Imagine going to a museum and seeing just what you like. Science... art ... model railroads? That's the beauty of the museums in Balboa Park. So many to choose from. You get to choose what interests you. And you may even get to go for free.
Note: Most museums are now open after being closed due to COVID-19, however some restrictions are in place. Check with each museum to confirm hours and ticket availability. Free Tuesdays is currently on hold.
Updated July 4, 2022 by San Diego Beaches and Adventures
If you are locals or active military, check out the calendar below for free museums for Balboa Park Museums Free Tuesdays. For other free or fun San Diego California activities, check out Upcoming San Diego Events.
February San Diego Museum Month
Which is the best San Diego museum in Balboa Park? It depends on what you enjoy. My favorite is the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center, with its interesting interactive exhibits and IMAX movies.
Can't decide which one? Visit more than one. The park offers several special deals on tickets prices, and there are many coupons and discounts available.
Stay for the Day pass – visit your choice of 4 of 16 museums in one day for $56 ($35 for child ticket age 3 - 12). San Diego Zoo is not included. Available for purchase at the Balboa Parks Visitors Center, or online.
Balboa Park Multi-Day Explorer Passport - offers one admission to each of the 16 museums or attractions, good for seven consecutive days. Pricing is approximately $67 for adults, $43 for children. Or if you would also like to visit the San Diego Zoo, which is located in Balboa Park, and the museums, a Zoo-Passport combo ticket may also be purchased.
Other Discount Tickets and Coupons - There are many Discount Tickets and Coupons for individual museums or attractions for San Diego museums in Balboa Park.
For more information about Balboa Park, including address and directions, see San Diego Balboa Park
Free to San Diego City & County residents, Active Military & their families.
Reuben H. Fleet Science Center
Centro Cultural de la Raza
Model Railroad Museum
Natural History Museum (does not include special exhibits)
Free to San Diego City & County residents, Active Military & their families
Museum of Photographic Arts
Museum of San Diego History
Veterans’ Museum and Memorial Center
Free to San Diego City & County residents, Active Military & their families
San Diego Museum of Art
San Diego Museum of Man
Japanese Friendship Garden
Free to San Diego City & County residents, Active Military & their families
San Diego Air & Space Museum (not valid for special exhibits)
San Diego Automotive Museum (last admission 3:45pm)
House of Pacific Relations International Cottages (Select cottages only)
San Diego Art Institute (free every 4th Tuesday and Saturday each month, excluding Dec 2019)
Normal museum prices in effect.
Note: The Timken Museum of Art is always free, making it one of the popular Balboa Park museums.
Balboa Park Veterans Museum & Memorial Center, Balboa Park, 2115 Park Blvd., San Diego, CA 92101 (619) 239-2300 www.veteranmuseum.org
Centro Cultural de la Raza, Balboa Park, 2125 Park Blvd., San Diego, CA 92101 (619) 235-6135 http://www.centroculturaldelaraza.org/
Japanese Friendship Gardens, Balboa Park, 2215 Pan American Road. E, San Diego, CA 92101 (619) 232-2721 http://niwa.org/
Marston House, 3525 Seventh Ave., San Diego, CA 92101 (619) 297-9327 http://sohosandiego.org/marston/index.htm
Mingei International Museum, 1439 El Prado, Balboa Park (619) 239-0003 www.mingei.org
Museum Of Photographic Arts, 1649 El Prado, Balboa Park (619) 238-7559 www.mopa.org
Reuben H. Fleet Science Center, 1875 El Prado, Balboa Park (619) 238-1233 www.rhfleet.org
San Diego Air And Space Museum, 2001 Pan American Plaza, Balboa Park (619) 234-8291 www.sandiegoairandspace.org
San Diego Automotive Museum , 2080 Pan American Plaza, Balboa Park (619) 231-AUTO (2886) www.sdautomuseum.org
San Diego Hall Of Champions, 2131 Pan American Plaza, Balboa Park (619) 234-2544 www.sdhoc.com
Museum of San Diego History, Balboa Park, 1649 El Prado, Suite #3 San Diego, CA 92101 (619) 232-6203 www.sandiegohistory.org
San Diego Model Railroad Museum, 1649 El Prado, Balboa Park (619) 696-0199 www.sdmrm.org
San Diego Museum Of Art, 1450 El Prado, Balboa Park (619) 232-7931 www.sdmrm.org
San Diego Museum Of Man, 1350 El Prado, Balboa Park (619) 239-2001 www.museumofman.org
San Diego Natural History Museum, 1788 El Prado, Balboa Park (619) 232-3821 www.sdnhm.org
Timken Museum Of Art - A free Balboa Park museum! 1500 El Prado, Balboa Park (619) 239-5548 www.timkenmuseum.org
Tentative - February is San Diego Museum Month, and it is back again for 2022 in San Diego. What a great time to visit some San Diego museums. Approximately 45 local museums, monuments, historical sites and gardens offer half-price admission. Pick up a FREE Museum Month Discount Pass at a local Macy's store starting February 1 2022 or a local library. The pass is good for half-price admissions for up to four people to participating local museums, including some of my favorites: Reuben H. Fleet Science Center, USS Midway, and San Diego Botanic Garden (formerly Quail Botanical Gardens).
Just pick up your free museum pass from February 1 - Feb 28 2022, and get half off admission to the best museums in San Diego. Participating museums typically include:
Adobe Chapel
Barona Cultural Center & Museum
Birch Aquarium at Scripps - one of our favorites!
Bonita Museum & Cultural Center
California Center for the Arts, Escondido Museum
California Surf Museum - a must-see for surfing bums (Oceanside)
Coronado Museum of History & Art
Flying Leatherneck Aviation Museum
Gaslamp Museum and William H. Davis House
Heritage of the Americas Museum
Japanese Friendship Garden
Junipero Serra Museum
La Jolla Historical Society
Living Coast Discovery Museum
LUX Art Institute
Maritime Museum of San Diego
Marston House and Gardens
Mingei International Museum
Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego - Downtown
Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego - La Jolla
Museum of Making Music - Carlsbad
Museum of Photographic Arts
Oceanside Museum of Art
Reuben H. Fleet Science Center - We love it! It's the best!
San Diego Air & Space Museum
San Diego Archaeological Center
San Diego Automotive Museum
San Diego Botanic Gardens - Beautiful garden in Encinitas.
San Diego Children's Discovery Museum
San Diego Chinese Historical Museum
San Diego History Center
San Diego Model Railroad Museum
San Diego Natural History Museum
Santa Ysabel Store
The New Children’s Museum
The San Diego Museum of Art
Tijuana Estuary Visitors Center
Timken Museum of Art
USS Midway Museum - a San Diego tradition.
Veteran’s Museum & Memorial Center
Visions Art Museum
Warner-Carillo Ranch House & Museum
Water Conservation Garden
Whaley House Museum
Women’s Museum of California
For more information on the San Diego Museum Month see www.sandiegomuseumcouncil.org
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