Flandrau Science Center and Planetarium is a public science museum and full-dome digital planetarium operated by the University of Arizona. It’s located at 1601 E. University Blvd. on the UA campus in Tucson, Arizona. This guide covers opening hours, ticket prices, parking, transport, and practical visitor tips.
Updated May 2026. The newest exhibit, Mysteries of the Cosmos, recently opened and covers the search for life in the universe using current space science. Flandrau was also named in the USA Today 10Best 2026 Top Ten Planetariums list. You can book your tickets in advance through GetYourGuide to skip the ticket counter on arrival.
Quick facts: Flandrau Science Center and Planetarium
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | 1601 E. University Blvd., Tucson, AZ 85721 |
| Opening hours | Tuesday–Sunday, 10:00am–5:00pm |
| Closed | Mondays, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day |
| Adult combo ticket (show + exhibits) | $27 |
| Child combo ticket (ages 3–15) | $19 |
| Children aged 2 and under | Free |
| Payment | Cashless — card only, no cash |
| Parking | Limited free parking on site; street and garage options nearby |
| Nearest streetcar stop | 2nd Street/Cherry Avenue (one block north) |
| Typical visit duration | 2–3 hours |
Flandrau Science Center opening hours
Flandrau is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10:00am to 5:00pm. It is closed every Monday, on Thanksgiving Day, and on Christmas Day. The building is on the University of Arizona campus, so occasional one-off closures for university events occur — check the official site before visiting.
Flandrau Science Center ticket prices
All tickets are purchased with a credit or debit card. No cash is accepted at any point, including at the ticket counter.
| Visitor | Combo price (show + all exhibits) |
|---|---|
| Adults | $27 |
| Seniors (65+) | $23 |
| Military | $23 |
| College ID holders | $19 |
| Children (ages 3–15) | $19 |
| Flandrau members | $5 |
| EBT/WIC cardholders (Museums for All) | $7 |
| Children aged 2 and under | Free |
The combo ticket covers a planetarium show in the Eos Foundation Planetarium Theater and access to all science exhibits for the full day.
Museums for All: EBT and WIC cardholders pay $7 per person (up to four guests per cardholder). This rate is not available online — present your card at the ticket counter on arrival.
You can book your combo ticket in advance through GetYourGuide, which skips the ticket queue and locks in your date. Tickets are also sold on-site.
Ticket prices were checked on the official website and last updated in May 2026.
Why book Flandrau Science Center tickets online?
- 🔭 Planetarium included: Your combo ticket covers a fulldome digital planetarium show in the Eos Foundation Theater — ranked in USA Today’s 2026 Top Ten Planetariums — plus full access to all exhibits.
- 🪐 New: Mysteries of the Cosmos: Explore the cutting-edge science behind the search for life in the universe, including the technologies used to look beyond our solar system.
- 🦈 Seven exhibit areas: From deep-ocean marine life to Mars surface models, the James Webb Space Telescope, giant insect displays, sharks, fossils, and hands-on physics — there is something for every age and interest.
- 🎸 Laser Light Music Nights: Flandrau hosts regular evening laser shows set to iconic albums. Booking ahead lets you plan around these popular events, which sell out quickly.
- 🎟️ Skip the queue: The ticket counter is cashless and can be busy at weekends. Booking online means you go straight in.
How to get to Flandrau Science Center
Flandrau is on the University of Arizona campus at 1601 E. University Blvd., between Cherry Avenue and Park Avenue.
By streetcar: The SunLink Streetcar stops at 2nd Street/Cherry Avenue, one block north of the entrance. This is the most convenient option from downtown Tucson.
By bus: Sun Tran routes 15, 9, and 20 stop at the UA Mall stop, directly across University Blvd. from the building.
By car: The campus is accessible from E. Speedway Blvd. or E. Broadway Blvd. Both approach from the north or south. Use the address 1601 E. University Blvd. for navigation.
Parking at Flandrau Science Center
Limited free parking is available on the yellow curb on the south side of Hawthorne Street, directly north of the building. Ask the front desk for a parking pass after purchasing admission. These spaces are first-come, first-served and are not guaranteed; school field trip buses get priority on weekday mornings.
Weekday street parking: Metered spaces on First Street and Second Street (north of Flandrau) are paid via the Passport Parking app at $2.25 per hour.
Weekend street parking: The same metered spaces are free on Saturdays and Sundays.
Cherry Avenue Garage: Covered overflow parking is available 24/7 at the Cherry Avenue Garage, south of the building. Hourly rates apply; check the official site for current pricing. Flandrau cannot validate garage parking.
Accessible parking: Two paid accessible spaces are located behind the building, with additional spaces available after 5pm.
How long to spend at Flandrau Science Center
Most visitors spend two to three hours. The planetarium show runs approximately 35–45 minutes. The seven exhibit areas across two floors add another hour or more. Families with young children who engage thoroughly with the hands-on elements often find three hours passes quickly.
Accessibility at Flandrau Science Center
Flandrau has a dedicated accessibility page on the official site. The building is on the University of Arizona campus and meets ADA requirements. Contact the centre in advance at (520) 621-4516 for specific accessibility requirements. All children must be accompanied by someone aged 16 or over throughout the visit.
Inside Flandrau Science Center: what to see
Mysteries of the Cosmos (newest exhibit, now open) explores the possibilities of life in the universe and the science used to look beyond our solar system. This is the most recent addition to the centre and is not yet covered in older guides.
