NASA Space Center in Houston TX: Tips for cheap NASA Houston tickets

NASA Space Center in Houston TX: Tips for cheap NASA Houston tickets

A quick guide to visiting the NASA Space Center in Houston, TX. Includes tips on how to get here, what to expect, and how to get cheaper NASA Space Center tickets online.

If you are visiting Houston, TX and are a fan of science and space exploration, you should visit the NASA Space Center. This attraction was the biggest draw for me, but unfortunately getting to NASA in Houston and arranging tickets was a bit difficult, at least in the beginning.

To help you and make your experience more enjoyable, I have written this quick guide with useful and up-to-date information on how to get there, how to get a NASA Space Center ticket online at a discounted price and give you some tips to help you enjoy your visit.
alt="NASA-Apollo 17 LM">NASA Apollo 17 Lunar Module at the NASA Space Center, Houston, Texas

How to Get Cheap NASA Tickets for Houston

If you visit the NASA Space Center's official website, you will find that it takes you to their official ticket booking box. However, this is NOT what you want to do.

Because if you book directly on NASA's website, you'll pay $30 for a ticket. Instead, you can book discounted NASA Space Center tickets online through Viator (Tripadvisor company) for just $24.99.

Book discounted tickets in advance: $24.99 NASA admission tickets

It appears that Viator has an advertising deal where they can sell cheaper NASA Houston tickets. These tickets are for general admission only, which is the same as if you purchased your tickets on the NASA website, just $5 cheaper. Keep in mind that this means you will need to arrange your own transportation (see below for more on how to get to NASA in Houston).

Since the start of the pandemic, NASA has changed eligibility for timed events. Therefore, visitors must select a time when booking. I recommend choosing the earliest possible entry, which is 10:00 am. This gives you the most time and flexibility as the tickets are valid for a whole day regardless of the time booked.
alt="NASA Johnson Space Center Museum">

Where is NASA in Houston?

NASA Houston Hours: Monday to Sunday 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m

NASA in Houston refers to the public entry/museum called NASA Johnson Space Center. This is a Smithsonian-affiliated museum and educational center that highlights all eras of U.S. space travel and includes interesting exhibits, tours, and attractions such as Rocket Park and the decommissioned SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.

The NASA Space Center is located in the southeast region of Houston near Nassau Bay. What first surprised me is how far NASA is from downtown Houston. You can expect to drive about 30-40 minutes from downtown to get here!

Below I've pinned the exact location of the NASA Space Center in Houston, TX so you know where you're headed.

How to get to NASA SPACE CENTER in Houston, TX

To get to the NASA Space Center in Houston, visitors have four main options. This includes driving yourself, taking a taxi or rideshare, taking the public transportation bus, or booking an organized, guided tour from Houston.

Below I'll give you an overview of each option so you can choose the best one for you.

Option 1: Self-drive directions to NASA Space Center from Houston TX

If you have your own car, you can drive to NASA from downtown Houston in about 30-40 minutes. You should take the Gulf Freeway, I-45, between downtown Houston and Galveston.

Once you arrive at the marker above, you will find a large parking lot where you will have to pay $5 to park your vehicle for the day.

If you don't have your own car, it may be cheaper to rent one for the day than to book a Lyft/Uber or taxi. This is especially true if you use Discover Cars, which has a huge network of available rental cars in Houston.

Option 2: Guided day tour to the NASA Space Center from Houston

For those interested in a group tour and guided experience at the NASA Space Center, it is best to book the famous City Tour + NASA combination. This works great, especially if you want to pack as much as possible into your trip.

This costs $83, making it one of the most booked tours in Houston because you get so much for your money. It includes a city tour, round-trip transportation, and general admission tickets to the NASA Johnson Space Center. Considering that return transport is often more expensive than the ticket itself, this isn't a bad choice.

Option 3: Taxi or rideshare

The most expensive option would be a taxi or rideshare from Houston to the NASA Space Center.

Currently, Lyft is the cheapest rideshare service in Houston, and rides from downtown to NASA cost between $27 and $35 each way.

If you take a taxi instead, expect to pay around $50 each way.

Option 4: Public bus from Houston Downtown to NASA

When I was looking for ways to visit NASA in Houston, there wasn't much information about public transportation. However, I was able to find out that there is actually a bus from downtown to nearby El Dorado Pr, which is very close to the Space Center.

The bus route is bus route 249. to El Dorado Pr, then take a taxi to Space Center Houston. You can use the Metro app to compare schedules or check Moovit. I believe a fare is only $3.50 per person.

However, please note that this service only operates Monday to Friday and is not available on weekends.

The Best Things to See at the NASA Space Center in Houston, TX

Now that we have tickets and transportation out of the way, let's dive into some of the things you definitely won't want to miss during your visit!

Remember, this is one of the best day trip activities in Houston! You will have a great time, especially if you are a space geek like me.

SPACEX FALCON 9 ROCKET EXHIBITION

The retired SpaceX Falcon 9 will likely be the first thing you see when you arrive at NASA Johnson Space Center. This rocket is arguably one of the most important scientific innovations in space travel and exploration of the last two centuries.

This particular rocket is the first orbital-class rocket capable of a return flight and has transported both people and cargo to the ISS (International Space Station).
alt="Retired SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket at NASA, Houston">
alt="Retired SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket at NASA, Houston">

Spaceship Gallery

For space history buffs, the Starship Gallery at the Houston Space Center will blow your mind! This gallery houses several real, flown spaceships and replicas of national treasures. This will give you an amazing overview of the advancements in human spaceflight and exploration.

