A Night at the Museum: The Overnight Experience

Enter: Central Park West (ground level) and 79th Street, down the curving driveway from the sidewalk level.

• 6–8 pm - Pre-purchased Field Fuel Boxes available for pickup (Food Court)
• 6:45 pm - Mandatory Expedition Briefing (Ocean Life)
• 7 pm–11:30 pm - Activations begin, including snack time (various locations)
• 11:45 pm - The Final Tale bedtime story (Ocean Life)
• Midnight - Lights Out (Ocean Life)
• 7 am - Wake-Up Call (Ocean Life)
• 7 am - Activations begin, including breakfast (various locations)
• 8:30 am - Program ends
• 10 am - Museum re-opens

Exit: 81^st Street/Rose Center.

A Night at the Museum: The Overnight Experience is an unforgettable way to explore the Museum after-hours and fall sleep surrounded by iconic exhibits.

This program is designed for children from 6–12 years old and their chaperones. One adult (21+) is required per five children ages 8–12, and one adult per child is required for children under age 8. Children under 6 cannot participate in this program. Adults (21+) are not permitted unless attending as a chaperone for children ages 6–12.

Guests can explore Floors 1 and 2 on their own. Guided tours of Floors 3 and 4 are available, and you can reserve your tour time when you arrive at the Museum.

Each guest also receives a complimentary voucher to visit the Museum, valid for up to 60 days. Vouchers must be redeemed in person and cannot be combined with other offers. If your group plans to stay and visit the Museum the morning after your sleepover, entry will begin once the Museum reopens at 10 am.

All participants must follow the Museum’s Code of Conduct and must review and complete the required Pre-Registration Forms. After booking, you will receive a confirmation email that contains a link to the required Pre-Registration forms. These forms must be completed no later than two weeks before your scheduled sleepover.

Yes! All activities and exhibit areas are wheelchair accessible. Please contact us in advance to arrange additional accommodations.

Learn more about accessibility at the Museum.

Ticketed exhibitions will not be available during the sleepover program, but your complimentary voucher for future admission includes ticketed exhibitions.

The main Museum shop will be open the next morning from 7 am–8:30 am.

Program dates are listed on this page, and new dates will be added regularly. To stay up to date about all programs at the Museum, sign up for our monthly newsletter.

Individual tickets must be purchased online at amnh.org/calendar. 

• Next presale for Members at the Adventurer level or above: August 12 at 10:30 am.
• General onsale: August 19 at 10:30 am.

Tickets are $225 per person. Museum Members at the Adventurer level or above enjoy early access to tickets, discounts, and more. Learn more about Member benefits.

After booking, you will receive a confirmation email that contains a link to the required Pre-Registration forms. These forms must be completed no later than two weeks before your scheduled sleepover.

Add on to your experience with the following three options:

• Snoozer Bundle: available for purchase during checkout for sleepover tickets. Includes a backpack, a 3-in-1 portable charger (with micro-USB, USB-C, and lightning adapters), water bottle, eye mask, mini travel pillow, and roll-up travel fleece blanket.
• Field Fuel Box: available for purchase during checkout for sleepover tickets. The Field Fuel Box includes one of the following menu selections:
  • Roasted Turkey & Swiss Sandwich Boxed Meal
    • Includes bag of chips, cookie, whole fruit, bottle of water, mustard & mayo packets, cutlery
  • Garden Salad Boxed Meal (Vegetarian and Made Without Gluten)
    • Includes bag of chips, dressing, cookie, whole fruit, bottle of water, cutlery 
• Celebration Announcement
  • Available for those looking to make a splash and celebrate their milestone during our sleepovers. Call Central Reservations at 212-769-5200 (Monday–Friday, 9 am–5 pm) to reserve your digital screen next to the big Blue Whale today! ($25 per message, 50 characters max.) 

Yes, Museum Members at Adventurer Level and above enjoy early access to tickets, discounts, and more. Learn more about Member benefits.

All changes must be requested no later than two weeks before your scheduled sleepover. Any request to add participants is subject to availability and must be made with Central Reservations at 212-769-5200 (Monday–Friday, 9 am–5 pm). Changes that are requested with less than two weeks remaining until the program may not be possible to accommodate.

Cancellations must be made at least two weeks before your event date by writing to [email protected] or calling Central Reservations at 212-769-5200 (Monday–Friday, 9 am–5 pm). A credit (excluding the non-refundable deposit, when applicable) will be issued and valid for one year from the original event date. Late cancellation will result in forfeiture of the deposit, and no credit or refund will be issued.

