Cockrell Butterfly Center – tickets, what to expect, prices, timings

Located inside the Houston Museum of Natural Science, the Cockrell Butterfly Center is one of the most stunning and unique places to explore the world of butterflies.

With an extensive collection of live butterflies and moths from all over the world, the museum is a breathtaking adventure that you don’t want to miss!

The Cockrell Butterfly Center boasts a breathtaking rainforest atmosphere spread over a 3-level butterfly sanctuary.

Whether you’re a nature lover, a science enthusiast, or simply looking for a fun and educational day out, the Cockrell Butterfly Center is the place to be. 

Read on to learn all you need to know before booking tickets for the Cockrell Butterfly Center – ticket prices, timings, how to reach, what to expect and more!

What to expect 

Experience the magnificence of a three-storied glass building built around a glorious 50-foot (15 meters) waterfall at the Cockrell Butterfly Center.

Enjoy watching a live butterfly habitat and admire the impressive collection of live and preserved specimens of some of the biggest and most unusual arthropods in the world.

Visit the Brown Hall of Entomology to observe living insects, beautifully mounted specimens, impressive models, and engaging interactive games.

Embark on an exciting adventure as you search for camouflaged creatures, meet a cricket weatherman, and discover how insects are used to solve crimes. 

Make sure not to miss the incredible Chrysalis Corner in the hall, where you can see butterflies emerge from their chrysalis and be released into the rainforest. 

Explore the importance of insects to humans, listen to interviews with real-life entomologists, and take a peek into an entomologist’s lab to examine insect specimens. 

Get to The Land of Beeyond, an immersive insect environment perfect for families with activities like playing in a giant beehive, making insect rubbings, solving puzzles, and reading insect picture books.

Where to book tickets 

Tickets for the Houston Cockrell Butterfly Center can be purchased either at the attraction or online in advance. 

We suggest booking your tickets in advance to save time and money.

Online ticket prices tend to be cheaper than tickets at the venue.

When you buy online, you can avoid the long queues at the attraction’s ticket counters.

Because some attractions sell a limited number of tickets, booking early helps avoid last-minute disappointment.

When you book early, you also get your preferred time slot.

How do online tickets work?

To book your visit to Cockrell Butterfly Center Houston, head to the booking page and choose your desired date and time and the number of tickets. 

Once you’ve made your purchase, your tickets will be sent to your email. 

On the day of your visit, simply present your ticket at the gate and walk in.

Cockrell Butterfly Center Ticket price

Tickets for Cockrell Butterfly Center are available for US$12 for adults between 12 and 61 years.

Senior Citizens above 62 and children between three and 11 are available for US$10.

Kids aged under three get in for free.

Discount tickets are available on-site for students and military with valid IDs.

Cockrell Butterfly Center tickets

The Houston Cockrell Butterfly Center is an experience you won’t want to miss, with over 50 species of the world’s largest and most colorful butterfly species.

The museum’s three-story glass rainforest conservatory features a tropical trail of exotic plants and countless unique butterflies, both large and small.

Soak in the magic of the tropical world of a rainforest habitat intricately crafted for over 1,500 butterflies and insects.

Observe leaf cutter ants as they work, witness giant wasp nests, and get an up-close look at some of Houston’s largest cockroaches. 

And if you’re feeling adventurous, there’s even an insect vending machine where you can try a lollipop with a worm in it – words we never thought we’d write!

Check out the Land of Beeyond for educational games and activities, where the little ones can buzz around in a giant beehive.

While you are at it, learn valuable tips for butterfly gardening, backyard beekeeping, and mosquito control. 

Ticket Prices

Adult Ticket (12 to 61 years): US$12
Senior Citizen Ticket (62+ years): US$10
Child Ticket (3 to 11 years): US$10
Infant Ticket (up to 3 years): Free

Burke Baker Planetarium tickets

Experience the wonders of the universe at the Burke Baker Planetarium located in the Houston Museum of Natural Science. 

The planetarium has been updated with the latest digital technology, offering you a chance to explore the vastness of space like never before. 

Discover planets, asteroid fields, stars, and entire galaxies projected on a digital platform that will make you feel like you’ve stepped off the planet. 

