The American Museum of Natural History sits on Central Park West in the Upper West Side, one of New York City's most iconic destinations for families. With more than 40 permanent exhibition halls, the museum covers an extraordinary range of topics — from towering dinosaur fossils and a life-size blue whale to the Rose Center for Earth and Space and the Hayden Planetarium.
NYC, New Jersey, and Connecticut residents pay what they wish for general admission (suggested amounts apply); children under 3 are always free. Special exhibitions, Hayden Planetarium Space Shows, and giant-screen IMAX films are ticketed add-ons available individually or as combo packages. The museum is open daily from 10am to 5:30pm, closed only on Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Family-friendly amenities include stroller access throughout, changing tables and family restrooms on multiple floors, stroller parking, free guided tours, a free Explorer app with elevator-inclusive routes, coat check, on-site café, and outside food permitted in designated areas. Plan at least a half-day with kids; a full day is easy if you add a planetarium show. Central Park is directly across the street for post-museum play.
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