The Saint Louis Science Center is one of the best family stops in the city and, like the zoo and the art museum, it is free to enter: general admission is always free. Its main building at 5050 Oakland Avenue is linked by a walkable sky bridge over the highway to the James S. McDonnell Planetarium on Clayton Avenue, so the whole complex works as one outing on the edge of Forest Park. Inside, the free galleries are built around doing rather than reading. The attractions named on the venue's site include GameXPloration, Mission: Mars, Makerspace, Dream It. Build It., Earth Sciences, Energy, Life Science Lab, Structures and Liftoff, and the center changes its offerings over time, so the day you visit may look slightly different. Paid extras include special exhibitions, OMNIMAX theater films, planetarium shows, the Discovery Room for young children and flight simulators. The planetarium is the headline news: after about six months of upgrades it reopened to the public in July 2026 with what the center calls the largest and most advanced hybrid planetarium in the nation, built around a new star projector and a full-dome visualization system, along with new shows for adults and young children.
How to visit
The main entrance is at 5050 Oakland Avenue, and parking at the main building is a paid lot that accepts cards only, with members parking free. The center is open Wednesday through Monday and closed on Tuesdays, so build the day around that. Hours and the daily schedule are on the venue's site, which also lists which exhibits or spaces are temporarily closed, so check before you set off.
Planetarium shows run daily when the center is open, and tickets for exhibitions, theater films, planetarium shows and the Discovery Room can be bought online, while flight simulator tickets are sold at the desk in that area.
What to expect
Plan to spend two to four hours. The free galleries are enough for a satisfying visit, and adding one paid show, usually a planetarium program or an OMNIMAX film, turns it into a half day. Children from preschool through the early teens are the main audience, but teenagers and adults tend to enjoy the planetarium and the larger-scale exhibits too.
Because it is indoors, it is a dependable rainy-day option, and it can get busy on school holidays and weekends. The venue states plainly that some exhibits and spaces may be closed at any time, so treat the list of attractions as a menu rather than a promise.
Making the most of it
Arrive at opening, do the free galleries first while children have energy, and book your planetarium show in advance so you are not left with a late slot. Walk the sky bridge to the planetarium rather than driving between buildings. On a nice day, combine the visit with a picnic and a stroll in Forest Park, or add the zoo, which is a short drive or walk away.
If you have time for only one paid extra, the upgraded planetarium is the one to choose, particularly if you are interested in astronomy or are traveling with children who love space.
What to expect
The experience
A free, hands-on science museum with ticketed planetarium shows, OMNIMAX films, a Discovery Room and flight simulators.
Best time
Weekday mornings, or any wet or cold day.
How long
Two to four hours, longer if you add a show.
Tips
Remember the center is closed on Tuesdays, check which exhibits are open that day, and book planetarium tickets online.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Families with children of school age, space fans and rainy-day planners.
- Families
- Hands-on galleries, a Discovery Room for little ones and a planetarium make this one of the best family stops.
- Couples
- Catch a planetarium show together, then walk the park.
- Pair with
- The Saint Louis Zoo or Forest Park's lakes.
- Time needed
- Half a day.
Good questions
Is the Saint Louis Science Center free?+
General admission is always free. Special exhibitions, OMNIMAX films, planetarium shows, the Discovery Room and flight simulators are ticketed.
What days is the Science Center open?+
It is open Wednesday through Monday and closed on Tuesdays. Check the venue's site for daily hours.
Is the planetarium open?+
Yes. The James S. McDonnell Planetarium reopened in July 2026 after about six months of upgrades, with a new star projector, a full-dome system and new shows.
How much is parking?+
Parking at the main building is a paid lot that accepts debit or credit cards only, and members park free. Check the venue's site for the current rate.
Where are the planetarium and the main building?+
The main building is at 5050 Oakland Avenue and the planetarium is on Clayton Avenue, linked by a walkable sky bridge over the highway.
