Long Beach day trip from Los Angeles
The best things to do in Long Beach, LA
The Aquarium of the Pacific, the Battleship Iowa, a harbor cruise past the Queen Mary and a night on the ship itself: here is how to spend a day in Long Beach, with honest advice on ticket prices, cancellation rules and getting there by car or Metro.
See our 5 picks
Short answer The best things to do in Long Beach are the Aquarium of the Pacific, a harbor cruise past the Queen Mary, and the Battleship Iowa next door in San Pedro. Each one fills a half day. Aquarium tickets cost $49.95 for adults on the official site, or from €44 on our top pick below.
Our 5 picks for things to do in Long Beach
Two tickets, a short harbor cruise, a cruise and battleship combo, and a guided battleship tour. The aquarium and the cruise start in Long Beach; the Battleship Iowa is docked in San Pedro, a short drive west.
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from €44 per person Our top pick 4.5 (800) reviews on GetYourGuide
Aquarium of the Pacific entry
Skip the ticket line and enter any time on your date. Inside: the jellyfish gallery, Shark Lagoon, the lorikeet aviary and Magellanic penguins.
Best for Families and anyone on a first visit to Long Beach
Check availability: Aquarium of the Pacific entry on GetYourGuide -
from €27 per person 4.7 (287) reviews on GetYourGuide
Battleship Iowa museum ticket
Walk the decks of the "Battleship of Presidents" at your own pace and see how the sailors lived. Kids can play the Vicky the Dog scavenger hunt on a phone.
Best for History fans and families with school-age kids
Check availability: Battleship Iowa museum ticket on GetYourGuide -
from €13 per person 45 minutes 4.4 (145) reviews on GetYourGuide
45-minute Long Beach harbor cruise
A narrated boat ride around Long Beach harbor, with views of the skyline and the Queen Mary, sea lions and huge container ships. Parking validation is included.
Best for Short on time, or traveling with kids
Check availability: 45-minute Long Beach harbor cruise on GetYourGuide -
from €40 per person 3 - 5 hours 4.5 (10) reviews on GetYourGuide
Harbor cruise and Battleship Iowa combo
Choose a 45-minute harbor cruise or a 2.5-hour whale-watching trip, plus general entry to the Battleship Iowa. Both start in San Pedro.
Best for Visitors who want a full half day by the water
Check availability: Harbor cruise and Battleship Iowa combo on GetYourGuide -
from €44 per person 3.5 hours 5.0 (9) reviews on GetYourGuide
Battleship Iowa with a crew-led tour
About two hours on your own across five decks, then a 1.5-hour crew-led tour into areas you would not see alone. Small groups of up to 10.
Best for Navy and history buffs who want the stories
Check availability: Battleship Iowa with a crew-led tour on GetYourGuide
Long Beach tickets and cruises compared
| Tour | From | Duration | Group size | Pickup | Free cancellation | Who it suits | Why we picked it |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aquarium of the Pacific entry | €44 per person | Not stated | Not stated | Meet on site | Yes, up to 24 hours in advance | Families and anyone on a first visit to Long Beach | The best-known sight in Long Beach, rated 4.5 from 800 reviews, and you can enter at any time that day. |
| Battleship Iowa museum ticket | €27 per person | Not stated | Not stated | Meet on site | Yes, up to 24 hours in advance | History fans and families with school-age kids | The best-rated ticket here (4.7 from 287 reviews), and the cheapest at from €27. |
| 45-minute Long Beach harbor cruise | €13 per person | 45 minutes | Not stated | Meet on site | Yes, up to 24 hours in advance | Short on time, or traveling with kids | The cheapest pick at from €13 and only 45 minutes, rated 4.4 from 145 reviews. |
| Harbor cruise and Battleship Iowa combo | €40 per person | 3 - 5 hours | Not stated | Meet on site | Yes, up to 24 hours in advance | Visitors who want a full half day by the water | One booking for two sights, rated 4.5 from 10 reviews; transport between the boat and the ship is not included. |
| Battleship Iowa with a crew-led tour | €44 per person | 3.5 hours | Small group: Up to 10 people | Meet on site | Yes, up to 24 hours in advance | Navy and history buffs who want the stories | A real guide on board, rated 5.0 from 9 reviews; not suitable for wheelchair users. |
Prices and ratings as shown on GetYourGuide on 22 October 2026. Prices are "from" prices in euros and can change; the booking page shows the live price.
