PLAN YOUR VISIT
Policies and FAQ
Tips and FAQ to make the most of your experience
Daily Hours and What's Open
-
- CuriOdyssey is open Tuesday through Sunday, 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM (with a few exceptions).
- CuriOdyssey’s indoor and outdoor science exhibit areas, zoo, and shop are open.
- Both the indoor and outdoor restrooms are open.
- You may bring your own food into CuriOdyssey. We have a designated picnic area in the Bay View Grove.
- There is no time limit to your visit. You can stay until we close at 5:00 PM.
- To learn more about hours, pricing, and parking see our Visitor Info page.
- To view or download a basic campus map, click here.
Reserved tickets recommended
To minimize wait times, we recommend reserving tickets in advance online.
Ticket reservations are not required for members. Please provide a Photo ID and we can get your tickets at the front desk.
Anyone wishing to access tickets using a discount (Discover & Go, Museums for All or others) may purchase onsite only.
Guidelines for your Visit
CuriOdyssey is pleased to invite visitors of all backgrounds to engage in positive experiences that inspire a love of science and curiosity about the world. To foster a positive environment, CuriOdyssey expects visitors to follow our code of conduct.
Frequently Asked Questions
Explore frequently asked questions about visiting CuriOdyssey.
General Questions
The following areas of CuriOdyssey are open:
-
- Indoor science center
- Zoo
- Bay Gallery science center
- CuriOdyssey Shop
- Whooosh! Physics-in-Action playground
- Indoor and outdoor restrooms
- Bay View Grove
The At Home Science Center is available 24 hours a day.
The Redwood Hall is closed for educational programs and private events. Some days we will open the bottom two levels if the space is not used for other purposes. To find out if the space will be open, please call us at 650-342-7755 on the day you visit.
Yes, CuriOdyssey may be forced to close in the event of inclement weather or any events that cause unsafe conditions for guests or staff. We are also closed to the public for Sensory Sundays, quarterly, and bi-annual All Staff training days.
There are different answers to this question depending on your needs or wants:
- If you would like a quieter, less crowded experience, it is best to visit in the afternoons between 3–5 PM. Our busiest times of day are 10 AM–12 PM, and we slowly get quieter as the day goes on.
- If you are interested in seeing the animals at their liveliest, visit between 10–11 AM or 3:30–5:00 PM. The animals are fed in the morning before we open and just after we close. Most of the animals like to take naps in the middle of the day. They tend to be easy to see when they are sleeping.
- If you want to experience the most animal encounters, visit between 12–2 PM. We have animal feedings at 12 PM and 1 PM, and an Animals in Action show at 2 PM every day that we are open. On Saturdays and Sundays, we also have an Animals in Action show at 3 PM.
Yes! The CuriOdyssey Shop is open. We have snacks, hot & cold drinks, toys, souvenirs, plush animals, and more. Check it out the next time you're at CuriOdyssey!
Yes, we currently have animal feedings or presentations every day we are open at 12 PM, 1 PM and 2 PM. On Saturdays and Sundays, we also have an additional animal presentation at 3 PM. Please check the Visitor Information board inside our science center for the daily schedule.
Want to see animals right now? Click here for Animals in Action videos.
Yes. Rideshare drop-off is at the roundabout at the top of the parking area. Uber, Lyft, or taxis that are providing drop-off do not have to pay the $6 park entrance. Let the ranger know that the service is drop-off only.
Members and guests may park in the lot closest to CuriOdyssey, the Eucalyptus Grove parking lot, the Marina parking lot, or the Captain's House parking lot. If you’ve paid for a daily parking pass from the county park or you have a county park annual pass, you may also use that parking pass at the Beach parking lot and the Magic Mountain Playground parking lot.
While we do not have a restaurant or cafe onsite, we do sell snacks and drinks in our CuriOdyssey Shop. Our Visitor Engagement team will also help you locate nearby restaurants should you choose to have a meal. Your admission at CuriOdyssey is valid for the entire day. We welcome you to come back after you eat.
