National Aquarium
Baltimore, MD · 2 hours 21 minutes from Reading · $20 to $50 a person
Plan the day
The National Aquarium is an aquarium on the Inner Harbor at 501 E. Pratt St. in Baltimore, MD, with Blacktip Reef, Shark Alley, Dolphin Discovery, an Upland Tropical Rain Forest and Australia: Wild Extremes under one roof.
Blacktip Reef, Shark Alley, Dolphin Discovery, Jellies Invasion, the Upland Tropical Rain Forest and the Harbor Wetland salt marsh sit on one route, and the 4D theater runs shark and sea turtle films. Fridays it stays open until 9 PM, and from 5 to 9 PM admission drops to $24.95 per person every week of the year. Entry is timed, so pick a slot before you leave Berks.
Before you go
Buy timed-entry tickets online; they are nonrefundable. Partner garages (LAZ Inner Harbor, Lockwood Place, Pier V, Harbor Park) charge a flat $18 with validation inside. Strollers are not allowed on the exhibit route; check them at the main entrance. No outside food.
Coming up
Half-Price Friday Nights run every Friday 5 to 9 PM at $24.95 per person; Aquarium After Dark is October 28, 2026; closed Thanksgiving Day, then open 9 AM to 9 PM November 27 and 28.
Checked October 8, 2026 on the official site. Hours, prices and seasons change, so confirm there before a long drive.
