Space Center Houston – Look to the Skies with Trip.com!

Space Center Houston – one of the world’s leading science and space exploration learning centers – is suitably located in the city of Houston, Texas.

This is where President John F. Kennedy announced to the nation and the world his plan to land a man on the moon by the end of the 1960s,

famously declaring: "We choose to do these things not because they are easy, but because they are hard."

Of course, Neil Armstrong and the others would make that famous trip for the first time in 1969, and it’s here at Space Center Houston that their history is remembered. Unlike their trip, yours doesn’t have to be so hard – not with Trip.com here to help you!

The history of manned space exploration is the story of one of humanity’s greatest achievements – something even our recent ancestors could never have imagined possible. It is an achievement born from great struggle and sacrifice, and Space Center Houston uses this opportunity to teach the world about the wonders of space exploration.

A deepened sense of the wonders of our universe awaits all visitors to Space Center Houston, especially a new, younger generation of budding scientists and space explorers.

With inspirational education programs featuring space artifacts, lunar rocks, and concepts designed by none other than Disney themselves, Space Center Houston tickets will even get you a look at the behind-the-scenes work of NASA!

So keep reading, and let Trip.com give you the complete guide to Space Center Houston – it’s truly a fantastic voyage!

Lunar Module LTA-8: vehicle for the longest journey in human history. Source: Mark Konig / unsplash

Space Center Houston – All the Basics

NASA didn’t get to the moon by just pointing a rocket at the sky and hoping for the best – their journey was meticulously planned, carefully budgeted, and properly scheduled.

With Trip.com, you can give your journey the same level of consideration!

Let’s give you some answers to the basic questions: ✅Where is Space Center Houston? ✅How can we get there? ✅How much are Houston Space Center tickets? ✅When is Space Center Houston open?

Keep reading to get the answers to all these questions, and more!

Space Center Houston Location

It’s in the Webster suburb of this expansive city – a location that has been intimately linked to the NASA story for several decades. It’s here where the Manned Space Center – known as the Johnson Space Center, after the US President Lyndon B. Johnson – was built in 1961, and is still active today.

Space Center Houston is the official museum and visitor center for Johnson Space Center, which is where all the serious business of space exploration goes on.

Not far away there’s the Kemah Boardwalk, a picturesque strip of dining spots, pubs, and attractions on the placid shores of Galveston Bay and Clear Lake.

Read on to find out the best ways of getting here…

A uniform that's been to the moon and back... Source: Benjamin Recinos / unsplash

Space Center Houston Transportation

If you’re flying into Houston, you can rent a car at the airport. Houston is served by 2 airports – George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) is the larger, and is located 23 miles north of downtown.

More convenient, however, if you have Space Center Houston tickets, is the smaller Hobby Airport (HOU), which is 7 miles south of downtown.

In the car, it’s the I-45 out of the city center. Take exit 24, and follow the helpful signs for NASA! The drive will take around 30 mins, depending on the traffic.

A Lyft or Uber from downtown will cost around USD30.00 each way, which is reasonable especially if you’re sharing the fare.

There are limited public transport options, too. Whether you’re traveling from one of the airports, or from downtown, there is a Houston Metro route to the Space Center.

From Hobby (HOU), the metro to Space Center Houston will take around 2 hrs. Take 088 Hobby in the direction of Downtown, and alight at the Eastwood Transit Center. Change then onto the 247 Bay Area in the direction of Monroe/Bay Area/Space Center/Fuqua. The 247 stops right in the parking lot of the Space Center.

From Intercontinental (IAH), it will take around 3 hrs on the metro to get to the Space Center. If you take the 102 IAHEXPRE toward Downtown, you can change for the 247 at the junction of Milam Street and Jefferson Street.

Alternatively, you can remove all stress from your trip by booking a guided tour that will take you through Houston and out to the Space Center in the luxury of your own air-conditioned and chauffeured vehicle!

Trip.com have a couple of great tour options available. There’s a Private Houston City Tour with Space Center Houston admission included. From USD88.99, you can enjoy a 90-min sightseeing tour of Houston itself, followed by unlimited time at the Space Center. And it all comes with a knowledgeable and friendly guide.

There’s also a Tour through Houston with Space Center admission included that begins at a visitor center for that other icon of Texas – the cowboy!

From cowboys to astronauts, Houston and Texas are famed for opening new frontiers. And this trip begins at a cowboy-themed visitor center filled with Texas heritage artifacts. From there, you’ll drive out to explore the final frontier – space exploration.

