Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Chabot Space & Science Center

    4.0 (487 reviews)
    Closed • 10:00 am - 5:00 pm

    Chabot Space & Science Center Photos

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - Chabot Space & Science Center

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Joyce W.

    My little family came here for a first visit on the Saturday of the long Memorial Day weekend, and it was a delightful and eye-opening experience. TBH, my expectation were kind of high because just the month before, we had visited a planetarium in Arizona that just blew my mind and was so cool (will write a review on that one soon) so I think my review of this Space & Science Center might be a little more serious, ha! To be fair, this is not a planetarium, although there is one here, which is used to show short featured films about different space exploration and nature-based stories which we did watch 3 of and they were really good. However, as a Space & Science Center, the focus is on space exploration by NASA and the science behind it. Specifically, the NASA Ames Research Visitor Center is located here. This place is ok for little kids, but probably better for those about 7-8 or older as they'll actually remember and get something out of this Science Center. When you enter, there's a little gift shop to the right, then you will purchase your tickets (which can be applied towards membership should you decide to buy an annual one) and enter into the exhibit hall on the first floor. From there, the planetarium/theatre is to your right and there's shows to watch every hour on the hour, some of them are a half-hour long, and some are only about 15 minutes or so. Different topics/titles and they do not repeat, so it is best to get to this Space & Science Center by mid-morning and plan to stay the whole day. Next there's a NASA visitor center with exhibits of actual space suits, lots of pictures of historic and current/recent space endeavors and journeys, as well as posters explaining how NASA developed the technology to take us to the moon and different parts of the universe. There are also interesting autobiographical posters written by astronauts and other space scientists on their roles in space exploration. There are a few hands-on activities such as using Kinetic sand, and other low-level simple engineering type of fun experiences for younger kids. Finally, there's also a cafeteria on the first floor towards the back of the building. Prices are a little high, but expectedly so for a museum/science center type of venue. On the second floor, there's several classrooms, and then there are some exhibits from retired space vehicles such as a real module you can climb in and play with that still has all the (non-functioning, obviously) controls. My kids had a great time with that. There were even a dog-space-vehicle/container thing, and lots of smaller spacecrafts and many space suits and miniature replicas of space shuttles on display. Finally, on the top floor, there's the observatory with several huge rooms that contained one telescope each for viewing real stars and planets, although they were all hard to see during daytime and realistically, they're all so far, you can only see like a speck of light when viewing Venus, for example, or the star Betelgeuse. But since it's outdoors, you find yourself surrounding by the redwoods out in nature, and it is just so peaceful and beautiful. I imagine when it gets even warmer later on in the summer, at night, that the night sky would be spectacular here. Overall, we really enjoyed coming to Chabot Space & Science Center. It has something for everyone and my kids, my husband, and I all enjoyed it. It's a cool place to feel the vastness of our universe and the greatness of our Creator, and to appreciate that humans have made some pretty cool strides in exploring and discovering our galaxy and yet we've only just scratch the surface. We'll plan to come back, but may try to visit other similar space centers first.

    Lisa M.

    I've been to the Chabot space and science center twice this year. Once with my students and once with my family. Both experiences were great and we maximized our visit by planning carefully. There are presentations, movies, and labs that kids can participate in and they're all scheduled. You have to be aware of the daily schedule and plan accordingly. We were able to make a rubber ball and see elephant toothpaste! We also hiked up to the top floor and saw mercury through the telescope. This is another place that a membership would be beneficial if you're coming more than once a year. Parking is a bit tricky as the garage can fill up quickly. The garage is open to everyone hiking around the area, so it's not necessarily an indicator of the museum's attendance.

    Olga R.

    Cute planetarium, it has two buildings, it is great for families, they have a lot of activities for children. The adult entrance is $24 and includes parking. They have a cafeteria inside too in case you get hungry . The staff are very friendly. And they open in the summer Friday and Saturday from 7-10 pm if you wanna come by to see the stars & planets, we were able to see mars during the day.

    Ed S.

    Our grandson is so fascinated with space and science that their parents celebrated his Bday at Chabot Space and Science. You have to drive up the hills of Oakland and once you get to the place, they have a parking structure to park. You have to pay a fee to enter and give discounts to children. We saw a lot of kids with their parents when we arrived. This place is good for children to have a first-hand experience with space exploration. You'll be amazed by their collection of spacesuits worn by famous astronauts. They also have several children's space activities and other educational facts about space. At the end of the building housed a couple of 19th-century telescopes that are still functional. This is a good educational experience for young children and helps them explore the science of space

    P
    Nene T.

