How Long Does It Take to Visit Pearl Harbor?

Every vacation comes with certain time constraints, so it's important to plan each day accordingly. You may be looking at your Hawaiian vacation itinerary and wondering when you can squeeze in a visit to Pearl Harbor. Before you set aside just an hour or two to cover the World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument and Pearl Harbor Historic Sites, you should know that if you want to really experience all there is to see at Pearl Harbor, it isn’t something that takes only a couple of hours.

So how long does it take to visit Pearl Harbor? To answer that, it helps to know what all there is to see and do there.

Begin at the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center

When you arrive at Pearl Harbor, you find yourself at the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center. Experts are waiting around to answer any questions you may have and educate your group on what to expect. Visitors can wait in line to get their tickets on site, but we recommend purchasing passes in advance to avoid waiting around.

You can easily spend a 1 to 2 hours here walking through the “Road to War” and “Attack!” galleries, which display relics of Pearl Harbor in the form of newspaper clippings, ships' artifacts, and other original materials. These exhibits provide a look into the history of the base and will help you appreciate the memorials on a deeper level during your visit. We highly recommend not skipping them!

Visiting the USS Arizona Memorial

Once you’re done perusing the exhibits at the Visitor Center, we recommend moving on to the USS Arizona Memorial. You’ll have the opportunity to watch a 23-minute documentary about the attack, specifically the events leading up to the sinking of the USS Arizona. Showings begin every 15 and 45 minutes past the hour. Detailing the greatest tragedy of the Pearl Harbor attack, the film is a mood-setting prelude to your visit.

The USS Arizona Memorial is a beautiful white structure built over the wreckage of the fallen battleship that draws visitors from all over the world to pay their respects to our fallen men. Visitors are transported to the memorial on a boat ride that takes around 10 minutes. It’s haunting to look down at the wreckage below, which still leaks droplets of oil—known as the "Black Tears of the Arizona"—into the waters of the harbor from a hole in her hull.

Overall, you should allocate around 2 hours for your visit to the USS Arizona Memorial including the documentary, boat rides, and time at the memorial.

The Other Pearl Harbor Historic Sites

When deciding how long to spend at Pearl Harbor, you’ll also want to consider seeing some of the exhibits and memorials that have less to do with the day of the attack and focus more on the war that followed.

One must-see attraction is the Battleship Missouri. The "Mighty Mo," as she's affectionately known, wasn’t even launched when Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, but the battleship earned her place here for being the ship on whose decks the Japanese signed the Instruments of Surrender, bringing an end to World War II. If you choose to visit this ship and learn about her history, we recommend setting aside 1-2 hours.

The USS Bowfin also wasn’t launched until a year after the attack, specifically on the first anniversary. The submarine was dubbed the "Pearl Harbor Avenger" and is now the centerpiece of a submarine museum and park. Dedicate around 90 minutes to walking through the tight hallways of the vessel, learning about the inner workings of these submarines and the armaments they carried.

Aviation played a big part in Pearl Harbor and the war, which is what makes the Pacific Aviation Museum a must-see stop. In addition to aircraft used throughout World War II, you can also get up close to the Japanese Mitsubishi Zero and the Thunder Fish, the fighter plane and torpedo responsible for the bulk of the damage on December 7th, 1941. To fully experience this incredible museum will take around 1-1.5 hours. You’ll also have the chance to have a delicious meal at the Hangar Café located inside this museum, so be sure to factor that into your plan!

How Long Does it Take to Tour Pearl Harbor?

Depending on whether you’re looking for a tour that includes transportation and the amount of sites you visit, they can take anywhere from 1 hour to 11 hours. Booking a tour can give you a better idea of how long to visit Pearl Harbor as each session lasts a predetermined amount of time.

Tour guides are incredibly knowledgeable about the history of the base, providing a deeper understanding of the significance, personal stories, and enduring legacy of Pearl Harbor. Browse our tours to find the one that best aligns with your interests and schedule!

Your Day at Pearl Harbor

As you can see, there's a lot waiting to be explored at Pearl Harbor. It’s not something you want to rush, so plan to spend an entire day here. Be sure to book your tour or get your Passport to Pearl Harbor in advance so you'll have more time to explore all of the exhibits, galleries, and memorials dedicated to the Pearl Harbor attack and World War II.