Steven F Udvar-Hazy Center Reviews

This is a wonderful way to spend a few hours if you enjoy air and space museums. Some iconic aircraft and lots to see and enjoy in a well designed museum. Pop upstairs to the observatory tower and see the incoming flights to Dulles! The staff are super friendly and helpful.

A fantastic aerospace museum with great variety and educational materials. Friendly docents, some online, answer questions. Entrance is free but parking is $15. There is an observatory tower which I did not have time to do because I had so much fun looking at all the different airplanes and spacecraft (there is even a space shuttle and Blackbird!). There are a few rides available for an extra fee, $10-$12: flight simulator and virtual reality. The flight simulator is pretty intense because it actually spins you upside down. Lines for the rides not too bad. Overall, not crowded. Totally worth a stop here. I’d be happy to come back again.

Have been here twice. Both trips were well worth it. Others have well covered the scope of the exhibits so I affirm those kudos. The logistics were great. Parking, building access, facilities, food and tons of walking are accessible to all. Everything was well organized and presented. The many beautiful aircraft accompanied numerous types of flight from the earliest days to the recent past. I urge you to tour this museum soon, especially the space section, as political leaders have set aside $85 million to relocate the space shuttle Discovery from its current home here to the NASA-run Johnson Space Center in Houston. This is a great outing for all but the youngest. Very family friendly.

Having been to the “other” Air and Space Museum in DC, we decided to also see this one when friends recommended it. Amazing! Because of the massive space inside, this hangar houses a space shuttle, a Concorde, a Blackbird, and the Enola Gay. There is so much to see here!

My wife and I have been to the Air and Space museum on the mall and thought we would check out this location. All I can say is WOW. The amount and variety of the displays, the docents and the movies were great! And it’s FREE!

This place never disappoints! Such an amazing collection of air and space craft in one place. If you've never been here before, allow a full day to truly see the place. The addition of Shake Shack is a great idea and provides a tasty lunch, but it's BUSY!

If you love aviation, this place is one of the must-see museums in the world! From the smallest aeroplane, to Concorde, to military aircraft from all conflicts and from all over the world, to a real live space shuttle! Not to forget the Enola Gay, the B29 that dropped the bomb on Hiroshima.

This has to be on your itinerary if you're anywhere near DC!

I've been here many time because it is just the coolest museum. Planes and helicopters fascinate me and there is a whole hangar of them. How cool is that? Mostly we go to enjoy the IMAX theater and always get there an hour early so we can wander around the museum. Seriously, it's a lot of fun.

We had a few hours to spare before flying out of Dulles Airport so we decided to check out this place. Bus 983 runs every 20 minutes between IAD and the museum and only takes 10 minutes to get you there. Although the bus costs $2 each way, the museum has free admission and is very amusing. We loved seeing the Concorde and Space Shuttle Discovery particularly. The only annoying part was the thorough search of our suitcases as we entered the museum - since we were leaving them in the lockers provided, we found the messy inspection to be quite unnecessary. Apart from that, the place is great - the ideal thing to do if you have a long layover at Dulles.

Very interesting place to visit. Amazing in size. Actually real size aircrafts. Kids really enjoyed. Very educational.

This place has the space to be everything the main Smithsonian Air and Space museum is not. The quantity, quality, and variety of aircraft on display is fantastic and there'senough room to move around and get a good look (or pics) of most exhibits with the bonus of having a fractionof the crowds compared to downtown DC. This is a bucket list stop for anyone who has any interest in commercial or military aviation.

We were a mixture of two non-pilots and one avid pilot and aerospace lover (me) who visited together, first time for all of us and all agreed that it’s a beautiful, impactful, important museum. We spent over 3 hours and dug into the exhibits, then spent a lot of time sharing memories and impressions at home. But there are glaring problems that need to be fixed for such a prominent and important museum. The informational signage is so weak and thin. Very few aircraft even have identification. Some really important features aren’t even mentioned. We rented audio guides that don’t add very much and those aren’t in any special order. There are only maybe 25 items covered by the audio guide. This museum has hundreds of volunteers and docents who are extremely knowledgeable, cant someone dig up the money to create more information? Last gripe Is food. McDonald’s really? It was a slow Sunday at 1:30 and they have a line of about 50 people waiting to get their burgers order called by a soft voice in a really noisy space. One friend is vegetarian and couldn’t find a single thing to eat, not even a candy bar. They can do better.

This is by far my most favorite museum in all of DC. There is the space shuttle, the Enola Gay, a concord and an F14 Tomcat ( for those Topgun fans) plus many more planes to see.
The gift shop has a great range of gifts and other souvenirs.

This is a 'must do' museum if you are an aviation buff. So many amazing aircraft on display - SR71, Concorde, Enola Gay, Discovery Space Shuttle are just some of the big highlights. I liked that they also showed many aircraft designs that didn't work out so well and explained what was tried and what didn't work out. The restoration hanger was fascinating as well. Allows you to better appreciate all of the countless hours that is takes to restore and display the aircraft. Also wonderful displays of engine design evolution.

Much, much better than the National Air and Space Museum in downtown Wash DC. If I had to chose between the 2 museums I chose this one without a doubt.

My 16yr old and I spent 4 hours here and could have spent longer if everything was 100% open. (They are repairing the roof in one of the hangers so a number of aircraft were covered to protect them. ) However there were still many, many aircraft in that hanger that were uncovered. In total there were 4 hangers. The control tower and Imax were closed, but the air simulators were all operational in Aug.

There were live docents available via Zoom to answer questions.

The museum is 30 miles from downtown DC. We took the silver metro line to the end ($4) then took a $20 Uber ride the remaining 8 miles from there.

They no longer require advanced tickets and the museum was free. There was no food available (closed)

One of best air museums ever! Lots of planes of all vintage and many nice staff to guide/inform you.

We’ll be driving thru DC and wanted to stop and visit this fantastic museum. They have timed tickets and 30 days out (their stated maximum limit to reserve tickets) they are completely booked up for almost every day in July!! My guess is they have ridiculous restrictions on the number of visitors. The main air and space museum on the mall is still completely closed. Open up already!!!

My second visit to this great free museum, an excellent collection of aeroplanes and aviation/space artefacts.
Plenty of knowledgeable docents imparting their interesting information about the exhibits.
I was particularly impressed with seeing the Enola Gay ,B707 prototype, SR-71 , space shuttle and Concorde.
This time I also visited the observation tower for a view of Dulles airport and the surrounding area.
Definitely a place to visit for aviation and space enthusiasts of all ages ! .

Highly recommended. If you are near Washington DC don’t miss this place. Very close to the Washington Dulles Airport.

This place was WONDERFUL! The Space Shuttle Discovery is here, the FIRST Concorde is here and I took one of the rides, which is a Shuttle take off, release of a satellite, and landing. One of my friend's kids was with me, he asked a docent a couple of questions about the Enola Gay. The docent, Doug Smith, was very knowledgeable, and happy to answer more and more questions. The Glamorous Glennis is also there, and a spy plane along with biplanes. AND there's an observation tower where you can watch planes land or take off at Dulles (depending on the wind) and listen to ATC. A note about the Concorde: The Smithsonian was the first museum to ask British-Concorde for one of the planes, they donated the first one off the assembly line. It's huge. You won't get the entire plane with an iPhone unless you use the Panorama feature on the camera, and even then it'll look distorted (curved) but at least you'll have it. If you're a professional photographer bring a wide angle lense. (FYI The Air & Space museum on The Mall is closed for remodelling.)

We, a senior couple, spent over 3 hours walking around looking at the planes, helicopters and spacecraft. There was a tremendous amount to see. We chose not to pay for the IMAX films or to go to the observation deck to see the Dulles airport runways.

One disappointment is that all the exhibits are separated from visitors; you cannot walk through any of them and there are no cut-aways, so you can only peer into the occasional cockpit or fuselage though a window or door if it happens to be in your line of sight.

We ate lunch at their Shake Shack on premises which has decent food, burgers and hot dogs, mostly. We didn't visit the museum store.

We traveled to and from the museum by rideshare from Washington, D.C. to save time (90 minutes + from our hotel by public transit but half that by rideshare). This was expensive.

This museum is amazing make sure you go up into the tower the amount of aircrafts history displays information is insane be mindful of wild kids running around not too crowded it's huge enough to get good pics food was expensive parking is 15 dollars worth the visit took about four hours

Beautifully set up. So many historical artifacts!! It blows the mind. All the employees were pleasant and helpful. The Volunteers are wonderful!!

Essential visit given the virtual closure of the Washington Air and Space Museum. Huge museum located next to the airport which is very practical if your flight is at the end of the day because you can leave your luggage in large lockers. The musts are the Concorde, the Blackbird Enola Gai and the Discover Shuttle. You can spend the day there without problem. To come there is a bus from the airport or, more simply, an Uber.

The Steven F Udar-Hazy Center is an amazing museum! It is extremely fun, as it offers simulators, activities, and up-close looks at many planes. The Blackbird, Discovery space shuttle, and many others are held in the museum.

On our most recent trip, we took a class at the Claude Morre education center. It was one of the best classes I have ever taken. I learned so much, and had tons of fun at the same time. The air and space museum is a must see if you are in the area!

The start with an excellent entry, museum is totally free, This awesome place is has more aircraft than what you in mind, you will see so many cool airplanes and more, if you are in DC area you should definitely take a visit you will enjoy solo or with family easy to park, highly recommend it. 😎👍

This place is plain awesome! We spent a few hours here. It is amazing at all the aeronautical history they have crammed into one huge center! My kids were awe struck when they saw the Space Shuttle Discovery. There is so much to see: the SR-71 Blackbird, a Lufthansa Junkers, the Concorde and much much MORE! We all got chills when we came upon the Enola Gay. The place offers free tours and are absolutely a must if you have time so you can get a knowledgable tour of the 'museum'. This is THE BEST air museum we have EVER been to!!!

We stopped here while on my sons USA History Trip. It was a great stop so glad we were able to stop here and see a bit more history.

If you want to see the best collection of significant air frames-go here. I thoroughly enjoyed my recent visit. I chose a free guided tour. I want to go back and see it all again. It is excellent.

Been to the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum in DC many times and finally had a chance to visit the Udvar-Hazy annex. I was told it housed airplanes that were too big for the DC location. It is next to Dulles airport, just a 10 minute drive from Reston. Admission is free, only cost $15 parking. Open daily. We were there on a Sunday, uncrowded when we arrived but packed by the time we left. Highlights for me were the American F4U Corsair, Enola Gay Bomber, Concorde and Space exhibits. I was a little disappointed with the WWII planes. Many from Japan and Germany but staples like the Japanese Zero, US P-51 Mustang, Dauntless Dive Bomber, Hellcat, British Spitfire missing. Overall still good time. Good for families, teens and pre-teens, but I would encourage them to have more hands on participant activities for the little ones.

This museum is modern & well designed. Besides all of the aviation things to see there are other activities such as IMAX & flight simulators to do. There is no admission, but there is a $15 per vehicle parking charge. You can pay this at a machine inside the museum or wait until you get to the exit gate to pay. There is a vast collection of aircraft & space items to see. The highlights for me were the Enola Gay, a U2 Blackbird similar to the plane Gary Powers was shot down in over the Soviet Union, a French Concord & the space shuttle Discovery. The Discovery was in its own wing along with the other space items. This is a great place to take the family & spend the day. The only drawback is they will not provide paper maps of the museum, but there are several signs in the building that describe the aircraft you see.

Auxiliary Air and Space Museum packed with aircraft and other artifacts. Restoration goes on in a hanger in a (viewable) hanger in the back. Items include: space shuttle Discovery, B-29 Enola Gay, X-1 Glamorous Glennis, SR-71, mother ship model from Close Encounters of the Third Kind, and many many more from the beginning of aviation to present day. A must see. Dislike that they charge for parking Plan on spending lots of time here.

Just amazing —- words can not describe it. The Space shuttle. Concorde. Flight simulators. Only complaint is that the McDonald’s on site is nasty and over crowded. Otherwise what a day and ideal for families. Worth the trip from DC

DISGUSTING FOOD - A RIP OFF - A TOURIST TRAP . YOU SHOULD BE ASHAMED
Dirty tables - Dirty dining room -STAFF WEARING DIRTY UNIFORMS AND NOT WEARING HEAD RESTRAINTS. Trash cans overflowing - BEVERAGE STATION TRASHED AND A FOOD SAFETY HAZARD .Cold food - Extremely long line with only one cashier and only one lady trying to keep the dining room clean. This place is a joke . Bring back Mc Donald . We paid $ 47.33 for rubbish food ( 2 shacks,1 burger,1 hot dog and 4 fries)
The kitchen staff was overwhelmed and I did not appreciate the older man on the front behind the counter screaming and shouting your name very loud when your food was ready . What are we “ CATTLE” NO WE ARE PAYING CUSTOMERS AND DESERVE RESPECT. WHAT AN EMBARRASSMENT. THIS HOW YOU RUN A RESTAURANT NOW?
The food quality was horrendous. Cold and soggy fries, dry hot dog on a cold bun , soggy and cold burgers . My grand son refused to eat the hot dog after taking a bite that was split in 1/2 lengthwise and he said it did not look like a hot dog and did not taste like a hot dog .
THIS WAS MY FIRST AND LAST TIME PATRONIZING YOUR FOOD SHACK .
On our way out my grand children’s were starving and wanted to go to Mc DONALD.
THEY LOVE MC DONALD AND THEY HATED EVERYTHING ABOUT YOUR PLACE .
BRING MC DONALD BACK TO THE AEROSPACE MUSEUM PLEASE .

A must visit place for all age groups. Its unimaginable the number and types of aircrafts that were there and its rich history. The space section was at its best!

The whole experience was quite unique and wonderful.

Half a day is sufficient for this place.

This is a nice place to see all types of planes and engines. You can learn some of the history of planes. I was intrigued by the quarantine quarters.

We visited the museum fairly early on a Sunday morning. There were few people there when we arrived, but it filled up quickly while we were there. We only had time to spend a couple hours viewing the collection, which is amazing!

I noticed a few people had given the museum a 'Poor' rating, and looked at them to see why. They all seem to be complaining about the food availability there, rather than the collection of artifacts. We didn't go to the on-site cafeteria, so I can't comment on that at all. But if you're going to look at the museum collection, this one is hard to beat.

So many amazing aircraft and spacecraft! Space Shuttle Discovery, the Enola Gay, Blackbird SR-71, the Concorde, dozens of aircraft from WWI, WWII, Vietnam and beyond, Mercury and Gemini capsules, the Goodyear Blimp (without the blimp part!) There is also a control tower to watch planes landing at Dulles airport plus an IMAX theater with multiple shows. There are several volunteers giving in-depth stories and information about some of the most important displays such as the Enola Gay and Blackbird SR-71.
While the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum on the National Mall is also amazing, we enjoyed this one even more! It is also free and does not require tickets. It was all so great!

There’s the air and space museum in the district then there’s the Udvar-Hazy Center. Boasting one of the finest aircraft collections in the world, this museum is nothing short of spectacular. From the crown jewel exhibitions such as the SR-71 and space shuttle Discovery to the Enola Gay, this museum offers historical pieces and exhibits that will have you picking your jaw up off of the floor at every turn. I had to pinch myself a few times knowing I was standing in front of some of aviation history’s largest contributors.

I would absolutely recommend taking the elevator up to the observation deck and watching the commercial air traffic make their way into the airport. If you’re lucky enough and the wind is right they wall make their approach right past the observation deck giving you a great shot at some of the airliners on their glide in.

Be sure to make your way up to the third story “catwalk” for a view of the entire hangar. If the aircraft themselves don’t leave you in amazement seeing them all crammed in the hangar definitely will.

Yes, the museum is a bit of a trek from the city if that’s where you’re staying but it is 100% worth it. It’s a great way to escape the busy crowds of the national mall and take in a day strolling through amazing history... oh, and it’s air conditioned extremely well too. Don’t worry about squeezing into small hallways or bumping into other people like at the air and space museum. This museum is much more spacious and suited for families.

