Cox Science Center and Aquarium

Cox Science Center and Aquarium is Dreher Park's ticketed science museum and aquarium, with hands-on exhibits, aquarium programs, planetarium and observatory experiences, outdoor science areas, and sensory-access resources. Navigate to the exact Cox Science Center and Aquarium pin rather than the general Dreher Park marker. Enter Dreher Park from Southern Boulevard, turn onto Dreher Trail North, and continue to the exact science-center pin. Parking throughout Dreher Park is free. The operator is expanding the campus, so use its current construction link before visiting and expect route, exhibit, or bag-storage changes. Average exhibit time is about two hours; weekday field trips commonly leave by 1:30 p.m., and children under 13 must remain with an adult age 18 or older.

Parking is free throughout Dreher Park. From Southern Boulevard, turn onto Dreher Trail North and continue to the science-center entrance and exact pin. Event days can make parking limited, so follow current signs and do not assume the adjacent zoo lot is the correct arrival point.

The center is open Monday-Friday from 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. and Saturday-Sunday from 10:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. It is closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. Shows, the observatory, outdoor demonstrations, splash-pad use, construction areas, and special programs can operate on narrower or weather-dependent schedules.

Wheelchair-accessible, sensory-friendly restrooms are located throughout the science-center building; they do not use hand dryers or automatic flush mechanisms. Ask Guest Services for the nearest facility after entry because construction can change circulation.

Current general admission is $26 for adults, $22 for children ages 3-12, $24 for teens ages 13-17, and $24 for seniors age 60 and older; members enter free. Discounts, special programs, planetarium access, events, and future price changes can follow separate rules, so the live ticket page controls.

The operator states that all exhibits and spaces are wheelchair accessible except the Observatory, where alternative accommodations are available. Complimentary wheelchairs are available by request in limited quantity. Sensory resources include quieter-time guidance, sensory-friendly restrooms, monthly Sensory Saturdays, and advice to bring noise-reducing headphones for the Planetarium or Theater.

Non-service animals are not permitted inside the science center. Trained service dogs are welcome when controlled under the operator's ADA policy; review the detailed animal policy or contact Guest Services before a visit involving specific access needs.

The average visit is about two hours, and children under 13 must remain with an adult age 18 or older. Check the live program schedule because aquarium interactions, demonstrations, observatory access, outdoor activities, and the splash pad can be weather-, event-, or construction-dependent. Weekday afternoons after 2:00 p.m. and weekend mornings from 10:00-11:00 a.m. are often quieter during the school year, but crowd levels are never guaranteed.

Enter Dreher Park from Southern Boulevard, turn onto Dreher Trail North, and continue to the exact science-center pin. Parking throughout Dreher Park is free. The operator is expanding the campus, so use its current construction link before visiting and expect route, exhibit, or bag-storage changes. Average exhibit time is about two hours; weekday field trips commonly leave by 1:30 p.m., and children under 13 must remain with an adult age 18 or older.