The Franklin Institute Reviews

The Franklin Institute has an overall rating of 4.0 based on 34 reviews. Customer feedback on The Franklin Institute is mixed: The Franklin Institute reviewers highlight positive aspects like engaging exhibits, knowledgeable staff, interactive learning experiences, and diverse educational programs, which strongly appeal to families, school groups, and science enthusiasts. However, The Franklin Institute is often criticized for its high admission prices, limited parking options, crowded during peak times, and some exhibits may be outdated.

4.0/5.0

34 reviews

5 Stars

11

4 Stars

3

3 Stars

5

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1 Star

2

All The Franklin Institute Reviews (34)
RachelFlynn
June 01, 2026
"Membership paid off quickly"
We ended up getting a family membership to The Franklin Institute, it started feeling worth it after just a couple visits.

My kids ask to go back all the time, so it’s nice not having to think about buying tickets every single time. The guest passes and discounts have been a nice little bonus too, especially when there’s a special exhibit we want to check out.
It’s definitely a bit of an upfront cost, but if you’re close enough to go more than once or twice, it makes a lot of sense. We’ll be renewing ours.
MACARTHUR
May 28, 2026
"A really fun family visit"
We had a really nice time at The Franklin Institute. I wasn’t totally sure if the kids would stay interested the whole time, but they didn’t get bored at all. There was a lot to see, the staff were friendly, and it was easy to find our way around. Some areas did feel a bit crowded, but not enough to ruin the visit. We’d probably go back again.
ReedFlight_23
May 19, 2026
"Pretty good spot, just needs a bit more upkeep"
Overall it was a decent place and mostly clean, but a few of the bathrooms looked like they could’ve been checked on more often. Not a huge deal, just something I noticed while I was there...
john.Burgos
May 06, 2026
"Way more stressful than it should’ve been"
I was expecting a fun, easy experience, but the interactive stuff barely worked. Half the screens kept freezing, and it got surprisingly stressful just trying to get anything to respond. I asked the staff for help, but they didn’t really do much, so I mostly just stood around frustrated...
kimevans9278
May 03, 2026
"Took the kids here for the day they..."
Took the kids here for the day they loved it... there was loads for them to touch, try, and get stuck into. The staff were really friendly too, which made the whole visit feel easy and relaxed as a family. We’ll definitely be going back
tony1973
May 02, 2026
"Good, but the tickets felt kinda pricey"
I had a fun time overall, but the tickets were kinda more expensive than I expected.
frederick-Garrett
April 27, 2026
"IMAX was honestly cool"
I went to the IMAX showing and, i had a good time. I’m not sure if I’m just easily impressed, but the huge screen and sound really did make it feel more exciting. The seats were decent too, at least for me. It was a bit crowded getting in, which made me wonder if I’d picked the wrong time, but it wasn’t a huge deal. I’d probably go again.
dawn2001
April 16, 2026
"It didn’t feel like there was much actual..."
It didn’t feel like there was much actual learning going on. It was more like a babysitting than a real class or experience.
Richard_abner87
April 13, 2026
"Took my kids here recently i was..."
Took my kids here recently i was really impressed with how clean everything was. The bathrooms were stocked, the floors looked well kept, and even the busier spots didn’t feel messy or gross. If you’re going with kids, that kind of stuff makes a big difference, and it definitely made our day easier. I’d say it’s a good spot for families to check out.
richard.Mason
March 19, 2026
"The staff was, honestly, super helpful"
The staff helped us really fast, and they were, genuinely, so kind the whole time.
MichaelShumay_23
March 14, 2026
"Had a Good Time, Just Took Me a Minute to Find the Restrooms"
The place was fun overall, but for some reason I just had a feeling the restrooms were going to be tucked away somewhere, and yep, they weren’t easy to spot. I ended up wandering around a bit before finally asking someone. Once I found them, they were fine, but better signs would definitely help...
cindy_Mccay93
March 03, 2026
"Really Cool Exhibits"
I had a great time checking out the exhibits. They were fun, interesting, and really well put together. What more could you ask for?
AnnaFuhrman
February 26, 2026
"The whole visit was way easier than I..."
The whole visit was way easier than I expected. I was in my wheelchair and getting around wasn’t a hassle at all, which is always the first thing I worry about. The access was simple, the staff jumped in to help quickly, and the elevators were easy to spot without me having to wander around or ask a million questions. Just a smooth experience overall.
Josefina.cotton
February 01, 2026
"I found a spot quickly and didn’t..."
I found a spot quickly and didn’t have to stress at all. Just a heads up though—don’t waste time circling too much like I almost did, because there were open spots closer than I expected
Paula-huffman
January 29, 2026
"I went to an event here and..."
I went to an event here and it was okay overall. I was expecting things to be a little more organized, especially since the venue itself looked nice and the staff seemed friendly. The main issue was that it felt kind of messy getting in, the lines weren’t very clear, and a few people around me seemed just as confused about where to go. Once I finally got inside, everything was fine, but it definitely took longer than I thought it would to get settled. Not a bad experience, just not quite as smooth as I had hoped
BennyThiel
January 14, 2026
"Great planetarium show, minor annoyances aside"
We went mainly for the planetarium show, it was really cool. The seats were comfortable, the screen felt massive, and the presenter explained everything in a way that made the space stuff easy to follow. My kid was glued to it the entire time, which is saying something. There were a couple of little things that were mildly annoying, like people coming in late, but that’s not really the show’s fault. Overall, we had a great time and I’d politely say it’s definitely worth going back for.
KELLEY
January 06, 2026
"Thought the special exhibits would be better"
The special exhibits had some cool stuff, and at first I was into it, actually, the more I walked through, the more it felt just okay for the price
sergio-Webster
January 01, 2026
"Cafe was actually decent"
We stopped by the cafe during our visit, it was better than I thought it would be for a museum. Maybe my expectations were just too low, I don’t know, but the sandwiches tasted fresh enough, the coffee was decent, and the kids were happy with the snacks. The prices felt a little high, though I guess that’s normal for places like this.

The line did move slowly around lunch, so I’d probably try to go earlier next time if I had my act together. Still, the food was fine, and there were enough options for a quick break. I’m not sure I’d call it amazing, but for what it was, I left feeling like it did the job.
aaron.Hickey
December 13, 2025
"I was prepared for a long wait..."
I was prepared for a long wait just in case, but it ended up being really quick. The lines kept moving, and I got through faster than I expected.
WATSON
December 08, 2025
"Crowds were handled well, right?"
I went on Saturday and expected the lines to be way worse, but they moved quickly. The staff did a good job keeping groups spaced out too, so it didn’t feel overly packed. That makes such a difference, doesn’t it?

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