Bring Your Group Aboard Battleship IOWA
Give your group more than another sightseeing stop. A visit to Battleship IOWA places guests aboard one of the most powerful battleships ever built, overlooking the working waterfront at the Port of Los Angeles.
Conveniently located in San Pedro near Long Beach and major Southern California attractions, Battleship IOWA is a memorable addition to Los Angeles group tours, motorcoach itineraries, cruise excursions and military history tours.
From the moment your group crosses the brow, this is not simply a museum visit. Guests explore the decks, passageways, and living spaces of an authentic U.S. Navy battleship while discovering the people, skills, and shared purpose that brought the ship to life.
More Than a Tour of a Historic Ship
Battleship IOWA served during World War II, the Korean War, and the Cold War. Today, the ship is home to the National Museum of the Surface Navy and an experience that connects naval history with the lives of the sailors who served at sea.
Through the Life of a Sailor experience, visitors become sailor recruits for the day. They receive orders, explore the ship, hone their sailor skills, and follow the story of an actual sailor. Along the way, they discover how thousands of people lived, worked, and depended upon one another aboard a Navy ship.
Your group can explore multiple decks and encounter:
- The ship’s massive 16-inch guns
- Officers’ and enlisted living spaces
- Sailor berthing and mess areas
- Navigation and command spaces
- Stories from World War II, Korea and the Cold War
- Exhibits about Navy life, technology and maritime careers
- Views of the Port of Los Angeles and surrounding waterfront
The experience brings together history, engineering, service and personal stories in a setting that cannot be recreated inside a traditional museum.
A Distinctive Stop for Southern California Group Itineraries
Battleship IOWA is located at the Los Angeles Waterfront in San Pedro, immediately accessible from the World Cruise Center and within the greater Long Beach and South Bay visitor area.
The museum can be included in itineraries featuring:
- The Los Angeles Waterfront
- San Pedro and the Port of Los Angeles
- Long Beach attractions
- Harbor and port tours
- Southern California military history
- Los Angeles cultural attractions
- Pre- and post-cruise activities
- Coastal California motorcoach tours
A visit aboard the ship gives travelers a different view of Los Angeles—one shaped by the waterfront, the nation’s maritime history, and one of the busiest port complexes in the world.
Group Tours for Many Types of Travelers
We welcome tour and travel groups from across Southern California, the United States, and worldwide.
Battleship IOWA is well suited for:
Motorcoach Tours
Add an iconic Los Angeles waterfront landmark to your Southern California itinerary. Our group team can help tour operators coordinate arrival information, visit timing, and other planning details.
Senior and Active-Adult Groups
The ship’s history, personal stories, and connections to World War II, Korea, and the Cold War make Battleship IOWA especially meaningful for senior travelers, veterans, and military families.
Because Battleship IOWA is a historic naval vessel with ladders, narrow passageways and changes in elevation, tour planners should discuss mobility needs with our team before arriving. We can help you understand available routes and determine the best experience for your group.
Cruise Groups and Shore Excursions
Located beside the Port of Los Angeles World Cruise Center, Battleship IOWA is a natural choice for cruise passengers looking for an experience close to the terminal.
The museum can be incorporated into pre-cruise, post-cruise, and shore-excursion itineraries. Long Beach cruise passengers and groups staying in the surrounding harbor area can also include the ship as part of a broader waterfront visit.
Military, Veteran and Reunion Groups
Veteran organizations, ship reunions, military associations and family groups will find a place built around service, remembrance and connection. Guests can walk through authentic shipboard spaces, share their own experiences and honor those who served at sea.
International and Educational Travel Groups
Battleship IOWA offers international visitors an opportunity to explore American history from aboard an actual Navy ship. The experience also connects history with science, engineering, skilled trades, maritime careers, and operating a working port.
Clubs and Community Organizations
Historical societies, travel clubs, service organizations, car clubs, community groups and other organized groups can make Battleship IOWA the centerpiece of a memorable day on the Los Angeles Waterfront.
Plan the Right Experience for Your Group
Every itinerary is different. Some groups want an in-depth historical experience, while others need a distinctive stop that fits within a larger day of sightseeing.
When you contact us, provide:
- Your preferred visit date
- Estimated arrival time
- Approximate number of guests
- Type of group
- Desired length of visit
- Mobility or accessibility considerations
- Motorcoach or transportation information
- Any meal, retail, or special-program interests
We recommend reservations so our team can confirm availability, group rates, and planning details.
Make a Day of the Los Angeles Waterfront
A Battleship IOWA visit can serve as the anchor for a full or partial day in San Pedro and the harbor area.
Depending on your schedule, your itinerary may also include waterfront dining, harbor sightseeing, local cultural attractions, coastal views, or additional stops in Long Beach and the South Bay.
Tour planners can also ask about opportunities to visit Vicky’s Doghouse Café, browse the ship’s store, or incorporate other available experiences into the group’s visit.