    It was extremely boring! Big for nothing! Just a bunch of kids asking if you want to see project station. No of us had a good time. Won't be back! Only cool thing was the camera.

    Jean C.

    So we went for a date night on a First Friday. There was plenty of parking, but we got there at 6:30pm. It was only $10 to enter and we got to see the current night sky and learn about the constellations in the Planetarium. We got to see all of the exhibits. They also had great hands on activities in each lab. There was a folk singer playing live music. And they offered wine and craft beer. Lastly, once it got dark we got to see the moon and also Jupiter through the telescopes in the observatories. We were there for almost 3 hours. It was a great night. I can't believe I'm a native to the Bay and this was my first visit. Shame on me. I will be back!

    Mags W.

    First Friday at the Space Center was fantastic! This was my first time going to the Chabot Space Center for this event. I have been to the Space Center before and that was quite some time ago. The music was wonderful and the center was very different attending without children. My children are now grown so I am able to appreciate these things without them. Wow, it's crazy how much you miss when you are trying to reel your kids in while going through the center. They were offering spirit tastings, there were many opportunities for photos and hands on with the space sand. Because there were few distractions, I was able to take my time and read through the history and descriptions of each display. So much more to learn. We spent some time outside enjoying beverages and listening to music. What a nice evening and joyful time with friends. Until next time.

    Wall stuff
    Theresa L.

    Fabulous First Friday! The teen and I headed to the town for some hands on out of this world high in the sky stuff. Got there early because that's how we roll, and were able to enjoy a couple of the exhibits. Started off with the planetarium show, look through a couple of telescopes, made some key chains, spoke to a few robots, and listen to some tunes. It wasn't too crowded, which was great, and all the volunteers and staff are awesome . Of course we'll be back. We love this place.

    Asal B.

    I brought my toddler here on a cold rainy December day. It was nice to have her leave the home, but the toddler area was closed for the sock skate. We enjoyed running around the museum, but it's definitely not geared for younger toddlers.

    See all

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    4 months ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 1
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 6
    Thanks 3
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 2
    Love this 2
    Oh no 1

    1 year ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Olga R.
    151
    371
    2059

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Ed S.
    37
    452
    1887

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Nene T.
    2
    120
    44

    7 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    9 months ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Jean C.
    256
    345
    1122

    1 year ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Mags W.
    125
    278
    1338

    2 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    2 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    2 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Denise C.
    1622
    3337
    9510

    3 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    6 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 2

    3 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 1
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Jen R.
    68
    77
    153

    3 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 13

    Ask the Community - Chabot Space & Science Center

    Can I buy tickets at the door? I have a membership at a different museum that's part of the ACM Reciprocal Network and I'm not sure how to get my tickets discounted if I have to buy them online.

    Yes, you can buy tickets at the door. Head to the front desk and present your membership card for the ACM discount, and they'll assist you with purchasing discounted tickets. We look forward to seeing you at the Center!

    Are most folks masked on the First Fridays?

    Only the ones that are subservient to authority

    Does it have a cafeteria?

    Yes it does! its moderatly priced and has some basic foods like sandwiches and kraft mac and cheese for kids (last I was there) basic essentials as well as snacks and beverages

    Is saturday or sunday packed and is there a good resto recommended within a couple miles away?

    I'm here on a Saturday and it's not packed.

    How busy does a get 1st Fridays and Saturday nights?

    theyre decently busy but it always fluctuates. 1st fridays are busy but its alot of familys with young children and theres not much wait time for anything

    Is my 2 1/2year old too young to go and find this enjoyable?

    The "Discovery Lab" on the first floor is designed for children ages 5 and under. There are also interactive exhibits throughout the place that toddlers might enjoy. I think it's worth checking out!

    Since it isnt assigned seating, how much ahead of time should you arrive at Chabot for Mesamerica and is parking easy?

    Are dogs allowed?

    Been many times and never seen one. But they might be okay with service dogs. Plus, its not a great place for dogs in general.

    Is this a good place to come frequently (1-2x/month) with a 5 or 6 year old (i.e., membership), or more of a once or twice a year place? Looking for opinions...

