All Aquarium buildings are ADA accessible and seating is located throughout the facility. However, our doors are currently not all electronic. Please be aware that our outdoor areas consist of gravel pathways, which some may find difficult to navigate when using wheelchairs or other mobility aids with narrow wheels.
Please note: We do require that a valid ID be held while rental equipment is checked out.
Restrooms are located throughout the Aquarium, and are identified on the Aquarium map. Restrooms are located in the lobby, near the exit of our Passages of the Deep, and between our Seabird Aviary and Connected Coasts gallery. All restrooms have accessible stalls. Family restrooms are located to the right of the gift shop, and are marked as ‘Family & Gender Neutral Restrooms’ on the map.
Nursing parents are welcome to nurse wherever they feel most comfortable. There is one private first aid room (available by request) located near our family restrooms and classroom.
The Oregon Coast Aquarium is a certified Sensory Inclusive facility, registered with KultureCity. To ensure all guests have a comfortable and enjoyable Aquarium visit, we worked with KultureCity and local specialists to train staff, and offer sensory bags and pre-visit resources.
See below for resources and guides to planning your next visit!
Bags can be checked out at the Admission windows, where tickets are purchased. Bags should be returned either to the Admission windows or to one of the ticket scanning stations within the lobby. Bags are sanitized between guest use.
Inside you can find a variety of tools to lessen sensory overload as well as support engagement.
Sensory processing disorder is a condition in which the brain has trouble receiving and responding to information that comes in through the senses. (this is copy and pasted from Web MD) Common sounds, lights, crowds and even certain smells can be overwhelming.
Sensory processing refers to how our brains process, recognize, organize and interpret sensory input.
Everyone should be comfortable and have an enjoyable visit to the Oregon Coast Aquarium! The program is appropriate for everyone with sensory needs including those with autism, military veterans with PTSD, adults with dementia, and many others. (this is directly from KultureCity page)
KultureCity has helped to provide training, signage, sensory bags and tools to help us make the Aquarium a more inclusive place. KultureCity is a leading non-profit recognized nationwide for using its resources to revolutionize and effect change in the community for those with sensory needs, not just those with autism. KultureCity has created over 350 sensory-inclusive venues internationally, and worked hard to provide a resource for guests to be able to find other sensory inclusive organizations in their area.
Some of our partner organizations, like the Oregon Zoo in Portland, are also part of the KultureCity program! For a full, up to date list, we suggest visiting KultureCity’s website.
While being a Sensory Inclusive Facility makes us accessible to many, visiting during regular business hours still may not work for some. If you or someone in your family would like to visit the Aquarium, but still feel that an additional accommodation is necessary for health, sensory sensitivity, or another condition, please contact the Aquarium to learn about our early entry accommodation.
Since opening in 1992, the Oregon Coast Aquarium has been a premier attraction on Oregon’s central coast and an enduring advocate for the health of our ocean. For over three decades this 501(c)3 non-profit organization has supported marine wildlife and fostered environmental stewardship through its education programs, community partnerships, and rehabilitation efforts. Accredited by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums, the Oregon Coast Aquarium is consistently ranked as one of the top 10 aquariums in the U.S., providing visitors with opportunities to connect with 15,000 animals spanning 300 different species. The Oregon Coast Aquarium is located at 2820 S.E. Ferry Slip Rd., Newport, OR. Learn more about the Oregon Coast Aquarium and its vital work at aquarium.org, 541-867-3474. Follow us on Facebook or Twitter for the latest updates.
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