The Space Center Houston, home to NASA’s Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, is a must-visit stop during your visit to Houston. When I was doing research for my trip, I found some of the information a bit confusing, so I have compiled these tips for visiting the Space Center Houston to help make your trip as easy as possible!
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History of the Space Center Houston
Space Center Houston, the official visitor center for NASA’s Johnson Space Center, opened its doors to the public in 1992 as a hub for space education and exploration. Established through a partnership between NASA and the nonprofit Manned Space Flight Education Foundation, the center was designed to offer visitors an immersive and educational experience into the world of space science and human spaceflight.
The history of Space Center Houston is deeply tied to the achievements of NASA and the legacy of the Johnson Space Center, where Mission Control has guided astronauts since the Gemini and Apollo programs. Over the years, the center has expanded its exhibits and programming to include interactive displays, real spacecraft, astronaut encounters, and behind-the-scenes tours of working NASA facilities.
Where to Stay
The most central area to stay in Houston is the Downtown area. TripAdvisor is a great place to start your hotel search. Check out the best hotels in Houston here! You can always try searching Priceline Express Deals for a better price or try to price match a hotel. When we visited, we stayed at the Hyatt Regency Houston.
There are other hotel options:
- Thompson Houston
- Marriott Marquis Houston
- The Westin Houston Downtown
- Hilton Americas-Houston
- Holiday Inn Express & Suites Houston Downtown
If you want to stay near the space center, check out the Hilton Houston NASA Clear Lake or the Courtyard Houston NASA/Clear Lake.
How to Get to the Space Center Houston
To get to the Space Center Houston, you will need a car. It is about a 30-minute drive from Downtown Houston. Do not have a car? This tour offers a visit to the Space Center Houston with transportation.
Cost of the Space Center Houston
The Space Center Houston does not come cheap, but it is well worth the money for a visit! Adult prices start at $30 per person. The current prices are listed below. Make sure to pre-book your tickets to save some money on your visit.
In addition to the General Admission prices, you have the option of upgrading your ticket to include some special experiences. First of all, you will want to add a visit to Mission Control to your ticket. This starts around $15/person.
Additionally, you can upgrade to a VIP tour, add breakfast with an astronaut, or have early access to the facility.
If you plan on visiting various attractions across Houston, you may want to invest in a City Pass. This pass includes admission to the Houston Space Center and a choice of four other attractions across Houston, such as the Museum of Fine Arts.
Hours of the Space Center Houston
During the week, most days the space center is open from 10am to 5pm and 10am to 6pm on the weekends. Make sure to check the website for special hours or the most up-to-date hours.
General Space Center Houston Information
The Space Center Houston is the perfect stop for space enthusiasts and anyone curious about the universe. It offers a fascinating glimpse into the history of human space exploration, with exhibits showcasing iconic artifacts such as spacecraft, astronaut suits, and even genuine moon rocks.
There are so many things visitors can do when visiting the Space Center. Visitors can explore the Space Center’s interactive displays, watch live mission control operations, and learn about the astronauts who made history. As the backdrop for NASA’s astronaut training, it also offers exclusive tours of its facilities, making it one of the best places to experience the legacy and future of space travel.
Tram Tours
There are four different options for tram tours: The Astronaut Training Facility Tour, The NASA Campus Tour, The Rocket Park Tour, and The Mission Control Tour. Your General admission ticket includes admission to all of the tram tours except the Mission Control Tour. Below is the information you need about each tour to help make your decisions on what to see easier.
Note that you cannot pre-book tickets for the included tours (Astronaut Training Facility and NASA Campus tours). You will need to get them upon arrival at guest services.
The Astronaut Training Facility Tour
Cost: Included in Admission
Time: 60 minutes
The Astronaut Training Facility Tour is THE train tour you want to take if you only have time for one and do not want to pay extra for the Mission Control Tour. This tour offers a behind-the-scenes look at how astronauts prepare for missions to space. Visitors can view real training equipment, including a mock International Space Station, in addition to seeing where NASA astronauts train for life and work in space.
