Frequently Asked Questions

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, Discovery Room and the Experience Flight Simulators & VR Transporter.

For more information or pricing, visit our Ticketed Attractions page or call 314.289.4400.

General admission to the Science Center is always free, but tickets to special exhibitions, OMNIMAX films, McDonnell Planetarium Shows and 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.

For more information or pricing, visit our Ticketed Attractions page or call 314.289.4400.

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

Cancelled 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 (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 30 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 cancelled or postponed event.

View our full terms of use for tickets

Parking at the Oakland 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 Oakland Building by a walkable Skybridge over Interstate 64/Highway 40.

The Oakland 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 Oakland Building at by a walkable bridge that spans Interstate 64/Highway 40. The bridge, also known as the Skybridge, takes people across 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, 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 Oakland Building. Please go to the Information Desk in the Oakland Building 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 Oakland Building and the McDonnell Planetarium. The Science Center also has a limited number of motorized scooters available for a $25 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.

If you lose something during your visit, please visit the Information Desk in the Oakland Building lobby, 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 honor donation requests for charitable fundraisers. Preference is given to non-profit organizations with educational missions who 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.