    It would depend on the kid, but 1-2x a year would be a good starting point.

    What age should the child be to enjoy the experience? I want to take my nieces (6 and 7) and am worried they'll think it's "too educational" or "boring"

    I started talking my younger daughter there at 5 and she enjoyed it. Watch the movie in the auditorium with them, they will almost certainly love it! Also, there are usually young adult volunteers demonstrating scientific principles that are hands… 

    I cannot tell if CSSC still shows films at night in the tien mega dome theater or whether they have the music show which I think was a laser show at night? there seems to be a lot less going on at night than there used to be, anyone know?

    hi Raz - great question. As of September 2016, the Center is open Wed-Sun 10am-5pm. The Center is open from 6pm-10pm for the $5 First Friday events on the first friday evening of every month. The Megadome theater is mostly utilized for speaking… 

    Planetarium permanently reclined seats?

    Yes, the seats are permanently reclined.

    View All 16 Questions

    Review Highlights - Chabot Space & Science Center

    “The staff were friendly and we even got to watch one of them in the process of making a telescope lens.”

    Mentioned in 66 reviews

    Read more highlights

    You might also consider

    Pardee Home Museum - Cucumber Sandwiches and other savories

    Pardee Home Museum

    4.8(74 reviews)
    5.4 mi•Downtown Oakland
    •$$

    The Pardee Home Museum has been on my radar for a while as one of the few places in the East Bay to…read moreget afternoon tea. I ended up finally booking the garden for a large party this month and was impressed by the experience from start to finish. It's hard to believe that it's entirely volunteer-led! Everyone I met was clearly knowledgeable and passionate about the house, its history, and its preservation. Making a reservation was easy and the coordinators were kind and courteous during the whole process. The day-of place settings were beautiful and the food was some of the best I've had for tea in addition to being generous and variable in servings. There were even some kid-friendly items (including some non-caffeinated beverages) as I had a few young guests in attendance. The tour we had following our tea service was detailed and informative without being boring. The house itself is incredibly preserved and in immaculate condition. It was great learning about the history of the Pardee family and their influence in the Bay Area, California, and beyond. There were some interactive parts too including getting to touch some antique items and listen to some hand-cranked music players. I will undoubtedly be back sometime and highly encourage anyone who likes good food and vibes or learning about local history to book a visit themselves. If you have people from out-of-town visiting, the Pardee Home is an excellent first choice for doing something low-key and private but still touristy.

    This tea party was a perfect experience. The food was delicious, the ladies serving were…read moredelightful, and the tour of the museum afterwards was so interesting!

    Photos
    Pardee Home Museum - Tons of teapots!

    Tons of teapots!

    Pardee Home Museum - Apricot tarts

    Apricot tarts

    Pardee Home Museum - Such a wide variety of collectibles

    See all

    Such a wide variety of collectibles

    Lawrence Hall of Science - My DNA, in DNA.

    Lawrence Hall of Science

    3.9(317 reviews)
    5.5 mi

    I visited this museum on a whim and didn't have much time, but it is definitely on my list to…read morerevisit before summer ends! General admission is $25, but they participate in Museums for All, which is a great perk. I brought my 20-month-old and was thrilled to find so many age-appropriate activities for him to explore. The absolute highlight was the moving dinosaurs outside, set against a beautiful backdrop of the bay, a view that adults will definitely appreciate even if the toddlers don't notice! Definitely a great place to snap some photos. The bottom floor features animals and exhibits, and I noticed a cafe that I'd love to try for lunch next time. My only critique is the customer service. Some staff members, including those at the front desk, weren't very welcoming or acknowledging. Since this is such a family-oriented space, a simple smile would go a long way! It didn't ruin my experience, but better service would prevent it from taking away from anyone else's visit. Highly recommend overall!

