Tennessee offers one of the most geographically diverse EBT discount landscapes in the South — with strong programs across all four of its major cities and one of the most remarkable cultural bargains in the entire article series: Discovery Park of America in Union City, which offers completely free admission for up to four guests to any SNAP recipient.
In 2026, your Tennessee Benefit Security Card also unlocks a $100 discount on Nashville Zoo household memberships, $3 admission at Memphis Zoo and Adventure Science Center in Nashville, an $39 annual Adventure Access pass at Adventure Science Center, a $0.85 bus fare on Nashville MTA, free or reduced admission at 15+ Museums for All partners across Knoxville, Chattanooga, Memphis, and Nashville, and produce-matching at the Nashville Farmers’ Market through Fresh Bucks.
Your card also qualifies you for half-price Amazon Prime at $6.99/month, free or low-cost phone and internet service through Lifeline, Summer EBT for children, and energy assistance through LIHEAP.
This is the complete guide to every EBT discount available to Tennessee SNAP recipients in 2026, organized by city.
A Note on Tennessee’s SNAP Program
Tennessee’s SNAP program is called the Families First program and is administered by the Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS). Benefits are loaded monthly onto the Tennessee Benefit Security Card — Tennessee’s name for the EBT card. When venues ask to see a “SNAP card,” “EBT card,” or “Benefit Security Card,” they are all referring to the same card.
Tennessee has 15 Museums for All partners spanning Knoxville, Chattanooga, Memphis, and Nashville. Many venues also accept Tennessee WIC cards and TennCare (Tennessee’s Medicaid) cards for their EBT-equivalent discounts.
At all participating venues, show your Benefit Security Card and a valid photo ID at the admissions desk. Your EBT benefit balance cannot be used to pay for admission — any cost is paid separately with cash, credit, or debit.
If you are unsure whether you qualify for SNAP, use the Tennessee SNAP eligibility calculator for an instant estimate.
Amazon Prime — Half Price for Tennessee SNAP Recipients
Tennessee Benefit Security cardholders 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, and access to Amazon Fresh for online grocery ordering.
Sign up through Amazon’s Prime for EBT page and verify your enrollment by uploading a photo of your Tennessee Benefit Security 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 balance.
Western Tennessee — Discovery Park of America
Discovery Park of America (Union City) — FREE for up to four guests
Discovery Park of America in Union City — in Tennessee’s far northwestern corner near the Kentucky border — is one of the most extraordinary and least-known EBT destinations in the entire country. SNAP recipients receive completely free admission for the cardholder and up to three additional guests through an EBT discount program.
Standard adult admission is $23 — making the free EBT rate a saving of $92 for a family of four.
Discovery Park encompasses a 100,000-square-foot museum and a 50-acre heritage park, making it the largest museum campus in Tennessee and one of the largest in the South. The museum features exhibit galleries covering history, science, technology, art, and the culture of the Tennessee River region — from Native American prehistory through the Civil War in West Tennessee, the cotton economy, and the rural communities of the upper Mississippi River plain. The campus also features a 12-acre Discovery Lake, an outdoor amphitheater, heritage farm buildings, walking trails, and an extraordinary collection of life-sized outdoor sculptures.
Discovery Park’s scale and quality rival many major metropolitan museums — making the free EBT admission one of the most impactful cultural access benefits available to SNAP recipients in any rural area of the country.
Address: 830 Everett Blvd, Union City, TN 38261. Phone: (731) 885-5455. EBT cards from all states are accepted.
Memphis — Memphis Zoo, Blues Hall of Fame, Children’s Museum & More
Memphis is a city defined by music, the Mississippi River, and a cultural heritage unlike any other in America — and several of its most significant institutions are accessible to EBT cardholders at reduced or free cost.
Memphis Zoo — $3 per person, up to four people; Free Family Membership Program
The Memphis Zoo in Overton Park is one of the top-rated zoos in the country and the cultural anchor of Midtown Memphis. Tennessee Benefit Security cardholders receive $3 per person for up to four people through the Museums for All program — versus the standard adult rate of $20.
But the zoo’s most remarkable EBT benefit is the Free Family Membership Program: low-income families can receive a completely free household-level zoo membership simply by showing their Tennessee food stamps Benefit Security Card at the membership desk. This membership provides unlimited admission for two adults and all children under 18 for a full year. This is one of the only completely free annual zoo memberships in the country for EBT cardholders — an extraordinary benefit for Memphis families.
