We had a great time at The Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum! Found the closest parking garage, which was about $25. It is a bit of a walk to the museum, so if you have little ones, a stroller would be incredibly helpful. Free timed-entry passes are required to enter the museum. You can reserve free timed-entry passes online. Employees around the museum are incredibly friendly, knowledgeable, patient, and helpful. The kiddos (and adults) learned so much and had a great time! There is so much to see here. The museum is spacious and all the exhibits are well maintained. Restrooms are family friendly and very well maintained. There is a theatre in here, where you can purchase tickets at the box office for their Planetarium shows. Adult tickets are $9 and Youth tickets are $7. The lower level has a family lounge, companion care space, nursing rooms, and a quiet room. The Mars Café (lower level) is open daily from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. They offer sandwiches, paninis, salads, and pastries. There is also a gift shop, with all sorts of goodies. I am so glad we got a chance to visit again, this time with our little ones. We can't wait to come back! read more

The National Air and Space Museum is a world-class museum and one I would visit every time I'm in D.C.! We came here in May while in town for a conference and it was a lovely visit, despite half of the building being under construction (tickets were easy to reserve online and it was great to visit even during the construction). The space area is amazing and it's humble to be able to see things like the Apollo 11 command module and Neil Armstrong's spacesuit. We were also able to see the Wright Flyer (the original) and it's so neat to be able to walk from the Wright Flyer to the Apollo 11 Command Module and see how much we were able to accomplish in 66 years. It's truly an amazing museum and one that everyone must see in their lifetime! read more

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My other review was for the Washington DC this one is the one in VA. Very similar to the one in DC but a lot more airplanes and aircraft. From the first planes to the ones today military and civilian alike. It doesn't require any tickets but it does cost to park. You will also have to take a toll road out there. A very cool museum to check out and you can spend hours here. read more

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The renovation is incredible so far! Can't wait to see what the final project looks like. We came here as a day trip to Baltimore and it was a great time. The exhibits are amazing and packed with information that's easy to understand. There are interactive screens and pieces throughout that appeal to kids and adults. The staff were all super friendly and helpful, and ready to answer any question you had. I highly recommend this as a must-see destination on your trip to DC! If you're looking to go, make sure you reserve tickets in advance! The tickets are a QR code, but we left our phone at home and we were able to get checked in through our email. read more

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If your a fan of all things in space and in the air then this is a truly fascinating place. So much info jam packed into this place, some things you've known and some you probably never knew!. Great info about the Wright brothers, NASA, Amelia Earnhardt, and full of aviation artifacts. Super kid friendly and would take about 2-5 hours to go through. Another fan free Smithsonian museum! read more

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Spent 4 hours here and could have spent more if half of it wasn't under construction. If you have any interest in the topic, I highly recommend a visit. Make sure to reserve online ahead of time. If you choose the first time slot, you'll be guaranteed to have a line outiside. We took a short break to sit and eat in the cafe. We ordered at the self-serve order area and got two sandwiches. Both were very good. The self-serve ordering only offers a limited menu but if you want to skip the line, it was useful and quick. read more

Lots of fun as a adult. Can't imagine coming here as a kid. Lots to look at. You can even walk into a plane so super cool for those who've never been in one. Get your tickets in advanced!!!!!! Don't sleep on the food trucks outside. Probably one of the best philly cheesesteaks I had on my trip. read more

up up and away 66 years, from first flight to landing on the moon. what did you do today? I ate some waffles, but that's not relevant, if your into this , check it out! i mean, so many awesome museums for you to check out, i would highly (like 10,000 feet) recommend! sure you get all the technical stuff too, which if youre an electrical engineer or wizard, i bet that all makes sense, but me, the lay, doesnt get calculus, so ill just look and gaze in awe and wonder, you will too! not overly impressed with the gift shop, they of course had some astronaut ice cream, skip that. read more

This is an amazing museum with so many exhibits you can take a 1,000 pics! You have to get a timed reservation (free) ahead of time so make sure you go to the website to do that so you can get in. Easier to get in during the week. But even on the weekends the line moves fast read more

