Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum (National Mall)

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Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum (National Mall)

Photo: Arjun Sarup · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

🎨 Museum · Washington

2.5 hours · Free · Reservation required

age fit
0–1 yr
★ 2.0
1–3 yrs
★ 4.0
3–5 yrs
★ 4.0
5–10 yrs
★ 5.0
  • 🚗
    About 35 min drive
    From Rockville · Parking: Easiest by Metro to L'Enfant Plaza and a 5-minute walk; street parking is free on weekends but almost impossible to find
  • 🍼
    Stroller-friendly
    Flat surfaces — bring the stroller
  • 🌳
    Lots of shade
    Rain-OK · Fine on cold days · Handles heat
  • ⏱️
    Typical visit: 2.5 hours
    Best seasons: Winter · Spring · Summer · Fall

The Wright brothers' flyer and the Spirit of St. Louis hang overhead, the Apollo lunar module and a walk-through Skylab sit on the floor, and the renovated galleries are brighter and easier to tour; big kids go deep on space, and little ones just love looking up at planes and touching the moon rock.

💡 Tips
Free timed passes must be reserved on the website ahead, and popular days run out days in advance. The renovation is opening in phases, so check which galleries are open before you go. IMAX and the planetarium cost extra. When everyone's tired, sit down at the Botanic Garden next door.

What this place offers

✓free
✓airplanes
✓rockets
✓space capsules
✓planetarium
✓indoor
✓restrooms
✓free timed passes

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This weekend's weather in Washington

Forecast at the destination itself (coast and hills often differ from home)

☁️
Sat 10/17
Overcast · 47–61°F · 53% rain
☀️
Sun 10/18
Sunny · 44–62°F · 4% rain

Location

Washington, Washington, DC

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