Experience the best of USS Midway Museum

Buy online before arriving if you’re visiting in summer or on weekends. Walk-up ticket window waits reach 30–45 minutes in peak periods, while online tickets let you go straight to the gangway scan.

Be careful with OTA listings that charge extra for an audio tour. The self-guided audio handset with about 60 narrated stops is included in standard admission.

Know what “skip-the-line” means here: it skips the ticket window, not bag security. All visitors still pass through security, which typically takes 5–10 minutes at peak times.

Tuesday–Thursday at the 10:00am opening is the best-value slot. Crowds are lowest in the first 60–90 minutes, so paying extra for priority access is usually less useful then.

Allow 3–4 hours for a first visit even though the official range is 2–5 hours. With daily hours of 10:00am–5:00pm and last boarding at 4:00pm, late-afternoon entry leaves little time for the island and interior spaces.

General admission is the price anchor at about $26–$32 for adults and $18–$22 for children as of May 2025. Check current pricing before purchase because rates can change seasonally.

Choose a guided docent tour if you want a clearer route and more context. It typically adds about $10–$20 over general admission and follows a curated 90-minute route through spaces self-guided visitors often miss.

If you’re visiting with children, budget flight simulators separately rather than assuming they’re included. They usually cost about $8–$12 per ride, last around 2–4 minutes, and are better bought on-site if energy levels warrant it.

If anyone in your group has significant mobility limitations, read the accessibility information before booking. The Hangar Deck is the main step-free area, while the Flight Deck, island superstructure, and engine room involve steep ship stairs.