Explora Science Center and Children's Museum
Albuquerque, New Mexico · Museum
Address: 1701 Mountain Rd NW, Albuquerque, NM 87104
Phone: (505) 600-6072
About
Explora is a hands-on science and children's museum in Albuquerque's Old Town neighborhood, about two miles from downtown. The building holds more than 250 interactive exhibits across 20,000 square feet on two floors, covering science, technology, engineering, art and math. Instead of a fixed route, visitors wander between stations such as a laminar flow water fountain, an experiment bar, a high-wire bike suspended above the floor, and a performance theater used for live demonstrations.
A visit typically takes two to three hours given how many exhibits there are and how much of the museum rewards slow, hands-on exploration rather than quick viewing. Explora is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with an extra window on Monday mornings from 9 to 11 a.m. reserved as Toddler Time for the youngest visitors. As of 2026, admission runs $11 for adults ages 12 to 64 and $8 for children ages 1 to 11, seniors 65 and older, and students or military with ID. Children under 1 and Explora members get in free. The museum closes on January 1, July 4, the week after Labor Day, Thanksgiving and December 25, and closes early at 2 p.m. on December 24 and 31.
The museum is within walking distance of the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science and the Albuquerque Museum, and close enough to the shops and restaurants around the Old Town plaza to pair with a visit there. The National Museum of Nuclear Science and History is a short drive south.
The building includes elevators connecting its two floors and ramps at grade changes, and visitors have described wide aisles between exhibits that leave room for wheelchairs and strollers during busy periods. Explora also runs scheduled Sensory Friendly Time sessions for guests who prefer a quieter, dimmer visit.
Accessibility
Explora has not published its own accessibility page, so the details below are limited to what the museum itself states.
The downstairs restroom has an adjustable-height adult changing table, which is worth knowing if you are traveling with someone who needs a larger space for a change. Explora has not published which entrance is step-free or how wide the doorways are between exhibit halls, so it is worth calling ahead if you need a specific route through the building.
Families who want a lower-sensory visit can reserve Sensory Friendly Time, a scheduled hour with limited attendance and free admission. It comes with sensory kits (noise-reduction headphones, fidget objects, timers and social stories), reduced noise and light with some exhibits turned off, and a calming space set aside for breaks. These changes apply only during the scheduled sessions, not during regular open hours, so check Explora's events calendar for current dates before planning around them.
Explora has not published a service animal policy, wheelchair rental program, sign language interpretation, captioning or assistive listening devices, so treat those as unconfirmed rather than absent. Before you go, call (505) 600-6072 or email [email protected] to confirm accessible parking, restroom locations and entrance details for the day you plan to visit.
Checked by Accessible America, August 2026. Report a change
How we checked this
We checked these details against official information from the venue and public agencies:
- explora.us (3 details, checked 2026-08-28)
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