Yes, you can explore the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center and surrounding park grounds without a ticket. However, if you want to visit the USS Arizona Memorial, you’ll need to secure a $1 non-refundable boat shuttle reservation ticket in advance, which goes towards the upkeep of the Pearl Harbor Memorial. Tickets or tours must also be purchased if you plan on visiting the Battleship Missouri Memorial, Pearl Harbor Aviation Muesuem, and the USS Bowfin Submarine + Pacific Fleet Museum.
Pearl Harbor Tickets & Tours
- All Pearl Harbor Tour program purchases include boat and bus shuttle services at the Memorial. These tours are catered to time frames and how you want to experience the Pearl Harbor Memorial. Some will even combo with a tour of Honolulu or fun activities like a dolphin boat tour or snorkel tour. Plan your visit here.
- Ticket purchases to the Battleship Missouri Memorial & Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum include a FREE bus shuttle service to Ford Island. Click on Missouri or Aviation Museum to find tickets.
- The USS Bowfin & Pacific Fleet Museum are on the grounds of the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center, but require a ticket to see them.
- The Passport to Pearl Harbor ticket includes self guided audio tours of all attractions except for the USS Arizona Memorial which you can reserve at recreation.gov. Find your Passport here.
- There is a tour that specifically goes to the USS Oklahoma Memorial & USS Utah Memorial which requires a non-refundable $1 bus shuttle reservation ticket at recreation.gov. This tour runs Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 3:15 PM to 5:00 PM with a limit of 25 participants.
- Standby Option – This requires arriving at the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center as early in the morning as possible, you can try the same-day standby system in person, but this is risky as tickets sell out fast.
- For a smooth experience, plan ahead, book your reservations early here, and explore everything Pearl Harbor has to offer!
Bus Shuttle to Battleship Missouri Memorial & Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum
Both historic sites are located on Ford Island, which is an active military base and requires base access. If you do not have base access and have purchased tickets to these two Pearl Harbor Historical sites, you must take the FREE shuttle. The shuttle leaves the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center every 15-20 mintues daily, starting at 8:00 AM. Keep note that the last shuttle departing from the USS Missouri Battleship leaves at 4:05 PM and the last shuttle departing from the Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum leaves at 5:00 PM. The shuttle runs a route where the first stop will be the Battleship Missouri Memorial, then the Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum, and back to the Visitor Center. When planning your trip to Ford Island via the FREE shuttle add another hour to your itinerary.
Free Pearl Harbor Memorial Attractions
Areas You Can Visit Without a Ticket
- Pearl Harbor Visitor Center – Open daily from 7 AM to 5 PM (closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day)
- Museums & Exhibits at the Visitor Center – Includes both permanent and temporary displays at no cost
- Visitor Center Grounds – Feel free to walk around the park outside the center as it offers nice vistas and other smaller memorials.
Visiting the Pearl Harbor Memorial
Pearl Harbor Basic Information
Parking
- You can park at the Visitor Center for $7.00 per day. You are able to pay using a mobile app or at an on-site kiosk, easily located in the complex.
- There are no park entrance fees.
- Double check that your vehicles are secured. There are federal law enforcement officers patroling the parking lots, but be aware that the National Park Service is not responsible for anything lost or stolen.
ADA Complicance
- All museums, memorials, the visitor center and surrounding areas are wheelchair accessible.
- For patrons visiting the Memorial that need assisitance with mobility, this can be arranged on request.
- All service animals are welcome.
Pearl Harbor Memorial Bag Policy
What’s Prohibited
- Bags and Containers: Any purses, packs, or cases that provide concealment (e.g., handbags, backpacks, waist packs, camera cases, diaper totes, suitcases) and exceed 1.25″ x 2.25″ x 5.5″ in size are not permitted. A baggage storage facility, located near the museum entrance, is available for a $7.00 fee and can accommodate all sizes, including oversized luggage at $10.00, for visits to Pearl Harbor Historic Sites.
- Spray Containers: Aerosol cans of any kind are forbidden.
- Glass Items: Glass containers are not allowed, with the exception of baby food jars and shatter-resistant water bottles.
- Musical Equipment: Instruments and their respective cases are prohibited unless authorized by an NPS-issued Special Use Permit.
- Sports and Recreation Gear: Items like skateboards, wheeled shoes, flying discs, and balls are not allowed.
- Floral Arrangements: Potted plants, vases, or any flower containers are not permitted.
- Weapons and Sharp Objects: Knives, multitools, and other bladed or weapon-like items, including pocket knives, are prohibited.
- Alcoholic Drinks: The possession or consumption of alcohol is not allowed on the premises.
- Personal Transport Devices: Bicycles, scooters, electric bikes, Segways, and similar rideable equipment are not permitted.
- Protective Headgear: Motorcycle, bicycle, and other types of helmets are not allowed.
- Banners, Flags, and Signs: Items mounted on poles or posts are not permitted unless connected to an approved permit.
- Memorial Wreaths: Wreaths on stands are only allowed with proper authorization.
What’s Permitted
- Transparent Bags: Clear plastic bags that allow easy visibility of contents, similar to those permitted at sporting events.
- Medical Equipment Bags: Bags used to carry medical necessities that cannot be transferred into lightweight, see-through plastic shopping bags.
- Small Clutches and Wallets: Handheld clutches (with or without a strap) and wallets that do not exceed dimensions of 1.25″ x 2.25″ x 5.5″ are permitted.
- Reusable Shopping Bags: Small canvas or recycled-material shopping bags bought within the secure area may be used on the day of purchase but cannot be brought back in after exiting.
- Wheelchairs: Wheelchairs with permanently attached bags that cannot be detached.
- Baby Strollers: Strollers featuring a built-in storage pouch that cannot be removed.
- Musical Equipment: Instruments and their carrying cases permitted under an NPS-issued Special Use Permit or an equivalent partner authorization.
- Food and Beverages: Food and drink are allowed as long as they are not hidden within another container.
- Firearms: Law enforcement officers carrying firearms under LEOSA must inform a law enforcement ranger upon arrival.