Skip to content
  • Explore
  • Deals
  • Membership Perks
    • Reciprocal Museum Memberships
    • Reciprocal Zoo Memberships
    • Membership Calculator
  • Suggest a Place
  • Blog
  • What’s Coming
  • For Business
Sign in or Register
Science and Discovery Centers in San Francisco, CA
Explore›San Francisco, CA›Science and Discovery Centers

Hands on, minds busy.

Science and Discovery Centers in San Francisco, CA

We list 4 science and discovery centers across the San Francisco area. Compare prices, hours and age ranges in one place, then pick the one that fits your day.

4 science and discovery centers in the San Francisco area

Find a science center in San Francisco

4 science and discovery centers in the San Francisco area.

Sorted by distance from San Francisco, nearest first. Straight-line miles, so every drive is longer.

4 places

Exploratorium

Exploratorium

Science & Discovery Center · Ages 6–16
Closed today · Free admission
Accepts ASTC Passport Program

The Exploratorium is a public learning laboratory located at Pier 15 in San Francisco where families can explore the world through science, art, and human…

RestroomsFood availableParking
2.2 mi View place
Morrison Planetarium at Cal Academy

Morrison Planetarium at Cal Academy

Science & Discovery Center · Ages 3–16
Today 9:30am–5pm · Admission from $39

Morrison Planetarium at Cal Academy is a science museum located in San Francisco, California that features a planetarium, aquarium, rainforest, and interactive…

RestroomsFood availableWheelchair accessible
2.6 mi View place
Bay Area Discovery Museum

Bay Area Discovery Museum

Science & Discovery Center · Ages 1–9
Closed today · Admission $25
Accepts ASTC Passport Program

Bay Area Discovery Museum is a hands-on learning museum in Sausalito, California, located at the foot of the Golden Gate Bridge. The museum offers creative…

Playground on siteRestroomsFood available
5.2 mi View place
Bay Model Visitor Center

Bay Model Visitor Center

Science & Discovery Center
No hours listed · No price listed
7.4 mi View place
Nothing here matches that combination. Clear a filter, or browse everything in San Francisco.

Where a card says no price or no hours listed, the venue does not publish it. We would rather leave the gap than fill it with a guess. Prices come from each venue's own website, and we publish one only when the figure appears on the page we took it from. Tell us if we are missing one you know.

Before you go

Quick answers for busy parents.

Shows run to a timetableLive demonstrations are usually the highlight and they run a handful of times a day.
Planetarium and big-screen films cost extraThey are usually ticketed separately and they sell out first.
The hands-on floors peak middaySchool groups arrive in the morning and leave after lunch.
Allow more time than you plannedThese are places children refuse to leave.
Other things to do in San Francisco
Amusement Parks Arcades Bowling Alleys Children's Museums Family Entertainment Centers Historic Sites Ice Skating Rinks Museums and Educational Attractions Nature and Gardens Outdoor Playgrounds Splash Pads Zoos and Aquariums
Science and Discovery Centers in nearby cities
East Bay, CA Los Angeles, CA Phoenix, AZ Seattle, WA Dallas, TX Minneapolis, MN Houston, TX Chicago, IL

Common questions about science and discovery centers in San Francisco

How many science and discovery centers are there in San Francisco?

We list 4 science and discovery centers within 57 miles of San Francisco, CA. Every one is a published listing with an address we checked.

Which science and discovery centers in San Francisco publish their prices?

3 of the 4 here do, and each price was checked word for word against the venue's own page before we published it. The rest do not publish one, so their card says no price listed rather than carrying a guess.

Are any science and discovery centers in San Francisco free?

Yes. One place gets you in free: Exploratorium.

Which science and discovery centers in San Francisco suit a toddler?

One of them lists an age range starting at two or under. Check the age line on each card, because a place that suits a six-year-old does not always suit a two-year-old.

How did Mini Navigators choose these science and discovery centers?

We list every one we have within 57 miles of the center of San Francisco. Each is a published place with an address we geocoded and checked, and the business can claim its listing to keep the hours and prices current.

Do adults have to pay?

It varies more than you would expect, from free to full price, and it changes the cost of a visit by a lot when there are two of you. The price on each card is what it costs to get a child in. 3 of the 4 on this page publish a price at all, so call ahead about the adult rate before you rely on it.

Do I need to book ahead?

Book if you want a show or a planetarium slot. General entry is usually walk-in. Where a venue publishes a booking page, the listing links straight to it.

What should I bring?

Water and a snack. Hands-on floors are long on their feet and short on seating. Whatever else you need is in the notes beside the listings above.

What else is there to do with kids in San Francisco?

San Francisco has 13 categories of kid-friendly places on Mini Navigators, from playgrounds and museums to splash pads and zoos. The San Francisco hub lists all of them.

Listings last checked October 5, 2026.

Explore related activities in San Francisco

Amusement Parks 7 places Arcades 13 places Bowling Alleys 5 places

Never miss a new place to explore

Fresh kid-friendly spots near you, seasonal guides, and new features, straight to your inbox every week.

Your ZIP is used only to send places and events near you. Never shared.

You're all set!

Check your inbox. Great places are on the way.

Mini Navigators

Helping families discover trusted, kid-friendly places to play, learn and explore, while giving local businesses an affordable way to reach parents.

Explore

  • All Places
  • Browse by City
  • Reciprocal Museum Memberships
  • Reciprocal Zoo Memberships
  • Blog

Company

  • About Us
  • For Business
  • Contact

Get in touch

hello@mininavigators.com
GET IT ONGoogle Play Download on theApp Store

Kids activities by city

  • Kids activities in Los Angeles, CA
  • Kids activities in Dallas, TX
  • Kids activities in Phoenix, AZ
  • Kids activities in Atlanta, GA
  • Kids activities in Houston, TX
  • Kids activities in East Bay, CA
  • Kids activities in New York, NY
  • Kids activities in San Francisco, CA
  • All cities
© 2026 Mini Navigators. All rights reserved.
Privacy Policy Terms of Service Cookie Policy Reviews Policy Copyright Cookie Preferences

Cart

We use cookies to keep the site working, understand which pages families find useful, and show ads that help keep Mini Navigators free. How we use cookies

Not a link