USS Midway Museum

Exhibits in the USS Midway Museum include the engine room, the ship’s brig, machine shops, and the crew’s sleeping quarters, as well as the bridge, admiral’s war room, and control tower. The ship’s flight deck is also home to multiple aircraft, including an F-14 Tomcat, F-4 Phantom jet fighter, and an A-7 Corsair.

Admission to the museum includes a self-guided audio tour through the multiple interactive exhibits, narrated by Midway sailors. Guided tours of downtown San Diego frequently include the USS Midway Museum as a stop, along with other area highlights such as Sea World, La Jolla, Balboa Park, or a San Diego Bay cruise.

• The USS Midway Museum offers kid-friendly attractions such as flight simulators, the Ejection Seat Theater, and music videos.

• Wear proper footwear, as a tour of the ship’s interior includes many stairs and narrow passageways.

• Skip-the-line tours are recommended on weekends and during busy holiday times.

• Several elevators and wheelchair access routes have been added to make the ship about 60 percent accessible.

• Children ages 5 years old and younger, active duty military (including reservists, law enforcement, and firefighters) receive free admission.

The USS Midway Museum is located at Navy Pier in downtown San Diego, on Harbor Drive. The Santa Fe Train Depot and MTS trolley station are each a 5-minute walk away. Limited paid parking is available in the Port of San Diego lot, and there is metered parking on neighboring streets.

Allow at least 90 minutes for a visit here. The USS Midway Museum is open daily from 10am to 5pm, with last admission at 4pm. It is closed on Christmas Day and Thanksgiving Day and busiest on the weekends and holidays.

The USS Midway Museum holds several festivals throughout the year to honor America’s servicemen and woman, and to celebrate the country’s military history. The Fourth of July Festival enables you to watch the San Diego Bay’s fireworks display from the flight deck, and there is a family Veteran’s Day celebration held every year.

Yes. You can go inside the USS Midway Museum. The museum is open daily from 10am to 5pm, with the last admission at 4pm. You can walk through the museum with an audio guide explaining exhibits like the Remembrance Wall, aircraft gallery, and more.

Yes. You can take all the personal photos you’d like at the USS Midway Museum. You just cannot take any for commercial use without a permit. You can use the flash on your phone or camera, but the museum does not permit large flashes or extra gear.

Yes. There are bathrooms on the USS Midway. There are wheelchair-accessible restrooms on both the Hangar and Flight decks for guests. Interestingly, no women served on the USS Midway, so women’s bathrooms were added until 1992 after decommissioning. There are now bathrooms for everyone to use.

Yes. The USS Midway Museum is accessible for guests with mobility difficulties or other challenging conditions. There are several elevators and access routes and wheelchair accessibility to museum exhibits. Caregivers also get free admission. ASL audio tours can be arranged, as well as Audio Descriptive Tours for those visually impaired.

Yes. You can wear sandals on the USS Midway, as there is no dress code. But shoes with non-skid soles are recommended since you’ll be touring a ship, going through narrow corridors, and going up and down stairs between decks. High heels are not recommended, and bare feet aren’t allowed.

Yes. There is a dedicated parking lot for USS Midway Museum visitors. The lot is on Navy Pier, next to the USS Midway Museum. Parking rates vary between $5 to $30 depending on whether special events or holidays are happening. RV parking is not allowed in this lot.