Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History

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Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History

Photo: Unknown authorUnknown author · CC0 · Wikimedia Commons

🎨 Museum · Washington

3 hours · Free · No reservation needed

age fit
0–1 yr
★ 3.0
1–3 yrs
★ 4.0
3–5 yrs
★ 5.0
5–10 yrs
★ 5.0
  • 🚗
    About 35 min drive
    From Rockville · Parking: Street parking around the Mall is free on weekends but nearly impossible; Metro to Smithsonian or Federal Triangle and a 5-minute walk
  • 🍼
    Stroller-friendly
    Flat surfaces — bring the stroller
  • 🌳
    Lots of shade
    Rain-OK · Fine on cold days · Handles heat
  • ⏱️
    Typical visit: 3 hours
    Best seasons: Winter · Spring · Summer · Fall

Free, no reservations, and the most-visited natural history museum in the world: the African elephant in the entrance hall, the T. rex in the Deep Time dinosaur hall, and the giant whale on the ocean hall ceiling keep a 2-year-old staring upward for ages; the Q?rius lab and the butterfly pavilion ($, free on Tuesdays) are for bigger kids.

💡 Tips
Walk in at the 10am weekend opening; after noon it's a sea of people. With a stroller, use the ramp at the Constitution Ave entrance. One or two halls is enough; don't try to see it all at once. The cafe is pricey, and there are food trucks on the Mall.

What this place offers

✓free
✓dinosaurs
✓elephant
✓butterfly pavilion
✓ocean hall
✓indoor
✓restrooms
✓air conditioning

Featured in these guides

This weekend's weather in Washington

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

🌦️
Sat 10/17
Showers · 49–61°F · 56% rain
☀️
Sun 10/18
Sunny · 45–63°F · 4% rain

Location

Washington, Washington, DC

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