Watch Mermaids, Sharks, Stingrays, and Tropical Fish for Free
The Silverton Aquarium is a 117,000-gallon saltwater reef aquarium inside Silverton Casino Lodge. Thousands of tropical fish share the large marine habitat with sharks and stingrays, while scheduled mermaid swims and interactive feeding presentations add live entertainment throughout the week.
The aquarium is open to the public 24 hours a day and is one of the most family-friendly free things to do in Las Vegas. No aquarium admission ticket, hotel stay, casino purchase, restaurant reservation, or show ticket is required for ordinary viewing.
The aquarium can be viewed at any hour, but mermaid appearances and feeding presentations follow specific schedules. Visitors coming primarily for a show should confirm the current times shortly before leaving home.
Last reviewed: July 20, 2026. Aquarium access, mermaid schedules, feeding times, animal populations, paid experiences, restaurant hours, parking policies, and special programs can change.
Silverton Aquarium Quick Facts
- Admission: Free. No aquarium ticket or reservation is required for ordinary viewing.
- Aquarium Hours: Open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
- Location: Inside Silverton Casino Lodge near Mermaid Lounge.
- Address: 3333 Blue Diamond Road, Las Vegas, NV 89139
- Phone: (702) 263-7777
- Aquarium Size: More than 117,000 gallons.
- Marine Life: Thousands of tropical fish, sharks, stingrays, and other marine animals.
- Interactive Feedings: Daily at 1:30 and 4:30 p.m.
- Mermaid Swims: Thursday through Saturday from noon to 8:00 p.m. and Sunday from 10:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
- Mermaid Frequency: Approximately every half hour during the published swim windows, except during scheduled feedings.
- Time Needed: Approximately 20 to 45 minutes for casual aquarium viewing, or longer when staying for a mermaid swim or feeding.
- Best For: Families, mermaid fans, aquarium enthusiasts, photographers, and visitors exploring attractions away from the Strip.
- Parking: Silverton currently offers complimentary self-parking and valet parking for guests and customers. Review the Las Vegas parking fees guide before visiting.
- What Costs Extra: Food, drinks, Mermaid School, meals with a mermaid, hotel rooms, gaming, shopping, transportation, and other optional experiences.
What to Expect at the Silverton Aquarium
The aquarium’s large curved viewing windows create a wide underwater scene filled with coral-style formations, schools of colorful fish, stingrays, and sharks. The animals continuously move through different depths and sections of the habitat, so the view changes throughout a visit.
Visitors may see marine life such as:
- Sharks
- Stingrays
- Angelfish
- Tangs
- Wrasses
- Pufferfish
- Triggerfish
- Other tropical reef species
The precise animal population can change because of veterinary care, habitat management, animal growth, transfers, and aquarium operations. Older photographs or videos may show animals that are not present during a current visit.
The aquarium is positioned inside an operating casino resort rather than a separate museum building. Families can reach it through designated public areas, but adults should keep children close and away from gaming activity, service routes, glass barriers, and crowded walkways.
There is no traditional aquarium entrance, ticket counter, or timed-admission checkpoint. Visitors may approach the public viewing area, watch for as long as practical, and continue exploring the resort.
Free Mermaid Swims at Silverton
Thursday–Saturday: Noon to 8:00 p.m.
Sunday: 10:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Frequency: Approximately every half hour, except during the scheduled 1:30 and 4:30 p.m. feeding presentations
Admission: Free
Professional mermaid performers enter the aquarium wearing colorful tails and swim among the tropical fish and rays. They wave, blow kisses, pose for photographs, perform underwater turns, and interact with children watching through the glass.
The mermaids breathe at the surface and may leave the viewing area between appearances. A visit during the published time window does not mean that a mermaid will remain visible continuously.
Arriving 10 to 15 minutes before a planned swim can make it easier to find a viewing position, especially on weekends, school holidays, and during busy travel periods.
