Loveland Living Planet Aquarium: Why You Should Visit (2026 Update)
Utah is known for its polygamy topography and outdoor adventures. A trip down the side of a mountain is par for the course. So is an indoor tourist attraction really worth your time and money in a state built for the outdoors? Why should I visit the Loveland Living Planet Aquarium? After dragging my own family through it, I have opinions.
Short version: yes, it is worth a visit, and it just got a lot bigger. In February 2026 the aquarium opened a massive expansion that roughly doubled its size, so the place you may remember from a few years ago is not the place you will walk into today.
Why Should I Visit the Loveland Living Planet Aquarium?: Things to Consider
1. Where is Loveland Aquarium?
2. The Loveland Living Planet Aquarium Animal Exhibits Are Not to Be Missed
3. The New Skaggs Science Learning Center Roughly Doubled the Aquarium
4. The Free Outdoor Play Area is a Great Place to Burn Energy
5. It Owns a U2 Concert Set (Now Called EECO)
6. There is a Paid Indoor Play Area
7. There is a Virtual Reality Experience
8. You Can Meet the Animals
9. There Are Special Events
10. You Can Get Gluten Free Food
11. There is Free Wi-Fi
12. You Can Nurse in a Mother’s Lounge
13. There Are Ways to Maximize Your Day
14. You Can Get Loveland Aquarium Discount Tickets
15. There is a 4D Movie Theater
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Is the Loveland Living Planet Aquarium Worth Visiting? The Quick Verdict
Yes. It is a legitimately good half-day with kids, and the 2026 expansion gave it new bragging rights as one of the largest aquariums in the country. Plan for at least four hours now, arrive at opening, buy tickets online ahead of time, and you will have a great day. Here are the bare facts before we dig in.
- Where: 12033 South Lone Peak Parkway, Draper, Utah, about 30 minutes south of Salt Lake City.
- Hours: Open at 10:00 a.m. daily. Tuesday through Sunday close around 6:00 p.m.; Monday now runs until 8:00 p.m. (closed Thanksgiving and Christmas).
- Collection: Roughly 4,500 animals across 550-plus species.
- Time needed: At least four hours since the expansion. More if you do an animal encounter.
- Parking: Free.
- Tickets: Demand-based pricing that changes by day and time slot. Cheapest on weekdays, and buying online in advance saves you money. Check the official tickets page for current prices.
1. Where is the Aquarium Located?
The aquarium sits at 12033 South Lone Peak Parkway in Draper, Utah. From Salt Lake City, you can get there in about 30 minutes as long as traffic cooperates, which on I-15 is never a guarantee.
If you are building a Utah trip around it, there are plenty of hotels near Loveland Living Planet Aquarium if you want to spend a night in the area. It also pairs well with other Salt Lake-area stops like the Clark Planetarium and Eccles Dinosaur Park if you have a couple of days.
Pro tip: Parking is free, which after a lifetime of theme-park parking lots feels like winning the lottery.
2. What Animals Will You See at the Loveland Aquarium?
How long does it take to go through Loveland Living Planet Aquarium? Longer than it used to. There are now roughly 4,500 animals across 550-plus species spread through several exhibits, so plan to spend at least four hours on the property, especially after the 2026 expansion (more on that below).
Is the Loveland Aquarium for adults? Absolutely. You don’t need kids to enjoy the interior. The underwater tunnel and the octopus alone are worth the price of admission for a grownup who likes a good fish tank.
Deep Sea Lab
The Deep Sea Lab features the genuinely strange creatures that live at the bottom of the ocean, like giant isopods and spider crabs. It is the part of the aquarium most likely to make a kid say “ew” and mean it as a compliment.
Discover Utah
Discover Utah has animals found in Utah (see what they did there?). Highlights of this area include tortoises and river otters, the latter of which are basically furry, aquatic toddlers with better cardio.
