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.

In the upper grades, students attend overnight/day-long field trips:

FOURTH GRADE: Exploration of Gold Country

FIFTH GRADE: "The Age of Sail" at the San Francisco National Maritime Park

SIXTH GRADE: Weeklong Visit to Mendocino Woodlands

PACS students also go on a variety of field trips including Dillon Beach, Mt. Hermon. and Washington DC (every other year).