*** Starting Jan 3 2022 The Tickets And Travel Office Is Now Open Tuesday
Located in the basement of Herrmann Hall Room 60For additional questions: tickets@nps.eduAllow 24 hours Monday-Friday for e-mails to receive response.E-mails will not be answered Saturday & Sunday
New to NSA Monterey or just visiting the area? The Tickets & Travel office has all you need to learn about what there is to do in the local area! We have discounted tickets for area tours, attractions, museums, amusement parks, movie theaters, ski lift passes, and more. Not to mention the numerous hotel vouchers and car rental vouchers that are also available. Stop by and pick up some free brochures and get the fun started today!
How To Get Free Field Trips To The Monterey Bay Aquarium And Teacher Discount
Teachers of pre-k to college students can plan a free field trip to the Monterey Bay Aquarium in select windows. In order to get the free field trip, school groups must be going as part of a regularly scheduled class with a transcript grade or academic credit. In addition, reservations have to be made at least two weeks ahead of time. Go to the main aquarium website for more information.
Resident Monterey Discount Tickets
At certain times of each month, Monterey Bay Aquarium discounts are available to locals who can get free tickets for up to 6 or 8 people through the Monterey County Public Library. Then residents can bring their non-resident relatives for substantial savings. So, if you have any local connections, ask them to look into this for you.
The aquarium also has free days for locals The date schange, so take a look at he Monterey Aquarium website for specifics.
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The San Francisco City Pass
If you plan to visit other attractions in the San Francisco area, then check out the San Francisco City Pass. It is a great deal.
With this pass, youll get 7-day Cable Car and Muni Bus Passport, California Academy of Sciences, Blue & Gold Fleet Bay Cruise Adventure, Exploratorium or de Young Museum, Aquarium of the Bay or Monterey Bay Aquarium. It is $94 for adults and $69 for kids. Thus, youll be getting an amazing deal on the aquarium and other San Francisco area attractions.
Outdoor Gear Military Discounts

You chose a military career for all the best reasons, and one of them is that you love action and adventure. If you enjoy camping, hunting, fishing, and playing sports, your hobbies could get a boost with the help of military discounts from these patriotic businesses and brands.
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Monterey Tour From San Francisco
Most tourists visiting San Francisco add Monterey Bay Aquarium to their itinerary.
This is because of three reasons
1. Monterey is only 200 Kms from San Francisco and can be reached in 90 minutes.
2. The drive to Monterey is on the Pacific Coast Highway , which hugs the California coastline and blasts past the overhanging rocks. Many consider this road from SFO to Monterey the most scenic drive in California. On this highway, you also get to see the iconic Bixby Creek Bridge.
3. Monterey Bay Aquarium is just too good to ignore, especially if you are holidaying in SFO with kids.
The Monterey tour from San Francisco, which we have recommended below, starts at 8 am and is 10 hours long. Check out the itinerary
This tour includes hotel pick up and drop, free wifi on the air-conditioned bus, and a live guide to take you around.
Tour price
Adult ticket : $155Child ticket : $135
An Aquarium That Is Worth Its Admission Fee
As a former aquarist for an East Coast aquarium, I know an excellent aquarium when I see one. Ive been fortunate to have experienced the behind-the-scenes areas which are absolutely pristine. The exhibits are all well done and very well cared for.
A must during your Monterey visit. Megan Bocean, New England
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More Of What You Will See At The Aquarium
Here are a few more details on each of the top exhibits currently on display.
- Giant Pacific Octopus: Watch this intellectual creature open jars, play with toys, and even recognize the aquarists.
- The Jellies Experience: See several species of jellies dance, glow, bloom, and sting.
- Kelp Forest: Look up at the 28-foot-tall kelp forest and watch several animals as they weave their way around these massive plants.
- Life on the Bay: Step outside for a glimpse at the Monterey Bay and the animals that call it home.
- Open Sea: Take a seat and watch the constant movement of the aquarium’s largest exhibit.
- Sea Otters: Enjoy the playful nature of these cuties as they tumble, splash, and wrestle around in the water.
- Splash Zone & Penguins: Watch the penguins waddle around and interact with 45 new and improved bilingual exhibits in the Splash Zone.
Do I Need To Buy Monterey Bay Aquarium Tickets In Advance
Monterey Bay Aquarium tickets can be bought at the entrance. However, you can skip the lines and make the most of any deals or discounts by pre-purchasing tickets online.
