2021 Update: Events, open dates and offers may change without notice. Please check directly with venues before you head out.

Savvy California

California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco

Filed Under: CALIFORNIA ACTIVITIES, NORTHERN CALIFORNIA, San Francisco Tagged With: , , , | disclosure: How your purchase may put pennies in my pocket

How to get Discounts, Deals & Freebies at Cal Academy

California Academy of Sciences discount Skip-The-Line tickets

California Academy of Sciences, in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park, has so much to offer we want to go again and again. Maybe that’s why Condé Nast Traveler named it one of the “New Wonders of the World.”

The museum features a world of fun, with an aquarium, planetarium, four-story living rainforest, live coral reef, thousands of live animals, state-of-the-art space show, a natural history museum, and more all under a living roof. And all this is included in the ticket price.

On this page: I’ll share Seven Ways to Save on Cal Academy Tickets, including the popular Skip The Line deal, the Nightlife deal, Cal Academy Free Days, and other ways to save.

You have tons of choices, like with Combo Passes, the Transit deals and AAA discounts, the best place to park, and other savvy tips for enjoying your trip to the California Academy of Sciences at Golden Gate Park.

Cal Academy jellyfish

Best Time To Go to Cal Academy

One of my favorite times to go to Cal Academy is during the winter when they feature a holiday program with live reindeer, indoor snow flurries, a giant Snowman Theater, and special fun activities.

You’ll enjoy festive performances by musicians, cultural groups, and the famous Tap Dancing Christmas Trees, and hands-on exhibits that show  you how reindeer adapt, stay warm, stay afloat when crossing icy rivers, and how they find food in the harsh Arctic winter.

No matter when you go, you’ll find a full day of fun things to do (most people stay for around four hours). The savvy way to go is to get skip-the-line tickets online, which are good for a year, so if you change your mind, you can still use them later. Depending on whey you get tickets, the price may not be better.

If you’d rather go on a free admission day, keep reading. Locals have special free days available. Not a local? The Academy of Sciences offers quarterly free days for everyone. Scroll down this page for details.

Cal Academy tortoise

Cal Academy discounts may not be what they used to be. They stopped offering regular discounts and coupons to upgrade their brand, based on advice from an outside consultant, according to my contact there.

You’ll still see coupon sites advertising Cal Academy coupons and discounts, but they will lead you to a dead end, or to the same prices you can get at the door. That said, I’ve found a few savvy ways to save on tickets.

The best deal now is to go with a combo pass. These are way better than they used to be. The best option is the “Build Your Own” San Francisco Pass (see below), because you can select as few as two activities (or as many as you want) to and save 30 percent or more on both/all, and you have an entire month to use them up.

Plus you can get the passes online and show on your smart phone (or print a voucher if you prefer).

California Academy of Sciences aquarium

Cal Academy Discount Tickets: 7 Ways to Save

The Cal Academy ticket offers listed below include admission to everything at the museum, and that means all the amazing special exhibits, too. Note: No Cal Academy coupons are available at this time.

1, Skip-The-Line Tickets

The way to get California Academy of Sciences Skip-The-Line + Go Any Day tickets is online only, via one of the Academy’s ticket partners (with no coupon code needed).

NOTE: During peak days (around the holidays and summers), prices sometimes go up.

Skipping the long line outside during busy days is the way to go, especially during holidays and summer.

And if you change your plans, you can just use these tickets later because they are “Any Day” tickets. When you get tickets elsewhere you typically have to choose the date of your visit when you order.

  • Peak Season Deals: If you get your tickets directly from Cal Academy during peak holiday and summer days, you’ll pay peak prices, which can be several dollars more. Our travel partner often has the lower price longer because the museum can be slow getting their prices changed everywhere (compare prices).

2. Go San Francisco Pass

{best price} This San Francisco discount pass can be the best way to save on tickets, with a discount from 20% to 55% depending on how many attractions you select.

What I like about this deal is that they give you a custom option so you can choose as few as two attractions (like Cal Academy and Aquarium of the Bay, for example) and save on both.

Or you can choose to do more. You have 30 days from the time you visit the first attraction to visit them all. Best of all, you can either show the card on your smart phone or print a voucher to show at the door.

