First Time Visit
Is this your first time visiting the museum? We’re so excited to welcome you! To get the most from your visit, please check out the information tabs to find details about when we are open, our free parking, nursing nooks, stroller parking, snacks in a pinch and more.
Your adventure begins as you come down the hill with stunning views of the bay, San Francisco, and the Golden Gate Bridge welcome you to a day of discovery. Passing through the gates, you’ll be greeted by our friendly staff, ready to help plan your visit and offer tips to make your experience as fun and seamless as possible. Whether you take a quick bathroom break or chat with a staff member, you’ll be set for a day filled with hands-on exploration and creativity.
If it’s your first visit, join 11,000 other Bay Area families and apply your ticket cost towards a membership and enjoy free visits all year! Membership is an affordable way to make the Bay Area Discovery Museum part of your family’s routine while inspiring lifelong curiosity.
Bathrooms & Nursing Nooks
Restrooms are located throughout the campus and, for your convenience, there are changing tables in every bathroom. Family restrooms and nursing nooks are located in both Bay Hall and Tot Spot.
Stroller Policy
No runaway strollers, just runaway imaginations here! To keep your family and others safe, we’ve designated stroller parking areas throughout the museum. Please park your stroller in these areas, which are marked with signs.
Adult-to-Child Ratio
Your child’s safety is our top priority! To keep everyone safe and comfortable, we require groups to have one adult for every five children and ask that children be accompanied by an adult at all times. Since this ratio is critical to maintaining an environment where all children are able to play and explore safely, we reserve the right to turn away visitors who do not comply with this requirement.
Birthday Parties & Events
Looking for a way to make your child’s celebration extra special? Plan a birthday party or special event your child (and their friends) will remember for years to come. With exhibits and activities designed for kids with a wide range of interests and abilities, a party at the museum is a gift that everyone loves. Find out more about hosting a party by visiting our Birthday Party Page.
Snacks & Food
Discovery requires all the senses — including taste! When you’re ready to take a break from playing, there are plenty of options to help little ones refuel. Enjoy an outdoor picnic in the grass with food brought from home or visit the Bean Sprouts Café.
Bean Sprouts Café offers delicious and nutritious options for kids and adults to enjoy in a delightful, family-friendly environment. The cafe is open from 9:00AM to 3:30 p.m on Wednesday through Sunday.
Parking and Weather
Free parking is available in the lots next to the Bay Area Discovery Museum. Additional parking is available at the waterfront, by following the road through our main parking lot.
Don’t let the weather get in the way of your visit! Our outdoor exhibits are perfect for rainy-day fun with little ones. Not only will they look adorable in their rain gear, but they’ll enjoy splashing in puddles or whipping up a pie in our Mud Kitchen.
Since the museum is located right on the water under the Golden Gate Bridge, it can get chilly. So be sure to bring warm clothes and extra layers.
Museum Map
It’s easier than ever to navigate the museum. Simply download the museum map to your phone to guide your visit.
Hours, Admission, Special Hours
Regular Hours
Wednesday – Sunday: 10AM – 4PM
Member Hour: 9 – 10AM
Closed Monday and Tuesday
Upcoming Special Dates and Times:
Monday, Oct 14 (Open 10:00AM – 4:00PM for Indigenous Peoples’ Day)
Tickets
Ready to adventure? Begin your journey of discovery by buying a ticket online for each person in your group over the age of 6 months. Each ticket includes full access to the museum.* Members get in free and do not need tickets!
- $15 – Baby (ages 6-11 months)
- $20 – Child (ages 1-17)
- $20 – Adult (ages 18-64)
- $18 – Senior (ages 65+)
- $3 – For EBT Cardholders ($3 per family member of the household, 6 ticket limit per card)
If it’s your first time visiting, you can register on our website before you arrive for a more efficient check-in process.
*General admission tickets are not valid for Family Fundraisers, such as Goblin Jamboree.
EBT Cardholders – $3 Admission
If you have an EBT (Electronic Benefit Transfer) card, your family is welcome to participate in the Museums for All program, which reduces the price of admission to $3 per person for up to 6 family members per EBT card.
Museums For All tickets must be purchased at the museum. Whenn you arrive, present your EBT card at the admission desk to receive your discount. And check out other museums that participate in Museum for All!
Free First Wednesday
Free First Wednesdays, where admission is free for Bay Area residents* occurs twice a year. The next Free First Wednesday is March 5, 2025.
*Must show proof of residency (photo ID or piece of mail) in one of the nine Bay Area counties.
Check Out a Membership From Your Library
Books unlock all sorts of adventures — and they also hold the keys to the museum. Many local libraries have Bay Area Discovery Museum membership cards that can be checked out and used to visit, so check with your local library!
Open Door Policy
Every family belongs at the museum. The price of admission should never keep any one from enjoying the exhibits. Families are welcome to make a donation of any amount to visit the museum. If resources are tight, simply tell the front desk staff that you wish to make a donation and come right in.
Blue Star Museum Program
If you or a member of your immediate family is active-duty US military personnel, including National Guard and Reserve, check out the Blue Star Museum program. This program offers free admission to the museum to all US active-duty military personnel and their families from Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day.
