Do you need to book Pearl Harbour tickets in advance?

Should Pearl Harbor Reservations be made in advance? We suggest that guests make reservations for their Pearl Harbor tour at the same time as when they are planning their trip to Hawaii. Tickets are limited and for many people, a Hawaiian vacations aren't something you are able to do every year.



Yes, it is highly recommended to book Pearl Harbor tickets in advance, especially for the USS Arizona Memorial program.

Here’s a detailed breakdown:

1. For the USS Arizona Memorial Program (The Most Popular)

  • Absolute Necessity: Tickets for the USS Arizona Memorial program, which includes the documentary film and boat ride to the memorial, are extremely limited and sell out weeks or months in advance.
  • Official Source: The only official, free tickets are released through Recreation.gov.
    • Release Schedule: A large batch is released 8 weeks (56 days) in advance at 3 PM HST. A smaller number of “next-day” tickets are released at 3 PM HST the day before.
    • You must book these in advance online to secure a spot. Walking up on the day without a reservation means you’ll likely be turned away or face a very long wait for a potential cancellation.
  • Paid Tour Options: If free tickets are sold out, you can book a paid tour through an authorized third-party vendor (like Pearl Harbor Tours, etc.). These tours include the Arizona Memorial program along with transportation and sometimes visits to other sites. This is the most reliable way to guarantee your visit if you didn’t get the free tickets.

2. For the Other Three Historic Sites (Without Arizona Memorial)

The Pearl Harbor National Memorial also includes three other ticketed museums: USS Bowfin Submarine Museum & Park Battleship Missouri Memorial Pacific Fleet Submarine Museum Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum For these individual sites

People Also Ask

Visitors are encouraged to create and log in to their accounts before tickets are released since tickets are limited and may be reserved in their entirety in several minutes. Same-day, free tickets are no longer available at the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center. (See the Booking Windows tab for more information.)

MORE DETAILS

Primary Booking Window: Tickets are available 8 weeks (56 days) in advance at 3 pm HST on a rolling daily window.

MORE DETAILS

Although there are 1,300 free tickets available daily, due to high demand there are often more people than free tickets and not everyone gets to visit the USS Arizona Memorial that day. For this reason, we encourage booking a guided tour. Guided tours include guaranteed tickets to the USS Arizona Memorial.

MORE DETAILS

You want to be able to get the most out of your Passport to Pearl Harbor tickets and to do that, we recommend that you plan to arrive fairly early in the morning, as close to the 7:00 AM opening time as possible.

MORE DETAILS

What You Should Know Before Visiting Pearl Harbor
  1. Book a Tour in Advance. ...
  2. Research & Study About Pearl Harbor in Advance. ...
  3. Pack Lightly. ...
  4. Dress Appropriately. ...
  5. Wear Comfortable Footwear. ...
  6. No Bags or Purses Allowed. ...
  7. Wear Sunscreen.


MORE DETAILS

Parking & Shuttle Free shuttles depart approximately every 15 minutes from the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. daily.

MORE DETAILS

For civilian visitors, there is no official dress code at Pearl Harbor. When you're dressing for the day, however, keep in mind that you're in a place of honor and historical importance. Dress comfortably, but not so much that you risk offending anyone visiting Pearl Harbor.

MORE DETAILS

Whether you're going from Honolulu Airport to Waikiki or Pearl Harbor to the airport, get where you're going with the Uber app you already know. Request a ride to and from HNL at the tap of a button.

MORE DETAILS

The Passport to Pearl Harbor ticket is the official, complete self-guided tour at the Pearl Harbor Historic Sites. This is the perfect tour to take your time at the places you want to see the most. 6-8 hours (approx.)

MORE DETAILS

Based on Pearl Harbor National Memorial reservation redemption rates, only 8-10% of Visitors can participate as standby. Waits for standby space available seating is 1-3 hours long. You must physically be in line and wait your turn, which can be a challenge in the heat and humidity.

MORE DETAILS

If you'd like, you can reserve your tickets online, up to two months in advance. This will ensure you get to visit the Memorial on your trip to Hawaii. Reserve your tickets for late morning or mid-afternoon to avoid the biggest crowds. The last program begins at 3:00 pm.

MORE DETAILS

With so many sites to see at Pearl Harbor, expect lots of walking. Wear comfortable shoes and breathable clothing.

MORE DETAILS

The memorial sits overtop the wreckage, where more than 900 bodies are still entombed in the ship's hull. While you can visit all of the above on your own and free of charge, you still have to reserve tickets and find your way around – which is why guided tours of Pearl Harbor are so popular.

MORE DETAILS

USS Arizona Memorial is a must visit for visitors as it is the most important WWII sites in the United States. The Visitor Center opens at 7:00 am daily and the programs start at 7:30 AM. The programs at the USS Arizona Memorial run every 15 minutes.

MORE DETAILS

From anywhere in Waikiki or the Ala Moana Shopping Center, take the #20 or #42 public bus (called TheBus), which will take you to the USS Arizona Memorial Visitor Center. If you're not sure where to get off, just ask the driver. A ticket costs $2.50.

MORE DETAILS

Pearl Harbor in Honolulu is 11 miles or a 25-minute drive from Waikiki Beach by car. Travelers can get to Pearl Harbor from our Waikiki Beach hotel by taking Highway 201 and following signs to the Pearl Harbor Historic Site and Visitor Center.

MORE DETAILS

Because Pearl Harbor National Memorial has a no bag policy, it is recommended that you bring snacks and water bottles that you can carry. There is a small snack shop on site that carries various sundry snacks and cold beverages. There are water fountains located throughout the park to use or refill water bottles with.

MORE DETAILS

The USS Arizona Memorial is closed to visitation due to a failure of the anchoring system for its dock. The anchor system failure occurred due to natural variables related to sediment in Pearl Harbor.

MORE DETAILS

Many visitors say this is a must-do attraction, and recommend reserving your free ticket well in advance since availability is so limited due to high demand. A visit to the USS Arizona Memorial is free, but you have to reserve a time slot on Recreation.gov in advance for the boat tour.

MORE DETAILS