Skip to content
It’s San DiegoSearch The Guide

Home › Military Museums in San Diego

Military Museums in San Diego

Part of Honoring Our Military in San Diego, our guide to San Diego military history, the national cemetery and museums that honor service.

The USS Midway Museum, an aircraft carrier, has more than 30 restored aircraft and nearly 10 acres of exhibits. Veterans with ID pay $26. Active-duty military with ID and reservists are free. The Maritime Museum of San Diego shows Swift Boat PCF-816 and offers military admission of $20.Checked October 22, 2026.

30+restored aircraft on the Midway
$26veterans with ID, Midway
Freeactive duty with ID, Midway
$20military admission, Maritime Museum
A sailor figure on the flight deck of the USS Midway signaling an aircraft, with a jet behind
A figure of a flight deck sailor on the USS Midway. U.S. Department of Defense Current Photos, Public domain via Wikimedia Commons.
USS Midway MuseumOpen daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; last admission 4 p.m. Adults (13+) $39 online; youth (4–12) $29 online; veterans with ID $26 (proof of service at the entrance); active-duty military with valid ID and reservists free at the ticket booth on the day of the visit; children 3 and under free.
Maritime Museum of San DiegoOpen daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Military and seniors (62+) $20 walk-up. Swift Boat PCF-816 is among its vessels. On MCRD Graduation Day, graduating Marines and up to three family members or friends get 50% off general admission.

Read More

See the full pages for the USS Midway Museum and the Maritime Museum of San Diego.

What We Could Not Verify

  • The MCRD Command Museum site did not load, so its hours, admission and entry rules are not listed.
  • The Veterans Museum in Balboa Park has no official page we could confirm. See the Balboa Park free days for its listed resident free day.
  • The Midway names Jingle Jets 2026 and Fright Deck Halloween Party 2026 on its home page without dates, so we list neither.

More in Honoring Our Military in San Diego

FAQ

Do active-duty military get into the Midway for free?

The Midway says active-duty military with valid ID and reservists are free. Free admission requires a visit to the ticket booth on the day of the visit.

Sources

  1. USS Midway Museum tickets
  2. Maritime Museum general admission
  3. Maritime Museum tickets

Checked October 22, 2026 by It’s San Diego. Cite this page: It’s San Diego (itssandiego.com), checked October 22, 2026. Free to quote with a link to this page; tables are licensed CC BY 4.0.