Yesterday I experienced an outstanding tour with Scott Smith. He did a remarkable job sharing the history and his abundance of knowledge of the Midway. It opened my eyes to many details that I was not aware of and painted a very clear picture of the volume of men and women that have served our country through many generations. I am grateful to have had that experience and to be able to share that history with my Grandchildren and future generations. Scott was a fabulous Docent. read more

If you think you understand the size of an aircraft carrier, go stand on the USS Midway. That's what I thought! You do not understand the size of an aircraft carrier. This thing is basically a floating city. At its peak, thousands of people lived and worked aboard, and there is an ACTUAL FULL ASS RUNWAY on the flight deck. You can walk through the ship, see where people lived, worked, ate and slept, and then walk upstairs and find yourself standing next to fighter jets. The ship is named for the Battle of Midway, the WWII battle where the United States sank four Japanese aircraft carriers and turned the tide in the Pacific. I don't know how many miles you could walk on this thing, but it's several. Fascinating! read more

USS Midway Museum - Museums Near Me - San Diego, California

Tickets were $39 (online in advance) instead of $41 at the door. +$3.50/ hour for parking. I don't usually review ships, but this exhibit inspired me to learn more, which is rare. Ship is huge; 8k steps and 5 hours later I'm exhausted but didn't go inside specific deck planes. Prioritize and plan to visit the deck. Many dedicated volunteers, former Navy and Air Force that enjoy connecting with the public and being that bridge. The effort it takes to maintain this ship is insane. read more

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If you enjoy military history, even a little, please visit the Midway. We arrived on a hot, humid San Diego day. We purchased tickets online weeks before, which I would also recommend as it makes entry much faster. Upon entry, I would recommend getting in line for the Midway movie, it's a great documentary, along with being air conditioned. Once we finished the movie, we started our exploration of the ship. There are multiple aircraft on the level you enter on. We decided to explore the ship after exploring the main level where some of the aircraft are stored. There are multiple areas to explore on the ship. You are able to everything from the bunks for sailors, control rooms, air traffic control, mess hall, and all the areas (there are a lot of them!) that make the ship function. After finishing the deck tour, we headed up to the flight deck to see the remaining collection of aircraft. There are fun cockpits to sit in and take pictures, along with great views of San Diego and the bay. I would recommend giving yourself at least 3 hours for a good tour without rushing. read more

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What: this museum was much more enjoyable than I thought it would be. When we entered we went to the right and they started a short film which I recommend. We then went out to the flight deck where lots of planes are available for you to climb into. But the best was the lower levels of the ship. They have mannequins dressed in various roles and decor so you really can imagine how it was. They also give you an audio device and there are places here and there to click and listen to a short blip about what you are looking at. Really brought it to life. This was my favorite. Price: we bought tickets through the AAA website and saved a few bucks per person if you area a member. read more

USS Midway Museum - Flight deck - Museums Near Me - San Diego, California

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I am kicking myself I waited so long to take advantage of this amazing experience! My family and I finally got to spend a glorious day upon the Midway here in San Diego. We arrived before they opened to ensure parking (although the parking will be changing in the near future) and got in line. I could go on and on and ON about all the amazing things we saw, experienced and learned, but I will spare you the details and get straight to the point. You can seriously spend an entire day on this ship and not see it all so I strongly suggest you plan your day before arriving. We entered and spent our day going up. DO start your tour by seeing the short film about the Midway (west side of the ship as you enter). It sets the stage for the entire day. *The 3-D interactive experiences are extra, but worth it! *You can eat lunch aboard the ship with tables outdoors over the water. *Wear great walking shoes, you will get your steps in! *There are a lot of stairs and walking, so make sure you're in shape to take it all in And most of all TALK TO THE VOLUNTEERS!!! There are men and women with hats on all over the ship. They served in the military and many actually served UPON the Midway! Their experience, first hand knowledge is invaluable. The cost is worth what you get. Plan an entire day and take as much in as you can! read more

