Your Missouri EBT card unlocks far more than groceries. In 2026, Missouri Food Stamps recipients have access to several world-class cultural institutions that are free to everyone every single day — no EBT card required — including the Saint Louis Zoo, the St. Louis Science Center, and the St. Louis Art Museum.
Beyond the always-free venues, your Missouri EBT card qualifies you for half-price Amazon Prime, a dollar-for-dollar produce match through Double Up Food Bucks Missouri at participating farmers markets and grocery stores across the state, discounted admission at Museums for All participants statewide, SUN Bucks for eligible children, Lifeline phone discounts, and energy bill assistance.
This is the complete guide to every EBT discount available to Missouri residents in 2026, organized by city and program.
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A Note on Missouri’s SNAP Program
Missouri’s SNAP program is called the Food Assistance program and is administered by the Missouri Department of Social Services (DSS) Family Support Division. Benefits are loaded monthly onto your Missouri EBT card. Missouri sends out benefits over the first 22 days of every month, based on your birth month and the first letter of your last name. When museums, zoos, and farmers markets ask to see your “SNAP card” or “EBT card,” your Missouri EBT card is what you present.
At paid Missouri venues, you show your EBT card and a valid photo ID at the ticket window to access the discounted rate. The card is used only to verify SNAP enrollment — you pay any admission price separately with cash, debit, or credit card. Your EBT card balance cannot be used to pay for museum admission.
Most Museums for All participants in Missouri accept EBT cards from any state — you do not need to be a Missouri resident to receive the discount at most locations.
Missouri EBT card support: 1-800-997-7777 (24/7) Missouri SNAP hotline: 1-855-373-4636
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Amazon Prime — Half Price for Missouri SNAP Recipients
Missouri Food Stamps recipients qualify for Amazon Prime at $6.99 per month — less than half the standard $14.99 monthly rate. The membership includes free two-day shipping, Prime Video, Prime Music, Prime Reading, and the ability to shop SNAP-eligible groceries through Amazon Fresh and Whole Foods pickup and delivery in qualifying Missouri ZIP codes.
Sign up for discounted Amazon Prime here — verify your SNAP enrollment by uploading a photo of your Missouri EBT card or a recent benefit letter. A credit or debit card is required as a backup payment method. The $6.99 fee cannot be charged to your EBT card balance. A free 30-day trial is available if you have never had Amazon Prime before.
St. Louis — Always-Free World-Class Venues (No EBT Card Needed)
St. Louis has one of the most remarkable concentrations of free cultural institutions of any city in the United States. Several of the region’s most significant museums and attractions are completely free to everyone, every day — no EBT card needed, no income verification required.
Saint Louis Zoo — Always free general admission for everyone. The Saint Louis Zoo has offered free general admission continuously since 1916 and today welcomes more than three million visitors per year, making it one of the most visited zoos in the country. The 90-acre zoo is home to more than 12,000 animals, including endangered species from six continents — African elephants, gorillas, orangutans, polar bears, sea lions, penguins, cheetahs, giraffes, komodo dragons, and the world’s largest living tortoise species. The Emerson Zooline Railroad, Sea Lion Shows, and certain special experiences require a separate Adventure Pass — but general zoo admission and access to the animal habitats are always free. Sensory-friendly mornings are offered periodically during the year (advance free reservation required). Open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily in summer; hours vary by season. Closed on Christmas Day. Free parking at the south lot on Oakland Avenue fills quickly in summer — arrive early or use Forest Park’s alternative parking areas.
St. Louis Science Center — Always free general admission for everyone. The St. Louis Science Center is one of only a handful of free science and technology museums in the United States. Located on Oakland Avenue in Forest Park, the center features more than 700 interactive exhibits across two interconnected buildings, including a full-scale replica of a Boeing 737 cockpit, a human body exhibit, a technology showcase, a space exploration gallery, and permanent exhibits on natural science and geology. The James S. McDonnell Planetarium — a distinctive cone-shaped structure visible from across Forest Park — is free for everyone and features rotating sky programs. OMNIMAX Dome films require a separate ticket. Open daily during the school year and summer.