Active Military Discount
If you have an active military ID, we want to thank you for your service. Enjoy free admission year-round for one child and one adult with an active military ID.
Partner and Reciprocal Discounts
We partner with a number of organizations to offer the following discounts. Just show your proof of membership at the front desk upon entry:
- Automobile Association of America (AAA): $1 off per visitor, up to 5 people
- Association of Children’s Museums (ACM): Members of other children’s museums may be available depending on your membership level. Check your membership card for the ACM sticker. Valid members receive 50 percent off general admission to Bay Area Discovery Museum.
- Association of Science and Technology Centers (ASTC): The ASTC Passport Program gives members free general admission to more than 300 institutions located outside a 90-mile radius of your residence and home museum. Check your membership card for the ASTC logo.
- California Alumni Association (CAA): $1 off per visitor, up to 5 people
- UCSF: $1 off per visitor, up to 5 people
Group Visits
Take your class on a field trip they won’t forget! Learn more about school visits here.
Groups of 20 or Less
You can book tickets for groups of up to 20 people online. We ask that everyone in your group checks in at the same time. We will provide each adult with a map and return sticker in case they need to get something from their car. There must be one adult for every five children in your group.
Email us at contact@badm.org with any questions
Groups of 20+
For a private event, email events@badm.org
For general admission during regular museum hours, email contact@badm.org.
If you are with a preschool, elementary school, or child organization please see our Field Trips and STEAM Workshops.
Directions & Parking
Address
Bay Area Discovery Museum
557 McReynolds Road
Sausalito, CA 94965
Directions
The Bay Area Discovery Museum might feel like an enchanted, far-off land, but you don’t need a treasure map to find us. Just enter “Bay Area Discovery Museum” (instead of our mailing address) into Google Maps or follow the directions below.
From San Francisco and the South Bay
Take 101 North across the Golden Gate Bridge and take the Alexander Avenue exit just after the Vista Point. Follow signs to Fort Baker and the Bay Area Discovery Museum.
From the East Bay
Take 580 West across the Richmond/San Rafael Bridge. Follow the signs to 101 South. After the Waldo Tunnel and just before the Golden Gate Bridge, take the Alexander Avenue exit. Follow signs to Fort Baker and the Bay Area Discovery Museum.
From the North Bay
Take 101 South. After the Waldo Tunnel and just before the Golden Gate Bridge, take the Alexander Avenue exit. Follow signs to Fort Baker and the Bay Area Discovery Museum.
Parking
Good news! Parking at the museum is always free for everyone. When you arrive, park in one of the paved or gravel lots in front of the museum. If these lots are full, follow the road through the main parking lot to find additional parking by the waterfront.
Pro tip: Scenic traffic from the Golden Gate Bridge can cause congestion on the Alexander Avenue exit and the Sausalito exit may be faster. Use GPS to map the fastest route for your visit.
Accessibility
Getting Here & Parking
Planes and trains are fun, but automobiles are the easiest way to get here – and parking is free for everyone. It’s possible to use Golden Gate Transit, however the closest stops require visitors to walk up to a mile and might not be suitable for visitors with mobility issues.
Designated handicapped parking spaces are reserved for visitors in the lot closest to the museum.
Service Animals
Your service dog is welcome as long as it remains on a leash and under your control at all times during your visit.
Visual Impairments
If you accompany a blind or visually impaired person and act as their interpreter, please be our guest and enter the museum for free.
On-Site Sensory Resources
There’s a lot going on at the museum! We know it can be overstimulating for some kids, so sound-blocking headphones and weighted vests are available at the front desk. If you think using these items will improve your child’s experience, just ask a staff member when you arrive.
Wheelchair Accessibility
Discovery for every body! At the museum, every exhibit, dining area, and restroom can be accessed by a wheelchair. If you need to borrow a wheelchair, we have one available on a first-come, first-served basis.
FAQ
What will the check-in process be like?
Our admissions staff can’t wait to welcome you with a smile as they scan your tickets. You can present your smartphone at check-in for scanning or print your tickets out before you arrive.
Will eating areas be open?
The Bean Sprouts Café is open Wednesday – Sunday, 9:00AM – 3:30PM. You’re welcome to eat and drink in the café and in the designated areas outside.
What if I need to change the day or time for my tickets, or can’t use them?
Plans changed? No problem. If you need to reschedule or cancel your tickets, please call (415) 339-3936 or email contact@badm.org. If you can’t use your tickets as planned, we’ll issue you a refund.
Can I buy tickets for someone else?
Absolutely! The names on the tickets don’t need to match the names of the people using them, so you can coordinate a group trip to the museum with friends or give an amazing gift with ease.
Please note, if you plan to have a caregiver bring your kids under your membership, the caregiver must be listed on your membership and show a photo ID at check in. Contact membership@badm.org to update names of those covered under your membership.
I have a question not covered here. Who can I contact?
We’re here to help! If you have any questions, please give us a call at (415) 339-3900 or email us at contact@badm.org.
We appreciate your feedback!
We care what you think! We need your input to make the museum even better. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please email contact@badm.org and let us know what we can do to improve your experience at the museum.