3. San Francisco CityPASS

{best price} A discount card that provides free admission to six Bay Area attraction including the California Academy of Sciences. Saves you $57 overall, and you have nine days to use it up.

4. AAA Discount

If you’re a AAA sometimes offers a discount. Check with your CA AAA representative.

5. Public Transportation Deal

Get $3 off anytime when you take public transportation or ride a bicycle to the museum. Simply show your public transportation ticket or bicycle.

6. Library Discount

The Academy works with several Bay Area programs to make museum passes available to anyone through libraries and social service organizations. Learn more via Discover & Go. 

7. Military Discount

Present a valid military ID or proof of service (VA card or DD-214) at the ticket window when you go to get $3 off daytime general admission (for active-duty military only, not your family, friends, or dependents).

Cal Academy of Sciences SF

NIGHTLIFE at California Academy of Sciences

Even if you missed the recent $2 off Nightlife deal, you can still get skip-the-line tickets and go hang with the animals and the party animals without waiting in the horrendous line with the rest of the crowd.

Nightlife admission is only $12 (less than have the price of daytime tickets). You can get tickets for this price at the door. Better yet, you get them online here via our link and skip the long line out front.

CAS Nightlife Party

Cal Academy Nightlife Deals

California Academy of Sciences holds adults-only evening mixers called Cal Academy Nightlife every Thursday. These are theme parties with DJs and drinks. Nightlife is every Thursday night 6pm – 10pm. They offer a couple of deals:

Skip-The-Line Cal Academy Nightlife Tickets

Tickets are for general admission but around half the price you’d pay to go during the day. AND, if you get these online here you can skip the long ticket line out front.

AND the tickets are good for any Nightlife (up to the expiration date about a year from now as of this writing). So if you don’t end up going this week, you can use your ticket later.

Price is now $15 (used to be $12 but with the success of this event the price went up). Print your voucher and go whenever you want. Look for the sign out front for speedy entry.

Cal Academy earthquake exhibit -- go inside the simulator

Cal Academy earthquake exhibit

FREE DAYS at California Academy of Sciences

The California Academy of Sciences offers a couple of ways to get in free throughout the year. Follow the links below for specific dates. (These change often so I don’t want to post them here.)

CAL ACADEMY FREE 3-DAY CELEBRATIONS

California Academy of Sciences now holds three days of free days twice a year. Follow the previous link to find out the dates for the next one.

SAN FRANCISCO LOCAL FREE DAYS

Cal Academy offers Neighborhood Free Days by San Francisco zip code. Each visiting adult is limited to six children for free entry.

You’ll need to show proof of residency. Follow the link above for free days in your SF district.

California Academy of Sciences Coupon

Cal Academy: Know Before You Go

Where to get Cal AcademyTickets

You can get tickets at the door, or save time and skip the line with this Cal Academy ticket offer mentioned above.

Hours

Open daily except for certain holidays. REGULAR HOURS: Daily 9:30am – 5pm, Sunday 11am – 5pm. Closed on Christmas Day.

Nightlife is on Thursday nights from 6pm – 10pm. See closed and blackout days on the ticket page.  Closed December 25.

Address & Location

California Academy of Sciences, 55 Music Concourse Drive, San Francisco, CA 94118 (in Golden Gate Park).

Where to Park near Cal Academy

Parking is easy in the parking garage next to the museum, but is far from cheap. You can usually find free parking on the side streets near and behind the museum.

Public Transportation

First off, BART doesn’t stop within walking distance. (If you’re using BART, ride to one of several transfer stations and catch Muni’s N line.)  Other transit options on this CAS “Getting Here page.

Cal Academy Planetarium

Book your time as soon as you walk in the door!  You’ll be sorry if you don’t.  It’s free with your tickets, but you need to reserve your spot, first come first served.

How Long to Stay

Most people spend about four hours in the museum. You can take a lunch break on site in the museum’s restaurant or snack area.

Get the free App

Just before you go, get the free Cal Academy app. Called the Cal Academy Insider, this free iPhone app helps you navigate the museum, provides supplemental exhibit info, suggests self-guided tours, and makes sharing easy (via email, Twitter, Facebook).

