I'm a plane nut so of course I'm going to rate this place pretty high. With three floors to explore, there is plenty to see and do here. This museum is easily my favorite museum out of all the Smithsonian museums, hands down. So much amazing history is found here to witness with your own eyes. It really makes the monumental accomplishments that you read in books and online come to life. Unfortunately, my last visit was shorter than usual because a good chunk of the museum was closed for renovation so I wasn't able to see the historic WW2 war birds. Bummer. Hopefully, that section is back up very soon. Looking for a cool souvenir from your time in D.C.? The gift shop here is absolutely huge, three floors with all things space and aviation. read more

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Space... the final frontier.... Whether you're a kid, or just a kid at heart, your mind will wander with the possibilities of seeing the actual vehicles and relics of historical significance and marvel at the drive of the human spirit to first take flight, then zoom past the curvature of the ocean until you hit new land, and, finally, break the bonds of gravity and stake your claim in the cosmos. I've been so many times, and it's free to go and see these incredible achievements of humanity in real life. You can look at the lunar capsule and imagine the bravery and ingenuity of the millions of people whose guts and brains it took, over thousands of years, to make such an achievement possible. This is the true legacy of humanity and it inspires while posing the question, what is next for mankind.... read more

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If you take anything away from this review, let it be this - SECURE YOUR TICKETS AHEAD OF TIME! The first time we visited, I made the mistake of trying to get tickets day of. They were completely sold out. The second time we were in DC, I confirmed tickets for two days and I'm glad I did! We split our visit between two days which was helpful because there's a lot to see even though a section is closed for renovations. I loved seeing so many pieces of history. They broke it out into rooms which helped us focus on the point in time or overall theme of each room. Highly recommend checking this place out but be warned it's generally busy because it's so popular. read more

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We loved coming to the air and space museum. We got the 10 am tickets for when it opened and the line wrapped around the building. We had a lot of fun here and watched one of the IMAX shows which was about the future of space, it was perfect timing because the astronaut on Artimus II was in it and it was the day they launched. My only wish is that it wasn't so crowded or a way to have less people to be able to enjoy exhibits more and have it be less overwhelming. My kiddo was definitely overwhelmed and overstimulated as were we. We didn't get though everything but all the top floor and some of the first. The cafe doesn't have a ton of food options and the line gets long but it was what we had for lunch. read more

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Awesome museum that had many artifacts from prior space missions, aircraft flights as well as replications, and even car racing. It was really cool to see artifacts from the moon as well! I'd highly recommend as it is a sight to see for all ages. read more

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Went on a field trip to this museum with my daughter's school as a chaperone. We took a school bus there however, parking appears to be tight in the area. Most of the museum was under renovation during our visit so we were able to hit most of the exhibits that were open. The kids in my group really enjoyed the exhibits especially the interactive parts. I did not check out the gift shop due to having group of students with no money to purchase items. My daughter has been reading books and movies on Bessie Coleman so she was excited to see her display in the museum however, I was disappointed on how small her exhibit was compared to others based off her major contributions to the world of Aviation as the first Black female pilot to earn a pilot's license. The kids enjoyed the outdoor water display while we ate lunch outside while waiting for the school bus. There were plenty of different food trucks surrounding the museum. Overall the kids really enjoyed the museum. read more

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You can get free tickets online to visit the air and space museum. It's who levels with interactive and life size exhibitions. Plenty of opportunities to explore and learn. The gift shops are also great to check out. There are waves of crowds but overall not too bad during this time of the year. read more

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Awesome museum! Great exhibits! My tip is don't make my mistake. Reserve the free passes ahead of time, and finish the process all the way through the checkout. If you do what I did, you will get an incomplete ticket that looks like you finished but is invalid. At the entrance is the starship enterprise. Another tip is that it lights up for five minutes every hour on the hour. Don't miss the wright brothers exhibit. It's interesting with artifacts and cool films. That's true for all the rooms. I spent hours wandering around and still have a lot more to do. This summer 2025 they are opening up other rooms. I'd love to go back for those. And if you time, visit the planetarium. I watched the presentation about dark matter. So interesting!! read more