A must-see for history buffs, aviation enthusiasts, families and anyone enjoying our nation’s capitol offerings. Take the ride out, you won’t be disappointed. We had so much fun we decided to go back for a second day!

I took my two young sons to this museum quite a few years ago and they loved it. We took them back again this year as 16 and 18 year olds and they still loved it, as did we. There are so many interesting exhibits and it's really good value, Good café too though the line was pretty long at lunch time.

Wonderful museum to take a tour or wander. The highlight for me was seeing The Discovery Space Shuttle area and the Enola Gay and first passenger planes. The museum is free parking is $15. IMAX shows are $10 and $8 for seniors and worth seeing.

This is a top notch place if you are interested in aviation and space. They arranged this place so wonderful, that every single plane has its place. And they have icons like the SR-71, the Enola Gay and space shuttle Discovery there. It is just eye catching with every new step.
Side note: The entry is free, but the parking is 15$.

Flight delayed? 4-5 hours between flights? Or just time to kill before flying? Then it is worth visiting this museum if you are interested in space and aviation. A bus takes you on a 10 min ride to the museum (just a couple of dollars) and entrance was free. Excellent exhibits include an SR71 blackbird, space capsule and a nice selection of interesting and exciting aircraft from before WWII and onwards.

Without a doubt, this museum has one of the most interesting exhibits I’ve ever seen! As a child, I was fascinated by the ST71 blackbird. I relented well who I had a gigabit model kit of this all black aircraft. Now I saw one in real life! Very, very cool!

But wait, there’s more; the Discovery Spaceshuttle, and the Enola Gay B29. Exhibits that have had a massive impact on, and changed the course of our history.

The collection of other planes vary from German WOII Luftwaffe aircrafts and very rare Japanese planes. The helicopter that was the first to fly around the world, and the most goes on and on.

This is a must visit museum! After our visit. We jumped on the plane back home. During our flight I could not help myself with scrolling to all the cool pictures a took, some of them I shared here.

Amazing displays of so many different air and space crafts, taking you from the early days of flight to present. There is also an area where you can see restorations in progress. You can easily spend a couple hours to a full day exploring.
A Smithsonian museum, so admission is free, but there is a $15 parking charge.

Spent an entire afternoon here. So many awesome place and spacecraft. Our highlight was the Discover space shuttle. This museum was my fiancés and I favorite riate part of our DC shift seeing trip. Admission is free but parking is a reasonable $15.

This is a great museum. I liked it even better than the one in DC. Lots of air planes from all decades. Lots of interesting engines as well. A must see!

These are the real things. The Discovery space shuttle. The Enola Gay. A Concorde. A Boeing 707. German, Soviet, Japanese, American and other warplanes. Satellites. Stunt planes. There are two huge hangers stuffed with aircraft and spacecraft hanging from the ceilings and parked around each other - you feel as though you’ve stumbled in to some super-wealthy aircraft collector’s attic. It’s fantastic. Make sure you take the free 90-minute guided tour (ours lasted two hours) - you learn so much of the stories behind some of the exhibits. We spent four and a half hours in total (including lunch at the reasonably-priced McDonalds inside the museum) and still didn’t see everything.

We went several times to the museum and each time it was better than the last. we went to the Halloween party and sooooooooooo much fun!

Was excited to head here after hearing that there was a 2nd Air & Space Museum in DC. I had been to the Smithsonian one on the National Mall but had to get to the place to see the space shuttle and the SR-71 Blackbird. So many aircraft in one place.

An absolute must! A huge collection of different aircraft, to include the Discovery Space Shuttle, the Concorde, and so much more. It's all very visible, close up, and good descriptors to help you understand what you're looking at. The collection is w/o parallel. The simulators were fun but you have plenty to do w/o the extras. So glad we took the time to see this museum.

This place is super cool! Was entirely there for the purpose of seeing Discovery, but it was neat to walk around the rest of it too.

If you happen to be in the Dulles airport area or have a long layover before a flight, this is the place to go. It’s just a short ride on a bus that if not mistaken there’s no charge if going to the museum. The museum is near by and it’s FREE !!!
That’s amazing since the collection of Military & Civilian aircraft on display is outstanding…. They charge for parking but that’s it, this museum is a must do if your in the area.

If you are interested in airplanes, you should not miss this museum. We first went to the National Air and Space Museum in Washington D.C. and recommend this order if you want to visit both museums.
The airplanes on display are very impressive and beautifully presented. The free tour is highly recommended because the guides can make a personal selection of other airplanes in addition to the mandatory airplanes and thus also present interesting details about these airplanes.

I grew up watching the space shuttle missions. I was in my classroom like so many others when Columbia blew up. Getting to walk in and see Discovery was such an amazing moment. It really made everything else in this location a bonus to the time spent here. The location has a lot of historical pieces, such as the plane that dropped the atomic bomb to the only passenger plane that broke the sound barrier. So much to see, a lot of which you didn't know you needed to see it until you see it,

Overall, his is not right in D.C. but it is worth the trip to go see it.

There is something here for everyone and the range of things to see is from 1900 to 2020s - and so much is not replica but the real things - like Enola Gay, or one of the seven last remaining planes from pearl harbour.

Only half an hour drive from Washington DC. If you like Aviation, this is a must see. From the SR71 blackbird to the Space Shuttle.

The prime focus of the museum is aircraft that played an important role in aviation, like the famous SR-71, B29 Enola Gay, Concorde, the first B707 "Dash 80", Space Shuttle Discovery, to name a few.
There are special exhibitions, at the moment it's rare German WW2 aircraft.
A really enjoyable experience. Free entrance, visitors need to pre register through the website for a specific time slot.

Great museum! Visited with small children and they had a wonderful time. Space shuttle Discovery is very impressive!

Absolutely amazing - so much to see. We spent 5 hours there and still didn’t see everything. IMAX films were super cool - love that you could enjoy popcorn with the show. Shake shack was a treat - and seeing the space shuttle up close was amazing.

Love planes? You MUST visit this museum. It's a branch of the Smithsonian's National Air and Space museum and the collection is amazing. In fact, there are probably too many planes here, making it difficult to study some of the star attractions like the Concorde. But you can check out every detail of the incredible SR-71 Blackbird, even looking down from above. Ditto for the Enola Gay, the B-29 that dropped the first atomic bomb. I was surprised to find that my favorite was the space shuttle Discovery and other space exhibits -- I saw lots of details I never noticed on TV. A lot of veterans were there during my visit, and it was fun to see their reactions to these planes. Kids were amazed by these fantastic planes, although the collection is so large they may run out of energy. It's outside Dulles airport, so it takes some time to get there from DC. But the new Metro line to Dulles will make it much easier for those without a car. Whatever it takes, get to this museum.

Age is no barrier this place is fantastic for young and old alike. To much to see and to much to do to list it all. Kids to Grand parents will enjoy the day or a few hours at one of our country's finest museums.

This is an amazing collection of air and space exhibits -- crop dusters to missiles. The huge facility is well planned and easy to navigate. Excellent signage for the exhibits and helpful docents. Only downside is that the location is 40 minutes outside DC so a visit is a time commitment.

If you are only interested a little bit into technology, you have to visit this museum. A SR-71, a Concorde, a Space Shuttle. All the big stuff that doesn't fit into the Air and Space in Washington itself is here. If your flight goes in the afternoon (mine went a tad after 15:00) you should spend an hour or two heree. It's awesome and it's for free. If you don't visit it, you miss something important.

A number of suggestions:
- Take the 983 bus from Wiehle-Reston East station, where you have to change from the Silver Line to a Bus to Dulles. It stops at Dulles and the museum. So it brings you to the museum and back to the airport.
- Have some quarters ready. You need them for the lockers for your backpacks. They almost fitted a larger suitcase. It's easier wenn you have a duffel bag at you can press a little bit. But the aisles are that wide that is no problem to roll around your luggage.

Plenty of cool things to see for free.
Sometimes even parking is free as well.
Very informative! There's two different floors and a gift shop. The displays here are HUGE and amazing.

On a recent visit to the DC area, we made a trip to this "annex" of the Air and Space Museum. It is a long trek from the mall where most of the Smithsonian Museums reside. However, it is worth the trip if you have a car. Public transportation to the museum is a bit of a challenge. Also, it should be noted that although admission is free, parking is not. Be prepared to pay $15 to park. The museum is enormous so plan on spending several hours to see the displays. Most impressive are the Space Shuttle Discovery and Enola Gay. Even though we wandered through the displays for the better part of 4 hours, we still ran out of time and missed out on going up into the control tower.

We heard the Air and Space museum was under lots of construction so we came out here. And it was SO with the drive. Parking is $15 (yikes) but admission is free. The massive hangar is so airy and open it never felt crowded. It’s an impressive display of aircraft - including a space shuttle! Would definitely recommend. Our kids (15,13,10,8) all loved it.

Introduction: A Gateway to Aviation and Space History
The Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, located in Chantilly, Virginia, is an extension of the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C. It opened its doors in 2003 and was designed to hold airplanes and space items that are too big for the main museum. Since then, it has turned into one of the most important places for aviation and space history in the world. The museum is not just about its huge collection; it also acts as a learning center that encourages visitors to explore the story of how humans have traveled into the sky and outer space.
The Udvar-Hazy Center is open every day from 10:00 AM to 5:30 PM, and you can get in for free (but parking is $15). They have special events all year long, like open house days where you can check out the museum’s restoration hangars, and air and space festivals that include speeches from experts, cool demonstrations, and fun hands-on STEM activities.
Exhibits and Layout: A Walk Through History
Walking into the Udvar-Hazy Center is like walking into a giant airplane hangar, and that’s exactly what it is! The museum has two big areas to explore: the Boeing Aviation Hangar and the James S. McDonnell Space Hangar. Both places are packed with planes, spacecraft, and cool aviation stuff.
One of the most important exhibits at the museum is the Enola Gay, a Boeing B-29 Superfortress that dropped the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima in 1945. Looking at it from that close distance is a powerful experience because this one plane helped end World War II and started the nuclear era. The museum shows it as it is and gives visitors a chance to think about what happened in Hiroshima at 6 August because of it :(
In the same hall, the Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird stands out as the fastest spy jet in the world. Built to zoom through the sky at more than 2,200 mph, this cool and modern plane could easily escape enemy missiles. Even though it stopped flying years ago, it’s still an amazing example of engineering.
The James S. McDonnell Space Hangar was really amazing! It showcases the Space Shuttle Discovery, which is a famous spacecraft that completed 39 missions. These missions were super important for NASA's research and for building the International Space Station. When you get to see the shuttle up close, you can see its heat tiles that are all worn out from coming back into the atmosphere. It really makes you feel like space exploration is something you can actually touch and experience!
The museum has a lot more than just the big attractions. It features many fighter planes from World War I and World War II, along with commercial airplanes like the Concorde. There are also fun interactive displays, such as flight simulators, where visitors can feel what it's like to fly a fighter jet.
Personal Impressions: A Breathtaking Experience
Going to the Udvar-Hazy Center was an amazing experience! The huge airplanes on display were really impressive, and being underneath famous aircraft like the Enola Gay and the Space Shuttle Discovery made me feel both small and excited.
One of the coolest things was how many different types of exhibits there were. It wasn't just about military planes; there were also experimental aircraft, commercial jets, and even stuff from space exploration. The museum doesn't only share the history of flying; it also shows how humans are driven by ambition and creativity.
One idea I have is to make the interactive parts even better. Maybe they could let people go inside a cockpit or check out a space capsule. On the other hand, the museum’s restoration hangar is really cool because you can see how they fix up old airplanes, giving a unique view of how they take care of aviation history. If you love history, technology, or space travel, you have to check out the Udvar-Hazy Center! It’s an amazing spot where you can not only look at history but also really experience it. Whether you’re a student, a fan of airplanes, or just interested in how people learned to fly, this museum gives you a unique experience that you won’t find anywhere else.

This museum contains one of the best collections of things that fly. Space Shuttle Discovery, a Blackbird, a Concord, the Ebola Gay, along with many other types of aircraft, helicopters, hot air balloon information, missiles. Lots of information on each also. There are tours available but we took the excellent map and spent a full two hours looking around. This is a must see for any aviation enthusiast. Parking is $15 but the museum itself is free.

I had heard from several people that the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center was a great place for an aviation enthusiast to visit. So we planned a visit. I'm glad we did.

If you hear that the free tours of the center are worthwhile, believe it. The tour guides are people who have been involved closely with aviation in one or more ways. Our guide was an airplane mechanic in the Air Force and later with a major airline before he retired. He was quite knowledgeable.

The museum itself is quite spectacular. It is basically a huge hangar, with larger airplanes sitting on the floor and smaller ones hanging from the rafters. There are catwalks at strategic spots to allow you to see various displays from a different angle. It was especially interesting to stand on a catwalk and look down into the cockpit of the Enola Gay, the B29 that dropped a nuclear bomb on Hiroshima in 1945.

WOW! To put my review in perspective, I worked in the aviation industry for 20 years, am a private pilot and I run outside when the space station is tracking overhead. I’m a total aviation geek. That said, I literally had goose bumps as I walked in and saw the space shuttle Discovery. I can honestly say that the Udvar-Hazy Center is at the top of my list as one of the best museums in the country.

The museum has free admission but be prepared to pay $15 to park. Still, quite a bargain. There are free docent tours offered throughout the day. They are approximately two hours but you may leave the group if necessary. Our guide was a retired military aviator who obviously is as passionate about the field as I am. He answered all of my obscure questions with ease.

The “annex” was built to hold not only overflow from the main National Air and Space museum but also to hold other large pieces of aviation history. The crowning jewel of the collection is the space shuttle Discovery. The Enola Gay and an SR-71 blackbird are also main attractions. It seems that every inch of this enormous facility is covered with aviation history-from a plane predating the Wright flyer (it never did get airborne) to the capsule that Felix Baumgartner jumped out of at 85,000 feet for the (then) free fall record. The collection also includes American military and civilian aircraft as well as those of our allies and enemies.

Some reviews say to allow 2-3 hours to tour. Please don’t make the mistake that I made. The Engen Observation tower is considered a don’t miss -although I gave myself several hours to visit, I still missed it because the last entry is at 4:30. If you plan on taking the free tour, consider arriving no later than 12:30 to allow yourself plenty of time to explore every inch of this incredible museum.

All of the museums in this region are perpetually packed with visitors. I visited on a Thursday afternoon in mid-October. There was no crowd, which also enhanced the visit.

Please, please don’t miss this national gem.

I’m from the UK and having seen practically all the aerospace museums in the UK, I had to come over for this. What a way to spend your birthday! The space shuttle Discovery (which I’d seen launch from Kennedy), the B29 bomber Enola Gay, a F4U Corsair, an F14 Tomcat, a P61 Black Widow, and some of the rarest World War 2 Luftwaffe planes still in existence. It’s a hike to get there from the centre of Washington (we used Uber which was brilliant) but absolutely worth travelling all the way from the UK for.

An overwhelming collection of aircraft and Space craft, We spent 5 hours there looking at the various aircraft and space capsules, and the space shuttle.
The docents there were very knowledgeable and helpful. A much better collection than the Smithsonian museum in Washington D.C..

excellent museum. it is huge and has so much to see and explore. Free entry and parking. it is crowded-but that is to be expected. definitely a must see. it is near the airport( Dulles) so if you land there or take off from there, make some time to go see it in all its glory!

Our company decided to have our christmas party at the air and Space museum, i had no idea what they would be like, well let me tell you, it was like going to Disneyland for the first time! As soon as you walk in, you just open your mouth and say “wow”. We were in the middle if the gall with all these planes floating on the air! It was by far my best Xmas party ever

This is an excellent museum: nicely organized and easy to tour. The grounds inside the mammoth enclosed hangar space were packed with all kinds of erstwhile flying objects, ranging from vintage propellers to sleek modern jets; from WWII military war machines to NASA. They were a magnificent sight to behold, all grouped into different sections with seats everywhere for visitors to rest their heels. The labels and signage were clear and concise. The displays should satisfy aircraft buffs, space enthusiasts, historians and layman public like me.