Did You Know

A little trivia to share with your friends and family — California Academy of Sciences has been called the ‘Greenest’ Museum in the World and is Platinum LEED certified.

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Comments

  1. We have two young, budding scientists. They both want to be veterinarians; it’s what they have talked about – every day – for two more than two years. They are our adopted (former foster) children – ages 4 and 7. They love the California Academy and would like the chance to visit again. They need to see and study animals to help their dreams come true.

    Reply

  2. I would LOVE to take my daughter back to the Academy of Science. We went when it first opened and due to being unemployed, it’s not likely I’ll be going anytime soon.

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  3. When I was younger I visited the old California Academy of Sciences. It was one of the most enriching, fun, educational moments in my youth. I am now mentoring a middle school youth living in East Oakland. I want to be able to share what I experienced when I was younger with him as well as see the new California Academy of Sciences and experience something new together. It would be a great chance to fuse our generations together in an educational environment. As a bonus he would be psyched to know that we won the tickets and I would too!!

    Reply

  4. We had great times last year when we received a one year gift membership from the grandparents. This year we do not have membership (just too expensive for the budget) but my kids keep asking for the rain forest and the spiders. We have many great memories of the Cal Academy and wish that someone gives us a special gift again! Please, pretty please!!!!!

    Thanks, Adrienne

    Reply

  5. My best memory was on Mothers day two years ago; we took a big family trip and went and saw the rainforest, all the butterflies were amazing! Now that my son is walking and able to appreciate i would love another family trip.

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  6. My favorite exhibit is the rainforest. I remember standing there as still as a tree with my arms extended and having the butterflies land on my hand. I would love to win tickets so I can visit and also bring a friend with me.

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  7. You’re right, we haven’t had one of those lately. I’ll put it on the short list and see what I can arrange.

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  8. We are new to the Bay Area and everyone we’ve met here says we should go to the California Academy of Sciences, but we haven’t had the opportunity to make a trip up there yet. My son is turning 10 on St. Patrick’s Day, and this would really make a wonderful, very special birthday surprise trip!

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  9. We can spend ALL day and would love to – soon! Your butterflies are dreamy and all the reptiles are so colorful & amazing. Claud was so great as Santa Claud during Christmas time. Please keep up the good work and continue reaching out to the community – more people need to have access to your site!!!

    Reply

  10. We took our 6yr son there last January for the first time as his birthday treat and he hasn’t stopped taking about how great it is,so it would be wonderful to win and take him again for his 7th birthday treat. Here’s hoping :))

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  11. We visited the Cal last summer for the first time and my son got fascinated! We still talk about how fun the visit to Cal was, but never had a chance to go there again since then.

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  12. Please enter me in the contest to win the complimentary tickets. I love going to the Academy, however, It’s been difficult in this economy to maintain an annual membership. The first year I was given a membership for my birthday, I visited 4-5 times. It’s a great place to visit, and the Cafe has many great eating options.

    Reply

    • Yes, that is currently the best deal for Cal Academy, unless you want to go for the custom card, with two or more attractions to save 15%. My contact at California Academy of Sciences says they are gearing down the discounts except for the CityPASS and Go Card offers where the discount is nonspecific. Actually we were surprised to even see this 10% off deal still out there.

      Reply

  15. Heads Up: If you’re following this California Academy of Sciences discount tickets thread, check out the new Holiday ticket deals and save $6, or save $5 and skip the holiday lines.

    Reply

    • Hi bb — I just checked and both deal sources in my post do still show cheaper prices. What may be confusing is that these are about what the full price tickets were earlier this year.

      But if you check, you’ll see that Cal Academy now charges Peak Pricing for summer (one of their busy seasons). For example, their adult tickets are now $34.95. The two ticket sources featured in my post both have cheaper prices than that (until further notice). And one of them lets you skip the peak season line out front. Take another look.

      Reply

  16. Wow! a Family 4pak of tickets to California Academy of Sciences would make a super Christmas Present.
    Thanks and Merry Christmas to you, too…

    Reply

  18. I love the aquarium exhibits. So many different fish from all over the world. It’s amazing! The rainforest area is also great.

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  19. We have not had an opportunity to go the California Academy of Sciences but have always wanted to! I would love to take my family to experience the entire museum.