Expedition Asia
This is the section that got the biggest glow-up in 2026. The new Ford Expedition Asia hall is an Asian cloud-forest walkthrough with temple-ruin theming, and it is now home to the marquee residents: a pair of clouded leopards, Raja the Komodo dragon, Asian small-clawed otters, two binturong, a coconut crab, a Matschie’s tree kangaroo, and a black tree monitor.
Note: The clouded leopards are not fans of attention, so sightings can be hit or miss. If they are hiding, that is just how cats work, and no amount of standing there willing them to appear changes it.
Journey to South America
South America, also not near Utah, has sloths, toucans, porcupines, eels, and dwarf crocodiles.
Pro tip: There is a rope bridge in this area that is a huge hit with kids and a small test of nerve for anyone carrying a toddler across it.
Ocean Explorer
The Ocean Explorer section is one of the best in the aquarium. There, you will find lots of sharks, sea turtles, and octopi. The highlight is the underwater tunnel that reminds you, in real time, exactly how many teeth a shark has.
Pro tip: Don’t miss the stingray touch pool in this area. It is free, it is hands-on, and it is the reason you will spend the car ride home explaining that stingrays feel “like a wet portobello mushroom.”
Antarctic Adventure: The Penguins
The penguin habitat houses a whole bunch of penguins crammed happily into one area. There are gentoo penguins, and as of April 2025, a group of macaroni penguins joined the party. Some are athletic, some are old and round (my personal favorites). As is the case with most zoos, you can watch them torpedo around underwater through the glass.
3. What’s New After the 2026 Expansion?
This is the single biggest reason to revisit if you have been before. On February 20, 2026, the aquarium opened the Sam & Aline Skaggs Science Learning Center, anchored by the Ford Expedition Asia hall. It roughly doubled the aquarium’s footprint, with the institution billing itself as one of the largest aquariums in the country as a result.
Beyond the new Asian cloud-forest exhibit and its clouded leopards, the addition brought an interactive kids’ play area, 14 classrooms and labs, and a roughly 15,000-square-foot event center. Translation: there is meaningfully more to do, and the old “plan for three hours” advice no longer holds. Budget at least four.
Pro tip: If your kids burned out on the original layout years ago, this is reason enough to give it another shot. It is essentially a second aquarium bolted onto the first.
4. Is the Outdoor Play Area Worth It?
Yes, and it is free, which is my favorite price. There is a free outdoor play area where kids can zipline, bang on instruments, splash in a water table, and climb on playgrounds, all with great views of the mountains in the background. It is an easy way to let them burn off energy without spending another dime.
Pro tip: There isn’t much shelter from the elements out here. Check the weather before your visit so you can actually enjoy it. If you have hit other no-shade attractions like Governors Island, you already know the drill.
Bonus pro tip: Don’t forget sunscreen. The Utah sun does not negotiate.
5. The Aquarium Owns a U2 Concert Set (Now Called EECO)
The outdoor play area circles a giant structure that can be seen from the highway. Turns out, it is “The Claw,” part of the stage U2 used on their 360 Tour. It has been a permanent installation here since 2020, and the aquarium has rebranded it as EECO, short for Ecosystem Exploration Craft & Observatory. It still looks like an alien spacecraft landed in Draper, which I mean as a compliment.
6. There is a Paid Indoor Play Area
Tuki’s Island is an area with a large play structure for kids ages 12 and under, with a section roped off for toddlers. Play sessions are timed, so you can’t camp out all day.
Honest take: unless your kid genuinely needs to burn energy indoors, I would skip it and enjoy the free stuff instead. You can find similar play structures in plenty of other places that don’t also have round penguins and a Komodo dragon.
Pro tip: Kids need socks to play. No socks, no climbing, and there will be tears.
Bonus pro tip: Children ages two and under get in free. Aquarium admission is required separately.
Cost: Around $3 per child. Check current pricing when you go.