This museum is incredible. They have the Blackbird The Space Shuttle Discovery also the Concord and many other aircraft and spacecraft and an IMAX theater. This is a must visit museum. My only issue is that the bathrooms could be updated. Nice staff
The tower has some of the best views around.

Great place, lots of aircraft and aircraft exhibits. Plus space shuttle, satellites rockets and interesting displays and info about air and space craft.

It's a very nice museum with so many airplanes from the earlier years around the world. One of the best and rare planes I've ever seen.

A very enjoyable experience with lots of neat history. Best air and space museum in the area. I definitely would like to come back.

Well, we would have given this 6 stars if 20% of the exhibits had not been covered with plastic due to a renovation.

We would give it 7 stars if more detail about each of the exhibits was available on Udvar’s website. As it is, many of the exhibits are so interesting that the existing descriptions leave you wanting more.

On a brisk Autumn Saturday morning, our group of five adults and four small children had no problem parking and moving around this spacious, well-organized facility.

TIP:

- Masks are required, but if your forgot yours they will provide you one.
- There is a parking fee but no entrance fee. IMAX theater presentations and simulators are extra.

Huge free lockers for travelers. Went before a flight from Dulles and sited everything free! Love this place. The space and vibe is is great - casual. Huge hangar and time and room to walk and read placards and see some amazing planes without the stuffiness of a traditional museum. Space shuttle is a must see.

I did. had a few hours layover to spend at Dulles Airport. With no doubt, this was the best layover hours spend at an “airport”. This museum tops it all from all the air and space museums in the world. End of story.

So many planes to see. The SR-71 was simply awesome to behold as well as the Concorde, the shuttle Discovery, the Enola Gay, the fighter planes and all other exhibits. A bit far from the main attractions in DC but worth it if you like aviation. Though it is free, factor in the $15 parking and tolls in your expenses.

I’m a huge aviation enthusiast so I was disappointed to learn that the main museum on the Mall was closed. Not to fear, this museum had exactly what I wanted to see. A space shuttle. This museum is jam packed with the most wonderful displays. Discovery gave me goosebumps.

This museum is ideal for anyone who has a car or a rental. It’s not ideal of anyone staying in DC with no transport. It took me almost two hours to make the short journey to the museum. Silver line to Wiehle Reston then transfer to the North bus station across the bridge. Take the escalators down and you’ll find the 983 which makes four stops before the museum. That 5 mile journey takes 40 mins. It’s a bargain $2 and drops you right outside.

For the return journey I didn’t want to wait 20 mins for the next bus then a 40 mins bus then the metro into DC so i quickly picked up an Uber. Driver came In a few minutes, picked me up and off we went. He got charged the full $15 “parking” fee. That made a $20 journey a lot more expensive. A trip here will take most of the day if you use public transport.

The museum is crying out for a bus shuttle either from the Mall museum (as it’s currently closed) or a central location. I’d have happily paid a charge to get there quicker. I couldn’t believe how quiet the museum was for a Sunday.

One thing to note they offer no food or drink areas. Water fountains but there’s no food to buy and nowhere locally to take anything. So take food for before and after you’ve seen some incredible displays.

Amazing museum. One of the best museums I've ever visited. The best part about this museum is seeing the Air France Concorde and the Observation Tower. Saw a Lufthansa Airlines Boeing 747 land at Dulles Airport from the observation tower. Amazing Experience.

I like this spot better than the Smothsonian Air and Space Museum downtown. It is larger so I could move around. A huge display of flying machines ranging from the Enola Gray to the Discovery shuttle. Early planes are at eye level and above. I recommend this spot for all ages. Our group was grandparents, parents, and a 7 year old. Everyone was happy. Make a reservation as they are controlling the number of visitors entering at a time.

Huge aircraft hanger for all the aircraft the don't fit at the DC Mall location - space shuttle, SR-71 Blackbird, Enola Gay, etc. A little overwhelming... allow plenty of time, and maybe do some advance reading up. The restaurant was closed - our group brought food/snacks, but many patrons were surprised. Suggestion - go early to avoid SOME of the crowds.

Entering the Udvar-Hazy Hangar you cannot fail to be impressed by the prime exhibits of the Blackbird either the Discovery Space Shuttle lurking behind. The new addition is the interactive screens of experts willing to answer any questions

The Discovery Shuttle is amazing and the other space exhibits. Other highlights include a Air France Concorde, Enola Gay, and the capsule that took Felix Baumgartner to his amazing parachute jump

This is many hours of interesting displays for anyone with an interest in air or space

We visited the museum on a Saturday starting at 11:30 AM and picked a perfect time!

Our hotel shuttle dropped us off at 11:00 AM and when we asked the attendant about starting our visit early they said no problem! We passed security we no issues (took about 45 seconds) and were soon on our way.

We are WW2 enthusiasts so we headed to that area first and looked at all the aircraft devoted to that era. Obviously, the Enola Gay was the highlight due to its place in history. The aircraft is displayed with the front very near a walkway and you can actually peer into the cockpit which we appreciated.

The remainder of our time was spent leisurely walking among the exhibits and taking advantage of the many sitting areas located throughout the facility.

Bathrooms were available on all floors, drinks were sold from a small concession area, and the water fountains worked.

Staff were able to answer all our questions and did so pleasantly.

We visited on November 21 which apparently was the last weekend the museum was open.

Parking is in a large lot and costs $15.00.

There were many areas not open due to COVID; the theater, tower, etc so we do plan a return visit.

Located near Dulles Airport, this is not an easy place to visit, but it is well worth the extra effort. We took an Uber to/from to museum instead of public transportation, which worked out great for our family. Plan your travel to avoid peak rush-hour traffic.
This museum is Amazing! So many things to see that are unique and only available here.. the space shuttle, SR-71, the Concorde SST, Apollo 11 capsule (visiting), Good Year Blimp.. and the Control Tower. The catwalk that enables you to see the exhibits from above, as well as being able to walk below offers both perspectives.
The IMAX films are fantastic, as always, and there is a McDonalds located inside the museum for a quick lunch or break. My only disappointment was not being able to go inside the shuttle or Concord.
If you have *any* interest in aviation or space, this is a must see attraction. Make the time! You will NOT be dissapointed.

An amazing museum even if you're not an aviation buff. The SR-71, Space Shuttle, and Concorde are worth the price of parking! Also be sure to go up the stairs to the left of the Shuttle and peer through the windows of the museum restoration bay - you'll see an X-Wing fighter!

I'm into airplanes. A lot.

This place scratched my itch nicely. It's huge, and has some great planes in it, including a Space Shuttle (always hard to see those grounded - they should be in SPACE!), a Concorde, a B-29, a ton of fighters, some missiles and rockets, and lots and lots of airplanes.

We walked around the place for hours. We took the Metro to the end of the line to get here - when you do, the bus to this place is to the LEFT, NOT the RIGHT. The sign in the metro says Busses - Right, but they are also on the left. 953 (the bus we wanted) was on the left.

Nuff said about that. They have simulators you can fly, including an airplane. The Wright Flyer simulator (which I have almost a half hour of crashes in from previous opportunities) was not in service unfortunately. This place is huge - we spent 3 or 4 hours here including lunch at McDonalds (which is awful - see the review for it).

Plenty of air and space history here! See the original Discovery space shuttle on display, as well as the Enola Gay B-29.

I am not at all interested in aviation history, but that didn't matter when I was visiting Udvar-Hazy recently. I got to stand right next to Space Shuttle Discovery! And see the Concorde (one of the, at least). And so much more. It's a wonder to me all the ways that humans have flown, often in aircraft that seem remarkably flimsy by today's standards.

Admission is free but parking costs money. The building is totally accessible and there's ample handicapped parking. The only cafe on site is a McDonald's.

Totally worth the drive out to visit. If you want to see amazing airplanes go for sure. All the big stuff that cannot fit in the Air and Space Museum in DC is here. The Space Shuttle Discovery, Enola Gay, SR-71 and so much more. There is a $15 parking charge and admission is free.

It was fantastic! I really ⁇ visiting this museum even more because here is one of the spaceships: the Discovery. There is no need to book tickets to visit this place. Don't stop going! You can take the Fairfax Connector bus, which leaves in front of door 4 of Dulles Airport.

The Udvar-Hazy Center is one of the great collections of aircraft in the US and well worth a 3+ hour visit. The giant hanger has military and civilian aircraft from the beginning of flight until today. The space shuttle Discovery and space section is awe inspiring.

The facility is part of the Smithsonian (free admission) but parking costs $15 per vehicle. The IMAX theater has great programs for both kids and adults. The observation tower of Dulles airport provides a spectacular view.

Well worth a visit!

What an awesome place to see airplanes and the space shuttle “Discovery”. Did the 2 hour walking tour, wish we could have gone inside some of the planes. The Enola Gay was displayed also, there November 15, 2019

Amazing collection of America's history. A bit of travel to get there but well worth the time and effort.

Must see if you are into aviation history. Many planes on display. I liked it better than the museum in DC. Museum is free but you have to pay $15 to park.

My guy had been here before and wanted me to experience it too. I was a litle lukewarm until I visited and realized the full scope of the collection. Loved seeing the Concord, the Space Shuttle and the Enola Gay. There are many docents there providing great commentary. This is definately worth visiting with plenty of cool photo ops. The fact that it is free and parking is reasonable are real pluses. Don't miss it!

Smithsonian always does a wonderful job with their museums. The annex at Dulles Airport was built as they couldn’t display all the things acquired over the years at the Mall location. It’s impressive. On display: Enola Gay, shuttle Discovery, Concord, and the prototype Boeing 707 amoung many others. Very easy to get to and plenty of parking for $15. Museum is free.

Written on iPhone. Please ignore typos

This annex of the Smithsonian Air & Space Museum is a must see! It is L-O-A-D-E-D with rare and famous aircraft & spacecraft. It covers civil and military aviation. The on-site Cafe is expensive, but it is good. You can also overlook the restoration center and see what aircraft are currently being worked on.

I spent about 6 hours strolling through the museum, but you could probably get through the whole thing in about 2 - 3 hours. It consists of one massive hanger and a smaller secondary hanger. Parking and entry is free. There are free tours that you can join also.

Overall, I loved the Annex. If your into aviation, this facility is a must see!

OK, I am an aviation and space nut. I just love this facility.
The collection is awesome, especially when the experience is added to visiting the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC.
The exhibits are accessible and the descriptions are clear.
The guides (docents) are very knowledgeable, with many interesting details about the items.
It is a lot of walking, but definitely worth it!

This Smithsonian museum has some "anchors" that include the Concorde, the Discovery space shuttle, the Enola Gay and the SR-71 Blackbird. But intermingled with these larger-than-life objects are small planes and helicopters and prototypes and gondolas and rockets, etc, etc. Even some planes from Nazi Germany. The displays are impressive with good identifying information about them posted and easy to read. A catwalk allows a different view and an elevator can take you to the elevated walkway if stairs are a problem. A nice gift shop is located near the entrance/exit. The admission is free, but you will have a $15 parking fee payable at a kiosk near the entrance. Expect to spend some time here.

Really cool place to visit for those who love Avaition. Was particularly impressed by the space shuttle and The Concord. A lot on the progression of avaition history. Man have thing changed over the years. Some cool oddities found was a standing helicopter platform for spotters and snipers. Also the worlds smallest monoplane.
A lot of things to discover for all. Very cool. Limited ticket availability, so book early.

A jewel for all lovers of planes and not...here you can find the history of American and non-American planes...totally free, we also paid for virtual flights that you absolutely must try...
The Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, also called the Udvar-Hazy Center, is the branch office of the National Air and museum..

Very similar to the Air Force Museum in Dayton. If you can't get to Dayton, go here! If you can go to both and interested in military aviation -- definitely, do both!

I’d like to recognize the docent, Bill, who led the tour I took yesterday. He was very humble about the fact that he was once a pilot of a B54. He was extremely knowledgeable and courteous. The museum is immense. I felt like I only scratched the surface during the 2 hours I was there.

Fantastic facility with hundreds of aircraft. This is a spacious museum and not too crowded. It's free, but parking is $15. Highly recommended for any airplane enthusiast. Outstanding.

There is no Metro stop getting there. There is a lot to see and much walking . But plenty of seats So be prepared to sit. Cafeteria is served by McDonald's. Do take the 2-3 hour tour. Each guide is knowledgeable and will not show the same thing. Covers aviation from the start from all the major wars including aircraft from both sides. Also commercial planes. Could go two days and not see everything. Good commercial aircraft and balloon exhibit.

I must admit that the collection of aircrafts is amazing. They even had a Star Wars X-Wing Fighter used on set. Unfortunately, while we were there they had a whole section of aircrafts covered with plastic due to repairs on the roof so we did not get to see all the aircrafts including the concord. The place is amazing and even has some virtual reality rides and an Imax theater but the theater was closed due to covid.
The only criticism I have is that they should have some aircrafts open for people to go in. I think we all have that inner child that wishes you could go in side and see the seats and the cockpit of the concord or some other aircraft. Regardless, I definitely recommend a visit to this museum.

I think so. We take the grandkids almost every time they visit. Nice theater showing 3 D movies. Hundreds of planes and the space shuttle. Nice tours, air traffic control tower, flight simulators. Fast food restaurant plus a nice gift shot put. You need 2-3 hours to do the place justice.

A visit to this air and space museum extension. Where the big stuff is!
Wonderful exhibit, as usual almost too much to take in on one visit. Dividdd into three areas: military, commercial, space.
Mil: SR51 and a lot of fighter nets, huge inventory. commercial: Concorde, Lockheed constellation. Many others And the Enola Gay.
Space: shuttle, rocketry, satellites, mercury and other capsules.
Free entry. Parking $15.
They have multiple simulators to pay to ride in. Some very old original pieces from 1900s.
I asked where was the DC3. Guide didn’t know. Looked it up. It’s hanging from the ceiling downtown.
They offer tours, there is an I-Max theater.
Very cool place, not real crowded, summer weekday.
Saturday- Sunday , traffic better but surely bigger crowds.
Shack shack- only restaurant. $100+ for five, burgers and fries. Took 40 minutes to get our food. Burned burgers. Skip it.

Visited for a couple of hours before a flight - an excellent use of time! Great exhibits and wonderful guides throughout the museum. Nice Shake Shack for something to eat, and a bus or an Uber to get back to Dulles.

Well worth the visit if you love planes and space travel - the space shuttle is something else when seen that close!

This is an extraordinary place and a must-see for any aviation enthusiast. They have a wide collection of aircraft from the start of the 20th century, including Concorde, the Enola Gay, some German World War 2 planes I didn’t know anyone had an example of. I could easily have spent most of the day here.

This place is outstanding! Free entry with paid parking. The displays of the different modes of flight are well done and very educational. The interpretive signage adds to the experience of what you are seeing. Hungry? You can't go wrong eating at the Shake Shack. The facility is safe and clean. Our young grandsons loved it!

One of the better air museums around! The exhibits are meticulously restored to the way they originally were. Can't beat seeing the SR-71, Enola Gay, and all. Definitely a must see!

Not sure how anyone would give this place anything less than 5 stars across the board. Awesome experience for kiddos and adults alike. The number of artifacts is mind boggling, especially considering how many full size planes (and oh yeah, a space shuttle!) are in the mix. A scavenger hunt helped provide structure to our visit for a kiddo (plus a little prize at the end). We spent 2 - 2.5 hours. Didn't read every single placard nor see every single item in every display case, but I do feel like we "saw it all" in a broad/general sense. You could easily spend longer if you are a more thorough museum-goer. (Or don't have little ones with you!) 100% worth the visit.

Stopped here just before departing Dulles. We had a good 2 hours to spare and this seemed like a natural stop before the airport. What a wonderful experience. We spent the full 2 hours, and probably could have added another hour. When we got there a tour was just starting so we joined that, but quickly discovered the tour was going to drag some and that some of the people on the tour liked to hear themselves talk and were slowing it down. So, we split off after the first items and began our self-guided experience. The signage at every exhibit offered plenty of information and if not, we could always google for more. We loved every segment, from the private aviation, to the birth of aviation, to commercial, to military (especially WWII), to space exploration. It gave us chills to stand right next to the Space Shuttle Discovery and the Enola Gay. We loved seeing a concord and the very first FedEx jet. The satellites were amazing. Some of the private planes, some very very small were so interesting. I cannot recommend this strongly enough. If near Dulles – GO. Make the time and you will be happy. Entrance and exit are a breeze and the airport entrance is just a few minutes away.

