At McKinley, students at every grade level go on field trips throughout the year. Parents wishing to volunteer on field trips should refer to Petaluma City Schools volunteer requirements. There are special requirements for parents attending overnight field trips.

The lower grades go on day trips to such places as Spring Hill Jersey Cheese Farm, the Petaluma Wildlife Museum, Spring Lake, Sunrise Senior Living Center, Academy of Sciences, Luther Burbank Performing Arts Center, and the Oakland Zoo. Sixth grade students attend a weeklong outdoor education camp.

PACS students also go on a variety of field trips including Alliance Redwoods, Dillon Beach, Mt. Hermon, Westminster Woods, and Washington DC (after 8th grade, in conjunction with students from Mary Collins School at Cherry Valley).