A room full of butterflies, bugs and spiders, a play area, and gardens outside. Headphones and weighted vests on request, a quiet area every day, and a Sensory Friendly Afternoon every month. Here is the quiet way through it, in its own words.
Butterfly Pavilion
6252 W 104th Ave, Westminster 80020 · 9:00 am to 5:00 pm daily, timed entry on the hour; last admission 4:15 pm. Closed Thanksgiving and Dec 25. Dec 24 closes 1 pm, Dec 31 closes 3 pm, Jan 1 opens 11 am.
“We recommend visiting after 1:00 p.m. for a quieter experience.”
“At Butterfly Pavilion, we know that things can get hectic with busy butterflies and bodies buzzing around.”
Our note The play area in Colorado Backyard closes daily at 1:45 pm for 15 minutes for cleaning, so an after-1 visit may start with a short wait there.
Our note The museum's rule is the third Wednesday of each month; all four dates here match it, but a May 2027 date on the ticket calendar does not, so go by the listed dates.
Named by the Pavilion; it publishes no noise scale and names no loud exhibit
Louder, in the Pavilion's words
Quieter
Designated quiet area, Colorado Backyard exhibit (every day; ask a staff member)quiet zone
Outdoor gardens and trails (come back inside until 5 pm)quiet zone
Quiet Room sponsored by SOAR Autism (Sensory Friendly Afternoons only)quiet zone
Free parking in the main lot; accessible spaces are near the main entrance. If the lot is full, free overflow parking at the Westin Westminster or the Armed Forces Tribute Garden.
Tickets: adult (13 to 64) $19.45, child (2 to 12) $14.45, senior $17.45, under 2 free. SNAP, EBT, WIC and P-EBT $5 each, up to four tickets per card. Buy online or at the front desk.
Daily schedule: Butterfly Encounter 11:30 am and 3:30 pm in Wings of the Tropics; spider feedings 11 am and 3 pm; leafcutter ant feeding 1:30 pm.
Fully wheelchair accessible with elevators to all levels. Outside strollers welcome. Wheelchairs at the front desk with ID.
First aid kits and AEDs on site; tell a staff member. Staff cannot give medication.
The museum's own social story (mostly pictures) is linked from the Sensory Friendly Afternoon pages. This page links to it rather than replacing it.
Waters Edge is shown as under construction on the facility map.
What the Pavilion doesn't say
not stated food and drink rules, a café or picnic spots
not stated bag rules or lockers
not stated where first aid is
not stated what is in a sensory bag, or whether ID is needed
not stated where the Quiet Room is on Sensory Friendly Afternoons
not stated heat or humidity in the butterfly conservatory
Timed tickets on the hour, online or at the front desk. Ask any staff member for noise-canceling headphones or a weighted vest. Then Wings of the Tropics with butterflies all around, bug and spider exhibits, and Colorado Backyard with a play area and a quiet area. The Pavilion says after 1 pm is quieter. You can step out to the gardens and come back in until 5. Change anything.
One tip from a dad who's been there
Book a ticket for after 1 pm; the Pavilion says that's quieter. Look through its own picture story the night before, and find the quiet area in Colorado Backyard first. Leaving early still counts as a butterfly day.
Common questions
What if my child won't look at the schedule or story?
That is common at first. Leave it where the moment happens, point to one picture at a time, and keep it low-pressure. Many kids warm up to it after a few calm tries, in their own time.
Can I make this in Spanish?
Yes. Every tool and this page exist in Spanish, and the printed page comes out in the language you choose. Use the language switch at the top.
Do I need an account?
No. There is no signup, and we don’t keep what you type; anything you save stays on your device. Make it, print it, done.
