National Air and Space Museum

National Air and Space Museum

National Air and Space Museum
4.5
10:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 5:30 PM
About
Free time-entry passes are required. Please see the Museum's website for information. The Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum maintains the largest collection of historic air and spacecraft in the world
Duration: 2-3 hours
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The area
Address
Neighbourhood: Cleveland Park
How to get there
  • L'Enfant Plaza • 4 min walk
  • Federal Center SW • 7 min walk
Reach out directly
See what travellers are saying
  • Freedom37641188431
    Long Beach, California20 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Loved the Wright Bros. exhibit!
    Timed entry - must sign up a month in advance. I suggest 10 am and get in line by 9:30. Half the museum is under construction right now. It only took us 45 minutes to go through, though most people will want to spend an hour or two.
    Visited September 2023
    Written 4 October 2023
  • Steph S
    Bristol, United Kingdom94 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Great but honestly a little disappointed
    I was really looking forward to visiting this museum, I’d heard a lot of good things about the Smithsonian museums. My dad is also really into aviation so we had high expectations, unfortunately these fell a little short. Firstly, sadly when we visited a part of the museum was closed off as it appears there is to be an expansion. We reserved a timed entry pass which you need to do, but I still felt as though they allowed too many people in as trying to view the exhibits was pandemonium at times. There are a few cool interactive exhibits and it’s still a great museum in all, I just felt personally it didn’t live up to the hype.
    Visited September 2023
    Travelled with family
    Written 9 October 2023
  • bag1234
    Atlanta, Georgia37 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Enjoyable for 9 Year Old
    My 9 year old grandson loved the Air and Space Museum. We had to get timed entry passes in advance and were NOT able to enter early. (FYI) There is a huge LEGO Astronaut on display in the Gift Shop that was fun to see.
    Visited October 2023
    Written 20 October 2023
  • Rob M
    Cheyenne, Wyoming8,949 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Pretty cool.
    Another stop you can spend all day. There are tons of things to see above and below. We had to get our tickets online, but they're free, and we did it the same day... Probably to spread out the crowds. There are plenty of food trucks up and down the street if you get hungry with all the walking you'll do inside or out.
    Visited October 2023
    Travelled with family
    Written 21 October 2023
  • Holly K
    Celebration, Florida755 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Look Around, Up, Down.. Don’t Miss a thing!
    We made a reservation in advance and had an 11:00 reservation for a Saturday. Also made a parking reservation for $19 only two blocks away, perfectly located. The only thing I would mention, eat before hand and bring snacks, we had a snack at the cafe and it coast more than Walt Disney World! $4.25 for a small weak cup of iced tea, it really was horrible, my mom had a bottle of fruit punch that she could not drink, more grams of sugar that two snickers bars, come on. The foods choices were awful, not good for you and of course our mistake for taking an 80+ year old and not bringing snacks. The exhibits were wonderful, when you walk in you see the Star Trek enterprise. Move on the Orville and Wilbur Wright. There were sights to be seen regarding first woman flights, first black man in space, kids getting involved, then they move on to speed, planets and beyond ;) There are also two movies playing throughput the day. Go, enjoy and bring snacks ;)
    Visited October 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 21 October 2023
  • Phillip D
    Burton Latimer, United Kingdom275 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Good, but needs to be fully reopened to be back at it's best.
    Second visit here this time with my son. (Last time as 2007). He loved it I was a little disappointed. With the building work going on alot is presently closed. It'll be amazing when it's fully reopened. Interactive exhibitions were good particularly liked the space section.
    Visited October 2023
    Travelled with family
    Written 29 October 2023
  • Chuck and Di
    13 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Smithsonian Air and Space Museum
    There is so much to see at the Air and Space Museum! Kids will especially love all of the planes and other displays. Be sure to get a map of the museum so that you will not miss any of the exhibits. There is also a cafe area where you can buy pre-packaged sandwiches, drinks and other snack foods - a little pricey but was a welcomed opportunity to eat and sit for a few minutes. We went on a weekend, and it was crowded with families, so going on a weekday would be recommended. As with so many of the DC museums, passes are FREE but are timed and should be reserved in advance - go online to select the time of your visit. Plenty of restrooms, elevators, escalators. Entry lines were long but moved quickly.
    Visited November 2023
    Travelled with family
    Written 8 November 2023
  • Wayne
    Tokoroa, New Zealand462 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    A massive museum to visit
    We arrived to visit and saw a huge queue out the front, which moved very fast once the door opened. There was so much space inside so you were not tripping over people. So many highlights here to see and I took plenty of photos. You have to reserve free tickets online. We arrived at 10am, waited for the queue to enter then went online and got tickets straight away. 2-3hrs minimum needed here
    Visited November 2023
    Travelled with family
    Written 12 November 2023
  • madeleine
    London, United Kingdom32 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Fantastic place, can’t believe it’s free!
    Loved it here, a great place to visit and it’s free! We spent about 2 hours there and had to queue up for our time slot (11am) but was in there by 11.10. The website wasn’t clear that parts of the museum were closed for maintenance but when you aren’t paying for tickets you can’t complain. Really enjoyed our trip here.
    Visited November 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 26 November 2023
  • Seamus
    Oakville, Canada1,660 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Great on This Rainy Day
    I’m Canadian, and have looked forward to visiting this venue for years. At last, the missus and I sojourned in DC this weekend and had to do the major sites. This museum (among several Smithsonians in central DC, all within walking distance) was top of the list. A fantastic history of flight and space exploration, it offered much to touch of the the stuff we’ve all seen in books and on TV. Too much to describe, it even will send Trekkers and Star Wars fans over the moon. Highlights for me were the Wright Brothers exhibit, the origins of flight exhibit, the Apollo 11 command module, the Freedom 7 and Mercury capsules, and the display of Mars rovers. A major disappointment, however, was the absence of the iconic Spirit of St Louis, the one plane I wanted to see. Now, I know the museum has another location in Virginia for the bigger stuff, but currently a large part of this location is closed for “renovation” where I suspect Lindbergh’s display is. Still, I remain amazed that all of these Smithsonian museums are free. Just check to see if you have to book online, like here.
    Visited December 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 10 December 2023
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

