Pearl Harbor’s place of remembrance

USS Arizona Memorial visitor guide

Plan the experience with clarity, from the timed Navy boat program and Recreation.gov reservation to the quiet moments inside the memorial above the sunken battleship.

Check official reservations See what to expect

This is an independent visitor guide, not the National Park Service or an official ticket seller.

Program About 45 minutes Briefing, Navy boat ride and memorial visit

Plan for At least 2 hours Including early arrival and visitor center time

Admission Program is free Recreation.gov charges a reservation fee

First priority Reserve your time Then build the rest of your visit around it

Why this visit matters

A memorial above a ship, a crew and a defining moment

The USS Arizona Memorial is the emotional center of a Pearl Harbor visit. The white structure stands over the remains of USS Arizona, where 1,177 sailors and Marines died during the attack on December 7, 1941. More than 900 remain within the ship, making the site both a national memorial and an active military grave.

The experience is deliberately simple. Visitors cross the harbor aboard a Navy-operated boat, enter the open-air memorial and look down toward the ship below. The shrine room lists the names of those who died aboard Arizona. Across the water, the profile of Battleship Missouri connects the beginning of the United States’ involvement in World War II with the ship on which Japan formally surrendered in 1945.

You do not need deep knowledge of military history to understand the place. The visitor center’s exhibits and film explain the events leading to the attack, while the memorial itself creates space for reflection. For many families, it also carries a personal connection to a relative who served in the Pacific.

The one decision to make first

Secure the USS Arizona Memorial program time before planning paid museums, lunch or transportation. The boat program operates on a timed schedule, and late arrivals may lose their places. The visitor center grounds and museums can be explored without an admission ticket, but the Navy boat portion has limited capacity.

The boat program

How the USS Arizona Memorial experience unfolds

The timed program is approximately 45 minutes. It begins at the Pearl Harbor Memorial Theater and is operated jointly by the National Park Service and the United States Navy.

Validate your ticket

Have the QR code from your Recreation.gov confirmation ready. Rangers validate reservations before visitors enter the boarding area.

Receive the briefing

Visitors receive safety and conduct guidance. Listen carefully because the program enters an active Navy harbor and a place of remembrance.

Cross the harbor

A Navy-operated shuttle carries the group toward Battleship Row. Boat operations can be suspended when weather or harbor conditions are unsafe.

Enter the memorial

Spend quiet time viewing the ship, harbor and shrine room before reboarding for the return crossing to the visitor center.

Reservation strategy

Book the memorial first. Fit everything else around it.

Advance reservations are recommended and are handled through Recreation.gov. Everyone in the party, including infants and small children, needs a place in the reservation count.

Open Recreation.gov

Release windows 8 weeks and 24 hours ahead

Reservations are released daily at 3:00 p.m. Hawaiʻi Standard Time in two windows.

Party size Reserve up to 10

Include every member of your party. Tickets are non-transferable and may not be resold.

Arrival Reach the park 1 hour early

Allow time for parking, security, orientation and locating the validation area.

Check-in Have the QR code ready

Bring the digital or printed PDF attachment. Late arrivals may be moved to standby.

No reservation? Try the Standby Callback system

Visitors without a reservation can register for standby at the visitor center. Wait times vary and can be several hours on busy days, so do not build a tight itinerary around standby. Use the waiting period for the free museums, waterfront exhibits or a nearby historic site, and keep your phone available for the callback.

From the memorial, Battleship Missouri can be seen across the harbor, connecting the opening and closing chapters of the war for the United States.

Inside the memorial

Details that give the site its meaning

Architect Alfred Preis designed the memorial with a sag in the center and raised ends. Dedicated in 1962, the structure spans Arizona without resting on the ship itself. Its openness brings the harbor, sky and remains of the battleship into a single view.

The shrine room
A marble wall records the names of the 1,177 sailors and Marines who died aboard the ship.

The ship below
Parts of the vessel remain visible beneath the water, while markers indicate the approximate bow and stern.

The oil on the surface
Small amounts of fuel still rise from the ship, often referred to as the “black tears” of Arizona.

The harbor view
The surrounding water and Ford Island help visitors understand the geography of Battleship Row.

Visit respectfully: keep voices low, supervise children closely and avoid treating the shrine room as an ordinary photo stop. Photography is permitted, but the memorial’s purpose should guide how you use the space.

A calm day-of plan

Allow two hours without rushing the experience

A reservation time is the program departure time, not the time to arrive at the parking lot. This simple sequence leaves room for security and context before the boat.

60 minutes before

Arrive at 1 Arizona Memorial Place, pay for parking if driving and store any prohibited bags.

40 minutes before

Orient yourself at the visitor center, use the restroom and make sure your QR code is ready.

10 minutes before

Be at the ticket validation and boarding area. Do not assume a late group can be accommodated.

After the program

See the free galleries and park film, then continue to Bowfin, Missouri or the Aviation Museum.

