Main/general-admission entrance· Start here
All general-admission visitors, Museums for All visitors and first-time visitors.
886 Cannery Row, corner of Cannery Row and David Avenue, Monterey, CA 93940 · Join the general ticket-scanning queue.
Member express-entry lane
Named members with a valid membership card and photo ID; also visitors unable to stand or wait in the general queue.
At the Main Entrance, 886 Cannery Row, Monterey, CA 93940 · Bypasses the general queue.
Re-entry queue
Visitors returning later the same day with a hand stamp.
At the Main Entrance, 886 Cannery Row, Monterey, CA 93940 · Exit via the main exit, get a hand stamp, then use this queue to return.
Car
Cannery Row public parking near the Aquarium
10 min walk
The Aquarium has no public parking lot; allow at least 30 minutes to park and reach the entrance on summer and holiday visits.
Taxi
Passenger drop-off/pick-up zone on Cannery Row near the entrance
0 min walk
Best option for visitors with limited walking tolerance.
Bus
MST free summer trolley · Aquarium entrance
0 min walk
Wheelchair-accessible trolley runs every 10–15 minutes from Memorial Day through Labor Day.
On foot
Monterey Bay Coastal Recreation Trail
25 min walk
The paved, largely level trail passes directly outside; Lovers Point is about 1 mile away.
On foot
Bicycle parking opposite the entrance near the bus turnaround
0 min walk
Free bicycle parking is available.
Step 1
Open each visitor's QR-code ticket
Have every guest’s code ready before joining the queue; even children age 4 and under need an individual ticket/QR code.
Step 2
Join the appropriate entrance line
The general outdoor queue has a slight incline. Use the member express lane if eligible or if you cannot stand or wait in the general queue.
Step 3
Ticket scan and conditional ID check
Photo ID is required with a membership card or SNAP/CalFresh EBT card for Museums for All entry; it is not described as a routine check for ordinary paid admission.
Step 4
Security screening and possible bag inspection
The Aquarium uses an accessible, low-frequency touchless EVOLV magnetic screening system, not an X-ray. Allow extra time on weekends, holidays and peak season.
Fine
Not allowed
No cloakroom or locker rental. Pack lightly and leave bulky or prohibited items in your car. Strollers and wagons are not allowed in the Aviary, Sea Otters mezzanine or Auditorium; stroller parking is provided.
Source: montereybayaquarium.org
Ramps and elevators serve all exhibits, including the Sea Otter and Open Sea mezzanines. Electronic-assist doors, benches, accessible toilets, lowered touch-pool sections and free first-come, first-served manual wheelchairs are available; powered mobility devices are not loaned. Some galleries and transitions—especially first-floor Ocean’s Edge, Open Sea and Into the Deep—are dark and noisy; sensory maps, quieter decks and seating zones are available.
Source: montereybayaquarium.org