If you’re in Houston and want to escape the weather and instead feel like you’re one launch code away from joining the next mission, I have just the thing for you. Sitting just 30 minutes from downtown, the NASA Space Center is the perfect way to spend an afternoon!
No matter what your age or background, you’re sure to have a great time learning about space history, cutting-edge exploration, and much more. Whether you’re a big space nerd or just want to take a selfie in front of the Saturn V rocket, the space center delivers.
If you want to make the most of your time there, make sure to check out one of the 3 top Houston NASA Space Center tours that I’ve detailed right here!
Best Houston NASA Space Center Tours
| NASA's Space Center Admission Plus Houston City Tour | Private NASA Space Center Day Trip with Houston City Tour | Astroville Tunnel Tour & NASA Space Center Ticket/Transportation | |
|---|---|---|---|
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| Duration: | 6 hours | 5 to 8 hours | 7 to 8 hours |
| Departure: | 1302 Dallas St, Houston | Hotel pickup and drop-off included | Bank of America Tower, 722 Travis St, Houston |
| Start: | 9:45 AM | 9:00 AM | 9:00 AM |
| Includes: | Transportation to NASA Space Center and admission ticket, 75-minute Houston city tour, Guided tram tour at Space Center, tour map and orientation | General admission ticket for Self Guided visit including Astronaut Training Facility and Rocket Park, 60 Minute city tour, private transportation | General Admission ticket to the Space Center, round-trip transportation, guided air-conditioned walking city tour inside Houston's tunnel system |
Quick Answer: The 3 Best Rated Houston NASA Space Center Tours For 2025
- NASA’s Space Center Admission Plus Houston City Tour
- Private NASA Space Center Day Trip with Houston City Tour
- Astroville Tunnel Tour & NASA Space Center Ticket/Transportation
Houston NASA Space Center Tour Reviews
1. NASA’s Space Center Admission Plus Houston City Tour
- Duration: 6 hours
- Departure: 1302 Dallas St, Houston
- Departure Time: 9:45 AM
- Includes: Transportation to NASA Space Center and admission ticket, 75-minute Houston city tour, Guided tram tour at Space Center, Tour map and orientation
Starting things off on the right foot, we have NASA’s Space Center Admission Plus Houston City Tour! This 6-hour adventure is a combo of the city’s biggest icons – starting in a double-decker bus for a guided city tour before making your way to the Space Center.
It’s perfect if you’re short on time or are only going to be in the city for a day or two, covering just about everything you need to get a better idea of what makes Houston so unique.
Your tour starts off in downtown Houston, where you’ll get picked up in an open-top, double-decker bus perfect for seeing the city completely unobstructed. I personally recommend the upper deck, which offers fresh air, although Houston’s weather can be a bit unpredictable, so use your best judgment.
On the bus, you’ll get some great educational commentary to accompany you, learning about and seeing sites like City Hall, Discovery Green Park, Minute Maid Park, and more.
After a proper downtown experience, you’ll board a comfy coach and make your way to Space Center Houston! This is one of the coolest places in the US if you’re at all curious about astronaut life, space adventure, and rockets!
However, it’s not only about stories and incredible engineering feats – you have plenty of opportunities to experience some amazing sights firsthand, as well. Hop on a tram for a complete Johnson Space Center tour, where you’ll get to see NASA staff hard at work, various Mission Control centers, and of course, the breathtaking Saturn V Rocket!
After your guided experience, there’s plenty of free time where you get to explore on your own, where you can go back to exhibits that caught your attention in particular, or make your way to see Apollo 17!
More Information & Tour Booking
100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience
2. Private NASA Space Center Day Trip with Houston City Tour
- Duration: 5 to 8 hours
- Departure: Hotel pickup and drop-off included
- Departure Time: 9:00 AM
- Includes: Bottled water, snack and 1 Souvenir per every two in your group, General Admission Ticket for Self Guided visit including Astronaut Training Facility and Rocket Park, Private Transport from hotel and return after experience, 60 Minute City Tour by certified guide/chauffeur, Private transportation
Next up is a full-day adventure where you’ll experience a proper tour of Houston combined with a space nerd-out. If you’re not particularly into the idea of large group tours where you’re bunched in with a crowd of strangers, look no further than this tour.
The Private NASA Space Center Day Trip with Houston City Tour is a fine balance of guidance, combined with freedom to explore on your own. What I love about this tour (aside from everything) is that you get to see two sides of Houston in one go, along with the flexible exploration time inside the Space Center.
Kicking things off, you’ll be picked right up from your hotel, so you don’t have to deal with booking separate transport. Starting at 9 in the morning, you have all day to take advantage of your tickets, so you can take your time without feeling rushed.
We started the tour driving around for about 90 minutes with our super fun and friendly guide taking us around Houston, showing us all the top sights! It was a particularly special experience because we got to offer some of our own input and tell him what we were particularly interested in.
He crafted a specialized itinerary based on our interests, offering educational commentary combined with plenty of personal anecdotes to further enrich the experience! After that, we went on a 25-minute drive out to the Space Center, learning some background info on it before we even arrived.
The self-guided tour was great as we got to take the tram and venture through the whole complex on our own time. When we were ready, our guide/driver was there to pick us up right at the time indicated, taking us back to our hotel – can’t get more convenient than that!
More Information & Tour Booking
100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience
3. Astroville Tunnel Tour & NASA Space Center Ticket/Transportation
- Duration: 7 to 8 hours
- Departure: Bank of America Tower, 722 Travis St, Houston
- Departure Time: 9:00 AM
- Includes: General Admission ticket to the NASA Space Center, Round-Trip Transportation from meeting location to NASA Space Center, Nearly 5 hours to explore the NASA Space Center at your leisure, Guided air-conditioned walking city tour inside Houston’s tunnel system, Access to iconic Houston skyscraper lobbies
Last but certainly not least, is the Astroville Tunnel Tour & NASA Space Center Ticket/Transportation! This 7 to 8-hour tour does a great job of balancing visits to 2 of the top local attractions, combining them into one convenient excursion with an expert guide at the helm.
If it’s your first time in Houston, this is a must-do adventure, taking you to spots many locals haven’t even been to before! Starting things off, you’ll meet your guide and the rest of your group at the Bank of America Tower, which is easy to get to from most hotels.
Your tour starts in the morning to avoid the majority of the crowds and heat, making it that much more convenient. You’ll then head down into downtown Houston’s tunnels, visiting all kinds of different historical places and artistic spots throughout.
Our guide did a wonderful job of regaling us with interesting commentary and bringing history to life – who would’ve thought that tunnels could be so interesting? We even got to see teh tallest building in all of Texas and the oldest bank in Houston, among other cool landmarks!
Then, it was time to hop onboard our coach and make our way to the Space Center, where we had a generous 5 hours to explore as we saw fit. No matter your age or background, there’s truly something for everyone here!
Some of the highlights for me were the tram tours – just keep in mind that the Mission Control tour is an extra 20 bucks (but worth it). I also think the astronaut training tour was a blast, and it’s actually free, so don’t skip on that one! Whenever you’re ready for pickup, your shuttle will be waiting for you outside!
More Information & Tour Booking
100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience
Sites Seen
Tour Guides
Value
The NASA's Space Center Admission Plus Houston City Tour is our Editors Choice for the best Houston NASA Space Center tour