Because our program takes place indoors, most events proceed as planned. However, in the event of extreme weather conditions that affect transportation, the Museum may postpone the sleepover. In such cases, registered guests will be notified and offered an alternate date or credit valid for one year.

While no refunds are issued, guests may reschedule due to illness or emergency. A rescheduling fee may apply. Call Central Reservations at 212-769-5200 (Monday–Friday, 9 am–5 pm) for all inquiries.

Entry to the event closes at 6:45 pm. Guests who arrive after that time will not be admitted, and their reservations will be forfeited.

Yes! Sleepover guests may use the Museum’s on-site parking facility at 81st Street between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue. Rates vary by vehicle type. Entry begins at 5 pm.

Sleeping spaces are pre-assigned within Museum halls and are furnished with cots. Locations cannot be changed upon arrival.

We recommend packing the following: sleeping bag, pillow, and comfortable, warm sleepwear such as pajamas or a nightgown, as well as toothbrushes and toothpaste.

Inflatable mattresses are not permitted.

Guests can also order our Snoozer Bundle during check out, which includes a backpack, a 3-in-1 portable charger (with micro-USB, USB-C, and lightning adapters), water bottle, eye mask, mini travel pillow, and roll-up travel fleece blanket.

The sleepover program may include ambient noise, exhibit lighting, or brief use of special effects during activities. If anyone in your group has sensory sensitivities, please let us know in advance so we can assign a quieter, lower-light sleeping area when possible. We also recommend bringing earplugs, sleep masks, or other comfort items to help make your stay more enjoyable.

“Lights out” is at midnight.

No, showers are not available.

All ticket packages include the Nightfall Trail Snack (light evening snack, served 9:30 pm–11 pm) as well as the First Light Fuel (continental breakfast).

Guests can purchase the Field Fuel Box during the checkout process for their sleepover tickets, which includes one of the following options:

• Roasted Turkey & Swiss Sandwich Boxed Meal
  • Includes bag of chips, cookie, whole fruit, mustard & mayo packets, cutlery
• Garden Salad Boxed Meal (Vegetarian and Made Without Gluten)
  • Includes bag of chips, dressing, cookie, whole fruit, cutlery

Food and snack options will also be available for purchase on-site from 6–9 pm in the Food Court on the Lower Level.

The Field Fuel Box remains the fastest and most convenient way to ensure your meal is ready for quick pick-up during the event. Vending machines (cashless) are available on the Museum’s Lower Level.

Yes. If you or a member of your party has a food allergy or dietary restriction, please indicate this in your Permission and Release Waiver which is one of the required Pre-Registration Forms, linked to from your confirmation email.

No. Outside food or drink is prohibited.

Yes. We offer lockers for a small fee, available on a first-come, first-served basis. They must be emptied by the next morning, and Base Camp is happy to help you get set up. Please note that the Museum isn’t able to take responsibility for lost or damaged items.Locker Sizes:

• Small: 12.5″ × 11″ × 19.5″
• Large: 22″ × 11″ × 19.5″

Lockers are not large enough for standard rolling suitcases, and space around sleeping cots is limited, so please plan accordingly.

We do not provide toiletries (toothbrush, toothpaste, etc.) Some essentials, such as pajamas, blankets, and water bottles, may be available for purchase before or during the event, while supplies last.

Museum staff and security are prepared to assist with first aid and medical needs during the program. Please see the nearest Expedition Crew member for assistance.

Yes. If you need to leave before the program ends, notify an Expedition Crew member. If you parked in the garage, you must validate your parking pass before departure.

After booking, you will receive a confirmation email which contains a link to the required Pre-Registration Forms, which contain a Group Leader Agreement, a Roster of Participants, and a Permission and Release Waiver, where you can indicate allergy and dietary restriction information.

All required forms must be completed no later than two weeks prior to your scheduled sleepover to avoid delayed entry or cancellation of your reservation. 
Please note that forms not received by the two-week deadline may result in changes to the personalized aspects of your sleepover experience.

Enter at Central Park West (ground level) and 79th Street, down the curving driveway from the sidewalk level. Check-in begins promptly at 6 pm.

Exit on check-out morning will be on 81^st Street/Rose Center.

Call Central Reservations at 212-769-5200 (Monday–Friday, 9 am–5 pm).

We can’t wait to welcome you to A Night at the Museum!