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I did not like this place at all. I visited because I had time to kill and it was free. But if they were to ever charge for this place it would be a hard pass. Since it's free I guess it doesn't hurt to check it out but I thought it was boring and just terrible. read more

This was a really cool museum but man they let way too many people in. Some exhibits such as the Write brothers so many people was difficult to navigate. If you're going here I would choose the early morning times to try and beat the crowds. read more

Another amazing Smithsonian museum, this time concentrating on Air and Space. The displays are phenomenal, some are interactive and others are audible. The only disappointing thing is the missing history of Gustave Whitehead the true first in flight inventor. If you don't know the history, research and you might be surprised. read more

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Only giving this place a 3/5 stars due to half of the building being closed down for renovations. We wished it would have stayed that on the website prior to our arrival so we knew what to expect. It was nice to see the open areas, but the ones we wanted to see the most were closed off. Additionally, the cafe is way over priced. I understand you're in a highly populated tourist area and need the money, but a small salad should NOT be $16. read more

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Great place for being solo, as a couple or family. You need to book your tickets online in advance as there are timed entries to enter. Amazing information, videos and models for explaining various aspects of space and flight travel. Will take about 1 to 2 hours to fully enjoy. Less crowded on weekdays versus weekends. read more

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That is incredibly frustrating. There is nothing worse than planning your final day around a specific spot only to be turned away by conflicting information and a lack of help. Here is a draft for a one-star review that hits those specific pain points: Rating: Title: Misleading information and zero support I am extremely disappointed with my experience--or lack thereof--at the museum. It was my final day in DC, and I was looking forward to this visit based on the information provided on their website, which clearly states that you can pay for entry at the front. However, when I arrived with my single pass, I was told otherwise and denied entry. To make matters worse, there was absolutely no support or staff available to resolve the discrepancy between their online policy and their actual entry requirements. It's a shame to have my trip end on such a sour note due to poor communication and a lack of customer service. Save yourself the trip and double-check their "rules" because the website certainly isn't accurate. read more

Air And Space Museum Albert Einstein Planetarium - Planetarium Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I honestly would come to the air and space museum solely to go to the planetarium. I love the planetarium. It's so relaxing to just recline and let your eyes and ears do all the work. And a lot of work they will do because the the experience is seamless. I think I've gone to 3-4 different shows and I just love watching all the stars fly by and creep up upon planets that I would never get a chance to see in real life. It's also fun to learn about advancements in the study of the universe and all the great work satellites do after many years of traveling far away from earth. It's also such a wonder that Earth literally is in the perfect place to sustain life since each of the plants left or right of our orbit is either too hot or too caustic. It really does make me wonder if there is life elsewhere and if new life can be found or started on some of the neighboring planets because the universe is so big and fantastic, it would be a shocker if earthlings were the only ones out there. FYI: It's usually only $10 to watch one of the many planetarium shows as of Jan 2026. They are opening a new IMAX theatre as well, but I'll still pick the planetarium first. read more

The first museum of our visit because you can't miss all the cool planes and spaceships here! Make sure you schedule an entry time on recreation.gov for $1.00 or you won't get in until very late in the day. Tickets go fast! Whether a kid or an adult, this museum is worth a visit! read more

Air And Space Museum Albert Einstein Planetarium - Planetarium Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

The parts we saw were really cool, a lot to take in. When we went tho, about half of it was closed for refurbishment, which was quite sad since my dad really wanted to see things. The cafe can be really pricey, so bring a lunch to eat in the car if you can! Super cool exhibits tho, even saw some space boots! read more

Air And Space Museum Albert Einstein Planetarium - Some space/moon boots on display! - Planetarium Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

My school went to the Air and Space museum and we had a lot of fun. Kenny and Bobby were amazing and had such a positive attitude. They were so kind and a lot of fun read more

Museum has just reopened after being renovated. So many amazing things to see here including the original moon vehicles! Even the Star Trek Enterprise ship is here. read more

Air And Space Museum Albert Einstein Planetarium - Planetarium Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

the food costs WAY to much aswell as the souvenirs and it even costs 10 dollars to see the planetarium and even on top of all that there aren't even any water fountains to get free water in read more

