Things to do nearUSS Midway Museum
The USS Midway Museum in San Diego, California is a retired aircraft carrier turned living naval history landmark, celebrated for its flight deck, restored aircraft, and immersive exhibits.
The USS Midway was commissioned in 1945 and went on to serve for 47 years, making it the longest-serving US Navy aircraft carrier of the 20th century. During its active life the ship participated in operations spanning from the Cold War era through Operation Desert Storm in 1991. After decommissioning, the Midway found a permanent home at the B Street Pier in downtown San Diego, opening to the public as a museum in 2004. The city's deep ties to the US Navy make it a fitting port for such a vessel.
Visitors can explore more than 60 restored aircraft on the flight deck and in the hangar bay, ranging from fighter jets to helicopters. Self-guided audio tours wind through over 60 exhibits across multiple decks, taking in the engine room, the ship's jail, the crew's mess, and the primary flight control tower. Climb into a flight simulator, sit in a cockpit, or stand at the controls on the navigation bridge for a direct sense of how the ship was operated.
Food options on the ship keep visitors fueled without requiring them to leave the experience mid-visit. The surrounding Embarcadero waterfront offers additional dining and easy connections to other San Diego attractions, including the Maritime Museum of San Diego just a short walk away along the harbor.
The USS Midway Museum rewards curiosity at every level, from aviation enthusiasts studying the aircraft specifications to families discovering the daily realities of life at sea. Few places in California put you this close to living naval history in such a tangible, unhurried way.
7-day forecast
Tips for visiting USS Midway Museum
Visit on a weekday morning when crowds are thinner and you can move freely through the berthing compartments and hangar bay without long waits.
Try the self-guided audio tour, narrated in part by former Midway sailors, for personal accounts that bring individual spaces on the ship to life.
Bring a light jacket, as the open flight deck catches steady ocean breezes off San Diego Bay even on warm afternoons.
Walk to the bow of the flight deck for an unobstructed panoramic view of the downtown San Diego skyline and Coronado Bridge.
Look for the volunteer docents stationed throughout the ship, many of whom are Navy veterans who served on carriers and can answer detailed questions firsthand.
Top tours & experiences near USS Midway Museum
Guided 2-Hour San Diego Bay Speed Boat Tour
Take the wheel for a guided ride past San Diego Harbor landmarks
2.5-Hour San Diego Bay Sightseeing Cruise
Cruise San Diego Bay past the USS Midway and beneath Coronado Bridge
San Diego 2.5-Hour Sightseeing Cruise
Cruise San Diego Bay for views of the skyline, USS Midway, and Coronado Bridge
Cruise San Diego Bay on a Private Charter
Private Aquata charter for up to 11 with bay sights and a comfortable cabin
3-Hour Private San Diego Bay Charter Cruise
Private San Diego Bay catamaran charter with captain, crew, and bartender
2-Hour Private San Diego Bay Charter Cruise
Private 2-hour San Diego Bay catamaran charter with captain, crew, and bartender
2-Hour Morning Sail in San Diego
Enjoy a relaxed San Diego Bay sail with snacks, drinks and family-friendly fun
GPS-Guided Scooter & Speedboat Tour in San Diego
Explore San Diego by storytelling scooter, then drive a guided speedboat across the bay
Tiki-Themed San Diego Bay Cruise
Island music, skyline views and dancing on San Diego Bay
2-Hour Private San Diego Harbor Cruise Charter
Charter a 2-hour private catamaran cruise with a bar, dance floor, and water slide
4-Hour Private San Diego Bay Charter Cruise
Private 4-hour San Diego Bay cruise with captain, crew, and onboard bartender
