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Texas Gulf Coast
Corpus Christi
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Texas State Aquarium
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Texas State Aquarium

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See all things to do
Texas State Aquarium
4
2,546 reviews
#6 of 86 things to do in Corpus Christi
Aquariums
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10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
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About
Discover the amazing underwater world of the Texas State Aquarium! Thousands of animals representing over 500 different species are ready to enchant, entertain, and inspire you. Conveniently located on North Beach, the Texas State Aquarium is just minutes from Corpus Christi's downtown district, convention center complex, and museums. Every visit to the Texas State Aquarium is a new and exciting discovery of animals that remind us all of our responsibility to those whose world we share. The Aquarium is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and is a member of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums. The Aquarium's mission is to engage people with animals, inspire appreciation for our seas, and support wildlife conservation.
Suggested duration
More than 3 hours
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93 within 3 miles
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See what other travelers are saying
  • melwashere81
    Cleveland, Texas1,103 contributions
    Dolphin Show is a must!
    We enjoyed our visit to the aquarium. Tickets are around $40 for adults and parking is $5 but it was totally worth it. There is so much to see here. Our absolute favorite was the dolphin show so be sure to check show times and make that happen....such a fun experience! I've been to other aquariums and this is definitely one of my favorite. We will be back.
    Traveled as a couple
    Written April 12, 2022
  • Flying Texan
    Spring, Texas64 contributions
    Well Worth It at Any Age
    It was a great visit. Hint: Buy your tickets online as well as your $5 parking pass, the ticket taker will give you a token for your parking. The facility was very crowded (we came on a Saturday so we deserve that). Nevertheless, it was a great place to spend 2-3 hours looking at the exhibits, indoor and outdoor.
    TXStateAquarium
    Thanks so much devinh, I'm glad to hear you enjoyed your visit. And you are right, Saturdays, particularly during spring break, are definitely our very busiest times of the year. I hope you might consider visiting again, and I always recommend folks to come right when we open, the first hour or two usually are not as crowded. Tom
    Written April 7, 2021
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Written April 4, 2021
  • TERRAvelista
    London, United Kingdom17,423 contributions
    Brilliant place
    We visited this place on the same day we visited USS Lexington and ate at Pier 99, hence paying 5 USD for the parking only. 1. Grab a map at the entrance (took a picture here) and learn what you want to visit - we came her March mid week so there were not many people around, despite being a very hot day 2. We started with Level 2 from the Main lobby and were welcomed by some very curious flamingos - loved this so much, we came back to this area. Lots of gorgeous birds around and the staff is on had to teach you details or encourage you to touch delicately the non threatening young marine lives 3. Some curious sharks, turtles, fish in their aquarium besides dolphin on Level 1, turtles outside and more birds 4. If you are a local you might consider the membership paying itself in 2 visits especially since you can feed the rays etc as I was asked to do, again I could not I truly recommend this place.
    Written March 20, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.0
2,546 reviews
Excellent
1,305
Very good
746
Average
352
Poor
101
Terrible
42
Stephen K
Corpus Christi, TX1,789 contributions
Great for kids but GO EARLY
Jun 2023 • Family
I live in Corpus Christi - when grandkids come to visit, in addition to the beach, the aquarium is a must stop. It does get crowded, so best to be there when it first opens at 10. Our first stop was to see the flamingos. The dolphin show pulls a big audience and you must arrive at least 30 minutes early to get a seat (maybe even more, so if you’ve got little kids and a “spare” adult, have the spare hold your seats while the kids can explore)
Written June 16, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Stephen E
7 contributions
Will Not Return
May 2023
The Aquarium was bustling with kids which we honestly didn't like. Though it was May sitting outside for the dolphin show was hot with the sun on us and all the seats very hard. Also, they trained the dolphins to splash the audience. While I'm sure the kids enjoyed this we didn't appreciate this and they really got people soaked and did it several times. We sat on the back row so it didn't really affect us. The attractions were okay but it was not worth the high price and I would not go back.
Written June 1, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TXStateAquarium
Hi there! Thank you for your feedback, and we do apologize that your experience during your visit made you feel that way. Guests are asked if they would like to be sat in the specific area in the Dolphin Bay stadium is a "Splash Zone," before they sit. Guests can either sit in the Splash Zone or decline and sit in the "Dry Zone." Thank you for your visit and we hope you can give us another in the future.
Written June 2, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Jaxster
Lunenburg, MA80 contributions
The Most Boring Aquarium I've Ever Visited
Mar 2023
Two of us were in San Marcos for work for 2 weeks and like to explore on the weekend. We often visit aquariums during work trips so we took the 3 hour trip down to Corpus Christi on a Saturday to visit this one. We assumed it would take at least 2 hours like a typical aquarium would. We were wrong - it was 40 minutes in and out.