Visited June 2026. The museum has some amazing exhibits, planes, and spacecraft. Unfortunately, half the museum was under construction. They have a section called the "Nation of Speed" which has planes but also has cars, motorcycles, etc (things that are not air and space). I'm not opposed to those things in general, but I am opposed to them at this museum. Despite that, we still had a great time. read more

What a beautiful place to mai rain our history of air and space! Lots of beautiful exhibits of our airplane history dating back to the Wright Brothers, the planets, fast cars and more! read more

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If you are an aviation enthusiast or just enjoy the engineering and history that goes into the development of flight this is a place you must stop. I highly recommend that you arrive 15-30 minutes before 10:00am as they get busy quick. The exhibits are really well laid out and to move from section to section is done with ease. There is a lot to see so plan ahead as to how you will tackle each of the sections and attend any of the shows, VR or simulation experiences. There are several opportunities to purchae souveniers in each section and the overhead of the buidling is filled with old and newer aircraft including military type drones. This is defintley one of my favorite spots and I could spend the entire day in here just carefully taking in each of the exhibits one after the other and trying to experience every aspect of it to get the full experience. read more

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Favorite Museum in DC! It's for the air and space nerds, like us and totally free as part of one of the Smithsonian museums. The best place for any space nerd or Science geek. Really cool and interactive. The staff was really helpful and informative. read more

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Visited late December during shut down-show down This place is big. The displayed exhibits are big. The crowds are big. We arrived here right after it opened and that is the way to do this. Two hours later and there were so many people there that it became somewhat of a downer. Perhaps because the government shutdown was looming a couple of days away. Lots of great stuff to see. Ton of history make this worth going to. Just pack your patience!! read more

Planetariums are awesome. Free planetariums are more awesome. Free planetariums that offer sesame street content that will entertain your 3-year-old while showing him stuff about the stars and moon are the best kind of awesome. This place is just cool. They use it for a bunch of different content ranging from normal planetarium stuff to more 360º video things and blends like the sesame street productions. You can pick up tickets for free in front of the place, but the seats are still first, come first serve and it helps to be there a bit early to get decent ones. You can bring a stroller in with a baby and set it near your row if you want, which was hugely helpful for my 3-month-old. The actual shows are impressive and immersive. There's no overlapping or pixelation or anything, just big, impressive shows on a domed ceiling. read more

Dark Universe, a planetarium show narrated by astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson, provides a visually stunning journey through some of the greatest historical discoveries of cosmology. Having studied cosmology myself, I was deeply moved, watching the Planck satellite paint the planetarium dome with the cosmic microwave background, then zoom out from our galaxy to encompass all of the visible universe. I've never seen anything like it. This is the kind of experience that only a state-of-the-art planetarium can provide. I highly recommend this venue. read more

Air And Space Museum Albert Einstein Planetarium - A state-of-the-art planetarium in a must-see National museum. - Planetarium Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

It was OK. I like planetariums, in general, and this was very similar to the others. The seating is comfortable. The quality of the movie was very good. The content was fine. I left with some new information, which was good. I also left realizing how little we know about the universe. read more

This IS a wonderful place but today at the Arlington County Fair I was really turned off by some loudmouth woman representative at your table who was practically yelling while laughing at the visitors-- "Are you a FRIEND of the Planetarium?! Why not? Are you a SCIENTIST?" and more idiocy like that . We left -- if you want more Friends for your Planetarium, treat all visitors LIKE friends. read more

The Albert Einstein Planetarium, located on the second floor of the Air & Space Museum, has become something of a fixture in our family. You see, every Friday (with very few exceptions), a *free* 30-minute planetarium show for kiddos is shown, and both of my children are basically obsessed. "One World, One Sky" is a Sesame Street production which teaches little kids some basics about the sky, the moon, and even some Chinese! I've seen another presentation here for Mars Day that was interesting but not as child-friendly (at least, my 2 and 4-year-olds weren't that hooked). The spacious Planetarium is equipped with very comfortable chairs, and if you come with a stroller, you can park that at the front of the room for the duration of the show. I have found the best seats to be towards the back, so you can really get the most complete view of the screen. Since we come dozens of times a year (this is no exaggeration), why not 5 stars? One problem: -There is no way to reserve tickets online, but somehow school groups are able to do this (although I've been told conflicting information from employees). And the website is never updated accordingly. So if the scheduled programming is "reserved" and you schlep down to the museum with a hopeful tot in tow, you might have a major disappointment on your hands (speaking from experience). This happened to us only once, and the school group never even showed up. All this to say, I really wish the Air and Space organization - and the Einstein Planetarium in particular - updated their website accordingly to let people know if a show would not be available to the general public. read more

