The USS Arizona Memorial marks where America’s war began on December 7, 1941. The USS Missouri marks where it ended — Japan signed the surrender on her decks in Tokyo Bay on September 2, 1945. That’s why Pearl Harbor’s sites call them the bookends of World War II, and why the Mighty Mo belongs on any Oahu itinerary. She’s moored on Ford Island with her bow facing the Arizona Memorial, standing watch over the sailors lost in 1941.
This isn’t a replica. It’s the actual battleship: 887 feet of steel, nine 16-inch guns, and a fighting record through WWII, Korea, and Desert Storm. You climb aboard, stand on the Surrender Deck, duck into the crew quarters, and look down barrels that could throw a shell 23 miles. This guide covers tickets and hours, the Ford Island shuttle, the ship’s history, and what to see on board.
Key Highlights
- The USS Missouri is the battleship where Japan formally surrendered on September 2, 1945, ending World War II — she served in WWII, the Korean War, and Desert Storm before decommissioning in 1992.
- She sits on Ford Island, reachable only by free shuttle bus from the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center.
- General admission (~$44.99 adults, $19.99 kids 4–12 in fall 2026) includes a free 35-minute guided tour plus self-guided exploring of the decks.
- Open daily 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., closed only Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day; last admission at 3 p.m.
- Plan 1.5 to 2 hours on board plus 30 minutes each way for the shuttle — and pair her with the free USS Arizona Memorial for the full bookend experience.
Getting There: The Ford Island Shuttle
You can’t drive to the Missouri. She sits on Ford Island, part of an active military base, so everyone without base access starts at the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center at 1 Arizona Memorial Place. Park there, then catch the free shuttle across the bridge. Buses run roughly every 15 to 20 minutes from 8 a.m., stop at the Missouri first and the Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum second, then loop back. Allow about 30 minutes each way for waiting, boarding, and the ride.
Security can ask for a government photo ID when you board; international visitors should carry a passport. No photography on the shuttle — it’s a base rule. From Waikiki, take H1 west to Exit 15A for the Arizona Memorial; don’t take the Naval Base exit. No car? TheBus Route 42 runs from Kuhio Avenue in Waikiki straight to the memorial stop.
Tickets and Hours
The memorial is open daily from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., closed only on Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day (per ussmissouri.org). Buy tickets online or at the booth near the visitor center — and here’s the Missouri’s big advantage over the Arizona: she never sells out. Walk-ups are fine; last admission is 3 p.m.
General admission was $44.99 for adults (13+) and $19.99 for kids 4 to 12 in fall 2026, under-4s free — confirm current prices at ussmissouri.org.
Doing several sites? The Passport to Pearl Harbor bundles the Missouri, the USS Bowfin, and the Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum, plus an audio tour and a virtual reality session, valid over two consecutive days — $99.99 adults, $49.99 kids as of late 2026. It doesn’t include the Arizona Memorial boat, booked separately on recreation.gov.
The Ship’s Story
The Missouri’s keel was laid at the Brooklyn Navy Yard in January 1941, eleven months before the Pearl Harbor attack; Senator Harry S. Truman’s daughter Margaret christened her in January 1944. In 1945 she screened carriers off Tokyo and hammered shore targets at Iwo Jima and Okinawa, where on April 11 a kamikaze slammed into her starboard side. The next day Captain William M. Callaghan ordered the Japanese pilot buried at sea with full military honors — a decision his crew argued about, and history has admired since. You can still see the dent in the hull.
Her famous day came September 2, 1945, in Tokyo Bay, when General Douglas MacArthur accepted Japan’s unconditional surrender on her deck, officially ending World War II. She served two Korean War deployments, went into mothballs in 1955 — then came back. Recommissioned in 1986 with Tomahawk and Harpoon missiles on her 1944 hull, she was the first battleship to fire Tomahawks in combat, in Desert Storm in January 1991. Decommissioned in 1992, she arrived off Waikiki under tow in 1998; the memorial opened in January 1999 and welcomed its ten-millionth visitor in September 2023.
What to See On Board
Three self-guided routes follow the guided tour.
The Surrender Deck
Start where history happened: starboard side, one level up from the main deck, beneath the guns of turret two. A bronze plaque set into the teak marks the exact spot where the surrender documents were signed, with a copy of the Instrument of Surrender beside it. Look up at three of the ship’s nine 16-inch guns — each could hurl a 2,700-pound shell 23 miles — then climb the Above Decks route to the bridge and flying bridge, pure 1944 down to the 17-inch armored conning tower, with the Arizona Memorial dead ahead off the bow.
The Main Deck
Walk aft to the kamikaze dent, then step into the Wardroom, which holds fragments of the USS Arizona alongside the ship’s silver service from the state of Missouri. Pathway to Peace, opened for the surrender’s 80th anniversary in 2025, tells the WWII story through sailors’ belongings and archival film. One deck below the kamikaze dent, an exhibit built with the Chiran Peace Museum in Japan holds farewell letters kamikaze pilots wrote home — the quietest room on the ship.
Below Decks: Life at Sea
Below decks she feels like a floating town of 2,400 — mess decks, galley, bunks stacked three high, barber shop, and the Chief Petty Officers’ Legacy Center. Passageways are narrow, overheads are low, and every doorway has a raised sill waiting for your shin; the ladders are steep, so face them going down and hold the rails.