Perhaps one of the best aviation museums in the world, here you can see many aviation legends like the enola gay, the blackbird, all sorts of fighter jets and even a space shuttle. Along with missiles, drones, satellites, old and newer aircraft, this is heaven for aviation enthusiasts. It is nothing compared to the other branch in the national mall in dc. Located right next to the dulles intl airport, you will either need quite a bit of time with public transportation or take a cab of lyft service. It is definitely worth the visit and dont forget to include a stop by at the old control tower to see the actual dulles airport activity. Free entrance!

This museum is free (except for parking!), It is among my favorites in the entire world. You are literally in an airplane hangar surrounded on all side by planes, engines, rockets, helicopters, you name it! You can also go up to an observation tower that makes you feel as if you were in the Control Tower. Your visit involves a lot of walking, but everything is handicapped accessible. I was fortunate enough to go with my son, an aeronautical engineer, so I got a lot of information from him that I really enjoyed. The museum does offer guided tours, so take advantage of that if you can. My favorite part was the workshop where you can see people actually working to restore planes. There are also IMAX type movies, but we did not go to that part. If you go, arrive early, before there are a lot of people and you can enjoy the immensity of the place without distraction. There is also a McDonald's on site because you will be hungry when you finish the visit. And, of course, a gift shop.

Amazing adventure to view the actual air & space crafts throughout history . We had an informative tour by a knowledgeable docent John and we spent over 3 1/2 hours at the museum it was so engrossing Highly recommend a visit if you’re into the chronicles of man’s adventure into flying

This is an annex to the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC. It is quite a bit of a journey, but well worth it. You take one subway train (1 hour ride) out to Virginia, then walk to a bus stop (short distance) and take a 30 min bus ride to the Center. Take a guided tour! It's about an hour and a half. You'll only be shown about half of the museum but you'll get so much detail. The highlight is, of course, Space Shuttle Discovery, which made 39 trips into space (more than any other shuttle and also carried more people into space than any other spacecraft). There's also the Concorde (world's fastest jet), the Enola Gay (dropped the first bomb over Hiroshima, Japan in 1945), several US and German WWI and WW2 aircraft and so much more! Plan to spend 2-3 hours. The 1.5 hour train/bus ride one way from DC is worth seeing what you will see here!

This museum is fantastic! We walked through the 3 different areas: space, commercial and military. There are SO MANY items to look at up close! All the planes and memorabilia are close together, so it didn’t seem too far to walk around. Don’t forget to look up! There are also many items hanging from the ceiling like space satellites, kites, and other planes. Afterwards we went to the observation tower to watch planes land at IAD. There you can find a feed of the tower giving instructions to landing planes! So well done! Plenty of parking ($15), museum is free entry.

Free museum just outside Washington close to Dulles airport.
A great museum home to the Blackbird and Discovery space shuttle.
Takes a couple of hours to visit but well worth it. Lots to see and very informative. Highly recommended. Just pay 15 USD to park

Plan to arrive early and take a free guided tour. Our guide pointed out a lot of attractions that we may have missed on our own. He was a retired engineer from the aviation industry and told us a lot of good stories. There is a lot to see so plan on spending the day. There is a McDonald's on site if you want to have lunch there. It was awesome to see the Enola Gay, the SR-71 Blackbird, and the Discovery Space Shuttle. There were several great IMAX movies showing - a good time to rest your feet and relax. The Flight Simulator rides were also fun especially the virtual reality Spacewalk. There is no admission charge to the museum but there is a $15 parking fee which is very reasonable with all you can see and do.

The National Air and Space Museum in Washington DC might be great but we wouldn't know because you have to enter an on-line race to get (free) timed tickets.
Even so, I bet its not as absolutely amazingly wonderful as the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center!
Look at the website to see a full list of what's there - the centre is located outside Washington right next to Dulles Airport - but some highlights include an awesome SR71 Blackbird, the gob-smacking Discovery Space Shuttle, a Concorde, loads of fighters from down through the ages, the original (gulp!) Enola Gay, plus lots of fascinating stuff such as experimental German warplanes captured at the end of the war.
If you have any interest at all in aircraft and especially military aviation, you will completely freak out when you walk into the main hall. While for space enthusiasts, the Shuttle alone is worth the visit.
The centre is free to enter but there is a $15 parking charge. If you arrive in the afternoon, parking is free after 4pm (the centre closes at 5.30) and around this time you will probably see numerous cars waiting at the side of the road before the gate, waiting for the 'magic hour' to arrive. You might want a bit longer though if you want to queue for the flight simulators and other activities.
One of the highlights of our trip.

We were greeted by the nicest people at the front door, who seemed to really care and be glad we came to see the exhibits. Very impressed by the organization of the displays and the descriptions of all the displays. Helpful people were near to give descriptions. I was happy it was self paced. Being there during on a weekday certainly is advantageous.

From DC take the silver train towards Reston. The metro will eventually go on to Dulles airport BUT not yet. At Reston get off take the elevated walkway right, go into the complex and take the escalator down to the busses. Take bus 983 to Dulles and the Udvar-Hazy center. Reverse rout to return. I grew up around airplanes, my dad worked for the old National Airlines, and I worked before going into the service at the airport. I spent 23 years in the Air Force. I saw planes I'd never seen. My wife has worked in space related fields for many years and transferred into the space force when it formed. She saw stuff she never even heard of. Plan the entire day. You might not finish but if you are a serious geek, you need the time. Space Shuttle, SR-71, the Concorde. Balloons, home built's, kits, WWI, WWII, Korea & Vietnam plus some of our newest like the F-35. Awesome!

What a spectacular place this air and space center is! From its impeccably neat exterior to its elegant observation tower, the whole facility has wow factor. But hang on, inside is even more amazing as this is the home of the majestic, battle-scarred space shuttle Discovery, the infamous Winola Gay, the supersonic, streamlined Concorde and dozens of other aircraft that broke records and made memories for generations of people in times of war and peace. As it is part of the Smithsonian entry is free. Get there early at weekends and holiday time as this place is understandably popular with seasoned enthusiasts and amateurs alike, old and young. From the Wright Brothers early attempts at an aircraft to some of the latest cutting-edge aviation and rocket technology, this museum has it covered. There were also child-friendly story times and planetarium experiences. Coming from the UK, I was a little surprised that there was no plucky little Spitfire alongside the German Messerschmidt and the Japanese Kamakazi missile plane. Enjoy your visit! I did,

We visited DC downtown Smithsonian Air&Space Museum, Boeing plant in Seattle Washington, CT submarine museum, NYC Intrepid, which is already impressive, but none of those compare to THIS museum that literally houses everything from NASA Destiny, stealth planes, war planes from Germany and Japan (Kamakazi..), actual Concord plane, first plane flew by 1st African female at time when no one would instruct, and a whole lot more…

We had the best curator, Veteran
Larry, who taught us rich history about many displayed aircrafts. The free guided tour typically lasts 1.5 hour but he offered us optional extra hour and would have so much more stories to tell.

Their IMAX is huge with many seats! Skip the line for tower observation though, nothing much to see up there.

This Museum is a must see. Top 50 in the World!

This museum is an absolute must if you’re in the DC area - there’s so many treasures of aviation on display that I’d be here forever if I listed them all - in fact, I went twice in the span of a week, and I still don’t think I’ve seen everything! This is a place that I’ll be visiting over and over again, especially since the restoration hangar - which you can look into through the elevated walkway - has some fascinating projects being undertaken. My personal favourite exhibits have to be Enola Gay, Space Shuttle Discovery, the WWII aircraft, and Flak-Bait, among many, many others. I know for a fact that I’ll be visiting the DC area again soon, and this place will be at the top of my list.

They hade a good looking space shuttle, Enola Gay (dropped the first atomic bomb) and a good looking SR-71. The museum is large and does never feel crowded. The dispalys of aircraft are all top notch. Anyone with an intrest in aircraft should go.

What a wonderful display of flying machines! You can walk right up to, and in most cases touch, so many aircraft and spacecraft!

Great museum. Many examples of both military and commercial planes including the Enola Gay and the Concorde. You can easily spend a couple of hours walking around and reading the signs and looking at the planes. I found the Discovery space shuttle to be very interesting. Gives you a real sense of the risk of space flight and the accomplishments of NASA.

This is a great place to learn about all sorts of aircraft. There are two huge hangers i of them. There is also an IMAX theater on site with a number of different choices.
A couple notes:
- the trip out on public transportation is about 1.5 hours so plan for that.
- also there is not a good choice on site at the moment. Shake Shack will be eventually not not now. So bring a snack or lunch.

I had a few extra hours in DC on this trip, so I went out to Dulles to see the Udvar-Hazy center. Absolutely amazing.

At the advice of good friends, I went on one of the free guided tours. All experienced guys with lots of aviation experience. Sounds like EVERY tour a bit different. My tour was Navy Aviation Engine Guy ... and we got tons of fun tidbits about the planes, the navy in WWII, the engines, Japanese Submarine Aircraft Carriers, the engines in the Discovery Shuttle, etc. Before my tour, I overhead a bit of a different tour, which sounded like a Air Force Pilot, who had all kinds of different things to tell his tour group. One guy in our group was a local, and he said he comes and takes a different tour from a different guide all the time, and learns something new.

I thought it was pretty amazing (as my guide pointed out), the difference in such a short time, from the Wright Brothers Flyer to the SR-71 in just about 100 years. From 14 miles an hour to Mach 3.5!!! From Muslin and Pine, to Titatinium and advanced Composites!

I'm trying to see if I can set up future travel to DC to give me more chances to spend some more time. Totally Amazing.

Absolutely brilliant! Make this a must see. I happily spent a few hours here exploring and learning about some of the iconic exhibits. Can highly recommend the free guided tours to get the most out of your visit. Shout out to our guide Leslie was so knowledgeable and engaging.

Outstanding museum with many rare display items, including Enola Gay, the bomber that dropped the first Atom Bomb. Many very rare if not unique German end of WW2 era aircraft. Spend the whole day there. Many many exhibits with Space section and in pride of place at the entrance is an SR 71 Blackbird. If you are into aircraft and visiting Washington, put this part of the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum at the top of your list. If a criticism, perhaps some exhibits a bit too cramped. As highly recommended as it can be.

Spent the day here almost from open to close!
Beyond words to say the least.
Everyone was nice we encountered.
Mask usage was great ...only saw one person without one and one person not wearing his right.
Don't forget to go in the observation tower.

Could easily spend two days here - collections from the beginning of flight to modern times, plus all the artifacts in the display cases. This place is huge and just packed with aviation exhibits - from rare pre-WW1 airplanes, German WW2 prototypes, Cup and Saucer from the Hindenburg to the Mobile Quarantine Facility used by Apollo 11 astronauts - not to mention, the Enola Gay, Space Shuttle Discovery, and the Concorde. In back of the second story "catwalk", is their Restoration Hanger, where you can watch them restoring future exhibit pieces (a WW2 bomber, lunar rover and capsule). Also, not to be missed is the observation deck to watch planes take off and land at Dulles & the IMAX theater films. Not crowded at all and you can take as much time as you like at each exhibit - very friendly and relaxed atmosphere. Plenty of "resting area seats" around for us older people. Unless there is really something you want to see at the DC Air and Space Museum - this is the one to tour!

The second part of the National Aviation Museum (Steven F Udvar-Hazy Center) is located near Dulles International Airport. The museum occupies a huge area that represents the best and most iconic representatives of the aerospace industry not only in the United States, but throughout the world. What strategic bombers, Concord, Discovery spacecraft, etc. are worth. Just walking we spent more than 4 hours here. The museum’s collection is constantly growing, making it interesting to visit again. Super place. I recommend it. For information: Museum visits are free, but you need to pay for parking, which costs $15. USA.

Wonderful variety of aircraft exhibits, and for going on a Sunday, it wasn't very packed. Great way to spend an afternoon, and the observation deck is a must!

If you are in DC , and you like cool aviation and space stuff, don’t miss this! Spent 3 hours, can easily spend more! Parking was $15. But admission free. Charge for iMax movies too.

Because the Smithsonian Air and Space museum on the National Mall is closed for remodeling, we went out to the annex. The museum is out of the way and the toll roads surprised us, but overall it was worth it. I don't have a mind for engineering and space travel, but there were enough impressive exhibits to keep me engaged, and my kid loved the flight simulator! We missed having the cafe open, especially since there isn't much around.

Lots of planes, rockets, missiles and cut away motors and propulsion systems. Imax theater had several different films about flying and the latest Bond flick. Only negative was that many of the planes were covered in clear plastic while they were doing roof repairs, so you could see but not a clear view. Also, no restaurant on the grounds

This place is well worth the travel from DC. The highlight for me, was to see a space shuttle, and the Enola Gay, but there is so much there to see. The day I visited with my husband, the place was quiet, and relatively empty.

If you love all things aviation, this museum is a must. A fabulous, well curated collection. If taking public transport from Washington DC allow at least 1.5 hours each way. Yes! Long train ride with many stops and a non- express bus that winds its way to the Centre. Also, only cafe onsite is a McDonalds and there is nothing else around.

What a collection of air and space vehicles! From the SR-71 Blackbird to the Space Shuttle Enterprise, and the Enola Gay to the supersonic Concorde, this is the place to come if you have even the slightest interest in air and space travel. Entry is free, but you'll need to pay to park. This is the motherlode of aircraft and related history. Don't miss it!

We live rather close so visiting o an off day from school is great. Children always learn something new and live it there. Service to get something to eat is a bit chaotic but still love this museum.

The mere fact that this museum has over 4,000 reviews and roughly 90% of them gives this five stars (or circles) tells you something. If you have even a faint interest in aviation, you will want to come here.

The Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center is near Dulles Airport about an hour outside of Washington DC. Admission technically is free, but if you drive parking is a steep $15, but at least it's relatively convenient. The museum is kind of an Annex for the Smithsonian Air & Space Museum, but is able to accommodate much larger aircraft.

And what a collection it is, containing everything from civilian and military aircraft, space vehicles, and amateur vehicles. It includes the Enola Gay (which dropped the bomb on Hiroshima), an SR-71 Blackbird (you see this in spy novels), the Concorde, various experimental aircraft, the space shuttle Discovery, the Gemini 7 space capsule (Jim Lovell of Apollo XIII fame flew it), the F-14 Tomcat that shot down a Libyan MiG plane in 1989, lots of one-of-a-kind planes, helicopters, drones, World War II aircraft, a model used in the movie "Close Encounters of the Third Kind," and the Gossamer Albatross (a man-powered aircraft).

By the way, look closely at the model of the Close Encounters mother ship. They later added absurd details to it after the movie was filmed.

I thought that the descriptive materials were very helpful. The museum is also staffed with enthusiastic guides who are delighted to tell you just about anything you want to know about anything. I had a sense that most were either retired military, avid historians, or both. They all love to tell stories and to give you unusual details.

One caveat: I have been here three times, and while they will talk about various aspects of the Enola Gay, they seem to be told not to talk about whether the bomb should have been dropped on Hiroshima in the first place. You probably have your own opinion anyway. The history of the B-29 plane is itself interesting.

Other reviews on this site complain about the Shake Shack restaurant, which seems to be the only one on the grounds. I did not use it, but take a look at them before eating here.

This is a fun museum with iconic aircraft you will not see anywhere else.

This was our last stop of our trip to Washington and as we were flying home that evening we decided to visit the Air and Space museum which is in the temporary place near Dulles airport while the National Mall museum gets a renovation. There is a shuttle bus from the airport that drops you off at the museum, and it's worth spending a couple of hours exploring the whole place as there's lots to see. It was quite busy when we arrived so we didn't get time to check out the observation tower or the simulation booths. It's a very good collection of planes and space exhibits with the Enola Gay, Concorde and the Blackbird on display.

Utterly awesome. All my childhood dreams come true.