You’ll also need to reserve tours, sleepovers and behind-the-scenes events in advance, subject to availability. Be quick these popular tickets sell out fast. You can find other great aquatic days out at aquariums across California.
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How Much Is Parking At Monterey Bay Aquarium
Because we wanted to save some money, we parked on the street, a few blocks away at metered parking. We paid $12 for the day. For a little more convenience, you can pay $15 and park at the Cannery Row garage on Irving Avenue between Foam and Wave streets. After 4 pm, the price is only $5.
According to the aquarium website, parking is available in the Downtown East Garage at 340 Tyler Street in Monterey for a flat fee of $7 for the entire day. Then, theres a trolley pick-up point located just across from the garage on Tyler Street, and more in downtown Monterey.
Internet And Telecom Discounts
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Tips To Find Discounts & Buy Your Tickets In Advance
The Monterey Bay Aquarium is a non-profit organization. All the proceeds from admissions go to support research, development, and day-to-day maintenance. This means that they rarely offer discounts or coupons for admissions.
Here are just a few exceptions to that rule:
- Active & Retired Military: All active and retired military with ID will receive discounts at the door. You can also receive discounts for your entire group when you purchase in advance through a military base.
- AAA Members: All AAA members receive a discount when purchasing their ticket in advance at a Northern California AAA office. Make sure you bring along your card for proof of membership. The AAA discount is not available at the door. Here are some of the most popular nearby AAA offices:
- Monterey Office: 53 Soledad Drive at Pacific Street, Monterey, CA Hours are Monday – Friday, 9am – 5pm.
- San Francisco Financial District Office: 160 Sutter Street at Kearny, San Francisco, CA Hours are Monday – Friday, 8:30am – 5:30pm.
Military Discount Wish List

Unfortunately, these stores dont offer military discounts at the moment. Check their websites for updates, though they are definitely worth watching. Thats because some of them have offered military discounts in the past, while others offer discounts at certain locations or on official holidays. Meanwhile, there are other ways to save money at these stores, and other ways that these stores support military veterans, like offering jobs to ex-military personnel.
- Barnes & Noble: Currently, there are no active military discounts available at Barnes & Noble. See available Barnes & Noble deals.
- Dicks Sporting Goods: Currently, there are no active military discounts available at Dicks Sporting Goods. See available Dicks Sporting Goods deals.
- H& M: Currently, there are no active military discounts available at H& M. See available H& M deals.
- Hobby Lobby: Currently, there are no active military discounts available at Hobby Lobby. See available Hobby Lobby deals.
- Macys: Currently, there are no active military discounts available at Macys. See available Macys deals.
- Direct Energy: Veterans and active military may no longer get special rates through SheerID. See available Direct Energy deals.
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Sleepover At The Aquarium
If you cannot plan a daytime visit, or if you want to experience the Aquarium at night, the Monterey Bay Aquarium Sleepover may be just the opportunity for you.
As the name suggests, visitors get to spend the night at the Aquarium, indulging in fun activities, bedtime snacks, and a bed under the blanket of sea stars.
The following day, you wake up to an excellent breakfast and can start exploring the beautiful marine creatures of the Aquarium yet again.
Enjoy snacks or fine dining along with the best on-site views of Monterey Bay.
We Loved The Aquarium
The Giant Pacific Octopus was the coolest thing ever! We stood mesmerized. Hey, only a few facilities in the world have them, and it was worth the price of admission just to see them up close. We also adored the otters! We had to drag my 13-year-old daughter away from the Otter area, or she would have stayed there all night. The Aquarium is a must for everyone! First class! 278katen, Charlotte, North Carolina
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Bonus #: Monterey Bay Food Tours
Thats right, we offer a military discount at the Monterey Bay Food Tours! We appreciate all members of our military, as well as our law enforcement and first responders. So, if you fall under one of those categories and are interested in joining us for a food tour, please use the code MLEFR15 for 15% at checkout!
Please note, we cannot combine this with any other offer, and you must show proper ID when you show up for your tour. We look forward to showing you around!
If Youre Active Duty Military Or Work For The Us Government You Can Save A Few Bucks On Monterey Aquarium Tickets
Save $2 per Monterey Bay Aquairum tickets for both adults and childrenby going to the Naval PostGraduate School.
