City of Ocala
Home MenuContact
Discovery Center
701 NE Sanchez Ave.
Ocala, FL 34470
(352) 401-3900
Discovery@ocalafl.gov
Hours
Tuesday - Saturday: 10 AM - 4 PM
Closed Sundays & Mondays
Connect
Plan Your Visit
Admission includes access to animal collection and interactive hallway on the first floor as well as access to second-floor exhibition space. The exhibit space rotates out three different exhibits per year. We recommend allowing 45 minutes to 1 hour of time to enjoy our center. Please note that last entry is 30 minutes prior to closing.
Admission
| Ages | price |
|---|---|
| Adults (18+) | $8.00 / Person |
| Children (3 - 17) | $8.00 / Person |
| Seniors/Veterans | $7.00 / Person |
| Infants (2 and under) | Free |
| Discovery Center Members | Free |
| Family of Four | $28 / family |
| Museums for All Participants | Free |
|
StarLab planetarium (Saturdays at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. & 3 p.m.) |
$3.00 add-on each |
Closures Schedule
| Closures | Dates | re-open for business |
|---|---|---|
| Exhibit Installation | January 7 - 19, 2024 | Saturday, January 20, 2024 |
|
Engineering Day (Closed to Public, must be Registered) |
March 16, 2024 | March 19, 2024 |
| Exhibit Installation |
May 13 - 24, 2024 | Saturday, May 25, 2024 |
| Juneteenth | June 19, 2024 | Thursday, June 20, 2024 |
| Independence Day | July 4, 2024 | Friday, July 5, 2024 |
| Exhibit Installation | September 2 - 13, 2024 | Saturday, September 14, 2024 |
| Light Up Ocala | November 23, 2024 | Tuesday, November 26, 2024 |
| Thanksgiving | November 28-29, 2024 | Saturday, November 30, 2024 |
| Christmas Eve & Christmas Day | December 24-25, 2024 | Thursday, December 26, 2024 |
| New Year's Day | January 1, 2025 | Thursday, January 2, 2025 |
Parking
The main entrance to the Discovery Center is located on Sanchez Avenue up a case of stairs. Behind the building is a parking lot and an accessible entrance.
Annual Membership
Membership includes unlimited visits to the Discovery Center and discounts on classes and camps plus Association of Science and Technology Centers (ASTC) Passport Program.
Membership for a family of four (two adults and two children) is $110.00 and additional members are $25.00 each. Additional fees apply for Star Lab shows, special programming, merchandise, etc. Other membership types/sizes are available and may be purchased online, over the phone, or in person.
Detailed benefits:
- Access to three annual exhibits
- Discounted rates on Discovery Center classes and camps
- Association of Science and Technology Centers Travel Passport Program
- Membership at a science center within the ASTC network grants free or discounted admission to other ASTC Science Centers across Florida, the United States, and even internationally. There are over 20 institutions within the ASTC network in Florida!
- More information on the Passport Program and participation science centers here.
Museums for All
The Discovery Center is excited to announce a partnership with Museums for All. Museums for All is a program that allows those receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to gain free or reduced admission to more than 1,000 museums throughout the United States. The Discovery Center will provide free admission to the exhibits; however, it will not include add-on programming such as Star Lab. Valid cardholders may bring three additional guests for free per visit.