A Visit That Supports a Mission
Battleship IOWA is operated by Pacific Battleship Center, an award-winning 501©(3) nonprofit organization. Admissions, programs, and donations—not regular government operating funds —support the museum.
Each group visit helps preserve the ship, share the stories of America’s sailors, and expand programs serving students, veterans, and the surrounding community.
Your group doesn't just visit a Los Angeles landmark. It helps keep its history and mission alive.
Start Planning Your Group Visit
Bring your group aboard an unforgettable Los Angeles waterfront destination.
Tell us about your group, preferred date, and itinerary needs. Our team will help you plan a visit that works for your travelers and gives them an experience they will remember long after returning home.
Frequently Asked Questions About Battleship IOWA Group Tours
Where is Battleship IOWA located?
Battleship IOWA is located at 250 South Harbor Boulevard in San Pedro, on the Los Angeles Waterfront at the Port of Los Angeles. The museum is near the World Cruise Center and within the greater Long Beach and South Bay visitor area.
Are group rates available?
Group rates may be available for qualifying organized groups with reservations. Contact the group reservations team for current requirements, pricing, and availability.
How long should groups allow for a visit?
The appropriate visit length depends on your group and itinerary. Many visitors spend approximately two to three hours exploring the ship, although shorter visits may be possible. Discuss your schedule with the group team before booking.
Can Battleship IOWA accommodate motorcoach groups?
Battleship IOWA regularly welcomes tour and travel groups. Tour operators should provide transportation details when inquiring so the team can share current arrival, passenger drop-off, and parking information.
Does Battleship IOWA offer catering and places for groups to eat?
Yes. Battleship IOWA offers full-service catering and several unique spaces aboard the ship where groups can enjoy meals. Our team can help you select the dining location and catering options that best fit your group size, schedule, and itinerary.
Does Battleship IOWA offer an overnight option?
Yes. We offer an overnight program that lets groups spend the night aboard the ship. Participants enjoy meals on the mess decks, take part in activities, and sleep in authentic Navy-style berthing. Reservations are required, and availability is limited.
Is Battleship IOWA accessible?
Because Battleship IOWA is an authentic historic warship, portions of the experience include steep ladders, narrow passageways, and elevation changes. Accessibility varies by area. Contact the museum before your visit to discuss your travelers' needs and available options.
Is the museum close to the Los Angeles cruise terminal?
Yes. Battleship IOWA is located near the Port of Los Angeles World Cruise Center, making it a convenient option for many pre-cruise, post-cruise, and shore-excursion itineraries.
Can we include Long Beach and San Pedro in the same itinerary?
Yes. San Pedro and Long Beach are neighboring waterfront communities, allowing tour planners to combine Battleship IOWA with other harbor-area attractions, dining, and sightseeing opportunities.
TICKETS
Experience the Life of a Sailor.
Life of a Sailor
Our general admission experience shows how sailors live, work, and serve.
President’s Tour
It’s November 1943, and Battleship IOWA is on a covert mission. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and his entire staff are aboard, headed for top-secret meetings with Winston Churchill and Joseph Stalin.
Overview Experience
The overview experience is a 90-minute crew-led tour that brings the ship’s legacy to life through the stories of those who served, and those who preserve her today.
Gun Tour Experience
This exclusive, behind-the-scenes journey puts you inside the systems that made Battleship IOWA one of the most powerful warships ever built.
Engineering Tour Experience
The Engineering Tour takes you below into the hidden heart of Battleship IOWA, where eight boilers and four steam turbines once generated 212,000 shaft horsepower, enough to power 650 Ford F-150 trucks, and drove IOWA to a blistering 35 knots, the fastest of any battleship ever built.
Escape the Fleet Adventure
In 2011, a small team raced against time to pull Battleship IOWA out of the Navy’s reserve “ghost fleet” — or watch her be scrapped forever. Now it’s your turn to live that mission.
Included with Admission
Life of a Sailor
Our general admission experience shows how sailors live, work, and serve.
Great Ships
Explore the ships of America’s Surface Navy.
Ship Cutaway
See inside a Navy ship from bow to stern.
Vicky’s Scavenger Hunt
Find Vicky throughout your shipboard adventure.
Living Blueprint
Immerse yourself in a blueprint of a Navy ship.
Stewards of the Sea
Explore how the Navy protects the seas.
What’s My Rate?
Find the Navy career that fits you.
Every Sailor has a Story
Meet the people who serve.
HUP-2 Retriever Helicopter
Korean War-Era HUP-2 Retriever Helicopter.
Sticks Art Gallery
Discover IOWA’s story through art.
Gunnery Incidents
A dive into Navy gunnery incidents over the years.
Limited time only!
Kids Board Free
In the all-new Life of a Sailor experience, kids become sailor recruits, building their skills, following the story of a famous sailor, and joining Vicky the Dog on a scavenger hunt through Battleship IOWA.
Kids board free with a paid adult.