You can also save money on Senior Citizen and student tickets at NPS as their student/senior cititzen rate is much cheaper than at the door.
But before you spend any money, check and see if you can get your
The downside to getting your Monterey Bay Aquarium discount tickets at the Naval Postgraduate School is that their hours are 9:30-1:30 and 2:30-4:40 Monday thru Friday.
Another downside is that it usually takes me about 20 minutes to get the tickets.
This includes entering and exiting from the base and finding parking which can be tough around lunch time.
Add 10 more minutes if you need to get a temporary pass.
Have your Military/Government ID, car registration, and current proof of insurance ready when getting a base pass.
Note: If youre Active Duty Military or work for the US Government and are stationed in California, chances are you can buy your Monterey Bay Aquarium discount tickets at your local MWR office.
If you have a very large party with lots of kids then your best bet to save money is to look into getting the Aquarium Membership.
You can save a lot of money this way along with free repeat visits for the year.
So all of this adds up to quite a hassle.
So I would only recommend going this route if you have a large party.
Then the savings can be significant, otherwise the hassle may not be worth saving $2-$4.
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Puma Road At Portola Plaza
Puma Road at Portola Plaza is one of our newest tour partners, and were excited to show them off during our Haunted Monterey Food Tour! Military members with valid ID receive 15% off bottles, so stop by for a sip when youre out in downtown Monterey sometime. Perhaps before or after you head into Jacks?
Epsilon Fine Greek Restaurant
We could live off of the baklava at Epsilon Restaurant, even though we know that wouldnt be healthy. Fortunately, theres also plenty of other delectable Greek dishes to choose from, and we love showing some of them off on our Old Monterey Food Tour. Epsilon also has an awesome dinner menu thats a little different than the lunch, and were getting really pumped that those on our Haunted Monterey Food Tour will get to see that, too. Those with a military ID get 10% off here, and we seriously think its worth it for the baklava alone.
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Discounts And A Coupon
- AAA offers local members about $4 off per person, and you must purchase the tickets through them.
- The aquarium offers several discounts at its ticket booth. Children, seniors and students all get in for less than the general admission adult tickets. Children under the age of three get in free.
- Military personnel can purchase discounted tickets at various military locations around California plus one in Fallon, NV.
- Many corporations and credit unions offer discounted tickets through their organizations. You will need to purchase tickets through the human resources department or benefits department.
- Craigslist is a good option to try, since people often sell their aquarium tickets for as little as $10.
Monterey Bay Aquarium Ticket Discounts

Monterey Bay Aquariums regular adult ticket costs $49.95, and some visitors qualify for discounts on this price.
Kids under the age of three get a 100% discount and can walk in for free.
Children 3 to 12 years old get a 40% discount on their aquarium ticket and pay only $29.95 per person.
Visitors aged 13 to 17 qualify for a 20% discount on their ticket and pay only $39.95. They must show their student ID card at the entrance.
Seniors aged 65 years also get a 20% reduction like the students.
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Cost Location & Hours
These are the admission costs per person:
- Students : $39.95
- Seniors : $39.95
The Monterey Bay Aquarium CA is at 886 Cannery Row. They are open every day except December 25. Here are their hours:
- Winter: 10am – 5pm
- Fall : 10am – 5pm
Disclaimer: I receive a small commission from some of the links on this page.
Travel & Transportation Military Discounts
A career in the military can be tough, especially if you have to face the dangers of a war-zone. Airlines, hotels, and vacation destinations are eager to help you enjoy your holidays. So next time youre planning to unwind or visit friends and family around the US, be sure to shop around for discounted options. We tracked down these amazing military discount offers to get you started.
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Monterey Bay Aquarium Discount
You may just get lucky because Monterey Bay Aquarium discount tickets are often available for those who know where to look.
These tickets can be expensive at the door. Adults at the time of this writing go for $35 for adults and $22 for children
Many hotels offer multiple day discounts and members of the military or visitors staying with residents of Monterey County can enjoy healthy discounts as well!
Aaa And Military Discounts
Your visit to the Monterey Bay Aquarium will likely be a wonderful experience and will be even better if you take advantage of the many discounts offfered by AAA and for those in the military.
AAA offeres Monterey Bay Aquarium Discount tickets for a discount of about $2 for each ticket which can add up quickly if your group is large.
If you are active or retired military you can save $2 off each adult and child ticket but you need to go to your local military base headquarters to obtain.
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