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The New Children's Museum — San Diego, California

The New Children's Museum in San Diego: best for ages 0-2, 3-5, 6-8; $25 adults (18+) · $20 children (1+) · $20 seniors/military/educators · free under 1 · members free.

Address200 W. Island Ave, San Diego, CA 92101
HoursMon, Wed–Sun 9am–4pm; closed Tue
Prices$25 adults (18+) · $20 children (1+) · $20 seniors/military/educators · free under 1 · members free
Age notesAdmission tiers on the official visit page: under 1 free, children (1+) $20, adults 18+ $25. The museum's play exhibits target young children; an official upper-age guide was Not confirmed.
BookingReservations are not required for groups of 14 or fewer (official visit page).
Suggested timeAbout 2.5 hours
AccessibilityNot confirmed on the official pages fetched 2026-11-05.
ParkingMuseum garage parking $20 per car ($10 for members and for EBT/WIC/SNAP cardholders), per the official visit page
Hours in detailMonday 9 AM-4 PM; Tuesday CLOSED; Wednesday-Sunday 9 AM-4 PM.
Tickets & bookingNo advance reservations or tickets are required for groups of 14 or fewer; buy at check-in or online for any open day. Groups of 10+ should email groupvisits@thinkplaycreate.org to coordinate.
ParkingLimited parking in the Museum garage: $20 per car (NCM Members and EBT/WIC/SNAP cardholders $10). The garage opens at 8:45 AM and vehicles cannot be accessed after 4:15 PM. The museum is also served by the MTS Trolley Green Line and MTS buses; children under 18 ride MTS and NCTD free.
Sensory notes"Breathing Room" is a dedicated quiet, sensory-friendly installation on the main level, and the Museum publishes a digital Sensory Guide (3-D tours, audio clips and visual guides) to help neurodiverse guests plan. Accessibility Mornings - a free sensory-friendly hour before opening (8:30-9:30 AM) - run on the second Saturday of each month per the Museum's program materials.
Verified perk: Museums for All — $5 admission with EBT/SNAP/WICMuseums for All admission is $5 per person for EBT/SNAP/WIC cardholders, purchased in person, for up to 4 people per cardholder. The museum garage parking rate is also reduced to $10 (vs $20) for cardholders.
Verified perk: San Diego Public Library Discover & Go — free family passSan Diego residents aged 16+ with a permanent SDPL library card in good standing can reserve free family day passes through Discover & Go: up to 2 active reservations, reservable up to 3 months ahead, new passes released at midnight on the 1st of each month for the third month ahead, first-come first-served; the pass is valid only for the named person and date and photo ID is required.
Verified perk: San Diego County Library Discover & Go — free passSan Diego County Library cardholders (cards beginning 01535), county residents of all ages, can reserve free attraction passes: up to 2 reservations at a time, up to 3 months in advance, first-come first-served; each attraction sets how many people a pass admits.

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Venue details last verified November 5, 2026 against official sources. Hours and prices change — check the official site before you go. FamilyDay AI is a free planning tool for parents; we list only facts we have verified, and we never invent ratings or reviews.