Oceanside Museum of Art
by TourGuideTimLocation: Oceanside (38 Miles / 40 Minutes North of Downtown San Diego)
Open Daily: 10AM – 4PM (Opens at 1PM on Sundays and Closed on Mondays)
Cost: $8 ($5 for Seniors 65+, Free for Students and Military Families with I.D.)
Features: Hosts Impressive Art Exhibitions in a Modern Facility added to an Irving Gill Designed Building; Music & Art Events
Oceanside Museum of Art Highlights: The Oceanside Museum of Art is home to two large and one small exhibition rooms housed in an impressive modern facility built in 2008. The modern facility is an extension of the original art museum designed by the renowned architect, Irving Gill.
The Museum does not have a permanent collection on display but rather hosts three traveling or temporary exhibitions at a time. You can check out their web site for Current & Upcoming Exhibitions. Exhibitions generally run for three to four months. The Museum places a heavier emphasis on modern art and landscape art inspired by the Southern California climate and terrain. To get a better idea on what to expect, you can also view a list of past exhibitions. You can also arrange a tour of the exhibitions with a docent by calling 760-435-3720 in advance.
Art Museum Events – The Oceanside Museum of Art hosts a very active schedule of events including Free Family Days, Art after Dark for young professionals, films, and entertaining events that mix art with music and food.
Museum Art Store – This inviting, well-lit space offers patrons books, artwork, jewelry, accessories and unique gifts. Many are handmade by local artists.
Food – There are a number of restaurants a couple blocks west on Pier View Way and one block south along Mission Avenue. Consider getting take-out and walk a quarter-mile down Mission Avenue to the beach. At the beach, you will also find a McDonald’s underneath the Oceanside Pier and a Ruby’s restaurant sitting out over the ocean at the end of the Pier. (Note that the Pier is nearly 4/10ths of a mile long.) Otherwise, there are limited offerings once you reach the beach.
Information on Visiting the Oceanside Museum of Art
Admission Costs: (Costs are Approximate)
- $8 for Adults
- $5 for Seniors 65+
- Free for Students and For Military Members and their Dependents
- Free Family Art Days are generally held on five Sunday afternoons throughout the year. Check the Art Museum Events page for upcoming opportunities.
Directions from Google Maps to 704 Pier View Way in Oceanside, CA 92054.
Traffic – Other than summer weekends, getting in and out of the Oceanside Museum of Art is relatively easy. If you encounter heavy traffic heading to the beach on Mission Avenue after exiting from highway I-5, make a right on N. Home Street, or shortly thereafter, and then make a left one block later on Pier View Way (also known as 3rd Street). Pier View Way will have less traffic since it ends just a few blocks past the Art Museum at the train tracks.(Learn more about getting San Diego traffic updates.)
Parking – You will find a small parking lot behind the Art Museum if you turn right on Ditmar Street. If you plan to explore more of Downtown Oceanside, you will find larger parking lots at the end of Pier View Way, a few blocks past the Museum. Some street parking and parking lots are free for a limited time period (up to a few hours in some cases). Others spots require a nominal fee.
Transit – The Oceanside Museum of Art is a half-mile walk north of the Oceanside Transit Center. It is a flat walk through Downtown Oceanside to reach the Art Museum. (There is also a bus that can take you from the transit center to within a block of the Museum.) See San Diego Transit Information for the online Transit Planner and details about the Oceanside Transit Center, which is served by AMTRAK, Coaster, and Metrolink trains.
Nearby Attractions: Find more things to do in Oceanside, CA . You can walk out on the largest wooden pier on the West Coast, explore the California Surf Museum, take surfing lessons, enjoy an ocean sailing tour, bike along a nature trail, and see history at California’s largest Mission.
Find More Attractions with Similar Themes or Location: *Top San Diego Museums*, Architecture, Art Museums, Cultural Gifts, Oceanside |
Print the San Diego Map
Print the La Jolla Map
San Diego Attractions on Twitter
The Oceanside Museum Of Art is such a wonderful place. Every museum has exhibits and things to see, but unlike many museums, you’ll not only find great art inside, but even greater people working and volunteering there. They are the true beauty of the museum. The first time I met Mr. Skip Pahl was at our little IB Art show in the multi-purpose room, when I was senior at Oceanside High School, Class of 2003. I’m 25 now, but I remember well how excited he was to see what we had done. It was awesome. We were just a few high school artists, but he was genuinely supportive and sincerely interested in us.
That’s how great the Oceanside Museum of Art is. They really understand how the arts can enrich and inspire a community. They know the real beauty of art is in people, not so much in the objects themselves. I’ll never forget how fun it was to hang out there with everyone, so make some time to visit the museum. It has definately been an positive influence in my life.