St. Louis Art Museum (SLAM) — Always free general admission for everyone. One of the great encyclopedic art museums in the United States, the St. Louis Art Museum holds more than 34,000 works spanning 5,000 years of art history — ancient Egyptian, Greek, and Roman art, European masters, American art, Asian collections, and one of the finest pre-Columbian art collections in the world. The museum’s striking Beaux-Arts building sits at the top of Art Hill in Forest Park and is free to the public every day. Special ticketed exhibitions require separate admission. Open Tuesday through Sunday; closed Monday.
Missouri History Museum — Always free general admission for everyone, every day. The Missouri History Museum in Forest Park explores the full arc of Missouri history, including exhibits on the 1904 World’s Fair, the Lewis and Clark expedition, and the history of St. Louis from its French colonial founding through its role as the Gateway to the West. The museum building and grounds are open daily.
Gateway Arch National Park — Free entry to the grounds and the national park itself, every day. The Gateway Arch is 630 feet tall — the world’s tallest arch — and serves as the centerpiece of Gateway Arch National Park along the St. Louis riverfront. Strolling the park grounds and experiencing the Arch from below is always free. The Museum at the Gateway Arch, located underground beneath the Arch, charges a modest admission fee — visit nps.gov/jeff for current pricing and free admission opportunities for children through America the Beautiful Junior Ranger and fee-free days. The tram ride to the top of the Arch requires a separate ticket.
St. Louis — Missouri Botanical Garden
Missouri Botanical Garden (St. Louis) — Free admission for all St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents on Wednesday mornings and Saturday mornings from 9 a.m. to noon. A valid driver’s license or state ID showing a St. Louis City or County address is required. If you do not live in St. Louis City or County, the Missouri Botanical Garden participates in the Museums for All program — EBT cardholders from any state receive reduced admission. Verify the current EBT rate at missouribotanicalgarden.org before visiting. The Missouri Botanical Garden is one of the oldest botanical institutions in the country, founded in 1859, and spans 79 acres of formal and display gardens including the Climatron — a stunning geodesic dome tropical rainforest conservatory — a Japanese garden, a children’s garden, and a rose garden. A UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the top botanical gardens in the world.
St. Louis — Additional Museums for All Participants
St. Louis has dozens of Museums for All participants in addition to the always-free venues above. For the current list, search museums4all.org and filter by Missouri/St. Louis. Notable Museums for All participants in the St. Louis area include:
Laumeier Sculpture Park (Sunset Hills) — Always free general admission. More than 75 large-scale outdoor sculptures spread across 105 wooded acres in suburban St. Louis County. A unique combination of nature walk and outdoor art museum. No EBT card needed — admission is free for all visitors.
The Sheldon Concert Hall & Art Galleries (St. Louis) — Verify current EBT admission through Museums for All. A historic 1912 concert hall in Grand Center with fine art galleries.
Magic House (Kirkwood) — Discounted Museums for All admission. One of the top children’s museums in Missouri, with interactive hands-on exhibits for children across multiple floors inside a Victorian-style house in suburban Kirkwood. Verify the current EBT rate before visiting at magichouse.org.
Kansas City — Children’s Museum and Cultural Venues
Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium — The Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium is operated as a zoological district funded by Jackson and Clay County taxpayers, who receive discounted admission as a direct benefit of that tax support. A dedicated SNAP/EBT Museums for All discount is not currently listed on the zoo’s ticketing page. Jackson and Clay County residents receive a reduced resident rate at the ticket booth — check kansascityzoo.org for current resident pricing. The zoo also offers camp scholarships for children from low-income households, including SNAP recipients, for week-long summer camp programs. If you are visiting Kansas City from outside the area and want a zoo experience, the Saint Louis Zoo is free for everyone and is worth the drive for a day trip.