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Before getting into the actual review of the visit, the first State immense gratitude and things to all who served aboard this ship and to all the volunteers and donors who have worked to preserve it. Sometimes the so-called "must - the "attractions don't really come through, but this one certainly does as I was certainly expecting to see a lot of interesting parts of the ship and it's history, but the work of the staff and volunteers in setting up the various exhibits and instructional talks and activities shows a level of dedication to a museum that I don't think I have ever seen. And what is great about this is it's not just about wealthy people paying money to put the museum in operation as helpful as that is in many museums, but just all the regular people particularly the veterans, making it work. If you're really interested in getting into the history in the details, I think you would be best to get a membership because realistically there's no way even if you were to spend the full day here that you're gonna see and learn everything that is here. Also, there is a lot of walking up and downstairs and into close spaces and you may not even want try doing the whole ship at once. Go for a couple hours just to get the "lay the land" and learn how the ship and the exhibits are set up. For me seeing where the sailors worked and lived and how sophisticated the ship's equipment was for its time was very educational and again inspired gratitude for the work done aboard by all who served. read more

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What an amazing day. My wife and I have a great time learning about this classic piece of our history. Thanks to all the veterans & civilians who take part in this wonderful journey into time. read more

USS Midway Museum - At the entry - Museums Near Me - San Diego, California

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Quite worth the $40 if you are into this stuff. The price may be a bit high for museums but there are lots to see in the different levels of the ship. Guided tours are also included with the bridge of the ship. The best part is going on to the top deck on a nice day. You can probably occupy a few hours of hunger does not get you first. read more

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At first, I was not stoked about $41 for an unguided museum tour. But it turned out surprisingly well. I enjoyed my time and got to see quite a lot of the ship and enjoy the harbor view. My boyfriend was entertained and had a good time there! read more

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The USS Midway wasn't built for World War II--but it was built because of it. Commissioned just days after the war ended in 1945, she carried the lessons of battles like the Battle of Midway--heavier armor, greater firepower, and unmatched size. At the time, she was the largest ship in the world. But her real story unfolded during the Cold War and the Vietnam War, where she launched thousands of combat missions from the Gulf of Tonkin. Then, in 1975, everything changed. During the fall of Saigon, Midway became a lifeline in Operation Frequent Wind. Helicopters flooded her deck carrying refugees fleeing collapse. Space ran out, and crews pushed aircraft into the sea to make room for more lives. Then came the moment few forget--a South Vietnamese pilot, flying a tiny Cessna with his family onboard, circled overhead and dropped a note asking to land. The deck was cleared... ...and he made it. Midway continued serving through Operation Desert Storm, bridging generations of warfare before being decommissioned in 1992 after nearly 50 years at sea. I had an absolute blast spending the day here. Friendly staff. Good little restaurant on site. Lots of aircraft's with so much history attached. read more

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Great unique experience. Was a lot more interesting than we imagined and definitely educational. Well worth a visit. Warning: Some areas may be difficult for folks who have trouble with stairs and confined spaces. Especially the island tour requires going up and down multiple flights of steep ladder style steps. There are elevators available for the main deck levels. They offer a free self-guided audio tour in multiple languages which they say you can spend upwards of six hours to see everything. Talk to the docents/staff. Many are veterans and some are even recovered POWs who served on this ship. They offer fascinating stories and insights and are really friendly. There are many different planes and helicopters to explore in the hangar and atop the flight deck. Inside, you can get a look at the variety of living and working spaces and operation centers that drove an immense vehicle like this. Within the hangar there is a gift shop, cafeteria style restaurant, and a fast service counter. There is also a large outdoor patio with great views located on a plane elevator. read more

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It was nice very informative had a lot to explore and lots of stairs to climb and very narrow turns and was a pretty hot day I ordered a corn dog and it was not cooked totally more raw batter than bread which made me sick they meed to stop cranking out the food so fast and take their time to cook it throughly read more