Aquarium of the Pacific tickets: what they cost
Aquarium of the Pacific tickets cost $49.95 for adults, $34.95 for children aged 3 to 11 and $46.95 for seniors 62 and over. Those are the official prices in October 2026. Children under 3 go free.
On weekends and holidays, every visitor needs a reservation, so book ahead. You can still pay in person at the ticket windows; the aquarium asks you to make a free reservation first. Parking in the city garage next door is $8 for the day with aquarium validation.
Battleship Iowa and harbor cruises
The Battleship Iowa is the best second sight after the aquarium. It is a museum ship at 250 S Harbor Blvd in San Pedro, the Los Angeles port next to Long Beach. You can explore on your own, or add a crew-led tour for the stories.
A harbor cruise is the easiest way to see the Long Beach skyline, the Queen Mary and the working port. The short Long Beach cruise takes 45 minutes. The San Pedro combo adds the battleship, or swaps in a 2.5-hour whale-watching trip.
Los Angeles tours from Long Beach
Most guided Los Angeles tours start in Hollywood or Santa Monica, not Long Beach. From here, the harbor tours above are the easy option. For the rest of LA, take the Metro A Line north toward downtown Los Angeles.
Stay on the Queen Mary in Long Beach
Yes, you can stay on the Queen Mary in Long Beach: the old ocean liner is a hotel. Rooms range from Art Deco staterooms to full suites. Staying on board also puts you close to the ship's tours and restaurants.
Just want to look around? See our Queen Mary guide for tickets and ghost tours.
Getting to Long Beach: drive or Metro
Long Beach is one of the easiest day trips from Los Angeles. You can drive or take the train. The Metro A Line runs from downtown Los Angeles (7th St/Metro Center and Union Station) to downtown Long Beach.
A Metro ride costs $1.75, and you never pay more than $5 a day with a TAP card. From the downtown Long Beach stops, the aquarium is a 10-minute walk downhill. The free Passport bus also links downtown and the aquarium.
Driving makes sense if you also want the Battleship Iowa in San Pedro, which is harder to reach by train. Then you can do the aquarium, the ship and a cruise in one day.
Adding San Pedro, or the coast further south? A rental car from LAX is the easiest way to link the stops.
Long Beach booking tips
Book the aquarium on weekends
Reservations are required on weekends and holidays. A ticket with a date, like our top pick, covers that.
Get your parking validated
Bring your parking ticket into the aquarium. With validation, the garage costs $8 for the day.
Read the cancellation line
Most picks show free cancellation on their booking page. Check the exact cut-off there before you book.
Mind the two harbors
The short cruise leaves from Long Beach, but the Iowa and the combo cruise are in San Pedro. Plan the drive between them.
Seasick? Pick the short cruise
The 45-minute cruise stays inside the harbor. The whale-watching option goes out to sea and is not for people prone to seasickness.
Use the TAP cap
On the Metro, you pay for three rides and then ride free for the rest of the day.
Questions people ask
Can you stay on the queen mary in long beach?
Yes. The Queen Mary is a hotel, with Art Deco staterooms and suites on the ship. It is docked at 1126 Queens Highway in Long Beach.
How much do aquarium of the pacific tickets cost?
$49.95 for adults, $34.95 for children aged 3 to 11 and $46.95 for seniors 62+, on the official site in October 2026. Children under 3 go free. Our top pick starts at €44 per person.
How to get aquarium of the pacific tickets with wic?
The aquarium says it cannot offer free or discounted entry with an EBT card or SNAP benefits. Its site does not mention WIC. Ask your local WIC office whether it has aquarium coupons, before you buy a full-price ticket.
Can you buy tickets at the aquarium of the pacific?
Yes, at the ticket windows. On weekends and holidays you need a reservation first, which is free if you plan to pay in person.
More Long Beach tours with live availability
More options with live prices and availability, straight from GetYourGuide.
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More trips by the water
Facts checked on 22 October 2026 against: Aquarium of the Pacific: prices and hours · Aquarium of the Pacific: tickets · Aquarium of the Pacific: parking · Aquarium of the Pacific: public transit · Aquarium of the Pacific: EBT · The Queen Mary · LA Metro: fares · LA Metro: A Line · LA Metro: A Line timetable.
Written by the Things to Do in Los Angeles editorial team.