Visiting the Woods Hole Science Aquarium

The Aquarium is designed for self-guided tours of the main exhibits and a behind-the-scenes look at Aquarium operations. There is no admission charge.

New England/Mid-Atlantic

To help constrain the spread of coronavirus, the Woods Hole Science Aquarium is closed to the public until further notice. The situation is evolving, and we evaluate our options daily. Please check back here or follow us on Twitter and Facebook for the latest updates.

"Whale Trail" whale statue in front of aquarium

The Woods Hole Science Aquarium displays approximately 100 species of marine animals found in Northeast and Mid-Atlantic U.S. waters.

Location

Woods Hole Science Aquarium
166 Water Street
Woods Hole, MA 02543
(508) 495-2001

Directions from Boston
Directions from Providence
Visit Us by Bus

Hours

Currently closed to the public.

Wheelchair access

The main Aquarium gallery is wheelchair accessible. A ramp at the rear of the Aquarium provides access to the second floor behind-the-scenes area and touch tank. If you need help with wheelchair access please notify the front desk.

Rules

No pets allowed. Service dogs permitted.

All strollers must be left outside. Our aquarium display and back-up areas have limited space.

Groups

We welcome visits from school groups and civic organizations. Groups larger than 10 should make a reservation by calling (508) 495-2267. The busiest season for groups is spring. If you would like to bring a school group anytime from March through June, please call for reservations as early in the school year as possible.

Special Needs

We welcome visitors with special needs. In addition to disability parking spaces and a wheelchair ramp near the main entrance, we can also offer exceptions to our visitor policies and hours for your visit. Please contact us ahead of time if we will need to plan for your visit.

Parking

Visitors should use public transportation if possible. There is no off-street parking available at the Aquarium. The village has on-street metered parking, but the spots fill up quickly in busy summer months. During the summer, you may want to park in Falmouth and use the Cape Cod Regional Transit Authority bus service. Bicycling between Woods Hole and Falmouth is also a popular alternative, and there is a bike rack located by our main entrance.

Activity Sheets

Our activity sheets can be answered by carefully viewing our animals and exhibits. Be aware, though, that the Aquarium collection will likely be a bit different every time you visit. We focus our activity sheets on animals that are almost always in the Aquarium, but occasionally a question might not be answerable on the day you visit.

To view the answer sheets, send us an e-mail or ask the staff when you visit.

Feedback

We like to hear from our visitors. If you take a few minutes after you have toured to let us know what was and wasn't useful, we will be better able to accommodate you and other visitors in the future. You can e-mail comments to the Aquarium staff.

More Information

Last updated by Northeast Fisheries Science Center on 03/07/2022

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