USS Midway Museum - Museums Near Me - San Diego, California

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Have you ever been on an aircraft carrier? The last time I toured the USS Midway was over a decade ago and I forgot how massive these things are. Budget 3 hours to explore the ship if you want the express tour. 5 hours if you want the comprehensive experience. We stayed 3.5 hours, were able to listen to most of the audio tour, but missed one of the coolest areas of the ship, the Bridge. Highlights of our experience: A movie reenacting the Battle of Midway, which is often described as the turning point in the Pacific during World War II, and the namesake for the ship. The engine room Getting to experience what life was like on board the ship - living quarters, food, entertainment The flight deck - being able to walk through and see 10+ planes and helicopters As of this writing, the parking lot was $20 for 2-6 hours. To get the full experience, navigating many parts of the ship will require climbing stairs and ladders, ducking, and stepping over things. Truly a memorable experience - lots of things to learn, and plenty of unique things to see. read more

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I had chance to visit the USS Midway Museum while in San Diego. Definitely feels like stepping back in time. We did the Admiral's Quarters and Ship's Galley guided tours and both were well worth the time. The Admiral's tour gave a cool look at how leadership lived onboard, and the Galley tour was super interesting seeing how they fed and cared for so many sailors at sea. City at sea! A big "Thank you" to all the volunteers who keep this historic museum floating. Much appreciated. read more

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One of the coolest attractions in San Diego. They mentioned that the Midway was rated number one attraction in San Diego on Trip Advisor, and I believe it! I had never been as a kid, because my family doesn't have a huge military connection. My Dad was in the Naval Reserve when he was young, but he was never interested in exploring things like the Midway or Star of India. So I never experienced it until I was an adult. And I've only been here for special events that were held on board. A Black Joe Lewis concert sponsored by Jack Daniel's on the top deck was a wild time. And recently we went to the Killer Tomatoes movie premiere held on the inside deck, which was a good thing because of the cold. I've never actually done the tour of the ship. All of the staff and volunteers are super helpful and friendly. Sometime I'll have to come and actually do the tour, lol. They have some assistance for people with mobility issues. Check the website for info, and contact them if you have other questions. The biggest issue is obviously parking. We parked .75 mile away and walked, because we were able to find free parking and we were going to be there for quite a while. We enjoyed the walk along the waterfront, and the new additions like the park with the firepits and an updated restroom. There is closer paid parking next to the Midway, and meter and pay lots along Harbor Drive. The closest trolley stop is America Plaza, and it's a little bit of a hike. read more

USS Midway Museum - Premiere of Attack of the Killer Tomatoes: Organic Intelligence - Museums Near Me - San Diego, California

I went to the USS Midway Museum in San Diego and really enjoyed my visit! It was my first time there, and there was so much to see and explore. I liked walking around the ship and seeing the different areas and planes. The ship is huge, so there's definitely a lot to look at. The views down there are also beautiful, especially being right by the water. It was really cool being able to walk around an actual aircraft carrier and learn more about its history. Overall, I had a great time visiting the USS Midway and would definitely recommend checking it out if you're in San Diego! read more

The USS Midway Museum is a fascinating place to visit--both educational and fun for families! **Tickets:** We bought our tickets ahead of time through the Booking app and got a 15% "Genius discount." I strongly suggest getting your tickets online before you go. We walked right in while the line to buy tickets onsite was quite long! As of April 2026, online ticket prices are $39 (ages 13+), $29 (ages 4-12), and $26 for veterans (per the museum's website). Hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. We visited from 10 a.m.-2 p.m., focusing mostly on the aircraft exhibits. **Parking:** $20 for six hours. **Museum Layout:** The museum spans three levels of the aircraft carrier, each offering something unique. They provide a free audio tour--just tap the device at each exhibit's icon to listen. We really enjoyed it! The only downside is that you have to hold the device close to your ear. There's a headphone port, but we only had wireless earbuds. I like that there were benches here and there throughout the place. 1. Hangar Deck: This is where you enter first. Besides the exhibits, there are two ride experiences--a VR simulation and a seated flight simulator ($10 per person; 4/4/26). We did the VR one, and it was a lot of fun! This level also has the food court, gift shop, and restrooms at the far end. There are tables indoors and outdoors on a patio (a few umbrellas would be nice as it can get hot and sunny!). There's also a water refill station near the bathrooms. 2. Flight Deck (top deck): Outdoor and without shade, so plan accordingly. Amazing views and plenty of photo ops, plus a great display of aircraft. You can even see the giant "Kissing Sailor" statue from up there. 3. Below Deck: This area involves stairs and ladders that can be tricky for young kids or anyone with mobility issues. The website says there are elevators, but we didn't use them, so can't comment on accessibility. **Staff:** All the staff members were very friendly and helpful! Some exhibits include real people who share stories or answer questions, which added a nice personal touch. **Food:** Around 12:30 p.m., we stopped for lunch in the museum's food court. We had sandwiches and a burger with fries: perfectly fine and convenient. Beware of the seagulls at lunchtime: they're brave and know how to get close! **Statue:** After exploring the aircraft, we walked over to the famous "Unconditional Surrender" kissing statue nearby and browsed some small souvenir shops along the way. **Conclusion:** We're so glad we went! It was a great family outing and a wonderful way to learn some history while having fun together. read more

