MOSI Tampa: Museum of Science & Industry Complete Family Guide 2025
The Museum of Science & Industry (MOSI) in Tampa is Florida's largest science center, offering over 450 hands-on activities that make learning fun for kids of all ages. From interactive exhibits to planetarium shows and outdoor adventures, MOSI is the perfect educational attraction for Tampa families.
Quick Facts: MOSI Tampa
- Location: North Tampa
- Hours: Monday-Friday 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM, Saturday-Sunday 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
- Best For: Ages 3-14, homeschool families, science enthusiasts
- Time Needed: 3-4 hours minimum
- Size: 450+ interactive exhibits across 100,000 sq ft
- Parking: FREE!
Ticket Prices & Discounts 2025
General Admission (includes exhibits + 1 planetarium show):
- Adults (13+): $28.95
- Children (2-12): $22.95
- Seniors (60+): $26.95
- Children under 2: FREE
Add-On Experiences:
- Sky Trail Ropes Course: $12
- Zip Line: $8
- Simulator Rides: $5 each
- Additional Planetarium Shows: $5
Money-Saving Tips:
- Annual Membership: $89 individual, $149 family (unlimited visits!)
- Online Discount: Save $2 per ticket
- Military Discount: 20% off with valid ID
- Homeschool Days: Special pricing on select Thursdays
- Free Admission: First Sunday of each month for Hillsborough County residents
Must-See Exhibits & Areas
1. Kids in Charge! ⭐ Perfect for Ages 0-6
Dedicated area for youngest visitors with age-appropriate activities.
Features:
- Water play tables
- Building blocks and construction
- Pretend play areas (grocery store, vet clinic)
- Soft play area for crawlers
- Art and creativity stations
- Toddler-safe climbing structures
Parent Perks:
- Enclosed area (kids can't wander off!)
- Seating for parents
- Clean and well-maintained
- Air-conditioned comfort
2. Mission: Moonbase
Experience life as an astronaut in this immersive space exhibit.
Activities:
- Walk on the moon (reduced gravity simulation)
- Design and launch rockets
- Explore Mars rover
- Space suit try-on
- Mission control activities
- Astronaut training challenges
Best For: Ages 6-12
3. The Amazing You
Discover how the human body works through interactive exhibits.
Highlights:
- Climb through a giant heart
- Test your reflexes and reaction time
- Learn about the five senses
- Skeleton and muscle exhibits
- Nutrition and health activities
- Brain games and puzzles
Educational Value: Perfect for health and biology lessons
4. Connectus
Explore technology, engineering, and innovation.
Interactive Stations:
- Build and test bridges
- Design roller coasters
- Robotics demonstrations
- Coding activities
- 3D printing displays
- Engineering challenges
Best For: Ages 8-14, STEM enthusiasts
5. Disasterville
Learn about natural disasters and emergency preparedness.
Experiences:
- Hurricane wind simulator
- Earthquake shake table
- Fire safety house
- Weather forecasting
- Emergency response scenarios
- Build disaster-resistant structures
Educational: Important safety lessons for Florida families
6. BioWorks Butterfly Garden ⭐ Don't Miss!
Walk among hundreds of free-flying butterflies in tropical habitat.
Details:
- Climate-controlled conservatory
- Exotic plants and flowers
- Butterfly feeding stations
- Educational displays
- Photo opportunities
- Seasonal (check if open during visit)
Tips:
- Wear bright colors to attract butterflies
- Move slowly and quietly
- Best viewing: mid-morning
Planetarium Shows
Saunders Planetarium offers stunning shows on a 74-foot dome.
Current Shows (rotate seasonally):
- "Astronaut" - Journey to space (30 min) - Ages 6+
- "Cosmic Castaways" - Explore the universe (25 min) - Ages 8+
- "Perfect Little Planet" - Earth's story (30 min) - Ages 5+
- "One World, One Sky" - Big Bird & Elmo (25 min) - Ages 2-6
Show Times:
- Multiple shows daily
- Check schedule at entrance
- One show included with admission
- Arrive 10 minutes early for best seats
Tips:
- Younger kids: Choose age-appropriate shows
- Sit in middle rows for best viewing
- Shows can be loud - sensitive kids may need preparation
Outdoor Science Park
Free with admission, weather permitting:
Sky Trail Ropes Course ⭐ Teens Love This!
Details:
- Multi-level aerial obstacle course
- 30+ challenge elements
- Safety harness system
- $12 per person
- Height requirement: 48 inches
- Ages 7+ (with adult supervision)
Difficulty Levels:
- Green: Beginner
- Blue: Intermediate
- Black: Advanced
Zip Line
Details:
- 100-foot zip line
- $8 per ride
- Height requirement: 48 inches
- Separate from ropes course
Outdoor Exhibits
- Dinosaur playground
- Science demonstrations
- Picnic areas
- Shaded seating
Special Experiences & Programs
Science Shows & Demonstrations
Free with admission, daily schedule:
- Science on a Sphere: Earth science presentations
- Tesla Coil Show: Electricity demonstrations (loud!)
