Visit

OMCA is CLOSED on the following public observances:

Martin Luther King Jr. Day (1/15/24)
Presidents’ Day (2/19/24)
Memorial Day (5/27/24)
Labor Day (9/2/24)
Veterans Day (11/11/24)
Thanksgiving Day (11/28/24)
Christmas Day (12/25/24)
New Year’s Eve (12/31/24)
New Year’s Day (1/1/25)

OMCA is OPEN on the following public observances:

Cesar Chavez Day (3/31/24)
Juneteenth (6/19/24)
Independence Day (7/4/24)
Day After Thanksgiving (11/29/24)

First Sundays at OMCA

Every first Sunday of the month, General Admission to OMCA’s Galleries of California Art, History, and Natural Sciences is free and tickets to Special Exhibitions in our Great Hall are offered at a discounted price of $6. Learn more about First Sundays at OMCA.

Museums for All

OMCA offers individuals and families (up to four individuals) admission, including access to special exhibitions, to the Museum for $1 for guests who hold an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card. No need to show your EBT card for admission — just say you’d like the “Museums for All” rate.

North American Reciprocal Museum Association

Present your current membership card, marked with the gold North American Reciprocal Museum (NARM) Program sticker, to enjoy admission for up to two people per membership at OMCA. (This benefit is for named cardholders only, cards listed as “guest of” not accepted.) Questions? Please contact our Membership office at 510-318-8520.

People with Disabilities

OMCA offers $9 dollar general admission for people with disabilities. Drivers and care assistants supporting visitors with disabilities will be given free access to the Museum. Anyone who self identifies as having a disability is eligible for this discount; no verification required.

Museums on Us

Museums on Us is a nationwide program through which Bank of America and Merrill Lynch cardholders get free admission to select museums on the first full weekend of every month (Saturday and Sunday). Simply present your active Bank of America® or Merrill Lynch® credit or debit card along with a photo ID to gain one free general admission to any participating institution. Cardholders only; guests are not eligible for free admission. Excludes special exhibitions, ticketed shows, and fundraising events.

Blue Star Museum

OMCA is a participating Blue Star Museum. Blue Star Museums offer free entrance for all active duty, National Guard, and Reserve military personnel and their families from Memorial Day through Labor Day each year.

Jurors

OMCA offers $3 general admission for Alameda County Courthouse active jurors. Please present proof to show you are an active juror.

Groups of 10 or more people enjoy discounted admission to our galleries and special exhibitions. Please follow these guidelines to make group reservations.

All group reservations must be made at least two weeks in advance.

Time Slots

Groups must choose a time slot, and the Group Sales Coordinator will follow-up with a ticket invoice. The time slots available for groups visits are Wednesday through Sunday at 11:30 am and 12:30, 1:30, 2:30, and 3:30 pm.

Group Size

Each time slot has capacity for one group of 10–60 people. Groups of nine or fewer are not eligible for group discounts; see our admission pricing and discounts on our visit page. If you have a group larger than 60, please contact [email protected] for more options.

Fees

Scheduled group visits receive 20% off admission. There is a $15 reservation fee to hold your desired time slot. After you have made your reservation, our Group Sales Coordinator will contact you with an invoice to finalize your reservation.

Cancellations & Refunds

Reservations must be canceled at least two weeks in advance to receive a refund for all fees. Any adjustments made to reservations after the two-week deadline are subject to consideration and are not guaranteed.

Walk-up Groups

We ask that all groups book in advance. Due to limited same-day availability, we may not be able to accommodate a walk-up group. Walk-up groups are required to pay the standard group rate in order to gain entry to the museum, plus a $25 walk-up fee. No additional discounts are available for walk-up groups.

K-12 Groups

Please see our education page for visit information, virtual programs, and teacher resources.