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Navy/Top Gun fan or not, this is a must see when in San Diego. Its an easy walk from Gaslamp and along the harbor. Tickets are reasonably priced. Its a self guided tour with a mechanism you get when you walk in that allows you more information at each spot. There's a 15 minute movie option. I do suggest you start with that then head up to the flight deck before it gets too hot. Tons of picture options, including an iconic Maverick & Goose shot. From there they'll lead you to a part of the tour you can only see with a guide, the rest is on your own. There will be several spots where you'll be like hmmm this was in Top Gun. Definitely don't skip this tour. read more

USS Midway Museum - Main deck - Museums Near Me - San Diego, California

We made third stop on the Embarcadero the USS MIDWAY MUSEUM!!! it was the absolute perfect day to go, warm and sunny. We parked in the parking lot just to the south of ship, wanting to see the famous KISS STATUE. It's of the Kiss after WWII IN TIMES SQUARE. We walked a short 10 Minute WALK from there, past all of the various vendors and pedicabs. We're FREEDOM MEMBERS, and got in right away. I am disabled and used the elevator to get up and down in the aircraft carrier. We want to thank them for providing the service. When I got to the middle of the ship, I got a DIET COKE REFILL. I went to the overhang and rested from the heat. After about 20 Minutes, I went to the Flight Deck. I met up with my Partner, GONZALO. I watched a presentation for a few minutes, which was very interesting. I then walked down to the end by the other aircraft carriers. read more

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This was such a fun experience! It's a lengthy walk but your really learning a lot all through out the ship. They have interactive activities and also posters in every room explains what it was used for and what staff belonged in there and what there duties were. So many bombers, helicopters, missle displays! Honestly it is so nice! When you first walk they give you the choice of walking around with a necklace that gives you audio narratives when you scan them over a yellow microphone poster. You have a few displays of choppers and jets when you walk in and then you'll see the interactive acitivies! They have a simulation you can sit in as a duo and it spins and twirls you around that one is $20 then you have a VR experience where you sit in a row of four people and get to experience a jet during war! Pretty nice. They also have something called the jet shop, which is actually the souvenir shop. Pretty cool stuff in there. They do have stairs to maneuver around the levels. (Total of three levels.) But you do have the choice of using the elevators! Once you go to the flight deck, it's such a wonderful experience so many things to look at to learn, and they have TVs and benches where you can watch videos also volunteer knowledgeable staff that stick around and kind of teach you some more! I'd definitely come back read more

USS Midway Museum - Museums Near Me - San Diego, California

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Always enjoy taking our visitors from out of town to the USS Midway on the San Diego Harbor for a tour. The USS Midway is preparing for their 3rd annual Christmas Jingle Jets event, over one million of dazzling lights across three decks. They will be having new shows and activities for kids and families, Festive performances and holiday karaoke along with photos with Santa etc. Dates: November 28-December 30th, 2025, select nights. Don't miss out! Happy Yelping :) read more

