January 1, New Year’s Day
June 19, Juneteenth
July 4, Independence Day
September 8 – 19, Annual Closed Weeks
November 27, Thanksgiving Day
December 24, Winter Holiday
December 25, Winter Holiday

The museum is regularly closed:

• Tuesdays during summer (Memorial Day to Labor Day)
• Mondays and Tuesdays during the school year (Labor Day to Memorial Day)

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 $5 per person for up to 6 family members per EBT card.

Museums For All tickets must be purchased at the museum. When 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 Wednesdays, where admission is free for Bay Area residents* occurs twice a year. The next two Free First Wednesdays are September 3, 2025 and March 4, 2026.

*Must show proof of residency (photo ID or piece of mail) in one of the nine Bay Area counties.

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!

Every family belongs at the museum. The price of admission shouldn’t keep anyone from enjoying the exhibits. Families are welcome to make a donation of any amount to visit the museum. Simply tell the front desk staff that you wish to make a donation and come right in.

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.

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.

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. Participating institutions may have their own restrictions, and at our museum, ASTC members receive free admission for 1 adult and 1 child only. Please check your membership card for the ASTC logo and visit the ASTC website for a full list of participating locations.
• California Alumni Association (CAA): $1 off per visitor, up to 5 people
• UCSF: $1 off per visitor, up to 5 people

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 to coordinate a group visit.  

If you are with a preschool, elementary school, or child organization please see our Field Trips and STEAM Workshops.  

Did you receive a pass from a school or community program? Feel free to visit during any day we’re open as passes are guaranteed entry. Have additional questions? Contact us at contact@badm.org or 415-339-3936. Hablamos espanol.  

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 9:00 AM to 3:30 PM on Wednesday through Sunday.

Restrooms are located throughout the campus and, for your convenience, there are changing tables in every bathroom.

Diaper changes in restrooms only. Use of training potties is allowed only in restrooms. Diaper backpacks with changing supplies are available to visitors near every restroom entrance.    

Nursing nooks are located in both Bay Hall and Tot Spot.

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.

The museum does not have coat or lockers.

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.

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.

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.

It’s easier than ever to navigate the museum. Simply download the museum map to your phone to guide your visit.

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.

Service animals must be leashed and under the control of their owner at all times, in accordance with applicable law. 

• Pets are not allowed on campus nor are they allowed to be tied to our fence or entry plaza.  
• Upon entry, service animal owners will be asked the following two questions: 

1. What work or task has the service animal been trained to perform? 
2. Is the service animal required because of a disability?  

Any individual accompanying and performing the role of an interpreter for a visitor who is blind or visually impaired, a professional personal care attendant (PPCA) accompanying a paying visitor who requires care, or a paraeducator supporting a visitor with special needs will be admitted at no cost.

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.

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.