Genuine artifacts from the history of lunar exploration at Space Center Houston. Source: Hafidh Satyanto / unsplash

Space Center Houston Ticket Price

When booking through the official website, you’ll see there are 3 tiers of tickets. You can buy a child ticket for ages 4 to 11 for USD24.95, an adult ticket for ages 12 and older for USD29.95, and a senior ticket for 65 and older for USD27.95.

The official website also has various membership options, each with their own privileges – from individual membership at a rate of USD55 right up to patron membership at USD1,000.

For discount tickets, however, keep reading – Trip.com can certainly help you out!

NASA robots at Space Center Houston. Source: Adlemi Mar / unsplash

Space Center Houston Hours

In the off season, Space Center Houston opens between 10:00 and 17:00 on weekdays, and 10:00 and 18:00 on weekends. During the peak months of summer, you’ll find the Space Center Houston open between 09:00 and 18:00 every day of the week.

Be sure to check the official website before making specific plans, as these times may change. Also, make sure you factor these times into your transportation methods. Space Center Houston is positively huge – 250,000 square feet – and there’s a lot of ground to cover!

This winter you can also hit the Space Center late, for an extra special experience! The Galaxy Lights display is an interactive light display that will be running from 18:00 to 22:00 between Nov 12 and Jan 1. Keep reading to find out more about this special way to add to that Christmas feeling, this year in Texas!

Space Center Houston Tickets With Trip.com

Space travel doesn’t come cheap – if you’re traveling with Elon Musk, you can expect to pay up to half a million dollars! But getting to Space Center Houston with Trip.com doesn’t have to break the bank at all.

You can select the timeslot for your visit – 09:00, 10:00, 11:00, 12:00, 13:00, or 14:00. As with many attractions these days, these timeslots have been introduced to manage crowds and make sure that everyone’s visit is safe and compliant with COVID-19 restrictions.

Exhaust nozzle of the Saturn V rocket at Space Center Houston. Source: Hafidh Satyanto / unsplash

Things to Do at Space Center Houston

With a vast surface area, the Space Center Houston is home to some of the most jaw-dropping exhibits in the history of manned space exploration. Lovers of science and space will happily spend hours here marveling at the engineering feats and human achievements of the space programs.

Featuring permanent exhibits, temporary exhibits, and special events, there is a wide range of entertaining and educational options on offer.

Keep reading to find out more…

The SpaceX 9 Rocket Exhibit

Included in the price of admission is the SpaceX 9 rocket exhibit. This is the newest exhibit at Space Center Houston, and one of only 2 of these rockets on display anywhere.

It’s a prime example of reusable spacecraft, and is presented here at the Space Center Houston elevated, 14 feet off the ground. That lets you walk beneath it, understand its true scale, and learn about what makes it so special.

This particular model – B1035 – flew for the last time in 2017, making it a relatively recent retiree! Be sure not to miss it while you’re at the Center.

The dramatic SpaceX Falcon launch. Source: SpaceX / unsplash

Starship Gallery

The history buffs among you will jump at the chance to visit Starship Gallery at Space Center Houston. See the Apollo 17 command module – the real thing – up close and in person. Take a good look at the test ejection seats – never used – that would have been given only to the commander and pilot of the shuttle orbiter Columbia.

Also, within the Starship Gallery, you’ll be able to see the lectern from which John F. Kennedy gave his famous speech in 1961, promising a manned trip to the moon that he unfortunately would never see.

In that speech, he called space exploration "the most hazardous and dangerous and greatest adventure on which man has ever embarked". Among the relics and artifacts of the Starship Gallery, you will get a real sense of the risk, sacrifice, and glory involved in that adventure.

NASA Tram Tour

The Johnson Space Center is where the magic actually happens. This is where you’ll get a look behind the scenes at where astronauts are actually trained, and where the Apollo Mission Control Center is located.

There are multiple different options you can choose on the NASA Tram Tour. Visit the Abbey Rocket Park, for example, where you can view one of the only 3 remaining Saturn V rockets.

You can also choose to walk the elevated path to see the Astronaut Training Facility – this is where you’ll find astronauts training for missions, and a new generation of vehicles being designed.

Also on the Tram Tour, you can visit the Apollo Mission Control which guided Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin to that history-changing first lunar landing.

Buzz Aldrin poses inside the first lunar landing module. Source: NASA / unsplash

Time-limited Experiences!

