Free museum admission for San Diego City & County residents — every Tuesday and one Thursday each month.
Last updated: May 29, 2026The following people receive free admission to participating museums:
The following people receive free admission to participating museums:
The Balboa Park Cultural Partnership coordinates a rotating free admission program for San Diego residents. Each week of the month, a different group of museums opens its doors at no charge to people who live in San Diego City or County. Active military members and their dependents also qualify year-round.
Free admission generally applies to permanent collections only. Special exhibitions, IMAX films, and ticketed events like California Tower tours at the Museum of Us may still require paid admission. A handful of museums opt out during certain months — for example, most participants close their free day in December. Always check with the museum directly before visiting.
There is no pass to obtain or online registration — just show up with a valid photo ID that has your San Diego address. Fifth Tuesdays of the month are not free days; regular admission applies.
| Museum | Free Day | Notes / Exclusions |
|---|---|---|
| Fleet Science Center | 1st Tuesday | Films excluded |
| San Diego Natural History Museum | 1st Tuesday | Films excluded |
| San Diego Air & Space Museum | 2nd Tuesday | Special exhibitions excluded; closed Jan & Dec |
| The Veterans Museum at Balboa Park | 2nd Tuesday | — |
| Comic-Con Museum | 2nd Tuesday | Closed Dec |
| San Diego Museum of Art | 3rd Tuesday | Special exhibitions excluded |
| Japanese Friendship Garden and Museum | 3rd Tuesday (1st Tuesday in March) |
Closed Dec; moves to 1st Tuesday in March |
| Mingei International Museum | 3rd Tuesday | Entry level only |
| The Old Globe | 3rd Tuesday | Behind-the-scenes tours; ages 8+; registration required |
| San Diego Automotive Museum | 4th Tuesday | Closed Sept & Dec |
| Museum of Us | 4th Tuesday | Closed Dec; California Tower tours $10 |
| San Diego Model Railroad Museum | 2nd Thursday | Closed Dec |
Free days occur on the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Tuesdays of every month, with different museums participating each week. The 2nd Thursday is also a free day (San Diego Model Railroad Museum). Fifth Tuesdays are not free days — regular admission applies.
San Diego City residents, San Diego County residents, and active military members with their dependents all qualify. Bring a photo ID with your current address to the museum entrance.
No pass or registration is needed for most museums — just show up with your ID. The one exception is The Old Globe, which requires advance registration for its free behind-the-scenes tours.
Usually not. Free admission covers permanent collections only. Special exhibitions, IMAX films, California Tower tours, and other ticketed events typically still charge admission even on free days.
Fifth Tuesdays are regular admission days — no free entry. The resident free day program applies only to the 1st through 4th Tuesdays of each month.
Individual museums occasionally opt out of the free day program during busy seasons or for operational reasons. Most museums skip December; a few skip additional months (e.g., the Air & Space Museum also skips January). Those exclusions are shown on this page next to each museum's name.
Any government-issued photo ID showing your San Diego address is accepted — a California driver license, state ID, or military ID all work. The address on the ID must be within San Diego City or County.