What the National Air and Space Museum is and where to find it

The National Air and Space Museum is a Smithsonian Institution museum in Washington, D.C. that displays aircraft, spacecraft, and related artifacts from the history of aviation and spaceflight. The museum is free to enter, though donations are accepted. It is located on the National Mall at Independence Avenue and 6th Street SW, and a second location called the Udvar-Hazy Center sits near Washington Dulles International Airport in Virginia.

The museum holds the actual spacecraft and aircraft that flew historic missions — not replicas. You will see the Apollo 11 command module Columbia, the Wright Flyer, the Space Shuttle Discovery, and thousands of other objects. The collections span from early hot-air balloons to modern satellites and rovers.

Key Takeaways

  • The main museum on the National Mall is free and open daily, though hours vary by season and the building sometimes closes for special events.
  • You do not need a ticket or reservation to enter the main building, but timed passes are required during peak summer months and holidays.
  • The Udvar-Hazy Center near Dulles Airport charges a separate admission fee and requires a timed pass year-round.
  • Plan to spend two to four hours at the main museum; the Udvar-Hazy Center is smaller and typically takes one to two hours.
  • Parking on the National Mall is limited and expensive; public transit or a taxi is usually faster and cheaper.

Hours, admission, and timed passes at the main museum

The main National Air and Space Museum on the National Mall is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., though hours may change seasonally or for special events. Admission is free. You do not need to buy a ticket or make a reservation in advance during most of the year.

During peak times — typically June through August and major holidays — the museum requires a free timed pass to enter. You can reserve a timed pass on the Smithsonian Institution website at si.edu. If you arrive without a pass during a peak period, the museum may be at capacity and you will not be allowed to enter. Check the website before you go to see whether timed passes are required on your visit date.

The museum is closed on December 25. It may also close for special events or maintenance; the Smithsonian website lists closures and schedule changes in advance.

What to bring and what to expect inside

The museum is indoors and climate-controlled. Comfortable walking shoes are important because the building is large and you will cover significant distance. The museum allows backpacks, but large bags may be subject to security screening. Food and beverages are not sold inside the main building, so bring water or plan to eat in the nearby cafeteria area or outside on the National Mall.

The museum has elevators and accessible routes throughout, and wheelchairs and strollers are available to borrow at no cost. Restrooms are located on each floor. The building can be crowded, especially in summer and on weekends, so arriving early in the day typically means shorter lines and easier movement through exhibits.

Photography is permitted in most galleries for personal use, though flash photography is not allowed. Some special exhibitions may have different rules; check signage as you enter each gallery.

The Udvar-Hazy Center and how it differs from the main museum

The Udvar-Hazy Center is a separate facility operated by the Smithsonian near Washington Dulles International Airport, about 30 miles west of the main museum. It focuses on large aircraft and spacecraft that are too big to fit in the main building, including the Space Shuttle Discovery's test vehicle Enterprise, the Enola Gay (the B-29 bomber that dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima), and the Concorde supersonic jet.

Admission to the Udvar-Hazy Center is not free. As of 2024, general admission is $15 per person, though prices may change. A timed pass is required year-round and must be reserved in advance on the Smithsonian website. The center is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., with the same closures as the main museum.

The Udvar-Hazy Center is smaller than the main museum and typically takes one to two hours to tour. It is less crowded than the main building and offers a different collection focused on large vehicles. If you are interested in seeing the Space Shuttle or the Concorde, this is the only location where they are displayed.

Getting to the museum by car, public transit, or taxi

The main museum sits on the National Mall, which has limited parking. Street parking fills quickly, and paid parking lots nearby charge $15 to $25 per day. If you drive, arrive early or use a parking app to find available spots.

Public transit is usually faster and cheaper. The Smithsonian Metro station (on the Orange and Silver lines) is a five-minute walk from the museum entrance. The station is located at Independence Avenue and 12th Street SW. A single Metro fare is $2.25 during off-peak hours and $3.85 during rush hours; a day pass costs $9.75.

Ride-sharing services like Uber and Lyft operate in Washington, D.C., and can drop you at the museum entrance. Costs vary based on demand and time of day, but expect $8 to $20 for a ride from downtown D.C. to the museum.

To reach the Udvar-Hazy Center, you will need a car or a taxi. Public transit does not serve the facility. Parking at the Udvar-Hazy Center is free.

What galleries and exhibits are on display

The main museum is organized into galleries by theme and historical period. The Destination Moon gallery covers the Apollo program and the 1969 moon landing. The Explore the Universe gallery displays telescopes and space exploration history. The Pioneers of Flight gallery shows early aircraft including the Wright Flyer. The America by Air gallery traces the history of commercial aviation.

Other permanent galleries cover military aviation, the Space Race, planetary exploration, and the history of spaceflight. The museum also hosts rotating special exhibitions that change throughout the year. Check the Smithsonian website for current special exhibitions and their dates.

Gallery layouts and exhibit contents change over time as the museum updates displays and rotates artifacts. The Smithsonian website provides a current floor plan and list of open galleries before your visit.

Planning your visit and what to do nearby

Plan to spend two to four hours at the main museum, depending on how much detail you want to see in each gallery. If you have limited time, prioritize the galleries that interest you most and use the floor plan on the Smithsonian website to plan your route.

The National Mall has many other free Smithsonian museums within walking distance, including the National Museum of American History, the National Museum of Natural History, and the National Gallery of Art. You can easily visit multiple museums in a single day if you plan your route carefully.

Restaurants and cafes are scattered around the National Mall, though options inside the museum building are limited. The area is also home to food trucks and outdoor seating where you can eat lunch while enjoying views of the monuments.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to buy tickets in advance?

No, admission to the main museum is free and you do not need to buy tickets. However, during peak times (summer and major holidays), you must reserve a free timed pass on the Smithsonian website. The Udvar-Hazy Center requires paid admission and a timed pass year-round.

Can I bring children and strollers?

Yes. Strollers are permitted throughout the museum, and the building is designed to accommodate families with young children. The museum has family restrooms and nursing areas. Strollers are also available to borrow at no cost if you did not bring one.

Is there parking at the museum?

Street parking on the National Mall is limited and fills quickly. Paid parking lots nearby charge $15 to $25 per day. Public transit via the Smithsonian Metro station is usually faster and cheaper. The Udvar-Hazy Center has free parking.

What if I cannot get a timed pass during peak season?

Timed passes are released on a rolling basis on the Smithsonian website. If passes are sold out for your preferred date, check back later — new passes are often released as cancellations occur. Visiting on a weekday or during the off-season (fall and winter) typically means passes are more readily available.

Can I see both the main museum and the Udvar-Hazy Center in one day?

It is possible but requires careful planning. The Udvar-Hazy Center is 30 miles from the main museum and requires a car or taxi to reach. You would need to spend two to three hours at the main museum, travel to the Udvar-Hazy Center (about one hour with traffic), and spend one to two hours there. Most visitors choose to visit one location per trip.