Family Outing: Long Island Aquarium & Exhibition Center

A Guide to the Long Island Aquarium and Exhibition Center 

Plan a family day at the Long Island Aquarium and Exhibition Center in Riverhead, NY with info on hours, tickets, exhibits, and fun animal experiences. This guide offers real information about the location, exhibition shows, and habitats displayed in the Long Island Aquarium and Exhibition Center.

Swim with sharks, feed massive stingrays, or just marvel at the marine life from habitats as diverse as Africa, the Amazon, and even Atlantis, at the Long Island Aquarium & Exhibition Center. If you’re looking to explore even more marine destinations beyond this one, be sure to check out our guide to Aquariums to Visit in New York for additional family-friendly options.

Too Long, Didn’t Read

Best exhibits: sharks, sea lions, penguins

Best hands-on: Touch Tank, stingray feeding

Best add-ons: Shark Dive, Penguin Encounter

Quick tip: Book special animal experiences ahead of time

Nearby break spots: Peconic River walk, Main Street snacks, Grangebel Park playground

If you only have a few hours, stick to the coral reef, sea lions, Touch Tank, and feeding areas. You’ll see a lot without rushing.

Visitors to the aquarium can experience the Western hemisphere’s largest all-living coral reef display, which holds more than one million gallons of water.

The Long Island Aquarium and Exhibition Center, formerly known as Atlantis Marine World Aquarium, is no ordinary aquarium. This 3.2-acre, full-scale aquatic haven and newly opened exhibition center in downtown Riverhead along the scenic Peconic River immerses visitors in a journey full of adventure, education, and wonder. Named among the Top 10 Best Aquariums for Kids (nationally!) by Parents magazine, the aquarium changed its name this summer when it celebrated its 11th anniversary and completed a $24 million expansion that includes the new exhibition center and the Hyatt Place East End hotel.

Year-Round Activities

The ambience inside the Long Island Aquarium allows visitors to feel as though they’ve been transported to the wondrous Lost City of Atlantis. The indoor exhibits give you the opportunity to experience environments as diverse as the Amazon Rainforest, Africa’s Lake Malawi, and the Long Island Coast, while the outdoor exhibits featured along the banks of the Peconic River bring to life ancient ruins, tropical lagoons, and the shores of South Africa.

Get up close and personal with marine life from all over the world, including sharks, penguins, sea lions, giant octopuses, piranhas, sting rays, and crustaceans of all natures. Kids can hand-feed massive stingrays, bass, and even dogfish all year ’round, or head over to the Touch Tank for a hands-on experience with marine life like starfish, clams, and hermit crabs. And don’t miss the popular Sea Lion Show, featuring the many talents of the aquarium’s California sea lions (several shows daily).

Plan in advance to sign up for the aquarium’s Aquatic Adventures, which include diving with sharks and snorkeling with stingrays.

Connected to the Long Island Aquarium is the new Long Island Exhibition Center. Since opening July 1, the center grants guests access to exotic birds and butterflies from vastly different global regions.

Out-of-town visitors can stay at the newly built, 100-room-and-suite Hyatt Place East End Hotel, located steps away from the aquarium and exhibition hall. Call 631-574-8008 x277 for more information and reservations.

Special Features

The Shark Dive is an experience like no other — sign up and you’ll be immersed underwater in the 120,000-gallon Lost City of Atlantis Shark Exhibit ($155).

Activities change with the seasons. From May through October, visitors can hop aboard the Atlantis Explorer, where children can become Scientists for a Day and take an interactive boat tour to discover the ecological marvels hidden within Long Island’s waterways ($18.50; $5 children ages 2 and younger).

On weekends at the Penguin Pavilion, exhibit visitors have the opportunity to experience a 45-minute personal encounter with an African penguin ($50).

Kids can partake in a Pirate Snorkel Adventure ($35), daily in the summer and weekends and holidays in September. They’ll help Captain Poseidon find his buried treasure while swimming with tropical fish.

The exhibition center, part of the aquarium’s $24 million expansion, features an indoor exotic butterfly and bird exhibit. This exhibit will change every few years.

Details

Address: 431 E. Main St., Riverhead, NY 11901

Hours: Long Island Aquarium and Exhibition Center is open 10am-5pm daily (closed Thanksgiving and Christmas)

Price: Admission: $32.50; $27.50 children (3-17) and seniors (62 and older); free for children ages 2 and younger. Aquarium only: $23.50; $19.50 children (3-17) and seniors (62 and older); free for children ages 2 and younger. Exhibition Center only: $13.50; $10.50 children (3-17) and seniors (62 and older); free for children ages 2 and younger.

For more information: 631-208-9200 or longislandaquarium.com

More Fun

For even more fun family events and activities in the New York City area, see our full, searchable calendar of events.

Quick Facts About the Long Island Aquarium & Exhibition Center 

Tips for Visiting with Young Kids

Visiting with young kids can feel busy, so planning ahead helps the day feel calm. Most families take it slow and enjoy each area without rushing.

• Plan around rest time: Pick a time when your child has energy. Many families like mornings because the aquarium feels less busy and kids are more alert.
• Bring a stroller: There are indoor and outdoor areas. A stroller gives younger kids a place to rest while older kids keep moving.
• Start with hands-on spots:  The Touch Tank and feeding areas are great first stops. Kids like touching starfish and seeing animals up close.
• Take breaks early: Going for short snacks or bathroom breaks will help everyone stay relaxed and comfortable.
• Move at your child’s pace:  It’s very okay to take your time. If your child wants to stay longer at one spot, enjoy that moment. The staff at Long Island Aquarium are friendly, and they are always willing to help with directions or tips. 

Questions Families Often Ask

1. What’s the best time to visit Long Island Aquarium?
   Anytime is a great time to visit. However, if you visit the Long Island Aquarium after 1:00 pm on weekdays during the school year, you’re likely to find the facility less crowded than you would earlier in the day.
2. Is the Long Island Aquarium good?
   Yes, the Long Island Aquarium is a solid regional attraction and a great experience, best for pre-teens and younger. 
3. Is food allowed in the Long Island Aquarium?
   No outside food is permitted. Students on school trips may bring bag lunches, but lunches must remain in backpacks or totes, since they do not offer storage for lunches or personal belongings.
4. What time does the Long Island Aquarium open?
   They are open weekdays from 10 am to 4 pm and weekends from 10 am to 5 pm and are closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.