Museum Group Rates and FAQ
Discounted admission is available to groups of 10 or more who are interested in self-guided visits to the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History.
If your group is interested in curriculum-focused tours of the Museum please visit our Field Trips page.
If your group is interested in a self-guided visit to the Sea Center please visit the Sea Center Group Rates and FAQ page.
Rates
- Adults 18+: $15, Children/Teen 2–17: $13
- Group rates are available to groups of 10 or more.
- All group rates must be paid by a single person, no individual charges.
- Membership benefits, coupons, and guest passes cannot be applied to group visit admission costs.
- Group Rate admission is non-refundable. A 10-person deposit is required for reservation, and additional admission fees are to be paid upon arrival.
- Reservation deposits may be applied towards a one-time reservation date change.
Dates Available
- September–May:
Weekdays / Noon–3:00 PM - June–August:
Weekdays / 10:00 AM–3:00 PM
Date Exclusions
- Weekends (Sat/Sun)
- Memorial Day Weekend (Fri-Mon)
- Labor Day Weekend (Fri-Mon)
- Thanksgiving Day
- Christmas Day
- New Year's Day
Requesting a Reservation
Ready to take advantage of our group rates? To start the process, please submit a request for a reservation at least two weeks in advance using our online request form for Museum self-guided groups.
Frequently Asked Questions
Please click the questions below to reveal the answers.
Please have one member of your group come to the Admissions Office while the rest of your group gathers at the Whale Skeleton (adjacent to the parking lot).
There are no docents available for group bookings. A self-guided scavenger hunt is available upon request.
Due to limited seating, planetarium presentations are not included in group booking admission.
Admission to Butterflies Alive! is not included in the group rate.
Admission to the pavilion can be added to your visit for $3 per person. Due to regulations, backpacks and other bulky items must remain outside the garden.
Of course! Youth guests must be chaperoned and assisted at check-out. Due to the small space, we ask that groups visit in groups of 5 or fewer. Depending on the group size, there may be a time limit.
The Museum Store carries small snacks such as protein bars and bagged chips, but our Museum does not offer café-style food service. You are welcome to bring food options to our Museum, but please note that we do not have a designated storage area for coolers.
For every 10 youth guests, we require at least 1 adult chaperone.
Private cars may park in the Museum Parking Lot. Bus parking is limited; if you plan to arrive by bus, please let us know in advance.
Not all outdoor spaces are wheelchair accessible. Wheelchairs are available on a first-come, first-served basis and can be checked out at the Museum's Admissions Office by leaving a driver's license or other form of valid identification. Learn more on our accessibility page.
Still have questions? Contact us at bookings@sbnature2.org or 805-682-4711 ext 162.