The Rocket Park Tour
Cost: Included in Admission
Time: 45 minutes
The Rocket Park Tour is the other tour you will NOT want to miss. This tour is not a formal tour, but the tram takes you to the rocket park and drops you off to view the impressive collection of rockets. The centerpiece is the massive Saturn V rocket, one of the only three remaining in the world. It is displayed fully restored in its original launch configuration. Visitors can walk around it and take a peek inside while learning about the Apollo missions to the moon.
The NASA Campus Tour
Cost: Included in Admission
Time: 35 minutes
The NASA Campus Tour takes visitors through the heart of the Johnson Space Center and offers a glimpse into the mission control and astronaut training centers. Guests will get to view historic buildings and get acclimated to the campus.
The Mission Control Tour
Cost: Extra $15 and up
Time: 60 minutes
The Mission Control Tour takes visitors inside the iconic Mission Control Center, where NASA monitors its space missions since the Apollo era. As part of this tour, guests get to enter mission control and view the restored Apollo-era control room, preserved just as it was during the Moon landing. There is a 15-minute show that goes along with it.
Space Center Exhibits
In addition to the tram tours, the facility features multiple exhibits about space, space exploration, the International Space Station, Mars, and more. After the rocket tour, they also have an area where you can view a space shuttle replica and the actual plane that carried the space shuttles. They also have a VR Simulation and a Motion Simulation that cost $8-$10 per person. Finally, do not miss checking out the gift shop to grab any souvenirs you may want.
Sample Recommended Itinerary
*Arrive prior to opening
Stop 1: Astronaut Training Facility tour
Stop 2: Rocket Park
Stop 3: Space Shuttle and Plane
Stop 4: Lunch
Stop 5: Mission Control (around 1pm tour)
Stop 6: Explore the rest of the center exhibits.
I personally did not feel you needed to do the NASA Campus Tour if you do all the other tours, but you can add that on if you want to see more of the area. At a minimum, plan for 4-5 hours to explore the center.
Top Tips for Visiting the Space Center Houston
1. Buy your tickets ahead of time. This saves you time, money, and disappointment if they are sold out.
2. Check the schedule to see if they open early while you are visiting the area. If you are lucky, the center may open at 9am and you will get an extra hour.
3. Try to visit during the week and not on a holiday. If you do so, you may get to see astronauts in action at the training camp. Since we were there on Labor Day, no one was working.
4. Arrive before the Space Center Houston opens. You will want to be there early for the best parking and to make sure you can get tickets for the different trams. Arriving later in the day may mean all tickets for the tours are gone.
5. Bring a water bottle. There are no drinking fountains at the center, so make sure to bring plenty of water unless you want to buy an expensive water bottle.
6. Visit Rocket Park right after the Astronaut Training Facility tour to save time and avoid tram lines. In doing so, this will save you a tram ride as you will not have to wait in the separate Rocket Park tram line.
7. Spend the extra money to do Mission Control. Our favorite part of the day was seeing the historic Apollo Mission Control Center. Although we may be history nerds, it is a really awesome experience.
8. Plan to eat lunch there. Once you enter the Space Center, there is no reentry. Thus, make sure to plan on eating lunch there. The Food Lab (cafeteria) gets busy around 12pm so keep that in mind. Alternatively, have a sack lunch option waiting for you in the car once you finish your visit.
9. Try the Citrus Stargazer drink at the Food Lab. This blended drink has Tang, Lemonade, and Coconut Milk. Tang rose to popularity in space when John Glenn used it as part of his “eating experiments” and keeps astronauts hydrated.
10. Don’t skip the Space Center exhibits. The exhibits in the main part of the center are extremely interesting and provide a wealth of detailed information about various aspects of space exploration. Additionally, there are some impressive artifacts on display. You can see them in between the various tram tours or at the end of the day.
Final Thoughts on Visiting the Space Center Houston
When spending time in Houston, you have to visit the Space Center. It is such a unique experience that everyone of all ages will love. You can easily spend the entire day there, but plan on spending at least 4 hours exploring what the center has to offer.