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Such a cool museum with so much to see. Everywhere you turn, is some amazing artifact that is important to history. This is one of the most visited museums in the country. We were lucky to get a reservation for opening time, so we enjoyed a couple hours where it was not that busy. Toward lunch time it started getting really crowded, and by the time we left in the early afternoon it was extremely busy. One really nice part is the staff members who are there to offer insight at different exhibits and answer questions. I enjoyed a talk by an older gentleman who gave a really detailed overview of Neil Armstrong's space suit. He offered a lot of context and insight and things I would have never known from looking at it. He was really good at telling a story and he captivated everyone. What started with him talking to 2 people ended up with a group of about 15 people huddled around, listening intently. Many of the exhibits we saw looked renovated and modern. There were 'static' interactive displays that were not computerized, and others that were computer based that seemed new. It seemed like what is opened/available has been recently redone. A large portion of the museum was closed for renovations, but we still saw a lot and it took up a huge part of the day. We took our time in the museum and it was totally worth it. One downside is that there are no lockers, no coat room, and no real food options here. There is a small cafe with drinks and small bites to eat such as pastries. They are renovating, so maybe in the future there will be some expansion of food options. We ended up grabbing food nearby. read more

Do you like planes?! I do! I was a bit surprised at how small the museum is. They have some very cool exhibits, but I found the car exhibit to be about out of place. read more

Smithsonian - Museums Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Super disappointed at how chaotic and disorganized this place now is. This really special museum allows glimpses at some of the most treasured and special elements of space, and flight. The building is oddly coordinated and they don't properly handle crowd flow. Visiting requires a timed visit reservation which were apparently perhaps too easy to get and too abundant. After waiting in a line that extended several blocks, we finally entered. The challenge was there was no line markings or traffic flow. This meant people could walk up and enter along with and in front of, hundreds of others who'd waited over an hour to enter. We found it nearly impossible to see any of the exhibits, and traffic flow was nonexistent in the museum. Sadly because of this, it was very hard to enjoy any of it. The cafe also, didn't allow you to leave with anything. I wanted to grab a coffee and continue my evening, but met extreme anger and hostility by the staff when attempting to depart with my $16 coffee. I'm disappointed mostly because this is a subject matter I care so deeply about and was sad to see how chaotic, disorganized and unpleasant the experience was. Add to this, the extensive construction, nasty attitude by staff and long lines. It all added up to this museum making it on my top 10 places to avoid list. At the end of the day, admission is free, and it's a great opportunity to see some incredible exhibits. I just wish they'd put more energy into making it a reasonable experience especially for those with disabilities or limitations. read more

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Great museum, a lot of interesting exhibits and it's free! I learned a lot from this visit about the history of aviation, it was amazing to see full scale models of first planes by Wright brothers and by Otto Lillenthal. The exhibit about the Apollo 11 moon landing was very interesting, took a lot of pictures for my dad who still believes that the moon landing was a hoax. Unfortunately I couldn't see space shuttles as the space wing of the museum is closed for innovations until 2026. My recommendation is to book far in advance and arrive at least 15 minutes before your time slot, even if you pre-booked your visit you have to stand in long line before they let you in. read more

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We loved this museum! There are sections on the origins of flight, commercial flight in the US and around the world, space travel and exploration, and cars. Definitely too much information to digest in a single visit, but very informative and fun to explore. They even have one of the original Wright Brothers planes! This place seemed to me like it was more oriented towards adults than kids, and the kids that were there were running around instead of being particularly engaged in the exhibits. read more

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Unless you're into the Apollo moon mission, or the Wright Brothers, you could skip this old standby until they finish the renovations in '24. It is definitely a letdown after standing in line for a timed entrance. They have literally only half the building open, and what's there is not the A-list of this nation's air and space achievement. That's all out at the Udvar-Hazy center. Surprisingly tho this gift shop is far more extensive than the one out at the Udvar-Hazy center. read more

The must visit place in Washington D.C! I would recommend to book your tickets in advance,the first time we arrive all time slots were filled, we had to come back. It was very crowded,seems like they didn't manage the time slots entry well. Despite the crowds my kids and I really enjoy the museum. You could get inside the models of several planes! But the favorite part of my kids was the video game race using the three different vehicles. read more

Smithsonian - Museums Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Filled with planes, spacecraft, rockets and artifacts that tell the story of flight, this was a museum that was once one of our family's favorite Smithsonian Museums. Unfortunately, many exhibits are currently closed due to renovations. Interesting to see the Wright Brothers Flyer from their historic flight in Kitty Hawk in 1903, Charles Lindbergh's The Spirit of St. Louis and Neil Armstrong's Spacesuit. Nice exhibit about the Space Shuttle. Would love to visit again once the renovations are completed. For now, anticipate a short visit to the few rooms that are open. read more

