Museum · San Francisco
California Academy of Sciences: free entry days, tickets & hours
Natural history museum, aquarium, planetarium and four-storey rainforest under a living roof in Golden Gate Park.
Independent guide, not the official California Academy of Sciences website. Official links are under Sources.
California Academy of Sciences is free for some visitors, not for everyone.
- Free for: children 2 and under, every day; Daytime Admission for veterans and military on Veterans Day; Daytime Admission for active-duty and retired military on Veterans Day; field trips for San Francisco pre-K-12 school groups.
- Otherwise: adult (19+) Daytime Admission, standard price — $49.
Calendar
Free days at California Academy of Sciences
For veterans
- WED11NOVWednesday, 11 November 2026 · in 2 weeks
For military members and families
- WED11NOVWednesday, 11 November 2026 · in 2 weeks
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
- There is no free day for the general public any more; the cheapest adult option is NightLife on Thursdays (21+).
- EBT cardholders pay $5 (up to four tickets), not free.
- Walking, biking or taking transit gets $3 off at the ticket window.
- Discover & Go library passes (cardholders 14+) give free admission at participating Bay Area libraries.
All free options
Who gets in free, and when
| Free option | Who | Conditions | Book? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free forFree for children 2 and under, every day | children under 3 | — | No |
| Free dayFree Daytime Admission for veterans and military on Veterans Day | veterans | Show valid military ID or proof of service (e.g. VA card or DD-214) at the ticket window; does not apply to family, friends or dependents. Also free during Fleet Week in October (2027 dates not yet published). | No |
| Free dayFree Daytime Admission for active-duty and retired military on Veterans Day | military members and families | Service member only, with valid military ID at the ticket window. Also free during Fleet Week (October). Rest of the year active-duty personnel get $3 off, not free. | No |
| Free forFree field trips for San Francisco pre-K-12 school groups | school groups | Booked school field trips only. | No |
Official prices
California Academy of Sciences ticket prices
| Adult (19+) Daytime Admission, standard price — $55 at peak times (spring break, summer, holiday weekends, November-December holidays). Youth 13-18 $45/$49, child 3-12 $39/$45, 2 and under free. EBT cardholders $5. | $49 |
| Anytime Admission (visit any day within a year, skip-the-line at planetarium, rainforest and Shake House) — Flexible date plus priority entry. | $59 |
| NightLife (21+) Thursday evening ticket — About half the price of daytime admission. | — |
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 (19+) daytime admission, standard price). 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: California Academy of Sciences
Timed-entry ticketSan Francisco: California Academy of Sciences Entry Ticket★★★★★ 4.5 · 748 reviewsfrom $49
Timed-entry ticketCalifornia Academy of Sciences: Entry Ticket★★★★★ 4.7 · 609 reviewsfrom $49
Timed-entry ticketCalifornia Academy of Sciences Thursday NightLife Admission★★★★☆ 4.1 · 46 reviewsfrom $26
Timed-entry ticketCalifornia Academy of Sciences: Nightlife Ticket★★★★★ 4.6 · 24 reviewsfrom $26
Timed-entry ticketCalifornia Academy of Sciences Tickets★★★★★ 4.6 · 14 reviewsfrom $26
Ratings and prices from the booking partners; prices may change.
Practical
Opening hours & how to get there
| Mon | 09:30–17:00 |
|---|---|
| Tue | 09:30–17:00 |
| Wed | 09:30–17:00 |
| Thu | 09:30–17:00 |
| Fri | 09:30–17:00 |
| Sat | 09:30–17:00 |
| Sun | 11:00–17:00 |
Monday-Saturday 9:30am-5pm, Sunday 11am-5pm, last entry 4pm. NightLife (21+) most Thursdays 6-10pm. Members-only hours Tue 8:30-9:30am and Sun 10-11am.
55 Music Concourse Drive, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, CA 94118, USA
Also free nearby
Make a free afternoon of it
Worth paying for nearby
Paid highlights within walking distance
- de Youngde Young Museum: Entry Ticketfrom $25 · 0.3 km
- Japanese Tea GardenGardens of Golden Gate Park Pass (3-day entry to the Japanese Tea Garden, Botanical Garden and Conservatory of Flowers)0.3 km
- San Francisco Botanical GardenGardens of Golden Gate Park Pass (3-day entry to the Botanical Garden, Japanese Tea Garden and Conservatory of Flowers)0.4 km
FAQ
California Academy of Sciences: common questions
Is California Academy of Sciences free?
California Academy of Sciences has no free entry for everyone. Also free: children 2 and under, every day; Daytime Admission for veterans and military on Veterans Day; Daytime Admission for active-duty and retired military on Veterans Day; field trips for San Francisco pre-K-12 school groups. Otherwise the official ticket costs $49.
When are the free days at California Academy of Sciences for veterans?
Upcoming free dates for veterans: Wed 11 Nov. Bring proof of eligibility; booking rules are listed above.
When are the free days at California Academy of Sciences for military members and families?
Upcoming free dates for military members and families: Wed 11 Nov. Bring proof of eligibility; booking rules are listed above.
Who gets free entry to California Academy of Sciences?
Children under 3. School groups — booked school field trips only..
How much is a ticket to California Academy of Sciences?
Adult (19+) Daytime Admission, standard price costs $49 on the official site.
Visitor reviews
What visitors say about California Academy of Sciences
No reviews yet. Been here? Tell others how it went — especially on a free day.
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Sources
Where this comes from
- calacademy.org/free-reduced-admission · checked Wednesday, 28 October 2026
Every free rule is checked against the official source and re-checked on a schedule. Spotted a change? Tell us.