The mermaid schedule can change because of animal care, private programs, performer availability, maintenance, holidays, or other resort operations. Review the official Silverton Aquarium and mermaid-show information before making a special trip.
Daily Interactive Stingray Feedings
Daily: 1:30 and 4:30 p.m.
Admission: Free
Format: Interactive underwater presentation with aquarium staff
During the feeding presentations, a trained aquarium professional enters the habitat and feeds the marine life while communicating with the audience through specialized underwater equipment.
The presentation gives visitors an opportunity to watch sharks, stingrays, and tropical fish respond to feeding activity while learning about the animals and aquarium care.
The presenter may answer audience questions from inside the tank. The exact animals participating, presentation length, feeding method, and educational content can vary.
Mermaid swims pause during the scheduled feeding programs. Visitors who want to see both experiences can arrive before a feeding and remain for the next scheduled mermaid appearance.
Optional Paid Aquarium Experiences
The aquarium itself, mermaid swims, and scheduled feedings are free. Silverton also offers separately purchased programs for visitors seeking a more involved experience.
Children ages 7 through 15 can participate in a scheduled experience that may include a warm-up lesson, mermaid-tail swim, aquarium entry, photographs, and a behind-the-scenes component. Participants must be strong swimmers, and advance reservations are required.
Participants age 16 and older can book a similar scheduled program with mermaid instruction, a tail swim inside the aquarium, photographs, and behind-the-scenes information. This is a paid experience for strong swimmers.
Silverton may offer limited dining packages that combine a meal with a mermaid appearance or photo opportunity. Dates, prices, age categories, menus, and reservation requirements can change.
Paid programs are not required to enjoy the aquarium or watch the regular public performances. Review the current Mermaid School information before booking.
Mermaid Lounge and Jellyfish Aquariums
Mermaid Lounge overlooks the main saltwater aquarium and contains 500-gallon jellyfish aquariums illuminated with color-changing LED lights.
Visitors may see the jellyfish displays while passing through accessible lounge areas, but seating, drinks, meals, and reserved spaces are part of an operating bar and restaurant environment rather than the free aquarium attraction.
Schedule: Friday and Saturday from 8:00 to 11:00 p.m.
Entertainment: Free rotating live music beside the aquarium
Age: 21+
What Costs Extra: Food, cocktails, reserved seating, and other purchases
Music performers and schedules change. Check the current Mermaid Lounge Live lineup when planning an adult evening visit.
How to Find the Silverton Aquarium
Silverton Casino Lodge is located near Interstate 15 and Blue Diamond Road, southwest of the main Las Vegas Strip resort corridor.
Enter through an authorized public casino or resort entrance and follow signs for the aquarium or Mermaid Lounge. If the aquarium is not immediately visible, ask a Silverton employee for the most direct public route.
Address: 3333 Blue Diamond Road, Las Vegas, NV 89139
Driving
Silverton is most convenient to reach by car. Follow the navigation route to the casino rather than stopping along Blue Diamond Road or an Interstate 15 access ramp.
Rideshare or Taxi
Confirm the designated resort entrance and pickup location shown in the app. Review the Las Vegas Ride Share Guide or the Las Vegas taxi guide before traveling.
Public Transportation
Bus service may require transfers and an outdoor walk depending on the starting point. Review the complete route, operating hours, weather, and final walking distance through the Las Vegas public transportation guide.
Other Free Attractions at Silverton
Colorful mermaid-themed fantasy artwork is displayed around the aquarium area. The small gallery is free to browse and works well as part of the same visit. See the Mermaid Cove Art Gallery guide.
The connected Bass Pro Shops contains freshwater aquariums, a large water feature inspired by Red Rock Canyon, fish, turtles, ducks, and other outdoor-themed displays. Store hours differ from the Silverton Aquarium’s 24-hour access. Read the Bass Pro Shops freshwater aquariums guide.
Custom motorcycles created for Silverton are displayed in publicly accessible casino areas. The motorcycles are open-air displays rather than a separate museum behind a ticketed entrance. Explore the Orange County Choppers at Silverton guide.
