The Orca Museum Series
California Museums Guide
California's top art, history and science museums and aquariums, region by region, with free days, reservations, hours and closures checked against each museum's own site. Free, no sign-up.
Free this week
Checking this week's free days…
Getty Center, Getty Villa, The Broad, MOCA Grand Avenue, Hammer Museum, California Science Center, Griffith Observatory, Fowler Museum at UCLA, Timken Museum of Art
Free days can change. Confirm on the museum's site.
Northern California
- San Francisco10 museums · Coming soon
- Oakland & Berkeley4 museums · Coming soon
- Marin (Sausalito)1 museums · Coming soon
- Silicon Valley (Stanford, Mountain View, San Jose)6 museums · Coming soon
- Santa Cruz2 museums · Coming soon
- Napa & Sonoma2 museums · Coming soon
- Sacramento & Davis7 museums · Coming soon
Central California
- Monterey Peninsula & Salinas5 museums · Coming soon
- San Luis Obispo County (SLO & San Simeon)2 museums · Coming soon
- Santa Barbara & Goleta8 museums · Coming soon
- Santa Ynez Valley (Solvang)1 museums · Coming soon
- Central Valley (Fresno & Stockton)2 museums · Coming soon
Southern California
- Los AngelesThe Getty, LACMA, the Broad, Griffith Observatory and 14 more, with free days checked.18 museums
- Pasadena & San Marino3 museums · Coming soon
- Long Beach2 museums · Coming soon
- Ventura County2 museums · Coming soon
- Orange County4 museums · Coming soon
- Riverside1 museums · Coming soon
- Palm Springs & the Desert2 museums · Coming soon
- San DiegoBalboa Park, the USS Midway and La Jolla: 10 museums with resident free Tuesdays.10 museums
Every museum
Los Angeles
- California Science CenterExposition Park · ScienceAlways freeKids freeOpen Mondays
- Getty CenterWestside · ArtAlways freeKids freeTimed reservation required
- Getty VillaWestside · Art, HistoryAlways freeKids freeTimed reservation requiredOpen Mondays
- Griffith ObservatoryGriffith Park · ScienceAlways freeKids free
- Hammer MuseumWestside · ArtAlways freeKids free
- Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA)Museum Row (Mid-Wilshire) · ArtFree for everyone · 2nd TuesdayOpen Mondays
- Lucas Museum of Narrative ArtExposition Park · ArtKids freeTimed reservation requiredOpen Mondays
- Natural History Museum of Los Angeles CountyExposition Park · Natural historyL.A. County residents free Mon–Fri 3–5 pmOpen Mondays
- The BroadDowntown & Little Tokyo · ArtAlways freeKids free
- Academy Museum of Motion PicturesMuseum Row (Mid-Wilshire) · SpecialtyKids freeOpen Mondays
- Autry Museum of the American WestGriffith Park · History, ArtFree for everyone · 1st Wednesday (register)
- Fowler Museum at UCLAWestside · Art, HistoryAlways freeKids free
- GRAMMY Museum L.A. LiveDowntown & Little Tokyo · SpecialtyKids freeOpen Mondays
- Petersen Automotive MuseumMuseum Row (Mid-Wilshire) · SpecialtyOpen Mondays
- Skirball Cultural CenterWestside · History, ArtFree for everyone · every Thursday
- The Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) – Grand AvenueDowntown & Little Tokyo · ArtAlways freeKids free
- Japanese American National MuseumDowntown & Little Tokyo · HistoryTemporarily closed
- La Brea Tar PitsMuseum Row (Mid-Wilshire) · Natural historyTemporarily closed
San Diego
- Birch Aquarium at ScrippsLa Jolla · Aquarium, ScienceOpen Mondays
- Mingei International MuseumBalboa Park · ArtFree for everyone · 3rd TuesdayKids free
- San Diego Natural History Museum (The Nat)Balboa Park · Natural historySD residents free · 1st TuesdayOpen Mondays
- The San Diego Museum of ArtBalboa Park · ArtSD County residents free · 3rd TuesdayKids freeOpen Mondays
- USS Midway MuseumDowntown Waterfront · HistoryOpen Mondays
- Fleet Science CenterBalboa Park · ScienceSD residents free · 1st TuesdayOpen Mondays
- Maritime Museum of San DiegoDowntown Waterfront · HistoryOpen Mondays
- Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego (MCASD) – La JollaLa Jolla · ArtFree for everyone · 2nd SundayKids free
- San Diego Air & Space MuseumBalboa Park · Science, HistorySD County residents free · 2nd Tuesday (not Dec/Jan)Open Mondays
- Timken Museum of ArtBalboa Park · ArtAlways freeKids free
Programs
Ways to get in free
Balboa Park Residents Free Tuesdays
San Diego City and County residents (and active military with dependents) get free general admission at rotating Balboa Park museums: 1st Tuesday Fleet Science Center and The Nat; 2nd Tuesday Air & Space (not Dec/Jan); 3rd Tuesday San Diego Museum of Art and Mingei; 4th Tuesday Museum of Us and SD Automotive Museum. Special exhibitions and films usually excluded.
✓ Verified · balboapark.org · checked Oct 4, 2026
Kids Free San Diego (October)
In October, many San Diego attractions offer free kids' admission with a paying adult (e.g., USS Midway, Maritime Museum, The Nat). Rules vary by museum.
Listed · midway.org · confirm before you go
SoCal Museums Free-For-All
An annual day (usually in late winter) when participating Southern California museums are free. 2026 edition: February 22, 2026.
Listed · confirm before you go
Bank of America Museums on Us
Bank of America and Merrill cardholders get free general admission on the first full weekend of each month at participating museums (e.g., MCASD).
Listed · mcasd.org · confirm before you go
Museums for All
Free or reduced admission (often $0–5) with a SNAP/EBT card at participating museums, including NHM, the Academy Museum, Mingei, MCASD and the USS Midway.
Listed · confirm before you go
Questions
About the guide
Let us plan the museum days for you
Timed entries, the right days and an easy table nearby. Your Orca Travel Team coordinates every detail, so you simply enjoy the galleries.
Start PlanningInformation only. Free days, hours and prices change; confirm with each museum before you go. Data: each museum's official website, balboapark.org and OpenStreetMap · Facts checked Oct 4, 2026 · Map © OpenFreeMap © OpenMapTiles © OpenStreetMap contributors.