FAQs

General admission to the Science Center is always free. We have a wide variety of free attractions for you to take advantage of when you visit.

Some special attractions are ticketed, including:

• Special exhibitions
• OMNIMAX® Theater films
• James S. McDonnell Planetarium Shows
• The Discovery Room
• Experience Flight Simulators & VR Transporter

For more information and pricing for those activities, visit our attractions pages or call 314.289.4400.

General admission to the Science Center is always free, but tickets to special exhibitions, OMNIMAX® Theater films, McDonnell Planetarium shows and the Discovery Room can be purchased online any time.

Tickets for the Experience Flight Simulators must be purchased on site at the desk of the Flight Simulators area (located along the tunnel between the Sky Bridge and the Planetarium lobby.

For more information or pricing, visit our attraction pages or call 314.289.4400.

Yes we do! Gift cards are an excellent way to bring the gift of science to the important people in your life. They demonstrate your commitment to science education, sparking imagination, and just plain FUN! They’re great for birthdays, holidays or any occasion gifts.

Get A Gift Card

Note that gift cards cannot be used at the ExploreStore, Science Cafe, The Cup & Cone, The Loft, or Grow Grill. This includes online gift shop purchases.

Refunds and Exchanges
Before purchasing tickets, carefully review your event selection. No refunds will be issued for no-shows, missed activities, or lost, stolen, damaged, or destroyed tickets. You agree that you will not attempt to evade, avoid or circumvent those prohibitions in any manner regarding tickets you purchased.

Canceled and Postponed Events

Occasionally, events are canceled or postponed. For exact instructions regarding refunds on any canceled or postponed event, please check the event information online or contact us at (314) 289-4400.

• If an event is canceled, and you purchased your ticket through this site or the Saint Louis Science Center Reservations Office, we will issue you a refund within 2 business days of the cancellation.
• If the event was moved or rescheduled, please contact us for more information or to request a refund if you cannot attend the rescheduled event. Please make sure to include/provide your account number or order number so we can expedite your refund if applicable.
• If we issue you a refund for a ticket, we will issue a refund of the ticket’s face value paid (or, if a discounted ticket, then instead the discounted ticket price paid) minus all service fees, delivery fees and any convenience charge. The Saint Louis Science Center will not be liable for travel or any other expenses that you or anyone else incurs in connection with a canceled or postponed event.

View our full terms of use for tickets

Parking at the main building at 5050 Oakland Avenue costs $15 (debit/credit only) and is free for Science Center members year-round.

Parking is also available at the McDonnell Planetarium, which is connected to the main building by a walkable Sky Bridge over Interstate 64/Highway 40.

The main building lot features parking for fuel-efficient and low-emission vehicles. Both parking lots have spaces for vehicles displaying disabled placards. Guests may wish to drop off individuals with mobility concerns in the circle drive in front each building entrance before parking.

The McDonnell Planetarium is located within Forest Park and is connected to the main building by a walkable bridge that spans Interstate 64/Highway 40. The bridge, also known as the Sky Bridge, enables guests to walk over the highway, through a tunnel and into the Planetarium. Access to Forest Park, or the Science Center, is available at the Planetarium entrance.

No outside food is allowed inside of the Science Center.

The Science Center has several locations that offer a variety of food and drinks, including sandwiches, salads, pizza and more. You may bring food and drink that you have purchased into the OMNIMAX^® Theater.

View the hours of our dining locations

It depends on you – and how much time you have. If you want to see the entire Science Center and experience all of the ticketed venues, you might be here all day. However, you can experience several activities in just a few hours. Most paid venues take an average of 30-45 minutes each to complete, and time spent in the exhibits and attractions will vary depending on your interest in the subject and how much you interact with the various activities.

In short, no matter how much time you spend at the Science Center, you’ll have a blast – and you’ll want to come back for more.

Personal photography is allowed in most areas. Look for signs prohibiting the use of photography in certain areas and exhibitions. For example, most traveling special exhibitions do not allow photography within the actual exhibition space.

Professional photographers or videographers are advised to contact our staff in media relations.

Our comfort room is located on the lower level of the main building. Please go to the Information Desk in the lobby and a team member will assist you.

While we do provide a private, secure area for nursing mothers, it is not required that you use this area. There are plenty of benches and/or chairs throughout the Science Center that should be easily accessible during your visit.

Wheelchairs and strollers are free to rent and are available in the lobbies of the main building and the McDonnell Planetarium. The Science Center also has a limited number of motorized scooters available for a $25 rental fee. Please ask a Guest Services team member and they will be happy to assist you. Please note that supplies are limited.

Learn more about accessibility at the Science Center.

For the safety and security of all guests, the Science Center does not store or hold large personal items (including backpacks, luggage, strollers, or umbrellas). Lockers are available to rent on the Lower Level of the Oakland building and can accommodate small personal items. Items that cannot fit into a locker must remain in your possession at all times, be left in your vehicle or at home.

• Lockers are available for small personal items. We encourage you to leave luggage and bags larger than 17”x11”x18” at home. For more information on our personal lockers, please review the amenities we have in the building, or call 314.289.4424.
• Strollers and other personal belongings are left unattended at the owner’s risk. Unattended items are subject to removal by Security staff.

If you lose something during your visit, please visit the Information Desk in the main building lobby, locate a nearby Security Officer or call our hotline at 314.289.1463. Leave a message along with your phone number. Calls are returned on a regular basis.

The Saint Louis Science Center is proud to assist with donation requests for charitable fundraisers. Preference is given to non-profit organizations with educational missions that are using the donation to raise funds (through an auction, raffle or similar activity) for a specific charitable cause. Note that donation requests must be submitted at least six weeks prior to the date of the fundraising event.

Learn more about our donation policy and submit a request.