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  20. Last time we visited CalAcademy, my daughter didn’t want to leave the toddler room. We need to go back so we can see the other exhibits!

    Reply

  21. I haven’t been since I was a kid. I always loved checking out the alligators. I have not been yet since it was re-done and have been wanting to go for a long time. I would love to win tickets so I could take my niece and nephew. :)

    Reply

  22. Being able to look up and down in the different levels of The Rainforest is an outstanding memory for me. We’d love to win.

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  24. One very small thing that sticks in my memory, but I love the jellyfish that swim upsidedown. I would like to be entered to win the tickets.

    Reply

  25. I have been wanting to visit the new California Academy of Sciences since it opened but have been unable for two reasons: $ and, one time we went after it just opened and we couldn’t get in, it was all sold out! We live a good hour away, so it takes planning to go. But I have so many memories of the original Academy: I used to love the planetarium shows and the dinosaur and Savannah exhibits with the sounds of the terrain. I used to also love looking at the Geological exhibits of rare stones. Thanks!

    Reply

  26. We really want to go! We tried to go the first winter but the lines were crazy. Now, we just can’t afford to go so free tickets would be a welcome treat. (we are in school on Wednesdays now)

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  27. We haven’t been to the new Academy of Sciences yet, mainly because of the cost. We would love some free tickets!!!

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  28. I still remember the two headed snake when I visited the Academy as a teenager so many years ago. I haven’t visited the new Academy since it was redone.

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  31. We’ve taken the kids once & we all had a great time. Cal Academy is world class and really like 4-museums-in-1. The rainforest and the aquarium underneath are unique and amazing. We’d love to go back.

    Reply

  34. I have a fascination with natural sciences as long as I can remember. I have dreamed of having the chance to see the Academy of Sciences. I regularly go on their website to see the latest information. I would love to win this contest!

    Reply

  35. I haven’t been to the new Academy of Sciences because it’s on the expensive side – winning tickets would remove that excuse!

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  36. My infant is always mesmerized by the fish at the aquarium!! Never too young to visit….He loves it there!

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  37. Going to get my tickets today!! My daughter loves this place – going to take her and a few friends for their birthday! Would love some free tickets!!

    Reply

  38. I haven’t been to the newly designed Academy of Sciences yet, can’t wait. Here it is wonderful, especially the rainforest. Hope to win tickets.

    Reply

  40. I would love to take my wife and daughter to this. We have never been to the new Academy but have been trying to get there!

    Reply

  41. I love to take my parents and grandmother and aunt to see the new Academy.
    They haven’t been back to the Academy since they first immigrated to the U.S. It’s been about
    25 years now. It would be great to show them the changes since then.

    Reply

  42. God I’d love to take my daughter and Mom to the California Academy of Sciences. I just haven’t been able to afford it. Hopefully this museum experience will prompt them to seek out other similar places. Thanks!

    Reply

  45. I’ve been good this year, and asked Santa for free tickets to the Cal Academy! I’d love to see the Yukon reindeer graze on the Living Roof and maybe catch Santa climbing through a Rainforests of the World window!

    Reply

  46. My sweetheart is moving here from Malawi, Africa next month – I would love to be able to take him to the Academy as part of his introduction to the Bay Area!

    Reply

  47. As a day-care teacher, I took our class to the Academy every summer, as it offers soo much for kids of all ages! I’d really love to take our grandkids now, for the same reason as always. Thanks for this great opportunity, Hannah.

    Reply

  48. I love the California Academy of Sciences and what it has to offer! Perfect choice for family outing or a romantic date!

    Reply

  49. I’d love to be entered in the drawing for the tickets! I am a science educator in California, and could spend SO much time with my family there…if I could afford it.

    Reply

  50. My 2 year old would love to win four (4) complimentary tickets to the Cal Academy of Sciences!! He could bring his favorite grandma and grandpa! Happy Holidays!

    Reply

  51. We are new to the Bay area and have used this site many times with excellent results. We rely on your website as a way to get acquainted with our new community. Thanks a bunch!!!

    Reply

  54. As a kid, I came to the museum full of wonder and now I return with my 3 kids to return the favor ! I would appreciate the tickets so……

    Reply

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