Lancaster Science Factory
Lancaster Science Factory is a hands-on science center at 454 New Holland Avenue, Lancaster, PA 17602. Regular hours are Tuesday through Saturday 10:00–5:00 and Sunday 12:00–5:00, with Monday closed. Admission for ages 3 and older is $13.00. Ages 2 and under are free, and members are free.
For the holiday park season, dates, hours, and ticket prices are on the Dutch Winter Wonderland guide.
Checked October 22, 2026 on the Lancaster Science Factory hours, admission, and plan-your-visit pages, and with an OSRM driving route the same day.
Contact Information
Address
454 New Holland Avenue, Lancaster, PA 17602
Phone
(717) 509-6363Hours
Regular hours, effective September 12, 2026: Monday closed, Tuesday through Saturday 10:00–5:00, Sunday 12:00–5:00. The hours page lists exceptions, including a closure on October 22, 2026. Read that page before you go.
Known For
A hands-on science center on New Holland Avenue. Ages 3 and older are $13, ages 2 and under are free, and the regular week runs Tuesday through Sunday.
Hours
Regular hours on https://lancastersciencefactory.org/plan-your-visit/hours/, headed “Current Hours: effective 9/12/2026,” are Monday closed, Tuesday through Saturday 10:00–5:00, and Sunday 12:00–5:00. The same page says the museum is open on select holidays and closed New Year’s Day, Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.
Special hours printed on that page when it was checked October 22, 2026: Thursday, October 22, closed for A Taste of Science. Monday, November 23, open 10:00–5:00. Thursday, November 26, Thanksgiving, closed. Monday, November 30, 10:00–5:00. Monday, December 21, 10:00–5:00. Thursday, December 24, Christmas Eve, 10:00–1:00. Friday, December 25, Christmas Day, closed. Monday, December 28, 10:00–5:00. Thursday, December 31, New Year’s Eve, 10:00–1:00. Friday, January 1, New Year’s Day, closed. Later exceptions will be on the hours page, not on this one.
Tickets
Admission, checked the same day on the admission page and the plan-your-visit page: all guests age 3 and older $13.00, children 2 and under free, members always free. The admission page says pricing is effective March 1, 2025, and subject to change. Members do not need advance tickets. A limited number of tickets are sold online for daily entry times, and a limited number are available at the door, subject to availability.
The group rate is $12.00 per person when the group pays together and books in advance. Groups of 10 or more must reserve through the field trip form to get that rate. A SNAP/EBT or Access card grants 4 free admissions per card. Members of participating ASTC science centers or museums may receive free admission under the ASTC Passport Program. The site says all Passport rules apply, and free admission is for individuals covered by the reciprocal membership. The admission page opens with the line “75+ STEM Exhibits That are Fun for the Whole Family.” That is the museum’s count, not a room-by-room inventory on this page.
Who it is built for
The plan-your-visit page says exhibits are generally geared for kids in grades K through 8th, and that they are the most fun when kids and grown-ups learn together. Younger children can have fun on the floor and need closer supervision. Some exhibits contain small pieces. The main exhibit floor, the Maker Space classroom, and the Castanga Learning Center are wheelchair accessible. That spelling, Castanga, is the one on the site.
Plan at least two and a half hours. Admission is good for the whole day, so leaving for lunch and coming back is allowed. Food is not allowed in the building, including on the exhibit floor. Noise-cancelling headphones are at the admissions desk on request. Maps and activity guides are at the front desk and are optional. The site names quieter visits as Sundays, or any day in September or October. The busy stretches it names are weekday field trips from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. between March and early June, and Saturdays from December through February.
Parking and the drive from downtown
The building is at 454 New Holland Avenue, Lancaster, PA 17602. Phone (717) 509-6363. Visitor parking is free in three locations the site describes: the regular lot across New Holland Avenue next to Quips Pub, overflow anytime at the rear of the building, and overflow after 5 p.m. and on weekends at Urban Place behind 550 Lofts. Do not park at the Cork Factory Hotel or in spaces marked for residents of Urban Place.
An OSRM driving route on October 22, 2026, from Lancaster Central Market (23 North Market Street) to the Science Factory pin was 1.1 miles and about 4 minutes. From the Lancaster Marriott at Penn Square, 25 South Queen Street, the route was 1.1 miles and about 3 minutes. Central Market is the downtown start if you are already in the city. The Science Factory is on the east side, not inside the market house.
The Choo Choo Barn in Strasburg is a different kids stop. The same router measured 10.4 miles and about 19 minutes from the barn pin at 226 Gap Road to 454 New Holland Avenue. It is a separate drive, not a walk from the trains. Other indoor and family stops already on this site are Dutch Wonderland, Cherry Crest Adventure Farm, and the museums and history list. The Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania is the full-size train collection in Strasburg if the model layout is the reason you are out that way.
Frequently Asked Questions about Lancaster Science Factory
What are the Lancaster Science Factory hours?
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The hours page, effective September 12, 2026, lists Monday closed, Tuesday through Saturday 10:00–5:00, and Sunday 12:00–5:00. Exceptions checked October 22, 2026: closed that day for A Taste of Science; Monday November 23 open 10:00–5:00; Thanksgiving November 26 closed; Monday November 30 open 10:00–5:00; Monday December 21 open 10:00–5:00; Christmas Eve December 24 open 10:00–1:00; Christmas Day closed; Monday December 28 open 10:00–5:00; New Year’s Eve December 31 open 10:00–1:00; New Year’s Day closed. The holidays line says the museum is open on select holidays and closed New Year’s Day, Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.
How much do tickets cost?
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Ages 3 and over are $13.00. Ages 2 and under are free. Members are free and do not need advance tickets. The group rate is $12.00 per person when paid together and booked in advance. Groups of 10 or more must reserve through the field trip form to receive that rate. A SNAP/EBT or Access card covers 4 free admissions per card. Pricing on the site is effective March 1, 2025, and the admission page says it is subject to change. A limited number of tickets are sold online for entry times, and a limited number are sold at the door.
Where is the Lancaster Science Factory and where do we park?
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The address is 454 New Holland Avenue, Lancaster, PA 17602. The phone number on the site is (717) 509-6363. Visitor parking is free in three places: the regular lot across New Holland Avenue next to Quips Pub, overflow parking anytime at the rear of the building, and overflow after 5 p.m. and on weekends at Urban Place behind 550 Lofts. Do not park at the Cork Factory Hotel or in spaces marked for Urban Place residents.
Who is the Science Factory for?
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The plan-your-visit page says the exhibits are generally geared for kids in grades K through 8th, and that they are the most fun when kids and grown-ups play together. Younger children need closer supervision. Some exhibits contain small pieces. The main exhibit floor, the Maker Space classroom, and the Castanga Learning Center are wheelchair accessible. Noise-cancelling headphones are available by request at the admissions desk.
How long should a visit take, and when is it quieter?
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The site says to plan at least two and a half hours, and that admission is good for the entire day, so you can leave and come back. Peak school-group times are weekdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. from March to early June. Saturdays from December through February are also busy. Quieter times the site names are Sundays, or any day in September or October.
Can we bring food, and do other museum memberships work?
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Food is not allowed in the building. The front desk keeps a list of family dining options that are open that day. Members of other Association of Science-Technology Centers museums may use a membership here if they meet ASTC Passport Program guidelines. Free admission under that program is for individuals covered by the reciprocal membership. The admission page headline says 75+ STEM exhibits. This page does not describe individual exhibits.
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