7. There is a Virtual Reality Experience
You can vomit participate in a virtual reality experience with 4D effects in a theater under the EECO stage, called EECO Voyager. This is not for the easily nauseated.
Multiple shows are offered. Check the options at the time of your visit.
Cost: There is an extra fee on top of admission, with a member discount. Check current pricing before you go.
Height requirement: 40 inches.
8. You Can Meet the Animals
If you want to make your day more special, an animal encounter is a great option. Just book ahead, because the good ones fill up.
Loveland Aquarium Penguin Encounter
This experience lets you enter a private room with the penguins to feed them. You should book this way ahead of time. It is popular for good reason; feeding a penguin is hard to top.
Pro tip: You must wear closed-toe shoes.
Bonus pro tip: You get a discount if you pre-book your encounter online, and prices vary by the day.
Cost: This is a premium add-on with member and non-member rates that change seasonally. Check current pricing when you book.
Stingray Encounter
The Stingray Encounter is a short experience where you feed and learn about the stingrays.
Here’s the thing. You can already touch and learn about them for free in the touch pool. Unless you are dying to feed them specifically, I would skip this one and save your money.
Pro tip: You get a discount if you pre-book your encounter online, and prices vary by the day. Check current pricing when you book.
9. There Are Loveland Living Planet Aquarium Events
Special events are offered throughout the year. Examples include story time, yoga, outdoor movies, and STEM classes. Check the offerings at the time of your visit so you don’t miss anything.
Note: Some events require a Loveland Living Planet Aquarium membership to attend.
10. Can You Eat at the Loveland Aquarium?
Can you bring food into the Living Planet Aquarium? Officially, no. Annoying. I know. (Policies can change, so it is worth a quick check before you pack a cooler.)
There is a quick-service restaurant on property, the Reef Cafe. It is not exciting. At all. However, if you need to eat there, there are rice bowls and salads that don’t have gluten.
Pro tip: If your kids don’t have allergies, the cafe sells a lot of cute, affordable bakery items.
Bonus pro tip: Rather than eat on property, consider a restaurant near Loveland Aquarium. You can typically come and go throughout the day, so taking a lunch break off-site is an option worth confirming at the door.
Extra bonus pro tip: Bring a refillable water bottle so you don’t have to buy water.
11. There is Free Wi-Fi
There is free Wi-Fi at the aquarium. It is not a reason to visit on its own, but it is convenient when you need to look up whether that fish is actually trying to make eye contact with you (it is not).
12. You Can Nurse in a Mother’s Lounge
There is a mother’s lounge located on the first floor near the Ocean Explorer section. There, you can change diapers and nurse out of the view of the general public, which is a small mercy I wish more attractions offered.
13. How Do You Make the Most of Your Day?
Arrive Early
The aquarium opens at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday through Sunday it closes around 6:00 p.m., and on Mondays it now stays open until 8:00 p.m. You want to arrive right at opening. The property is best enjoyed before the masses descend.
Visit on a Weekday
The property gets extremely crowded on weekend afternoons. Like Vegas on the Strip crowded.
Generally speaking, if school is in session, the aquarium will be more pleasant. Even with the occasional field trip group sprinkled in, you will have a better experience during the week. It is the same logic that makes places like the Shedd Aquarium bearable instead of a body-checking contest.
Make a Touring Plan
The best touring plan for you will vary depending on your priorities, but everyone should shoot for an early arrival time.
The property has two levels, so starting on the second floor can make sense. Crowds will likely be lighter up there in the morning.
The penguins, sharks, and the new Expedition Asia hall are the popular draws. Consider heading to one of those first before the crowds catch up to you.
Pro tip: Check out the Loveland Living Planet Aquarium map before you arrive to familiarize yourself with the layout, which is bigger than it used to be.
