The Intrepid Museum (formally the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum) is located at Pier 86, W. 46th Street and 12th Avenue, on the Hudson River on the west side of Midtown Manhattan, New York. Its centrepiece is USS Intrepid (CV-11), a Second World War-era Essex-class aircraft carrier designated as a National Historic Landmark, on board and around which the museum’s exhibitions, aircraft collection, and add-on experiences are housed. This 2026 visitor guide covers opening hours, ticket prices, transport, parking, accessibility, and practical planning tips.
To skip the detail and book your tickets, head this way.
Last updated: February 2026. Two details are frequently wrong in third-party guides and ticket aggregator listings. First: adult general admission is currently $38. Many widely indexed third-party guides and review platforms still show prices of $32, $33, or $36 — figures that reflect earlier pricing. The correct adult rate as listed on the official ticketing page is $38. Second: print-at-home tickets are no longer issued for online purchases. Digital ticketing is now the only delivery method when buying online, and the QR codes in the digital wallet refresh every 30 seconds and cannot be screenshotted or printed. Visitors who screenshot their QR code will be denied entry. Previously purchased print-at-home tickets that are already in your possession remain valid, but no new print-at-home tickets are available.
Quick facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | Pier 86, W. 46th Street and 12th Avenue, New York, NY 10036 |
| Fall/Winter hours (Oct 1 – Mar 31) | Monday – Sunday and Holidays: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM (last entry 4:00 PM) |
| Spring/Summer hours (Apr 1 – Sep 30) | Monday – Friday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM (last entry 4:00 PM) · Saturday, Sunday & Holidays: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM (last entry 5:00 PM) |
| Closed | Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day |
| Adult admission (13–64) | $38 |
| Child admission (5–12) | $28 |
| Children (4 and under) | Free |
| U.S. Military and veterans | Free with valid ID |
| NYC residents | 50% off with valid ID |
| Parking | No visitor parking; museum does not validate parking tickets |
| Nearest bus | M42 and M50 to 12th Ave & W. 46th St |
| Nearest subway | A, C, E to 42nd St – Port Authority Bus Terminal (10-minute walk west) |
| Typical visit duration | 2–3 hours (museum recommends this; allow more for add-on experiences) |
Intrepid Museum opening hours
The museum’s hours are divided into two seasonal schedules.
Fall and Winter (1 October – 31 March): Open Monday through Sunday and Holidays, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM. Last entry is at 4:00 PM.
Spring and Summer (1 April – 30 September): Monday through Friday, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM (last entry 4:00 PM). Saturday, Sunday, and Holidays, 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM (last entry 5:00 PM).
The museum is closed on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. It is open on all other public holidays, though hours can shift.
Important: The official website states clearly that hours are subject to change on a daily basis based on special events, capacity, and exhibition closures. Individual exhibits and interactive halls — particularly the Exploreum — can open late or close early on specific dates (see below). Always check the Visitor Information page on the official website before your visit, particularly for weekend visits during the busier months.
Additionally, the museum may close without advance notice in the event of severe weather.
Opening hours were checked on the official website and last updated in February 2026.
Intrepid Museum ticket prices
All tickets are non-refundable and non-transferable. Timed entry applies: online tickets are valid only for the date and the 30-minute arrival window indicated at the time of purchase. Visitors cannot enter before their assigned time slot. Last tickets are sold one hour before closing.
General admission (covers Intrepid, Space Shuttle Pavilion, Submarine Growler, and all temporary exhibitions):
| Visitor type | Price |
|---|---|
| Adults (ages 13–64) | $38 |
| Seniors (65+) and college students (valid ID required) | $36 |
| Children (ages 5–12) | $28 |
| Children (ages 4 and under) | Free |
| U.S. veterans and active military (valid ID required) | Free |
| Spouses of active-duty service members | 20% off |
| NYC residents (valid ID required) | 50% off general admission |
Acceptable military identification includes an active duty, retiree, or reservist military ID card (DD Form 2 or 2A), civilian retiree card, discharge papers (DD-214), a state-issued veteran designation on a driver’s licence or ID card, or a Department of Veterans Affairs Veterans Identification Card (VIC).
NYC residents must present a valid government-issued photo ID with a printed address within the five boroughs, or a current utility or mortgage statement with a name-matching photo ID. The discount applies to all qualifying members of a household.
Personal care assistants: Free admission is provided to the carer of a visitor with access needs (Access Caregiver programme).
Discount pass programmes: The Intrepid Museum is included in the New York CityPASS (5 attractions, up to 42% savings, valid over 9 days) and the New York C3 programme (choose 3 from 10 attractions, up to 41% savings).
Ticket prices were checked on the official website and last updated in February 2026.
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Add-on experiences (not included in general admission)
Several experiences require a separate purchase in addition to general admission. Members receive reduced rates.
| Experience | Type | GA price | Member price |
|---|---|---|---|
| G-Force Encounter (flight simulator) | Flight simulator | $13 | $8 |
| Apollo 11 & Beyond VR Experience | Virtual reality | $13 | $8 |
| Stories of Intrepid: 4D Experience | 4D film | $11 | $8 |
| Journey to Space | 3D film | $11 | $5 |
| Aircraft Carrier: Guardian of the Seas | 3D film | $11 | $5 |
| Concorde Tour (20 minutes, inside Concorde) | Guided tour | $13 | $5 |
| Museum Highlights Tour (guided) | Guided tour | $17 | $10 |
| VIP Tour (90 minutes, up to 10 people) | Private tour | $750 total | — |
| VVIP Tour (2–3 hours, up to 10 people) | Private tour | $1,250 total | — |
Concorde: The British Airways Concorde G-BOAD is on permanent outdoor display and can be viewed from the exterior at no charge. Interior access — a 20-minute guided tour of the first-class cabin and cockpit — costs $13 (GA price) and is offered every 30 minutes beginning at 11:00 AM. Availability is limited and this experience regularly sells out. Tickets must be purchased at the box office upon arrival; advance online booking is not available for the Concorde Tour. Strollers, large bags, and luggage are not permitted inside Concorde.
Submarine Growler: Entry to the Growler is included in general admission. However, the official site notes that the line to the Growler and its exhibition may close early on any given day. If visiting the Growler is a priority, plan to join its queue during the morning rather than leaving it until the afternoon.
Guided Museum Highlights Tour: Available daily at 11:00 AM, noon, and 1:00 PM. Purchase tickets onsite at the box office; recommended for visitors aged 10 and over. Runs approximately one hour.
5 great New York City experiences to book
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- 🍜 Taste the local flavours of New York on a Chinatown and Little Italy food tour.
Digital ticketing — critical rules
Online tickets are issued as digital-only QR codes accessible through the museum’s ticket wallet at mytickets.intrepidmuseum.org. No print-at-home option is available for new online purchases.
The QR codes in the digital wallet refresh every 30 seconds and cannot be screenshotted or printed. Screenshotted QR codes will not be accepted at the entry scanners. Log in to the wallet on your phone at the museum entrance and present the live QR code directly from the screen.
Tips from the official website:
- Bookmark mytickets.intrepidmuseum.org or add it to your phone’s home screen before your visit day.
- Select “Keep Me Logged In For 30 Days” when you first log in to avoid having to re-authenticate at the gate.
- Swipe left in the wallet to see additional tickets if you have purchased for a group.
How to get to the Intrepid Museum
Address: Pier 86, W. 46th Street and 12th Avenue, New York, NY 10036. The museum is on the Hudson River waterfront at the western end of 46th Street in the Hell’s Kitchen/Hudson Yards area of Midtown Manhattan.
By bus (recommended): The M42 crosstown bus runs along 42nd Street to 12th Avenue, with a stop very close to the museum. The M50 crosstown bus runs along 49th/50th Streets and also stops in the area. Both routes provide good connections from Midtown subway stations.
By subway: The closest subway stations are 42nd Street – Port Authority Bus Terminal (A, C, E lines) and 50th Street (C, E lines), both on 8th Avenue. From either station, the museum is approximately a 10-minute walk west to 12th Avenue and the waterfront.
By taxi or rideshare: Uber, Lyft, and taxis can drop off directly at Pier 86. This is the most direct option from most parts of Manhattan.
On foot or by bicycle: The Hudson River Greenway runs along the waterfront and connects directly to the museum’s pier. Cyclists and pedestrians arriving from the greenway can access the museum directly from the waterfront path.
Parking at the Intrepid Museum
The museum does not have a visitor parking lot and is not affiliated with any nearby parking garage. The museum does not validate parking tickets. Visitors driving to the museum should use commercial parking garages in the 46th Street area, which are available throughout Midtown but can be expensive. Public transit and rideshare are strongly recommended.
Groups of 15 or more are eligible for free bus parking through the museum’s group visits programme.
How long to spend at the Intrepid Museum
The museum’s own estimate is two to three hours for a general visit. Visitors who wish to add several paid experiences — the Concorde Tour, a VR or film experience, and a guided tour — should plan for three to four hours or more. The aircraft carrier is large, and the combination of multiple decks, the Space Shuttle Pavilion, the Growler submarine, and temporary exhibitions means it is easy to fill a full half-day.
Accessibility at the Intrepid Museum
Because USS Intrepid is a designated National Historic Landmark, the museum cannot modify the vessel’s original structure. As a result, accessibility varies significantly depending on which part of the museum you wish to visit.
Fully accessible (wheelchair and mobility aid users): The flight deck, hangar deck, and mess deck of the carrier; the Space Shuttle Pavilion; all restrooms; all dining areas. Elevators and ramps provide access to these areas.
Not accessible by wheelchair: The fo’c’sle (forecastle), the combat information centre, Submarine Growler, and Concorde. Growler and Concorde also cannot accommodate strollers or large bags.
Wheelchair rental: The museum does not provide wheelchairs for public use. Lightweight stools are available to borrow from the Information Desk, which can be useful on the hangar and flight decks.
Personal care assistants: Admitted free of charge under the Access Caregiver programme (see Tickets section above).
Accessibility contact: [email protected] or (646) 381-5158.
Inside the Intrepid Museum: what to see
USS Intrepid (CV-11): The museum’s centrepiece is the aircraft carrier itself, commissioned in 1943. Intrepid survived five kamikaze attacks and a torpedo strike during the Second World War, later served in the Cold War and Vietnam War, and subsequently served as a NASA recovery vessel, recovering the Mercury and Gemini astronaut capsules in the 1960s. Visitors can explore the hangar deck (the main enclosed exhibition space, housing the largest part of the aircraft collection), the flight deck (open-air, with additional aircraft on display), the mess deck (crew dining area, now housing the Intrepid Marketplace), and the island (the ship’s control tower, accessible via internal stairs).
Aircraft collection: The museum displays more than two dozen authentically restored military and historic aircraft, displayed across the flight deck, hangar deck, and the Space Shuttle Pavilion. Highlights include a Lockheed A-12 Blackbird (a supersonic reconnaissance aircraft capable of cruising above Mach 3), a Grumman F-14 Tomcat, a Vought F4U Corsair, and a range of other carrier-based and land-based military aircraft spanning from the Second World War to the Cold War era.
Space Shuttle Pavilion — Enterprise: The Space Shuttle Pavilion, a purpose-built climate-controlled structure on the pier adjacent to the carrier, houses Space Shuttle Enterprise, the first space shuttle orbiter ever built. Enterprise was constructed as a test vehicle and never flew in space, but undertook the critical atmospheric test flights in 1977 that validated the shuttle’s approach and landing systems. The pavilion also houses temporary exhibitions and is the site of several VR and film experiences.
Submarine Growler (USS Growler, SSG-577): A guided missile submarine berthed alongside the carrier. Growler carried nuclear-armed Regulus cruise missiles during the Cold War, and visitors can go aboard to see the once-classified missile command centre, crew quarters, and operating systems. Entry is included in general admission. The Growler line and exhibition may close early on any given day — prioritise this earlier in your visit if it is important to you. Note that the submarine is not wheelchair accessible, and strollers and large bags cannot be brought on board.
British Airways Concorde G-BOAD: Parked on the pier, Concorde can be viewed from the exterior free of charge at any time during visiting hours. The aircraft on display is G-BOAD, a British Airways Concorde that holds the record for the fastest transatlantic crossing by a commercial airliner: 2 hours, 52 minutes, and 59 seconds. Interior access via the 20-minute Concorde Tour costs $13 (GA) and must be booked at the box office on arrival. The tour includes the first-class passenger cabin and a look into the sophisticated cockpit. Runs every 30 minutes from 11:00 AM. Sells out regularly; buy your slot as early in the day as possible.
The Exploreum: An interactive, hands-on STEM education hall with activities focused on flight, space, and engineering — aimed primarily at children and families but available to all visitors. Houses the G-Force Encounter flight simulators and the 4D Experience theatre. Note the partial closure dates listed in the Hours section above (Exploreum opens late or closes early on several 2026 dates).
Permanent exhibitions: The hangar deck houses several permanent exhibitions including Above and Beyond (tracing Intrepid’s service history through artefacts and crew oral histories), Technologies of the Sea (covering the engineering innovations that shaped the carrier), and exhibitions covering the Cold War, space history, and the history of naval aviation.
Dining and shopping at the Intrepid Museum
Intrepid Marketplace: Located on the mess deck of the ship and on the pier. Opens 10:00 AM daily. Menu includes pizzas, sandwiches, wraps, salads, and soups, with gluten-free, vegetarian, and vegan options. Seating is available on the pier in warmer weather.
Aviator Grill: Located on the second floor of the Welcome Center. Opens 10:00 AM daily. Similar menu to the Marketplace.
Vending machines: Available on the pier and on the flight deck.
Bag and coat check: The museum does not offer bag or coat check facilities. All belongings must remain with visitors at all times. Strollers, large bags, and luggage are not permitted inside the Submarine Growler or Concorde; visitors with these items will need to leave them unattended or with a member of their group who stays on the pier.
Museum Shop: The museum operates a gift shop stocking merchandise related to the ship, aviation, space, and military history. Members receive 10% off all Museum Store purchases.
Practical visitor tips
| Tip | Detail |
|---|---|
| Do not screenshot your QR code | Digital ticket QR codes refresh every 30 seconds. A screenshot will not work at the entry scanner. Access your wallet live from mytickets.intrepidmuseum.org and keep the app open at the entrance. |
| Book the Concorde Tour early | Concorde Tour tickets are sold at the box office upon arrival, not online. They regularly sell out. Buy your Concorde Tour ticket as soon as you arrive at the museum, before doing anything else, if you wish to guarantee a place. |
| Queue for the Growler in the morning | The Growler’s entry line may close early at the museum’s discretion. If the Growler is on your list, join the queue before lunch rather than planning it for the afternoon. |
| Check the daily schedule at the visitor information page | Hours for the Exploreum and other areas can change on the day. The Visitor Information page at intrepidmuseum.org lists known upcoming closures and is updated when ad-hoc changes occur. |
| Summer weekend closing at 6:00 PM | From 1 April to 30 September, the museum closes at 6:00 PM (last entry 5:00 PM) on Saturdays, Sundays, and Holidays — one hour later than weekday and winter closing time. Third-party guides often miss this; it allows for a later start on summer weekends. |
| Large bags and strollers | There is no bag or coat check. Large bags, suitcases, and strollers cannot be taken into the Growler or Concorde. Travel as light as practicable if you intend to visit both. |
| Children under 16 | Must be accompanied by an adult at all times while visiting the museum. |
| Photography | Personal cameras and video are permitted throughout. Selfie sticks, tripods, and other camera-extension devices are not permitted. Professional photography requires prior arrangement with the press team at [email protected]. |
| The Bloomberg Connects app | The museum offers a free digital guide via the Bloomberg Connects app, which provides audio and visual interpretation of exhibits accessible from your own device. Download in advance from the App Store or Google Play. |
| Arriving in bad weather | The flight deck is open-air. Dress appropriately for the season, particularly in winter, when Hudson River winds make the flight deck significantly colder than street level. |
Frequently asked questions about the Intrepid Museum
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What does general admission include? | Entry to the aircraft carrier Intrepid (all accessible decks), the Space Shuttle Pavilion (Space Shuttle Enterprise), Submarine Growler, and all temporary exhibitions. The Concorde interior is not included — see below. |
| Is the Concorde included in admission? | No. The exterior of Concorde can be viewed free of charge. The interior (Concorde Tour) is a separate paid experience costing $13 (GA) per person, purchased at the box office on arrival. It sells out — buy early on the day of your visit. |
| Are tickets timed? | Yes. Online tickets are valid for a specific date and a 30-minute arrival window. Visitors cannot enter before their assigned time. Tickets are non-refundable and non-transferable. |
| Is military admission really free? | Yes. U.S. veterans and active military receive free admission with valid identification, supported by Bank of America. Spouses of active-duty service members receive a 20% discount. |
| Do NYC residents get a discount? | Yes — 50% off general admission with a valid government-issued photo ID showing a five-borough address, or a current utility/mortgage statement matching a photo ID. |
| Is the museum open every day? | Open every day except Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. Hours change seasonally and can change daily; check intrepidmuseum.org before visiting. |
| Is the Growler wheelchair accessible? | No. The Growler, the fo’c’sle, the combat information centre, and Concorde are all not wheelchair accessible. The flight deck, hangar deck, mess deck, Space Shuttle Pavilion, all restrooms, and all dining areas are fully accessible. |
| Is there parking? | The museum has no visitor car park and does not validate parking. Public transit (M42 bus, or A/C/E/C/E subway to 42nd St or 50th St) or rideshare is strongly recommended. |
| Can I come back in the afternoon after leaving? | Admission tickets are for a single-day visit. The museum advises checking its re-entry policy at the box office if you need to leave and return. |
| How do I access my digital ticket? | Go to mytickets.intrepidmuseum.org on your phone’s web browser, log in with the email address used when purchasing, and tap your event to see your QR code. Do not screenshot the QR code — it refreshes every 30 seconds and a screenshot will not be accepted. |
Things to do near the Intrepid Museum
The High Line (approximately 10 minutes on foot, south along the waterfront and then east): An elevated linear park built on a disused rail freight line running from the Meatpacking District to Hudson Yards. Free admission and open daily; most scenic in warmer months. Hudson Yards’ The Vessel (observation structure with stairs) is at the southern end of the High Line.
Edge at Hudson Yards (approximately 15 minutes on foot from the museum): An outdoor observation deck on the 100th floor of 30 Hudson Yards, the highest outdoor sky deck in the western hemisphere.
The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) (approximately 20 minutes on foot, east along 46th Street): One of the world’s premier modern art museums, located on 53rd Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenues.
Times Square (approximately 15 minutes on foot east along 42nd Street): The commercial and entertainment centre of Midtown Manhattan. Free to walk through at any time; theatres, restaurants, and ticketed attractions throughout.
Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises (departing from Pier 83, immediately adjacent to the Intrepid Museum): Boat tours of Manhattan departing from the next pier south. A range of tour lengths and itineraries are available.
Rockefeller Center and Top of the Rock (approximately 20 minutes on foot east, then south): Top of the Rock is an outdoor observation deck on the 70th floor of 30 Rockefeller Plaza with views of Central Park, Midtown, and the Empire State Building.
Chelsea Market (approximately 20 minutes on foot south): A food hall and retail market in the landmark former National Biscuit Company building between 9th and 10th Avenues.
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