Deluxe Arizona Memorial and USS Missouri Battleship Tour

At Pearl Harbor, the USS Arizona Memorial and the USS Missouri tell two sides of one defining day in American history: the attack that drew the United States into World War II, and the battleship where Japan’s surrender ended it. This roughly seven-hour tour links both sites in one day, with hotel pickup and tickets arranged for you.

I like two things in particular: you avoid the uncertainty of trying to secure an Arizona Memorial ticket on your own, and the van keeps the group small, with a maximum of 14 people. I also like that the return route adds a drive-through of historic Honolulu, including Iolani Palace and the King Kamehameha statue.

The trade-off is a full, tightly scheduled day. You explore Pearl Harbor independently rather than having a guide walk beside you at every exhibit, and shuttle queues or traffic can eat into the time available. If you want to see the aviation museum or submarine too, plan another visit.

At a glance

• Arizona Memorial tickets are included, so you do not need to arrive at dawn to try for one.
• The tour is capped at 14 people, with Waikiki pickup in an air-conditioned vehicle.
• The USS Missouri ticket is included, along with a 30-minute guided deck tour.
• You have about five hours at Pearl Harbor, split between the visitor center and the battleship, but you explore largely on your own.
• Historic Honolulu is a drive-through, not a long series of stops, and the route can be affected by traffic.
• Bring no bag if possible. Pearl Harbor’s strict bag rules can cost you time if you need to use paid storage.

Two ships, one long day at Pearl Harbor

The appeal of this tour is its pairing of two places with sharply different roles in the war. The USS Arizona Memorial marks the loss of life during the December 7, 1941 attack. The USS Missouri, nicknamed Mighty Mo, is where the Japanese surrender was signed in 1945.

Seeing both in one day gives you a beginning and an ending to the Pacific War story. The sites are moving in different ways: the memorial is a place for quiet reflection, while the battleship is a large working vessel to explore, with decks, equipment, and the surrender documents on view.

That pairing is also why the day feels full. The tour is designed around the Arizona Memorial and Missouri, not every attraction at Pearl Harbor. There are museums and other exhibits at the national memorial, as well as the aviation museum and submarine, but you may not have enough time to add them comfortably.

Waikiki pickup takes care of the first hurdle

The tour starts at about 9:30 a.m. with pickup from designated Waikiki hotels. You are asked to be ready a few minutes early, have breakfast beforehand, and keep your phone charged. The operator confirms pickup details the day before. If you are arriving by cruise ship or have an international phone number, contact the operator the previous day to confirm where and when to meet.

The transfer is a practical part of the value. Pearl Harbor is outside Waikiki, and the tour takes you directly to the visitor center rather than asking you to navigate transport, parking, and ticket arrangements yourself. The vehicle is air-conditioned, and the group is capped at 14. That is smaller than a large coach tour, though it is not a private outing.

Your driver-guide may share background on the way. Names mentioned on this route include Roland, Vanessa, Dave, and Ralph, but you should not expect a particular person. Some guides are especially good at giving clear directions and adding historical context; the amount of narration can vary.

One important distinction: the driver does not stay with you as a personal guide through all of Pearl Harbor. You are dropped at the visitor center, given directions, and then spend the site portion on your own. That arrangement gives you freedom to move at your pace, but it may disappoint you if you chose a small-group tour expecting a guided walk at each attraction.

The Arizona Memorial: a reserved ticket, not a reserved schedule

The tour includes a ticket for the USS Arizona Memorial, which removes a major uncertainty from planning. Without an arranged ticket, you may face a very early start and the chance that tickets are unavailable. Here, the operator reserves a place for you, so there is no need to arrive at dawn to stand in line and hope.

The memorial visit is more than a quick photo stop. You have time at the Pearl Harbor National Memorial visitor center and for the Arizona experience, with the schedule allowing roughly two and a half hours for this part of the day. Use that time thoughtfully. If you want to read exhibits, watch the introductory film, and reflect at the memorial, queues may leave less time than the schedule suggests.

The Arizona boat shuttle is operated under Navy rules, not by the tour company. It can be delayed or canceled for safety, weather, mechanical issues, or other restrictions. The Navy may also restrict access to Ford Island without notice. These are real limits of visiting an active military site, not details your driver can fix. If a shuttle or program is canceled by federal authorities, the tour may not be refundable.

A practical rule saves hassle: arrive without a bag. Pearl Harbor does not allow bags into the visitor center, including ordinary purses and backpacks. Clear see-through bags are permitted, but if you bring a prohibited bag, you will need to use paid storage and may have to wait. That wait can reduce your time or put a later ticket at risk. The tour van cannot store bags or luggage, so do not treat it as a backup locker.

Aboard the USS Missouri

The Missouri is the tour’s second major stop, with admission included. The schedule allows about two and a half hours at the battleship, including a 30-minute guided deck tour. You can see the instruments of surrender signed by the Japanese, a physical link to the formal end of World War II.

