General Museum FAQs

Museum entry is first-come, first served. High attendance is expected. Members, please have your member card and ID ready for check-in.

To maintain safety and comfort inside the building, please wait in line before beginning your visit. We may also hold lines in our higher energy spaces.

The Museum garage fills up quickly! Paid parking is also available at the ABM lot on Island Avenue and Second Avenue. Discount code 8792 gets you 2 hours of parking for $5

While we are fans of snacks, we ask that food be consumed in our café area and outdoor park only.

All visitors must check in at the Welcome Desk, including members and those who pre-purchased admission online.

Please actively supervise and support children in your group. Adults can play in our space, too! In fact, we encourage it.

We are open Monday and Wednesday-Sunday (closed Tuesday) from 9am-4pm. Please check our calendar for special closures and hours. 

We have a limited number of parking spots in our underground garage. Parking is $16 for non-members and $8 for members. There are public parking meters along the streets surrounding the museum and a public parking lot two blocks away at Second and Island Avenue. We are conveniently located on the MTS Trolley Blue Line (depart at Seaport Village and walk east along the Martin Luther King Promenade).  

There are public parking lots and parking meters nearby. ABM Parking at 450 2nd Ave. offers a 2-hour discount with code 8792 (not valid during Padres games and other times at ABM’s discretion).

Restrooms with changing tables are available inside the Museum on all levels. 

Our drinking fountains are open and a water bottle fill-station is available inside the Museum near the restrooms. Visitors are encouraged to bring their own water bottles.  

Food and beverages can be purchased at our Bean Sprouts Café inside the Museum. We have QR codes accessible throughout the Museum to order while onsite and have your food ready when you visit the cafe. View their menu here. 

All current art installations are open for play! Please view our current art installations here. Installations may periodically close for maintenance or cleaning purposes.

The Museum does not offer gift cards. If you would like to give the gift of a NCM visit you can purchase online tickets or gift a membership.

Admission is $20 per child ages 1 years and up and $24 for adults. Members are free. Discounted tickets are available for EBT/WIC/SNAP card holders through our Museums for All program ($2/person, up to four people in the party). Museums for All tickets must be purchased in person with EBT/WIC/SNAP card in hand. Visit our Access Programs page for information.

We do not require advance reservations or tickets. Tickets can be purchased as a walk-up or online for any day we are open here.

We encourage but are not requiring face coverings in the Museum. The health and safety of our staff and visitors is our highest priority, and this policy could change at any time.

Vaccinations are not required for visitation. See our Safer Play page for more information on our health and safety protocols.

Additional hand sanitizing stations have been added, as well as hand washing stations. Our Visitor Experience Specialists will be continuously roaming and disinfecting high-touch areas and loose parts. We ask for everyone’s support in maintaining a safe environment. See our Safer Play page for more information on our health and safety protocols.

We have “new” in our name because we’re a new model of children’s museum, focused on contemporary art. We work with contemporary artists to create interactive art installations and studios for children to engage with art, creativity and imagination. We also have “new” in our name because there is always something new to explore and discover when you visit! Learn more about the Museum’s mission and history here.

The Museum is located at 200 W. Island Avenue, in between Front and Union.  For directions on how to get to the Museum by car, bus, trolley or train, go to our Visit page.

Yes, please email info@thinkplaycreate.org or call 619 233 8792 to inquire about a missing item.

No, we do not accept the Balboa Park Explorer Pass.

You can get half-priced admission with your San Diego Children’s Discovery Museum membership card. Both museums are part of the Association of Children’s Museums which allows you to get 50% off admission at many children’s museums in the U.S.  The number of people on your membership is the number of people you can get into our museum for half price. See what other children’s museums participate: Association of Children’s Museum’s website.