The National Air and Space Museum is a free Smithsonian museum in Washington, D.C. with two locations: the main building on the National Mall and the Udvar-Hazy Center near Dulles Airport in Virginia.

Both locations are open to the public at no cost. The main museum holds the largest collection of historic aircraft and spacecraft in the world, including the Wright Flyer, the Apollo 11 command module, and the Space Shuttle Discovery. The Udvar-Hazy Center, which opened in 2003, displays large aircraft that cannot fit in the main building, such as the Space Shuttle Endeavour and the Enola Gay (the B-29 that dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima).

The museum is run by the Smithsonian Institution, a federal agency. Admission is free because the Smithsonian is funded by Congress and private donations, not by ticket sales. You do not need to reserve in advance to enter, though the museum does sometimes reach capacity during peak hours and may temporarily close its doors.

Key Takeaways

  • Both the main National Air and Space Museum on the National Mall and the Udvar-Hazy Center near Dulles Airport are free to enter.
  • The main building is open 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily, and the Udvar-Hazy Center is open 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily except Christmas.
  • You can arrive without a reservation, but the museum may close temporarily if it reaches capacity, especially on weekends and holidays.
  • Parking is free at the Udvar-Hazy Center but costs money at most National Mall garages; public transit (Metro) is the cheapest way to reach the main building.
  • The museum has restaurants, cafés, and a gift shop, but outside food and drink are also permitted in designated areas.

Hours, Location, and How to Get There

The main National Air and Space Museum is located at 600 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, D.C. 20560, on the National Mall between 4th and 7th Streets. It is open 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. every day of the year except Christmas. The building is accessible by the Metro (the Washington, D.C. subway system) via the L'Enfant Plaza station on the Blue, Orange, Silver, or Green lines.

The Udvar-Hazy Center is located at 14390 Air and Space Museum Parkway, Chantilly, Virginia 20151, about 30 miles west of downtown Washington near Washington Dulles International Airport. It is also open 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily except Christmas. Parking is free at this location. There is no direct Metro service; you will need a car, taxi, or rideshare service to reach it.

During busy periods—typically weekends, school holidays, and summer months—the museum may reach capacity and temporarily close its doors to new visitors. The museum's website shows real-time occupancy levels. If you arrive and find the museum at capacity, you can check back later the same day or visit on a weekday morning, when crowds are usually lighter.

What You Can See at Each Location

The main museum on the National Mall has 23 galleries spread across two floors. The first floor holds exhibits on the Wright brothers, early aviation, and the history of flight. The second floor focuses on space exploration, including the Apollo program, the Space Shuttle, and planetary exploration. Highlights include the Wright Flyer (1903), the Spirit of St. Louis (Lindbergh's plane), the Apollo 11 command module, and a lunar sample you can touch.

The Udvar-Hazy Center is a single large hangar with two levels. It displays large aircraft and spacecraft that are too big for the main building. The Space Shuttle Endeavour is mounted on the main floor, and the Enola Gay is also on display. The center also holds the Concorde (the supersonic passenger jet), the SR-71 Blackbird (a Cold War reconnaissance plane), and many other military and civilian aircraft from the 20th century.

Both locations have planetarium shows and IMAX films, though these require separate tickets (not free). The main museum also has interactive exhibits where you can sit in a flight simulator or learn how aircraft are designed. The Udvar-Hazy Center has fewer interactive elements but allows you to walk around and view aircraft from multiple angles.

Admission, Parking, and Facilities

Admission to both the main museum and the Udvar-Hazy Center is free. You do not need to buy a ticket or make a reservation to walk through the galleries and view the aircraft and spacecraft. Planetarium shows and IMAX films cost extra; prices vary by show and are listed on the museum's website.

Parking at the main museum on the National Mall is limited and costs money at nearby commercial garages (prices range from $15 to $25 per day depending on the garage). The cheapest option is to take the Metro. Parking at the Udvar-Hazy Center is free and plentiful.

Both locations have cafés and restaurants. The main museum has a large food court on the ground floor with options ranging from sandwiches to pizza. The Udvar-Hazy Center has a smaller café. Outside food and drink are permitted in designated picnic areas at both locations. The museums also have gift shops selling books, models, and Smithsonian merchandise.

What to Bring and What Is Not Allowed

You can bring a backpack, camera, or small bag into the museum. Large luggage, suitcases, and bags larger than 22 inches by 14 inches by 9 inches are not permitted. Weapons of any kind—including firearms, knives, and explosives—are prohibited. Pets are not allowed, except service animals (dogs trained to perform tasks for people with disabilities).

Photography and video recording are permitted for personal use in most galleries. Some special exhibits may restrict photography; signs will indicate this. You cannot use flash photography or tripods. Drones are not permitted anywhere on the museum grounds.

The museums are non-smoking facilities. Smoking is not permitted indoors or in outdoor courtyards. Alcohol is not permitted in the galleries, though it may be available for purchase in the restaurant areas.

Accessibility and Services for Visitors with Disabilities

Both the main museum and the Udvar-Hazy Center are fully accessible to people using wheelchairs. Elevators, ramps, and accessible restrooms are available at both locations. Wheelchairs and motorized scooters can be rented at the information desk in the main museum (fees explore; prices are listed at the desk). The Udvar-Hazy Center does not rent mobility devices, but the hangar is large and flat, making it easier to navigate on foot.

Service animals are permitted throughout both museums. Visitors who are deaf or hard of hearing can request a sign language interpreter or real-time captioning for planetarium shows and films by contacting the museum in advance. Visitors who are blind or have low vision can request audio descriptions of exhibits.

Both locations have family restrooms (single-occupancy, accessible restrooms) in addition to standard accessible restrooms. Nursing mothers can use these rooms or designated family areas to feed infants.

Planning Your Visit

The main museum is large and can take several hours to explore fully. Most visitors spend 2 to 4 hours there, depending on how much time they spend reading labels and watching videos. If you have limited time, focus on one or two galleries rather than trying to see everything. The museum's website has a map and suggested routes for different time frames.

The Udvar-Hazy Center is smaller and can be seen in 1 to 2 hours. Because it is a single hangar, you can move through it at your own pace and spend as much or as little time as you want on each aircraft.

Both museums are busiest on weekends, federal holidays, and during school breaks (spring break in March, summer vacation from June to August, and winter break in December). Weekday mornings, especially Tuesday through Thursday, are the quietest times. If you want to avoid crowds, plan your visit accordingly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to buy tickets in advance?

No. Admission to the galleries is free and does not require a reservation or advance ticket purchase. You can walk in during operating hours. However, planetarium shows and IMAX films do require separate tickets, which you can purchase at the museum or online in advance.

Can I bring my own food and drinks?

Yes. Outside food and drinks are permitted in designated picnic areas at both locations. You cannot eat or drink in the galleries themselves. Both museums also have cafés and restaurants if you prefer to purchase food there.

How long does it take to see everything?

The main museum is large; most visitors spend 2 to 4 hours there. The Udvar-Hazy Center is smaller and can be seen in 1 to 2 hours. You do not have to see everything in one visit—you can focus on the exhibits that interest you most.

Is there a gift shop?

Yes. Both the main museum and the Udvar-Hazy Center have gift shops selling books, aircraft models, space-themed merchandise, and Smithsonian items. The main museum's gift shop is larger and has more variety.

What is the best way to get to the main museum from Union Station?

Take the Metro (Blue, Orange, Silver, or Green line) from Union Station to L'Enfant Plaza, then follow signs to the National Air and Space Museum. The walk from the station to the museum entrance is about 5 to 10 minutes. This is faster and cheaper than taking a taxi or rideshare.