I’m Kayla, and I actually went. I bought the tickets on my phone while we walked along Harbor Drive. Super simple. I paid $32 for me and $22 for my 9-year-old. My mom, who’s 66, paid the senior price at the window. They scanned our barcodes right from my phone. No paper. No fuss.
If you'd like to compare my experience with someone else's, here’s another honest review of buying USS Midway Museum tickets.
We went on a sunny Saturday in June and got there at 9:50 a.m. Doors opened at 10. There was a short line, like 7 minutes. A quick bag check. Then boom—metal deck, salty air, and that huge gray ship under our feet. You know what? I got chills.
For up-to-date hours, parking details, and special event listings, the museum’s official site midway.org is worth a quick look before your visit.
If you’d like to dig even deeper into San Diego’s rich naval story, hop over to the USS San Diego official site for extra photos, sailor tales, and context that make everything along the harbor click into place.
How getting the tickets felt
I’ve done ticket lines that feel like a DMV. This wasn’t that. Buying online saved us a few minutes, and that matters with kids who get squirmy. The email came fast. I screenshotted the QR codes, just in case the signal died. Good call, because my bars dropped near the pier.
Pro tip: if you're hunting for discounts, this guide to finding and using a USS Midway coupon breaks down exactly where to look.
We parked right next to the ship at the Navy Pier lot. It was $15 for about 3 hours on the meter. Card worked fine. If that lot fills, Seaport Village is a short walk, and it’s pretty.
First steps on board
A volunteer in a yellow shirt handed us a map and a little audio guide. Free. The docents are mostly Navy vets. You can hear it in their voices. One man, Bob from Iowa, told my kid how he used to sleep under jets during long nights. His eyes got wet. Mine did too.
Stories like Bob's reminded me of the USS San Diego wreck and the quiet heroics tied to it, a chapter of naval history that's just as moving.
We started on the hangar deck. Planes everywhere. You can sit in a cockpit. The buttons don’t do much, but the feeling does. My son kept saying, “Mom, look!” which is the good kind of loud.
The part that made me whisper “wow”
The flight deck. It’s windy up there, so bring a hat with a strap. We stood next to an F-14 Tomcat and an F/A-18. Big birds. The carriers feel like small cities, and you can feel that here—steel, paint, stairs, stories. We waited about 20 minutes to go up to the bridge. Worth it. You step into the Captain’s chair and see the whole bay—the skyline, Coronado, little sailboats like teeth on the water.
I loved the engine room tour too. It smells like oil and old metal, and I mean that in a good way. The ladders are steep. Like, hold-the-rail-and-breathe steep. I scraped my shin on one rung and muttered a word my kid told me not to say. Oops. Wear sturdy shoes.
Food, breaks, and the little stuff
We grabbed pretzels and lemonade at the café on the hangar deck. Prices were fair for a museum. There’s also coffee at a spot called Jet Fuel Java. Restrooms were clean, and I saw a family room setup that helped a dad with a stroller.
By the way, strollers are fine on the hangar deck, but not on the steep ladders or tight spaces. We parked ours by a sign and used a sling for the lower decks.
What I liked (a lot)
- Real stories from real sailors. Not just signs on a wall.
- The audio guide is easy. Chapters are short. Kids can follow it.
- The flight deck views are postcard good.
- You can sit in a cockpit, touch the gear, and feel the history.
- Staff is kind. Patient with questions. Even the odd ones my kid asked.
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What bugged me (a little)
- The line for the bridge gets long after 11 a.m.
- The ladders are tough for small kids and knees that don’t love stairs.
- The sun on the flight deck is no joke. I forgot sunscreen. Rookie move.
- The simulator ride costs extra. My kid wanted it. My wallet sighed.
Time check: how long we stayed
We spent about 3.5 hours without rushing. Could’ve stayed five, easy. The hangar deck had a short talk on carrier landings. The doc pulled out a hook and showed how planes catch the wire. He clanked it on the floor—loud, sharp, but cool.
Little tips I wish I knew
- Go early. Start with the bridge before the crowd builds.
- Wear closed-toe shoes. Those ladders don’t love sandals.
- Bring sunscreen, a hat, and water. The ship gets warm.
- Screenshots of your tickets help if your signal drops.
- Ask a docent where they served. Then listen. That’s the gold.
Who should go
- Kids 7 and up will love the buttons, the planes, and the big stories.
- Teens get into the tech and the flight deck views.
- History fans? Obvious yes.
- Wheelchairs can do the hangar deck and some areas, but not the tight spaces. It’s a ship from another time. They try, but it’s still a ship.
One small, sweet moment
We stood by the rail and watched a Navy helicopter skim the water. A docent next to us saluted. Quiet. My mom squeezed my hand. My son asked if planes get scared. I said maybe pilots do, but that’s why they train. He nodded like he understood more than he can say.
My final take
Buy the USS Midway Museum tickets. If you can, go early. Plan a few hours. It’s not just planes and parts. It’s people. It’s stories. It’s San Diego sun on steel, and it sticks with you.
We walked to Seaport Village after and got ice cream. My kid fell asleep in the car, still holding the little paper map. That’s a win in my book.
History buffs who want a deeper dive into the carrier’s service years can browse its detailed timeline on the USS Midway Museum Wikipedia page.