Things To Do in DEN Airport Area
Denver Museum of Nature & Science
Rates above the average for things to do near DEN Airport Area — one of 40 we've tracked here.
Things to Know
Denver Museum of Nature & Science is a large interactive museum in City Park known for its diverse exhibits spanning gems, space, dinosaurs, and Lego installations, with free parking and multiple planetarium shows.
You genuinely can't see everything in one visit—this museum rewards multiple trips with rotating exhibits, planetarium shows, and enough interactive galleries to engage both kids and serious learners.
- ✓Gems and Minerals wing showcases Colorado-specific stones and mining history that locals and visitors consistently praise
- ✓Planetarium and IMAX theater with rotating shows like 'Encounters of the Milky Way' and 'Sea Otter' films are major draws
- ✓Free parking and admission deals through membership guest passes, military discounts, and occasional free nights (like Girls & Science nights)
- ✓Lego Brick Planet exhibit features impressive animal sculptures with educational facts, though it's temporary
- ✓Large open layout means you can pace yourself and return to see missed exhibits without feeling rushed
- ⚠Information plaques are often too brief—some visitors wanted more detailed explanations alongside exhibits
- ⚠Heavy child-focus with many button-activated interactive pieces means it skews younger, potentially less engaging for adults seeking deeper content
- ⚠The museum is genuinely massive, so wear comfortable walking shoes and budget more time than you think you'll need
Based on Google reviews · AI summarized
Hours
Monday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Tuesday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Wednesday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Thursday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Friday: 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Saturday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Sunday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
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What Visitors Say
Brittany Olson
a month ago
Nice museum. It was fun to walk around. Not the best I've been to. I wish there were more information plaques. Most were brief and short. I noticed it was very much geared towards small children. Lots of buttons to smash and interactive pieces. Big open spaces with nothing in them. The Lego exhibit was cool but glad it was included with admission as it was very short. Overall enjoyed it but would probably not return.
Mary Catherine Brady
3 weeks ago
Spent a glorious day exploring this Museum!! So much to see and do here and I did not have enough time. I could have spent the whole day in the Gens and Stones, but I had to see the Sea Otter movie and the Encounters of the Milky Way in the Plantarium!! We missed the Bricks (Lego) collection but a few remained on site!
Renee Garcia
a month ago
Went to the Lego display... fabulous! Saw the 3D TRex movie... fascinating. You could spend all day at the museum, you'll never see it all in one day. Bring your walking shoes! Wonderful gift store and food court.
poparoundtown365
a month ago
Such a great experience and you honestly learn so much. All the exhibits were so interesting and I’m already looking forward to going back for more. 💰 Price: My friend has a membership and she invited me as her guest so I actually got in for free that day. Her membership allows a free guest to come with her which is a huge plus. General admission is usually $25.95 for adultsand $20.95 for kids. They do have military and student discounts too. Or you can always check out their next free day or night if you want to save some cash. 😁 Service: It was a pretty easy experience. We only really encountered staff when we checked in for admission and for the Brick Planet exhibit. Everyone was helpful and getting in was a breeze. ☕️ Drinks: We went to their coffee shop called Coffee Lab. I got a cold chai tea with coconut milk for $6 and it was a really good pick-up. They have hot chai too and plenty of other options if you aren't into coconut milk. They also had a sign saying their cafeteria on the main floor has drip coffee but I didn’t try that one this time. Exhibits Section: - 🧱 Brick Planet: This was so neat to see. They have all these animals made out of Legos and the facts about each one were so impressive. This exhibit is open until May 3rd. - 💎 Gems and Minerals: These were really interesting. We saw some Colorado history and learned how aquamarine is made. It was cool to find out there is some in Colorado today that you can still find in certain locations. - 👩🚀 Space Odyssey: My favorite part was the star room walkthrough. It was so peaceful and cute. They had some neat interactive activities throughout this whole section too. 🚘 Parking: Parking is free which is nice. It was really packed the day we went so I had to park in the Zoo lot. It’s not a far walk at all if you park near the museum side. ✅ Overall: I would highly recommend going here and coming back again if you don’t finish seeing everything. This place is great for both adults and kids. I didn't get to see everything this trip but I’ll be back for the Girls & Science night on March 6th. It’s free and another good day to explore from 4pm to 9pm. I’ll be updating my review once I go back to see the rest, especially since they have a planetarium and an IMAX theater with a few different shows. Plus a new dinosaur exhibit called The World’s Largest Dinosaurs opens on March 20th. Before you leave, if the skies are clear, definitely check out the view of the mountains and the mammoth outside. It’s a really nice walk if it’s warm enough!
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Denver Museum of Nature & Science worth it in DEN Airport Area?
You genuinely can't see everything in one visit—this museum rewards multiple trips with rotating exhibits, planetarium shows, and enough interactive galleries to engage both kids and serious learners. Known for: world-class gems, dinosaurs, and planetarium.
What do visitors love about Denver Museum of Nature & Science?
Gems and Minerals wing showcases Colorado-specific stones and mining history that locals and visitors consistently praise Planetarium and IMAX theater with rotating shows like 'Encounters of the Milky Way' and 'Sea Otter' films are major draws Free parking and admission deals through membership guest passes, military discounts, and occasional free nights (like Girls & Science nights) Lego Brick Planet exhibit features impressive animal sculptures with educational facts, though it's temporary Large open layout means you can pace yourself and return to see missed exhibits without feeling rushed
Is there anything to know before visiting Denver Museum of Nature & Science?
Information plaques are often too brief—some visitors wanted more detailed explanations alongside exhibits Heavy child-focus with many button-activated interactive pieces means it skews younger, potentially less engaging for adults seeking deeper content The museum is genuinely massive, so wear comfortable walking shoes and budget more time than you think you'll need
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