Hey it's free! This is a small aquarium that has some very unique experiences. The nursery was amazing. Younger kids would appreciate this place. Parking is $1 per hour at the Cabrillo beach They have a gift shop. read more

Update now that renovations are completed!! I feel like the exhibit is the same as before, breathtaking displays for educational purposes and many live animals to admire. I think the most exciting exhibit my son wanted to see was the whales and we were sad to find out there's less in the room than before. The display of whales and size comparison, dolphin head to show how they speak, and other things were gone. The buttons didn't work the time we visited as well. So far, it was a nicely designed renovation but didn't have any new displays that I wish were toy like or more visuals than before which they had plenty but nothing much new... still a great free aquarium and donations are always welcomed. read more

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I adore this aquarium. It heavily featured in my childhood and now I'm bringing my own child here. The main exhibit hall is currently under renovation and is set to open in April 2026, but there's still plenty to see and do. The exploration center (which has puzzles and books for the little ones to enjoy) and the nursery are still open (you can still see jellyfish, shrimps/prawns, abalone among other things, we even got to see a jellyfish feeding while we were there!). We plan to come back when the exhibit hall reopens and I hope they still have the Tidepool Touch Tank in the back I loved so much as a child. There's also other free activities for the kids to enjoy like the puppet show and the shark touch tank (super cool), and my son got to touch a shark! This is such a cute and humble little aquarium. It's free admission, but they greatly appreciate donations. Much has stayed the same and much has also changed since I was here as a child. You do have to pay for parking, $1 per hour which is really reasonable. There's a nice quiet beach to enjoy out front. There's a small Offset Coffee bar attached to the aquarium now as well. And there's a little gift shop with lots of educational toys and books. In a world where more and more kids (and adults) doom scroll and become addicted to social media, I really appreciate places like this that are free and still available to the public. It's really impressive how much they still offer and how many cool things you can see and still learn about despite the lack of admission fees. I will keep happily supporting them and we definitely need to preserve and have more spaces like this, as they are becoming more and more rare in the digital age. It's nice to make the trek out here, get off our screens and touch some grass (or sharks rather!). And maybe I'm biased, but I love this place more than the Long Beach Aquarium! (Monterey Bay aquarium is probably truly the best aquarium in California though!) Will definitely come back again and again. read more

We spent the day in San Pedro and decided to check out the Cabrillo Aquarium. You pay for parking which is $1/hr since it's shared with the Cabrillo Beach parking. The main aquarium was being renovated but there were a few exhibits to check out. It was free to enter and donations are accepted. We walked around to check out some of the display and exhibits. There are some unique fossils and mammals on display in the Aquariums. It's very informative and educational which is very cool. They have fossils, art displays and other marine life exhibits. The coolest part to me was seeing the jelly fish displays. Very mesmerizing and visually captivating. We'd be curious to see how the renovations of the main building would look. Overall, a nice little aquarium to stop by and peep what they have to offer. read more

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We came here with my son's Cub Scout troop on a weekend camping trip and had a wonderful time. The aquarium is very small. This is not a place you are going to spend several hours at. You can honestly get in and out in maybe an hour and a half and see everything there. But that's fine. The aquarium is focused and packed with a ton of interesting fish and other aquatic/beach items. The video program they showed when we were there was fine. But I would say you could probably skip it and not miss anything. Staff here is knowledgeable and friendly. I have to commend them for being able to deal with a group of kids running around like madmen. There's a small gift shop & an even smaller coffee cart just outside if you need something. But keep in mind the coffee cart won't be able to make anything (i.e. if you're a tea drinker like me you're outta luck) and they will move slowly. So bake in some extra time to get your caffeine if you plan on stopping here. I would absolutely come back to this aquarium if I found myself in the area. But, if you're coming for your first time, maybe just check to see if the renovations of the main building are done. It was closed when we were here (October 2025) and that could be why I found myself going 'oh. that's everything?' Perhaps the other building offers a ton more experiences. read more

Cabrillo Marine Aquarium - Auditorium - Aquariums Near Me - San Pedro, California

We love love love this aquarium. They have fun activities and puppet shows for the kiddos. The staff are always kind and patient with the kids. They learn so much about sea life. I feel super grateful this spot is in San Pedro. read more

