The Electric City Aquarium & Reptile Den is an indoor wildlife attraction located inside The Marketplace at Steamtown in downtown Scranton, Pennsylvania. This guide covers opening hours, ticket prices, parking options, accessibility details, and practical visitor tips to help you plan your trip.
This guide was updated in April 2026 to confirm the venue no longer uses a timed entry system, allowing visitors to arrive at their convenience.
Quick facts
| Feature | Details |
| Opening hours | Daily from 11:00 am to 6:00 pm |
| Ticket prices | Adults $20.95, Children (2-12) $16.95 |
| Address | 300 Lackawanna Avenue, Scranton, PA 18503 |
| Nearest public transport or parking | The Marketplace at Steamtown car park |
| Typical time needed to visit | One to two hours |
Electric City Aquarium & Reptile Den opening hours
The attraction is open seven days a week from 11:00 am to 6:00 pm. The final entry of the day is permitted at 5:15 pm to ensure visitors have enough time to view the exhibits.
These hours operate year-round, but seasonal variations apply on certain public holidays. The aquarium is closed entirely on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. On Christmas Eve, the venue is open from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm, while New Year’s Eve hours run from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm.
Electric City Aquarium & Reptile Den ticket prices
General admission tickets cost $20.95 for adults and $16.95 for children aged two to twelve. Children under two receive free entry. Day passes grant visitors unlimited re-entry to the venue on the day of purchase.
Opening hours and ticket prices were checked on the official website and last updated in April 2026.
The attraction is not included in city pass schemes such as Go City or CityPass. These passes cover alternative regional attractions like the Franklin Institute, the Philadelphia Zoo, and the Eastern State Penitentiary.
How to get to Electric City Aquarium & Reptile Den
You can drive to the attraction via Interstate 81 or take a local bus to the downtown district. The venue is housed on the ground floor of The Marketplace at Steamtown, an indoor shopping centre on Lackawanna Avenue.
For public transport users, Lackawanna County bus services run regularly through the city centre. Several local bus routes stop directly outside the shopping centre on Lackawanna Avenue. The central location makes it accessible on foot if you are exploring the surrounding downtown streets.
Parking at the Electric City Aquarium & Reptile Den
Visitors can park directly underneath the shopping complex in the designated underground car park. The entrances to this car park are located on both Lackawanna Avenue and South Washington Avenue.
Parking is free for aquarium visitors when you validate your parking ticket. You must take your ticket into the venue and present it at the aquarium gift shop to receive this validation. Without validation, standard hourly parking rates apply.
How long to spend at the Electric City Aquarium & Reptile Den
Most visitors need between one and two hours to walk through the entire facility. This timeframe provides enough opportunity to view all the exhibits and participate in hands-on activities.
If you plan to attend the daily educational talks or watch feeding demonstrations, allow for two hours. The venue is entirely self-paced, allowing guests to move freely between sections without a strict schedule.
Accessibility at the Electric City Aquarium & Reptile Den
The attraction is fully wheelchair accessible, featuring flat, even surfaces throughout the exhibit space. It is located on the ground floor of the shopping centre, eliminating the need to navigate stairs.
Accessible parking spaces are available within the mall car park. Lifts connect the parking levels directly to the main indoor concourse. Service animals are permitted inside the venue in accordance with standard facility guidelines.
What to see at the Electric City Aquarium & Reptile Den
The attraction is divided into two primary sections: the Reptile Den and the main aquarium. The physical layout consists of a single pathway that guides visitors sequentially through the habitats.
In the Reptile Den, visitors view enclosed habitats containing snakes, frogs, tortoises, and small alligators. This section also houses non-reptile animals, including a toucan, an armadillo, and a sloth.
The main aquarium space features water tanks displaying sharks, stingrays, and various tropical fish. Several large tanks are designed as immersive tunnels, ensuring that fish swim directly overhead as you walk through.
A key feature is the interactive touch tank area supervised by staff members. Here, visitors are permitted to safely touch aquatic invertebrates, stingrays, and horseshoe crabs under direct guidance.
Educational signage is present at every enclosure to provide factual details about the animals inside. Daily scheduled talks offer additional information about specific species, allowing visitors to ask staff questions.
Facilities at the Electric City Aquarium & Reptile Den
The venue contains dedicated public toilets situated within the main exhibit space. These facilities include accessible stalls and baby changing stations for visitors with infants.
A gift shop is located near the exit, selling educational toys, clothing, and souvenirs. Visitors must pass through the shop to exit the attraction and validate parking tickets.
There is no full-service cafe located inside the aquarium itself. However, the shopping centre location provides immediate access to external food vendors and downtown restaurants.
Rules for visiting the Electric City Aquarium & Reptile Den
Visitors must follow specific facility rules to ensure the safety of the animals on display. Flash photography is strictly prohibited, as sudden bright lights can cause distress to the wildlife.
Guests are not permitted to tap, hit, or lean on the glass of any enclosure. Running and climbing on rocks are forbidden to prevent accidents and maintain a calm environment.
Outside food and drinks must be stored in lockers and cannot be consumed inside the exhibits. Guests must wash their hands and avoid picking up animals when using the touch pools.
Practical visitor tips
| Area | Advice |
| Timing | Arrive shortly after opening at 11:00 am to secure a space at the interactive touch tanks. |
| Crowds | Weekday afternoons are typically quieter than weekends, which regularly draw larger family groups. |
| Layout | Start your visit in the Reptile Den, as the pathway naturally leads into the main aquarium. |
| Entry process | You can purchase tickets at the gate or online, and you do not need to book a time slot. |
| On-site logistics | Retain your receipt or request a hand stamp to leave the venue and return later. |
Frequently asked questions about the Electric City Aquarium & Reptile Den
| Question | Answer |
| Is the Electric City Aquarium & Reptile Den suitable for children? | Yes, the venue features wide paths for pushchairs, low tanks, and designated feeding shows for younger visitors. |
| Do you need to book tickets in advance for the Electric City Aquarium & Reptile Den? | No, tickets can be purchased at the gate, and the venue does not require timed entry reservations. |
| Is the Electric City Aquarium & Reptile Den open on Sundays? | Yes, the attraction is open every Sunday from 11:00 am to 6:00 pm, with the final entry at 5:15 pm. |
| Are bags allowed at the Electric City Aquarium & Reptile Den? | Yes, standard day bags are permitted, but outside food must be kept in designated storage lockers. |
Things to do near the Electric City Aquarium & Reptile Den
- Steamtown National Historic Site: A railway museum featuring vintage steam locomotives, located a short walk from the shopping centre.
- Electric City Trolley Museum: An interactive transport museum offering seasonal trolley rides, situated adjacent to the Steamtown site.
- Lackawanna Coal Mine Tour: A guided underground walking tour through an authentic 19th-century anthracite coal mine in McDade Park.
- Everhart Museum: A regional museum in Nay Aug Park dedicated to natural history, science, and fine art.
- Nay Aug Park: A large public park featuring walking trails, a treehouse, and a viewing platform over the gorge.
More Pennsylvania travel
Other Pennsylvania travel articles on Planet Whitley include:
- Understanding Abraham Lincoln in Gettysburg.
- Drake Well: The birthplace of the oil industry.
- The best stops on a Scranton to Chicago road trip.
- Guides to Philadelphia’s Parkway attractions – the Rodin Museum, the Barnes Foundation, the Franklin Institute, the Academy of Natural Sciences and the Rocky Steps at the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
- Road trips from Pittsburgh: The best stops on the Pittsburgh to Cleveland drive.
