaperones who know what to expect keep groups together and let the docent focus on teaching.
What to Expect on the Day
Free parking is in front of the museum at 2416 N. Mills Ave., Orlando, FL 32803, and there is bus parking in the lot. OMA is wheelchair accessible, and complimentary wheelchairs are available first come, first served. See the accessibility information on the Visit page for more.
Once you arrive, a trained docent leads your group through the galleries. Expect the tour to be a conversation. Students who speak up get more out of it, so it helps to tell them in advance that their observations are the point.
Gallery guidelines to review with students before you go:
- Look closely, but keep hands off the artwork.
- Walk, and use indoor voices so other groups can hear their guides.
- Leave food and drinks on the bus or with your lunches. Food isn’t allowed in the galleries.
- Photography isn’t permitted in some galleries, and flash is never allowed. Follow the docent’s lead.
OMA doesn’t have an indoor lunch space or café, but students are welcome to eat outdoors in Loch Haven Park. Learn more about Loch Haven Park and the surrounding area before you plan a picnic. Have a rain plan, such as eating on the bus or back at school.
Before and After Your Visit
Teachers who register for our tours will receive pre and post-visit materials to use in their classrooms.
On our teacher resources page, you’ll also find professional development workshops on connecting works of art to classroom subjects. For students who want more after the trip, our youth programs include art camps and workshops, and the museum tours page lists family and public tours they can come back for.
Teacher’s Pre-Trip Checklist
Use this field trip checklist for teachers as you plan:
- Request a date on the correct form (OCPS or all other educators)
- Submit at least two weeks ahead, and avoid November 14–22 (Festival of Trees)
- Ask the Education Department about free OCPS trips or outside-county funding
- Confirm student count and grade levels
- Line up chaperones: one free per 10 students, $14 for each additional adult
- Send and collect permission slips
- Plan lunch in Loch Haven Park, with a rain backup
- Review gallery guidelines with students and chaperones
- Note your cancellation window: within 10 days, the deposit is forfeited
FAQs About OMA Field Trips
How much does a field trip to OMA cost? A school field trip to the Orlando Museum of Art costs $10 per student. One chaperone per 10 students is free, and additional chaperones are $14 each. Select Orange County Public Schools can visit free.
Are there free field trips for Orange County schools? Yes. Select Orange County Public Schools can visit OMA free through funding from United Arts of Central Florida. Contact the Education Department at education@omart.org or 407.896.4231 ext. 262 to check whether your school is eligible.
How far in advance should I book a field trip? Book at least two weeks in advance, and earlier if you can. Field trips aren’t available during holiday closures or Festival of Trees, which runs November 14–22, 2026.
How many chaperones can come on a field trip? OMA includes one free chaperone for every 10 students. You can bring more adults for $14 each, so a class of 30 students has three free chaperones.
Where can students eat lunch? OMA has no indoor lunch space, but students are welcome to eat outdoors in Loch Haven Park, which surrounds the museum. Food and drinks aren’t allowed in the galleries.
Are OMA field trips aligned with Florida standards? Yes. OMA’s school programs are cross-curricular and meet Florida educational standards across subjects, including art, social studies, and language arts. Tours are tailored to current exhibitions, so ask the Education Department how a tour can connect to what your class is studying.
