The Intrepid Sea Air and Space Museum of New York

You’re going on a family trip to visit New York? Then why not take the opportunity to discover a one-of-a-kind museum dedicated to aeronautics and aerospace! 😀

The Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum is an impressive and exciting place where you can climb aboard an authentic U.S. Army aircraft carrier, and discover up close gear and equipment that are not displayed anywhere else in the world. In this article, I will tell you everything you need to know about the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum in New York 😊

What to see at the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum?

The Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum is located on the CV-11 aircraft carrier USS Intrepid, a warship launched in 1943 that served in both World War II and the Vietnam War. After more than 30 years of service, the carrier was destined for dismantling, but in 1982 it was finally transformed into a museum. It is now moored on the banks of the Hudson River, and more than a million visitors come here every year to discover the history of the navy and civil and military aviation, but also of the conquest of space 🚀

There is no age restriction for this museum, so it can absolutely be a family discovery. The visit will fascinate adults and children alike! Speaking of, you can find all the museum’s best places dedicated to children on the museum map 🙂

Flight Deck, on top of the ship

Some of the aircraft on display are located outside the museum, on the Flight Deck. There are fully restored aircraft including helicopters (Bell AH-1 Cobra), fighters (F11F Tiger), bombers (TBM-3E AVENGER) and spy planes (Lockheed A-12 Oxcart) – all of which served in the field between the 1940s and today! 🛩️

You can also see civilian aircraft, such as a Concorde, and even discover the Space Shuttle Enterprise, the very first American space shuttle! 🤩

The USS Growler submarine

Also outside the museum itself, you can visit the USS Growler submarine, which is moored right next to it. This is the perfect way to end your visit to this museum! As you enter this Gato-class submarine that served during World War II, you will be able to see the control room, the crew's mess and even the torpedo room! 

Inside the aircraft carrier: Hangar Deck and and Technical Premises

Inside the museum, it is possible to visit some of the aircraft carrier’s rooms, such as the command center and other technical rooms, the mess halls and the soldiers' quarters. The Hangar Deck is also located inside the museum – it is a large room where machines and many other objects (uniforms, accessories, helmets...) are displayed.

Rates and times to visit the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space museum

This museum opens every day, but as many of the exhibitions are open-air, the opening hours vary according to the time of year:

• Between early October and late March, from 10 am to 5 pm,
• Between early April and late September, from 10 am to 6 pm.

These times are also subject to change on public holidays. Visits can start up to 1 hour before closing time. You should allow at least 2 hours on site to discover this fascinating museum at leisure 🙂

Here are the ticket prices for the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum:

*These tickets give access to the museum, the Growler submarine and the Enterprise Space Shuttle Pavilion.

The Intrepid Museum's immersive experiences

There are several simulators and 3D projections that offer immersive experiences to visitors:

• Gforce Encounter, a simulator that allows visitors to experience what pilots feel during the sudden acceleration of their aircraft. This simulator is located on the same level as the Hangar Deck.
• Transporter: Screaming Eagles, a virtual experience that places the visitor in the cockpit of a fighter aircraft for a training mission.
• Transporter: Blue Angel, a virtual experience of flying a Navy F/A-18 Hornet with aerobatic manoeuvres 🤩
• The 3D films Carrier: Guardian of the Seas, which places viewers aboard a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier during a military exercise, and Journey to Space, dedicated to the conquest of space past, present and future.

The best plan for your visit to the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space museum

As one of New York's most popular attractions, a visit to the museum is included in many New York passes. With these combined tickets, you can either choose a specific number of visits from a list of activities, or do as many visits as you like during the period of your choice. Of course, most of the time, the main attractions such as the Empire State Building, the Statue of Liberty, the Guggenheim Museum or the MoMA are included in these passes.

Here are the most popular New York City tourist passes that include a visit to the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum:

One thing is for sure, these tourist passes are a great way to multiply your visits without breaking the bank – and as many of them offer no-queue tickets, you can even save time 😀

How to get to the museum?

The museum is located at Pier 86, and one of the best ways to get there is to take the New York underground. Unfortunately, there is no underground station directly next to the museum. The closest ones are Times Square — 42nd Street (lines 1, 2, 3, 7 N, A, C, E, Q, R S) and Times Square — 50th Street (lines 1, 2, A, C and E). From there it is either a 20 minute walk, or you can take a taxi or either the M42 bus (from Times Sq-42St) or the M50 bus (from 50th Street) to the museum.

The exact address of the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum is:

Pier 86 W 46th St and 12th Ave,

New York City

This is the end of this article about the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum. I hope it will have convinced you to visit this original and exciting museum – especially if you happen to visit New York with kids 😊 If so, and if you wish to do other activities with your family, you can also check my articles about the Natural History Museum of New York or Broadway musicals 😉