The Aquarium of the Pacific is a marine-life aquarium at 100 Aquarium Way in Long Beach, California, with galleries focused on three Pacific regions. You can plan a visit around its exhibits, check current admission and hours, and combine the outing with waterfront stops.
- Location: 100 Aquarium Way, Long Beach, CA 90802
- Regular hours: Open daily
- Adult general admission: $49.95; child and senior rates are also available
How do you get to the Aquarium of the Pacific?
Long Beach Transit’s free Passport bus serves downtown Long Beach, the Aquarium and the Queen Mary, with service every 8–12 minutes depending on the day and time. The Queen Mary visit from Long Beach can be another stop to plan around that route.
For a walk from downtown, start at the Transit Mall at Pine Avenue and 1st Street. The Aquarium says the route is about a half-mile downhill walk taking around 10 minutes: head south on Pine Avenue, turn right at The Paseo, then left onto Aquarium Way.
The Long Beach Blue Line station is also at the Transit Mall, where you can continue on foot or take the Passport bus.
If you’re driving, the Aquarium parking structure is on the water side of Shoreline Drive, between Chestnut Place and Aquarium Way, a short distance from the entrance.
Parking is $8 for the day with Aquarium validation; you can pay by Visa, MasterCard or Discover at the exit or at kiosks near the elevators. The Aquarium is about an 8-minute drive from Royal Inn Motel Long Beach.
What can you see, and how should you plan your visit?
The Aquarium’s main galleries represent the Tropical Pacific, Northern Pacific and Southern California/Baja marine regions. Animals featured include sea otters, sharks, sea jellies and frogs, giving you a range of habitats and species to explore across the galleries.
Opening hours
- Monday to Sunday: 9 AM–6 PM
Last checked November 2026. Hours can change on holidays and for special events.
The visitor guide app includes exhibit information, species overviews, gallery tours, activities and amenity locations. Use it to help plan the order of your visit or find facilities while you’re there. The Aquarium opened in June 1998 and operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
Some exhibit activities have their own daily schedules. The Moon Jelly Touch Lab opens at 10:00 a.m. and stays open until closing, with a daily break from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.
Weekend feeding times are 10:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m. and 2:30–4:30 p.m. Lorikeet Forest is open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.; feeding begins at 9:30 a.m. and continues until the birds’ daily nutritional needs are met.
What are Aquarium of the Pacific ticket prices and hours?
General admission is $49.95 for adults, $34.95 for children ages 3–11 and $46.95 for seniors ages 62 and older. Children under 3 do not need a ticket or reservation. Reservations are required on weekends and holidays; if you buy tickets online, select an entry time during checkout and you do not need a separate reservation.
Regular hours are daily from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., except Christmas Day, December 25. The Aquarium notes that some days have extended hours, and its calendar can show changes to opening or closing times for a particular date. Admission prices and schedules can change, so check the official site before you go.
The exhibits are wheelchair accessible, and wheelchairs are available to check out free of charge at the Information Desk. Guests using wheelchairs can touch animals in any Aquarium touch pool. Free audio tours for guests who are blind are available at the desk or in the visitor guide app, and braille visitor guides are available at the desk.
Service animals are not allowed in Lorikeet Forest; Aquarium staff can assist the guest and animal. For accessibility questions or special needs, call the Aquarium at 562-590-3100, extension 0.
What waterfront stops can you combine with an Aquarium visit?
The Pike and Shoreline Village offer options for food and shopping before or after your visit. You can make one of them a meal or browsing stop after the Aquarium, then use the Passport bus, which also serves the Queen Mary, to continue around downtown Long Beach.
If you’re sorting out the downtown portion of your trip, the guide to getting around downtown Long Beach covers local transport.
FAQs
Do you need to reserve Aquarium of the Pacific tickets?
Reservations are required on weekends and holidays. Online ticket buyers choose an entry time during purchase and do not need a separate reservation.
Are children under 3 admitted free?
Children under age 3 do not need a ticket or reservation.
Is the Aquarium of the Pacific wheelchair accessible?
Yes. The Aquarium says its exhibits are wheelchair accessible, and wheelchairs are available to check out at no charge at the Information Desk.