The Most Beautiful Public Gardens To Visit in Every State

There are stunning botanical gardens or large collections of curated plant exhibits all around the U.S., including in nearly every major city.

For road trippers or bargain travelers, visiting a breathtaking public garden is a smart way to save money on travel .

Here are some of the most popular public gardens in each state to help you plan.

1. Alabama: Birmingham Botanical Gardens (Birmingham)

Birmingham Botanical Gardens are in the heart of the city and stretch across 67 acres.

Across more than two dozen garden spaces, visitors can bask in the beauty of stunning and unique plants that thrive in the southern environment. The gardens are open daily and free to visit.

2. Alaska: Jensen-Olson Arboretum (Juneau)

The Jenson-Olson Arboretum is home to a stunning, nationally accredited collection of genus Primula.

There are plant species on the grounds that you’re not likely to see in any other state in the nation. What’s more, it’s all free and open to the public.

3. Arizona: Desert Botanical Garden (Phoenix)

Phoenix's botanical garden offers guests the beauty of the Arizona desert. More than 50,000 plant displays are showcased across 140 acres of stunning outdoor exhibits.

The garden is open daily, and admission is $16.95.

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4. Arkansas: Garvan Woodland Gardens (Hot Springs)

Garvan, the University of Arkansas’s botanical garden, is nestled within the Ouachita Mountains.

From pristine gardens to winding trails to waterfalls, there are stunning sites to see all around Garven. Tickets are $25 for adults and $15 for children.

5. California: Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens (San Marino)

The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens have something for everyone — including 130 acres of beautiful plant collections, 16 themed gardens, and rare and endangered species.

Admission to the full grounds is $29 for adults and $13 for kids.

6. Colorado: Denver Botanic Gardens (Denver)

While Denver Botanic Gardens at York Street's 24 acres reflect fascinating plant life from all around the world, plants from the Rocky Mountain region are a special focus.

Admission is $15.75 for adults and $11.50 for kids.

7. Connecticut: Helen S Kaman Rose Garden (Hartford)

Elizabeth Park’s Helen S Kaman Rose Garden was the first municipal rose garden in the country — and today, it’s still the third largest.

Guests are welcome to stroll around the stunning park from sunrise to sunset for free — and it’s a great spot to picnic, take photos, and more.

8. Delaware: Nemours Estate Gardens (Wilmington)

Nemours Estate in Wilmington is more than just a grand mansion, it also sits on 200 acres of French-inspired gardens and stunning grounds.

Day passes typically start at $23 for adults, and you can certainly spend a whole day wandering around the beautiful grounds.

9. Florida: Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden (Coral Gables)

The Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden was opened to the public back in 1938 on an 83-acre site just south of Miami.

Over nearly a century, it’s grown to be a beloved and awe-inspiring part of the community. Tickets are just under $25 for adults and $12 for kids.

10. Georgia: Atlanta Botanical Garden (Atlanta)

Located in the heart of Midtown, Atlanta’s Botanical Garden offers a respite from the hustle and bustle of the city.

It offers 30 acres of stunning outdoor gardens, beautiful, wooded areas, and a breathtaking Canopy Walk. Admission prices vary and begin at $26.95 for adults.

11. Hawaii: Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden (Papaikou)

Visitors are invited to explore the east side of Hawaii and all its natural wonder at Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden.

The breathtaking tropical rainforests are home to more than 2,500 species of plants. Tickets are $30, with discounts for locals, military, kids, and college students.

12. Idaho: Idaho Botanical Garden (Boise)

The Idaho Botanical Garden was established on a 42-acre site in 1984. Its founders built an irrigation system, trails, meditation, rose, and herb gardens.

Today, visitors can enjoy the garden in all its glory for just $14, with discounts for seniors, kids, and large groups.

13. Illinois: Chicago Botanic Garden (Glencoe)

It’s easy to spend all day wandering around the 385 acres of beauty at Chicago Botanic Garden.