- Liquid Nitrogen Demo: Super-cool science
- Bubble Science: Physics of bubbles
Show Times: Check daily schedule at entrance
IMAX Dome Theatre
Currently closed for renovations - Check website for reopening
Simulator Rides
Additional cost: $5 each
- Motion simulator experiences
- Various themes (space, racing, adventure)
- Height restrictions apply
- Can be intense for young kids
Birthday Parties
Packages available:
- Private party room
- Museum admission for guests
- Planetarium show
- Science activity
- Starting at $350 for 10 kids
Age-Specific Guide
Toddlers (Ages 1-3)
- Best Area: Kids in Charge! (spend most time here)
- Also Enjoy: Butterfly Garden, simple exhibits
- Timing: Morning visit before nap
- Bring: Snacks, stroller, change of clothes
Preschoolers (Ages 4-5)
- Best Areas: Kids in Charge, Amazing You, BioWorks
- Planetarium: "One World, One Sky" show
- Activities: Hands-on exhibits, water play
- Engagement: Let them explore at their pace
Elementary (Ages 6-11)
- Best Areas: Everything! Perfect age for MOSI
- Don't Miss: Mission Moonbase, Disasterville, planetarium
- Activities: Science shows, interactive exhibits
- Challenge: Complete scavenger hunt
Tweens/Teens (Ages 12+)
- Best Experiences: Ropes course, advanced planetarium shows
- Interests: Connectus, robotics, engineering challenges
- Programs: Summer camps, volunteer opportunities
Insider Tips for Families
Best Times to Visit
Least Crowded:
- Weekday mornings (Tuesday-Thursday)
- First hour after opening
- During school year (not holidays)
Avoid:
- Weekends (very busy)
- School field trip days (call ahead to check)
- Rainy days (everyone goes indoors!)
- Summer afternoons
Money-Saving Strategies
- Free First Sunday - Hillsborough County residents
- Annual Membership - Pays for itself in 4 visits
- Pack lunch - Eat in outdoor picnic area
- Skip add-ons - Plenty included with admission
- Homeschool Days - Special pricing
- Reciprocal Museums - Check if your museum membership includes MOSI
What to Bring
Essentials:
- ✅ Refillable water bottles (fountains available)
- ✅ Socks (required for Kids in Charge)
- ✅ Camera for exhibits and butterfly garden
- ✅ Light jacket (air-conditioned inside)
- ✅ Snacks (or plan to buy lunch)
Optional:
- Notebook for older kids to record observations
- Hand sanitizer
- Sunscreen for outdoor areas
Food & Dining
Café MOSI:
- Sandwiches, salads, pizza
- Kids meals available
- Snacks and drinks
- Prices: $6-$12 per meal
Outside Food:
- Allowed in outdoor picnic areas only
- Not permitted inside museum
- Picnic tables available
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible throughout
- Stroller friendly (but crowded on weekends)
- Sensory-friendly resources available
- Quiet spaces for breaks
- Nursing room near guest services
Sample Itinerary: Perfect MOSI Day
9:00 AM - Arrive at opening (weekday)
9:15 AM - Kids in Charge for younger kids OR Mission Moonbase for older
10:00 AM - Explore The Amazing You and Connectus
10:45 AM - Planetarium show (check schedule)
11:30 AM - Science demonstration show
12:00 PM - Lunch at Café MOSI or outdoor picnic
1:00 PM - BioWorks Butterfly Garden
1:30 PM - Disasterville and remaining exhibits
2:30 PM - Outdoor Science Park and ropes course (if interested)
3:30 PM - Gift shop and head home
Special Events & Programs
Summer Science Camps
- Week-long STEM camps
- Ages 5-14
- Hands-on experiments
- $250-$350 per week
Homeschool Programs
- Monthly themed programs
- Curriculum-aligned activities
- Discounted admission
- Special workshops
Science Nights
- After-hours events
- Special programming
- Adult beverages (21+)
- Quarterly events
Holiday Events
- Spooky Science (October)
- Science of Santa (December)
- Spring Break Science (March)
Educational Value
MOSI supports learning in:
- STEM Education: Science, Technology, Engineering, Math
- Hands-On Learning: Interactive exhibits
- Critical Thinking: Problem-solving activities
- Curriculum Support: Aligned with Florida standards
Perfect for:
- Homeschool families
- School field trips
- Science enthusiasts
- Curious kids
Nearby Attractions
Combine your visit with:
- Busch Gardens (5 min) - Theme park and zoo
- Adventure Island (5 min) - Water park
- Lettuce Lake Park (10 min) - Nature trails, boardwalk
- University Mall (5 min) - Shopping and dining
Getting There & Parking
Address: 4801 E Fowler Avenue, Tampa, FL 33617
Parking:
- FREE parking lot
- Accessible parking near entrance
- Plenty of spaces
From Major Areas:
- Downtown Tampa: 20 minutes
- South Tampa: 25 minutes
- Brandon: 20 minutes
- Clearwater: 45 minutes
- St. Petersburg: 40 minutes
Final Tips for Success
- Buy tickets online to save time at entrance
- Arrive early for best experience
- Check planetarium schedule and plan around shows
- Bring socks for Kids in Charge area
- Plan 3-4 hours minimum to see everything
- Do ropes course last (kids will be tired after)
- Check for special events before visiting
- Consider membership if visiting multiple times
- Download MOSI app for interactive experiences
- Let kids lead - follow their interests!
MOSI Tampa is the perfect blend of education and entertainment, where kids learn through play and hands-on exploration. With hundreds of interactive exhibits, planetarium shows, and outdoor adventures, it's a must-visit Tampa attraction for families who love science and discovery!
Pro Tip: Visit on a weekday morning during the school year for the best experience - you'll have exhibits to yourself and can take your time exploring without crowds!
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