USS Midway Museum Admission: Valid Any Date

Visit the USS Midway Museum with admission valid any date. Allow 2 to 5 hours for your visit, with prices starting from $41. It holds a 4.9 rating from 2328 reviews.

Overview

This ticket gets you aboard the USS Midway, an aircraft carrier moored in San Diego, for a visit that the listing puts at 2 to 5 hours. You skip the ticketing line at the pier, though lines inside the attraction itself are another matter. Once aboard, an audio tour comes with the price, and a narrated video tour of the exhibits runs continuously on the hangar deck.

The visit works on multiple levels. Elevators run from Navy Pier onto the ship, and from the hangar deck down to the second deck and up to the flight deck, so much of the ship is reachable without stairs. Roughly 60 percent of the exhibits are wheelchair accessible. Out on the flight deck, volunteers, many of them retired servicemen, are stationed around the ship to answer questions, and reviewers again and again single them out as the best part of the day.

This suits travellers who like history at their own pace. There is no guide walking you around, so you set the tempo, and several visitors said they stayed far longer than planned. It also suits families, since pushchairs are allowed and the layout is self-guided. It is less ideal for anyone who wants a short stop, because the ship is large and most people spread the visit over several hours.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Arrive at Navy PierMake your own way to the USS Midway on the San Diego waterfront. Parking is available adjacent to the ship for an additional fee, though summer parking is limited and early arrival is encouraged.
2. Skip the ticketing linePresent your booking to board without queuing at the ticket booth. This does not apply to any lines within the attraction itself.
3. Board the shipElevator access runs from Navy Pier onto the ship. A narrated video tour of all museum exhibits plays continuously on the hangar deck.
4. Explore the decksUse the included audio tour to move through the hangar deck, the second deck and the flight deck at your own pace. Volunteers around the ship explain the exhibits and share their knowledge.
5. Stay as long as you likeThe listing allows 2 to 5 hours on board. Hours are 10am to 5pm, with last admission at 4pm.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points will shape the visit, based on the listing and on what many reviewers reported.

• Allow plenty of time. The ship is far bigger than most visitors expect. One reviewer advised allowing a minimum of 3 hours because of the ship's size, and others reported spending 4 or even 5 hours aboard. Plan the day around it rather than squeezing it in.
• Wear walking shoes. The listing asks for a moderate physical fitness level, and the ship is big enough that most of the visit is spent on your feet.
• Go early. The listing encourages early arrival because summer parking is limited, and one reviewer mentioned having to park a block away.
• Talk to the volunteers. The docents come up in review after review as the highlight of the visit. Several travellers described them as knowledgeable former servicemen who answer questions and bring the flight deck alive. Stop and chat rather than rushing past.
• Budget for extras. One reviewer noted that the simulators on the ship cost extra and were worth the money, though the same traveller was unimpressed by the VR experience. Gratuities, hotel transport and parking are also not included in the ticket.
• Accessibility is partial. The ship is wheelchair accessible, with elevator access between the pier, hangar deck, second deck and flight deck, and loaner wheelchairs are available first come, first served. Around 60 percent of exhibits are wheelchair accessible, so some areas remain out of reach. Service animals are allowed.

Common issues. The ticket skips the ticketing line but not lines inside the attraction, and one reviewer reported that their booking voucher never loaded properly, leaving them queuing at the booth anyway, even though the booking itself was honoured. Parking is limited in summer and costs extra through Ace Parking. One reviewer noted that the simulators carry a separate fee. Not all exhibits are wheelchair accessible, and a moderate fitness level is expected given the size of the ship.

Common Questions