The San Diego Natural History Museum, also called The Nat, is a natural history museum at 1788 El Prado in Balboa Park. You can plan a visit around its daily hours, exhibitions, and Giant Screen Theater, then add a stroll through the surrounding park.
- Location: 1788 El Prado, Balboa Park, San Diego, CA 92101
- Regular hours: Open daily
- Admission: $24.95 for adults; $16.95 for youth ages 3–17; children 2 and under enter free
Where is the museum in Balboa Park?
The museum is on El Prado in Balboa Park, a large cultural and recreational park with museums, gardens, the San Diego Zoo, trails, and athletic complexes. The Nat is about a six-minute drive from Berkshire Motor Hotel.
Balboa Park covers 1,200 acres and includes 17 museums. Its mix of cultural venues and open spaces makes it easy to pair a museum visit with time outdoors.
What are the San Diego Natural History Museum hours and ticket prices?
The Nat is open daily from 10 AM to 5 PM, except on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. Admission is $24.95 for adults and $16.95 for youth ages 3–17; children age 2 and under are admitted free. An adult must accompany anyone age 15 or under.
General admission includes access to exhibitions and films in the Giant Screen Theater. The 300-seat theater has stadium-style seating. Online tickets can be purchased up to one month in advance, and Balboa Park Explorer and GoCard pass holders receive free admission.
The Nat also holds Nat at Night on select Fridays. Hours, admission details, and event schedules can change, so check the official site before you go.
Opening hours
- Monday to Thursday, Saturday and Sunday: 10 AM–5 PM
- Friday: 10 AM–11 PM
Last checked November 2026. Hours can change on holidays and for special events.
What can you see, and how should you plan your visit?
The museum’s exhibitions include Fossil Mysteries, Amazement in the Basement, and Washed Ashore: Art to Save the Sea. Amazement in the Basement focuses on the museum’s collections and offers a view into the Paleontology Center. The Nat’s research collection contains more than 8 million specimens.
For a simple visit plan, start with the exhibitions, then leave time for a film in the Giant Screen Theater, which is included with paid admission. If you’re planning to visit Spanish Village Art Center as well, it’s another Balboa Park stop to work into your day; the Spanish Village Art Center guide has practical details.
Where can you park, and how do you arrive accessibly?
The museum directs visitors to its parking, directions, and public-transit information, and says a bus stop is practically at its doorstep. Six accessible parking spaces are in the lot on the museum’s east side, off Village Place.
Paid parking enforcement in Balboa Park lots runs from 8 AM to 6 PM. Lot levels have different rates for nonresidents:
- Level 1 premium lots: Space Theater, Casa de Balboa, Alcazar, Organ Pavilion, and South Carousel. Pay $10 for up to four hours or $16 for a full day.
- Level 2 lots: Pepper Grove, Upper Inspiration Point, Marston Point, Federal, Palisades, and Bea Evenson. The rate is $10 per day.
- Level 3: Lower Inspiration Point offers the first three hours free, then charges $10 for a full day.
Lot fees can be paid at meter kiosks. City residents need to register online and purchase parking in advance to receive free or discounted parking.
What else can you pair with a museum visit?
Balboa Park’s museums and gardens give you options for extending your outing beyond The Nat. You could combine the museum with a walk through the park or choose another nearby cultural stop. The park was established by the City of San Diego in 1868. The Balboa Park visit guide covers the wider park.
FAQs
Do young visitors need to be accompanied by an adult?
Yes. An adult must accompany youth age 15 and under.
How large is the museum’s research collection?
The Nat’s research collection contains more than 8 million specimens.
When was Balboa Park established?
The City of San Diego first established Balboa Park in 1868.