The planetarium offers a variety of dome shows, including “Lamps of Atlantis,” “Are We Really Alone?,” “Black Holes,” “Starry Night Express,” “Dark Side of the Moon,” and “Passport to the Universe.” 

Come and expand your knowledge of the universe in a truly immersive and unforgettable experience.

Ticket Cost: US$9

Houston Museum of Natural Science: General Admission tickets

Discover the intriguing world of natural science by purchasing an admission ticket to the Houston Museum of Natural Sciences, a frequently-visited museum in the United States. 

Witness an array of fascinating displays such as dinosaur skeletons, space station models, and stunning mineral specimens.

In the Morian Hall of Paleontology, witness the animated struggle of prehistoric beasts as they try to survive. 

Admire a 2,000-carat blue topaz crystal at the Cullen Hall of Gems and Minerals.

Experience the diverse cultures of America’s indigenous peoples at the John P. McGovern Hall of the Americas. 

Observe wildlife ecology at the Frensley Graham Hall of African Wildlife or learn about shell science and mollusk research at the Strake Hall of Malacology.

Ticket Prices

Adult Ticket (12 to 64 years): US$14
Senior Citizen Ticket (65+ years): US$14
Child Ticket (3 to 11 years): US$14
Infant Ticket (up to 3 years): Free

Save time and money! Explore Houston’s best attractions with the Houston CityPASS and save big. You can use the pass for nine consecutive days starting from the date of first use. This way, you can enjoy more while spending less.

How to reach Cockrell Butterfly Center

The Cockrell Butterfly Center is at the Houston Museum of Natural Science on the northern border of Hermann Park in Houston.

Address: 5555 Hermann Park Dr, Houston, TX 77030, USA. Get Directions

You can reach the Cockrell Butterfly Center by public transport or car. 

By Bus

Board bus 56 and get down at the Main St @ Remington Ln stop to reach the Houston Cockrell Butterfly Center.

By Lightrail

Get down at the Museum District station to reach the center.

The stop is serviceable by the red line.

By Car

If you want to drive to the attraction, turn on google maps and get started!

You can park at the HMNS Parking Garage.

Cockrell Butterfly Center timings

The Cockrell Butterfly Center inside the Houston Museum of Natural Science is open on all days of the week.

The attraction opens at 10 am in the morning and closes at 6 pm in the evening on all days except Thursdays.

Entry to the Cockrell Butterfly Center Houston closes at 5.30 pm on regular days.

On Thursdays, you can get to the center up till 7.30 pm.

Best time to visit

Even though there is no bad time to visit the attraction, the butterflies are the most active during the morning, so consider visiting at 10 am, when the center opens.

If you want to have the place to yourself as much as possible, planning your visit on a weekday morning is best.

The earlier you arrive at the Cockrell Butterfly Center Houston, the less crowded your experience will be.

Weekends and public holidays tend to be the most crowded time at the attraction.

How long does the tour take

It can take anything between 30 minutes to an hour to explore the Houston Cockrell Butterfly Center.

However, visitors can take more time exploring the center depending on how they move along.

Visitors begin with a five-minute informative video and then move on to explore the tropical wonderland.

Cockrell Butterfly Center reviews

Here are some reviews for the Houston Cockrell Butterfly Center to make your trip easier.

The butterflies were amazing!

This was a last-minute stop waiting on the planetarium show. The exhibits were fascinating, and incredible to watch butterflies hatch. There were lots of interactive learning exhibits. But of course, the best part was going out into the butterfly house. I never thought it would be so much fun. I highly recommend this part of the museum. Apflood, TripAdvisor

Beautiful!

The butterflies were beautiful and there were so many! The educational exhibit before you go in was very well done. Seeing the hatching process was amazing. Kayla N, TripAdvisor

WOW!!! Amazing!!!

We added the Butterfly Center to our visit to the HMNS; SO COOL!!! We really enjoyed the entire museum, but the butterfly area was especially fun and beautiful! There is a whole educational section, plus you get to go in the greenhouse-type space and see the butterflies, so many butterflies. Kristine412, TripAdvisor

So much fun

It was great interacting with the butterflies in a hands-on environment. My children loved it, and frankly, so did I! Josh E, TripAdvisor

FAQs

Here are some questions that visitors generally ask before visiting Cockrell Butterfly Center.