Denver Museum of Nature & ScienceMuseums
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Denver Museum of Nature & Science

4.7(18K)google
4.2(749)yelp
Adult $25.95·Senior(65+) $21.95·Youth(3-18y) $20.95·Child(under 2) FreeUSD(Rates represent standard museum general admission galleries. Planetarium shows and IMAX theater films require separate add-on tickets)
EducationalFamilyFossilsPlanetariumScience

Overview

The Denver Museum of Nature & Science is a municipal natural history and science museum in Denver, Colorado. It is a resource for informal science education in the Rocky Mountain region. A variety of exhibitions, programs, and activities help museum visitors learn about the natural history of Colorado, Earth, and the universe.

Practical Info

Mon9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Tue9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Wed9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Thu9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Fri9:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Sat9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Sun9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Suggested Duration3-5 hours
Best TimeSuperb year-round. The most strategic visiting window is 9:30 AM to 1:00 PM. Make sure to head to the standard fourth-floor Sky Terrace or the glass atrium before noon; the midday light provides an unobstructed, world-class panoramic shot of the Denver skyline framed perfectly by the Rocky Mountains.
Getting ThereLocated directly on the eastern edge of City Park at 2001 Colorado Blvd. Easily accessible by taking RTD Bus Route 20 or 40 to the Colorado Blvd & Montview Blvd transit stop. For drivers, the museum features a large-scale, complimentary underground and surface parking lot.

Travel Tips

  • Planetarium and Infinity Theater sessions run on strict standalone intervals requiring upfront validation; missing your stamped entry window completely voids the specific asset voucher with zero walk-up re-booking.
  • The free subterranean parking tier enforces strict vertical height clearance bottlenecks; route extended consumer trucks or RV rigs with roof boxes exclusively to the western open-air surface lots to bypass structural traps.

Photo Tips

Photo Spots

  • The premier vantage point to frame the Denver skyline against the Rocky Mountains is the fourth-floor Skyline Overlook; schedule your camera setup after 16:00 to utilize ideal low-angle sunlight filtration.

Reviews

Positive
  • The prehistoric dinosaur fossil wing is incredible, with massive skeletons and vivid dioramas making it a paleontology dream.
  • The 3rd-floor Space Odyssey exhibit features advanced hands-on displays where kids can drive virtual Mars rovers for extreme fun.
  • Massive panoramic glass windows frame City Park and the Rocky Mountain skyline perfectly, offering the city's best photo spot.
  • Exhibit signage is clear with accessible text, and elevators cleanly reach every floor; facility management is top-tier.
Heads up
  • The IMAX theater and planetarium require separate tickets; bundling all experiences creates a heavy financial load for a family.
  • Weekday mornings are swamped with hundreds of rowdy school field-trip groups, filling halls with high-pitched noise and running.
  • Some wildlife diorama halls feel quite dated and old-fashioned, using static dim lighting instead of modern digital interactions.
  • The museum's open parking spaces are quite narrow, making parking and backing out a tight squeeze for large SUVs and trucks.