Fantastic for adults, kids loved the simulators.

Lockheed Blackbird - wow!!

Fantastic collection of aircraft, drones, and rockets. It was so amazing to see the Space Shuttle and the Concorde up close. The Enola Gay is also here along with a wide variety of WWII aircraft and also a SR-71 Blackbird for those wanting to see more recently used warfighters.

This museum is a must for fans of aviation. It has a wide variety of aircraft. All are displayed well. The SR71 and Concorde are legendary planes. Walking around can take 4 hours. I stayed in downtown DC it is an hour train and bus ride. If you take the metro, a day pass is a good buy. You need to add additional funds because the day pass won't cover the bus ride from Innovation Center to the museum.

If you are passionate about aeronautics and the space race, this is a museum that you can not miss. I made a quick visit while waiting for the time to catch a plane at the nearby Dulles airport (10 minutes by car) and enjoyed as before, admiring all kinds of aircraft, historic vehicles such as the Enola Gay, a Space Shuttle, German and Japanese planes of the second world war. The list is endless. You can see the workshops where the different aircraft exposed are repaired and recovered. There is also a burger shop and a souvenir shop.

This museum is a part of the Smithsonian complex. We've previously visited the original Air and Space Museum, so we were excited to come here. We weren't disappointed! Yes, some of the displays were covered in plastic, as they were being renovated/worked on. But we still saw some amazing items including the Space Shuttle, a Tom Cat fighter, a Blue Angels jet, and a Coast Guard chopper, to name a few. Interspersed among the planes were plenty of informative displays full of original items. There were hands on stations for the kids. Be sure to go here!

Great museum, visited to see a Space Shuttle.
Fantastic array of exhibits from all eras and countries of space and air travel.
We had such a great time.

The great disappointment was the only food available was McDonalds - yuk.
Surely you can do better.

I also noted that your guide omitted from the story of Concorde that the US banned Concorde for several years from flying to the US as a method of protectionism which contributed greatly to the financial failure of Concorde.

The museum is perfectly located if you have an afternoon flight and a car to drop off.
No more worries about wasting vacation time or getting stuck in traffic on the way to the airport. We visited for three hours then dropped off the car and boarded our flight home.

We were able to tag onto a 10:30 guided tour. It was supposed to be for 90 minutes...I think it went til almost 1 pm. As we found out later, the gentleman was a former helicopter pilot turned docent. The tour covered all the eras of flight plus the Space Hangar and highlights giving a great sampling of the exhibits. There was so much information I did not take any pictures during the tour.

After lunch, we went back and re-toured the entire museum to look at additional exhibits, take pictures and go to the observation tower briefly. We spent 6-1/2 hours here.

Parking was $15....a small price to pay to visit such a marvelous facility.

PS Our guide said one museum we should not miss is the Marine Corps Museum in Quantico

Bit of a drive, but what a sight when you arrive! So many planes in one massive hanger. Well worth it!

If you have any interest in planes or outer space, this is a great museum to visit. There is so much to see: military planes and helicopters, spacecraft and satellites, even commercial planes. All are housed in a great hanger, with additional space for the Discovery space shuttle.
I noticed several planes that are the last of their kind, including a copy of a plane built and flown by two teenagers, in the 1920’s, I think.
The museum is well laid out, with walkways above the floor, so you can see the items from different angles.
Admission is free, with a charge of $15 for parking. There are free lockers if you want to store items during your visit. There is also a nice cafeteria with cold and hot items, including a Shake Shake counter.
The IMAX theaters have lots of different shows, which we didn’t have time to see. There are also flight simulators you can pay to use, and an observation tower overlooking Dulles Airport. The tower is pretty far away , but it’s worth a look.
There is so much to see here that it’s pretty overwhelming to try to do in a day. We will have to go back!

This is a very amazing museum. My grandchildren loved it. It's free you just pay $15 for parking. The food there is pretty expensive. They have tv screens in some areas where you can ask someone live a question and the will answer it for you that was pretty great.

Wow! Loved every aircraft. The Discovery Space Shuttle, SR-71 are both marvels. Wish I had more time to spend. This museum is definitely can’t miss specially if flying out of IAD.

Very informative and cool if you’re into airplanes and space, you can see the different types of planes from back in the day to now, learn about space travel, see a real astronaut suit and items they used while in space travel, you’ll see missels and so much more.

My husband loved it here. Even myself who is not interested in the slight about this stuff thought it wasn’t too bad. It is well laid out and there are viewing platforms. Of course the highlight was the discovery shuttle for my space geek husband. Which he has not stopped raving about. There are free tours every hour which is nice. We didn’t actually go on the tour but met one of the guides and they are very friendly and knowledgeable. Of course their are options extras you can pay for like the imax theatres or VR experiences. We didn’t do this. They seemed to range from $8-$15 per person.
There is a gift shop and MacDonalds inside.
Great place to visit.

#1 Aircraft Display in the World. Plus fabulous on subject imax movies and cheap McDonalds eats. Excellent parking.

Fascinating museum of airplanes and space travel. Our 2 yo grandson loved seeing all the planes. All of the adults enjoyed it too. They didn't have a Ford 3 engine plane used for smoke jumpers here in MT, but they had most other kinds of aircraft. Lots of things I had never heard of. Docent volunteers are excellent, so you can ask lots of questions.

There are many different planes to see throughout the entire museum. The center is large and the floors are very hard, so bring shoes that are comfortable. After walking around for an hour your feet start to feel it. There are many interesting nooks and crannies to explore, such as the area you can watch restorations of planes. The tower is also a must see to watch the planes take off and land at IAD. Consider going on Sunday's after 4 pm since the parking is free then.

With the Air & Space Museum in DC mostly close for renovation these days I was hoping this one would pick up the slack. It sure did. I'd heard it was great but it was even better than I'd hoped. Filled to the brim with rare and notable aircraft, including a space shuttle, it would be hard to think of much this museum lacks. Everywhere you turn there is another rare aircraft. The Bell X-1, The Concorde, Wright Brothers, Enola Gay, the aforementioned Space Shuttle and so many, many more. It is all expertly presented, as well.

A few notes for visitors: There is a Shake Shack inside the place, which is handy. It costs $15 to park which is high and you really have no choice. The Google Maps for this place sent me (and a lot of other people) to the employee entrance, which is no where near where we needed to go. They need to figure that out.

This is an amazing museum- definitely one for the aviation &/or space enthusiast!

It's a short bus ride from the Innovation Center Metro station (silver line from DC), & is free to enter.

Highlights of the many exhibits include the Space Shuttle Discovery, Mercury capsules, a SR-71 Blackbird, Concorde, & the Enola Gay. There are numerous civilian & military aircraft on display, & we spent over 3 hours walking around the vast hangars.

One possible downside is that there is very little in the way of 'hands-on' exhibits, so this may be disappointing for some, especially when compared to the A&S Museum in DC, which has a number of exhibits you can walk up to/into.

Notwithstanding this, I'd certainly recommend this museum if you are in the area as their are so many iconic items on display.

We stopped by on an afternoon to enjoy the displays of both aircraft and spacecraft. Including the Enola Gay bomber and Shuttle Discovery. These are actual aircraft and not scaled replicas or imitations. Each of the displays are detailed information wise. They have a Shake Shack there for those feeling peckish. As well as a pretty nice gift shop. Those who are into aviation and space travel will love this museum. We thoroughly enjoyed every bit of it and recommend it to all visiting Chantilly.

Insanely awesome experience. The SR71 was ma favorite. Tons of parking and free entrance (with $15 parking fee). All the original airplanes and great simulations as well. Wonderfully explained.

Outstanding and comprehensive air and space museum. Free to enter. $15 for parking. Some interactive exhibits. Observation tower.

Excellent museum about air travel on earth and above earth. So much to see in a little time. There is no admission fee but they have paid parking. They have too many airplanes to display all of them. Lots of people at the front door but thins out quickly as you enter the museum.

My son and I have visited this museum for the past 3 days (and frequently in the past) for plane spotting and to educate ourselves on aviation. Up until today we had been welcomed and felt as if the consumer matters. Today that changed….my son went to purchase us some bottled waters while we were relaxing in the cafeteria area (which up until today had been ok) all of a sudden 3 employees RUDELY told us we could not have drinks in the museum!!! So why do you sell them?!?!? We were headed to the cafeteria area with the drinks approximately 100 feet from where we purchased the drinks?!?!? We also experienced eye rolls and were scolded like children because we wanted to pay with cash?!? What the heck!?!? Last time I checked cash was still accepted as a form of payment at least until the virus came along!😡

The museum is located in Chantilly - a few miles from IAD.
Entrance is free for all ages, but car parking is $15. Their are plenty of car parking spaces including parking for the disabled.
The museum is split into a number of sections, but with a strong emphasis on military. Space shuttle discovery is awesome to see. My reason for visit was to see the Air France Concorde. Unfortunately you cannot board the aircraft.
Do not forget to go up the tower for magnificent views of IAD and the surrounding area.
Their is a coffee cafe and gift shop. My only disappointment was no Concorde merchandise.

This museum has a world-class collection of historic planes and spacecraft. However, unless you are a pilot or aeronautical engineer, there is virtually no way to interact with the exhibits. Aside from the three or four simulators, it is strictly "look but don't touch". Our six-year-old grandson was disappointed that there were no cockpits or airplane interiors to explore in a hands-on way. I would suggest having Boeing, Lockheed and other manufacturers pony up with actual or replicas of the various vintage passenger aircraft interiors from 1917 through today, including a DC-3, Constellation, Boeing 747 with upstairs lounge, Concorde, the Indiana Jones Pan Am Clipper, and others. I would love to board a Boeing 377 and cosplay flying coast-to-coast in 1948 luxury.

My goodness, there is so much to see. And you can see it all from different levels. I loved being able to over look the restoration shop. Give yourself at least 3 hours.

This place is a MUST for the aviation buff. Even if you are only a slight aviation buff, this museum is well worth the trip.
From the moment you enter the museum and look down from the upper platform you can't help but be fascinated by the amount of aviation history at this museum.

It's a bit of a drive from downtown DC (but it's worth it) and you can do in a few hours (I mean take longer if you want - I'm just saying if you pressed for time).

I went with my high school age son and the two early elementary kids he was babysitting. My son knows a bit about aeronautical engineering, so he could spend hours. The museum kept the younger two engaged for about 1 1/2 hours. We did not do anything that cost extra money. With time to plan ahead, IMAX tickets would be fun. We did go up to the observation deck. I wouldn't do it again on a crowded day. They packed us into the elevator to a physically uncomfortable extent. The view is okay, but you really didn't see much of the Dulles air traffic as you might hope to see.

This is an extraordinarily brilliant museum. It’s almost impossible to describe how historic the displays are - a space shuttle, the Enola Gay, the Spirit of Texas, and that’s just for starters…

The only complaint is that parking is not free - admission is free - but parking is kinda expensive

The Smithsonian can do better on the parking policy

Still… it’s a must visit

Go enjoy

This really is a stunning museum, and while it may not contain as many ‘crown jewels’ as the Smithsonian in downtown DC, it still holds an amazing collection of aeronautical history. My main points would be:

Easy access and parking if you arrive by car.

Great value, no entrance fee, just pay $15.00 parking fee (on leaving) and you’re in.

The exhibits are laid out at ground level and suspended from the ceiling, with sufficient separation between each and with elevated catwalks around the main halls, lots of opportunity to take some really great photographs.

We’ll all have our own personal favourites, but don’t miss exhibits have to include the Space Shuttle, B-29 Superfortress ‘Enola Gay’, SR-71 Blackbird, the prototype Boeing 707, Concorde and some rare exhibits recovered from Germany at the end of World War II.

Two hours minimum. The collection really focuses on the aircraft, less so weapons, engines or other aviation ephemera. The interpretation boards are minimal, as if the aircraft are left to do the talking.

The gift shop could be better. It was not as comprehensive as I was expecting, and right now seems to be heavily concentrating on two themes: Blackbird and Apollo 11.

Oh dear, if you want food or drink, it’s McDonalds or McDonalds. No chance of healthy eating, and you can’t take your own in (expect the usual bag check on entry).

But as I wasn’t there to shop or get fat, nothing detracted from my immersion and enjoyment in an incredible collection.

Great museum in a food desert, no alternatives. There is no realistic nearby alternative to the food service, currently provided by steak and shake. Lines are terrible and slow. The quick alternative with packaged sandwiches was repeatedly broken and you could not pay for food. It does not appear to have a person who watches it for problems. Leaving parking for lunch requires you to pay another $15 parking fee. There is nothing close.

As always, the museum part is fabulous.

Husbands first visit to any Smithsonian and my first time her. We both come from space/aviation families so we love all forms of flights. As a 6-time Space Camp alum I was here to see Discovery. She was beautiful in her final resting place. I also loved seeing my favorite airplane the SR-71 Blackbird.

A friend of a friend told us about this place - we had no idea it existed and were so pleasantly surprised. We went on a nice Sunday afternoon and it wasn't too crowded and so many great planes to see. Lots of history here - my 10 year old was just enthralled by so many of the planes and facts about them. Free entrance but parking is 15 bucks.

The website says admission is free but parking is $15 before 4 PM. Parking is free after 4 PM. They close at 5:30 so that may not be able to enjoy everything. It may be worth paying if you are wanting to spend 2 hours or more here.

Spent a whole day here and well worth it. As an aviation geek it was on my bucket list. Well worth a visit and free entry. Well organised and a magnificent collection. There is stuff for all the family !

museum is awesome and not my first visit but the food and beverage provision is a disgrace and the shop shameful. There is no coffee shop and no restaurant just a single burger joint Shake Shack which doesnt open til an hour after the museum, as a result by 11:15 there were 135 kids queuing (I counted). For elder and less energetic peeps, this is a disgrace as there is literally nowhere to get food and a drink (apart from soda and popcorn at the cinema) if tired, possibly diabetic, or just in need of energy and hydration

and the shop - just plush toys, cheap plastic models and a very limited range of books

I will not visit again unless Udvar Hazy widens its choices of f&b to accommodate those who might get a lil tired snd need a coffee and a sandwich and cannot queue for an hour. Absolutely a discgrace.

This was a very interesting museum with airplanes from all over. The history of aviation was included with planes or examples. The Enola Gay was there as well as a Space shuttle. I would allow a couple of hours to really see everything.

If you enjoy aviation this is a must see for you and your family. It has a little bit of everything and is easy to get in and out of. Very enjoyable.

Made the effort to get here from DC using public transport. And boy was it worth it. This museum is fantastic. What an amazing collection of exhibits. Went on the guided tour. Can fully recommend doing this guide was great and really knowledgeable. My son who loves planes thought this place was awesome. Will return one day when the opportunit permits.

We visited a Saturday morning and spent a few hours. The aircraft are nicely displayed and the signs at each of the displays are informative. The docents are knowledgeable and helpful, one took a photo of our group. We enjoyed our visit and will come again when we're in the area.

First and foremost this is a museum... not an interactive play center. Here you will find the most iconic aircraft in aviation history. You'll need a basic backgound knowledge of aviation history to fully appreciate what's on display. Children (and wives) will be in awe of the size of the aircraft but will get bored quickly if they don't have a historical understanding of what they're looking at. As a history buff I loved this museum. On a side note, to compare Udvar-Hazy to The Air and Space Museum in DC is like comparing apples to oranges. UH focuses almost completely on aviation history itself. A&S, while having some iconic aircraft, really focuses on space history.
Use your common sense... if you don't like McDonald's food and know that it will be more expensive to eat in a museum, eat before you go or after or use your parking pass to re-enter as many times in one day as you want to. The giftshop is excellent. We found great gifts for the grandbabies.

THIS IS SO WORTH THE DRIVE OUT TO DULLES!!! Seeing the Enola Gay in person was so cool!!! Not to mention all the other planes that they have in their that have been restored!!! Also the deck you can look off in the back that shows all the ones they're currently working on is super cool!!

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1. Bottom Line Up Front/frame of reference for my remarks. This was my first visit. I am a retired Marine Corps Infantry Officer, history buff and a tour guide aboard a museum ship; as such I have high expectations of military museums; I have visited over 30 in the United States. The extremely large museum (be prepared to do quite a bit of walking) is professionally-curated on the highest level and contains a great deal of beautifully-restored aircraft. Many of the aircraft are historically-significant.