    $5 on a Sunday? I think, yes! I may have gone to the Lawrence Hall of Science for a field trip when…read moreI was younger, but coming back as an adult and now a mom, how fun! The views while parking are incredible and if ya know, ya know. While they do have a new cafe located on the bottom level ('ammatka Cafe; Ohlone-forward food), we did notice a lot of families and people bringing their lunches and sitting outside enjoying the sunshine and Bay Area picturesque stunning views. Speaking of parking, you do have to pay to park. Pro tip for those with a stroller: drop off one parent/group with stroller at the entrance and have the other park/pay. There is a distance/stairs pending where you park. Remember your license plate number to pay-by-machine. There's a parking app you can download too. I wish we checked out the website ahead of time to know all the hands-on exhibits and fun that we could embark on, but we were there on a spontaneous whim, and explored so many things! From electronic dinosaurs outside, to exhibits currently about making music, the future of food, and an animal discovery zone, there is so much ground to cover and truly a little something for everyone to enjoy. We will definitely be back! For littles, the downstair floor (there's elevators) has a super cool room that provokes shadow play, dance, and magna-tiles. This floor also has the animals!

    Photos
    Lawrence Hall of Science - Examining a dino tooth.

    Examining a dino tooth.

    Lawrence Hall of Science - Fun for everyone here

    Fun for everyone here

    Lawrence Hall of Science - Pretending to have magic while playing with gravity.

    See all

    Pretending to have magic while playing with gravity.

    Museum of Paleontology - T. Rex skeleton

    Museum of Paleontology

    4.0(21 reviews)
    5.8 mi•UC Area

    If you're expecting an immersive, interactive experience where you'll feel like you won't have…read moreenough time to do everything, then you'll be sorely, sorely, sorely disappointed. The first problem is that it's called a museum--I know, where else do you keep T-rex fossil casts other than a museum? you've got me there, but I want to let your hopes down so that you'll have a properly amazing experience here. The first thing to know is that it's housed in the Valley Life Sciences Building, or VLSB for those of us in the know who use University of California campus building-name acronyms on the regular. It's a living, breathing, working building on campus, which means there are offices and a library, in addition to "museums," which again is a disappointing misnomer. When it was built in 1930, not only was it the largest building in the City of Berkeley, but it was also the largest concrete building in the US west of the Mississippi. It's still the largest building on campus, I believe. When I worked on campus, my classes were often (and my office hours were always) in Wheeler Hall, whose bathrooms leave a lot to desired, to understate it quite ridiculously. So I was always on the lookout for better, less traveled bathroom options. Not just near Wheeler, but everywhere on campus and especially between Wheeler and the western edge of campus, because I often worked part time at my current job while also working as a reader at UC, so I was always walking back and forth between campus and our office in Downtown Berkeley. Anyway, I thought i had found a perfect candidate in a particular men's room on a particular side of a particular floor of VLSB. Who would enter this random, imposing building looking for a restroom, and even if they did, who would go anywhere but the bathrooms on the first floor? Happy with myself, after my second visit to the secret bathroom, I was about halfway back to my office when I realized I didn't have my wallet. I remembered taking it out of my pocket in the stall, so I rushed back up there. And what did I find? My wallet was sitting there on the toilet-paper dispenser, my ID, debit card, and credit cards still there. Whew! But I was also aghast, because the $36 I had in cash was missing. I'm still conflicted to this day--replacing my license and credit cards would have been a huge pain, and if someone had returned my wallet to me, I probably would have rewarded him with at least $20. So should I be angry for this person for stealing from me but not making it as bad as it could have been? I don't really know, and I haven't been back to that benighted bathroom since. So here's the best way to experience the Museum of Paleontology: By total surprise. The first time I came in here, I had no idea I'd find these Pteranodons floating around or this Tyrannosaurus rex hanging out near the staircase. Yes, take the elevator to the fourth floor and then take the stairs down. You'll be so wowed. It's amazing. And that's how you have a four-star experience. Just don't give kind thieves the opportunity to steal some of your valuables.

    Fantastic exhibit- open to the public for free during museum hours. Great for toddlers- you can…read moretell because all of the glass for cases below 3-4 feet is stained with hand prints. Amazing nearly complete T-Rex skeleton on display with a pterodactyl in flight above it. They are arranged beautifully in the atrium, ringed by a spiral staircase. I also loved the entomological displays- especially the beetles. Park in the lower Sproul garage and walk less than 5 min. Pack a lunch to eat in the courtyard or under the canopy in the eucalyptus grove by the creek outside.

    Photos
    Museum of Paleontology - Beetle collection

    Beetle collection

    Museum of Paleontology - T. rex skull

    T. rex skull

    Museum of Paleontology - The kids had fun just wish there was more to see/do here

    See all

    The kids had fun just wish there was more to see/do here

    Chabot Space & Science Center - museums - Updated October 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...