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Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles23,633 reviews
Excellent
16,044
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5,408
Average
1,782
Poor
313
Terrible
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misshedder
Sunbury, PA79 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020 • Family
Right now, a majority of the museum is under a much needed remodel. Exhibits haven't changed much since I was a kid and I'm 48, so yes, they need to update. You can still visit during this time, just keep in mind that you won't be here long since there isn't as much to see. We were done in 2 hours. They added some flight simulators and VR things that you pay extra for, and the kids had to do them. None came off saying it was awesome.
There is a cafeteria where you grab pre-made sandwiches and salads from refrigerators, but be warned, the prices are ridiculous. I spent $32 for 2 hot dogs, a single serving of chips, a roasted veggie and hummus sandwich (with no visible hummus) and 1 bottle of water. My cousin spent around 50 for a ham sandwich, 3 boxes of combos of crackers, cheese and veggies and a drink. We should have gone to the museum of the American Indian for lunch instead - I was told their food is really good and I can't imagine it would be much more than we paid for the food we got at air and space. The museum of the American Indian had lots of great exhibits, so head over there after Air and Space. Both are free.
Written 6 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

jayrovi22
2 contributions
2.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020
I have been here before when i was younger and remember enjoying it. this year i wish my wife and i would have skipped it. once you enter you realize that half the museum is closed off and that leaves you a kids area and a basic rocket/satellite exhibit. they have an imax theatre available if you want to pay as well as dave and buster style flight simulators. really came here to see some planes and other stuff but we were extremely disappointed in what they had to offer. walked through the whole museum and ate lunch within 30 min and went to the natural history museum which was awesome and what we expect from a Smithsonian museum. if you have time and kids you might would consider it, if not skip it. You aren't missing anything special in my opinion.
Written 15 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Colin B
Eton Wick, UK11 contributions
2.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2019
In Washington DC for the Christmas holiday period and went to most of the museums, unfortunately the air and space museum is a bit of a let down as large parts of it are closed for refurbishment not sure when fully open. However the queues are extensive for security searches. (tip if you can survive without a bag/rucksack you can move to the front of the queue). Kids are going to love it as there are simulators to try (at a cost)
but all in all not up to much.
Written 15 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

