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District of Columbia (DC)
Washington DC
Things to do in Washington DC
National Air and Space Museum

National Air and Space Museum, Washington DC: Hours, Address, National Air and Space Museum Reviews: 4.5/5

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National Air and Space Museum

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See all things to do
National Air and Space Museum
4.5
23,325
#4 of 491 things to do in Washington DC
Speciality Museums
Monday
10:00 - 17:30
Thursday
10:00 - 17:30
Friday
10:00 - 17:30
Saturday
10:00 - 17:30
Sunday
10:00 - 17:30
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About
Note to visitors: Starting Oct 7, 2019, please enter through the Jefferson Drive entrance (National Mall side). The Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum maintains the largest collection of historic air and spacecraft in the world.
Suggested duration
2-3 hours
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The area
Address
Neighbourhood: Upper Northwest
How to get there
  • L'Enfant Plaza • 4 min walk
  • Federal Center SW • 7 min walk
Best nearby
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Attractions
590 within 10 kms
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22
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6
84 mMonuments & Statues
National Mall
8,283
0.3 kmHistoric Walking Areas • Parks
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9,210
0.4 kmArt Museums
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2,365
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Popular mentions
4.5
23,325 reviews
Excellent
15,924
Very good
5,318
Average
1,711
Poor
297
Terrible
76
Jacob G
Cherry Hills Village, CO122 contributions
Small, but has unique exhibits
Oct 2021
The museum is rather compact, though signs say they are working on expansions. They have a few good reconstructions, though.
Written 23 October 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Carenjames C
Cumming, GA94 contributions
Good but not great.
Oct 2021 • Couples
I haven’t been to the air and space Museum in 35 years. It was interesting and I enjoyed it. However, I was disappointed that several exhibits were not available. One of my favorite things was watching the take off of discovery on it’s final mission.
Written 14 October 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Jerry B
Boca Raton, Florida, United States69 contributions
Amazing museum
Oct 2021 • Couples
Very interesting museum, saw all aspects of flight, probably best to go during the week as weekends are busier, must see when in Washington DC
Written 3 October 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
MrGaucho1987
Santa Barbara, CA876 contributions
See it YES! But Demand Better...It's Feeling A Touch Dated
Sep 2021
Yes, of course, you'll see it. It is filled with information and many of America's greatest flight-related artifacts. It is crowded most of the time. And there is plenty of walking, so be prepared. Stay hydrated on hot days. And it is a fair criticism that the displays have not changed much in 30 years. The place could use a refresh. It's feeling worn.
Written 1 October 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
HSPBER789
United States20 contributions
Great Museum!
Dec 2020
So much History at this museum. My daughter loveed it!! I still think Emilia Earhart is sipping Pina coladas in the Bermuda triangle.
Written 26 September 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
mjpk25
Parkersburg, WV437 contributions
disappointing
Sep 2021 • Couples
what a disappointment the air and space museum was!…I visited about 40 years ago- looks like nothing has changed…some of the exhibits looked like an 8th grade science project…5 exhibits were closed…America has so much to offer in the fields of air and space, this could be so much more engaging- nothing that honored our fallen astronauts…in a nutshell, it’s tired, antiquated and boring…we had such high hopes but man, was it disappointing!
Written 26 September 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Staehlin
Saint Paul, MN169 contributions
Needs a complete re-structuring
Sep 2021
I've been to the National Air and Space Museum a dozen times in as many years - the first time was nearly thirty years ago. It is in desperate need of 1. curators who know how to design an exhibit (many of the exhibits, such as the Wright brothers and early flight room, do not flow in any logical order and the captions are horribly dated). 2. An effort to make flight, widely defined, capture the imagination of younger generations. Now the museum has a very tired, worn out, feel - yes, I know that they are refurbishing it, though I'm not optimistic about what the end result will be. At one point this was an exciting museum that captured the optimism of the county (and also was a must-see place for young people fascinated by air travel and space travel). Now it captures more perfectly the worn-out atmosphere of a country in decline. Unfortunatly. Here's to a total makeover.
Written 25 September 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Olivia A
1 contribution
Very interesting
Oct 2020
This was a very interesting place to see, there were so many exhibits that talked about different things. There even were some activities that they let you do. I learned a lot about how space works and on what is in the solar system and on what it takes to be an astronaut. My whole family really enjoyed it especially my dad. I would love to come here again
Written 8 September 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
TRivers142
Boston, Massachusetts203 contributions
For the air & space adult geek
Sep 2021
Open to all and easy to get to. Better for adults with some knowledge/ interest than for kids/ families. Many areas are closed and being renovated.
Written 7 September 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
KevinTheCap
San Francisco, CA7 contributions
Mostly Closed
Aug 2021
Couldn't see the Wright Brothers – or anything – on the second floor, as it's closed, and they didn't mention that. Nor that the movie wasn't available. A good 1/2 of the museum was down.

Hadn't been in 24 years, and was really looking forward to it.
Written 4 September 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
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Frequently Asked Questions about National Air and Space Museum
National Air and Space Museum is open:
  • Thu - Mon 10:00 - 17:30
Buy tickets in advance on Tripadvisor. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel at least 24 hours before the start date of your tour for a full refund.
We recommend booking National Air and Space Museum tours ahead of time to secure your spot. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel up to 24 hours before your tour starts for a full refund. See all 31 National Air and Space Museum tours on Tripadvisor