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I would suggest coming here in the morning on a week day because the parking can be limited in the area. I paid $20 for parking at the USS Midway parking lot and that was for 6 hrs worth. The admission to the museum is $41 I believe at the door. You can save $2 if you buy online. We spent about 3 hrs here but I was still bummed we didn't go on the tour at the top. I was more interested in the history of the ship than my girlfriend. If you truly are interested in this place then I suggest spending 3-3.5 hrs here. Afterwards, you can walk to Seaport Village since you already paid for parking. They have clean restrooms, a souvenir shop, and a place you can eat. read more

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Who in their right mind leaves a review less than 5 stars for a museum that allows us to walk in the shoes of the brave soldiers who came before us? Midway is anything BUT mid. Great success! read more

We absolutely loved this museum. You can spend all day or a much time as you want exploring the Midway. There is so much information to consume. There are many veterans in board that are willing to share their own experiences. There is also a Top Gun section where you can get in the cockpit of the plane. I would highly recommend this museum for war or American History buffs. read more

If you have not toured the USS Midway Museum, you should! So much history, character, and freedom!!! The USS Midway is huge!! It was commissioned as the largest ship in the world in 1945. That was 80 years ago! Give yourself some time to check out everything! If you go fast, it'll be at least a couple of hours easy. I think we were so intrigued and mesmerized that we spent about 4.5 hours here. You'll see how these sailors lived and worked here. If you're tall, it might be cramped. The ladders were a little harsh if you're wearing inappropriate shoes like heels. We enjoyed all the aircrafts here. The airplanes and helicopters are all amazing to see. Some you can get inside and check it out up close and personal! There's a cafe to get food and drinks. There's also a gift shop here as well. Lots of bathrooms available. Overall, hours of fun! read more

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We walked to this museum from our hotel so we were able to see a bit of downtown San Diego. We then walked along the waterfront that has lots of activities and restaurants, so that stroll was very useful for future reference. The museum is an old aircraft carrier from WWII. Admission is pricey at $39 for an adult but I think it is worth it. We spent about two hours doing a self tour of the ship. We could have spent more time but the museum was closing for the day. There is so much to see that I cannot possibly cover everything. Basically, this is/was a floating city. Everything, and I mean everything, that a city has can be found on ship. What made it interesting was that they have mannequins throughout the ship so it imparts a realness. The individual exhibits are done very well and really show what life was like. We came away with a good understanding of what was like to serve on the ship. The ship is huge. You can tour multiple decks. At some point I wondered if it would ever end and how do we get out? Luckily, there are veteran volunteers (I presume) to help. I also watched the 15 minute movie about the battle for Midway which I enjoyed as a student of history. I also really enjoyed the flight deck. I had never been on a fight deck before. There are about a dozen or more planes and helicopters to view. A couple are open for kids (and adults) to sit in the cockpit. There was another place where a man was explaining the nuances of landing on a moving vessel. My wife said it was the most interesting museum she ever visited, and she does not even like history. The kid found lots of stuff to amuse her. Overall, this experience was excellent. Well worth the money and time. I would put it in the "must see" category while visiting San Diego. read more

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This is a great place to come visit to learn about the history about USS Midway. We got to tour this massive city all included in this ship. It was impressive to see how everything worked on this battleship. I couldn't stop humming the Too Gun theme song walking through the ship. read more

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I came here with my two boys and we loved it so much we ended up getting an annual pass and we came here two days in a row. The battleship is huge, basically a floating city with all kinds of services on board. There were so many airplanes on deck too. We really enjoyed exploring every nook and cranny of the boat and we really enjoyed learning about the history of the battleship. There were many docents who were always very helpful. The bridge tour was very insightful but it did require climbing up and down 4 sets of steep stairs. read more

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Great museum and super huge. There is so much information to read and interactive exhibits too. My daughter is 3 she absolutely loved climbing in and out of the exhibits and planes. She loved walking through the exhibits really fast and was so excited !!! Mommy couldn't read that much. But it was a super fun experience. The workers are really friendly and knowledgeable. They also have workers constantly cleaning and sanitizing. The place is so huge you probably need hours to get a good view of everything. Even days!!! read more