One of the artifact highlights in this particular gallery is the actual Apollo 17 lunar module (LM) “Challenger,” the final mission to the Moon as part of the Apollo mission in 1972.

Tip: There's even a specimen of moon rock from the Apollo 17 mission that you can touch with your own hands.
alt="Replica of the Apollo lunar mission module">
alt="Skylab, first space station from the USA">
alt="Replica of a Skylab module">
alt="NASA lunar exhibition">

Independence Square

Independence Plaza is located just outside the entrance and is home to the historic and original NASA 905 shuttle carrier aircraft. This was a converted Boeing 747 aircraft converted to mount an SCA (Independence) space shuttle.

You can explore both the NASA 905 shuttle carrier and the replica SCA Independence on multiple floors.
alt="Shuttle to Independence Square">
alt="Payload satellite at the NASA Space Museum in Houston">

Mission Mars

The Mission Mars exhibit at the NASA Space Center in Houston TX is a gallery dedicated to the future of human exploration and colonization of the Red Planet. Here you'll discover the latest innovations and planned missions for Mars, including rovers like the latest Perseverance and planned crewed missions on the Orion Space Shuttle.
alt="planned future spacecraft Orion">

International Space Station Gallery (ISS Gallery)

The International Space Station Gallery is an exhibition dedicated to the largest structure ever built in space.

The ISS offers an interesting look at the history of the space station, as well as information about its history and what it's like to live in Earth orbit.
alt="Replica of the International Space Station">

Astronaut Gallery

The Astronaut Gallery is also a must-see at the NASA Space Center in Houston, TX. Here's a look at the evolution of astronaut life, from spacesuits to food to the training and simulations needed to equip NASA astronauts with the skills needed for lunar exploration and life on the ISS.

Presentation New Perspectives

In the immediate vicinity of the ISS exhibition you will find a timed presentation entitled “New Perspectives”. This is a 20-minute live presentation from official NASA Mission Briefing Officers.

It is intended to give you an insight into the life of the astronauts on board the ISS. It also allows you to ask questions and learn more about life in space, from eating to exercising to showering to growing food in space.

Houston Space Center Theater Film

When you arrive, go to the information desk to find out current times for the Space Center Theater film. This five-story-tall theater is the largest 4K theater in Texas where you can enjoy great films about space exploration and science. This is included in your general admission ticket.
alt="Theater at the NASA Space Center in Houston">

NASA tram tour

The NASA Tram Tour is one of the best offerings at the NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston, TX. However, you must book this in advance. I suggest doing this as soon as you arrive via the app or at the information desk.

The tram tours are one of NASA's biggest attractions in Houston, allowing visitors to explore the site and learn more about NASA's operations. The three main tours include:

George WS Abbey Rocket Park TourAn amazing stop that features one of only three remaining Saturn V rockets.

Astronaut Training Facility Tour At this stop you can walk the uphill path through the Space Vehicle Mockup Facility in Building 9. It's where NASA astronauts train for space missions and where engineers can develop the latest and greatest spacecraft.

Mission Control Center TourPerhaps the most famous and anticipated tour is to the Mission Control Center (Christopher C. Kraft Mission Control). Here NASA led mission control for Gemini and Apollo missions, including the first lunar landing mission.

Important: While the NASA Tram Tour is free and included in your ticket, you must make a reservation as it fills up. Unfortunately, we missed this great experience on our first visit because we didn't book in time and all slots were sold out by 2 p.m.!
alt="NASA Mission Control Room">

Must-know tips and visitor information

Here are some other important tips and useful insights to make your visit to the Houston Space Center even more enjoyable.

• Buchen Sie gleich nach Ihrer Ankunft eine Tour mit dem Space Center Train – es ist kostenlos, aber die Slots füllen sich sehr schnell!
• Kaufen Sie ein Ticket bei Viator, um 5 $ zu sparen
• Essen ist im The Food Lab ziemlich teuer – das ist das hauseigene Restaurant, das an das Museum angeschlossen ist.
• Kaufen Sie Waren im SpaceTrader Gift Shop
• Im gesamten Space Center gibt es WLAN
• Bringen Sie kein großes Gepäck mit – es gibt keine Schließfächer
• Nicht mitbringen – Große professionelle Kameras, Stative und Beleuchtungsgeräte sind nicht erlaubt. Das wurde mir vor meiner Ankunft gesagt, aber ich bemerkte, dass ein paar Leute mit DSLRs und spiegellosen Setups herumliefen. Ich habe stattdessen alle Fotos mit meinem Handy gemacht.
• Im Space Center in Houston stehen Toiletten, Toiletten und Telefonladebänke zur Verfügung
• Beim Betreten wird ein Foto gemacht, das Sie beim Verlassen bezahlen können. Es gibt auch Fotoautomaten in der Nähe des Ausgangs.
• Es gibt eine kostenlose Space Center-App, die Sie herunterladen können – diese enthält einen Audioguide, bringen Sie also Kopfhörer mit!
• Das Tagesprogramm, einschließlich Theateraufführungen und Präsentationen, ändert sich häufig.

More resources for visiting NASA in Houston

I hope this quick and useful guide on how to get to the NASA Space Center in Houston, TX was helpful in planning your visit. If you find cheaper NASA Space Center tickets or have spotted anything I may have missed, please let me know in the comments below.

Otherwise, I've included a few useful resources below, including a map of the Space Center in Houston. While you can take a map and small guidebook with you when you arrive, this section is for those of you who like to be prepared.

History: NASAHistory: The Apollo ProgramMars: Past, Present and Future Missions
alt="Map of Houston Space Center Texas">
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