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Palomar Observatory

Part of Interesting Sights, our guide to interesting sights, viewpoints and landmarks in San Diego County.

Palomar Observatory, run by Caltech on Palomar Mountain, has free entry and is open 9:00 am to 3:30 pm PT except Caltech holidays, maintenance and weather. Weekend Hale Telescope tours run April 11 to November 1, 2026, at $8 per person, $5 for ages 5 to 14 and seniors 65 and over.Checked October 23, 2026.

Freeentry
9 to 3:30PT, per the page
$8weekend tour
Nov 1last 2026 tour day
A large white observatory dome with trees at its base against a clear blue sky
The white dome at Palomar Observatory. User:Tylerfinvold, Public domain via Wikimedia Commons.
AddressNot confirmed; see the observatory driving directions page
HoursOpen from 9:00 am to 3:30 pm PT; gates close promptly. Closed on Caltech holidays (such as Juneteenth, July 4, Thanksgiving, Dec 24 to Jan 3), for maintenance and for weather. Winter weather closures happen without notice.
EntryNo admission fee to visit Palomar Observatory
Hale tours 2026Weekends, Saturday April 11 through Sunday November 1; start times 10:30 am, 12:30 pm and 2:00 pm; about one hour. Tickets limited, same day, first come, first served; no advance reservations.
Tour price$8 per person; $5 for children (ages 5 through 14) and seniors (65 and over). The page also lists a family price that we did not fully read.
StoreElectronic payment only, no cash
Official pagePalomar visitor page

What You Can See

The observatory is owned and operated by Caltech and is private property. Public areas are the A.W. Greenway Jr. Visitor Center and the Visitors Gallery inside the Hale dome, home of the 200-inch Hale Telescope.

Check Before You Drive Up

Check the page before you drive up the mountain, especially in winter. The visitor page carries an old sentence saying the observatory is “closed to the public until further notice” because of the pandemic, right next to the current open-hours sentence. That line looks like stale text, but we have not had Caltech confirm it.

2027 Tours

The 2026 tour schedule ends November 1. Dates for 2027 are not published yet.

Palomar Observatory Open the map. © OpenStreetMap contributors.

What We Could Not Verify

  • The visitor page still says the observatory is “closed to the public until further notice” while also giving current open hours. We treat that as stale pandemic text, but Palomar Observatory (Caltech) must confirm.
  • The street address was not read. Use the observatory driving directions page.
  • The family price for tours and the price on the day are not confirmed.
  • A search lead mentioned about 70 steps to the dome gallery and limited cell service; neither is confirmed. The FAQ mobility information was not fully read.
  • Snow and road conditions are not confirmed here. Palomar Observatory can confirm.
  • 2027 tour dates are not published.
  • The map point is from OpenStreetMap and is approximate.

More in Interesting Sights

FAQ

Is Palomar Observatory free?

Yes. The FAQ says there is no admission fee to visit. Weekend Hale tours cost $8 per person, or $5 for ages 5 to 14 and seniors.

Do I need to reserve a Hale tour?

No. Tour tickets are limited, same day and first come, first served.

Is it open right now?

Its page gives hours of 9:00 am to 3:30 pm PT but also carries an old closure sentence. Check the page before you go.

Sources

  1. Palomar Observatory: visitors
  2. Palomar Observatory: tours
  3. Palomar Observatory: FAQ

Checked October 23, 2026 by It’s San Diego. Cite this page: It’s San Diego (itssandiego.com), checked October 23, 2026. Free to quote with a link to this page; tables are licensed CC BY 4.0.