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Continuing my D.C. museum reviews from our trip in August 2021, the National Air and Space Museum came highly recommended, and has always had a "Buzz" about it. Sadly, half of the museum (everything devoted to flight of the non-space variety) was closed on our visit. That's half of the museum, being closed. What we did see was impressive! NASA! CCCP! The race for space! The Spirit of St. Louis, and the main entrance area is impressive. The moon landings, Mars rovers, and space rockets, and exhibits were very cool. We paid for a 4D ride experience that was cool, recommended for teens and those who aren't freaked out by heights (because you're floating in space). Still recommend the Air and Space Museum, 'Murica, Eff yeah! read more

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I had high hopes for this place. Between the name and location, I expected a rich history of innovation and exploration. At the end of the day, I understood why admission was free despite requiring a reservation. I've visited the Museum of Flight in Seattle many times and despite the gate being close to $20 you get up and personal with far more impressive aircraft and exhibits. In my opinion, this place was more of a glorified gift shop, but I still enjoyed my stroll. read more

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Hands down truly one of the *best* museums I've been to..and I am in love with museums (and work at one too). Upon entry, there's a security guard giving out masks to those who need one, security inside is a quick process - not much of a wait. Once you go in, it's pretty much a free for all and 2 floors of fun and SO much to see. I asked one of the staff members if there was a preferred way to explore and he suggest start on the first floor (the main floor) first then go upstairs. Honestly, this museum has SO much amazing information & it's beyond intriguing. And there's enough for the little kids too that offers an interactive experience (specifically the exhibit on the science of flying - it's literally made for kids and to understand how flight happens amongst other cool science concepts). 2 other really cool experiences on the first floor: - the flight simulator: they have 3 options but I wanted to do the flight simulator (they also have a VR experience & a motion simulator). Please allow me to explain just how INSANE the flight simulator is...it literally flips you upside down (I have 0 clue what it looks like from the outside) but it's QUITE the experience. They have a little training prior and honestly, I still didn't know what I was doing and I was alright with that. I loved the experience and think everyone should experience it if they're up for something a little more extreme (I do wish the staff member emphasized how much it'd move and it'd feel insane but it's okay, the surprise was welcome) - there was a virtual set up with a volunteer on zoom that you got to ask questions too if you wanted. I thought it was such a neat addition and so so smart to include. In terms of the exhibits, there's SO much to them & a lot to learn. Although there were 2 exhibits closed for renovations from what I could tell, it didn't take away from the experience at all. You could easily spend 2-4 hours here (and with it being free, that's great.) Only downside is that I wish the gift shop had more/was located in a better space. Not sure if it was placed somewhere else before but I found a sweater/shirt I liked. Another neat thing is that your gift shop purchase can go towards a membership & it worked out! I traveled in from NJ but honestly still is worth it. Hiiiiighly recommend this museum (even over the natural history one which I've also been to). So happy this museum exists! Loved every second here. read more

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The last time we went, it was in the process of being remodeled. I think it is still in the works. This time you needed a timed ticket which we did not have. The line looked enormous and the process of getting a ticket was unexpected and disappointing. read more

Be prepared in advance. This is not the type of museum where you simply wait on line to enter. You need to have a ticket beforehand which can only be obtained online or via mobile app. Also of note is that the tickets are for times that reserve a specific entry time. While the line looks long, you could simply wait 20 minutes past your entry time and more or less cruise right in. Don't wait too long, as you could miss your window entirely. Also, once you're inside, you can make your visit for any duration until they close. Stay 20 minutes, stay 4 hours. Despite this ticket system, the museum is a touch overcrowded. If you want a lighter crowd, book your reservation well in advance to be in the first entry group. Knowing all of this ahead of time, this is an amazing museum in terms of content. This is the entire history of air and space travel in one museum. The displays and information here are astounding. You could spend hours, even days and not take it all in. They are constantly making updates to the displays and areas. While this gives the museum a feel of being constantly under construction, it also means that they are always improving. There are hands-on and interactive displays for children and adults alike. What's even crazier is that this museum is free (aside from food and souvenirs), relying on charitable/voluntary donations. read more

