California Academy of Sciences

The California Academy of Sciences is the Bay Area's classic rainy day museum and one of the best science days out for families. Under one living roof in Golden Gate Park it combines the Steinhart Aquarium, the Morrison Planetarium, a domed rainforest and natural history halls. African penguins, a coral reef and the Shake House earthquake exhibit keep children moving from one space to the next.

From Palo Alto it is about 35 miles by car or a Caltrain and Muni ride. This guide covers the Academy's long history, the hours and ticket rules it posted for late 2026, how to get there, what suits which ages, accessibility, food and nearby stops.

From 1853 to the living roof

The Academy began in 1853 as a learned society, only three years after California became a state. Its Market Street building was destroyed in the 1906 earthquake and the three days of fire that followed. Staff saved a cart of materials, including about 2,000 type specimens.

In 1916 the Academy moved into Golden Gate Park, starting with the North American Hall of Birds and Mammals. The Steinhart Aquarium was added in 1923. The 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake badly damaged the old buildings and led to a full rebuild.

The current building, designed by Renzo Piano, opened on September 27, 2008 with a free day that drew more than 15,000 people. Its green roof covers 2.5 acres and was planted with about 1.7 million California native plants. The Academy holds more than 46 million specimens in its research collections, most of them behind the scenes.

What is inside

• Steinhart Aquarium. Coral reef, tide pool and swamp exhibits, accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.
• Osher Rainforest. A rainforest inside a 90-foot glass dome, with its own entry times.
• Morrison Planetarium. A digital dome 90 feet across. Shows need a pass, explained below.
• African penguins. A colony in the Penguin Habitat.
• Shake House. An earthquake exhibit included in Anytime Admission's skip-the-line perks.

Check the daily calendar on the morning of your visit for feeding times, talks and planetarium showtimes.

Hours and tickets for late 2026

The Academy's hours and admission page listed public hours of 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, with last entry at 4 p.m. The rainforest closes at 4:45 p.m. with last entry at 4:30. Members get early hours on Tuesday and Sunday mornings. NightLife, for adults 21 and up, runs most Thursdays from 6 to 10 p.m.

Peak pricing covers spring break, summer, holiday weekends and the November to December holiday period, so expect peak rates for much of the rest of 2026. An Anytime Admission ticket at $59 gives flexible timing and skip-the-line access to the planetarium, rainforest and Shake House. EBT cardholders pay $5. The Academy recommends buying ahead, especially for weekends and holidays. The Academy is also part of the San Francisco CityPASS bundle.

Planetarium passes

Planetarium shows need a pass. Passes are first come, first served on the day: you scan a QR code in the lobby to reserve a showtime. Children under 4 are not admitted and the Academy says shows may not suit children under 7. Grab a pass as soon as you arrive on busy days.

Library passes

Palo Alto library cardholders 14 and older with a Palo Alto ZIP code can reserve Academy passes through Discover & Go, up to three months ahead. Our libraries guide explains how to get a card.

Getting there from Palo Alto

By Caltrain and Muni

Ride Caltrain to 4th and King, about 40 minutes on an express. The N Judah Muni Metro starts right outside the station. Ride it to 9th Avenue and Irving Street, then walk about 10 minutes north into the park. The 44 O'Shaughnessy bus stops in front of the Academy and the 5 Fulton stops about five minutes away. Plan on roughly an hour and a half door to door. Show a same-day transit pass or fare receipt at the ticket window for $3 off daytime admission.

By car

Take Interstate 280 north, then Highway 1 (19th Avenue) into Golden Gate Park. Allow 45 minutes to an hour. JFK Drive is closed to cars, so use the Music Concourse Garage entrances at Fulton Street and 10th Avenue or at Music Concourse Drive and MLK Drive. The garage is open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and charges about $5.25 an hour on weekdays and $6.25 on weekends, per the garage operator. Rates change, so check the posted signs. The Academy does not run it. A free Golden Gate Park Shuttle runs along JFK Drive.

Who it suits

The Academy works from toddlers to teens. Under 4s love the penguins, the tide pool and the aquarium but cannot enter the planetarium. Ages 5 to 12 get the most from it, with the rainforest, the Shake House and the planetarium. Teens tend to enjoy the planetarium shows and the coral reef. Allow four to five hours for a full visit. It is also one of the best picks on our rainy day list.

Accessibility

The Academy lends manual wheelchairs free in the lobby, first come, first served, in exchange for a photo ID. It says ramps and alternate entrances reach all exhibits, including the rainforest. The planetarium has reserved seating for visitors with disabilities and assistive listening devices. Ask staff to take you to the third-floor accessible entrance when you collect your pass. Sensory kits with earmuffs and fidget toys are available in the lobby and a sensory guide rates areas by noise, light, touch and smell. Service dogs are welcome but not in the rainforest. Twenty free blue zone spaces are in the Golden Gate Bandshell lot off MLK Drive.

Food

The Academy Café and the Terrace restaurant serve grab-and-go food with a focus on local and sustainable ingredients. Lunch inside is convenient but busy at noon on weekends. Eating early, around 11:30 a.m., avoids the worst lines. The Music Concourse outside has benches for a snack break.

Tips for a smooth day

• Go late if you want quiet. The Academy says it is calmest one to two hours before closing, especially in fall and winter.
• Get the planetarium pass first. Showtimes fill on weekends.
• Expect peak prices now. The November to December holiday period counts as peak.
• Use the transit discount. A same-day receipt saves $3 per daytime ticket.

Pairing it with other stops

The de Young art museum faces the Academy across the Music Concourse. Our art museums guide lists its admission at $20. The Japanese Tea Garden and the Conservatory of Flowers are nearby in the park. For a second day of hands-on science, the Exploratorium on the Embarcadero suits older kids. The San Francisco Zoo is about 15 minutes away by car at the edge of the Pacific. Our San Francisco day trip and museums for kids guide have more. Staying the night makes a two-museum weekend easy: compare family hotels in San Francisco.

Frequently asked questions