Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum: a practical guide after the renovation

More Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum guides

• The museum in 2 hoursA 2-hour route through the Air and Space Museum in Washington: Wright Flyer, Apollo 11 Columbia, Spirit of St. Louis and more, with timings and tips.
• Free passes and hoursAir and Space Museum in Washington free entry: how to get timed-entry passes, hours 10am to 5:30pm, best time to avoid crowds and what costs money.
• Must-see piecesThe 10 must-see pieces at the Air and Space Museum: Wright Flyer, Columbia, Spirit of St. Louis, X-15, P-51 and more, with the gallery for each.
• With kidsHow to visit the Air and Space Museum in Washington with kids: a 75-minute route, interactive galleries, timed passes, food and the best time to go.

A renovated museum

The National Mall building is one of the most visited air and space museums in the world, and it has just completed a phased renovation that began in 2018 and has reimagined its galleries. It holds historic pieces such as the 1903 Wright Flyer, the Apollo 11 command module Columbia and Lindbergh's Spirit of St. Louis. According to the official site, 18 new or reimagined galleries are open, and the last two, Modern Military Aviation and At Home in Space, open in fall 2026.

How to get your timed-entry pass

• Admission is free, but everyone, regardless of age, needs a free timed-entry pass.
• You can reserve up to 9 passes at once on the museum's official website. Check there for when new dates are released, as this can change.
• The pass sets your entry time but does not limit how long you can stay.
• Smithsonian members have their own pool of passes.
• All visitors enter through the Jefferson Drive doors.

Combining it with the rest of the National Mall

It is a few minutes from the Capitol, the National Gallery of Art and the National Museum of the American Indian. The Natural History Museum, by contrast, does not require timed passes. For bigger aircraft, the Udvar-Hazy Center near Dulles Airport, about 30 miles away, is a separate building with its own information. The AnyArt app lets you scan pieces and hear their story without renting an audio guide.