What a wonderful experience! I was able to take some of kids on a field trip with my job. I loved the renovations of the new air and space museum! It is more forward facing for the evolution of flight. I love the different exhibits from the first flight, to commercial airplanes, and rockets and landing on the moon. So many cool artifacts and interactive exhibits for kids. As far as as accomodations, the museum is easily accessible with escalators and elevators. The entrance also has a ramp. Speaking of entry... Be prepared for a long line and try to get there 30 minutes before your pass time. However, one you are there, the line moves pretty quickly. Other accomodations like the restroom and museum store were great! The only bone I have to pick is the cafe is not big enough for that museum. It is also pretty pricey, so be sure to pack a lunch! Overall, great visit and I highly recommend it! read more

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Neat museum. There are two campuses for this Smithsonian and the other campus is much better but this one has some really neat stuff. Wright brothers plane and moon rocks are only two examples. Staff is plentiful and informed. Reason I can't rate higher right now is half the place is closed for renovations. I hope my next visit knocks my socks off. read more

This place is one of my favorite museums in D.C. I really enjoy spending time in there and looking at all the aircraft and reading about the history. They have space suits from decades ago and great exhibits. It's amazing to see the artifacts of aviation and space exploration history up very close. The entrance is free, and you are able to reserve tickets and choose the time online. All the process was actually pretty easy and all free. read more

The Smithsonian Nation Air and Space Museum is a must visit plus admission is free. You can select the day and time that you want to visit online. I recommend setting aside at least 2 hours to explore. read more

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This was a nice day excursion. We went as a family and sort of split up to see different parts of the museum. At the time the are under a major renovation/addition, didn't bother me and didn't impact anything other than an area or two was closed. Fascinating space and capsule exhibits, historical flight visits and it all ties together every well. read more

Smithsonian - This was an exhibit that related speed of flight to items we might be familiar with - Museums Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

They were going through a lot of renovations right now so I would wait for them to be done to make a visit. Admission was free but timed entry tickets were necessary. read more

Come on now... I have been coming here since I was 5 (am now that times 11)... If you are a space or aviation geek this place will make the hair stand up on the back of your neck. Being a Smithsonian they automatically jump to the front to get all the Firsts and anything cool. Make sure to slow down and look at all the little bits. Some of them will make you smile. 1. Neil's moon suit is back on display. This is why I came here - so much work done on it and it looks wonderful. 2. Apollo 11 command module - you can walk right up to it in clear glass... you used to be able to get closer to it but the plastic box they had it in looked cheap. This famous machine is now being treated and placed correctly next to all its friends. 3. Enterprise NCC-1701 11 foot model from TOS is back on display and is right when you enter the museum next to a real Robert Goddard rocket (no pics this time because I already have uploaded plenty) 4. Wright Flyer is out - as they say and I love one of the placards - "There have been many replicas, but THIS IS THE ORIGINAL REAL WRIGHT FLYER flown in Kitty Hawk on 1903". Gift from the (Orville) Wright Family Foundation 5. They moved a Star Wars X-Wing they restored from Skywalker Rises to the second floor from Udvar Hazy. I love it. They are still doing serious renovations on the building so about half of it is closed but they intentionally put cool things there. You have to get timed entry tickets too, like for Washington Monument but they are free. And the other things presumably will come back like Chuck's X1 read more

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One of my favorite museums growing up. Still a crowd pleaser for friends family,nieces and nephews. I love wandering through the insides of rockets and spaceships and looking through the gift shop for freeze dried astronaut food Super cool pics to take read more

Excellent museum for kids with lots of space/nasa related topics. Make sure to reserve timed entrance tickets or you'll be turned away! There're two stories and basement has a food court. read more

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The museum just re-opened last week after undergoing renovations, and entry is by free timed, advance-reserved tickets only right now. I reserved a 2PM entry time on a Tuesday, and when I arrived at about 1:55PM was dismayed to see a HUGE line that was all the 2PM ticket holders. I figured I was probably not getting in...but got in line anyway to see what would happen...amazingly, right at 2PM, they let all of us in at once and the new security screening technology they're using is super fast! I was in looking at exhibits by 2:10. Important tips...do pay attention to the directions on the ticket about where to go to line up. The only entrance is on Independence around 7th with no entry on the side facing the mall. Be sure to have your tickets printed or downloaded to your phone as they do scan them. Just having the email won't work and people had to step out of line to download if they hadn't already. Anyway, the timed entry process does keep the crowds manageable! The museum is about 40-50% open now. I included a picture of the current map of galleries in my review to show what's open and what is still to come. The newly redesigned exhibits are excellent. There's a lot more emphasis on the roles of women and people of color in air flight and space exploration with acknowledgment of barriers of sexism and racism to greater diversity. There's also coverage of climate change and the role of satellites in monitoring changes. The communications exhibit must get rid of the constantly ringing phone, but was otherwise very interesting! The redesigned moon and exploring the planets exhibits were really nicely done too. I had to laugh about the inclusion of Indy Car in the exhibit on speed, as I had literally just passed a Mario Andretti exhibit at the Indy airport that morning and here he was again at the Air and Space museum? I spent about 1-1/2 hours here, so anticipate a visit might be closer to 3 hours once all is open to see the whole thing. Looking forward to coming back to see the additional new exhibits as they open! read more

