An aquarium, a rainforest and a discovery museum in three glass pyramids, with theaters, a ropes course and, in season, Palm Beach. General Admission is enough for the two big pyramids, and tickets bought online before your visit day cost less than at the gate.
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Official ticketsMoody Gardens, Galveston · Photo: Thomas Park / Unsplash · Credits
For the Aquarium and Rainforest pyramids alone, General Admission is enough. If you also want films or other attractions open on your date, compare it with the Value Pass. The cards show the regular gate prices from Moody Gardens' ticket shop. Online before your visit day it's cheaper, and the shop shows the lower price once you choose a date.
One-Day Value Pass
Includes: Aquarium, Rainforest, Discovery Museum (upstairs: the Galveston Children's Museum from November 1, 2026), ropes course and zip line, 3D and 4D theaters, 20,000 Leagues; in season also Palm Beach (shut until summer 2027) and Holiday in the Gardens
Adult (13–64)$85–90Child 4–12 / Senior 65+$75–80General Admission
IncludesAquarium and Rainforest pyramidsAdult (13–64)$65Child 4–12 / Senior 65+$55Combo
IncludesAquarium or Rainforest with one 3D and one 4D filmAdult (13–64)Shown when bookingChild 4–12 / Senior 65+Shown when bookingSingle attraction
IncludesAquarium, Rainforest or one theaterAdult (13–64)Shown when bookingChild 4–12 / Senior 65+Shown when bookingSource: Moody Gardens ticket shop and ticket information, read on October 29, 2026. Prices vary by date.
Three glass pyramids, each a separate attraction. If you have time for only one, make it the Aquarium: of the two big pyramids, it's the one with no building work announced this winter.
A 1.5-million-gallon aquarium arranged by ocean: the Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean, the South Atlantic and the North and South Pacific. You'll see penguins, king penguins among them, seals, sharks, stingrays, a jellyfish gallery and thousands of tropical fish.
Feeding the stingrays, the Caribbean feeding, a Jelly Lab tour and the penguin and seal experiences cost extra. The coral lab behind the scenes works with NOAA's Flower Garden Banks sanctuary off the Texas coast.
Ten stories of rainforest from Asia, Africa and the Americas, with a waterfall, a pond and birds that fly free. You walk down from the Canopy Treetops through Nightfall and a bat cave to the Forest Floor and the Sunrise Gallery of insects.
Animals include giant river otters, a Komodo dragon, an ocelot, a pygmy slow loris and cotton-top tamarins. It's warm and humid inside. Expect work crews and temporary construction zones while it's upgraded.
Since November 1, 2026, the upstairs gallery has housed the Galveston Children's Museum, for children up to 10, with hands-on science, play areas and maker activities. Your Moody Gardens ticket covers it, and the museum stays until January 2029.
Downstairs, the 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea theater keeps its regular showtimes: an interactive submarine trip with 3D pictures and 4D effects, led by a robotic pufferfish called Deep.
The MG 3D Theater shows films on a giant screen, and in the 4D theater you also get wind, snow and water. Both lend captioning devices and have accessible seats. The ropes course and zip line run depending on weather and crowds. Palm Beach, the summer water park with a wave pool, a lazy river and slides, is closed until summer 2027.
Moody Gardens Golf Course calls itself Galveston's only public course: 18 holes, par 72, five sets of tees, palms along the fairways and Sydnor Bayou at the edge. There's a twilight rate from 1 pm daily and a senior rate on weekdays. Green fees aren't on the website, so book a tee time online or call 409-683-4653.
Sources, read on October 31, 2026: Aquarium Pyramid, Rainforest Pyramid, Discovery Pyramid, Children's Museum announcement (read on November 1), Palm Beach, golf course, Moody Gardens FAQ, accessibility
For the two big pyramids, yes, if you buy the right ticket. This winter the Value Pass is harder to justify: Palm Beach is shut and the Rainforest has building work, so it mainly adds the films, the ropes course and the new Children's Museum.
$240gate price for 2 adults and 2 children aged 4–12
Aquarium and Rainforest. Enough if you mainly want to see animals or have half a day.
$320–340gate price for the same family
Worth it if you'll watch at least two films or do the ropes course and stay all day. In summer, with Palm Beach open, it's the better deal.
Lowest pricePick a date in the shop to see it
The pick if the weather is good enough for the beach, or you have only part of a day.
Buy online the day before and every option costs less. Most visitors see most of it in one full day. Savings worked out from the regular gate prices in the ticket shop on October 29, 2026.
The Christmas festival has ICE LAND, a mile-long trail of lights and ice skating. You need a separate evening ticket, the Holiday Pass, valid after 4 pm; for adults it starts at $55. Tickets for the Holiday Lights Trail alone start at $24, and ICE LAND costs $35 for adults and $29 for children and seniors. Value Nights are the cheapest: Sunday to Thursday from November 30 to December 17.
Sleep next to the pyramids and split the attractions over two days, with the indoor pool and the swim-up bar in between. No driving, no parking lot, no rush.
Photo: Expedia
Walk from your room to the pyramids, swim indoors or at the swim-up bar, and leave the car in the lot: self-parking is part of the resort fee.
Before you book: Palm Beach, the water park next door, stays closed until summer 2027.
Sources: Moody Gardens Hotel and FAQ, Guest rooms, Amenities and resort fee, Dog policy (PDF)
A biologist takes a small group behind the scenes for about 45 minutes. The sessions go into staff-only areas that aren't wheelchair accessible. Book on the animal encounters page.
Public penguin encounter
Price: $75 per person
Details: 45 minutes behind the scenes at 1 pm on select days, with 10 places. You also need an Aquarium Pyramid ticket (the shop asks for General Admission). Buy at least 20 minutes ahead; sales stop 15 minutes before
Private penguin encounter
Price$475 for up to 4DetailsAquarium entry included; 2 pm on Monday and Thursday to SundayPublic otter encounter
Price$90 per personDetailsSaturdays and Sundays at 11 am, 4 places, and you need a General Admission ticket as well. Ages 7 and up. Under-12s need an adult with themPrivate otter encounter
Price$475 for up to 4DetailsRainforest entry included; Fridays at 11 am; ages 7 and up, under-12s with an adultMoody Gardens is mid-island at 1 Hope Boulevard, on Offatts Bayou. It's the last stop of the Seawall trolley, which runs only on Fridays and Saturdays in winter. Trolley days.
We routed the driving distances with OpenStreetMap.
| To | Distance | By car |
|---|---|---|
| Pleasure Pier | 4.5 mi | about 10 min |
| The Strand | 6.2 mi | about 12 min |
| Cruise Terminal 25 | 6.4 mi | about 12 min |
| Galveston Island State Park | 9.6 mi | about 17 min |
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