San Diego Natural History Museum (The Nat)

Know before you go

Admission

Paid: Adult $24.95; Youth 3–17 $16.95; 2 and under free. Nat at Night (Fri after 5pm) half price: $12.50/$8.50

✓ Verified on sdnhm.org · checked Oct 4, 2026

Free days & hours

Residents Free Tuesday: 1st Tuesday monthly for City and County of San Diego residents and active military with dependents (not films), per Balboa Park schedule. Children 2 and under free. Kids Free San Diego in October.

✓ Verified on balboapark.org · checked Oct 4, 2026

Reservations

Online tickets up to one month ahead; not required

✓ Verified on sdnhm.org · checked Oct 4, 2026

Hours

Daily 10am–5pm; select Fridays to 11pm (Nat at Night)

✓ Verified on sdnhm.org · checked Oct 4, 2026

Closed

Thanksgiving, Christmas

✓ Verified on sdnhm.org · checked Oct 4, 2026

Parking

Balboa Park paid parking since early 2026: premium lots (Space Theater, Casa de Balboa, Alcazar, Organ Pavilion, South Carousel) $10/4 hrs or $16/day for non-residents ($5/$8 City residents); general lots $10/day; registered City of San Diego residents park free in 7 lots (summary of City of San Diego parking page). Some museum pages still say 'all parking is free' — outdated.

Listed · sandiego.gov · confirm before you go

Kids

Youth pricing; adult must accompany 15 and under

✓ Verified on sdnhm.org · checked Oct 4, 2026

Accessibility

Escort for visitor with disabilities free

✓ Verified on sdnhm.org · checked Oct 4, 2026

Address

1788 El Prado, Balboa Park, San Diego, CA 92101

✓ Verified on sdnhm.org · checked Oct 4, 2026

Map location from OpenStreetMap.

Free days, hours and prices change often, and museums close for installations and private events. Always confirm on the museum's own site before you go. Information only; Orca Travel Collection isn't affiliated with these museums.