Chartering a Bus

Renting a bus can be a convenient way to travel to OMCA, especially for large school groups and organizations. San Francisco Charter Bus Company is a local charter bus rental company that services schools across Oakland and Alameda County. If chartering a bus from outside California, please visit National Charter Bus San Francisco or CharterUP San Francisco for a long-distance bus rental to OMCA. For other charter bus rentals in San Francisco and Downtown Oakland, please contact GOGO Charters San Francisco at 415-462-2870. No designated bus parking is available at the OMCA Garage. Please make prior arrangements with your provider.  

Location

OMCA is located at 1000 Oak Street, at 10th Street, situated between downtown Oakland and Lake Merritt. Our main entrance is at 1000 Oak Street. We also have a new Lakeside entrance at 12th Street and Lake Merritt Boulevard.

Parking

The OMCA garage is located at 1000 Oak St. with entrances on Oak and 12th Streets. Parking fees are $5 per hour with an early-bird discounted flat rate of $20 (in before 10 am, out before 5 pm). Those parking before 8 am and leaving before 10 am will pay the regular incremental rate.

Garage hours: 6 am—7 pm. Open late until 9 pm on Thursdays Jan—Mar. Open late until 10 pm on Fridays April—Oct.

Members receive a discount with validation. ADA and families-with-stroller parking is available on the top level of the garage. 

Additional parking is available at the Alco Parking Garage located at 165 13th Street at Jackson Street. Hours are subject to availability.

BART

OMCA is BARTable, conveniently located one block from the Lake Merritt BART station (between 8th and 9th streets at Oak Street). For a complete list of BART schedules, transfer information, and fares, visit bart.gov.

AC Transit

OMCA is accessible by a number of AC Transit bus lines. For more information, visit actransit.org.

Amtrak San Joaquins

If you are coming from Stockton or elsewhere in the San Joaquin Valley, OMCA is accessible via Amtrak San Joaquins, which offers six roundtrips daily. The Museum is conveniently located a short 15-minute walk or 4-minute rideshare from Oakland’s Jack London Square Station. For more information, visit amtraksanjoaquins.com.

Bike Parking

Free, on-street bike parking is available outside the Oak Street entrance to the Museum. Limited free covered bike parking is available in the OMCA Garage during garage hours. OMCA assumes no responsibility for loss or damage to property left at bike parking.

Accessibility

There are now three accessibility ramps available for entrance to the Museum. A ramp is located at the main entrance of the Museum on Oak Street between 10th and 11th streets, as well as on the corner of our new entrance along 12th Street facing Lake Merritt. A new ramp along 10th and Fallon streets provides direct access to our cafe on the Mid Level of OMCA. Find out more about Accessibility at OMCA here.

Museum Map

Download the Museum map and start to plan your visit.

Whether you’re spending a day exploring our galleries and exhibitions or stopping in for a special program, welcome! We’ve created our Museum Guidelines to help you make the most of your visit. For our Garden Guidelines, visit our Garden Guidelines page. Have more questions about your visit? See our FAQs for more information.

Delight in the inspired cuisine of Chef Michele McQueen at Town Fare by Michele McQueen, the cafe located on OMCA’s Mid Level.

McQueen’s menu for Town Fare pays homage to her Southern family roots and Oakland upbringing, bringing together flavors from the diverse cultures within the local community. The menu is made up of shared plates, salads, sandwiches, and entrées, including vegan options, for on-site dining only. A smaller kids menu is also available. 

The Town Fare Sundeck is open during Museum hours. You do not need a Museum ticket to access Town Fare. View Town Fare’s hours→

Special Weekly Offerings

Sunday Brunch: Every Sunday, a brunch menu is offered from 11 am to 4 pm. On the last Sunday of the month, Town Fare hosts a Soul Sunday Buffet Brunch. 

*Please note: Sunday Brunch is first come, first served; Town Fare does not offer reservations. There is often a long line for Sunday Brunch, so please plan accordingly.

We’ve got something for everyone in your family. Check out all the things to do, see, and touch at the Museum—inside and out! Our new OMCA Kids: Nature Playspace, specifically designed for children ages 2–5 and their caregivers is open inside our Gallery of California Natural Sciences.

Check out our kids’ activity guide for ideas on what to do during your visit.