There’s something for visitors of all sorts, from a play garden for kids to the Butterflies & Blooms exhibit. Admission is $22.95, with discounts for Cook County residents and kids.

14. Indiana: Holcomb Gardens (Indianapolis)

Holcomb Gardens at Butler University stretch across 20 acres of hillside overlooking a small and tranquil lake.

The beautiful grounds are packed with thousands of trees, shrubs, and native flora, plus waterfalls, a “Poet’s Corner,” and so much more — and it’s free to visit.

15. Iowa: Reiman Gardens (Ames)

Reiman Gardens at Iowa State University have expanded across 17 acres over the past 20 or so years and added beloved additions like the Children’s Garden and the world’s largest concrete gnome, Elwood.

Admission is $12 and Iowa State students can go for free.

16. Kansas: Overland Park Arboretum and Botanical Gardens (Overland Park)

Stretched across 300 acres, Overland Park Arboretum is home to more than 1,700 species of plants, a variety of landscapes and gardens, stunning trails, and open prairie.

There’s plenty to keep you busy all day long, and admission is only $5 for adults.

17. Kentucky: Yew Dell Botanical Gardens (Crestwood)

On grounds that were once a stunning family home and nursery, Yew Dell is now open to the public.

It’s packed with beautiful display gardens and hiking trails, plus plenty of educational programs and events. Admission is $9 for adults, and it’s free to visit in the winter.

18. Louisiana: New Orleans Botanical Garden (New Orleans)

When you’re ready to take a break from the lively streets of the Big Easy, the New Orleans Botanical Garden is a welcome escape.

Stretching across 10 acres, it’s packed with more than 2,000 varieties of plants from around the world. Admission is $12 for adults, $6 for kids.

19. Maine: Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens (Boothbay)

Stretching 300 acres along Maine’s MidCoast, New England’s largest botanical garden is packed with a beautiful variety of plants native to Maine and/or well suited to the northern coastal conditions.

Admission is $24, with discounts for kids, seniors, and students.

20. Maryland: Brookside Gardens (Wheaton)

Brookside Gardens offers an array of stunning curated areas stretched across 50 acres, including a Butterfly Garden, Japanese Style Garden, Aquatic Garden, Woodland Walk, and much more — and it’s all free.

21. Massachusetts: Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University (Boston)

Harvard’s Arnold Arboretum is a 281-acre preserve located right in the heart of Boston. It offers an array of plant life with a focus on those that are native to east North America and east Asia. It’s open daily and free to the public.

22. Michigan: Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park (Grand Rapids)

This top destination in Grand Rapids offers an array of natural beauty in many different forms — from stunning sculpture and horticultural landscapes to indoor and outdoor gardens.

Admission is $20, with discounts for seniors, kids, and students.

23. Minnesota: Minnesota Landscape Arboretum (Chaska)

The University of Minnesota’s Landscape Arboretum stretches across 1,200 acres.

It’s well-known for its stunning display gardens, tree collections, and paved paths, including Three-Mile Walk and Three-Mile Drive. Admission is cheaper ($20) if you book online.

24. Mississippi: The Crosby Arboretum at Mississippi State University (Starkville)

The Crosby Arboretum is dedicated to showcasing plants native to the Pearl River Drainage Basin ecosystem.

It displays the basic habitats found in this ecosystem in the Savanna exhibit, Woodland exhibit, and Aquatic exhibit. Admission is just $5.

25. Missouri: Missouri Botanical Garden (St. Louis)

There’s something for everyone at Missouri Botanical Garden — from the Doris I. Schnuck Children’s Garden to the Sassafras patio, where guests can enjoy dinner and drinks.

Admission is $16 and the gardens are open daily until 5 p.m. (with extended summer hours until 8 p.m.)

26. Montana: Tizer Botanic Gardens & Arboretum (Jefferson City)

Tizer’s offers a truly tranquil experience in the heart of the Elkhorn Mountains.

