The Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach is the largest aquarium in Southern California, home to more than 12,000 animals from the Pacific Ocean, from sea otters and penguins to sharks and glowing sea jellies. It sits on Rainbow Harbor on the Long Beach waterfront, about 25 miles south of downtown Los Angeles, and it is one of the best rainy-day or hot-day family outings in LA County.
This guide covers ticket prices, ways to save, hours, parking, the best exhibits and how to plan a day in Long Beach around your visit.
In this guide
For more ideas with children, see things to do in Los Angeles with kids.
Aquarium of the Pacific at a glance
- Address: 100 Aquarium Way, Long Beach
- Hours: generally 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily; closed Christmas Day
- Tickets: adults (12 to 61) $49.95; seniors (62+) $46.95; kids (3 to 11) $34.95; under 3 free
- Reservations: required for weekends, holidays and peak periods
- Parking: $8 with validation in the aquarium structure
- Time needed: 2 to 4 hours
Tickets and reservations
Standard prices are $49.95 for adults, $46.95 for seniors and $34.95 for children ages 3 to 11. Kids under 3 get in free. Timed reservations are required on weekends, holidays and other busy periods, so book online before you go.
Ways to save
- After-3 p.m. deals sold through discount sites can cut the adult price significantly.
- AAA members can get discounts, with the biggest savings on midweek visits.
- Go City Los Angeles All-Inclusive passes include the aquarium.
- Memberships pay off if you will visit twice in a year.
- ID.me discounts are available for military, teachers, students, nurses and first responders.
What to see
The aquarium is organized by regions of the Pacific Ocean. Don’t miss:
- Sea otters: the playful otters in the Southern California and Baja gallery are a crowd favorite, especially at feeding times.
- June Keyes Penguin Habitat: Magellanic penguins swimming and waddling in a large habitat with underwater viewing.
- Shark Lagoon: touch pools where you can gently touch bamboo sharks and rays, plus larger sharks in the main lagoon.
- Lorikeet Forest: an aviary where you can buy a cup of nectar and have colorful Australian lorikeets land on your hand.
- Sea jellies and sea dragons: glowing jellyfish tanks and leafy sea dragons in the Tropical Pacific gallery.
- Blue Cavern: a huge tank re-creating the kelp forests off Catalina Island.
- Seals and sea lions: outdoor habitats with underwater windows.
- Pacific Visions: a newer wing with a large immersive theater and art installations about the ocean and the planet.
Check the daily schedule for feedings, talks and shows when you arrive.
Hours and the best time to go
The aquarium is generally open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day except Christmas, with longer evening hours on some summer dates. Weekday mornings during the school year can be busy with field trips; weekday afternoons are usually calmer. Weekends and school holidays are the busiest.
Getting there and parking
The aquarium is on the Long Beach waterfront, at the end of the Metro A Line.
- By Metro: take the A Line to Downtown Long Beach station, then walk about 10 minutes or ride the free Long Beach Passport shuttle. See our LA Metro guide.
- By car: take the 710 freeway south toward downtown Long Beach and follow signs to the aquarium.
- Parking: the aquarium’s parking structure charges $8 for the day with validation. If someone in your group needs an elevator, use the drop-off area in front of the aquarium, since the structure’s elevators have had outages.
Make a day of it in Long Beach
The aquarium is surrounded by things to do:
- Shoreline Village and Rainbow Harbor: waterfront restaurants, shops and an old-fashioned carousel.
- The Pike Outlets: shopping and a Ferris wheel.
- The Queen Mary: the historic ocean liner across the harbor.
- Harbor cruises and whale watching leave from the waterfront.
- Catalina Island ferries depart from Long Beach; see our Catalina Island day trip guide.
For more, read our guide to things to do in Long Beach.
Tips for visiting
- Book ahead for weekends and holidays; reservations can sell out.
- Bring a jacket; some galleries are cool.
- Strollers are allowed, and the building is accessible.
- Food: Café Scuba serves meals with harbor views, or eat at Shoreline Village.
- Lorikeet nectar is sold separately at the aviary.
Frequently asked questions
How much are Aquarium of the Pacific tickets?
Adults pay $49.95, seniors $46.95 and children 3 to 11 pay $34.95. Kids under 3 are free.
Do you need a reservation for the Aquarium of the Pacific?
Reservations are required on weekends, holidays and peak periods, and recommended at other times.
How much is parking at the Aquarium of the Pacific?
$8 for the day in the aquarium’s parking structure with validation.
How long does it take to see the Aquarium of the Pacific?
Most visitors spend two to four hours.
Can you take the Metro to the Aquarium of the Pacific?
Yes. Take the A Line to Downtown Long Beach and walk about 10 minutes.
Photo credits
Featured image: Srishti Sethi / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
