National Air and Space Museum
National Mall—sample rating
Ad Meskens, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
About National Air and Space Museum
The Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum holds the world's largest collection of historic aircraft and spacecraft, including the Wright Flyer, the Spirit of St. Louis, and Apollo lunar modules. The National Mall building has been undergoing a major renovation since 2018; as of mid-2025 eighteen new and reimagined galleries have reopened, including the Boeing Milestones of Flight Hall and the Lockheed Martin IMAX Theater, with the two final galleries, Modern Military Aviation and At Home in Space, slated to open in fall 2026. Visitors enter through a redesigned north entrance on Jefferson Drive, and free timed-entry passes remain required for all visitors due to high demand, available on the museum's website. A sister facility, the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center near Dulles Airport in Virginia, displays additional large aircraft and spacecraft, including the Space Shuttle Discovery, and is unaffected by the DC building's renovation.
Why visit
It's the world's premier aviation and spaceflight museum, now with newly renovated galleries and iconic artifacts like the Wright Flyer.
Best time to visit
Reserve free timed-entry passes online in advance; check current gallery status since renovation is ongoing through 2026.
Recommended duration
Allow about 2 hours (120 minutes).
Opening hours
- Every day
- 10:00-17:30
Free timed-entry passes required due to ongoing renovation and high demand; two galleries (Modern Military Aviation, At Home in Space) closed until fall 2026; closed December 25.
Information may change — verify details before visiting.
Location
655 Jefferson Dr SW, Washington, DC 20560
Load Google Maps content — this may set cookies.
Nearby attractions
National Mall
A vast open-air national park stretching between the Capitol and the Lincoln Memorial, lined with iconic monuments and Smithsonian museums.
Washington Monument
A 555-foot marble obelisk honoring George Washington, offering sweeping views of DC from its observation level.
Thomas Jefferson Memorial
A domed neoclassical monument on the Tidal Basin honoring Thomas Jefferson, surrounded by famous cherry blossom trees.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial
A granite memorial on the Tidal Basin featuring a colossal carved likeness of Dr. King emerging from a 'Stone of Hope.'
Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial
A sprawling outdoor memorial along the Tidal Basin divided into four outdoor 'rooms' representing FDR's four terms in office.
Vietnam Veterans Memorial
A stark black granite wall inscribed with the names of more than 58,000 U.S. service members who died or went missing in the Vietnam War.
Nearby restaurants
Zaytinya
Mediterranean · $$$ · Downtown / Penn Quarter
Ben's Chili Bowl
American / Comfort Food · $ · U Street
Mi Vida
Mexican · $$ · Navy Yard / Waterfront
Ambar Capitol Hill
Balkan · $$ · Capitol Hill
Centrolina
Italian · $$$ · Downtown / Penn Quarter
Maketto
Cambodian / Taiwanese · $$ · Capitol Hill
Flights to New York
Live round-trip fares from Travelpayouts partners.
Partner links — our site's partners are Expedia, GetYourGuide, Go City, Big Bus Tours, Hotellook, Kiwitaxi and Localrent; we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Stay near National Mall
Browse stays in New York by budget and style — prices and availability open on our booking partner's site.
Partner links — we're partnered with Expedia and Hotellook; we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.