An Earth Day event was held here last month. Booths were set up highlighting local efforts on ocean conservation, climate resilient farming, mosquito bite prevention, and a handful of volunteer programs. From top to bottom, we completed these outdoor activities in about ten minutes. After some back and forth, we decided to check out the aquarium as well. At first glance, the space seemed rather small. Subsequent glances didn't change that perception all that much, but I'd argue that there's more than meets the eye. All the staff members here were diligent and outwardly friendly. Kids were getting guidance on their chalk art of aquatic animals. The shark petting station staff playfully bit my hand with her puppet shark while teaching proper petting etiquette. Another staff member cleaning the pipefish tank paused to answer questions, where I learned that pipefish were relatives of seahorses, meaning the males hold onto the embryos and provide nourishment until the offsprings hatch. She also demystified the rotating currents of the Kreisel jellyfish tanks. Free collectible pins of sea animals were hard to get hold of by the time we showed up, and yet a staff member went around to look for some when she ran out. We also popped into their auditorium for a short film about the grunion's life. Lastly, the grunion birthing process was put into our hands with small jars of unhatched grunion eggs, water, and sand, where we vigorously agitated to get them to hatch. It was a genuinely amusing experience anchored by a group of educators with their silly dance and punny jokes. It's a charming place to spend time learning about the local habitat. read more

Cabrillo Marine Aquarium - Chalk shark and a squirrel - Aquariums Near Me - San Pedro, California

*** Main Aquarium exhibit is CLOSED through the end of the year (2025) Still a fun place to visit, but the main exhibition parts including jellyfish and touch tank areas are closed. There is a temporary touch tank outside the kids area and lab, which is totally fun. Donation based entrance, recommended $7/person. I do love this little aquarium option compared to the crowds at aquarium of the pacific. And more engaging than the little roundhouse Manhattan beach aquarium. Paid parking is only $1/hr or $9 for the day. You can also walk to the beach and a playground from the same parking lot. You could trolly over but the trolly only goes one way around town, so you'd be stuck making the loop. There's a really great icecream truck in the parking lot, too. read more

Despite the main exhibit hall undergoing renovations, the nursery and exploration center were still plenty entertaining. Parking was $1 per hour and 1 hour was more than sufficient for the aquarium. Otherwise, entry was free. The exploration center had more interactive aspects. There was a fish tank where families could climb under to observe the fish 360 degrees around them. There were various samples that were interchanged under the microscope and an extensive collection of preserved fossils and vertebrates. My favorite section was the touch tank with lively crabs, abalone, and starfish. The neighboring nursery had the largest abalones I've ever seen. Notably there were lots of opportunities for youths to do research and some tanks housed their conservation efforts. It was amazing to see all the different colored brines being made. There was a surprisingly big jellyfish collection and the volunteers were very knowledgeable on each creature. There were larger than life fossils dispersed throughout the walkways for photo ops. There were free events every hour but I unfortunately came later in the day. However there was a booth in front the monarch butterflies where guests could interact with the staff. The gift shop had really nice aquatic and thematic souvenirs for a reasonable price. As a magnet collector, they get two thumbs up from me. Albeit humble at the moment, I would still find this a worthwhile stop when in the area. I wouldn't drive hours for this given the exhibit hall is currently closed, but the free admission is stellar. read more

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Last night I attended my first "grunion run" and while the little silvery fish were not coming up in droves, the program and guidance of the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium made it a top notch experience! Fun, science, and patience with nature were wrapped around a community of people of all ages and backgrounds as we learned and appreciated our local ecosystem together. Many thanks to the fabulous staff and congratulations on the new, updated galleries. read more

5 stars! We recently attended the annual grunion run event in the evening, and it was absolutely unforgettable. The aquarium team did an amazing job organizing the whole experience, from educational talks about grunions and their unique spawning habits, to guiding us down to Cabrillo Beach for the main event. Watching hundreds of grunions ride the waves onto the sand to lay their eggs under the moonlight was magical. The staff were knowledgeable and enthusiastic, making it fun for both kids and adults. Inside the aquarium, the exhibits on Southern California marine life are always a hit, especially the touch tanks and the exploration center for little ones. The setting is beautiful, right by the beach, and the whole place has a welcoming, community vibe. If you're in the area, don't miss the chance to experience one of their special events--or just drop by for a visit. It's a true local gem! read more

This free aquarium is surprisingly better than other paid aquariums I've been to. They accept donations incase you want to help support. Parking is $1 / hour in the shared beach parking lot. This aquarium had alot of pretty cool critters to see. A lot of different jellyfish, abalone, and sea urchins. Some small sharks but none of the big sea animals. Can't really complain since it's a small and free aquarium. Probably in and out under an hour, so if you're coming just for this you can probably be good with paying for an hour, maybe two hours of parking. read more

