Did you know San Diego military families can get in some Balboa Park Museums for free? This blog post has all the info you need, including which museums offer free admission on Tuesdays.

Resident Free Tuesday

If you’re looking for low-cost family fun in San Diego, California, you’ve come to the right place. From world-class attractions to hidden gems, this blog post will take about how to have a blast without breaking the bank. So pack your sunscreen and get ready for some fun!

There’s never been a better time to enjoy an incredible family day out with your little ones in San Diego. On Tuesday mornings (Resident Free Day), head over to Balboa Park where Park museums offer free general admission on a rotating basis throughout each month to residents of the City and County of San Diego, and to active military personnel and their dependents. We love to go with other San Diego military families.

The Fleet Science Center where they’ve got new installations ready just for toddlers — or head over to the Comic Con Museum to connect with your kids about  art, storytelling,  pop culture and of course the comics.  Some museums may offer complimentary admission to their permanent collections only and charge admission to special exhibitions, attractions, films, showings and events. However, keep that in mind when planning your families outing in San Diego.

Most museums in Balboa Park close at 5pm, with last entry around 4pm. And that is plenty of time to enjoy the exhibitions at one museum  and then eat a nice sack lunch at one of the many picturesque locations within the park, before visiting another Residents Free Tuesday museum. 

What are you waiting for? Oh yeah the list of museums that participate.

Participating locations and days

First Tuesday

• Fleet Science Center 
• San Diego Natural History Museum (Not valid for films)
• San Diego Model Railroad Museum

Second Tuesday

• San Diego Air & Space Museum (Not valid for special exhibitions) 
• The Veterans Museum at Balboa Park

Third Tuesday

• San Diego Museum of Art (Not valid for special exhibitions)
• Japanese Friendship Garden
• Mingei International Museum

Fourth Tuesday

• San Diego Automotive Museum 

Fifth Tuesdays

• Regular admission prices are in effect

Come prepared to show identification, that can be a valid DoD Dependent or Active duty ID or California ID that shows you are a resident of San Diego County. But, children under 12 years of age must be accompanied by an adult at most museums, but some museums have different minimum ages that require an adult.  Please verify the minimum age for the museums you wish to visit.

Dates and operating hours are subject to change WITHOUT NOTICE.  Please check with individual venues if you have any questions. This information was compiled from Balboa Park Resident Free and from Shaunice with Toddlers_TakeSD on Instagram. I would love to hear about how your family enjoyed their day at one of the museums listed above, leave a comment or send an email to me here.