Newport · Yaquina Bay, South Beach · Public aquarium
Oregon Coast Aquarium
Underwater tunnels, sea otters, puffins and Yaquina Bay views at a nonprofit aquarium just south of Newport’s bay bridge.
Opens the Aquarium’s online ticket page. Fridays and weekends cost $5 more than weekdays, and tickets are also sold at Admissions until 4:30 pm.
Details checked October 2026
Type
Public aquarium
Nonprofit, AZA-accredited, open since 1992
Admission
$29.95 adults (weekdays)
Fri & weekends $34.95 · kids 3–12 from $19.95
Hours
Daily 10–5 (fall–spring)
Labor Day–Memorial Day weekends; last tickets 4:30 · closed Dec 25
Time needed
1–1½ hours
The Aquarium’s own estimate
Parking
Free lot
Large-RV lot often closed Labor Day–Memorial Day
Underwater tunnel
200 ft
Passages of the Deep, in Keiko’s former home
What you’ll see
Under the sea in Newport
Indoor galleries, outdoor coastal exhibits and a bayfront trail make this an easy, weather-proof half day on the central coast.
Photo: OCAQMarketing on Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Start here
Walk the Passages of the Deep
The Aquarium’s headline exhibit is a 200-foot acrylic tunnel that runs through three ocean habitats inside the former home of Keiko, the orca from Free Willy. Sharks, rays and rockfish glide overhead and alongside you. It opened in 2000 and is the largest exhibit on site, so give it time rather than walking straight through.
RV tip: Arrive near the 10 am opening on a weekday: tickets are $5 cheaper than on Fridays and weekends, and you’ll have the full afternoon before last tickets at 4:30.
More to see
- Seabird AviaryWikipedia describes this as the largest outdoor seabird aviary in North America, home to tufted and horned puffins, common murres, black oystercatchers, rhinoceros auklets and pigeon guillemots.
- Sea otters and pinnipedsThe outdoor exhibits include sea otters plus harbor seals and sea lions. Check the daily schedule at Admissions for feeding times and animal presentations.
- Jelly Gallery and Rocky CoastIndoors, the Jelly Gallery, Rocky Coast, Sandy Coast and Connected Coasts galleries cover Oregon’s shoreline habitats. A temporary Amazon Basin exhibit is listed through January 2, 2028.
- Estuary TrailOn the 30-acre grounds, the Estuary Trail has three viewing platforms over Yaquina Bay, one of Oregon’s largest estuaries. At low tide, mud flats and eelgrass beds are exposed.
Why go
Why RVers make time for this aquarium
The Oregon Coast Aquarium is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, incorporated in 1984, that opened on May 23, 1992 and drew its first million visitors in nine months. Keiko the orca lived here from 1996 to 1998 before heading to Iceland; his pool became the Passages of the Deep tunnels in 2000. It has held AZA accreditation since 2000.
It sits on Yaquina Bay in South Beach, just off US-101 at the south end of the Yaquina Bay Bridge, so there’s no need to drive the rig through downtown Newport. Parking is free, and there’s a designated large-RV lot, though the Aquarium says it’s often closed from Labor Day through Memorial Day.
Fall through spring hours run 10 am–5 pm daily, and it’s a solid plan for a rainy or windy coast day. Weekdays are cheaper than Fridays and weekends. It closes at 3 pm on Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve and is closed Christmas Day.
Photo: Josh B on Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Why it made our list
- 200-foot underwater tunnel through three habitats
- Puffins, sea otters, seals and sea lions outdoors
- Free parking, with a large-RV lot in season
- Indoor galleries for rainy coast days
- Bayfront Estuary Trail with three viewing platforms
For RVers
Taking the rig to the Oregon Coast Aquarium
The practical stuff we wished someone had told us before we pulled in.
Know when the RV lot is open
All parking is free, and the Aquarium has a designated lot for large RVs. Its FAQ warns the RV lot is often closed from Labor Day through Memorial Day, which covers this fall and winter. Off-season, plan to unhitch at camp and drive in with the tow car or truck.
Getting there from US-101
From the north, follow US-101 south through Newport and across the Yaquina Bay Bridge, then turn left onto 35th Street and follow signs to SE Ferry Slip Road. Staying on 101 over the bridge avoids the tighter streets of the Bayfront and Nye Beach.