14. How Can You Save on Loveland Aquarium Tickets?
Purchase Loveland Living Planet Aquarium Tickets Ahead of Time
Ticket pricing here is demand-based, meaning it changes by the date and time slot you choose rather than sitting at a fixed number. The reliable rule: it is cheapest on weekdays, and buying online in advance saves you money versus walking up to the counter. Rather than quote a price that will be wrong by the time you read this, check the official tickets page for current rates.
Pro tip: Seniors, military personnel, students, teens, and kids all get discounts. Bring your ID if any of those apply to you.
Bonus pro tip: Kids ages two and under are free.
Visit on a Weekday
You must purchase a timed ticket to enter. Loveland Aquarium ticket prices vary by the day, but they are almost always cheaper during the week. Check the offerings at the time of your visit.
Monday Nights Are Discounted
Monday nights, aka Family Night, run $5 off per ticket. The discount is not actually limited to families, despite the name, and it is available from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. (handy, since Monday is also the one night the aquarium stays open late).
Travel with a Group
If you visit with a group of 20 or more, each person typically gets a per-ticket discount.
Note: You must call ahead to arrange the group rate.
Consider a Loveland Aquarium Membership
Planning to visit multiple times? If so, a membership may make financial sense. On top of admission, you get discounts on special events, food, and merchandise. Do some math to decide if it is your best option, the same way you would weigh an aquarium membership in Florida or anywhere else you visit more than twice a year.
Check Groupon for Loveland Living Planet Aquarium Discount Tickets
You may be able to find discounts to the aquarium on Groupon. Availability comes and goes, so it is worth a glance before you buy direct.
Military Families Get in Free on Veterans Day
In the past, the aquarium has offered free admission to military families on Veterans Day. It is worth checking the current offers each fall to see if the deal is running.
15. There is a 4D Movie Theater
There is a 4D movie theater located on the second floor of the property, with admission to the movies included with your ticket. It is a nice break for little legs that have done a lot of walking.
Loveland Living Planet Aquarium FAQ
How long should you spend at the Loveland Living Planet Aquarium?
Plan for at least four hours. The 2026 expansion roughly doubled the footprint, so the old three-hour estimate no longer cuts it, especially if you add an animal encounter or a meal break.
Is the Loveland Aquarium good for toddlers?
Yes. The touch pools, the free outdoor play area, and the penguins are toddler catnip, and there is a mother’s lounge on site. If you like aquariums for little ones, you will probably also like our take on whether the Shedd Aquarium is good for toddlers.
How much do Loveland Aquarium tickets cost?
Prices are demand-based and shift by date and time slot, so there is no single sticker price. They run lowest on weekdays, and buying online in advance saves money. Check the official tickets page for current rates before you go.
What is new at the aquarium in 2026?
The Sam & Aline Skaggs Science Learning Center opened on February 20, 2026, anchored by the Ford Expedition Asia hall with clouded leopards, a Komodo dragon, a tree kangaroo, binturong, and a coconut crab. It roughly doubled the aquarium’s size.
Is the Loveland Living Planet Aquarium worth visiting?
Yes, especially now. It is a solid half-day, the exhibits are genuinely good, the outdoor play area is free, and the expansion gave even repeat visitors a reason to come back. Just save money where you can and arrive early.
Final Thoughts – Why Should I Visit the Loveland Living Planet Aquarium?
Why should I visit the Loveland Living Planet Aquarium? It is worth a trip for the genuinely good exhibits, the free outdoor play area, the new Expedition Asia hall, and a U2 concert set you can spot from the highway (only a slight exaggeration on the “seen from space” front). Do your best to save money and maximize your day.
Visit the Loveland Living Planet Aquarium with kids. You won’t regret it.
This place looks very amazing.
This place looks amazing. I’d definitely would go here if visiting this area. Great post.
Thanks for sharing your experience with us. Looks amazing. I am especially interested in VR experience 🙂
Which so much to do during a visit, this looks like a great day out for all the family! Thank you for sharing.
This sounds like the ultimate Aquarium experience! I’d so love to take my kids there!!!