The ship’s scale makes this visit a contrast to the Arizona Memorial. Rather than a quiet memorial space, you are walking aboard a battleship and seeing the setting where the surrender took place. The guided deck tour gives the visit some structure, while the broader time allocation allows you to look around at your own pace.

The Missouri ticket is listed as a $35 value per person, a useful part of the $139 tour price. Still, allow for the transfer between the visitor center and Ford Island. Queues for the shuttle bus can run long, especially on the return, and that time comes out of the hours you might otherwise spend exploring. One visitor missed the Arizona introductory film after a queue, and another experienced a wait of more than an hour returning from the Missouri. Those are not guaranteed delays, but they are a good reason to avoid planning a tight connection afterward.

The schedule is best understood as a framework, not a stopwatch. Traffic, shuttle operations, federal rules, and Navy decisions can change the order or timing. The operator reserves tickets and aims to keep the route on track, but it cannot control those agencies.

Historic Honolulu from the van window

On the return to Waikiki, the tour takes a short drive through historic Honolulu. The route includes Iolani Palace, the only royal palace on American soil; Washington Place, a historic home of Hawaii’s governors; the Hawaii State Capitol; and the golden statue of King Kamehameha the Great. It also passes through Punchbowl National Memorial Cemetery, where U.S. service members from World War I to the present are buried.

This is a useful orientation, especially if you have not yet explored downtown. You get a first look at important sites and can note places to revisit later. But keep your expectations in line with the format: this is primarily a drive-through, not a walking tour with time at each landmark. The route may include a brief stop at the King Kamehameha statue, but the schedule and traffic determine how much you see on foot.

The city portion can feel like a bonus after a long day, or like one stop too many. Some people are ready to return to their hotel after several hours at Pearl Harbor; others appreciate the chance to see the civic center and cemetery without arranging a separate excursion. If Honolulu’s architecture and history matter to you, consider returning on another day for a slower visit.

There is a notable exception for airport pickups. If you begin at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport, the vehicle returns you directly to the airport after Pearl Harbor. The other passengers continue toward downtown and Waikiki, so the city drive-through is not part of the airport return.

Is $139 a fair price?

At $139 per person, this tour is most valuable if you want the two major ship experiences and the convenience of round-trip Waikiki transfers. The Arizona Memorial ticket and the $35 Missouri admission are included, along with a guide, bottled water, and a bottled or canned tropical juice. You also avoid arranging the route yourself.

The price does not buy a private guide at Pearl Harbor, lunch, or entry to every nearby attraction. You are responsible for your own meal, and you will need to manage your time between the visitor center, the memorial, and the battleship. If you want the aviation museum, submarine, or a more detailed look at the other exhibits, you may get better value by staying longer or splitting Pearl Harbor across two days.

For a first visit focused on the Arizona and Missouri, the combination is efficient. The included tickets and hotel pickup are especially useful if you do not want to handle the logistics. If you value flexibility above convenience, you may prefer to visit independently and spend more time at the exhibits not included in this tour.

Who will enjoy this tour most?

This works best for history and military enthusiasts, first-time visitors who want to see both ships, and anyone who would rather have transport and core tickets arranged. Families can also find the day rewarding, especially when a guide such as Vanessa gives children clear directions and keeps the drive engaging.

It is less suited to anyone who wants a leisurely day, a fully guided museum experience, or time to see every Pearl Harbor attraction. The fixed route, shuttle queues, and Honolulu traffic can make the day longer than expected. Take the tour if the Arizona and Missouri are your priorities; set aside another day if the wider Pearl Harbor site is equally important.

FAQ

How long does the tour take?

The tour lasts about seven hours. The schedule allocates roughly two and a half hours to Pearl Harbor, two and a half hours to the USS Missouri, and about two hours for the Honolulu drive-through and return, though traffic and site conditions can change the timing.

What time does pickup start?

The listed start time is 9:30 a.m. Pickup is from designated Waikiki hotels. Be ready a few minutes early, and confirm your exact pickup details with the operator the day before.

Are tickets for the Arizona Memorial and USS Missouri included?

Yes. The tour includes a ticket for the Arizona Memorial and admission to the USS Missouri Battleship. The Missouri ticket is listed as a $35 value per person.

Does a guide stay with me throughout Pearl Harbor?

No. The driver takes you to the visitor center, provides directions, and later picks you up. You explore the Pearl Harbor sites on your own, apart from the 30-minute guided deck tour aboard the Missouri.

Can I bring a bag to Pearl Harbor?

Pearl Harbor does not allow bags into the visitor center. Clear see-through bags are permitted, but other bags must be checked at paid storage. The tour van cannot hold bags or luggage, so the best plan is to bring none.

Is lunch included?

No. Lunch is not included, and you are advised to eat breakfast before pickup. Food and drink are not allowed inside the tour vehicle.

What happens if I am picked up at the airport?

If your pickup location is Daniel K. Inouye International Airport, you are returned directly to the airport after Pearl Harbor. The airport is before the downtown route, so you do not continue on the Honolulu drive-through with the Waikiki group.