Before you leave Waikīkī

Practical details that prevent avoidable stress

Bag policy

Bags or containers that offer concealment and exceed the small wallet limit are prohibited. Certain transparent bags, medical bags and fixed wheelchair or stroller pouches are allowed after screening. Paid storage operates near the entrance.

Parking and arrival

Use the full address, 1 Arizona Memorial Place, so navigation does not direct you toward the active military base. NPS currently lists parking at $7 per day, paid digitally. Allow extra time during morning traffic.

Accessibility

The visitor center, theaters, Navy vessels and memorial are wheelchair accessible. Wheelchairs are not generally available to borrow. Visitors requesting ASL interpretation should arrange it with the park in advance.

Restrooms

There are no restrooms on the Navy boats or at the USS Arizona Memorial. Use the visitor center facilities before entering the validation and boarding sequence.

Weather and closures

Most of the memorial is open to the elements. Bring sun protection and a light rain layer you can carry. High winds, harbor conditions or security needs can delay or cancel boat operations.

Visiting with children

Children are welcome and count toward the reservation total. Strollers cannot continue onto the Navy vessel or memorial, so a baby carrier may be useful. Prepare children for a quiet memorial setting.

Build the rest of the day

What to visit after the USS Arizona Memorial

The memorial is one part of the wider Pearl Harbor Historic Sites experience. Choose the next stop based on your time and interests rather than trying to force every site into a short morning.

USS Bowfin submarine beside the Pearl Harbor visitor center

Easy half-day pairing

Pacific Fleet Submarine Museum

Located beside the visitor center, Bowfin is the simplest paid site to combine with the memorial. It adds the confined reality of submarine service to the broader story.

Explore USS Bowfin

Powerful historical arc

Battleship Missouri Memorial

Walk the deck where Japan’s surrender was signed. Pairing Missouri with Arizona frames the beginning and end of the United States’ war in the Pacific.

Explore Battleship Missouri

Best for a full day

Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum

Historic hangars, aircraft and attack-era context broaden the story beyond Battleship Row. Combine it with Missouri when you can devote most of a day.

Explore the Aviation Museum

Independent visit or guided tour?

A tour can simplify the day, but check the inclusions carefully

A guided Pearl Harbor tour can be useful if you want Waikīkī transportation, a fixed schedule and historical narration without coordinating traffic, parking and multiple sites yourself. Independent travel offers more control over how long you stay.

Do not assume the words “Pearl Harbor tour” guarantee a USS Arizona Memorial boat reservation. Confirm whether the operator includes a valid program reservation, uses standby, or only visits the visitor center grounds.

See selected Arizona tours Compare tour formats

Affiliate disclosure: PearlHarbor.info may earn a commission from eligible bookings, at no extra cost to you. Tour inclusions are controlled by the operator and should be verified before booking.

Confirm the memorial access Look for explicit wording about the Navy boat program, not only “Pearl Harbor admission.”

Check the site combination Arizona-only tours are shorter. Missouri or city sightseeing additions create a longer day.

Review pickup details Confirm the exact Waikīkī pickup point, start time, return window and accessibility.

Frequently asked questions

USS Arizona Memorial planning questions

Is the USS Arizona Memorial free?

Yes. The visitor center grounds, museums and USS Arizona Memorial program are free. Recreation.gov currently applies a non-refundable reservation fee to advance program reservations. Paid storage, parking, multimedia experiences and the three partner historic sites are separate.

Can I visit without an advance reservation?

You can enter the visitor center and museums without a reservation. Access to the USS Arizona Memorial boat program is capacity controlled. Visitors without a reservation may register for the on-site Standby Callback system, but a place and waiting time cannot be guaranteed.

Does the park film form part of the boat program?

No. The park film and the timed USS Arizona Memorial boat program are currently separate experiences. Build enough time into your visit to see the film before or after the boat if you want additional historical context.

How early should I arrive?

The National Park Service advises reaching the park at least one hour before the scheduled program time. Be at the ticket validation area at least 10 minutes before departure. Traffic, parking payment, bag storage and orientation can all take time.

What happens if boat operations are canceled?

The Navy may suspend boats because of wind, weather, harbor conditions, security or operational needs. The visitor center, museums, film and shoreside exhibits may remain available, but reservations cannot necessarily be moved by park rangers. Follow the instructions provided by NPS and Recreation.gov.

Can I bring a stroller or wheelchair?

Wheelchairs and mobility devices are permitted, and the boat and memorial are accessible. Strollers are allowed around the visitor center but not on the Navy vessel or memorial. The park does not generally provide wheelchairs, so bring your own if needed.

How much time should I allow?

Allow at least two hours for arrival, security, the 45-minute memorial program and some visitor center context. A half day works well for Arizona plus Bowfin. Arizona plus Missouri and the Aviation Museum is better treated as a full-day visit.

Planning information reviewed July 28, 2026 against the National Park Service, Recreation.gov and Pearl Harbor Historic Sites. Fees, schedules, security rules and boat operations may change. Always confirm official details shortly before visiting.