Santa Cruz Tickets, Tours and Opening Hours
Santa Cruz attractions keep very different schedules. Some run every day, some close on Mondays or Tuesdays, and a few open only on weekends. This page starts with a day-by-day planner and then gives the fares, parking and booking habits for each stop. Amounts are in US dollars and may shift by season.
Which Day Suits Which Stop
| Attraction | Open days |
|---|---|
| Roaring Camp steam train | Daily |
| Mystery Spot | Daily |
| Seymour Marine Discovery Center | Tuesday to Sunday |
| Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park | Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Monday |
| Sanctuary Exploration Center | Most days Thursday to Sunday |
| Wilder Ranch free ranch tour | Saturday and Sunday at 1pm |
A Monday is therefore a good day for the train, the Mystery Spot and the Mission, while a Tuesday or Wednesday leaves the train, the Mystery Spot and the Seymour Center. Weekends add the ranch tour.
The Steam Train at Roaring Camp
The Redwood Forest Steam Train leaves from 5401 Graham Hill Road in Felton and the ride lasts 75 minutes. An adult ticket (13 and up) is $42.35, a child from 2 to 12 pays $26.45, and under-2s ride free. Parking is $10 a car, but wandering the grounds costs nothing outside special events. The locomotives date from 1890, and the railroad notes that equipment varies, so steam is not promised on every trip. The Beach Train down to the Boardwalk is paused and is slated to return in spring 2027. Santa Cruz METRO Route 35 stops close to the grounds, at the Felton Covered Bridge.
Mystery Spot
At 465 Mystery Spot Road, this roadside attraction is a California Historical Landmark (number 1055, from 2014). Tickets are $12 a person online or at the door, children 3 and under are free, and active-duty military visit free with ID. Parking is $5 a vehicle. Hours are 10am to 4pm on weekdays and 10am to 5pm on weekends, with tours at least every half hour. Aim to arrive 30 minutes before your tour. Same-day tickets stop selling 2 hours before a tour, and weekend or holiday tours often fill by about noon, so buying ahead is wise.
Seymour Marine Discovery Center
The center is on the UCSC Coastal Science Campus at 100 McAllister Way. Inside are touch pools, aquariums and a blue whale skeleton described as one of the largest on display. A ticket stays valid for 30 days and costs about $9 to $12, so look at the website for the exact amount. Children under 3, UCSC students and members get in free. Tours come with admission on a first-come basis. Weekday parking is paid through ParkMobile, and weekend parking costs nothing.
Wilder Ranch and the Mission
The free ranch tour at Wilder Ranch State Park needs no reservation, though a call to confirm is sensible. The day-use fee is $10 a vehicle and dogs are not allowed. The Park Store is shut until further notice, and the Ohlone Bluff Trail has intermittent closures for trail work, so read the park page before you plan a walk there. Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park, on Mission Plaza, closes on Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Sanctuary Exploration Center
This free center at 35 Pacific Avenue covers Monterey Bay sanctuary ecology and takes only a short visit. It opens 10am to 4pm, and the sanctuary’s pages give slightly different days, so check ahead.
Current fares are posted on the Roaring Camp excursion page , and Mystery Spot sells tickets on its online ticket page . If you would rather compare packaged tours, try GetYourGuide results for Santa Cruz tours .
Read more: the bus tours page is a companion for getting around, and the sightseeing page for free viewpoints. For a wider trip, see the San Francisco guide .