San Diego Model Railroad Museum (San Diego)

San Diego Model Railroad Museum in San Diego: best for ages 3-5, 6-8, 9-12; $20 adult (13+) · $14 seniors (65+) · $14 military · $12 students · $10 youth (5–12) · free 4 & under with paid adult.

Address1649 El Prado, San Diego, CA 92101 (Casa de Balboa, lower level)

HoursWed–Sun 11am–4pm

Prices$20 adult (13+) · $14 seniors (65+) · $14 military · $12 students · $10 youth (5–12) · free 4 & under with paid adult

Age notesTicket tiers: youth 5–12, adult 13+; ages 4 & under free with a paid adult. The museum's STEAM scout programs are described as most appropriate for ages 5–12.

BookingReservation requirement Not confirmed on the official pages fetched.

Suggested timeAbout 1.5 hours

AccessibilityNot confirmed on the official pages fetched 2026-11-05.

ParkingBalboa Park parking: meters $2.50/hr and lots $5–$16/day under the park's paid parking program (from Jan 5, 2026, per SDMA's FAQ)

Hours in detailWednesday-Sunday 11 AM-4 PM. Closed Mondays except certain special operating days (e.g. Labor Day and Indigenous Peoples' Day Mondays in 2026); closed Thanksgiving Day (Nov 26, 2026).

Tickets & bookingTickets are sold online or on site in the gift shop; online tickets are valid only for the date purchased, are non-refundable, and may be redeemed up to one hour before closing. Resident Free day CONFLICT (dual-recorded): the Visit page says the SECOND THURSDAY of every month (SD County residents, college students and active-duty military free), while the older field-trip PDF says the first Tuesday - the Visit page and homepage (Resident Free Thursday, Sept 10, 2026) agree on Thursday.

ParkingBalboa Park parking notes from the museum: paid parking ends at 6 PM; the public tram runs 8 AM-8 PM; parking is free on City holidays; City of San Diego residents can register for free Tier 2 & 3 parking and discounted Tier 1 parking.

Verified perk: San Diego County Library Discover & Go — free passSan Diego County Library cardholders (cards beginning 01535), county residents of all ages, can reserve free attraction passes: up to 2 reservations at a time, up to 3 months in advance, first-come first-served; each attraction sets how many people a pass admits. The museum is named on SDCL's Discover & Go pages.

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Venue details last verified November 5, 2026 against official sources. Hours and prices change — check the official site before you go. FamilyDay AI is a free planning tool for parents; we list only facts we have verified, and we never invent ratings or reviews.

San Diego Model Railroad Museum — San Diego, California

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