Houston Museum of Natural Science (Houston)

Photo: Wolfgang Manousek, CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons. Museum plaza and frontage, including the glass Cockrell Butterfly Center wing.

Houston Museum of Natural Science in Houston: best for ages 3-5, 6-8, 9-12, 13-17; General admission (permanent exhibits): Adults (12+) $25; Children 3-11 $16; Seniors 62+ $16; Infants 2 and under free.

Address5555 Hermann Park Dr, Houston, TX 77030

HoursMon-Thu 9am-5pm (last entry 4:30pm); Fri-Sun 9am-6pm (last entry 5:30pm); Free Tuesday 5-8pm, last entry 7:30pm (hmns.org)

PricesGeneral admission (permanent exhibits): Adults (12+) $25; Children 3-11 $16; Seniors 62+ $16; Infants 2 and under free

Price notesButterfly Center, Planetarium and Giant Screen Theatre are separately ticketed. Permanent exhibits free Tue 5-8pm (see Perks). Prices subject to change per hmns.org.

Age notesBased on the museum's own pricing tiers: Children age 3-11, Adults age 12+, infants age 2 and under free (hmns.org).

BookingWalk-up admission; Free Tuesdays are first-come, first-served with no reservations (hmns.org).

Suggested timeAbout 3.5 hours

AccessibilityHMNS publishes a Museum Accessibility page (hmns.org); specific attributes were not itemised in the pages reviewed - Not confirmed.

ParkingMuseum District garages and street parking per the hmns.org directions page; rates Not confirmed in this pass.

Hours in detailPermanent exhibits: Mon-Thu 9am-5pm (last entry 4:30pm); Fri-Sun 9am-6pm (last entry 5:30pm); Free Tuesday 5-8pm (last entry 7:30pm). Cockrell Butterfly Center: Mon 12-5pm; Tue 10am-8pm; Wed-Thu 10am-5pm; Fri-Sun 10am-6pm (last entries 30 min before close). Planetarium and Giant Screen Theatre: Mon/Wed/Thu 10am-5pm (last show 4pm); Tue 10am-8pm (last show 7pm); Fri-Sun 10am-6pm (last show 5pm).

Tickets & bookingWalk-up general admission; Free Tuesdays are first-come, first-served with no reservations. Advance Sales phone line (713) 639-4629, 8:30am-5pm daily.

ParkingAttached HMNS parking garage, flat rate for the visit: members $10, non-members/general public $30; pay at Box Office, Gift Shop or kiosks before leaving; garage cannot be reserved in advance; max vehicle height 6'8". Reserved handicapped spots on each garage level, plus a limited number of free reserved handicapped spots in front of the building on Caroline Street and across Hermann Park Drive. Free alternatives listed by HMNS: Lot A by the Sam Houston statue (3-hr), Lot C McGovern Centennial Gardens (3-hr), Lots D/E/F/G/H near the Zoo (free daily), limited free street parking. Parking is NOT free during Free Tuesdays.

AccessibilityHMNS states its goal is to make the museum accessible to all visitors and maintains a Museum Accessibility page; the directions page confirms reserved handicapped parking as above. Butterfly Center: fully accessible, elevators to every level, accessible entrance to the rainforest; service animals welcome (live-animal exhibit may overwhelm service animals).

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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.

Houston Museum of Natural Science — Houston, Texas

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