The Memphis Zoo is home to more than 3,500 animals representing 500+ species — including giant pandas (one of fewer than a dozen zoos in the US to hold giant pandas), lions, elephants, Komodo dragons, sea lions, and an acclaimed Northwest Passage polar exhibit. The zoo anchors Overton Park — one of the most beloved urban green spaces in the South, bordering the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art and the Old Forest State Natural Area.
Address: 2000 Prentiss Place, Memphis, TN 38112. Phone: (901) 333-6500. Tennessee EBT or photo ID of Tennessee SNAP enrollment required for the free membership.
Blues Foundation’s Blues Hall of Fame Museum (Memphis) — EBT discount
The Blues Hall of Fame Museum on South Main Street in downtown Memphis celebrates the artists, recordings, performances, and places that have shaped the blues — the American musical form that gave birth to rock and roll, soul, R&B, and hip-hop. The museum is operated by the Blues Foundation and induction into the Blues Hall of Fame is among the most prestigious honors in American music.
Tennessee Benefit Security cardholders receive a discount through the Museums for All program. Verify the current EBT rate at blues.org before visiting.
Address: 421 South Main Street, Memphis, TN 38103.
Children’s Museum of Memphis — $3 per person, up to four people
The Children’s Museum of Memphis offers $3 per person for up to four people through the Museums for All program. The museum features hands-on, interactive exhibits designed for children and families, with a particular emphasis on creative play, imagination, and cultural exploration. Standard admission is $12 for visitors over one year old.
Address: 2525 Central Ave, Memphis, TN 38104. Phone: (901) 458-2678. EBT cards from all states are accepted.
Nashville — Adventure Science Center, Nashville Zoo, Cheekwood, Frist Art Museum & More
Nashville’s EBT discount landscape is anchored by a combination of per-visit rates and annual membership programs — making it one of the best cities in Tennessee for EBT families to access ongoing cultural experiences.
Adventure Science Center (Nashville) — $3 per person, up to four people; $39 annual Adventure Access pass
The Adventure Science Center at Fort Negley in Nashville is Middle Tennessee’s premier science museum, offering a combination of permanent interactive exhibits and rotating special experiences across multiple floors. EBT cardholders receive $3 per person for up to four people through the Museums for All program.
The even better option for Nashville families is the Adventure Access program: Tennessee SNAP, WIC, and TANF recipients with a Tennessee-issued photo ID can purchase an annual general admission pass for just $39. This pass provides unlimited visits for the full year — and at $3 per-visit pricing, a family that visits just twice already exceeds the $39 annual cost. For Nashville-area families, the Adventure Access annual pass is almost certainly the better value.
Address: 800 Fort Negley Blvd, Nashville, TN 37203. Phone: (615) 862-5160. Tennessee EBT, WIC, or TANF card required for the Adventure Access program.
Nashville Zoo at Grassmere — $100 membership discount
The Nashville Zoo at Grassmere offers one of the most distinctive EBT zoo benefits in the country: a $100 discount on a standard household-level zoo membership for SNAP, WIC, and TANF enrollees. Standard household memberships covering two adults and up to six children run $175–$200 — the EBT discount brings this to approximately $75–$100 for unlimited visits for the full year.
The Nashville Zoo occupies the historic Grassmere estate in south Nashville — a 200-acre property that includes the original 1880s farmhouse, naturalistic wildlife habitats, a children’s play area, and a wetlands boardwalk. The zoo is home to more than 2,700 animals representing 350+ species, including meerkats, clouded leopards, gibbons, a Galapagos tortoise, and North American river otters.
To access the membership discount, visit the Nashville Zoo membership desk with your SNAP, WIC, or TANF card.
Address: 3777 Nolensville Pike, Nashville, TN 37211. Phone: (615) 833-1534.
Cheekwood Estate & Gardens (Nashville) — $3 per person, up to four people
Cheekwood Estate & Gardens in Belle Meade is one of the finest botanical gardens and historic estates in the Southeast — a 55-acre property featuring a beautifully restored 1930s Georgian Revival mansion, formal gardens, a woodland sculpture trail, seasonal flower festivals, and permanent and rotating fine art collections.