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BEWARE!! Their exhibit hall is closed for renovations until next year some time. This includes my favorite- the touch tide pool! This severely limits their exhibits. They do have a nursery where you can see abalone, sea horses, pipe fish, jellies, stingrays. And some of the tide pool animals are at the exploratory but you are not allowed to touch them. CSULB also had some shark teeth for the kiddos to touch. It was still an enjoyable visit but not worth the drive. Luckily I was in the area so stopped by for a quick visit. read more

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It was actually a great place to explore, not to mention, it's free admission (suggested donation $7/adult, $3/kid) Parking rate is fare too ($1 per hour) Bonus points: Cabrillo beach is just across the street. Worth a visit! read more

Great simple aquarium that is jam packed with so much. Fred to the public (yet you can donate which I truly suggest at least a $1... it can go a long way). Touch ranks, interactive areas, lots of marine life, and so much more. Grunion run location. Clean bathroom, cute, gift shop, and education area. It's a great location for any age. Right on the beach, near a play area, and tide pools you can walk to. (Just be careful and look up high tide times online) or the aquarium can answer those questions for you. read more

It's been some time since I have visited the Cabrillo Aquarium. A week off from work called for some family fun - this is where my search for that took me. Currently, they are undergoing renovations - which limits the experience significantly. No timeline for completion can be found on their site or when I was there in person. However, that does not mean my family and I did not have a good time. Such places receive support from a variety of sources - but that did not stop me from investing in an annual family membership that will allow us to visit until October of next year. The staff were welcoming, friendly, and informative. Despite a much smaller area to enjoy visits during renovations - we still enjoyed our time there. read more

Cabrillo Marine Aquarium - Kid space - Aquariums Near Me - San Pedro, California

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I've been to Cabrillo Marine Aquarium several times over the years. However, my favorite visit by far was "Meet the Grunion" in April 2023. In case you're not aware, the grunion are a unique species of fish found only in California. The grunion come out of the water to spawn several times a year, predicted by the lunar cycle and tides. I've pretty much grown up in California and had tried now and then to spot these unique fish with no luck. I finally decided to trust the professionals and bought some tickets for the event at CMA. PARKING: It's a pay lot for the grunion event ($4) but not sure how much during the day. AQUARIUM: CMA offers a lot of great hands-on activities to learn more about sealife. We were able to "hatch grunion" by swirling a jar full of grunion eggs, mimicing the agitation of the waves. So cool to watch baby grunion take their first swim! GRUNION: This is defitinely the place to go if you want to increase your odds of seeing actual grunion. Tickets are available online and include an instructional video from the '60s about the life cycle of grunion (flashback to fourth grade!). We were then escorted out to the beach and given instructions on how to encourage the grunion to make an appearance (turn off lights, be still, in other words don't scare them off, say a little prayer to Poseidon.) Then, like magic, a school of grunion flashing under the moon started swimming towards the sand and there they were, wriggling around and engaging in the mating behaviors designed to give their eggs the best chance of survival. Sexy, right? Look them up on the internet for the details. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! read more

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Cabrillo Marine Aquarium is such an enjoyable spot for both kids and adults. There are plenty of hands-on exhibits and opportunities to get up close with different sea creatures, which makes it both fun and educational. Just a heads-up -- the main exhibit area is currently under construction, but there's still a lot to see and explore. The staff are friendly and great with kids, and the whole place has a relaxed, welcoming feel. Definitely worth a visit if you're in the area! read more

My first time here, will not be my last time. I did a self guided tour to explore all of what was here at the aquarium. It's #olderamericansmonth2024 this was a day trip from the City of Long Beach. It was so great to see children from schools enjoying a field trip to the aquarium. read more

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The good: This is a FREE aquarium (with suggested $7 donation). I took my 21 month old and she enjoyed it. She was able to touch the sea anemones and kelp during the hands on tide pool session. This was her first time at an aquarium. They have a lot of school field trips here so it may be crowded with school kids. There was an area with a table and wooden puzzles that my daughter enjoyed. There were a lot of taxidermy birds, otters and sea animals (sand dollars, etc). Coming here took me back to my college days when I took a marine biology class at UC Davis. I enjoyed seeing the exhibits with all of the scientific research methods, microscopes, quadrats and jarred specimens. The bad: The interior has a bit of a dinky feel in some areas with the rusted metal fencing in some exhibits. The interesting: Parking was $2 for two hours for us. You have to decide họp on entry how many hours you'll stay. They didn't check when we exited if we stayed within that time frame or not. read more