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After going to this museum over the past 10 years I became an annual member. Totally worth it to me . Always something new to explore. Make sure you go to the lower decks to see the engine room and communications areas. The movie is good and most people will want to take the island/ bridge tour read more

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The USS Midway Museum in San Diego is a naval aircraft carrier museum located on the Navy Pier. It has self-guided audio tours in a number of languages. You enter & just click on the audio as you walk by each exhibit. Definitely family-friendly & a few field trips as I noticed groups of young students. What a wonderful field trip! The museum is wheelchair accessible and offers free admission for active-duty military. I learned a lot during my visit. All the volunteers were so friendly. Thank you for volunteering your time & for your passion & willingness to educate everyone who visits the museum read more

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My siblings have been living in SD for ages. I've visited them a ton of times. At least 100. Yet, my visit over the turkey holidays was my first time setting foot on this ship. My sister had a couple extra tickets so me and my dad were able to join. This place is massive and yet there's far bigger ones. We were able to visit multiple levels. A lot of areas were off limits. It was great to see certain areas kept to look like how the sailors lived when the ship was in working order. Some rooms had a very distinct smell. It was interesting. I do have to commend the staff. Some were docents. Every person was ready when someone had a question. There was always someone available. The vibe was vibing. It was nice to see folks conversing with the museum visitors. All I saw in Europe were guides on their phones. More importantly, my dad had a great time. This was evident by him repeatedly taking his phone out to take photos. read more

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What an amazing museum. This battleship is an amazing example of American craftsmanship. We were able to see the various warplanes, jets and helicopters which defended America in various wars. We toured the flight deck and the bridge to see how this carrier was operated. The museum had plenty of volunteers to answer any question one would have. read more

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Love this place and always nice to go on board and enjoy the planes on top and the gift store! The views are amazing from here. You can also clearly see ships going in and out of here which is cool to see! read more

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If you are a fan of fighter jets, planes, and ships; this place is for you!!! Great time to spend an afternoon exploring the ship! Great time for kids or even going on a date! We didn't realize how big the USS Midway is and it's awesome that you can even go downstairs to the medic room and then see the kitchen where the works used to be at. The view from the top is nice as well! It is also a short walk to Seaport Village as well which you can make a whole day out of it! Great place and worth the visit! read more

A spectacular display of history. The USS Midway is well-organized, tidy, and inviting. There's something to learn and enjoy in every corner. Definitely a must-visit for any history enthusiast. read more

Historic USS Midway Museum was awesome! $39 for adults. Discounts for Seniors and Military Personnel. Parking is available on-site with a fee of course although it is pretty limited in spaces. There are 3 levels to the ship. Middle level is the main one. Top level is where all the helicopters and fighter jets are at. Bottom levels are the living areas, kitchens etc. Various exhibits throughout the decks. If you go on the top deck, there are nice views of San Diego. USS Midway Museum is great for families who want to learn about this historic ship. I don't recommend people who are older or disabled to go onto the lower levels since the hallways are narrow and climbing unstable stairs can be dangerous. People have bumped their heads since it's very tight a low clearance. I would definitely come back again! read more

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The USS Midway Museum always has something going on and of course I take advantage of touring the museum when I'm there. I looove it! The events are usually fun and there's sooo much to learn about naval history in this massive museum. The volunteers are sooo awesome which adds to this positive experience. It's a defffinite must-see!! read more

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Easily the top visit for me in SD as a history nerd! Was quite excited to visit the Midway on a beautiful day and was not let down one bit! While it definitely gets crowded, do not let that sway your decision. There is a lot of history on this boat not to mention all the temporary and permanent displays! I easily spent several hours maneuvering around this massive ship, and it was all worth it for the admission. You will also have a lot of guides who were in the navy that will give you some background on the ship if you are not too aware of its history and the role it played in several US wars. I'd suggest showing up early if visiting during peak tourist season as it can get crowded, but again completely worth it! read more