It’s Montana’s only full-time operated botanical garden and arboretum and is packed with beautiful gardens, winding trails, and much more. Admission is $9 for adults and $7 for children.

27. Nebraska: Lauritzen Gardens (Omaha)

Omaha’s botanical garden is packed with a stunning array of curated gardens, like the Robert H Storz Rose Garden and the Festival Garden.

You’ll also find waterfalls, a bird sanctuary, and much more. Tickets are $15 for adults and $9 for children.

28. Nevada: Wilbur D. May Arboretum and Botanical Garden (Reno)

Located between the Sierra Nevada Mountains and the Great Basin Desert, this arboretum and botanical garden has a unique environment that few plants can survive in.

Still, it’s home to more than 4,000 plant species across an array of stunning gardens — and it’s free to visit.

29. New Hampshire: Fuller Gardens (North Hampton)

A public garden just a short drive from the coast, Fuller Gardens features a huge array of rose bushes, a formal English perennial border, a Japanese garden, a tropical conservatory, and more.

Admission is $10 for adults, with discounts for seniors, kids, and students.

30. New Jersey: Rutgers Gardens (New Brunswick)

Rutgers Gardens stretches across 180 acres and is packed with curated gardens, plant collections, farms, and more.

Guests can expect beauty, tranquility, and natural habitats — and the “living laboratory” is free to visit and open year-round.

31. New Mexico: ABQ BioPark (Albuquerque)

The ABQ BioPark botanic garden opened in 1996 and has since grown to 32 acres packed with beautiful exhibits. Plants stem from the American Southwest and habitats around the world.

Admission is $10 for New Mexico residents and $14.50 for visitors.

32. New York: New York Botanical Garden (Bronx)

Located in the heart of the Bronx, New York Botanical Garden stretches across 250 acres and features stunning exhibits and botanical experiences.

It’s also home to art, music, and plenty of entertaining and educational events. Admission is $35, with discounts for students and kids.

33. North Carolina: Sarah P. Duke Gardens (Durham)

Located in the heart of Duke University, Sarah P. Duke Gardens features 55 acres of specialized gardens.

More than five miles of delightful pathways stretch throughout the gardens, and admission is always free.

34. North Dakota: Northern Plains Botanic Garden (Fargo)

The Northern Plains Botanic Garden Society maintains the stunning botanic garden at Yunker Farm Park in Fargo.

It’s dedicated to sharing stunning plant life and gardens across six beautiful acres with the community. The garden is free and open to the public.

35. Ohio: Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens (Columbus)

Set within 88-acre Franklin Park, this conservatory and botanical garden showcases an array of plants from around the globe, seasonal exhibits, art installations, and more.

The gardens are open daily, and admission is $23.50, with discounts for seniors and kids.

36. Oklahoma: Myriad Botanical Gardens (Oklahoma City)

In the heart of Oklahoma City’s metro area, Myriad Botanical Gardens offers a beautiful and tranquil escape.

The exterior grounds are free and open to the public while visiting the stunning Inasmuch Foundation Crystal Bridge Conservatory is $10.50 for adults and $5.50 for kids.

37. Oregon: Portland Japanese Garden (Portland)

Portland’s Japanese Garden is in Washington Park and stretches across 12 beautiful acres. Visitors will find eight different garden styles as well as a Japanese Tea House and a stunning view of Mt. Hood.

Tickets are $21.95, with discounts for students, seniors, and kids.

38. Pennsylvania: Longwood Gardens (Kennett Square)

Longwood Gardens is stunning no matter what time of year you visit. With diverse plant life, a beautiful fountain system, and architectural masterpieces, there’s beauty to behold in every corner of the grounds.

Tickets are $32, with discounts for seniors, students, and kids.

39. Rhode Island: Blithewold Mansion, Gardens & Arboretum (Bristol)

Blithewold is a 33-acre summer estate surrounded by charming and exotic gardens.

