Smithsonian Air & Space Museum: Tickets and Tours

The Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington D.C. is a treasure trove of aviation and space artifacts.

Whether you’re interested in the history of flying, extra-terrestrials, moon rocks or want to check out a model of the starship Enterprise from Star Trek, the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum has all of this and so much more.

A Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum tour is a must-do experience. This museum is crammed with amazing, inspiring artifacts that are testament to humankind’s dedication to conquering air travel and the exploration of space. Make a day of it and check out all the wonders the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum has to offer.

Up next, you can find out more about the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, one of the most exciting museums in Washington D.C.

How much do Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum tickets cost?

Tickets to the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum are free, but you do need to book the free timed entry passes on the website. Log onto the website and reserve your tickets, including the time you will enter the museum. All visitors will need a pass to enter the Museum.

If you’d like a more formal tour experience, there are three main tour options. All tours are done in English.

What are the prices of Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum Tours?

A self-guided app tour of the Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum costs US$9 a download. You will receive a downloadable English multimedia audio tour, recommendations on further activities, step-by-step navigation through the museum, audio narration, and written text explanations

A semi-private tour costs US$110 per adult and youth aged between 10 and 17 will pay US$90 per person, while children 9 and younger are charged US$80.

An exclusive private guided tour of the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum will cost around $270 per adult, youth aged between 10 and 17 will pay $90 and children up to age 9 will pay $80 each.

Is it worth booking tickets in advance?

You should book your entry tickets in advance to ensure that you can visit. Some same day passes are released online at 8:30 AM, via the museum website, but these passes are snapped up very quickly, so it’s always advised to book your ticket a few days ahead of visiting.

The museum also releases a limited amount of additional same-day passes on Fridays through to Mondays at 12:30 PM for the afternoon time slots.

What are the most popular Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum tours?

Self-guided audio tour of the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum

Add some extra depth to your experience with a self-guided audio tour of the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. Learn at your own pace with step-by-step navigation that will talk you through the museum halls so you won’t miss a thing.

Once you’ve booked the tour, you’ll get an email and SMS with the direct link for the app and audio-guide. Don’t forget your earphones and make sure your device is fully charged.

Semi-private tour of the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum

Join in on a 2-hour-long semi-private tour of the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum. A guide will walk you through the museum’s exhibits while sharing interesting commentary and facts.

A semi-private tour still allows for a rather intimate experience as tours offer a maximum of 8 guests per guide.

Exclusive guided tour of the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum

Get the inside scoop with a 2.5-hour exclusive guided tour of the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. Your guide will walk you through some amazing air and spacecraft exhibits. Enjoy hearing historical stories, learning more about the famous must-see items, the space race and so much more.

This tour can be customized to focus on any particular exhibits or interests – let your guide know in advance so they can prepare accordingly. A minimum of two and a maximum of 8 participants can be booked for this experience.

Are there any combined tickets or tours including the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum and other attractions?

Make it a learning day and visit two of the most popular museums in Washington D.C., the Museum of Natural History and the National Air and Space Museum.

• Smithsonian Natural History and Air & Space Museum: Enjoy an exclusive guided tour through both the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History and the National Air and Space Museum. Learn with expert guides who will help you navigate the museums. Enjoy this 5.5-hour-long experience to both museums with transportation between each location if needed.

What will you see inside the museum?

The Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum is home to one of the world’s largest collections of aviation and space artifacts. There are so many fascinating exhibits to explore, but these are some of the highlights you can see.

Check out the Wright Flyer, the first successful powered airplane that was created by the brothers Wilbur and Orville Wright in 1903. The brothers are considered the fathers of aviation because of their significant contributions to the development of airplanes.

Imagine being an astronaut as you check out Neil Armstrong’s spacesuit. Armstrong wore this spacesuit when he was the Commander of the Apollo 11 mission. This mission landed the first man on the Moon on July 20, 1969. NASA gave the spacesuit to the National Air and Space Museum in 1971.

Embrace the marvels of technology as you check out the very impressive Mars Science Laboratory rover, Curiosity. It took nearly a year of traveling from Earth for this Mars rover to successfully land on Mars on August 6, 2012. Curiosity’s multi-year mission was to explore the Gale Crater and to climb Mt. Sharp in its center.

Fans of the TV show Star Trek will love the chance to see a model of the starship Enterprise which was used in the show. The model's main designer, Walter Jefferies, created several different ideas for the Enterprise's design as per the requirements of Star Trek's creator Gene Roddenberry. The plans for one of his models were enlarged and this is what is on display

Where is the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum located?

The Smithsonian Air and Space Museum is in Washington D.C. between the Capitol Building and the Smithsonian Castle. The entrance to the museum is on Independence Ave.

If driving, limited metered street parking is available, and guests are advised to park in a paid parking lot.

The museum is very centrally located and it’s close to the Metrorail stops. If you opt to travel by rail, you should get off at the Metrorail stop L'Enfant Plaza, the closest stop to the museum.

What are the opening hours?

The Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington D.C. is open every day from 10 AM to 5:30 PM. You can book free-timed entry tickets hourly starting from 10 AM until 4 PM. The museum is only closed on Christmas Day.

Is it wheelchair friendly?

The Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum is a wheelchair friendly space. Visitors can bring a mobility device if necessary. There are also limited standard and bariatric wheelchairs available to borrow while visiting the museum. These are provided on a first-come, first-served basis.

When is the best time to visit the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum?

The best time to visit the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum is spring (April and May) or fall (September and October) when the weather is mild and crowds are more manageable than the peak tourist season in summer.

Which other museums can be visited in Washington D.C.?

• National Archives Museum
• National Museum of African American History
• National Gallery of Art
• ArtecHouse
• Smithsonian American Art Museum

Travel tips

• The museum sometimes undergoes renovations which might restrict access to certain exhibits. If you have specific exhibits in mind that you want to see, check ahead to ensure they'll be available during your visit.
• Check the museum's official website for current exhibitions and any special events ahead of your visit.
• Wear comfortable shoes as the museum is large, and there's a lot to see. Expect to be on your feet for several hours.