EBT cardholders receive $3 per person for up to four people through the Museums for All program. Standard adult admission is $28 — making this one of Nashville’s highest-value EBT discounts per dollar saved. Cheekwood’s seasonal installations (daffodil season in spring, holiday lights in winter) make it a particularly rewarding destination to visit multiple times throughout the year.
Address: 1200 Forrest Park Dr, Nashville, TN 37205. Phone: (615) 356-8000. EBT cards from all states are accepted.
Frist Art Museum (Nashville) — $3 per person; FREE for children 18 and under
The Frist Art Museum on Broadway in downtown Nashville is a major fine art museum housed in the stunning 1934 Art Deco former Nashville Main Post Office — one of the finest examples of Art Deco federal architecture in the South, with a lobby featuring an extraordinary Tennessee marble floor.
EBT cardholders receive $3 per person through the Museums for All program. Children 18 and under are always free regardless of EBT status, making the Frist one of the most genuinely family-accessible museums in Nashville.
The Frist presents major rotating exhibitions from leading national and international museums throughout the year, giving it a consistently fresh and compelling program. Permanent collection highlights include works spanning world cultures and art history.
Address: 919 Broadway, Nashville, TN 37203. Phone: (615) 244-3340. EBT cards from all states are accepted.
Parthenon (Nashville) — $3 per person, up to four people
Nashville’s full-scale replica of the ancient Athenian Parthenon in Centennial Park is one of the most improbable and delightful monuments in American civic architecture — built as the centerpiece of Tennessee’s 1897 Centennial Exposition and made permanent in the 1920s. Inside, it functions as a public art museum housing a significant collection of 19th and 20th-century American paintings alongside the centerpiece: a 42-foot gilded statue of Athena Parthenos — the tallest indoor statue in the Western Hemisphere.
EBT cardholders receive $3 per person for up to four people through the Museums for All program. Centennial Park itself, which surrounds the Parthenon, is always free.
Address: 2600 West End Ave, Nashville, TN 37203. Phone: (615) 862-8431. EBT cards from all states are accepted.
aMuse’um Columbia Children’s Museum (Columbia, near Nashville) — $2 per person
aMuse’um, the Columbia Children’s Museum in Maury County south of Nashville, offers $2 per person through the Museums for All program — one of the lowest EBT admission rates in Tennessee. The museum serves families in the rapidly growing Nashville suburban corridor and Middle Tennessee rural communities.
Address: 123 W 7th St, Columbia, TN 38401. Phone: (931) 223-6337. EBT cards from all states are accepted.
Customs House Museum & Cultural Center (Clarksville) — $3 for adults, FREE for children under 3
The Customs House Museum in Clarksville — a 90-minute drive northwest of Nashville near Fort Campbell — is one of the largest art museums in Tennessee, housed in the city’s historic 1898 federal building. Through the Museums for All program, EBT cardholders receive $3 for adults and children aged 3 and over, with free admission for children under 3.
The museum presents art, history, and science exhibitions across multiple floors and galleries. The Clarksville area has a large active-duty military and veteran population from Fort Campbell — the museum actively engages this community alongside SNAP recipients through multiple access programs.
Address: 200 South Second St, Clarksville, TN 37040. Phone: (931) 648-5780. EBT cards from all states are accepted.
Nashville — MTA Reduced Bus Fare
Nashville MTA — $0.85 per ride (standard: $2.00)
The Nashville Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) offers a reduced fare of $0.85 per single ride to EBT cardholders — compared to the standard $2.00 fare. Present your Tennessee Benefit Security Card at the fare box or when purchasing passes to access the reduced rate.
This fare reduction makes Nashville’s bus network significantly more affordable for SNAP recipients who rely on public transit to reach work, medical appointments, grocery stores, and cultural attractions. For a daily commuter, the reduced fare saves approximately $1.15 per ride — over $600 per year for five-day-a-week riders.
Contact Nashville MTA at nashvillemta.org or call (615) 862-5950 for route information and current reduced-fare pass options.
