California Science Center

• Hours: Open daily except Thanksgiving¹, December 25 and January 1
• Reservations: Not required
• Cost: Free admission to permanent galleries but charges parking and for IMAX films or special exhibits
• Location: Exposition Park south of downtown, driving directions below
• How Long: Allow 3 to 4 hours - longer if you want to see an IMAX film or a special California Science Center exhibit
• Best Time to Visit: Weekends or weekday afternoons. Traffic in the area gets crowded during USC football games. Check their website for traffic advisories

California Science Center Review

The California Science Center is one of the West's best science museums, especially for curious children whose parents help them learn. It's roomy, offers a wide variety of exhibits on timely topics and provides some interesting insights into things scientific. Unlike similar institutions in other locations, the California Science Center has enough hands-on exhibits to go around, and even on a busy day you don't have to wait long to try any of them. They also rely more on interesting ideas than gee-whiz gadgets or computer-aided graphics, and have an exceptional life sciences section.

If you visit the California Science Center with children under 7, the Discovery Rooms in Creative World and World have exhibits specially geared toward younger children.

The California Science Center also has one of the best technical museum book- and gift shops around. Besides the normal science-based games, geeky t-shirts and souvenirs, they stock an excellent selection of books for all ages.

If you're only visiting the normal exhibits and not seeing an IMAX film or a special exhibit, you don't need to stop at the ticket booths. Just walk on in. Admission is free, but you can make a donation to the California Science Center inside if you want.

Where is the California Science Center Located?

California Science Center
700 State Drive
Los Angeles, CA
(323) 724-3623
California Science Center Website

Exit the Harbor Freeway (I-110) at Exposition Boulevard and follow the signs to Exposition Park. Given the scarcity of street parking in the area, it's best to pay to park at the California Science Center lot. The exhibits start before you get inside, so don't just hustle through the entry plaza - stop to take a look around as you go.

¹ Thanksgiving is celebrated on the third Thursday of November.