There is no admission fee to access and enjoy Adkins Arboretum.

Our admission-free policy is made possible thanks to the generous support of our members. Help make nature more accessible for all by joining our member community. Click here to learn about the benefits of membership.

If the entrance gates are closed during open hours, Visitors may park on the edge of the drive in front of the gates and enter the grounds on foot.

Dogs are welcome on the trails and inside the Visitor’s Center, but they must be leashed at all times.

Keeping dogs leashed and on the trails protects other visitors and dogs, vulnerable native plants, wildlife habitat, ground-nesting birds, and other animals.

Pet waste disposal stations can be found in the parking lot and outside the Arboretum’s Nursery. Please dispose of waste bags in trash cans located outside the Visitor’s Center, at the Pavilion, and in the parking lot.

Personal, noncommercial photography is allowed at Adkins Arboretum without a permit. 

Professional photographers are required to purchase a photography permit at the Visitor’s Center. Permits are valid for one year from the date of purchase. Permit-holders are welcome to shoot at the Arboretum year-round during open hours. Photographers should be prepared to show receipt of their up-to-date permit when shooting on-site.

Photographers and subjects must stay on the trails. Drones, alcohol, candles, balloons, glitter, confetti, rice, seeds, smoking, smoke, and open flames are strictly prohibited at Adkins Arboretum.

Traditional bicycles and Class 1 pedal-assist e-bikes — those that provide motorized assistance up to 20 miles per hour — are allowed on the Arboretum trails.

Off-trail riding is prohibited and pedestrians always have the right of way.

Visitors are welcome to bring food and drinks to the Arboretum, excluding alcohol. There are several picnic tables, benches, and chairs throughout the property.

Please dispose of trash in cans located inside and outside the Visitor’s Center, at the Pavilion, and in the parking lot. Large amounts of trash should be carried out.

There are no on-site barbecues and fires are prohibited.

Insects, including mosquitos, ticks, and chiggers, play an important role in our ecosystem. All three are a food source for other animals, mosquitos are pollinators, and scientists monitor tick populations to assess the overall health of the ecosystem.

Ticks and chiggers are most commonly found in tall grasses, leaf litter, and shrubs. Keeping to the designated trails will help to reduce your exposure.

The best ways to protect yourself from biting insects is to keep to the designated trails, wear closed-toed shoes, tuck long pants into socks, and use insect repellent. Complimentary insect repellent is available at the Visitor’s Center.

Click here to read the CDC’s guidelines on ticks.

Poison ivy is a beneficial native plant that grows throughout the Arboretum. Touching it can cause an allergic reaction in humans, resulting in an itchy, irritating, and sometimes painful rash.

The best way to protect yourself from poison ivy is to stay on the designated trails and avoid handling plant material.