Chattanooga — Hunter Museum, Creative Discovery Museum & Tennessee Aquarium
Hunter Museum of American Art (Chattanooga) — $3 per person, up to four people
The Hunter Museum of American Art sits dramatically on the limestone bluffs above the Tennessee River in downtown Chattanooga, combining three architecturally distinct buildings — a 1904 Classical Revival mansion, a 1975 Brutalist addition, and a stunning 2005 contemporary glass structure — into one of the most architecturally interesting museum complexes in the South. The collection focuses on American art from the colonial period through the contemporary — with particular strength in the Hudson River School, American Impressionism, and Southern artists.
EBT cardholders receive $3 per person for up to four people through the Museums for All program. Standard adult admission is $13.
Address: 10 Bluff View, Chattanooga, TN 37403. Phone: (423) 267-0968. EBT cards from all states are accepted.
Creative Discovery Museum (Chattanooga) — $3 per person, up to four people
The Creative Discovery Museum in downtown Chattanooga is one of the finest children’s museums in Tennessee — a hands-on discovery environment specifically designed for children ages 2 through 12. EBT cardholders receive $3 per person for up to four people through the Museums for All program. Standard admission is $14.95.
The museum features a rooftop Fun Zone, a three-story climbing structure, an inventor’s workshop, a music studio with real instruments, an artist’s studio, an excavation pit with fossils, and an outdoor splash pad. A special needs playroom with sensory-sensitive programming is also on-site.
Address: 321 Chestnut Street, Chattanooga, TN 37402. Phone: (423) 756-2738. EBT cards from all states are accepted.
Tennessee Aquarium (Chattanooga) — verify EBT rate
The Tennessee Aquarium on the Chattanooga riverfront is the largest freshwater aquarium in the world and one of the top aquariums in the Southeast, featuring exhibits covering the Tennessee River watershed, the ocean, and freshwater ecosystems from around the globe.
Contact the Tennessee Aquarium at (800) 262-0695 or tnaqua.org to confirm current EBT discount availability before visiting. The aquarium has historically offered EBT discounts and is a Museums for All participant — verify the current rate before your trip.
Address: 1 Broad St, Chattanooga, TN 37402.
Knoxville — Museum of Appalachia & Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge
Museum of Appalachia (Norris, near Knoxville) — $3 per person, up to four people
The Museum of Appalachia in Norris — just north of Knoxville — is one of the most authentic and emotionally resonant living history museums in Appalachia. Founded by John Rice Irwin over 40 years and now comprising 35 historic log cabins, barns, and outbuildings relocated from across the Southern Appalachians, it houses more than 250,000 artifacts of mountain pioneer life — tools, musical instruments, quilts, furniture, firearms, and objects that tell the daily story of Appalachian families across two centuries.
EBT cardholders receive $3 per person for up to four people through the Museums for All program.
Address: 2819 Andersonville Hwy, Norris, TN 37828. Phone: (865) 494-7680. EBT cards from all states are accepted.
Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge — FREE admission with EBT
The Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge — in the city where the Manhattan Project’s uranium enrichment facilities were secretly built during World War II — offers free admission to EBT cardholders through the Museums for All program. The museum focuses on hands-on science, technology, and creative arts exhibits appropriate for young children.
Address: 461 West Outer Drive, Oak Ridge, TN 37830. Phone: (865) 482-1074. EBT cards from all states are accepted.
Statewide — Fresh Bucks at Nashville Farmers’ Market
The Nashville Farmers’ Market participates in the Fresh Bucks program, which matches EBT spending on fresh produce dollar-for-dollar — effectively doubling your produce budget at the market. The Nashville Farmers’ Market is open year-round in Germantown and is one of the most significant urban farmers markets in the South, featuring local Tennessee farmers alongside prepared food vendors and artisans.
Ask at the market information booth for the Fresh Bucks station when you arrive. EBT matching tokens can only be spent on fresh produce — not other grocery items.
Phone & Internet — Lifeline
Tennessee Benefit Security cardholders automatically qualify for the federal Lifeline program, which provides up to $9.25 per month off a monthly phone or internet bill. See the full Lifeline application guide for step-by-step instructions.
Energy Assistance — LIHEAP
Tennessee SNAP households automatically meet the income threshold to apply for LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program), which helps pay heating and cooling costs. Tennessee’s climate includes both cold winters in the eastern mountain communities and hot, humid summers statewide — both heating and cooling costs can be significant. Receiving even a small LIHEAP payment can qualify your household for the highest SUA tier in your SNAP benefit calculation, potentially increasing your monthly food benefit. See the LIHEAP application guide for details.