Tours: Guided vs Self-Guided
Take the free 35-minute guided tour first. It departs throughout the day, needs no reservation, and runs in English, Japanese, Chinese, or Korean.
Afterward, roam the three self-guided routes at your own pace. Two upgraded tours are worth knowing: the 45-minute Captain’s Tour (wardroom, Radio Central, the captain’s cabin, and the Combat Engagement Center) and the hour-long Chief Engineer’s Tour (fire rooms and engine rooms with the three-story boilers and analog fire-control computers). Both carry a small add-on fee, cap at ten guests, are limited to ages 10 and up, and run on a fixed schedule — book online beforehand. Steep ladders and low overheads on both.
Best Time to Visit
Catch the first shuttle of the day. You’ll share the Surrender Deck with far fewer people, and the teak decks are kinder before the midday sun — there’s almost no shade up there. The ship quiets down again after 2 p.m. Last admission is 3 p.m., and the memorial advises arriving at least an hour before closing, so take the 1:30 p.m. shuttle at the latest if you want all three routes.
How Long to Allow
The memorial says most visitors spend 1 to 2 hours on board, and that feels right — 35 minutes for the guided tour, then an hour or more exploring on your own. Enthusiasts can stretch it to three. Add about 30 minutes each way for the shuttle, so budget a comfortable half day door to door.
Combining With Other Pearl Harbor Sites
The natural pairing is the USS Arizona Memorial — the bookends of WWII, from December 7, 1941 to September 2, 1945. The Arizona is free but needs a separate boat reservation on recreation.gov, so book that first and build the Missouri around it; Missouri tickets never sell out.
The same shuttle also stops at the Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum, an easy add-on. For planning the full day, our ultimate guide to visiting Pearl Harbor lays out how the free National Memorial sites and the three paid museums fit together, and the historic sites overview covers the full lineup. For wider context — the five battleships hit on December 7 and the submarine angle — see our guides to the battleships of WWII at Pearl Harbor and the submarine perspective on the attack.
Practical Tips
The bag policy applies site-wide: no bags at the visitor center, on the shuttle, or at the memorial — only small wallets and clear stadium-style bags. Cameras, phones, and a hand-carried water bottle are fine; bag storage near the visitor center entrance costs $7 ($10 for luggage). Wear closed-toe shoes for the steep ladders and raised door sills, and bring sunscreen — there’s almost no shade on the decks. You can’t eat on the ship, but Slider’s Grill at the pier serves plates and burgers.
Kids do well here thanks to Chuck’s Quest, a scavenger hunt with the ship’s iguana mascot that ends with being sworn in as an honorary crew member. Under-4s are free. Main areas are wheelchair accessible — a ramp at the aft brow reaches the main deck, and an elevator reaches the Surrender Deck — but below decks and the bridge require ladders.
One last note that saves real heartache: the last shuttle leaves the Missouri pier at 4:05 p.m. Miss it and you’re having an awkward conversation with base security. Work backward from that bus.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I drive directly to the Battleship Missouri?
No. The Missouri sits on Ford Island, an active military base — personal vehicles, rideshares, and taxis can’t reach the ship. Park at the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center and ride the free shuttle across the bridge. Buses leave every 15 to 20 minutes and stop at the Missouri first; the last return shuttle leaves the pier at 4:05 p.m.
How much do USS Missouri tickets cost, and do I need to book ahead?
General admission was $44.99 for adults (13 and up) and $19.99 for kids 4 to 12 in fall 2026, with under-4s free — prices can change, so confirm at ussmissouri.org. Unlike the USS Arizona Memorial boat, Missouri tickets never sell out, so walk-ups are fine and last admission is 3 p.m. Your ticket includes a free 35-minute guided tour, with kamaaina and military discounts at the booth.
How much time should I spend on the Battleship Missouri?
Most visitors spend 1.5 to 2 hours on board: 35 minutes for the included guided tour plus an hour or more exploring on your own. Add about 30 minutes each way for the shuttle from the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center, so plan a half day in total.
Can I visit the USS Missouri and the USS Arizona Memorial in the same day?
Yes — it’s the pairing the memorial itself recommends, the “bookends of WWII,” from the December 7, 1941 attack to the September 2, 1945 surrender. The Arizona Memorial is free but needs a separate boat reservation on recreation.gov (book it first — those sell out); Missouri tickets never sell out. Start at the Arizona, then take the shuttle to the Missouri.
Is the Battleship Missouri good for kids and wheelchair users?
Yes, with caveats. Kids get Chuck’s Quest, a 14-stop scavenger hunt with the ship’s iguana mascot that ends with being sworn in as an honorary crew member; under-4s are free. For wheelchairs, a ramp at the aft brow reaches the main deck and an elevator reaches the Surrender Deck — but below decks and the flying bridge require steep ladders, so plan accordingly.
What’s the bag policy at the Battleship Missouri?
The same policy applies across all Pearl Harbor Historic Sites: no bags of any kind at the visitor center, on the shuttle, or at the memorial — only small wallets and clear stadium-style bags. Cameras, phones, and a hand-carried water bottle are fine. Bag storage near the visitor center entrance costs $7 ($10 for luggage).