Cabrillo Marine Aquarium - Fish - Aquariums Near Me - San Pedro, California

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The Cabrillo Marine Aquarium is where education, conservation, and natural beauty converge. With its reasonable suggested donation and a commitment to enriching the understanding of marine ecosystems, it's a fantastic destination for anyone interested in the ocean's wonders. Whether you're a maritime enthusiast or simply seeking an enjoyable day by the sea, this aquarium will give you a deeper appreciation for our oceans and the life they support. Cabrillo Beach Parking $1 per hour ($9 max) for cars, $2 per hour ($15 max) for boats and oversized vehicles. (Parking is free with a member parking pass. read more

Cabrillo Marine Aquarium - Aquariums Near Me - San Pedro, California

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Cool little aquarium love taking my godson there since its donation based and the beach is right there so we can do two cool activities at once. Everyone is nice and informative and they have multiple rooms and a touch tank for the little kids It's definitely a great spot to visit if you're in the area and I prefer it over the aquarium of the pacific read more

Came here on a Saturday around 3 pm. They have plenty of paid beach parking. We paid the suggested donation of $7 per adult. The attendant was friendly and notified us of a grunion hatching demonstration they were doing just as we arrived. Every group got a jar of sand. The man talking about it was funny and cracked jokes, while the other employees came around to pour water and help families. Once the water is in the jar, you swish it around vigorously for a minute or so. Then you can actually see grunions hatching and swimming around! It was my first time hearing about grunions, and I saw a poster in their clean bathrooms for annual grunion events on the beach. The rest of the aquarium was super cool and informative. I learned a lot about the creatures on southern california's coast. I also was able to talk to a few more employees and everyone was so friendly and kind! Unfortunately we missed the tide pool touch tank, the last time starts at 3:30 pm. Will definitely return! What a gem! read more

Very fun aquarium in San Pedro I would totally recommend. It doesn't beat the Long Beach Aquarium, but it is a lot cheaper (free with $7 recommended donation, compared to $45 at Long Beach Aquarium). If you are out of town and love aquariums then I would recommend the Long Beach Aquarium, however if you are a local and have already been to there I would say you have to also check out the Cabrillo Aquarium. Tip: One thing the Cabrillo Aquarium has going that is better than the Long Beach Aquarium is that in the same parking lot you can also access the Cabrillo Beach for some waves/water fun, and/or you can also explore the Cabrillo Tidepools read more

Cabrillo Marine Aquarium - Aquariums Near Me - San Pedro, California

Definitely worth a visit, especially if you haven't been in awhile, it's much bigger than I remember when I was a kid. Parking is credit or debit only, they do not take cash. You must prepay before going in, they charge $1 an hour. The aquarium can easily be done in about a hour, while it's bigger than I remember, it's still small. Aquarium staff was very friendly, it's free, you can donate or not donate if you're unable to. My kids had a blast looking at all the fish and other sea creatures on display, and the exhibit they have in the corner near the hatchery is really great for younger kids, a lot of things they can touch and run around without worry. They have a little area in the back where you can touch starfish and sea urchins, it was pretty crowded so we didn't do this part (we went on a Monday and I was surprised how crowded the whole thing was) Make sure you take a map as it'll show you places that you would miss to explore otherwise Definitely recommend, not giving five stars as there are other aquariums that are out there that are better and don't want to knock them, but this one was loved by the whole family read more

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Free (donations encouraged & suggested!) Our family stopped by, and had a blast looking at all the marine life. We were even shocked to see preserved corpses of angler fishes and sharks. The only thing that was a little alarming was that there wasn't much control around the touch pool, and we saw a few kids stick their arms in the water where there were a few sharks. It was a fun experience overall, and would recommend folks come by. Note: parking isn't free (and is timed), so be aware of that ahead of time. There's also quite a bit to do around the area (like driving to the lighthouse or seeing the Korean Friendship Bell). read more

Cabrillo Marine Aquarium - Aquariums Near Me - San Pedro, California

We went and were able to pet baby sharks! How COOL! Your time during the touching is limited but still very cool! Its donation base so give what you can. Staff are so nice and friendly. 10/10 would recommend if you have little ones and want to do an activity with them outside of the house. read more

The Aquarium is undergoing renovations so we could only see part of it which was enough for our young grandsons. The shark touch tank was a hit. The staff was friendly and gladly answered our questions. read more