There seemed to be very minimal animals to view. Multiple small tanks that were pretty boring and then some larger ones. The outside tanks of the stingrays looked half empty; there was also an otter and some sea turtles. It was super cold and windy so we didn't stay out long, but inside was not enjoyable. The cutest thing was the active octopus and the flamingos.
We were VERY disappointed with the amount of exhibits and the lack of extra small things that most aquariums have to do. The gift shop had some stuff at normal gift shop prices but their clothing seemed excessively expensive. We did not buy anything and ended up going to tour the USS Lexington right next door instead - this is definitely worth a full tour!
Written April 7, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Robert M S
Houston, TX15 contributions
Texas State Rip-off
Aug 2021
We are Senior Citizens. I went to their web site to check rates. It stated $21.95 per person but it was on sale for $18.95. I did not attempt to order online because I did not know what day we would arrive. We arrived on 08/17/21. We were told that the rate was $35 per person. I complained. A manager was called. She laughed and said that is the rate,
Written August 20, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TXStateAquarium
Hello Robert, Thank you for sharing your feedback. We can't help to wonder if you got redirected to an unofficial website/third party website that offered different pricing options. Would you be comfortable sharing with us the link where you saw the pricing you mention? We are looking into this issue and want to make sure we find the page where you saw that pricing so we can update their information. We sell tickets online, and this is the first time we have heard about this particular issue. For weekday tickets, the listed discounted price for senior citizens is $33.95, and for weekends the listed price is $36.95. As a nonprofit aquarium, your admission supports our animal care, Wildlife Rescue, and conservation programs. We hope you can give us another in the future. Thank you, Carla
Written August 27, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Jaimi T
8 contributions
Great place for families!
Mar 2022
This is a very nice aquarium, great for families. They have a splash pad for kids, a decent cafe (the food was pricy but it was good, definitely a step above what you normally see at places like this), and lots of interactive exhibits where you can pet or touch an animal. Some of the family did the "Snorkel with a Shark" activity. I felt like we were not adequately prepared with how cold the water would be! Despite that, it was a good time. We would definitely go again!
Written March 19, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TXStateAquarium
Hi there, we are so glad to hear you enjoyed your visit. We thank you for your feedback and hope to welcome you back to the Texas State Aquarium very soon!
Written March 29, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Heather C
Palacios, TX371 contributions
Expensive but a Fun Day Out!
Jul 2021
The Texas State Aquarium is a bit pricey. For myself, my husband, and our 6 year old son and the $5 parking fee, it came to about $103 dollars for a weekday visit...and that's because we save some money by purchasing our tickets online. Personally, I think it's a little overpriced, but it is fun.

There was a lot to see especially this go round. Our last visit was about 5 years ago. We made sure to go to every exhibit so we wouldn't miss out. There are so many different species of fish, jellyfish, sharks, crabs, etc. Lots of good photo ops too. My son was excited to pet a shark, a jellyfish, a stingray, and a hermit crab. He enjoyed the petting thing the most.

The 4D theater was interesting and fun! We saw a shark documentary. That was my favorite!

We were disappointed that there were no Eagles, alligators, and ocelot (at least I think it was supposed to be an ocelot). Everything else was cool to see though, and we enjoyed the dolphin show.

The aquarium was very clean as were the restrooms. Staff is extremely helpful and friendly.

The gift shop had a lot of empty shelf space. I'm thinking this is because of all the flooding and rain Corpus had just had. Perhaps they hadn't been able to receive their delivery. However, the gift shop is extremely expensive. I wanted a tie-dye t-shirt, and it was $36! A small bag of shark gummies was $6, so yeah, hard pass for us on the gift shop.

There was a little water area for the kids, but we didn't go to that (much to my son's dismay). It looked fun though.

We were there a little past 10am on a Monday, and it was very crowded, so just be aware that this is an extremely crowded place.

This is definitely a fun place to take the kids for a day out. As I've said, it is pricey, but this isn't something you'd do all the time.
Written July 14, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Linda F
Houston, TX10 contributions
Community Day!
Apr 2021
I went to the aquarium on Tuesday, April 27th 2021, during a mini vacation to Corpus. I was fully expecting to pay around 35-37 dollars for my ticket. I was SO surprised to find out I only had to pay 2.00 thanks to Community Day!!
What a beautiful place. It's large, with many stunning exhibits, so it really didn't feel too crowded, even though it was. There's so much to see, you can easily move to a lesser crowded area. It's well worth the visit!
Everyone was wearing a mask and there was hand sanitizer in various locations.
Written May 5, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
William W
Fort Worth, TX901 contributions
Small But Nice
Sep 2021
We were delayed going in by a little more than an hour, but it was well worth it. Be sure to touch the sharks and rays. It's not a very large aquarium so you can see everything in about an hour, but stick around for the dolphin show. The show lasts about ten minutes. We recommend but will not make a return visit.
Written October 3, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
jbjn55
Valparaiso, IN86 contributions
Too expensive!
Jun 2021 • Family
The facility is located on the shore of the bay - very cool and very modern BUT this was not worth the price of admission! Over priced for the small amount of exhibits - I swear there is equal space provided for things to buy as there are exhibits to see… disappointing since the reviews for this were so positive.

Don’t get me wrong - the exhibits they do have are cool BUT man the cost is too high. The dolphin show was cool and they have a few petting tanks for sting rays and jelly fish but still not cool enough to overcome the price of entry!
Written June 18, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TXStateAquarium
Hi JN, thanks so much for the feedback. After reading your review, I can't help but wonder if you actually toured our entire facility, including both the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Journey wings. Both contain dozen of exhibits and habits of all sizes, including the 500,000 gallon shark exhibition with the longest acrylic window in North America. It usually takes at least takes 3 to 4 hours to experience everything, including our 4-D Immersion Theater. We have a great gift shop, however, it is only a tiny fraction of our overall campus. Thanks again for your comment.
Written June 23, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Jill B
Fort Collins, CO18 contributions
Well worth your time!
May 2023 • Family
This is well worth the money and time. Took our 3-year-old grandchild and she loved it. It's a medium-sized venue; not too big to see everything before crankiness sets in, not so small it is disappointing. Just right. Highly recommend the dolphin show but if you want a seat get there at least 20 minutes before. Many things to touch including crabs, jelly fish, sharks and stingrays. Things outside and inside so you can escape the heat if needed. Outside splash pad area was under construction but looks like a blast for the littles!
Written June 2, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Texas State Aquarium (Corpus Christi) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go

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Texas State Aquarium is open:
  • Sun - Sat 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM

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