Children’s Museum of Kansas City — Discounted Museums for All admission with an EBT card. A hands-on interactive children’s museum in Kansas City’s Westport neighborhood offering exhibits for children ages 10 and under. Verify the current EBT rate before visiting.
National WWI Museum and Memorial (Kansas City) — Verify current EBT admission through Museums for All at museums4all.org. The official national museum dedicated to World War I, featuring more than 75,000 artifacts, immersive galleries, and a glass floor over a field of 9,000 red poppies representing the fallen. One of the finest history museums in the United States, located at the base of the Liberty Memorial tower overlooking downtown Kansas City.
Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art (Kansas City) — Always free general admission for everyone, every day. No EBT card needed — admission is free to all visitors, including all special exhibitions, at all times. One of the finest art museums in the Midwest, the Nelson-Atkins holds more than 42,000 works spanning 5,000 years including a landmark collection of Asian art, European masters, American art, and the celebrated outdoor sculpture park featuring Claes Oldenburg’s giant Shuttlecocks.
Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art (Kansas City) — Always free for everyone. No EBT card needed.
Kansas City Public Library — Free library card access to museum passes and discounted admission to Kansas City-area cultural institutions. Ask your local KCPL branch about currently available museum pass checkouts.
Statewide — Double Up Food Bucks Missouri
Double Up Food Bucks Missouri is the state’s produce incentive program, operated by Double Up Heartland in partnership with the Missouri Farmers Market Association. It is one of the most practical and highest-value EBT perks available to Missouri SNAP recipients.
How it works at farmers markets: Before you shop, go to the market information booth or manager’s table. Tell the staff how much SNAP you want to spend. They will exchange your SNAP benefits for market tokens — one token for each SNAP dollar spent — which can be used at any vendor for SNAP-eligible items. You will receive an equal amount in Double Up Food Bucks tokens at no cost, redeemable for locally grown Missouri fruits and vegetables. The match is dollar-for-dollar, up to $25 per market day. Double Up tokens can be used on the same day or saved for a future market visit.
Important: Missouri has two different token colors. Purple tokens are used at markets in central and eastern Missouri, including the St. Louis region and the Soulard Farmers Market. Aqua tokens are used at markets in Kansas City, western Missouri, and across the border in Kansas. Purple and aqua tokens are not interchangeable — they can only be redeemed at markets using the same color tokens. If you earn tokens at a Soulard Market visit, you can redeem them at another purple-token market in the region, but not at the Kansas City City Market (aqua tokens). Ask market staff about their token color when you arrive.
At participating grocery stores: Double Up Food Bucks is also available at select grocery chains in Missouri. Town & Country Supermarkets, Country Mart, Apple Market, and Price Chopper locations across Missouri participate — when you check out with your Missouri EBT card, Double Up Bucks are applied on fresh produce purchases. The match is dollar-for-dollar, up to $25 per day. Redeemable on your current or future shopping trip.
Find all participating Double Up Food Bucks Missouri locations — farmers markets, farm stands, mobile markets, and grocery stores — at doubleupheartland.org. The City Market in Kansas City and the Soulard Farmers Market in St. Louis are the two highest-volume anchor markets in the Missouri network.
Missouri SNAP Restrictions — What to Know for 2026
In 2026, Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe submitted a waiver request to the USDA to modify Missouri’s SNAP program to restrict certain food categories — specifically foods with limited nutritional value — from being purchased with SNAP benefits. Under the proposal, the implementation date, if approved by the USDA, is estimated at October 1, 2026. As of the publication of this article, the waiver has been submitted but is not yet final. No Missouri SNAP restrictions on what you can buy are in effect yet. We will update this article when the status changes. For current information, check mydss.mo.gov or call the Missouri SNAP hotline at 1-855-373-4636.
Phone Service — Lifeline
Missouri EBT cardholders automatically qualify for the federal Lifeline program, which provides up to $9.25 per month off a monthly phone or internet bill. Many participating Lifeline providers in Missouri offer unlimited talk and text plans for free or at very low cost for qualifying households. Some carriers include a free smartphone for new enrollees. Visit lifelinesupport.org to find participating Missouri providers and apply.
