Self-Guided Field Trip

Visiting with your students? Book a self-guided school visit! Your students will have the opportunity to explore the Aquarium and discover on their own!

Groups must make a reservation ahead of time in order to receive the field trip discounted admission. Reservations must be made during office hours, Monday – Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., one week prior to your visit.

For pricing, please email [email protected] or call 361.881.1250.

To arrange your self-guided field trip, please call 361.881.1265, email [email protected], or fill out the form below.

Reservation Request Form

"*" indicates required fields

Address*
MM slash DD slash YYYY
Estimated time of arrival*
:
Group leader*
Would you like more information about enhancing your self-guided field trip with an instructor-led program?*
Would you like more information about a self-guided scavenger hunt to add-on?*

Please note the bus driver needs to check in at the ticket booth or information desk.

A woman takes a selfie with a group of 15 people, including children and adults, all smiling outdoors among greenery and rocks, dressed mostly in blue and casual attire.
Visiting with a Group of 10+?

We would like to accommodate your group, club, or even school classroom at a discounted rate. Please fill out the form below and we will be in touch with you shortly.
Groups must make a reservation 24 HOURS IN ADVANCE to receive the group rate discounted admission. Reservations must be made during office hours, Monday – Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Two girls wearing green vests stand in front of a large aquarium window, smiling and looking at fish. Reflections of the group and their outstretched hands are visible in the glass.
Group Lunch Reservations

Come join us for lunch at the Shoreline Grill.
Please make note of the requirements below.
– Lunches for your group must be ordered at least 2 weeks in advance.
–  All groups of 10 or more planning on eating in the food court must pre-order meals.
– Cancellations must be received no less than 72 hours prior to scheduled visit.
– If not properly canceled, orders must be paid for in full.

A group of children in uniform stand in silhouette, watching two dolphins swim behind the glass of a large aquarium tank.
See Our School Group FAQs

Have a question about visiting with your students? Read our Self-Guided Field Trip FAQ’s before your visit!

FAQ’s

How many chaperones are required?

Each group of 10 students or more must always be accompanied by a teacher or a chaperone. The minimum age for chaperones is 18. For high school groups, chaperones may not be a currently enrolled high school student. Bus drivers receive complimentary admission. Please have your bus driver check-in at the ticket booth if they wish to tour the facility. Any additional teachers, chaperones, or parents arriving with the group will be charged the Self-Guided Adult discount group rate.

When should my group arrive?

Please arrive 15 minutes before your scheduled check-in time. Upon arrival, please send only the Group Leader to the Aquarium Ticket Booth located in the Plaza of the Whales. The Group Leader will check-in at the ticket booth. Please provide us with a final count of attendees 1 day before your visit. Payment on the date you confirm your attendance count will assist with making your entry smoother. All paying chaperones will need to pay at the ticket booth area.

The Bus Driver must follow directions provided by the Aquarium staff for parking your school bus.

Assemble your group at the Bus Loading and Unloading Zone located at the Plaza of the Whales.

How does the Aquarium take payment for a self-guided group?

Please bring your confirmation letter.

The Group Leader is expected to make one payment for the entire group and is responsible for collecting and counting any cash should you pay on the day of your visit. Preferably, your payment will be made 1 day before your visit. There will be no refunds due to changes in student participants on the day of your visit.

Please make your school or organization check payable to the Texas State Aquarium. Credit cards accepted with proper ID: VISA, MasterCard, Discover and American Express. No school purchase orders, or personal checks will be accepted.

*No additional coupons, passes, or other discount offers can be applied to the Education Group Discount or Aquarium Self-Guided Adult discount. No Corporate Partner or Personal Membership privileges can be applied to the Education Group Discount.

Where is bus parking?

The Bus Driver must follow directions provided by the Aquarium staff for parking your school bus.

Assemble your group at the Bus Loading and Unloading Zone located at the Plaza of the Whales.

Can my group eat lunch at the Aquarium?

