Intrepid Museum
4.7(47K)google
4.1(599)yelp
KidsIndoorOutdoorMust-SeeInteractiveEducationalWarshipAviationSpace & Aerospace
Overview
Perched proudly along historic Pier 86 along the active Hudson River waterfront, the Intrepid Museum offers an incredible, deeply comprehensive educational journey into global military history, aviation tech, and space exploration. The massive complex is creatively anchored aboard the legendary aircraft carrier USS Intrepid, a fully decommissioned National Historic Landmark that survived fierce WWII Pacific battles. Visitors can explore grand indoor hangar decks, stand inches from the historic space shuttle Enterprise, view supersonic Concorde jets, and touch real military cockpits.
Practical Info
Suggested DurationAbout 2.5-4 hours
Best TimeSunny mornings from May to October right at 9:30 AM opening are best. Because the flight deck is fully open-air, morning weather is much more comfortable for examining the Concorde, Space Shuttle Enterprise, and legendary fighter jets.
Getting ThereLocated at Pier 86 along the Hudson River (46th St and 12th Ave). Take the 7 subway train to 34th St-Hudson Yards station, then walk north along 12th Avenue or catch a short crosstown M42 bus directly to the pier entrance.
Travel Tips
- Travel Advisory: The museum features the carrier, a submarine, and the Concorde. Head straight to the USS Growler submarine queue immediately upon entry; its interior is extremely narrow and capacity is strictly capped, causing wait times to spike to 1-2 hours past midday.
- Pro-tip: General admission excludes entry into the Concorde supersonic jet. Due to space constraints, boarding the Concorde requires an additional ticket upgrade booked online or at the kiosk. Standard tickets only allow viewing the aircraft's exterior from the tarmac.
Photo Tips
Photo Spots
- Best Shot: To frame the massive aircraft carrier alongside the Midtown Manhattan skyline, avoid ground-level pier shots. Go to the forward edge of the flight deck or the island bridge, facing backward to lock aircraft, steel decking, and skyscrapers in one frame.
Reviews
Positive
- Boarding an actual aircraft carrier is a thrilling experience, and getting up close to the Enterprise space shuttle and the Blackbird spy plane makes it an absolute must-visit for military and space enthusiasts.
- The interactive exhibits and flight simulators are incredibly fun, making it perfect for family trips with kids to learn a wealth of history and science.
- The flight deck perched on the Hudson River offers expansive views of Midtown Manhattan, and the museum's multilingual audio guides and signage are extremely clear and thorough.
Heads up
- The general admission ticket is quite expensive, and some of the most popular interactive features and the submarine tour require separate, additional fees, making the secondary costs quite heavy.
- Visiting the completely unshaded flight deck in the summer leads to intense sun exposure, while the freezing winds off the Hudson River in winter will leave you shivering, making it heavily weather-dependent.
- Due to its high popularity, the wait times can be very long; the interior of the submarine is particularly cramped, which can feel stuffy and claustrophobic while waiting in line.