Planning a day at the California Academy of Sciences? Use this no-nonsense guide for tickets, parking, public transit, and the best times to visit this beloved San Francisco landmark.
This guide was updated in September 2026 to confirm current ticket prices.
California Academy of Sciences history and overview
The California Academy of Sciences (CAS) is California’s world-class natural history museum. It is also an aquarium, a planetarium, and a four-story rainforest, all contained within a single structure. This San Francisco institution is located deep inside Golden Gate Park and the variety puts it top of the list of California’s best science museums, ahead of the Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles, Bay Area Discovery Museum in Sausalito and Fleet Science Center in San Diego.
The facility was rebuilt after the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake. It now features a living roof covered with plants native to the area, insulating the building and reducing rainwater runoff. CAS is dedicated to exploration of the natural world. It holds nearly 46 million specimens for scientific study.
The central attractions include the Steinhart Aquarium, home to the world’s deepest living coral reef display. You can also explore the Osher Rainforest, a glass dome filled with exotic birds and butterflies. The Kimball Natural History Museum galleries feature African dioramas and the history of human evolution.
The CAS experience is completed by the Morrison Planetarium. This theatre offers immersive, all-digital shows that explore the universe. Since all four major attractions are under one roof, you can easily spend three or four hours inside.
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Booking your visit to the California Academy of Sciences
The California Academy of Sciences uses timed-entry tickets to control visitor flow. Advance booking is highly recommended, especially if you plan to visit during weekends or peak season. Peak pricing applies during summer months, spring break, and major holiday periods.
Daytime Admission ticket prices vary by date. Current pricing for general admission is: Adults $49.00 to $55.00; Youth (ages 13–18) $45.00 to $49.00; Child (ages 3–12) $39.00 to $45.00. Children aged two and under are admitted free. Your daytime ticket includes access to the aquarium, the rainforest, the natural history museum, and all planetarium shows.
Planetarium shows require separate time reservations upon entry.
Operating hours and best times to enter the museum
The CAS maintains consistent public hours throughout the week. It is open Monday through Saturday from 9.30am to 5.00pm. On Sundays, the museum opens later, from 11.00am to 5.00pm. Last entry is one hour before closing time.
For a quiet experience, visit after 2.00pm on a weekday. The museum is generally less crowded in the afternoon. The slowest months are usually January, February, September, and October. Weekdays are always better than weekends for avoiding long lines.
An alternative experience is NightLife, a special 21+ event held every Thursday from 6.00pm to 10.00pm. NightLife requires a separate ticket and features bars, music, and a different atmosphere.
- Reserve your favoured timeslot by booking in advance.
Getting there and parking information
The CAS is located at 55 Music Concourse Drive, San Francisco, within Golden Gate Park. Public transportation is often the most economical choice for getting there. Several MUNI bus lines stop near the Academy, including the 44 O’Shaughnessy line, which drops off right in front.
If you drive, paid parking is available at the Music Concourse Garage, an underground facility adjacent to the museum. The garage is open from 7.00am to 7.00pm daily. The garage entrance is on Music Concourse Drive or Fulton Street.
- Hourly parking rates are $5 on weekdays and $6 on weekends.
- The daily maximum parking fee is $35.
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| Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) | |
|---|---|
| Are the paths wheelchair-friendly? | Yes, the Academy is fully wheelchair accessible. All exhibit spaces, including the rainforest and the aquarium, are connected by wide paths and elevators. |
| Is there accessible parking close to the entrance? | Yes, accessible parking is available on the B1 level of the underground Music Concourse Garage. Free accessible spots are also at the Golden Gate Bandshell Parking Lot on MLK Drive. |
| Availability of assistive devices (wheelchairs, audio guides, etc.) | Manual wheelchairs are available to borrow free of charge at the coat check on a first-come, first-served basis. Sensory kits are also available. |
| Are photos allowed everywhere? | Photography is generally allowed, but avoid using flash. Flash is strictly prohibited in the aquarium and planetarium to protect animals and the viewing experience. |
| Are there cafés or restaurants on-site? | Yes, there are multiple dining options on-site, including a full-service restaurant and a café for lighter snacks and beverages. |
Things to do near the California Academy of Sciences
de Young Museum – Directly across the Music Concourse from the Academy, this fine-art museum is the easiest attraction to combine with a visit to the California Academy of Sciences.
San Francisco Botanical Garden – Within Golden Gate Park, the botanical garden has extensive collections of plants from around the world and makes a good outdoor addition to a museum visit.
Japanese Tea Garden – Close to both the Academy and de Young Museum, this landscaped garden has paths, ponds, bridges and traditional Japanese-style buildings.
Conservatory of Flowers – At the eastern end of Golden Gate Park, this historic glasshouse contains collections of tropical and other exotic plants and is an easy stop when exploring the park.
Legion of Honor Museum – At the opposite side of Golden Gate Park, this fine-art museum displays European paintings, sculpture and ancient artefacts and can be combined with the Academy if you are planning a full day in the park.
Alternative attractions
Exploratorium – On Pier 15 on the Embarcadero, this hands-on science museum has hundreds of interactive exhibits exploring science, perception and human behaviour.
Fleet Science Center – In San Diego’s Balboa Park, this science centre combines interactive exhibits with an IMAX theatre, making it a useful comparison if the California Academy of Sciences is part of a wider California trip.
Bay Area Discovery Museum – Just across the Golden Gate Bridge in Sausalito, this hands-on museum is aimed particularly at younger children and focuses on science, discovery and outdoor play.
Griffith Observatory – In the Hollywood Hills, this Los Angeles landmark combines astronomy exhibits, planetarium shows and views across the city, providing a very different science-focused experience.
San Diego Natural History Museum – In Balboa Park, this museum covers natural history, geology, palaeontology and regional wildlife, making it one of the closer California comparisons to the natural-history side of the Academy.
Head a little further north to the Presidio, and you can explore the Walt Disney Family Museum or the Fort Point National Historical Site. Elsewhere in the city, check out the Exploratorium and the Wave Organ.
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