Visiting Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor National Memorial is run by the National Park Service. It is a memorial first and a tourist stop second, and the day goes best if you plan for that. Expect security checks, a quiet atmosphere at the water and a fixed schedule for the USS Arizona Memorial.
Several other sites stand on the same shore: the Battleship Missouri, the submarine USS Bowfin and the Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum. They are run by separate organizations with their own tickets and prices. Many visitors plan a full day for the memorial plus one or two of them.
This independent guide shows the rules as of October 2026. It is not an official site, so check the National Park Service information before you travel.
USS Arizona Memorial tickets
The program is free. The reservation is not optional.
Where to book
Only on recreation.gov. The site adds $1 per ticket, which is not refundable. Tickets are no longer handed out at the visitor center on the day. Discount cards and vouchers such as Go Oahu or Groupon are not accepted.
When tickets are released
Every day at 3 pm Hawaii time, in two windows: 56 days ahead and again one day ahead. Popular dates often sell out within minutes, so log in a little early with your account ready. You can book up to 10 tickets per reservation, babies and small children included.
The program
Boats leave every 15 minutes from 8:00 to 12:00 and from 13:00 to 15:30, with a break between noon and 1 pm. Each boat holds 145 people. The Navy can cancel or change the program because of weather or technical problems.
Check-in
Check in at the Ticket Validation Desk at least 10 minutes before your ticket time. The park service recommends arriving at least one hour early. Bring the QR code as a PDF. Late arrivals can lose their ticket.
Tickets are personal and cannot be passed on or resold. Reservations are final, so book only when your dates are fixed. There are no restrooms on the boats or at the memorial, so use the ones at the visitor center first.
Our picks: Pearl Harbor
A tour with transfer, or a pass for the museums and the Missouri.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Pearl Harbor pass for four historic sites
Audio tours of the visitor center and the submarine and aviation museums, the virtual reality center and a guided Battleship Missouri visit. The USS Arizona Memorial needs a separate free reservation, which the pass does not include.
Check availability →Pearl Harbor and USS Arizona Memorial tour
Pick-up from selected Waikiki hotels, an introduction at the visitor center and the boat to the USS Arizona Memorial.
Check availability →Pearl Harbor tours from Waikiki
Guided trips with hotel pickup that combine the sites on this page, with live prices and availability. Check that your trip includes a reservation for the Arizona Memorial program.
If you have no ticket
There is a free standby option, but do not build the day around it.
Standby is free. You sign up on a tablet in front of the audio tour counter and receive a text message with a standby number. The wait can last several hours, a place is not guaranteed, and at the busiest times standby may not be offered at all.
A tour company can help with the rest of the day, but it cannot replace the National Park Service reservation for the Arizona Memorial program. If a tour lists the memorial, read what exactly is included. Guided trips are a convenient way to see the other sites and to avoid parking, but the memorial ticket has to be part of the package.
The best seasons for a visit are covered on the weather and best time page. The busiest periods are spring break, summer, Thanksgiving and the winter holidays.
Rules at the memorial
The security rules are strict and apply to everyone.
Bags
Bags are not allowed in the memorial or the visitor center, including backpacks, purses and camera bags. The rule mentions anything larger than a small wallet. Take your phone, wallet and keys and leave the rest in the hotel or the car.
Luggage storage
There is paid storage at the entrance, run by the Pacific Fleet Submarine Museum. It serves all Pearl Harbor sites. Ask for the current fee on site. Medical bags: tell the security staff when you arrive, the rangers decide.
Entry and parking
There is no admission fee for the grounds, the visitor center or the National Park Service museums. Parking costs $7 per day, paid by mobile app or QR code on the signs. A park film plays at 15 and 45 minutes past the hour from 7:15 to 16:15.
Animals
Pets are not allowed. Service animals are the exception.
The visitor center is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and New Year's Day. Phone number of the National Park Service for questions: 808-422-3399. Address: 1 Arizona Memorial Place, Honolulu.
The other Pearl Harbor sites compared
Prices and hours as listed by the operators in October 2026. Adult means age 13 and over.
| Site | Adult | Child | Hours | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Battleship Missouri Memorial | $44.99 | $19.99 (4 to 12) | 8:00 to 16:00, last entry 15:00 | 35-minute guided tour included. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's Day. |
| USS Bowfin Submarine Museum | $25.99 | $14.99 (4 to 12) | 7:00 to 17:00 | Children under 4 are not admitted to the submarine. No reservation needed. |
| Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum | $29.99 | $17.99 (4 to 12) | 9:00 to 17:00 | Hangar tour $10.99, Tower View $10. |
| Passport to Pearl Harbor | $99.99 | $49.99 | 1 or 2 consecutive days | Missouri, Bowfin, Aviation Museum, multimedia tour and one VR experience. Does not include the Arizona Memorial. |
On the Missouri, two upgrade tours (Captain's Tour and Chief Engineer's Tour) cost $32 each on top of a basic ticket or the passport. The Captain's Tour is for ages 10 and over and is physically demanding. Check the operators' sites for bag rules and current hours before you go.
Planning the day
Start with the Arizona Memorial if you have a morning time. Boats leave from 8:00, and the early slots leave the rest of the day for the Missouri and the museums. Arrive early, keep the QR code ready and leave your bag behind.
From Waikiki, a tour with hotel pickup, a rideshare or a rental car are the usual choices. Skyline does not stop at the memorial, so check the current bus timetable before you go if you want to use public transport. Our page on the Honolulu airport explains how Skyline and the W Line work for the first and last day.
On 7 December 2026 the attack marks its 85th anniversary. The Aviation Museum has announced a gala on 5 December. Plan early for that week and check the current program of the memorial.
You may also want to read about Waikiki Beach and where to stay to place the trip in your week.
More on Oahu
Other places to fit around Pearl Harbor.
Pearl Harbor: frequently asked questions
Do I need a ticket for Pearl Harbor?
Not for the grounds, the visitor center or the National Park Service museums. You do need a reservation for the USS Arizona Memorial program. It is free, plus a $1 booking fee on recreation.gov. The Missouri, Bowfin and Aviation Museum sell their own tickets.
When are the Arizona Memorial tickets released?
Every day at 3 pm Hawaii time, 56 days ahead and one day ahead. Popular dates sell out within minutes.
Can I bring a bag?
No. Bags are not allowed in the memorial and the visitor center. Paid storage is available at the entrance. Take only a phone, a wallet and keys.
Can I change or cancel my reservation?
Treat reservations as final. Tickets cannot be transferred or resold. The program can also be changed or cancelled by the Navy, for example in bad weather.
How long should I plan?
The Arizona Memorial program needs a time slot plus an early arrival. Add the Missouri and one museum and the day is full. Many visitors keep the afternoon free for the other sites.
Is visitoahu.org an official site?
No. This is an independent travel guide. Official information comes from the National Park Service.