Summer EBT for Children — Tennessee SUN Bucks
Tennessee families with school-age children who receive SNAP automatically qualify for SUN Bucks (Summer EBT), which provides $120 per eligible child each summer to replace free school meals when school is not in session. Funds load directly to your Benefit Security Card in June–August with no separate application needed for current SNAP households.
YMCA — Reduced Membership Rates
Many YMCA locations in Tennessee offer reduced or sliding-scale membership rates for SNAP/EBT cardholders. Contact your local Tennessee YMCA — locations in Memphis, Nashville, Chattanooga, Knoxville, and throughout the state — to ask about current income-based pricing.
What You Can Buy With Your Tennessee Benefit Security Card
Tennessee has not implemented any state-specific SNAP food purchase restrictions. All federally approved SNAP items remain purchasable with your Benefit Security Card in 2026. For the full list of what SNAP covers and does not cover, see the SNAP-eligible foods guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
What discounts do Tennessee EBT cardholders get in 2026?
Tennessee Benefit Security cardholders receive free admission (up to 4) at Discovery Park of America in Union City; $3/person (up to 4) at Memphis Zoo plus a potential free annual zoo membership; $3/person at Adventure Science Center in Nashville plus a $39 annual Adventure Access pass; a $100 discount on Nashville Zoo household memberships; $3/person at Cheekwood, the Frist Art Museum, the Parthenon, Creative Discovery Museum, Hunter Museum, and Museum of Appalachia; free admission at Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge; $0.85 MTA bus fares in Nashville; Fresh Bucks produce matching at Nashville Farmers’ Market; half-price Amazon Prime ($6.99/month); Lifeline phone/internet discounts; and SUN Bucks for school-age children.
Can I get a free zoo membership in Tennessee with my EBT card?
Yes — the Memphis Zoo offers a Free Family Membership to low-income Tennessee families who show their Benefit Security Card at the membership desk. This provides unlimited zoo admission for two adults and all children under 18 for a full year at no cost. Nashville Zoo offers a $100 discount on household memberships rather than a completely free membership.
What is the Adventure Access pass at Adventure Science Center?
The Adventure Access program lets Tennessee SNAP, WIC, and TANF recipients with a Tennessee-issued photo ID purchase an annual general admission pass to Adventure Science Center in Nashville for $39 — versus the standard per-visit admission of $14.95 per adult. Any Nashville-area family that visits more than twice a year will save money with the annual pass versus the $3 Museums for All per-visit rate.
Is Discovery Park of America really free with EBT?
Yes — completely free for the cardholder and up to three additional guests. Standard adult admission is $23. Discovery Park is a 100,000-square-foot museum on a 50-acre campus in Union City in western Tennessee. It is one of the largest museum campuses in the South and one of the most extraordinary EBT values in any rural area in the country.
Can I get a discounted bus pass in Nashville with my EBT card?
Yes — Nashville MTA offers a reduced fare of $0.85 per ride (versus the standard $2.00) to EBT cardholders. Present your Tennessee Benefit Security Card at the fare box or when purchasing passes. Contact Nashville MTA at nashvillemta.org or (615) 862-5950 for route and pass information.
Can I get free internet in Tennessee with my EBT card?
Yes — through the federal Lifeline program, Tennessee Benefit Security cardholders qualify for up to $9.25/month off their phone or internet bill. See the Lifeline application to apply.
Check Your Tennessee Benefit Security Card Benefits
Your Tennessee Benefit Security Card balance can be checked by calling 1-888-997-9444, through the ebtEDGE app, or at the point of sale at any authorized retailer. For a full guide, see how to check your SNAP balance in Tennessee.
Additional resources: Tennessee SNAP benefits by household size — how to apply for SNAP in Tennessee — Tennessee WIC income guidelines — Tennessee Medicaid eligibility.
Last updated: 2026 | Discount programs, admission rates, and eligibility requirements are subject to change. Verify current details with each venue before visiting. Tennessee SNAP (Families First) is administered by the Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS). Benefit Security Card support: 1-888-997-9444 (24/7).