A museum on a real aircraft carrier at Pier 86 in Manhattan, with free sensory bags (noise-reduction headphones, fidgets and visual vocabularies) at the Information Desk, a Sensory Guide that gives a sound level for every area, a social narrative, and free Early Morning Openings for kids with autism or sensory sensitivities.
Sensory supports. Sensory bags, a Sensory Guide, Early Morning Openings.
Hours
October through March: Monday to Sunday and holidays, 10 am to 5 pm (last entry 4 pm). April through September: Monday to Friday 10 am to 5 pm (last entry 4 pm); Saturdays, Sundays and holidays 10 am to 6 pm (last entry 5 pm). Closed Thanksgiving (Nov 26 2026) and Christmas Day (Dec 25 2026). On Nov 19 2026 the Exploreum, the G-Force simulator and the 4D Experience close at 3 pm. The line to the submarine Growler may close early.
Pier 86, W 46th St and 12th Ave, New York, NY 10036
“These include noise-reduction headphones, fidgets and visual vocabularies to help ease sensory stimulation.”
“The Intrepid Museum offers Early Morning Openings for children with autism and their families before the Museum opens to the public!” intrepidmuseum.org (Early Morning Openings)
The museum's Sensory Guide gives every area a sound level. On the hangar deck: Hangars 1 and 2 medium, the Kamikaze Experience loud, the Exploreum (hands-on exhibits and paid simulator rides) medium, the Fantail quiet. On the flight deck: the deck itself medium, the Space Shuttle Pavilion and the Island quiet to medium, the Aircraft Restoration Hangar loud when tools are in use. The third deck (Intrepid Marketplace, galley, mess and berthing) is medium, and the historic rooms have sound effects. The guide also marks snack spots and restrooms; there are no restrooms on the flight deck or the gallery deck.
The museum's social narrative says security guards wear white shirts with a badge, and you can also ask people in blue and navy Intrepid Museum shirts for help. Accessibility questions go to access@intrepidmuseum.org or 646-381-5158; at the museum, the Information Desk on the hangar deck.
Free sensory bags with noise-reduction headphones, fidgets and visual vocabularies at the Information Desk on the hangar deck; you may be asked to leave an ID.
Everyone walks through a metal detector in the Welcome Center, and tickets are timed to a 30-minute window.
Free Early Morning Openings for kids 3 to 18 with autism or sensory sensitivities (see the date cards).
For a full-size copy your child can use, open this page at squaredsteps.com, tap Make it yours, then print.
More about Intrepid Museum
Louder, in the museum's words
Kamikaze Experience film, hangar deck (LOUD) (15-minute film with flashing lights and fake smoke, every hour on the :30)not stated
Aircraft Restoration Hangar, flight deck (LOUD when tools are in use) (seen from outside)not stated
Quieter, in the museum's words
Fantail, hangar deck (QUIET): a view of the Hudson River and the Concordequiet zone
Space Shuttle Pavilion, flight deck (QUIET TO MEDIUM)quiet zone
The Island, flight deck (QUIET TO MEDIUM)quiet zone
Prices: adults 13 to 64 $38, seniors 65 and up and college students with ID $36, children 5 to 12 $28, children 4 and under free. US veterans and military get in free with valid ID; spouses of active-duty members get 20% off. NYC residents get 50% off general admission with a government photo ID showing a five-borough address, or a current utility or mortgage statement plus matching photo ID, for everyone in the household. Add-ons cost extra: G-Force Encounter and the Apollo 11 VR experience $13, the 4D and 3D films $11, the Concorde tour $15.
Free and reduced admission at the Box Office only (not online), with the card or pass and a photo ID: Access Caregiver (a personal care assistant supporting a visitor with a disability; no documentation needed, but it doesn't apply when only one adult is with a child, because everyone under 16 needs an adult), Museums for All with an EBT card (up to 4 people), Cool Culture Pass (up to 5), Cultural Pass with an NYCDOE ID (up to 4), Library Culture Pass (up to 2), Museum Council Pass (up to 2), ASTC members (up to 2 adults and 4 children), Bank of America cardholders or employees (the cardholder only) on the first full weekend of each month, and Columbia and CUNY IDs. CityPASS and New York C3 also include the museum.
Tickets: buy online or at the Welcome Center Box Office. Online tickets are valid only for the date and 30-minute window on them, with no early entry, and you show the ID that matches the order name. QR codes refresh every 30 seconds, so screenshots and printouts aren't accepted. Tickets are non-refundable and non-transferable, but if you can't make your date the museum will reschedule you to a new date within one year of your original visit.
Getting there: there is no parking at the museum, and it doesn't validate parking. The M50 bus stops right in front; the M34 and M42 stop a short walk south of the museum. By subway, take the A, C, E, N, Q, R, S, 1, 2, 3 or 7 to 42nd Street, then walk or take the M42 west to 12th Avenue; or the 7 to 34th Street-Hudson Yards and walk. NYC Ferry's Midtown West stop at Pier 79 is about a 10 to 15 minute walk.
Rules: everyone under 16 must be with an adult. There is no bag or coat check; bags, strollers and luggage stay with you. Selfie sticks and tripods aren't allowed. You can eat food you bring on the mess deck or in the Welcome Center; Intrepid Marketplace (mess deck and pier) and Aviator Grill (Welcome Center, second floor) sell food, and vending machines are on the pier and the flight deck. Most of the ship is wheelchair accessible by ramp or elevator; the museum doesn't lend wheelchairs, but lightweight stools are free at the Information Desk. Most restrooms have baby-changing tables, and two gender-neutral restrooms are in Hangar 3.
The submarine Growler is included with admission, but you must be at least 40 inches tall and able to pass through a replica hatch without help; children stay with an adult, and strollers, large bags, backpacks, food and drinks aren't allowed. The Concorde is open only on guided tours for an extra fee. The Kamikaze Experience film plays every hour on the :30 from 10:30 am to 4:30 pm (also 5:30 pm from April through October), near the World War II Avenger on the hangar deck.
Other access programs: free Access Family Programs for people with developmental disabilities and their families, with registration: virtual on Dec 6 2026, Jan 10 2027 and Mar 21 2027 (11 am to noon), and onsite on Feb 7 2027 and Apr 18 2027 (children 11 am to 1 pm, teens and adults 2 to 4 pm). Kids Week, Feb 13 to 20 2027, is free with admission. Posted closings for 2027: May 13 (flight deck, bridges, Space Shuttle Pavilion and VR close at 1 pm; Exploreum, G-Force and 4D closed); May 27 and June 3 (Exploreum, G-Force and 4D closed all day; museum closes at 3 pm, last entry 2 pm); June 9 (flight deck, bridges, Space Shuttle Pavilion and VR close at 2 pm); June 12 (flight deck, bridges, Space Shuttle Pavilion and VR closed all day); June 23 (Space Shuttle Pavilion and VR closed all day).
Call
646-381-5158Access team, accessibility questions877-957-7447General information and support (also 212-245-0072)