Tips Before Visiting the Aquarium
- Check the schedule: The aquarium is always open, but mermaid swims and feeding presentations occur only at published times.
- Arrive early for mermaid swims: The viewing area can become crowded before popular weekend appearances.
- Plan around the feedings: Mermaid swims pause during the daily 1:30 and 4:30 p.m. presentations.
- Allow time for changing views: Sharks, rays, and schools of fish may move away from one window and return several minutes later.
- Do not tap the glass: Keep hands, toys, cameras, drinks, and personal items away from the aquarium windows.
- Keep pathways open: Do not block resort walkways, lounge entrances, employee routes, or other visitors’ views.
- Supervise children: Keep children close around the aquarium, casino pathways, escalators, lounge areas, and nearby stores.
- Use photography courteously: Avoid bright lights, flash directed into the aquarium, large tripods, or equipment that obstructs other visitors.
- Keep expectations realistic: Animal locations, mermaid performers, show formats, and presentation lengths can change.
- Separate free and paid activities: General aquarium viewing, mermaid swims, and feedings are free; Mermaid School, dining packages, food, drinks, and shopping cost extra.
- Combine the attractions: The aquarium, art gallery, Bass Pro Shops displays, and custom motorcycles can create a longer free Silverton visit.
See the Silverton Aquarium and Mermaids
This video provides a preview of the aquarium and mermaid performances. The animals, performers, show schedule, viewing area, and resort surroundings may have changed since it was recorded.
Silverton Aquarium FAQ
Q: Is the Silverton Aquarium free?
A: Yes. The aquarium, scheduled public mermaid swims, and daily interactive feeding presentations are free to watch. Paid aquarium programs, food, drinks, shopping, and hotel stays cost extra.
Q: Is the aquarium open 24 hours?
A: Yes. Silverton currently lists the aquarium as open to everyone 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Q: When do the mermaids swim?
A: The current schedule is Thursday through Saturday from noon to 8:00 p.m. and Sunday from 10:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Q: How often do mermaids appear?
A: Mermaid swims are scheduled approximately every half hour during the published windows, except during the daily feeding presentations.
Q: When are the aquarium feedings?
A: Interactive stingray feeding presentations are currently scheduled daily at 1:30 and 4:30 p.m.
Q: Are there really sharks in the aquarium?
A: Yes. Silverton identifies sharks, stingrays, and thousands of tropical fish among the aquarium’s marine population. The precise species and number visible can change.
Q: Do mermaids live in the aquarium?
A: The mermaids are trained human performers wearing specially designed swimming tails. They enter the aquarium only during scheduled appearances and paid programs.
Q: Is a hotel stay required?
A: No. The aquarium is open to the public without a hotel reservation or casino purchase.
Q: Is parking free?
A: Silverton currently offers complimentary self-parking and valet parking for guests and customers. Parking policies can change, and unauthorized vehicles may be towed.
Q: Can visitors enter the Mermaid Lounge for free?
A: Accessible lounge and aquarium-viewing areas may be entered without buying an aquarium ticket, but food, drinks, reserved seating, and paid events cost extra. Some evening programs are restricted to guests age 21 and older.
Q: Is Mermaid School free?
A: No. Mermaid School is a separately purchased scheduled experience for qualifying children and adults.
Q: Is the aquarium suitable for children?
A: Yes. Families commonly visit, but adults should supervise children closely because the aquarium is inside an operating casino resort.
Q: How long should visitors allow?
A: Allow approximately 20 to 45 minutes for casual viewing. Plan additional time when waiting for a mermaid swim, feeding presentation, or another Silverton attraction.
Q: Is the Silverton Aquarium worth a special trip?
A: Yes for families, mermaid fans, and aquarium enthusiasts, especially when visiting during a scheduled swim or feeding. It becomes a more substantial outing when combined with Silverton’s other free displays.
