
Plan Your Visit
What To Know Before Your Visit
General Admission
$13.00 for adults
$12.00 for students & seniors
$10.00 for children ages 3-12
FREE for members and children ages 0-2
Hours
10:30 AM - 4:00 PM
Days We Are Open
Summer
Open Daily
June 16th - August 31st, 2025
Fall, Winter, & Spring
Open Daily Wednesdays - Sundays
Closed from September 17th through 19th, 2025
NH & MA School Vacation Weeks
Open Daily
December 26th - December 31st, 2025
February 11th - March 1st, 2026
April 15th - May 3rd, 2026
Holidays We’re Open
Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Presidents Day
Juneteenth
Indigenous Peoples’ (Columbus) Day
Veterans Day
Closed on all other federally recognized holidays, Easter & Christmas Eve.
Leaving and Returning
Visitors may come and go throughout the day until we close at 4 pm.
If you leave, be prepared to present your entrance sticker to the front desk upon returning.
The Planetarium
Planetarium Seating
Plan to arrive at the Discovery Center at least 15 minutes before the start of your planetarium show.
We stop selling tickets and begin seating 10 minutes prior to each planetarium show.
Planetarium Shows
$7 per person in addition to general admission tickets
FREE for members and children under age 3
Planetarium Showtimes
Daily When Open
11 AM, 12 PM, 1PM, 2PM, & 3PM
Important Information
To enter the Discovery Center, you must buy general admission tickets to access the exhibit galleries and Science Playground.
Tickets for the Planetarium shows are separate and must be bought along with general admission tickets.
You can buy tickets at the front desk during open hours or online. You can return to this page to add tickets to your cart for a single purchase.
Before your visit, please review our FAQs below.
By purchasing a ticket, you are agreeing to follow these protocols.
General admission and planetarium show tickets are available through September 14th, 2025, but not currently beyond that date.

Directions To The McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center
From North or South:
I-93 to exit 15 E (I-393) in Concord, NH. Take exit 1 and follow the signs to the Discovery Center parking lot.
From East:
Rt 4 W to I-393 W. Take exit 1 and follow the signs to the Discovery Center parking lot. Look for the 92' tall Mercury-Redstone Rocket at the entry!
Address:
McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center
2 Institute Drive
Concord, NH 03301
Phone: (603) 271-7827
The Discovery Center parking lot is available and free for visitors!
Frequently Asked Questions
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Tickets can be purchased right at the front desk, over the phone, or online. If you are redeeming a Library Pass or using a reciprocal membership, reservation aren’t required however if you’d like to reserve your tickets in advance, please call 603-271-7827 for assistance.
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Planetarium tickets are an add-on purchase to general admission. To see a planetarium show, you need to purchase both general admission and planetarium show tickets.
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Library Pass: Many New Hampshire libraries participate in our Library Pass program! This pass gives a participating library’s patron free general admission for up to 4 guests. Each library has two passes that they may issue on a given day. Each library has two passes that they may issue on a given day. Library passes are available at your library on a first come, first serve basis—please contact your library before trying to reserve tickets at the Discovery Center. The Library Pass does not apply to planetarium show tickets. You will be asked to present your Library Pass issued to you by your local library at the front desk when you check in for your visit.
Reciprocal Memberships: The Discovery Center is proud to be a member of the Association of Science and Technology Centers (ASTC)! Through the ASTC’s Passport Program, participating museums around the world offer free or reduced admission to each other’s members. We partner with local museums and attractions, too! Through our monthly Partner Exchange Program, we offer free general admission for our partner’s members. For more information on these programs, click here. You will be asked to present your membership card at the front desk when you check in for your visit.If you would like to reserve your tickets in advance using a Library Pass or reciprocal membership, please call 603-271-7827 for assistance.
Museums for All: Through Museums for All, those receiving food assistance (SNAP benefits) can gain free or reduced admission to more than 1,000 museums throughout the United States simply by presenting their SNAP EBT (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Electronic Benefit Transfer) card. At the Discovery Center, SNAP EBT and WIC cardholders can receive free general admission for up to 5 people during regular admission hours, and $3 admission for up to 6 people on Super Stellar Friday. When reserving general admission tickets online, enter “4ALL” in the discount code box. When reserving Super Stellar Friday tickets online, enter “4ALLSSF” in the discount code box. You will be asked to present your SNAP EBT or WIC card at the front desk when you check in for your visit.
Click here for more information about Museums for All.
AAA Discount: AAA members receive $1 off each general admission ticket, up to 4 tickets. When reserving tickets online, enter “AAA” in the discount code box. This discount can also be used when purchasing tickets over the phone or at our front desk. You will be asked present your AAA card at the front desk when you check in for your visit.
Military Discount: We are happy to offer a discount to active military members, veterans, and their families. When reserving tickets online, enter “MIL1” in the discount code box to receive $1 off each general admission ticket. This discount can also be used when purchasing tickets over the phone or at our front desk. You will be asked present your military ID card at the front desk when you check in for your visit.
In addition to our regular military discount, the Discovery Center is also a Blue Star Museum. The Blue Star Museum program, presented by the National Endowment for the Arts and Blue Star Families, offers free general admission for active-duty military members, including Reservists and National Guard personnel, and up to 5 family members from Armed Forces Day (5/17/25) through Labor Day (9/1/25). While reserving tickets online, enter “BLUE” in the discount code box. This discount can also be used when purchasing tickets over the phone or at our front desk. You will be asked to present your military ID card at the front desk when you check in for your visit. The military member does not need to be present for family members to receive this discount; family members just need to be able to present proper ID. Click here for more information about Blue Star Museums.
Breathe NH Fun Pass: Click here to learn more about The Breathe New Hampshire Fun Pass 2025 Coupon Book if you’re looking for kid-friendly things to do in New England, buy The Fun Pass coupon book and you will receive incredible savings at family amusement & theme parks, adventure parks, farms & zoos, museums, water parks, scenic railroad tours, whale watches and active fun like rock climbing, zip lines, ropes courses, trampoline parks and more!
Gift Certificates
Do you have a friend, colleague or family member who is interested in space, aviation, weather, or science in general?
A Discovery Center gift certificate makes a great gift for any occasion!
Gift Certificates may be applied toward general admission, planetarium shows, the Science Store or purchase of a Membership. They are non-refundable and cannot be used for online purchases at www.starhop.com.
Cafe & Gift Shop
Hours & Admission
The Cafe is currently closed, but our Science Store is stocked up with everything you need to take space and science home with you! It is open from 10:30 to 4 pm on days the Discovery Center is open to the public.