Internet Service — Discounted Broadband Plans
SNAP enrollment qualifies Missouri households for discounted home internet through several national providers. Comcast Xfinity Internet Essentials, AT&T Access, and other carriers offer reduced-cost plans to qualifying low-income customers in Missouri. Contact your current or prospective internet provider and ask about income-based or SNAP-qualifying plans — your Missouri EBT card is typically the primary qualifying credential.
Summer EBT — Missouri SUN Bucks for Children
Missouri participates in the SUN Bucks program, which provides $120 per eligible child per summer loaded onto an EBT card for grocery purchases when school meals are unavailable. If your household already receives SNAP or Temporary Assistance, your child’s SUN Bucks benefits will be loaded onto your existing Missouri EBT card — you do not need to apply separately. A new EBT card will be mailed to households that do not currently have one. Missouri SUN Bucks are called “Missouri SuN Bucks” on official state materials.
Keep your SUN Bucks EBT card after the summer — it may be reloaded in future years. If you believe your child was enrolled in error, you can opt out by calling the Family Support Division at 1-855-373-4636. For questions about Missouri SuN Bucks, visit mydss.mo.gov/missouri-sun-bucks-faqs.
Free School Meals for Children
Missouri SNAP households automatically qualify their school-age children for free school meals through the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program. Missouri uses direct certification — you typically do not need to file a separate free and reduced meals application if your household already receives Food Assistance.
Energy Bill Assistance — LIHEAP
Missouri EBT cardholders automatically qualify for the federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), which helps pay heating and cooling costs. In Missouri, LIHEAP is administered through local community action agencies. Funding is seasonal and limited — apply early in the heating or cooling season. Dial 211 or visit mo211.org to find LIHEAP resources in your county.
Walmart+ and Instacart+ — Discounted Delivery Memberships
Walmart+ is available to SNAP recipients for approximately 50% off the standard $12.95 monthly price — around $6.47 per month. Includes free grocery delivery on orders of $35 or more, free shipping on Walmart.com, and Paramount+ streaming. Walmart accepts Missouri EBT for online grocery pickup and delivery at participating Missouri store locations.
Instacart+ is available to EBT cardholders who have placed at least one SNAP order on Instacart within the past six months for $4.99 per month for the first year. Instacart accepts Missouri EBT for grocery orders at participating retailers including Aldi, Costco, Schnucks, Hy-Vee, and others.
YMCA — Reduced Membership Rates
Many YMCA locations in Missouri offer reduced or sliding-scale membership rates for SNAP recipients and low-income households. Contact your nearest Missouri YMCA to ask about income-based membership pricing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What discounts can I get with a Missouri EBT card?
Missouri SNAP cardholders benefit from some of the best always-free cultural institutions in the country — the Saint Louis Zoo, St. Louis Science Center, and St. Louis Art Museum are free for everyone every day, with no EBT card required. Beyond always-free venues, your Missouri EBT card qualifies you for discounted admission at Museums for All participants statewide, half-price Amazon Prime ($6.99/month), a dollar-for-dollar produce match through Double Up Food Bucks Missouri (up to $25/day) at participating farmers markets and grocery stores, Lifeline phone discounts, Missouri SuN Bucks ($120 per eligible child), free school meals, and LIHEAP energy assistance.
Is the Saint Louis Zoo really free for everyone?
Yes. The Saint Louis Zoo has been free for general admission since 1916 and today admits more than three million visitors per year at no charge. No EBT card is required — admission is free for every person, every day. The Emerson Zooline Railroad, Sea Lion Shows, and Adventure Pass attractions require a separately purchased ticket. Open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily in summer; check stlzoo.org for current seasonal hours.
Is the Kansas City Zoo free with an EBT card?
The Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium does not currently offer a dedicated SNAP/EBT Museums for All discount. Jackson and Clay County residents receive a reduced resident rate at the ticket booth as a benefit of the county zoological district tax. If you live outside the district, standard out-of-county admission applies. The zoo does offer summer camp scholarships for children from low-income households, including SNAP recipients — check kansascityzoo.org for the current application.
What is Double Up Food Bucks Missouri and how does it work?
Double Up Food Bucks Missouri matches your SNAP spending at participating farmers markets dollar-for-dollar, up to $25 per market day. Spend $10 in SNAP, earn $10 in Double Up tokens for locally grown Missouri produce. Missouri uses two different token colors — purple tokens in the St. Louis and central Missouri region, and aqua tokens in the Kansas City and western Missouri region. The two token types are not interchangeable. At participating grocery stores — including Town & Country, Country Mart, Apple Market, and Price Chopper — Double Up Bucks are applied automatically at checkout. Find participating locations at doubleupheartland.org.
Can I use my Missouri EBT card at museums in other states?
Yes. Most Museums for All participants nationwide accept EBT cards from any state. Your Missouri EBT card is accepted at more than 1,600 Museums for All locations across all 50 states. Search the full directory at museums4all.org. When traveling, always bring your Missouri EBT card — it opens discounted or free admission at science centers, zoos, botanical gardens, children’s museums, art museums, and historic sites in every state.
Are there going to be SNAP food restrictions in Missouri?
Governor Kehoe submitted a waiver request to the USDA in 2026 to restrict certain low-nutrition foods from Missouri SNAP purchases. If the waiver is approved, implementation is estimated at October 1, 2026. As of now, no restrictions are in effect — Missouri SNAP recipients can still purchase the same foods allowed under federal SNAP rules. Check mydss.mo.gov or call 1-855-373-4636 for current status.
How do I get Amazon Prime at half price with my Missouri EBT card?
Sign up at Amazon’s SNAP discount page and upload a photo of your Missouri EBT card or a recent benefit letter to verify SNAP enrollment. The discounted rate is $6.99 per month. A credit or debit card is required as a backup payment method. A free 30-day trial is available for first-time Prime members. The $6.99 monthly fee cannot be charged to your EBT card balance.
When does Missouri deposit SNAP benefits onto the EBT card?
Missouri loads SNAP benefits over the first 22 days of each month, based on your birth month and the first letter of your last name. To find your specific deposit date, check the monthly EBT benefit schedule at mydss.mo.gov or call the Missouri EBT support line at 1-800-997-7777 (24/7). You can also check your current balance by calling the same number or logging into the FSD Benefits Portal.
Bottom Line
Missouri’s most remarkable EBT-accessible feature is not a discount — it is the concentration of world-class free cultural institutions in St. Louis. The Saint Louis Zoo, St. Louis Science Center, St. Louis Art Museum, Missouri History Museum, and Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art (in Kansas City) are all free for everyone, every day. No EBT card, no registration, and no income verification required at any of them.
Double Up Food Bucks Missouri is the highest day-to-day value EBT perk for grocery budgets. Spending $25 in SNAP at a participating St. Louis or Kansas City farmers market earns another $25 in tokens for locally grown Missouri produce — every market visit. Find participating locations at doubleupheartland.org.
Half-price Amazon Prime is available immediately to any Missouri SNAP recipient. Sign up here to start saving on shipping and groceries right away.
For the full list of stores that accept your Missouri EBT card for groceries, see our guide to grocery stores that take EBT. To see everything SNAP covers beyond the basics, check our guide on surprising things you can buy with EBT. And to find out how much in Food Stamps you may qualify for, use our SNAP Eligibility Calculator.
Last updated: 2026 | Discount programs, admission rates, and eligibility requirements are subject to change. Verify current details with each venue or program before visiting. Missouri Food Assistance (SNAP) is administered by the Missouri Department of Social Services Family Support Division. Missouri EBT card support: 1-800-997-7777. Missouri SNAP hotline: 1-855-373-4636.