Plan for the dog
Pets aren’t allowed past the front gates and can’t be left with staff; certified service animals are welcome. There are pet exercise areas in the parking lots, but the Aquarium warns coastal weather changes fast, so don’t leave pets in an unattended vehicle. Leave them at camp if you can.
Timing your visit
Ticket sales stop at 4:30 pm and the doors close at 5 pm in fall and winter, so arrive by early afternoon. You can leave and come back the same day with proof of admission, which helps if you want lunch or a dog walk. No outside food inside; there’s a picnic area before the entrance.
What visitors say about Oregon Coast Aquarium
The visitor report card
We don’t copy other sites’ reviews, but the published scores are worth reading together. Scores checked October 29, 2026.
The Adventure Starts Here
Oregon Coast Aquarium, on its home page · aquarium.org
Before you go
Three things we’d bring
Tickets onlineRain jacketFeeding times
This is our own short list, not drawn from reviews. We couldn’t read review-site highlights for Oregon Coast Aquarium, so we don’t list review themes.
What it costs on a weekday
Weekday general admission from the Aquarium’s Tickets & Hours page. Fridays and weekends add $5 per ticket; ages 0–2 and members are free.
Good to know
Weekday admission$29.95 adults $23.95 seniors/teens, $19.95 kids
Friday & weekend$34.95 adults $28.95 seniors/teens, $24.95 kids
FreeAges 0–2, members, parking
Paid add-onsOctopus and jelly encounters
Prices and hours from aquarium.org’s Tickets & Hours page and home page, checked October 29, 2026. Prices can change; confirm before you go.
Know before you go
Plan your visit
Oregon Coast Aquarium
- Address2820 SE Ferry Slip Rd, Newport, OR 97365
- HoursDaily 10–5 (fall–spring)
Labor Day–Memorial Day weekends; last tickets 4:30 · closed Dec 25 - Phone(541) 867-3474
- TicketsBuy online or at Admissions on arrival
- Getting thereFrom Newport, take US-101 south across the Yaquina Bay Bridge, turn left on 35th Street and follow signs to 2820 SE Ferry Slip Road in South Beach.
- ParkingParking is free and a short walk from the entrance. The designated large-RV lot is often closed from Labor Day through Memorial Day.
Hours, prices and RV lot status change by season, so check aquarium.org or call (541) 867-3474 before you head over.
Where to stay nearby
RV parks near Oregon Coast Aquarium
Sea & Sand, just north of Newport, is our closest written-up park. The other two work if you are basing yourself farther south.
Sea & Sand RV Park
Terraced oceanfront full-hookup sites on a bluff above the beach near Depoe Bay.
Darlings Marina & RV Resort
Lakefront sites on Siltcoos Lake south of Florence, with a marina, boat rentals and a smokehouse.
Winchester Bay RV Resort
County-owned marina resort at Salmon Harbor with 167 full-hookup sites and bay views.
Helpful answers
Frequently asked questions
The questions RVers ask most before pulling in.
Daily 10 am–5 pm
Ready to walk under the sharks?
Buy weekday tickets online, bring the tow car, and plan about 90 minutes for the tunnels, otters and puffins.
Thank you to the people behind these photos and this video. Please support them by giving their work a look. Photos: OCAQMarketing (entrance; CC BY-SA 4.0), M.O. Stevens (underwater tunnel; CC BY 3.0), Josh B (sea nettle; CC BY-SA 2.0), Coughdrop12 (striped sunstar; CC BY-SA 4.0), M.O. Stevens (moray eel; CC BY 3.0) and Josh B (Tufted Puffin; CC BY-SA 2.0), via Wikimedia Commons; the images were resized. Video: Exit Thru the Gift Shop on YouTube (aquarium walk-through). Review-site logos are trademarks of their owners.
Disclaimer
RV-Roundup is an independent, community-based resource created to help RV travelers and to support and promote the places we feature. RV-Roundup is not owned by, operated by, or officially affiliated with Oregon Coast Aquarium unless otherwise stated.
The information on this page was prepared using the most current details available at the time of publication, including published materials from Oregon Coast Aquarium and other publicly available sources. Hours, pricing, rules and other details may change at any time without notice. Before you travel, please confirm all details directly at aquarium.org or (541) 867-3474. RV-Roundup is not responsible for errors, omissions, or changes made after publication.
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