Universe of Science is the centre’s large interactive gallery, where visitors can travel through a model of the human brain, generate a virtual monsoon storm, and explore deep space using the scientific instruments of the James Webb Space Telescope.
Undersea Discovery takes visitors from the shoreline to the deep ocean, covering marine ecosystems, ocean biology, and how ocean life is connected to life on land.
Wild World of Bugs! covers the biology and social behaviour of insects through graphic displays, hands-on activities, and large-scale models.
Sharks: Magnificent and Misunderstood is an immersive exhibit on shark science, biology, and conservation.
Destination: Mars features the world’s largest scale model of the Martian surface, built entirely from real spacecraft data.
Fossil Corner displays prehistoric life from dinosaurs to ancient marine creatures.
Eos Foundation Planetarium Theater presents fulldome digital shows on a rotating schedule throughout the day. Show times are listed on the official site. The planetarium is included in the combo ticket; check the current schedule before arriving to plan your visit around a specific show.
Laser Light Music Nights are evening events held regularly, featuring laser shows set to full albums. A Pink Floyd double bill — The Wall and Dark Side of the Moon back-to-back — is scheduled for 13 June 2026. These events sell out; book in advance through GetYourGuide or check the official site for the full schedule.
Practical visitor tips for Flandrau Science Center
| Tip | Detail |
|---|---|
| No cash is accepted | Every payment at Flandrau — tickets, gift shop, everything — requires a card. There are no cash transactions on site. |
| Check the planetarium schedule before you arrive | Shows run on a fixed schedule and the combo ticket covers one show. Knowing the show times before arrival lets you plan your exhibit time around your chosen screening. |
| Recommended age is 6 and up | The exhibits are designed for children aged 6 and over. Younger children can visit but will get less from the content. All children must be accompanied by someone aged 16 or over. |
| Free parking fills quickly on busy days | The limited Hawthorne Street spaces go fast on weekends. Arriving at opening (10am) gives the best chance of a free space. At weekends, street parking nearby is free and is the most reliable alternative. |
| Laser nights sell out | The Pink Floyd double bill on 13 June and other popular laser events sell out in advance. Check the events calendar and book early if this is a priority. |
Frequently asked questions about Flandrau Science Center
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is Flandrau Science Center open on Sundays? | Yes. Open Tuesday–Sunday from 10am to 5pm. Closed on Mondays, Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day. |
| What does the combo ticket include? | One planetarium show in the Eos Foundation Theater plus all-day access to all seven exhibit areas. |
| Can you visit exhibits without a planetarium show? | The standard ticket is a combo. Check the official site for any exhibit-only options, or contact Flandrau directly at (520) 621-4516. |
| Is Flandrau suitable for young children? | The recommended age for exhibits is 6 and over. Children 2 and under enter free. All children must be accompanied by someone 16 or older throughout the visit. |
| Is cash accepted? | No. All transactions are by credit or debit card. The Museums for All reduced rate ($7) must be claimed at the ticket counter on arrival with an EBT or WIC card — it is not available online. |
Things to do near Flandrau Science Center
University of Arizona campus (immediately surrounding the centre) has the Arizona State Museum, the Center for Creative Photography, the UA Museum of Art, and the Bioscience Research Laboratories — all within walking distance and several free to visit.
Tucson Botanical Garden (2150 N Alvernon Way, ~3 miles, ticketed) is a 5.5-acre botanical garden with desert, tropical, and seasonal plant collections and a cactus and succulent garden.
Reid Park Zoo (3400 Zoo Court, ~5 miles east, ticketed) is a compact mid-sized zoo with giraffes, elephants, sea lions, and a South America section. Family-friendly and a practical half-day companion to Flandrau.
Pima Air and Space Museum (6000 E Valencia Road, ~15 miles south-east, ticketed) has one of the largest aircraft collections in the world, with over 400 aircraft across an outdoor facility and multiple hangars.
Biosphere 2 (Oracle, ~45 miles north, ~50 minutes, ticketed) is a University of Arizona Earth science research facility — the world’s largest closed ecological system — open for guided tours.
What to visit tomorrow: science museums and planetariums within two hours of Tucson
Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum (Tucson, ~20 miles west, ~30 minutes) is a combined zoo, natural history museum, botanical garden, and art institute focused entirely on the Sonoran Desert ecosystem. One of the most visited attractions in Arizona.
Titan Missile Museum (Sahuarita, ~20 miles south, ~25 minutes) is the only preserved Titan II ICBM missile site in the world, open for guided tours underground in the original launch facility.
Arizona Science Center (Phoenix, ~110 miles north, ~1.5 hours) is a large science museum with more than 300 interactive exhibits, a planetarium, and a giant-screen IWERKS theatre. The natural Phoenix counterpart to Flandrau.
Challenger Space Center (Peoria, AZ, ~120 miles north, ~1.75 hours) is a hands-on space exploration learning centre with shuttle mission simulations and science programming, operated as a nonprofit.
Biosphere 2 (Oracle, ~45 miles north, ~50 minutes) is listed again here as the most distinctive science experience in the immediate region — a functioning research facility with public guided tours of its glass-enclosed biomes.
More Arizona attractions
Other Arizona travel guides include:
- Planning a visit to the Musical Instrument Museum and Heard Museum in Phoenix.
- Important information for visiting the Pioneer Living History Museum.
- What to see and do at the Museum of Northern Arizona in Flagstaff.
- Practical guide to visiting Lowell Observatory and Riordan Mansion State Historic Park in Flagstaff.
- Why visit Montezuma Castle National Monument?