The first is the Halloween-themed "Galaxy Frights". Running on weekends in Oct between 10:00 and 18:00, you’ll have all sorts of festive activities to take part in!

You can dress up as your favorite Halloween character and participate in a costume parade on the main plaza. You can see Spidernaut, a genuine spider-like robot prototype designed by NASA. It looks like something straight from a science fiction movie!

There’re candy stations, pop-up science labs with hands-on experiments, inflatable mazes, and monster murals – a whole range of spooky and fun activities you’ll want to savor all day.

The second time-limited experience is the festive and Christmassy “Galaxy Nights” exhibition. This is an interactive light show that runs from Nov 12 to Jan 1 in the evenings, between 18:00 and 22:00. Tickets for this are not included in general admission and must be purchased separately. They are available starting at USD19.95 for the public and USD15.95 for members.

There’s nothing better for all the family than combining an educational experience with a little bit of seasonal fun. Don’t miss out on these great opportunities with Houston Space Center tickets.

But with Space Center Houston admission, you’ll also want to know where is best to stay. Keep reading to get the details on the best hotels around…

Put your footprint on a new frontier at Space Center Houston. Source: NASA / unsplash

Hotels Near Space Center Houston

It might be quite a distance from downtown Houston, but there’re a lot of great hotel options near Space Center Houston. So if you want to skip the fuss of driving or public transport, consider one of these fantastic locations to stay nearby – just a lunar rock’s throw from the Space Center itself.

Hampton Inn and Suites Houston Clear Lake

Free hot breakfast, parking, and Wi-Fi come as standard, as well as the outdoor pool, gym, and business center.

Not just perfect for seeing the Space Center Houston, it’s also a great location for seeing Kemah Boardwalk and for cruises out of Galveston.

The desolate beauty of Galveston Pier. Source: Terren Hurst / unsplash

Sonesta ES Suites Houston – NASA Clear Lake

Boasting spacious suites with equipped kitchens and multiple bedrooms, it’s a great choice for large or extended groups of family and friends. From a studio suite, to a one-bedroom suite, to double-bedroom suites with a fireplace, there’s a great choice on offer.

Space Center Houston is just 2 miles away – super easy in an Uber or a Lyft. A stay at Sonesta Suites is superb for the Space Center!

The Kemah boardwalk, near the Space Center Houston. Source: Pilar Salvador / unsplash

Super 8 by Wyndham/Houston/Galveston

But it is especially close, if you want one of the most convenient hotels to the Space Center Houston. The Center is less than a mile away, and Clear Lake is just 5 miles away.

You’re also close enough to make a bet at Gulf Greyhound Park – not quite as risky as launching a rocket full of men all the way to the moon, but a real thrill nonetheless. Nothing beats the atmosphere and excitement of the greyhound races!

Hilton Houston Hotel NASA Clear Lake

The sheltered bay of Clear Lake is not only a short distance from Space Center Houston, it’s also a great spot to begin exploring Armand Bayou Nature Center. This is the largest urban wilderness in the United States, containing wetlands, forests, prairie, and marsh habitats. This is the natural scenery that used to be prevalent across the region, so it’s a special opportunity to experience it preserved here.

You can spend time exploring our journey into the future at Space Center Houston, then explore our natural habitat at Armand Bayou. And one of the best places to stay while you do those is the Hilton Houston Hotel at Clear Lake.

Best Western Webster – NASA

One place you should visit when you’re at the Best Western is the locally famous Baybrook Mall, one of the best places around to do a spot of shopping.

Placid Galveston, by the Space Center Houston. Source: Victor Chaidez / unsplash

Space Center Houston Brings the Galaxy to You!

There’re very few attractions around the world that will leave you walking away with a reinvigorated sense of wonder – both at the universe, and our human accomplishments. The Space Center Houston is one of those places.

For children dreaming of being astronauts – and for those of us who used to dream! – Space Center Houston simply can’t be missed.

And there’re plenty of great attractions scattered around the local area! From watery fun in the Galveston Bay and on Clear Lake, to great dining and drinking opportunities on Kemah Boardwalk, there’s so much to do before and after your trip to the center.

Whether it's discount tickets for Space Center Houston, tours of Houston city, or the best places to stay while you’re there, Trip.com – as ever – has you covered!

So get onto Trip.com now, and check out discount tickets for the Space Center. It’s one small click for a man – but one giant leap for your next vacation experience…

Your trip should be easier than this...with Trip.com! Source: NASA / unsplash

FAQ