We’re committed to providing a safe, respectful, and enjoyable experience for all our guests—as well as the animals in our care. Refrigerators and storage are not available for ice chests or boxes and all lunches must be kept on the bus or in a personal vehicle. To ensure that everyone can enjoy their visit, we ask that all visitors follow our Guest Code of Conduct. These guidelines are designed to protect our wildlife, staff, and guests, and to maintain the welcoming environment that makes the Aquarium so special.

Is there storage space?

The Aquarium does not have storage space. Please leave coolers, lunches, and personal belongings on the bus.

Can my group visit the Splash Park?

Unfortunately, we cannot accommodate groups in the H-E-B Splash Park area. It is not part of the educational experience.

Can my group watch the animal presentations?

Absolutely! However, we cannot accommodate reserved seating for any of our animal presentations.

Can my group shop in the Gift shop?

Chaperones must accompany students in the Gift shop. Please check with the Gift Shop Manager on group sizes. Our Gift Shop does not have plastic bags for the safety of our animals and the environment, you may purchase a reusable bag if you need one or bring your own.

Late Arrival/Cancellation Policy

Late Arrival/Cancellation Policy: Groups are responsible for their arrival time. If you will be arriving late or need to cancel your reservation, please call M-F: (361) 881-1250 or on the weekend: (361) 881-1230. Please provide a two-week notice of any cancellation or change in your reservation.

Behavior Expectations

The Texas State Aquarium is a place of learning, fun, and discovery! To make sure that all visitors have a great time at the Aquarium, it is important to abide by these behavior expectations:

We are unable to reserve seating/space during any of our animal presentations.

Stay with your group. Students of all ages must always stay with their chaperones. One chaperone for every 10 students is required. Chaperones must be at least 18 years old and wear a Chaperone ID. For high school groups, chaperones may not be a currently enrolled high school student.

Be courteous and respectful of other visitors. Talk quietly and walk through the Aquarium. Running is not permitted at any time. Please use the stairs, leaving the elevator available for people in wheelchairs or parents with strollers.

Be respectful of the Aquarium exhibits and building. Please do not touch the exhibits, they are made of acrylic, not glass, and scratch easily. Please do not climb on exhibits or railings.

Help care for the animals and plants. We have 3 touch exhibits throughout the Aquarium where you are permitted to touch with 2 fingers only.

Keep food, drinks, and gum outside the Aquarium. Outside food and drinks are not permitted in the Aquarium. The Aquarium front lawn is available for picnic-style lunching. However, the area does not have any seating or cover from the elements. For groups who choose to purchase lunch from Shoreline Grill, we offer a student meal package available by pre-order only. Orders must be placed two weeks in advance.

If time permits, shop for souvenirs in the Texas State Aquarium Gift Shop. Chaperones must accompany students in the gift shop.

Unfortunately, we cannot accommodate groups in the Splash Park area. It is not part of the educational experience.

Tips for a great visit

Check out our daily presentation schedule and map to plan your visit.
Arrive early for DOLPHINS! presentations.
Wear comfortable shoes.
Check the weather, as some of our presentations and exhibits are outdoors.
To avoid large groups during the summer months, try visiting during the week. The busiest times to visit are 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Be courteous and respectful of other visitors. Talk quietly and walk through the Aquarium. Running is not permitted at any time. Please use the stairs, leaving the elevator available for people in wheelchairs or parents with strollers.

Be respectful of the Aquarium exhibits and building. Please do not touch the exhibits, they are made of acrylic, not glass, and scratch easily. Please do not climb on exhibits or railings.

Help care for the animals and plants. We have 3 touch exhibits throughout the Aquarium where you are permitted to touch with 2 fingers only.

Keep food, drinks, and gum outside the Aquarium. Outside food and drinks are not permitted in the Aquarium. The Aquarium front lawn is available for picnic-style lunching. However, the area does not have any seating or cover from the elements. For groups who choose to purchase lunch from Shoreline Grill, we offer a student meal package available by pre-order only. Orders must be placed two weeks in advance.

If time permits, shop for souvenirs in the Texas State Aquarium Gift Shop. Chaperones must accompany students in the gift shop.

Unfortunately, we cannot accommodate groups in the Splash Park area. It is not part of the educational experience.

Contact

For more information, call 361-881-1265 or email [email protected]