More than half of the exhibits are closed right now. Come back in a couple of months and perhaps more will be open. read more

Air And Space Museum Albert Einstein Planetarium - Planetarium Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Me and my Boys loved it. Make sure you check out the jet fighter simulation. So realistic. We had to go on it 3 times. ‍

AWESOME! I'm a massive nerd, so this museum was perfect. The interactive exhibits are super informative and never boring. I spent about three hours upstairs in the space halls. The IMAX theatre and planetarium shows are really engaging and fun. Lots of seating and water bottle stations. Loved it! read more

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Most memorable free museum experience I have had this year! I love how they have the free movie showings and wonderful merchandise. I got one of my favorite t-shirts here. They made this building extremely handicapped friendly because I came here shortly after my fractured leg healed and was able to rest a good amount of times comfortably. read more

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This a part of the national sir and space museum but not exactly what I would expect. DON'T do what we did and wait till the end of the day or you'll be in free trouble ( explanation shortly). First you go into this cavenous space which in reality doesn't have a whole lot of seats and after you get the tickets it's first come first serve so get there at least 1/2 an hour early probably an hour in the summer. The subject was journey to the stars or something like that with whoopee Golfburg or whatever her name is narrating it. Now three things come in to play 1: the subject is probably not the most exciting ( maybe to school kids?) 2: Whoopee is so monotone she'd bore a deaf man to death 4: You're tired and the seats are comfortable and laying back. Ok he the picture? So drink a gallon of coffee and then head in if the caffeine doesn't keep you awake maybe the fact you have to prepare like a Russian Race Horse will. Overall good for kids adults only if you have to accompany kids Oh and if both parents are available May I suggest a game of rock paper scissors to see who gets to go, read more

It is summer the kids out of school. Very busy. It kind of reminds me of the Kennedy space center / NASA near Houston,Tx when we visited a few years a go. We enjoyed our visit. read more

If your visiting DC, you have to visit this museum. This by far is the best Aerospace museum I've ever visited. While it's a drive from the city, it's well worth it. Plenty of popular aircraft and space items. I really enjoyed seeing the satellites, which I've never seen in person at other museums. You'll pay for parking, but the museum is free to enter. I've seen where some have taken Uber or a cab ride, that could be plenty expensive to go and come back. Anyway I highly recommend visiting here on your trip to DC. read more

Looks like I'm the second (and only person) to review this place! I visited the planetarium again recently with my fiancé and we watched Dark Universe (narrated by Neil de Grasse Tyson). We absolutely loved this show. Probably my favorite of their shows, and I'm pretty sure I've seen all the planetarium shows by now. The show was both informative and fascinating. The visuals were stunning and the music lent to the enchantment. For just $9 a person, we had a fantastic 30 minutes. We had previously visited on one of our early dates 2 years ago and had enjoyed it. We figured we should visit again on the day we got engaged :) read more

I LOVE this place! I'm a giant space geek and can't believe I only just recently visited this museum. I took my boyfriend for an X-Files themed Birthday adventure around DC. We walked the museum and enjoyed their interactive displays, and especially enjoyed the planetarium. We saw Dark Universe and wow, was it impressive! It's a beautiful magical experience that made me feel like I was floating through space -- I highly recommend it and can't wait to see more shows at the planetarium. Buy tickets there for a cheaper price. When you purchase online, they add convenience fees. read more

As a Veteran of the Air Force I was looking very forward to coming and seeing everything that this museum offered and was thrilled by every aspect of it. There's so much to see here, you can't see it all in a short amount of time. Unfortunately, we only had a short amount of time that day and I missed several things I really wanted to see. The reason I gave this 5 stars is because it's American history that all of us need to see and become a part of. read more