Outside the 45-room mansion, guests will find rare plants and trees, a greenhouse, stunning stonework, and more. Tickets are $20 with discounts for children.

40. South Carolina: Brookgreen Gardens (Murrells Inlet)

Since its founding nearly a century ago, Brookgreen has been a staple of its community.

Visitors can choose from different tours, programs, and exhibits daily or simply stroll the stunning grounds on their own. Tickets are $22, with discounts for children and seniors.

41. South Dakota: McCrory Gardens (Brookings)

McCrory Gardens, beautifully maintained by South Dakota State University, includes 25 acres of curated gardens and 45 acres of arboretum packed with an array of flowers, trees, and shrubbery.

Strolling the arboretum is free, but specific tours charge.

42. Tennessee: Cheekwood Estate & Gardens (Nashville)

The historic Cheekwood Estate stretches across 55 acres and is packed with stunning, curated gardens and beautiful art.

The estate is open Tuesday through Sunday, and ticket prices depend on if you’d like to see the garden + mansion ($26-$29) or just the garden ($20-$26).

43. Texas: Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden (Dallas)

This arboretum and garden is located across 66 acres on the shores of White Rock Lake.

Among the stunning, curated gardens and trees, there is also a life science laboratory. Ticket prices vary, but if you head over in the morning, you can typically enter the gardens for just $5.

44. Utah: Red Butte Garden and Arboretum (Salt Lake City)

Located on the edge of the University of Utah’s campus, Red Butte Garden and Arboretum lies across 100 beautiful acres.

The grounds include 21 acres of curated gardens, five miles of hiking trails, and more. Tickets are $16, with discounts for kids, seniors, and military members.

45. Vermont: Hildene Gardens at the Lincoln Family Home (Manchester)

The stunning Lincoln family estate in Manchester is surrounded by equally beautiful gardens, including a formal garden, cutting/kitchen garden, and “Apple Tree Allee” wildflower meadow.

Admission, which includes self-guided tours of the home, gardens, and surrounding trails, is $23.

46. Virginia: Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden (Richmond)

Stretching across 50 stunning acres, Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden offers more than a dozen themed gardens — including a Children’s Garden and a Cherry Tree Walk — a beautiful, domed conservatory, and more.

Tickets are $20 with discounts for seniors, military, and kids.

47. Washington: Washington Park Arboretum (Seattle)

The Arboretum on the shores of Lake Washington is a joint effort between the University of Washington Botanic Gardens and the city of Seattle.

It stretches across 230 acres and features an array of unique plant life. The Arboretum is free, but the Japanese Garden requires a fee.

48. West Virginia: Core Arboretum (Morgantown)

Core Arboretum at West Virginia University includes a botanical garden and an old-growth forest preserve.

There are three miles of foot trails, more than 150 species of trees and shrubs, and more on the 91-acre grounds. The arboretum is free and open to the public daily.

49. Wisconsin: Olbrich Botanical Gardens (Madison)

At Olbrich, visitors will find 16 acres of stunning outdoor displays, including the popular Royal Thai Pavilion and many other specialty gardens.

The outdoor gardens are free to stroll — and there’s a small fee ($6) to check out their indoor tropical conservatory.

50. Wyoming: Cheyenne Botanic Gardens (Cheyenne)

There’s plenty of beauty to bask in at Cheyenne’s Botanic Garden, from the Children’s Village to the tropical plants and “Bonsai House” of their Grand Conservatory.

The best part: the gardens are completely free and open to the public.

51. Bottom line

Many of these gardens have enough natural beauty, curated exhibits, and educational displays to keep you busy for hours.

It’s a lovely way to spend an afternoon while traveling — and it’s cheap, too. Particularly the 16 gardens on this list that are free.

So grab your top travel credit cards and prepare take in the beauty of these stunning public paradises across the U.S. one garden at a time.

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