Before you plan your visit here, please note that it still requires mask and proof of vaccination (with a photo ID). Seems to check for vaccination on adults only, not little kids. Parking is shared with Cabrillo Beach and is $1 per hour. You have to pay at a pay station and get a printed receipt to place on car dash. Some machines take both cash and card, but some only take coins and card (no bills). Most of the machines were broken so it was a bit frustrating trying to find one that worked. Museum is pretty small, but still entertaining enough for little kids. It may be boring for some adults, but still beats dealing with parking, crowd, and high price at Aquarium of the Pacific. This is a free museum, with suggested donation, but didn't seem like anyone was asking for it. Suggested donation at this time is $7 for adults and $3 for kids. For my family, it came out to even $20. Museum is clean and well-organized, and has some great educational material. My favorite exhibits are mini sharks, sea horses, and crystal jellyfish. read more

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This is a small aquarium with many displays and tanks with many types of fish. There is no cost to enter and they welcome donations. It is located near the ocean and parking is free. read more

Cabrillo Marine Aquarium - Mural - Aquariums Near Me - San Pedro, California

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It was fun and free aquarium. Parking is for $1 per hour. Closed to playground and beach. Will visit again next time. read more

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My husband & I had a wonderful day at the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium. It's a hidden gem. Parking was just steps from the entrance. It was so peaceful. Only a few people. Looking forward to going again in a few months. They have incubation tanks & all kinds of different sea animals & creatures. Some areas - You are allowed to touch *only where posted* Lots of workers taking care of tanks and animals. It only cost 1 dollar per hour to park. Beautiful back drop of the ocean just steps away. I can't believe how clean, nice & relaxing the day was. If you go you will love it. read more

This little gem has a special place in our heart. We came when the kids were toddlers to experience a much more manageable and economical aquarium. The kids could see most sea creatures right from their strollers. They also had scheduled touch tanks exhibits. They are currently under renovation however so the main exhibit hall is closed probably until next year. The lab and the jellyfish are still open. A the tide pools and the beach are just a short walk away read more

Came here today only to find out most of the aquarium is shut down for renovations and that we would only have access to one very small building. Wouldn't visit right now unless you have small children who want to play around in the room, but not many tanks or exhibits to actually view right now. Gift shop was cute though. read more

First I will say it has been forever and a day since I've been here!! As a kid I remember this place being very small and quaint. Not so much these days - I was pleasantly surprised and all too glad to pay the suggested donation "fee" for entry. The exhibits were well-organized, the sea-life are well cared for. The docents were especially friendly to kids and super engaging. They offer a challenge to kids to look for a plush octopus as a way to sustain their engagement. We went through the exhibits twice in efforts to find it - we found it on the last try. The kids got to choose three items from their "treasure box" as a reward. Outside their main exhibit hall they have a "touch tank" available. In it were sea urchins, sea anemone, and more. In terms of crowd management and price point this place is alluring because it's not over done or over commercialized like the "other" aquarium on the other side of the bridge. ;) The facility clearly has had (probably) multiple upgrades over the years. Overall we had a great experience and definitely will come back - likely for the grunion run coming in spring / summer. Important to know: they require proof of vaccination, masking, and parking is by the hour. read more

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A fun place to visit. There's a lot to see and it's interesting. It's for everyone. Worth the travel.

This is a cute little aquarium in San Pedro. Beautiful scenery around and parking was $3 when we went and close to the entrance of the aquarium. Entrance fee is donation based. The main exhibition is closed right now due to renovations, but they had two small exhibits that were open that my son liked checking out. Wasn't overly busy, but steady amount of people in there. They do have an auditorium with showings, but wasn't showing any while we were there. There were a few workers in the exhibits, one explained a lot to my son when we asked a question. In the other building one was also helpful to answer when we asked but didn't have the experience of them initiating discussion with us as they were busy talking to one another. We stopped at the small gift shop on the way out which had some affordable toys and snacks, and were able to sit on some of the benches to eat while I was also able to get a tea at the coffee shop there too. The restrooms were fairly clean and close by. Seems like a nice place for under 5 yrs, but can see how early elementary may also like it too because of some of the more hands on and interactive parts of the exhibit. Overall, a nice experience for the cost! read more

Really easy to find each tank. Head through the front and make a left. Follow the tanks until the other side (it snakes through going zigzag). Friendly staff, clean and so much information about each ocean creature. Good for all ages. All on one level making it accessible to all. **parking is $1/hr but is free to enter the aquarium. Once finished, you can stay and enjoy time on the beach right out front of the aquarium. read more

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Great place for kids to learn about marine life. The Whale Fiesta event had lots of activities and tables to learn more about other groups and resources. Parking is $1 per hour. read more

Great little gem ...including their ocean-themed gift shop Right across the beach with picnic tables..family fun day. read more