4-Hour Private San Diego Harbor Cruise Charter
Book a 4-hour private San Diego catamaran charter with captain, crew, and a bartender
Cruise San Diego Harbor on a 3-Hour Private Charter
Book a 3-hour private catamaran charter with bar, slide, and harbor views
Cruise San Diego Bay on a 2-Hour Private Charter
Private 2-hour Aquata yacht charter with swim stop and bay sights
Cruise San Diego Bay on a 3-Hour Private Charter
Private 3-hour Aquata charter with captain and space for up to 11
Cruise San Diego Bay on a 4-Hour Private Charter
Private 4-hour yacht charter with captain and swim stop in San Diego Bay
Cruise San Diego Bay on a 6-Hour Private Charter
Private 6-hour San Diego Bay cruise with captain and swim stops
Cruise San Diego Bay on a Private 8-Hour Yacht Charter
Private 8-hour San Diego yacht charter with captain and swim time
Ride a 2-Hour After-Dark GoCar Tour in San Diego
See downtown San Diego lights in an E‑Sport GoCar with built-in navigation
Explore Downtown San Diego on a 1-Hour GoCar Tour
See Little Italy, the harbor, and the Gaslamp Quarter in 1 hour
Ride a 2-Hour San Diego GoCar Tour to Balboa Park
Drive your own GoCar past Balboa Park, Old Town, and the Gaslamp Quarter
1-Hour After-Dark GoCar Tour in San Diego
Cruise San Diego after dark in a two-seat GoCar
2-Hour Slingshot Tour of Downtown San Diego & Balboa Park
Ride a Slingshot through Downtown San Diego and Balboa Park
2-Hour Electric GoCar Tour of Downtown San Diego & Balboa Park
Drive an electric GoCar through Downtown San Diego and Balboa Park
Drive a Slingshot on an 8-Hour San Diego Tour
Drive a Slingshot all day and choose your own San Diego route
3-Hour San Diego Evening GoCar Tour
Drive a GoCar in San Diego at night and get up to 1 hour free
San Diego 5-Hour Private Harbor Charter
Private catamaran cruise with room to celebrate on San Diego Harbor
San Diego 6-Hour Private Harbor Charter
Host your group aboard a modern catamaran with San Diego landmark views
6-Hour San Diego Bay Charter
Host a private catamaran cruise with Bay landmarks, decks, and bartender service
5-Hour San Diego Bay Private Charter
Cruise San Diego Bay privately with a captain, crew, and bartender
San Diego 2.5-Hour Private Day Sail
Take the helm on a private sail past San Diego landmarks
Morning Sailing Charter in San Diego
Private bay sailing with Point Loma or Coronado routes
2-Hour San Diego GoCar Tour
Early Bird savings on a GoCar drive through San Diego’s parks and waterfront
Explore San Diego on an 8-Hour GoCar Rental
Cover San Diego landmarks and coastal sights in a GoCar
San Diego GPS-Guided Scooter Rental
Explore downtown, Balboa Park, and Old Town by Phat Scooter
2-Hour San Diego GoCar & Scooter Tour
See downtown, Balboa Park, and Hillcrest by GoCar and electric scooter
San Diego E-Bike Rental
Explore San Diego's neighborhoods and landmarks at your own pace
Explore San Diego on a 4-Hour GoCar Tour
Drive through downtown, Balboa Park, and Old Town with time to stop and explore
2-Hour Coronado Island GoCar Tour From San Diego
Drive an open-air electric GoCar across the Coronado Bridge and around the island
San Diego Gaslamp Quarter Scooter Tour
GPS-guided scooter route from Little Italy to the waterfront and Gaslamp Quarter
San Diego 2-Hour GPS-Guided Scooter Tour
Trace San Diego's past and present from Little Italy to Old Town by GPS-guided scooter
San Diego 2-Hour Balboa Park Scooter Tour
GPS-guided scooter route through Balboa Park and San Diego’s downtown sights
San Diego 8-Hour Ocean Exploration Charter
Explore San Diego’s bays, landmarks, and La Jolla your way
Private Sailboat Cruise & Wine Tasting in San Diego
Sail San Diego Bay, then savor local wine on a private outing
Seaport Village & Little Italy 4-Mile Running Tour
An easy-paced waterfront run with Seaport Village sights and runner-focused stretching