History

Pearl Harbor: book it yourself or take a tour?

How the program works

The USS Arizona Memorial program runs daily, every 15 minutes from 8 am to noon and 1 pm to 3:30 pm. It includes a safety orientation, a boat ride out to the memorial, time on the memorial, and the ride back. The 23-minute park film is separate and you can watch it on your own.

Booking yourself

• Book on recreation.gov. The program is free; the site charges a $1 non-refundable fee per ticket.
• Tickets release in two windows: 8 weeks ahead and 24 hours ahead, daily at 3 pm Hawaii time.
• Same-day in-person tickets are discontinued. Standby callback is the fallback, with variable waits.

When a tour helps

A Pearl Harbor tour from Waikiki handles the reservation, the drive and parking, and usually adds a guide. That is worth it if you do not have a car, missed the reservation windows, or want someone to explain the history as you go.

The bag rule

Bags larger than a small wallet are not allowed. Bring a clear backpack or leave your bag in the car.

Quick answers

How much does it cost to visit the USS Arizona Memorial?

The program is free. Recreation.gov charges a $1 non-refundable fee per ticket to reserve it.

How far ahead can I reserve the USS Arizona Memorial?

Reservations open in two windows: 8 weeks ahead and 24 hours ahead. New tickets are released daily at 3 pm Hawaii time.

Can I get same-day tickets at Pearl Harbor?

Same-day in-person tickets have been discontinued. Without a reservation you can try the standby callback, but wait times vary.

Can I bring a bag to Pearl Harbor?

Only a clear backpack or a bag no bigger than a small wallet. Larger bags are not allowed.