dave c
Silver Spring, MD25 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2020 • Family
A ton of covis restrictions in pace right now but the pre ticketing process makes getting in and enjoying the museum easier. So much for everyone to enjoy. When restrictions are removed be sure to check out the Imax and flight simulation.
Written 4 September 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Carlos Salim
12 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2019
An aviation extraordinaire! There were so many different things that you could do in this museum from going inside a real NASA spacecraft to eating astronaut ice cream. This was truly an experience that I will never forget. It was also very crowded so try to get in as early as possible.
Written 10 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Andrew N
Hendersonville, NC175 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2022 • Family
Although some of the museum was closed due to renovations there was still a lot to see. The planterium was cool. There was a variety of planes, some of which you could go in. They had Neil Armstrong's space suit, a Mars Rover and an X Wing from Star Wars. Timed entry tickets were required and the line to get in for those who ordered tickets in advance starts behind the cone on the ramp to the left of the main entrance door, not at the door. There is no signage to indicate this. We were lined up at the front door until an employee came by to tell us we needed to be in the other line. Our tickets were for 10:00 and by the time they opened the doors people were lined up down the block & around the building.
Written 31 December 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

UKM12
Llanfaethlu, UK153 contributions
2.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020 • Couples
Give it a miss whilst the renovations are ongoing! Only a few exhibits open. Toilets were in an absolute disgusting state. The café was awful. Poor traffic concept, poor selection and very expensive ($60 for two!!!). Eat elsewhere and best give the whole museum a miss until they finish renovations (good exhibits when fully open). WiFi available.
Written 21 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

karis777
Chattanooga, TN10 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2019
They are renovating one half of the museum so one entrance is closed. That left only one entrance for everyone to get in. We got there right at 10:00 and still had to wait an hour, in the rain, to get in. So, get there extra early to avoid waiting in a super long line. Also, we have no idea if we missed any of the exhibits due to the renovation. There was still a ton to see so maybe they moved it all to the open side. One of the staff told my husband that it was going to be about a 4 year project- work on one half then work on the other, so expect one entrance to be closed for a long time.
Written 6 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

sayles033
Misawa, Japan140 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2019
Although undergoing refurbishment the museum offers quite a varied degree of exhibits. We lucked out and joined a NASA engineer discussing inter-planetary research so that was an added bonus. I highly recommend this venue for anyone with an interest in any aspect of aviation.
Written 12 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Subroto M
21 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020
The most wonderful thing about the National Air and Space Museum is that it has ever changing displays. This time they had displays of the life of Orville and Wilbur Wright.

The Wright brothers were the pioneers of aviation and they looked like normal people that wore suit and ties. They embodied the spirit of America in the best sense of the word. They were independent, brash, with scientific minds and far reaching goals in aviation, engineering and photography. You get to see them and their inventions in fantastic detail. My friend from Sri Lanka was absolutely delighted to see this.

Other exhibits that delighted me and my friend was the display of the Sputnik (the first satellite to be sent to outer space). You get to see the actual size and shape of it. I was hoping it would say CCCP on it but it did not.

But the exhibit that delights everyone is of course walking through Skylab. You get to see up close the stuff that astronauts did and it is rather remarkable. There are other exhibits but these are only some of the things that completely make it worth your while.

For me touching the moon rock was not very interesting but you can see children and others being absolutely delighted to do this.

Please do take the time to go and enjoy yourselves. Yes they do search you so come only wearing a smartphone and regular clothing. Anything else will just delay you and others.
Written 28 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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