Cabrillo Marine Aquarium is a free-entry marine science museum and aquarium on Cabrillo Beach in San Pedro, Los Angeles, housed in a Frank Gehry-designed building. This guide covers opening hours, admission, transport and parking, accessibility, and practical visitor tips.
It was last checked in June 2026, when the Main Exhibit Hall had reopened on 18 April 2026 after an 18-month, $8 million renovation — a change many guides still miss, as they continue to describe the hall as closed.
Quick facts
| Opening hours | Tue–Fri 12:00 p.m.–5:00 p.m. Sat–Sun 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Closed Monday. |
| Ticket prices | Suggested donation: $7 adults, $3 children and seniors. No charge to enter. |
| Address | 3720 Stephen M. White Drive, San Pedro, California 90731. |
| Nearest transport / parking | No direct rail. Cabrillo Beach parking: $1 per hour, card only. Members park free. |
| Typical time needed | 1.5 to 2.5 hours, plus extra time for the beach and tidepools. |
Cabrillo Marine Aquarium opening hours
Cabrillo Marine Aquarium is open Tuesday to Friday from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. It is closed on Mondays.
The aquarium closes on the Fourth of July, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day. The gift shop keeps slightly longer hours and is open Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Cabrillo Marine Aquarium admission
Entry to Cabrillo Marine Aquarium is free. A suggested donation of $7 for adults and $3 for children and seniors is welcomed but not required.
Admission and hours were checked on the official website and last updated in July 2026. Friends of Cabrillo Marine Aquarium members receive free parking, discounts at the gift shop, and free tickets to Grunion Run events. There is no city pass scheme covering the aquarium.
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How to get to Cabrillo Marine Aquarium
The aquarium is on Cabrillo Beach in San Pedro, at the southern end of Los Angeles. It is around 25 miles south of downtown LA. There is no direct rail connection. By car, take the 110 South Freeway to its end, then follow signs to Cabrillo Beach and the aquarium.
Several LA Metro bus routes serve San Pedro. A Lyft or Uber from other parts of the city is a practical option. The San Pedro Red Trolley runs on Fridays and weekends and can be used to connect with the nearby LA Maritime Museum and West Harbor waterfront.
5 Los Angeles experiences worth booking
- 🎬 See how the movie magic works on the Warner Bros Studio tour.
- 🎢 Take on the rides and enjoy the shows at Universal Studios Hollywood.
- 🚌 Ogle celebrity homes in Hollywood and Beverly Hills from an open air bus.
- 🥾 Hike up to the Hollywood Sign, guided by comedians and their dogs.
- 🚲 Pedal along the coast on a Santa Monica and Venice guided e-bike tour.
Parking at Cabrillo Marine Aquarium
Cabrillo Beach parking costs $1 per hour for cars, with a nine-hour maximum. Oversized vehicles and boats pay $2 per hour up to seven hours. Payments are by credit or debit card only; no cash is accepted.
Friends of Cabrillo Marine Aquarium members park free. The car park is directly adjacent to the aquarium and beach.
How long to spend at Cabrillo Marine Aquarium
Most visitors spend between 1.5 and 2.5 hours inside the aquarium. The auditorium shows free films throughout the day, which add to the overall time.
Many visitors extend their trip with the adjacent Cabrillo Coastal Park, tidepools, and beach. Allow half a day if combining the aquarium with a beach visit.
Accessibility at Cabrillo Marine Aquarium
The aquarium is committed to accessibility and inclusion for all visitors. The building and coastal park are fully accessible. Specific accessibility information is available on the official website.
Visitors with accessibility requirements can call the aquarium at 310-548-7562 during business hours, Monday to Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Inside Cabrillo Marine Aquarium: what to see
The aquarium’s $8 million renovation, completed in April 2026, brought several new features. The Jelly Lab is a redesigned space where baby jellies are grown for research and education. Visitors walk through a “jelly tunnel” for a close-up view of purple stripe and moon jellies.
The Collections Room is a new addition that houses rare specimens including an anglerfish, sea turtle shells, and whale bones. It reflects the aquarium’s origins as a natural history collection. The refreshed Susanne Lawrenz-Miller Exhibit Hall presents five Southern California marine environments: Sandy Beaches, Mudflats, Rocky Shores, Kelp Forests, and Open Ocean.
The Exploration Center offers hands-on activities for all ages. The Aquatic Nursery is a working research laboratory that visitors can observe directly. The John M. Olguin Auditorium screens free conservation films throughout each day. A free audio tour is available in English and Spanish via smartphone.
Cabrillo Coastal Park, a short walk from the entrance, includes maintained tidepool trails, a saltmarsh, a fishing pier, a boat launch ramp, and picnic areas.
Practical visitor tips
| Tip | Detail |
|---|---|
| Timing | Arrive at 10:00 a.m. at weekends to take full advantage of the earlier opening time. |
| Crowds | The aquarium is rarely crowded; Grunion Run evenings are busier and require a separate ticket. |
| Layout | The exhibit hall, Exploration Center, and Aquatic Nursery are separate buildings within the same campus. |
| Entry process | No reservation is needed for standard visits; just arrive and pay the suggested donation at the door. |
| On-site logistics | Bring cash or card for parking; the car park is card-only for entry fees. |
Frequently asked questions about Cabrillo Marine Aquarium
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is Cabrillo Marine Aquarium free? | Yes. Entry is free; a suggested donation of $7 for adults and $3 for children is welcomed. |
| Has the Main Exhibit Hall reopened? | Yes. It reopened on 18 April 2026 after an 18-month, $8 million renovation. |
| Is Cabrillo Marine Aquarium open on Sundays? | Yes, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. |
| What is a Grunion Run? | A Grunion Run is a ticketed evening event where visitors observe grunion fish spawning on the beach. Tickets cost $7 for adults. |
| How long does a visit take? | 1.5 to 2.5 hours for the aquarium alone. Allow longer if visiting the beach and tidepools. |
Things to do near Cabrillo Marine Aquarium
- Cabrillo Beach and Cabrillo Coastal Park: a beach, tidepool trail, and saltmarsh directly adjacent to the aquarium.
- Los Angeles Maritime Museum: a maritime history museum at Berth 84 in San Pedro, about 10 minutes by car.
- Battleship USS Iowa Museum: a decommissioned battleship open for tours, about 10 minutes by car.
- West Harbor: a new waterfront dining and entertainment development in San Pedro, about 10 minutes by car.
- Point Fermin Park and Lighthouse: a historic lighthouse and coastal park at the tip of the San Pedro peninsula, about five minutes by car.
What to visit tomorrow
- Aquarium of the Pacific (Long Beach): a large public aquarium covering Pacific Ocean ecosystems, about 15 minutes by car.
- Roundhouse Aquarium (Manhattan Beach Pier): a small, free aquarium at the end of Manhattan Beach Pier, about 25 minutes by car.
- Heal the Bay Aquarium (Santa Monica Pier): a free community aquarium focused on local marine life, about 35 minutes by car.
- Marine Mammal Care Center (San Pedro): a sea lion and seal rehabilitation centre with free self-guided visits, about five minutes by car.
- Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution of Oceanography (La Jolla): a research aquarium south of Los Angeles, about 1 hour 45 minutes by car.
More Los Angeles travel
Other Los Angeles travel guides on Planet Whitley include:
- Exposition Park attractions: How best to tackle the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, California Science Center and California African American Museum.
- Key information for visiting the Hammer Museum in Los Angeles.
- Why Descanso Gardens is an easy escape from LA.
- Hollywood attractions: What to expect at the Hollywood Museum and on tours of the Dolby Theatre.
- What you need to know before doing the Warner Bros Studio Tour Hollywood.
