USS Midway Museum Tickets + Embarcadero Audio Walking Tour
Skip the line and explore San Diego’s waterfront at your own pace
What to Expect
Make the most of your time on San Diego Bay with this waterfront combo experience. Enjoy skip-the-line entry to the USS Midway Museum, the historic aircraft carrier turned floating museum where restored aircraft, immersive exhibits, and firsthand stories from former sailors bring naval history to life. Explore the flight deck, engine room, and bridge while discovering what daily life at sea was really like.
After your visit, continue along the scenic Embarcadero with a GPS-activated audio walking tour through the Drives & Detours app. As you stroll past the Maritime Museum, Seaport Village, and working piers, engaging narration plays automatically—revealing San Diego’s maritime heritage, architecture, and waterfront culture along the way.
Note: Free admission to the USS Midway Museum is available for children 3 years old and younger, Active-Duty Military (w/valid ID), and Reservists. To receive free admission, visit the ticket booth on the day of your visit. All other guests within your party must purchase tickets.
📍 Location: San Diego, CA
🚶♂️ Type: Entry tickets + walking tour
⏱ Duration: Allow 3-4 hours (flexible)
✅ Includes: Museum Tickets, App download
🎧 Multiple Languages: English, Spanish
Get Ready for Your USS Midway Museum and Embarcadero Self-Guided Tour
Experience the pulse of America’s Finest City with a self-guided journey through the USS Midway Museum and the vibrant San Diego Embarcadero.
This tour bundle seamlessly blends the high-octane history of a legendary aircraft carrier with the breezy, sun-soaked charm of the downtown waterfront.
As you stroll along Harbor Drive, the spirit of the Pacific comes alive, from the soaring masts of the Star of India to the bustling energy of Seaport Village.
The star of the show is the Midway, a floating city that housed over 200,000 sailors. Go beyond the steel bulkheads to explore meticulously restored cockpits, the high-stakes Top Secret intelligence center, and the sprawling flight deck where history took wing.
Transitioning from the ship’s iron corridors to the open-air boardwalk, you’ll encounter iconic sights like the towering Embracing Peace statue and the historic 1939 police headquarters, now a premier dining destination.
This flexible experience allows you to linger where you choose, whether you’re marveling at 20th-century aviation or watching cruise ships glide past the Coronado Bridge. It is more than a history lesson—it’s a deep dive into the maritime DNA that defines San Diego.
Perfect for those who crave independence and a personal connection to the sea, this tour captures the essence of a waterfront that has shaped the world.
What You’ll See on Your USS Midway Museum and Embarcadero Walking Tour
USS Midway Museum
Climb aboard a historic aircraft carrier transformed into an interactive museum, where immersive exhibits and personal accounts celebrate generations of naval aviation and service at sea.
Star of India
Part of a renowned collection of preserved vessels, this iconic tall ship highlights San Diego’s maritime heritage with stories of global voyages, trade routes, and naval innovation.
Portside Pier
A modern waterfront gathering place offering seafood-focused dining, rooftop terraces, and sweeping harbor vistas—perfect for a relaxing pause along the bay.
B Street Pier
Serving as the city’s cruise terminal, this active pier reflects San Diego’s importance as a Pacific gateway, where towering ships regularly arrive and depart.
Broadway Pier
Combining scenic bay panoramas with echoes of early port activity, this pier illustrates the evolution of the city’s commercial waterfront.
Santa Fe Depot
Built in 1915, this architectural standout blends Spanish Colonial Revival styling with ongoing rail service, remaining one of downtown’s most recognizable landmarks.
San Diego Bay Walk
A tranquil waterfront promenade featuring memorials to veterans and service members, offering a quiet space for reflection beside the harbor.
Unconditional Surrender
This towering statue captures the iconic World War II homecoming embrace, symbolizing joy and relief at the war’s end and drawing visitors for memorable photos.
The Headquarters at Seaport
Once the city’s police headquarters, this revitalized complex now houses shops, restaurants, and public art installations within its historic walls.
Seaport Village
A lively bayside enclave filled with specialty stores, laid-back dining, open courtyards, and a nostalgic carousel—an inviting spot to unwind by the water.
Meeting Point
Your USS Midway Museum and Embarcadero walking tour begins at 1492 North Harbor Drive, San Diego.
Make your way to the path along the waterfront, just in front of the San Diego Maritime Museum.
FAQs About Our USS Midway Museum and Embarcadero Walking Tour
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Tickets to the USS Midway Museum are included in your purchase of this tour bundle.
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Entrance to the Star of India is included in General Admission to the Maritime Museum of San Diego. Prices are as follows:
Adults: $28
Military & Senior (62+): $20
Youth (6–17): $15
Ages 5 & Under: Free
Visit the Maritime Museum of San Diego website for more information.
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Tours are fully refundable up to 24 hours in advance.
If it’s within 24 hours or you had an issue during your tour, email support@drivesanddetours.com. We review all requests individually and will always do our best to make things right.
Our goal is to ensure every traveler has a great experience exploring with Drives & Detours.
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You will walk for about 2.5 miles on Drives & Detours’ SUSS Midway Museum and Embarcadero walking tour. This is mostly easy and along flat, well-paved surfaces. There are some hills to climb.
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Yes, downloading the Drives & Detours app will give you full access to the tour you have purchased, as well as many other self-guided tours.
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Download the tour before you go. Some areas have poor signal, which can make downloading the tour difficult. Once the tour is downloaded, it will work without any cell signal
The tour audio plays automatically as you approach each stop
Want to see more? Tap “View Stop” to see photos and bonus content
To return to the map, tap the small down arrow between the “previous” and “next” buttons
Follow the blue line and audio directions to stay on route
Use audio controls to pause, rewind, or skip—just like a podcast
Safety first: Keep your eyes on the road or sidewalk, follow traffic laws, and stay aware of your surroundings
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No—download your New York High Line tour before you go, and you won't need a cell signal. Drives & Detours’ tours work without any cell signal once they are downloaded to your device.
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Once you have purchased your USS Midway Museum and Embarcadero walking tour from Drives & Detours, you can use it whenever you want. You can always take the tour another day if the weather is bad on the day you plan to take it.
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Unfortunately, Dives & Detours cannot guarantee that the USS Midway Museum and Embarcadero self-guided tour is accessible. People with wheelchairs, strollers, or mobility impairments are very welcome, but we recommend checking the USS Midway Museum website for detailed information.
Pro Tips for Your Drives & Detours USS Midway Museum and Embarcadero Self-Guided Tour
Download before you go.
Enable location services—GPS triggers the audio.
Use earbuds, headphones, or your car speakers.
Pause and resume anytime. If you take a break, just reopen the app and head back toward your last stop.
Lost your way? Tap any pin on the map, then tap the right-turn-arrow icon to open your default maps app for turn-by-turn directions to that spot.
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