Monterey Bay Aquarium Discounts, Coupons, Free Tickets, Review (2024)

Trying to make the most of monterey bay aquarium discounts? You are in the right place. Below we break it down in plain English, with practical tips you can actually use.

Key Takeaways

• Share with your friends!114SHARESFacebook114PinterestMessengerWhatsAppEmailShareFlipboardRedditSMSX Note this was originally written by Rach...
• Monterey Bay Aquarium is a public aquarium located in Monterey, California, at the former site of the sardine cannery on Cannery Row.
• The aquarium is right on the ocean.  Monterey Bay Aquarium is for you if you love sea otters, penguins, jellyfish, sharks, octopi/octop...

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Note this was originally written by Rachel, but has since been updated by Greg and Erin.

Monterey Bay Aquarium is a public aquarium located in Monterey, California, at the former site of the sardine cannery on Cannery Row. The aquarium is right on the ocean. 

Monterey Bay Aquarium is for you if you love sea otters, penguins, jellyfish, sharks, octopi/octopuses, and sea turtles.

Our kids are animal lovers, so we included a stop at the aquarium on a family road trip to Monterey.

Tickets can be quite expensive, so like I typically do, I searched for coupons and discounts. I also know that some of you are looking for Monterey Bay Aquarium free tickets and free days.

Here is what I found to save money on tickets for the aquarium.

Table of Contents

• 2024 Monterey Bay Aquarium Coupons, Discounts, Free Tickets for + Review
• Monterey Bay Aquarium Family Trip Video
• How much is parking at Monterey Bay Aquarium?
• Best Days to Visit the Monterey Bay Aquarium
• The Aquarium for Kids
• Can I bring food to Monterey Bay Aquarium?
• Amount of Time Needed to Visit the Monterey Bay Aquarium
• Overall Recommendation for the Monterey Bay Aquarium
• Now, Monterey Bay Aquarium Discounts And Coupons
• How much does it cost to go to the Monterey Bay Aquarium in 2024?
• How To Get Monterey Bay Aquarium Discount Tickets
• Monterey Bay Aquarium Coupons
• How to Get Free Tickets to the Monterey Bay Aquarium
• Monterey Bay Discount Tickets FAQ
• Next Up from ChaChingQueen:

2024 Monterey Bay Aquarium Coupons, Discounts, Free Tickets for + Review

First, a quick Monterey Bay Aquarium review

Monterey Bay Aquarium Family Trip Video

Video About Monterey Bay Aquarium Secret

My family and I traveled by car there a few summers ago, and we got our discount Monterey Bay Aquarium tickets from AAA (more on Monterey Bay Aquarium Coupons and Discounts in a minute).

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We’ve turned our best tips into quick-read books, and we’re publishing new ones every week. See the full collection here: amazon.com/author/chachingqueen.

How much is parking at Monterey Bay Aquarium?

Because we wanted to save some money,  we parked on the street, a few blocks away at metered parking. We paid $12 for the day.

For a little more convenience, you can pay $15 and park at the Cannery Row garage on Irving Avenue between Foam and Wave streets. After 4 pm, the cost is only $5.

According to the aquarium website, parking is available in the Downtown East Garage at 340 Tyler Street in Monterey for a flat fee of $7 for the entire day. 

Then, there’s a trolley pick-up point located just across from the garage on Tyler Street, and more in downtown Monterey.

Best Days to Visit the Monterey Bay Aquarium

We visited the aquarium on a Friday. It was pretty crowded. The least crowded, best days and times to visit the Monterey Bay Aquarium are during the fall and winter months, according to the website.

If you go during the peak summer season, they suggest visiting on a Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday between 2 pm and 6 pm. We arrived around 10:30 am.

The Aquarium for Kids

Our kids are ages 8 and 10. We started at the otters’ exhibit, the most popular. There were a lot of families at this exhibit, so it was hard to see the otters from the back of the room.

Our kids could go to the front to see the otter feeding.  When you are a kid, it’s simple to squeeze your way to the front. They enjoyed that.

There are various feedings, presentations, and movies during the day. See the Monterey Bay Aquarium daily schedule here. The aquarium is a good size. It has two floors. It’s not too big, but there is still a lot to see.

We watched the open sea feeding, which like the otter feeding, was very crowded. Again, the kids made their way to the front, but my husband and I were in the back and had difficulty seeing.

If there’s a program you want to see, I suggest arriving 15 minutes early to get a good seat/position.

Next, we explored the exhibits and saw the 15-minute movie Luna: A Sea Otter’s Story. We all enjoyed that. Who doesn’t love sea otters?

Can I bring food

Final Thoughts

The bottom line: a little research on monterey bay aquarium discounts goes a long way. Compare your options, watch for seasonal offers, and never pay full price when a better deal is one click away.

Originally published at chachingqueen.com.