Admission

While admission to the Visitor Center is free, a donation of $5 per person or $20 per family is suggested. These funds help support our work and are greatly appreciated.

Getting Here

Get maps and driving directions from GoogleMaps.

Car: Newport is an hour west of Interstate 5 via Oregon Highway 20, the most direct route between the Willamette Valley and the coast. A number of other routes cross the Coast Range, and many visitors enjoy the leisurely, scenic trip along the Pacific Coast Highway, US 101.

Bus: Coast to Valley Express offers round trip bus service to Newport from Albany, Corvallis, and Philomath.

In-town shuttle: The City Loop Shuttle makes several stops daily at the HMSC. Route and schedule information is available here.

    Group Visits

    Advance Reservations

    Our staff and volunteers strive to provide every visitor with a friendly, informative visit. If you are bringing a group during normal operating hours, we can provide an introductory talk, but we request seven days' advance notice for groups of 12 or more. The suggested donation is $5/person, $20/family, or $1.75/student.

    During days and times when the Center is closed to the public, you can arrange in advance for the Visitor Center to be opened for your group. Your group will be able to explore our exhibits with a staff educator who can answer your questions. The fee for this option is $1.75/person/hour, with a minimum fee of $50 per hour. Please register your group visit at least seven days in advance.

    Youth and School Groups

    (For groups of 12 or more)

    • Please provide one chaperone for every five students
    • Ensure that chaperones stay with students at all times
    • If you do not bring enough chaperones, your group may be divided into sub-groups for programs.

    We also offer marine education classes and field trips for young people and groups. These all require advance planning and registration.

    Visitor Guidelines

    To ensure the safety of our visitors, the health of our animals and the comfort of all, we appreciate your cooperation in observing the following guidelines while visiting the Center:

    • Handle animals in the touch tank gently and with the respect due to any living creature.
    • Please refrain from running, shouting or other horseplay that could be dangerous or might interfere with other visitors' experience. 
    • Children must be accompanied by an adult. 
    • Please help us keep the Visitor Center clean. Food, drinks, and gum are not permitted in the Center.
    • Pets are not allowed in the Visitor Center.

    Accessibility

    The Visitor Center has one adult and one youth-sized wheelchair available for visitors. The touch tank exhibit is wheelchair accessible. Please email us or call (541-867-0100) with any additional questions.