2. Background & Layout of museum. The museum is approximately 760,000 square feet (all indoors). Design and construction began in 1999 with a $ 65 million donation; it was opened December 2003. It is separated into what I will call the following major exhibit areas: early flight, civilian aircraft, military aircraft, spacecraft. The museum is designed as two large, adjoining aircraft hangars. There are aircraft on the first floor and aircraft suspended from the roof; there is a multi-tiered overhead walkway that permits visitors to more easily view the aircraft hanging from roof. Lastly, there is a large area containing approximately 30 pristine aircraft engines. There are far too many aircraft to list; in the following paragraphs I have detailed the layout of the museum and listed some of my favorites and some that might be of interest to other visitors.

3. Exhibit Area #1 - Early Flight. This area contains approximately 20 (early 1900s) aircraft.

4. Exhibit Area #2. Civilian aircraft. There are approximately 35 aircraft in this exhibit: airliners, gliders, ultralights, etc.

4.a. Bell XV-15 Tilt-rotor research aircraft. This experimental aircraft set the pattern for the MV-22 Osprey aircraft used today by: USN, USMC, USAF. Introduced: 1979

4.b. Concord super-sonic trans-continental civilian airliner. This luxury aircraft could cross the Atlantic Ocean in four hours but the high operating fees ensured that only the wealthy could afford to fly. In service: 1976-2003.

5. Exhibit Area #3 - Military Aircraft. This area contains some very exciting aircraft that played a significant role in our history. Many served in World War II, Korean War, Vietnam War, Desert Storm and Operation Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan) and Operation Iraqi Freedom. Many are credited with shooting down enemy aircraft.

5.a. USN Vought OS2-U Kingfisher Observation/Scout Bomber. They were employed aboard battleships and cruisers. This is a very rare aircraft; only 4 are in existence on display in the U.S.A. Four are on display abroad. In service: 1938-1944.

5.b. US Army Lockheed P-38 Lightning twin-engine (propeller) fighter. This is one of my favorites. Due to its unique design (twin engines in separate nacelles and two tail booms), it was called the "fork-tailed devil" by German pilots. Additionally, this was the type aircraft (16 total) that ambushed and killed Japanese Admiral Yamamoto (the architect of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor). Armament/Ordnance: 1 x 20mm cannon, four .50 cal machine-guns; 4,000 lbs of bombs or rockets. In service: 1941-1949.

5.c. USN & USMC Vought F-4U Corsair single-engine (propeller) fighter. Armament/Ordnance: 6 x .50 cal machine-gun or 4 x 20 mm cannon; 4,000 lbs bombs or rockets. In service: 1942-1953.

5.d. U.S. Army Northrop P-61 Black Widow twin propeller night fighter. This is another very attractive aircraft, largely due to its striking black paint scheme. Armament: 4 x .50 cal machine-gun; 4 x 20mm cannon; 6,400 lbs of bombs. In service: 1944-1954.

5.e. US Army Boeing B-29 Superfortress Heavy Bomber (4 x propeller engines). This is the type of aircraft that dropped the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. In U.S. service: 1944-1960.

5.f. German Messerschmidt 163 Komet rocket-powered Interceptor aircraft. This is a tiny (18 ft long, 30 ft wide) aircraft that was intended to launch, attack Allied aircraft under rocket power, and then glide back to the ground to refuel and launch again. In all of my museum visits, it is the only one I have ever seen. In service: 1944-1945.

5.g. German Arado AR 234 Blitz twin engine (jet) bomber. This was the first operational jet bomber and is the only surviving model. In service: 1944-1945.

5.h. Japan Aichi M6A1 Seiran. Submarine-launched single engine (propeller-driven) torpedo-bomber float plane. This is a very attractive aircraft and is similar to the German Messerschmidt 262. This aircraft was intended to launch from a submarine aircraft carrier (yes, that's right), attack targets (ideally the Panama Canal) and return to the submarine. This is the only surviving model. In service: 1945.

5.i. USN & USMC Vought F-8 carrier-based jet fighter/photo-reconnaissance aircraft. Armament/Ordnance: 4 x 20mm cannon; 4,000 lbs of rockets, bombs, missiles. It saw service in Vietnam. In service: 1957-1987.

5.j. USN, USMC, USAF McDonnell F-4 Phantom jet fighter-bomber. Armament/Ordnance: 20 mm cannon; 16,650 lbs of bombs, rockets, missiles. This particular aircraft saw service in Vietnam and is credited with shooting down one North Vietnames MiG. In service: 1961-1989.

5.k. USMC Boeing CH-46E Sea Knight medium assault support helicopter. This particular aircraft saw service in Vietnam, Afghanistan and Iraq. In service: 1966-2010.

5.l. USN & USMC Grumman A-6 Intruder carrier-based Medium Attack Aircraft. Armament/Ordnance. 5 harpoons capable of holding 18,000 lbs of bombs or missiles. This aircraft could be used to refuel other aircraft. This particular aircraft saw service in Vietnam and Desert Storm. In service: 1963-1997.

5.m. USN & USMC Grumman EA-6B Prowler carrier-based Electronic Attack Aircraft. Armament/Ordnance. 5 x hard points capable of holding 18,000 lbs of bombs or missiles. This particular aircraft saw service in Iraq, Bosnia, Yugoslavia, Afghanistan and Syria. In service: 1971-2019

5.n. USN Grumman F-14 Tomcat carrier-based strike/fighter aircraft. Armament/Ordnance: 20 mm 5-barrel rotary cannon; 10 hard points capable of holding 14,500 lbs of bombs, rockets, missiles or fuel. This particular aircraft is credited with the kill of one Libyan MiG aircraft in 1989. In service: 1974-2006.

5.o. USAF SR-71 Blackbird Supersonic Long-Range High-Altitude Reconnaissance Aircraft. For those unfamiliar with this aircraft, it is a very sleek-looking black aircraft 107 feet long, 55 feet wide, 18 feet tall. Only 32 were built. Range: 3,250 mi. Speed: 3.3 mach. Ceiling: 85,000 ft. In service: 1966-1998.

5.p. USN, USMC, USAF Lockheed F-35 Joint Strike/Fighter. This supersonic stealth aircraft is capable of short/vertical take-off and landing. Armament/Ordnance: 4 barrel 25 mm rotary cannon; 18,000 lbs of bombs or missiles. In service: 2015-present.

6. Exhibit Area #4. Space. This area contains: Space Shuttle Discovery; several space capsules; space suits and related equipment.

7. Details of my visit

7.a. Date & Time. Friday 26 May 2023 (morning).

7.b. Other patrons. The museum was busy but not overly-crowded. There were several school groups there; be aware that the museum may be very crowded with children during the school year.

7.c. Length of visit. I was at the museum for 2 1/2 hours. I read 75% of the informative placards.

8. Location. I plugged the address in to my iPhone and it took me directly there.

9. Access

9.a. Passenger vehicles. The parking lots can be accessed by any type of passenger vehicle. There are a great deal of parking spaces.

9.b. Buses and RVs. I consider the parking lot to be accessible to these vehicles; I recommend looking at the site on Bing or Google Maps to confirm. There were several spaces dedicated for tour/school buses. I recommend arriving early to select a spot that can accommodate easy entry and departure.

9.c. Parking. $ 15.00; the parking lot is huge and paved.

10. Security. Visitors are required to pass through a metal detector (pocket knives ARE NOT permitted).

11. Admission. No charge. There are locations to make donations; bear in mind the huge cost of refurbishing these exhibits...not to mention how much it costs to heat and air condition this huge facility.

12. Hours of operation. Check the museum’s website for current information.

13. Handicap access. The museum is completely handicap-accessible. There are chairs scattered throughout the museum and there is an elevator to the second floor.

14. Child friendliness. I would consider that the museum is child-friendly. I did not see any hands-on exhibits but there appeared to be at least two simulators and a small Cessna civilian aircraft that can be entered.

15. Permissions/prohibitions

15.a. Weapons. Weapons (to include pocket knives) are not permitted. Be prepared to pass through a medical detector.

15.b. Photography. Photography is permitted.

15.c. Pets and service animals. Pets are not permitted; legitimate service animals are permitted.

15.d. Food and drinks are not permitted in the exhibit halls.

16. Type/nature of visit. Visitors may conduct un-guided tours; regularly-scheduled guided tours are available (free of charge I believe).

17. Amenities.

17.a. Climate control. The museum is heated/air conditioned.

17.b. Restrooms. Restrooms are located throughout the museum.

17.c. Water fountains. Water fountains are located throughout the museum.

17.d. Food & beverages. There is a "Shake Shack" cafe in the museum (primarily carrying burgers, fries and drinks). Food and drinks are not permitted out of the cafe.

17.e. Gift shop. The museum has a large gift shop that has items oriented toward children and adults.

18. Conclusion. This museum is definitely worth visiting if you are in the area and is worth a special trip when combined with other attractions in the area. See my other reviews if you are interested in other attractions of this type.

My son and I drove up from Petersburg Virginia just to see this Museum. I had seen other Air and Space Museum's including the Smithsonian and I have to say this one is absolutely amazing. It is a wonderful place to take children of all ages to let them see the large range of aircraft that's offered here. We spent probably two and a half hours checking our time to enjoy the hundreds of aircraft that are hanging and setting all over two different areas. And addition don't miss the observatory that allows you to look over Dulles airport and watch the flight coming and going. The elevator can be a little difficult to find but we did ask one of the employees and they directed us to the elevator. There places to eat and plenty of souvenirs to be bought. This museum is definitely worth dedicating an entire day to visit. It is a little off the beaten path but there are few historical buildings in the area as well. I definitely would not miss this Museum and I'm very glad we took the time to drive up and see it.

Just so you know there are 2 One in Washington D+C and this one m=near the airport. The one in DC is being renovated, but open through construction. Part of the DC one has been transferred to the Chantilly museum. So fi the Spirit of Saint Louis in not here. See the website.
The Steven F.Udvar-Hazy Center is a 10 min ride from Dulles airport. Coming out of the airport take Door 4, the downward ramp (parking, Rental Cars). Cross the road to the bus stops and turn right. Go to Curb 2E, here you take the bus 983 to Udvar-Hazy Center. (see photos). It’s a usd 2,00 fare, you pay on the bus. Busses go every 15 min and will take you directly to the museum. The entrance fee of the museum is free. They have all sizes of lockers to put your gear in, 0.25 cents which you get back when collecting your stuff. The museum has a great shop with a lot of books and toys for the kids (and grownups). No other option that a McDonalds restaurant (not my favorite).
Guided tours throughout the day, each having its own focus on aviation. Worthwhile! Take a few tours and then “get lost” in the museum. Also see the maintenance hangars from above. I don’t know what to add it’s an incredible experience, I had 2 stop overs at Dulles Airport and spent my time in the museum.

The chance to see a piece of history like the space shuttle up close and personal. Great modern facility with helpful staff and free tours. Observation deck let’s you watch planes land and the near by Dulles Airport.

Visited this Smithsonian Air & Space Museum Dulles while on a Diamond Tours Bus Tour from Louisiana to Maine. Nice and interesting facility. Massive size. Very clean and organized. Saw a movie about space in the IMAX theater there.

Great for people of all ages. The guided tour was informative & enjoyable. People of all ages will love this fabulous museum.

This museum is loaded with aircraft from the early days of flight up to today. The layout is easy to view all the plane from several angles. The IMAX programs were great and well made. The only draw back I found was the so called full motion simulator. A play-station has better graphics. The museum as a whole was enjoyable, easy to find & plenty of free parking. I will go again next time in D.C. to see any new additions.

If you love aviation this is the place to visit.
I brought my family here and my kids loved it. Space shuttle Discovery is on display. So many other air crafts are on display as well. My favorite is the SR-71 Blackbird.
Everyone will have their own favorite.
My son and I tried a flight simulator ($10 per person). I found out, I don't have what it takes to be a fighter pilot.
FYI: The only restaurant in the food court is McDonalds.
Parking is $15, admission is free.

In my recent visit I spent almost 5 hours visiting the exhibits. There are many one of a kind aircraft and displays covering beginning of flight to the space shuttle .

We really enjoyed the fantastic collection of aircraft here. We also appreciated the expert volunteers available to answer questions. The new Shake Shack was also a great spot to take a break, with excellent food and solid service. Definitely worth a visit.

Excellent museum with many fine examples of aircraft inc Concorde and the Boeing 707. Regrettably the layout does not follow any pattern with the exception of the us navy and space exhibits also not possible to enter or get up close to the exhibits.
What’s missing is a chronological illustration showing the various stages including the stories behind. Wright brothers to space and supersonic flight in 70 years. A Missed opportunity
Recommend using an uber to reach and leave the centre via the local metro station. lockers on site for luggage.

This was an amazing collection of air ships. You could spend hours here and not see all of the details. The displays are very well done. The interactive cameras with docents are extremely informative and creative. It was an afternoon filled with learning and fun all in one.

I have been here a couple times and it is spectacular. Enola Gay and space shuttle are awesome. The layout is one of the better air and space museums in the world. Go up on flight deck observation and watch flights landing or taking off from Dulles. Red Bull capsule and US warplanes from the past are great exhibits. A must-see Smithsonian.

Travelled from DC on the Metro to Wiehle-Reston then got on the 983 bus to the museum using our Metro Smart trip card for $5 total one way. Museum didn't disappoint and some great surprises among the exhibits. A must for aviation fans

I have been to the Air & Space museum a few times but this was my first trip here. It was amazing. Enormous selection of Aircraft, missiles and Space Craft. The facility is huge. Technically it is one floor but many displays are hung from the ceiling giving you multiple layers to view. They have walkways where you can observe everything from different angles and levels. The selection on display is superb. Standing just feet from the Space Shuttle Discovery was awesome. Entrance is free, parking is 15 dollars per vehicle, they gave a Shake Shack for food, simulators and an IMAX theater. Easily expect to spend two hours here. I nearly doubled it. Again this is a must do to view history and technology through the years.

The main attraction title should have AVIATION MUSEM added to it. I originally decided to visit the museum because I am a WWII buff and I had read that it housed the “ENOLA GAY” on display.For those of you who don’t know or have never heard of the ENOLA GAY it is the B29 super fortress that dropped the atomic bomb on Japan in WWII.
Having said that I will also say that if you are an aviation enthusiast,then this museum is a must to see! Located about 26 miles from Washington DC at Dulles International airport it contains the most aviation interests you would ever want to see! There are literally hundreds of displays featuring all kinds of airplanes and aerospace equipment from antiques to modern day...including a space shuttle display!
I thought I would only be there for a few hours but wound up spending the day there. There are displays to satisfy everyone’s curiosity! This is not to be confused with the Smithsonian National Air and Space museum which is on the Mall in Washington DC !
There is a cafeteria and huge souvenir shop on the premises too. I should say also that there is a small parking fee but the admission to the museum is free!
If you love planes and aerospace artifacts you should check this out!

Incredibly large museum with countless planes, helicopters, rockets, space shuttles and more. I've never seen such a collection before. I recommend everyone to go here. Once in a lifetime experience. The Discovery, a space shuttle that has actually been to space, made a big impression on me. What a gigantic and bulky thing that is. I went to this museum before flying back to the Netherlands from Dulles Airport. I took about 3.5 hours and this was not enough to see everything, even though I walked quite a bit. They have (large) lockers where you can store your suitcase. Most suitcases fit in it. Unfortunately, my wheels were just sticking out, but I was allowed to take my suitcase into the museum. Not very practical, but glad I still had the opportunity to look around. The museum also has fun elements for children, a large cinema where you can watch related films, an observation tower from where you can see the airport and good facilities in terms of food, lifts and toilets. The museum is completely free. Just go through the security check. My entire suitcase was put through a scanner and did not have to be opened.

The collection is enormous and outstanding. Plan on several hours, huge place. Well laid out, with things you will not see elsewhere.

Hot air balloons to the Mercury capsule.