We encourage families to bring snacks and lunch with them on their visit. Picnic tables are located in the Bay View Grove, on the bay side of CuriOdyssey. You may also eat on any of the benches in the Pavilion (the covered patio just inside CuriOdyssey) or on any bench in the concourse, just inside the science center. Please do not eat in the playground, the zoo, in any special exhibitions, or the Bay Gallery. Also, please refrain from eating at any of the science exhibits.
We are happy to help any nursing mother find a private space to breastfeed. Mothers are welcome to breastfeed wherever they feel comfortable throughout the rest of CuriOdyssey.
Yes, changing tables are located in all restrooms.
Ticketing
You may purchase tickets in person on the day of your visit or reserve tickets online. All tickets are for a specific date and time though you are not limited on how long you stay at CuriOdyssey.
Members may either get tickets upon arrival on the day of your visit or reserve tickets online for the people listed on your membership. Whether or not you reserve tickets in advance, please bring a photo ID for all present named adults to show at the admission window.
Guests of member tickets may be purchased online through the General Admission tab once you log into your online account, in person, or over the phone, 650-342-7755
When purchasing/reserving online, after you sign in, click on the General Admission tab and you will be able to add additional tickets for non-member guests. You will automatically receive the discount that is appropriate for your membership level:
- Individual Plus - one free ticket each visit
- Family membership - $8.00 discount per ticket for up to four tickets each visit
- Family Plus membership – two free tickets each visit
- Advocate and Inquirer membership – four free tickets each visit
- Innovators Circle and Directors Circle membership – unlimited free tickets each visit
There will be a small credit card fee even for your free admission tickets. To avoid this fee, purchase or reserve your guest tickets in person.
We will gladly accept cash or a check to purchase tickets in person on the day of your visit. It is very helpful if you have smaller bills with you when wanting to use cash for admission tickets.
Tickets are available at the door at any time during our operating hours. Discount tickets are not sold in advance. If you have any questions about discount tickets please email info@curiodyssey.org
See our Health & Safety Information here.
As soon as CuriOdyssey knows about an emergency closure, we will reach out to anyone who has tickets during the closure time. You may choose to have your tickets refunded or rescheduled to a different visit date.
Health & Safety
The health and safety of all is our priority. We have various measures in place to ensure that we have a safe and healthy environment for our visitors, animals, volunteers, and staff. These measures include vaccination of eligible animals, regular cleaning of high-touch areas, and sanitization stations throughout the facility. We follow county guidelines to ensure visitors, animals and staff are as safe as possible.
Yes. Hand sanitizing stations are located throughout CuriOdyssey including: the entrance, exit, CuriOdyssey Shop, restrooms, and animal exhibit hallway. We also have sinks for hand washing in all of our restrooms.
To ensure the safety of the animals at CuriOdyssey, as well as your pets, dogs and other animals are not permitted within CuriOdyssey. This prohibition also applies to areas where signs are posted on trails, and where trail symbols indicate that dogs are not allowed. The only exception to this rule is for service animals, which are welcome in most locations throughout the museum. However, all service animals must remain on a leash or in a harness at all times. Additionally, a member of the guest’s party must accompany the service animal at all times to ensure the safety of all parties involved.
Download CuriOdyssey's Policy for Service Animals
Under Penal Code 365.7 service dog fraud is a misdemeanor in California law.
The legal definition of service dog fraud is knowingly and fraudulently representing yourself, verbally or in writing, to be the owner or trainer of a:
- Guide dog;
- Signal dog; or
- Service dog.
“Fraudulently” means that you are acting with bad faith, dishonestly, a lack of integrity or moral turpitude.
The potential penalties include:
- Misdemeanor (summary) probation;
- Up to six (6) months in county jail; and/or
- A fine of up to one thousand dollars ($1,000).
While face masks or coverings are not required, we do welcome your choice to wear one. We have a small supply of disposable masks for adults and children upon request.
Join the CuriOdyssey Community
LOCATION
1651 Coyote Point Drive
San Mateo, CA 94401
Ohlone Land Acknowledgement
650-342-7755
info@curiodyssey.org
CuriOdyssey is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, Tax ID 94-1262434