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The Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum is located in Washington DC, and it holds the worlds largest collection of historic aircraft and spacecraft. The museum is important because it shows how travel has evolved over time, and how the aspects of science, technology, and engineering are involved in the use of creating air and spacecrafts. The museum is open from 10 AM to 5:30 PM and people usually spend about 2-3 hours inside the museum. Some exhibits the museum offers include the Wright Brothers, Destination Moon, Thomas W. Hass We All Fly, Kenneth C. Griffin Exploring The Planets, Early Flight, and America by Air. Each piece is very detailed, especially in the America by Air exhibit where the planes hang from the ceiling. Each plane has a name and description associated with it. Each exhibit is extremely detailed and provides thorough descriptions and details on each artifact. The museum has items hanging from the ceilings all throughout it, and it adds a nice touch to the museum and makes it feel interactive. I really like how detailed this museum was from the entrance all the way to the exhibits. It really added that finishing touch to the museum and made it feel super interactive. I took a virtual tour of this museum and it still had so much detail. My personal favorite exhibit was the America by Air exhibit. I really liked learning about each plane and what they were used for. I chose to visit this museum because I wanted to learn more about how we used to travel back in the day, and how science and technology have evolved over time. The National Air and Space Museum was interactive, engaging, and told me so much about the history of air travel. I highly recommend paying a visit! read more

The new updates to the air and space museum are truly fantastic. The exhibits are laid out in a manner that are easy to navigate, and are fun and interactive. There's a lot to learn here from the early days of aviation to the future of space travel. When we arrived with our timed tickets, the line was huge. However, when they start letting those timed tickets enter, it moves very quickly so don't be stressed if the line is very long when you arrive! read more

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I wanted to come here after the museum re-opened but waited too late and all the timed tickets were gone. This past weekend we went anyways hoping to get lucky and we did! One of the entrance workers let my family in since we were "nice" to him when he told us that we needed tickets. I guess people were getting mad about that. Once inside you can definitely know that this place was remodeled and modernized. The exhibits like the space and universe was awesome and I enjoyed the Wright bros one too. All in all, lots of cool things to read and learn about it. There isn't as many planes especially military ones so don't expect that. You need to go to the other one in Dulles. read more

Wouldn't recommend this museum for families with kids because the interactive section was closed due to Covid-19. Exhibits were very informal and provided a lot of information. Construction is currently in progress at the museum. Due to construction, certain areas were closed read more

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What is not to love at a free museum? Plenty of exhibits to visit and learn great for all ages. I actually enjoyed the museum gift shop. Plenty of cute little souvenirs and trinkets to peruse. You have to have an online timed entry so make sure you register in advance! read more

A smaller collection of items, but each one is packed full of history. Probably the most famous piece inside is the Kitty Hawk plane from the Wright Brothers. The amazing piece of history is beautiful to look at, and to think it flew all those years ago is nothing short of a phenomenal achievement. read more

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If you are a fan of anything air and space, then this is the place for you! I must say, BRING COMFY SHOES because you will be walking a lot! If you are up to it, you could spend a whole day in this museum (we spent two!) Soo much to see, read, experience, and buy! I dreamt of visiting this place as a kid, so my dreams came true once I finally did! (Precovid) 110% recommended! read more

Smithsonian - The blue sign says "do not touch the visor" Because the oils on our skin slowly remove the thin layer of gold over time! - Museums Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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The museum is still under renovation but the new exhibits are cool & updated. Definitely feels like a new museum if you've visited in the past. Convenient to all metro lines & you can find some on street parking down 7th & 4th street (parking is free on Sundays). Going during the week is key to avoid lots of people. The 3 pm time had no one and I easily got tickets. About 1.5 hours is plenty of time if you want to look around. Everything is accessible but it is a bit dark in a few spots. read more

Smithsonian - Museums Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia