Museum · New York
American Museum of Natural History: free entry days, tickets & hours
Vast Upper West Side natural history museum: dinosaur halls, the blue whale, the Rose Center and Hayden Planetarium, and the Gilder Center.
Independent guide, not the official Natural History Museum website. Official links are under Sources.
Natural History Museum is free today, 16:30–17:30.
- Also free: Children under 3 are free; general admission for U.S. military plus one guest year-round; whole families free Armed Forces Day-Labor Day; IDNYC members get waived admission.
- Otherwise: adult general admission, standard (non-New York State) pricing — $37.
- Complimentary tickets still required (pick up at a ticket desk).
Calendar
Free days at Natural History Museum
- FRI23OCTFriday, 23 October 2026 · today · 16:30–17:30
- SAT24OCTSaturday, 24 October 2026 · tomorrow · 16:30–17:30
- SUN25OCTSunday, 25 October 2026 · in 2 days · 16:30–17:30
- MON26OCTMonday, 26 October 2026 · in 3 days · 16:30–17:30
- TUE27OCTTuesday, 27 October 2026 · in 4 days · 16:30–17:30
- WED28OCTWednesday, 28 October 2026 · in 5 days · 16:30–17:30
363 free days for everyone in the next 12 months. Closures and public holidays are already taken out. Group-only days need proof of eligibility.
Before you go
How to actually get in for free
- Admission fees waived for visitors entering during the last hour of the day (about 4:30-5:30pm): Complimentary tickets still required (pick up at a ticket desk).
- Anyone can enter free in the last hour (from about 4:30pm), but you still need a ticket and an hour is only a taste.
- New York State residents can pay what they wish for general admission; bring ID with a NY address.
- Pay-what-you-wish tickets cannot include the Space Show or ticketed exhibitions.
All free options
Who gets in free, and when
| Free option | Who | Conditions | Book? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free hoursAdmission fees waived for visitors entering during the last hour of the day (about 4:30-5:30pm) · 16:30–17:30 | everyone | Listed among waived-admission categories; complimentary admissions still require a ticket. | Yes |
| Free forChildren under 3 are free | children under 3 | — | No |
| Free forFree general admission for U.S. military plus one guest year-round; whole families free Armed Forces Day-Labor Day | military members and families | — | No |
| Free forIDNYC members get waived admission | idnyc holders | Check the 'Corporate Members and IDNYC' box when booking. | No |
Official prices
Natural History Museum ticket prices
| Adult general admission, standard (non-New York State) pricing — Senior/student $30, child (3-12) $22. NY State residents: suggested $25 adult, pay-what-you-wish for general admission only. Ticketed exhibitions extra. | $37 |
| General admission + one ticketed exhibition (adult, standard pricing) — Adds the Space Show, Butterfly Vivarium, Invisible Worlds or a special exhibition. | $43 |
| General admission + all ticketed exhibitions (adult, standard pricing) — Everything, including the Hayden Planetarium Space Show. | $48 |
Prices from the official website, checked Oct 2026. Free options are listed above.
Worth timing your visit?
What a free day saves
Based on the official price (adult general admission, standard (non-new york state) pricing). Free days are busier — if your dates don't line up, a timed ticket is the trade-off.
Tickets & tours
Best-rated tickets and tours: Natural History Museum
GetYourGuideNew York City: American Museum of Natural History Ticket★★★★★ 4.5 · 18k reviewsfrom $37
TiqetsAmerican Museum of Natural History (AMNH): Entry Ticket★★★★☆ 4.4 · 1.9k reviewsfrom $37
HeadoutAmerican Museum of Natural History Tickets★★★★★ 4.7 · 62 reviewsfrom $37
HeadoutAmerican Museum of Natural History Tickets + 1 Ticketed Exhibition★★★★★ 4.7 · 24 reviewsfrom $43
HeadoutAmerican Museum of Natural History Tickets + All Ticketed Exhibitions★★★★★ 4.6 · 14 reviewsfrom $48
TiqetsAmerican Museum of Natural History (AMNH): The Rose Center For Earth and Space★★★★★ 5.0 · 6 reviews0.4 hoursfrom $43
All tickets and tours on GetYourGuide
Ratings and prices from the booking partners; prices may change.
Practical
Opening hours & how to get there
| Mon | 10:00–17:30 |
|---|---|
| Tue | 10:00–17:30 |
| Wed | 10:00–17:30 |
| Thu | 10:00–17:30 |
| Fri | 10:00–17:30 |
| Sat | 10:00–17:30 |
| Sun | 10:00–17:30 |
Open daily 10am-5:30pm. Closed Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.
200 Central Park West, New York, NY 10024, USA
Also free nearby
Make a free afternoon of it
Worth paying for nearby
Paid highlights within walking distance
FAQ
Natural History Museum: common questions
Is Natural History Museum free?
Natural History Museum is free for everyone admission fees waived for visitors entering during the last hour of the day (about 4:30-5:30pm). Also free: Children under 3 are free; general admission for U.S. military plus one guest year-round; whole families free Armed Forces Day-Labor Day; IDNYC members get waived admission. Otherwise the official ticket costs $37.
When is Natural History Museum free?
Admission fees waived for visitors entering during the last hour of the day (about 4:30-5:30pm). The next free date is Friday, 23 October 2026.
Who gets free entry to Natural History Museum?
Children under 3. Military members and families. Idnyc holders — check the 'Corporate Members and IDNYC' box when booking..
Do I need to book for free entry to Natural History Museum?
Complimentary tickets still required (pick up at a ticket desk).
How much is a ticket to Natural History Museum?
Adult general admission, standard (non-New York State) pricing costs $37 on the official site.
Visitor reviews
What visitors say about Natural History Museum
No reviews yet. Been here? Tell others how it went — especially on a free day.
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Sources
Where this comes from
- amnh.org/plan-your-visit · checked Friday, 23 October 2026
Every free rule is checked against the official source and re-checked on a schedule. Spotted a change? Tell us.