A truly exceptional place to visit. Luckily on our trip to Washington DC we caught it before it closes on March 28th 2022 until Fall 2022. We reached it by catching the Metro Silver Line to its end station at Wiehle and then crossing the footbridge and catching bus 983 directly to the Museum (easily the cheapest way ($5) but not the quickest). Exhibits had changed a lot since my last visit there in 2014 and modern aviation pieces were on display (eg Predator drone) Anyone who has even a tiny interest in Space and Aerospace would be very impressed by this place

Museum well done with several historical aircraft’s that is worth seeing. One draw back is you couldn’t really get close for a better view, all were roped off with lots of aircraft in close proximity together. The tower was disappointing as you really couldn’t see the landing of planes at Dulles, and it would have been more interesting if it had more information of what to expect in a control tower. Parking over priced at $15.

AMAZING! We went while visiting DC and took public transit here. You could easily spend all day if you read everything but we spent about half the day. The space shuttle is crazy huge, and you can even see the restoration room via observation windows. This is way better than the other space museum on the mall. 1000% recommend!

It's he most fascinating museum even if you're not an aircraft buff! You could spend a few hours just admiring the various aircraft from the first days of aviation to the space shuttle, or days if you want to look at everything in detail!

This place is AMAZING! There is so much to see and take in. I felt like I needed a segway just to make sure I got through it all before closing. The place is is just colossal. So much history. I really want to thank everyone working there for making a place like this possible for the rest of us to visit and enjoy! We will be back again and again.

I visited with my two sons (12 and 8) in mid-October. We travelled from and back to downtown DC via subway and bus, which was quite easy (albeit lengthy - 1.5h each way). We arrived just before the 10am opening, which was great - as you can enter the building, cover formalities, and view some of the aircraft from the starting point, before they open a gate and let you in. The collection is fantastic. The highlights (Space Shuttle Discovery, Blackbird, Enola Gay, Concord) draw you in, but there are many other great planes to see. Also, because of the hanger layout, it is a very flexible museum to visit. I could have stayed all day, seeing all planes and reading all info; but with the boys it was easy to do a quick visit. We stayed for 2h, seeing all highlights, and viewing all planes - and we got back to DC around 2pm (with lunch from the McDonalds in the museum on our way out to the bus stop).

This place is absolutely amazing. Pictures just do not do this place justice. This is my second visit there and it will not be my last visit as it is an amazing place.

This museum is so interesting. You can see the space shuttle Discovery, the Enola Gay and a Concorde!! Be sure to take advantage of one of the free tours they offer. Our tour guide was most knowledgeable and it was obvious he loved his job. This is a must-see in the Washington, DC area.

The best way I can describe the Smithsonian's Air and Space Museum in Chantilly, VA (not far outside Washington, DC) is awesome. The size of the exhibit hall is awesome at nearly three football fields long, approximately 150 feet wide and 100 feet from the exhibit floor to ceiling. The number of air and space craft on display is awesome, numbering over 100 military and commercial American, French, German and Japanese planes alone. The quality of the docent-led 90 minute tours is awesome. We went on two such tours and each guide was thoroughly entertaining and informative and able to answer all questions directed at him.

One can easily spend the entire day at the museum, but if your time is more limited, at least go on one of the free tours. You won't learn about every vehicle on display, but you'll get a good overview highlighted by the most famous air and space crafts. Admission and tours are free. The only expense is a very reasonable $15 parking fee if you drive there. Otherwise, the museum can be reached from Washington by metro and one bus transfer.

Team Us 2K enjoyed a nice day out at this Air and Space Museum. We enjoyed seeing some of the older aircraft used in the military. Seeing the space shuttle Discovery was a real treat. We highly recommend visiting this museum.

This amazing museum contains many treasured air and spacecraft from the last century. The friendly staff and great displays explain every detail about each aircraft. I spent 3 hours to see all of the exhibits and took some great pictures. The museum is easy to reach by public transportation on the silver line and fairfax connector bus 983.

I'm so glad this was recommended to us, because it was a highlight of our vacation. Seeing Discovery as well as the Blackbird were enough to make it worth the trip, but there is so much more here. From the Enola Gay to sidewinders and patriot missiles, an amazing part of U.S. military history is here as well as the history of flight and space exploration in general. They also have a fair number of German planes from WWII. Bonus: they have Earhart's Lockheed Vega in their restoration shop!

Great place full of all kinds of aircraft, including the Space Shuttle Discovery, the Enola Gay, a Concorde. Free, but parking is $15. They have free lockers by the bathrooms. An IMax theatre. If you go right at 10:00 am it won't be as crowded.

Impressive property where you can be inches from hundreds of planes and helicopters, rockets and all kinds of aircraft. It is definitely worth it beyond the travel time, approximately one hour from the National Mall, althout it is very simple.

It is a bit of a hike to this museum from DC, but well worth it. It was about a 35 minute drive from our hotel in DC on the national mall. We visited the other air and space museum the day before and this blows it out of the water. First, the other museum has half of the exhibits closed. If you can only see one, this is it. I bet with all the exhibits open, this would still be my choice. There are so many things to see here. My favorites were the F-14 tomcat (think Top Gun), the SR-71 blackbird, the Diacovery orbiter (from the shuttle), the Enola Gay(plane that dropped the nukes), the Concorde (supersonic commercial travel)and the capsule from the Red Bull man jumps from space. The sights are awe inspiring. The have a few flight simulators for the kids. We watched the Normandy 3D movie which was spectacular. There are multiple bathrooms and drinking fountains throughout. They have a gift shop and McDonald’s is the only food choice. This is a must see on any trip to DC. This was the best Smithsonian museum we saw on our trip to DC.

One of favorite parts of the Smithsonian Museum complex in greater Washington DC area. Larger then the original air and space museum downtown, it has the last space shuttle, an air traffic control center, hundreds of planes and an imax theater. Free admission and $15 parking. If you have a long layover at Dulles take an Uber and enjoy yourself for 2-3 hours. Restaurant under renovation

So lets compare this to Washington...all free to visit....really $15.00 to park with mostly volunteers working here. Our tax dollars built this place with corp. donations. Yes they had great display but just seemed like a tourist trap !

If this is on you itinerary for the DC area, don't bother, especially if you have any children under the age of 60! Not kid/family friendly and the staff was rude from the moment we walked in. There is a reason it is free and the parking lot is still empty.

The nice thing (which are many), but the nicest thing about Udvar Hazy Air and Space Museum is that it IS NOT in D.C. Although it cost $15 for parking, it beats $20+ for parking in D.C. No Metro, No Hustling through city crowds, and it's clean. Nothing against museums downtown, just easy to find, plenty of parking and tons to see. This place is HUGE! It has everything that flys, hovers, or blasts off. Plan to spend at least 2 or 3 hours here because there is lots to see. If you live in the D.C. area or visiting from out of town, must check it out.

If you are interested in anything aviation...you have to come to this incredibly unique museum, located adjacent to Dulles Airport out in Chantilly. $15 to park no matter how long or short your stay is. Free to get in. There is a Shake Shack inside for eats. There is also a museum with plenty of knick knacks to buy. There's a theater inside along with a variety of flight simulators. All of these items listed you have to pay for. But to simply go and experience the museum, totally free. It's part of the Smithsonian. It's just incredible to see a Blackbird, the Space Shuttle, the Enola Gay, the Concorde...the list goes on and on. Military aircraft, aircraft "kits" that were assembled years ago, aircraft from different wars, countries, periods in history. There's even fine china and furniture on display showing aviation through different periods of time. Helicopters, balloons, the capsule that Felix Baumgartner lept from back in 2012, old Boeing jets,...there are endless opportunities to see how aviation and space exploration have moved through time. I highly recommend that you go up in the tower with a full 360-degree view of the surrounding areas, including most importantly, the various runways at Dulles. See planes take off and land from high atop the Engen Observation Tower...another totally free component to your visit. Once you get off the elevator on the 7th floor of the tower, you can also hear IAD air-traffic control in real time. This museum is not just a museum: it's a full day experience where you get to interact with some exhibits, walk through others...it's a complete sensory experience. I highly recommend getting to the Center when it opens. I would suggest staying a minimum of 3-4 hours to get the complete experience.

This air and space Museum is near the Dulles airport about which is about 40 miles and up to a 90 minute drive time, depending on traffic, from downtown Washington DC. I was flying home out of Dulles so went early and visited the museum before I dropped off the rental car. It is huge compared to the Smithsonian Air & Space Museum on the Mall in DC and it is not as crowded - when I was there they were at most a couple hundred people in the entire facility. Admission is free but you do have to pay to park.

Great exhibits like the Space Shuttle Discovery, the Enola Gay, or a Blackbird. Paired with a grandios IMAX theater shows, welcoming staff, and nice lunch options. What more can you want.

A must see in DC area- if you had to choos eone air and space to go to in DC, choose this one. If you are an aviation buff , this is the one to visit. You can easiluy spend an entire day here but if you are pressed for time allot at least 4 hours. Plenty of parking that is paid. It is right next to Dulles and you will see photographers hanging out doing plane spotting.

Wonderful museum full of incredible air and space artifacts, including the Space Shuttle Discovery, Enola Gay and an SR-71 (Blackbird).
Only area for improvement would be to offer some alternative to McDonalds as a dining option.

Went down because of the Concorde and Discovery Space Shuttles on display. Saw so much more. Recommend buying a ticket for the IMAX movie theater ahead of time.

I visited this museum with my best friend in June, and it was such a lovely experience! Definitely not meant to replace the National Air and Space Museum over in D.C., but it's certainly a worthy supplement. Please note that you will have to pay $15 per car, though.

As a family of four (parents, one teen, one tweener), we really enjoyed this experience! We went specifically to see the space shuttle Discovery. We ended up spending 3 1/2 hours there as we looked at all the displays and read as we desired. Displays are well done and enjoyable from both the floor and the catwalks...don't skip going on the catwalks as it gives you different perspectives of each aircraft.

Of the four museums that we all went to, this was our favorite. Give yourself plenty of time. We arrived at opening, walked through security and were on our way. Friendly docents all over helping with any questions and offering information. The line for food was always kind of long- we had our car with us and packed food in a cooler to enjoy after our museum experience.

Note: we aren't really into aviation/spaceflight as a family, but the amount of history that lies within the walls is amazing. We appreciate not only the history but also the science of flight.

Maybe it’s because we’re from Dayton Ohio where we have a huge aviation museum, but compared to the time it took us to get here I was underwhelmed. It was great to see the Discovery Shuttle, Enola Gay and the Star Wars
x-wing, but other than that we were not impressed. If you’re an aviation enthusiast you’ll probably have a totally different opinion. My 15 year old found it boring as did I

Anyone interested in aviation or space should check out this museum. It can be reached fairly easily on public transport from Washington DC using a Metro-bus transfer. The main hall contains about as many historic aircraft as you're likely to see in any one place. The space section would be worth it for Space Shuttle Discovery alone, but also contains a very large collection of other fascinating artefacts. My only minor complaint is that some of the signs are confusingly placed, being closer to another object than the one they are actually referring to.

Amazing place, especially for those who like aviation. The collection is much larger than the Air and Space Museum in Washington. The Impression I had was that most of the previous collection of the Washington Museum was transferred to this new space. There are dozens of planes. To get from Washington to the Steven F Udvar Museum we took the subway to the Innovation Center station (Silver Line) and from there we took an Uber (less than $10) to the Museum. The option would be to take the bus, but it only leaves every 1 hour at a cost of $2.50. Since we were in 3 people, Uber compensated.

Great choice for a free air museum near Washington Dulles. Wasn't aware it was here until our DC tour guide suggested it when the DC Air & Space Museum was sold out of entry tickets during spring great. Impressive collection of aircraft and well worth your time to visit. We will definitely visit again.

If you enjoy learning about airplanes and space exploration, this facility is excellent. Well designed. Admission is free; however, parking is $15 per vehicle, at this time. See a Concorde, the Enola Gay and the space shuttle, Discovery, along with many other vehicles of flight. Excellent for a day when the weather is inclement. Learn a lot of history by reading about the planes, rockets and spacecraft.

Air and Space in DC is great, but there is some really fantastic stuff here. So many aircraft and artifacts including a Concorde, SR-71, Enola Gay, the containment trailer from Apollo 11 and of course space shuttle Discovery. It’s about 30-45 min (depending on traffic) from DC but if you’re into aviation it’s totally worth it. Admission is free but there’s a charge for parking ($15 as of 11/2019)

There is so much to see here. Astonishing, but after a few hours my brain was saturated. Went to the new Shake Shack there, and I was disappointed that they did not have their more complete menu. Expect that there are only basic milkshake flavors and two specialized ice cream things to the Air and Space Museum.

A must see for anyone interested in air and space. Because the museum is an actual hangar, there is a lot of space to house the actual aircraft and space craft. From the very first planes used, to the modern day Concorde, and everything in between. For some of the more popular exhibits, there was a live docent who was there to provide information and answer questions. A couple of the exhibits even had docents via webcam The space section had the Discovery Space Shuttle, which was very interesting as well. I highly recommend seeing one of movies in the iMax theatre. We saw "Deep Sky," and it was an awesome, intense documentary on space exploration.

My husband and adult daughter and I enjoyed a couple of hours here during our visit to this area. Our free tour was provided by a very knowledgeable and entertaining tour guide. We learned so much. The 2 of them really liked the simulator ride!
My husband especially loved seeing and hearing all about the SR-71 , and I enjoyed the space shuttle Discovery. Very sobering to see the Enola Gay.
Will come back again!

Admittedly, I am not a huge air and space fan, but my husband and daughter are, so I follow them to all the museums. Honestly, to me most of them are the same, but this one is bigger than most and offers things that I haven't seen in others. It has the Enola Gay, the Space Shuttle Discovery, and a Concorde. Not to mention the hundreds of other fascinating things. It's worth the day trip from DC.

This is an excellent outing for the day. There is much to see and learn; it is really well organized and displayed.

We had a great time at this branch of the Smithsonian. While admission is free, parking is $15 it's the other stuff in the museum that will cost you, but it's not stuff you HAVE to do. The IMAX movie and snacks were expensive as was the VR simulator. These were all things that we made the decision to do, and we knew that they would be additional expenses. However, the price of the popcorn ($7) seemed high, even for a theater. But the exhibits are incredible and each one is filled with a ton of information. It was amazing getting to see the Space Shuttle Discovery up close. There are many artifacts from all throughout aviation history. The Observation Tower was neat. You get the chance to see planes landing and taking off from Dulles. But, I'm not sure the tower would be worth more than about a 10 minute wait. Overall, it was a great place and well worth the visit!

This place is so impressive if you love aviation or are interested in learning more. My family has been several times and we see new things each visit. Taking a guided tour is a plus! Very clean and spacious. Lots of good things in the gift store. They even have a Shake Shack inside , must eat early
to avoid large lines for food

In Washington? Don’t leave without visiting this Museum.
Having traveled all over the world, this is one of the best modern History Museums on Air and Space I have ever visited.

Seeing the SR71 Lockheed Blackbird and Discovery Space Shuttle in one place, certainly was an absolute highlight.

Definitely will visit again!

This is a "don't miss" in the area. We were planning to visit Washington DC but nothing was open yet but this in Chantilly. Great museum with awesome collection of anything that flies! Save time and get your souvenir online.

This museum is fantastic. We prefer this air & space museum MUCH more than the one located in DC. We took the Metro from our hotel in DC to Innovation Center on the silver line, got off and took the Fairfax Connector directly to the Udvar-Hazy Center. The museum is massive with loads of amazing aircraft including the Discovery space shuttle, the Enola Gay as well as other interesting aircraft. I highly recommend this museum! (Skip the Shake Shack inside for lunch though, it's horrible!)

The Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, part of the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, is a must-see destination for aviation and space enthusiasts. It is located near Dulles International Airport in Chantilly, Virginia, and far away from most of the downtown Smithsonian museums and the traffic. Parking is convenient but requires a fee. Admission to the museum itself is free. This museum showcases an incredible collection of aircraft, spacecraft, and aviation artifacts in a massive hangar-style setting that is visible on your entry to the facility. The centerpiece exhibits include the Space Shuttle Discovery, the SR-71 Blackbird, the Enola Gay, and the Concorde. All aircraft, spacecraft, and rockets are displayed in pristine condition, offering visitors a close-up view of the engineering marvels that shaped human exploration of air and space. The museum’s layout allows visitors to walk among the aircraft, with elevated walkways providing unique perspectives on the larger exhibits. The Udvar-Hazy Center also boasts an IMAX theater and a place that allows you to see the ongoing restorations that are taking place. There are many interactive displays and knowledgeable docents to provide engaging insights into the history and significance of the artifacts on display. Whether you’re passionate about aviation history or just looking for an unforgettable experience, the Udvar-Hazy Center is the place for you.

My wife and I visited this large museum which is part of the Smithsonian in April 2023. We spent more than five hours in the museum. It contains numerous historical air and space craft including the space shuttle Discovery, an SR71 Blackbird, a Concord, and the Enola Gay. Be sure to take the tour which was free and very informative. We also watched an IMAX movie. You can also overlook the area where historical aircraft are rebuilt. For a charge you can fly a flight simulator which seemed to be a great attraction for young people and you can take your picture in a piper cub. A Shake Shack is on the premises for fast meals. There is no cost to enter the museum BUT there is a $15.00 Charge for parking

It is not easy to get out here, if you are visiting DC without a car. However, we had an evening flight out of Dulles and we'd driven up to DC this time. So, we went out in the afternoon to finally visit this great museum. There are so many terrific aircraft to see out here, as well as things like the Apollo 11 command capsule and the Space Shuttle Discovery (not the Enterprise). And, right now, they are working on restoring an X-wing fighter from Star Wars and you can view it from up above. So cool!
There are great information signs to tell you about what you are seeing.
We had to get a free timed ticket to visit. It does cost $15 to park and the highway out there is a toll road, with odd amounts like $3.25 to pay in coin unless you have an EZ- Pass. However, it did pick up my Central Florida E-Pass and I found the charges on my account, when I got home.
There is no food available. The line to the shop can be long, due to Covid restrictions. So, be aware.

This is an off-shoot to the Air & Space Museum that lives on the National Mall and well worth a visit if you can make it there, especially with the museum on the mall currently closed for construction.

It costs $15 to park your car at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy site. Entry is free from there. Inside are many planes to walk around and view, as well as artifacts from Space exploration, including the Space Shuttle Discovery which is REALLY COOL to see!!

Make sure to take a stroll past the Mary Baker Engen Restoration Hangar. This was my favorite part. So awesome to see people hard at work on pieces owned by the museum, including Amelia Earhart's plane which they were working on while we visited and is usually in the museum at the mall.

There is also an observatory that you can go up to look out over the nearby airport which is fun--kids would love this.

Getting here is a bit of a drive outside of DC, but if you have the time, I'd recommend a visit.

Landed at Ronald Reagan Int'l Airport early Sunday am. Rented a car for a few hours just to drop our luggage off in Georgetown and drive to Chantilly, VA. It was well worth it. An Uber would have cost more than the $60 rental did.

What a place the Udvar-Hazy Center is! My teenager (college tour) and I spent a few hours in awe of the space, the displayed aircraft & watching the planes land at nearby Dulles from the tower. This is a place that should be on everyone's To-Do list.

We later returned the car at Ronald Reagan, took the shuttle bus to Old Town Alexandria for a late lunch then ferried back to Georgetown on the Potomac. An absolutely wonderful day.

I went here on a mission to see the fourth of the space shuttles having seen the other three so for me it was worth it for that reason.

However, it is a drag-arse trip out there from central DC, to the end of the metro line and then either a shuttle bus to the airport and public bus or taxi or that same public bus for a 30-40min trip. It must have taken me something like 2 hours.

The museum itself is very good. aside from the shuttle there is a superb selection of German late WW2 aircraft, very intersting stuff. There is a concorde and some other itneresting aircraft but not anything that you can't see somewhere else (where there isn't a public transport death march).I understand there is a shuttle bus between the two air and space museums in the summer.

So many others have captured the true quality of this museum-
Standouts include the Enola Gay ( yes THaT one) , Space Shuttle Discovery, Concorde, and so many others.
Take the time and spend at least a day here- so amazing! Several local hotels have free shuttles , or Dulles has an affordable bus from the airport -
Gift shop, McDonald’s, IMAX, theater, simulators, and observation tower are all additional perks!
Great for families - all ages.

Definitely a must see while in the D.C. area, especially if air and space craft are of interest. Plan to spend anywhere from a couple of hours to an entire day, depending on how much in-depth study of the presentations you desire. Join the Smithsonian to save on your purchases at the museums, including the IMAX and restaurants.

The dynamic scope of the museum is amazing, from the beginning of aviation to space, ohh and don't forget the space shuttle!

This is a fascinating museum with an impressive collection expertly displayed. The free tours are worth taking. The guides are knowledgeable and enthusiastic.

This is an absolute must see in the U.S. What an amazing capsule of history, planes, and different aircraft. The entrance is free, but parking is a $15.00 flat rate. You do go through security when you enter and cannot bring in drinks or food. If you have a water bottle, there are fountains to fill yours up as well as restrooms located throughout the facility with stairs, ramps, and elevators.

Of course the some of the highlights were the Discovery Space Shuttle, the SR71 Blackbird, the Air France Concorde, there were tons of missiles and space crafts devices from missions, different war planes, classic planes, and some of the craziest choppers you have even seen. I wouldn't even imagined some of these things could fly!

There are audio tours available. I wish we would have had time to get one and learn a lot while we were there. I recently read there were free tours with experts. We stopped here for a few hours before driving to the airport on our way home. The drive from the center was about 50 minutes. There were about two tolls we went through on the way if you are renting a car and traveling here.

There are interactive stuff for the kids, and this truly is interesting for all ages. Inside, there is a gift shop and a place to buy food.

Fantastic facility with hundreds of aircraft. I went to see the Enola Gay and the space shuttle Discovery specifically. This is a spacious museum and not too crowded. It's free, but parking is $15. Highly recommended for any airplane enthusiast. Outstanding.

5 stars all the way.
Amazing museum with fantastic docents. The docents (no extra charge) make the museum, planes and spaceships come alive as they relive and detail the history. Took my wife for her first visit and she loved it. Wonderful place for young children (very kid friendly-we didn’t have kids with us...lol).

The title says it all. I actually got to stand under the wing of a concorde. I never got to actually see one in real life before. The whole place is truly magnificent. You get to see the plane that dropped the first atomic bomb (Enola Gay) and there's a great area for those of you that are interested in space flights. I timed it right to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landings, so there were lots of space-themed items. There's also a viewing platform (accessible by stairs or by elevator) so you can see a lot of the place in its entirety. There's also a viewing area where you can watch planes take off & land at nearby Dulles Airport.

From Gliders to Space Ships. A great place to spend a day as there are aircraft from every era. Military and Civilian. Some are one of a Kind like the Amphibian which was at Pearl Harbor on 12/7/1941. The craft are from around the world. You can also overlook the work shop that in great detail restores aviation equipment

Absolutely wonderful museum. All types of aircraft. Many of them famous. I’ve gone several times. But this time they had no food service. No machines, no drinks, not even a roach coach outside. They won’t even let you bring food and drink in. Unless you want to live on granola bars and water, better eat in your car before coming in.

Very impressive aviation museum. Great collection of aircraft all in amazing condition. Layout of the museum was excellent, with high up walkways enabling views from above.

The most amazing space museum ever! It is huge and so interesting! Between the airplanes, helicopters, air balloons and space shuttles, it is just unbelievable. It is free but there is a charge for parking.

I discovered we'll be passing Dulles Airport around 4 pm, so I've decided to take advantage of the free parking after 4 pm and do a quick visit. From a map of the museum I figured it's not that big and my hour-long time window should be enough to at least walk everything through. But I didn't accounted for the third dimension, with raised walkways and hanging planes.

Ultimately I've seen most of the showpieces I wanted to see, but it was very rushed. I'm writing this review mostly for another occasional passer-by and warn, that less than an hour isn't nearly enough to see everything and walk all the aisles (for that I'd say the full "free" 1.5 hrs is the bare minimum), not to mention to enjoy the museum collection.

Loved seeing the SST and other historical planes. Even some balloon baskets. Can’t wait to see what’s in the new museum

Excellent museum. Free entrance, though parking for the day is $15.

Many aircraft on display, several one of a kind or the last surviving of their kind. I like how the museum is laid out, progressing through various aircraft eras, largely aligned to previous wars. The space section is somewhat small compared to the aircraft portions of the museum, but it's cool to see the Space Shuttle Discovery in person.

There's a decent sized gift shop. I recommend watching an IMAX film. There are several different movies showing a handful of times throughout the day. You have to pay for these movies.

There is a Shake Shack inside the museum. Line was huge, so I instead opted for a cold cut sandwich and drink, available in the cafeteria and not associated with the Shake Shack.

For those needing a wheelchair, there are only a small number available and they are first-come, first-serve. I had to periodically check back to see if one was available for one of my family members, as there were none available when we arrived.

Recommended.

Go first to the observation tower and see the planes taking off at Dulles airport. You’ll be amazed at the job the ATC folks do. There’s not a second they can relax! Next head down to the exhibits of the planes. If you are running late head first to the shop. You don’t need to see the entire museum necessarily to pick up a souvenir.
If you are hungry there is a McCafe on site. Join the free tour if you don’t have enough time of 4-6 hours to cover everything. I had Mr CY Young as our docent on the free tour and he was extremely knowledgeable and full of trivia. He will take you through the highlights in 1.5 hours/90 minutes including the first plane that America ever built that didn’t really fly (learn why the Wright Brothers went over to England), the Spitfire, the Mustang, other planes from World War I and II. Of course then there’s Enola Gay, the SR71 Blackbird by Lockheed Martin and NASA’s Discovery space shuttle! My favourite is the one that Howard Hughes worked on - you can see the “rivets” that he was obsessed about if you have seen the movie-the Aviator!

This museum has a very interesting mix of planes and other flying machines, including a lot of German WWII craft. The staff is very friendly and helpful. There are free tours and hands on exhibits including the ability to sit in a Cessna 205. We had a great time during our visit. We didn't get to see much from the "control tower", but is a great view.

First of all, in these COVID times, there are only 2 Smithsonian Institutions open: The Washington Zoo, and the Udvar Hazy Center of the National Air & Space Museum!

Take advantage of the zoo, but please take advantage of this center out by Dulles Airport. While several of the exhibits will remain shut down (due to COVID and pre-scheduled roof repairs...), the available exhibits are fabulous: An actual Space Shuttle (the Discovery...), an SR-71 spy plane, a retired SST (Super Sonic Transport), the original Boeing 707, the Enola Gay (with an amazing view of Paul Tibbett's cockpit seat...), and many more.

Needless to say, the related experiences (like the cafe, gift shop, etc...) are very limited these days...BUT...you will have the place to yourself!!! (When we were there today, there were a couple dozen other cars in the parking lot...maybe!)

Enjoy!

The Smithsonian continues to present the history that might be forgotten in the future generations. The Air & Space Museum provides excellent viewing space.

If you have any interest in History, flying or you just want to see the vast collection of planes from the decades that have passed or that are current in the space history. I have attached photos of the historic Enola Gay and the stunning Blackbird !!

I have never seen hangers as massive as the two that form the base area for the plane collection.

"Wow" or "stunning" are probably the most appropriate words to describe the display.

One of the most awesome museums I’ve been to. Full of planes that have been restored and or donated by places like the US Navy. They have a collection of US military and civilian aircraft as well as the iconic Concorde, SR 71 and Shuttle. All under one hanger. With explanatory notes. From the earlier pioneers in aviation to the Predator Drone. This is history you can see up front. An easy walking path takes one amidst the giants from below or above.

For aficionados also there are engines and cameras and other gadgets as well as foreign WWII aircraft from Germany and Japan. Also missiles and rockets.

Great place but no decent place for lunch. We visited on a day that it was not very busy and the wait at Shake Shack for lunch (in line and then the wait for the food) was over 30 minutes. And a can of beer costs $11. Bring your own food!

A gem, a great addition or alternative to the 'downtown' sister Smithsonian museum.
Proudly presented, immaculately clean - a marvellous collection of aircraft and space history & travel.
As an aviator I was amazed by the diverse collection - many I had not seen or did not know, some presented in 'as they were' condition and some to show-room spec.
A great restaurant and shop too!

We had heard of this place but have usually spent our time in DC on the mall and at the museums and monuments there. This place is right by Dulles airport and since that is where we were staying, we swung by here the morning we were leaving town. For families, it is a great place to spend a couple of hours. Rockets, planes, hot air balloons, all inches away from you. You can feel the history and adventure in the place. Unlike any other museum and not too crowded since it is so huge. Don't count on eating here - food options are limited. If you don't do the movie, the only cost is $15 for parking. Don't forget to check out the elevator that takes you up to the observation tower!

Highlights of this visit:
The observation tower!! A MUST!!
Space Shuttle Discovery & a whole area dedicated to man in space
FREE guided highlight tours
MANY staff/volunteers happily able to share information, history, and personal experiences...
Extremely organized and very well labeled exhibits
Multi-level views of many aircraft thanks to 2nd & 3rd level walkways.

Points to note:
Museum is free, but parking is not ($15)
In-house McDonald's is CLEAN and not as pricey as would be expected inside a venue...it's an option, with views of planes coming into Dulles
Lots of well-placed seating for visitors with mobility limitations or rest needs

Our family of 5 (kids ages 14, 11, & 8) ALL enjoyed this museum!! For the sake of comparison, we have also recently visited the Wright-Patterson USAF Museum...both are excellent!!

WP has more aircraft overall and delves deeper into the history of flight. Udvar-Hazy provides a more open environment with spectacular presentations.

We HIGHLY recommend this museum!

Located at Dulles International Airport at Washington, DC, the Stephen F. Udvar-Hazy Center is an "annex" to the Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum. I imagine most people don't realize there are two air & space museums -- and this one has the actual Discovery space shuttle. It also has a Lockheed Blackbird, a supersonic Concorde, aircraft from World War 2, rockets and missiles, sports aircraft -- and just so, so much more in an enormous hangar with three levels. We spent hours there (and so did quite a few school groups on field trip). There's a restaurant and luggage-sized lockers for people who want to spend some time there before flying out of Dulles. Highly recommend it.

I spent a couple hours here before going to Dulles Airport, and it was a highlight of my Virginia vacation. A space shuttle, the Enola Gay, a Concorde, and thousands more.... you are struck immediately upon entering with an overload of impressive and magnificent air- and spacecrafts. Exhibits are well-labeled with a trove of interesting information. Do NOT miss this!

I loved seeing the Blackbird, the Enola Gay, Space Shuttle, etc but the simulators were fast, archaic, and not worth the money.

This was my 4th visit here and it just keeps getting better. There’s so much to see. I love the Space shuttle discovery and the Sr-71 Blackbird. Plus theirs so much history to see. I even took in an IMAX film which was incredible. I look forward to coming back.

Went to watch Apollo 11 IMAX movie. It was great. Seeing it on the big screen made it feel like we were on the Lunar Lander with Neil. Afterward we visited the museum and checked on our Shuttle Discovery. We witnessed its last launch at Cape Canaveral.

This place is amazing with a lot of actual aircraft on display. It was a very well laid out museum starting with the beginning of flight all the way to space exploration. They have many WWII aircraft here including the Enola Gay(B29). Also there was a P-61 and P-38 among many others. The space shuttle Discovery is here and it is huge. There was also a lot of recent military aircraft including the F-18 the Blue Angels fly and an F-14, the same two planes featured in the latest Top Gun movie.

I would highly recommend this place if you are an aviation buff. You can also observe the restoration area. There was a B-26 being restored when I was there.

I stayed in DC and didn't have a car but you can get there by taking the Silver line to Innovation center and then taking the Fairfax Connector 983 bus right to the front door of the center. You can find these directions on line. One tip is to check the 983 bus schedule so you can time your trip there and back as the buses do not run that often.

A vast collection of aircraft and space vehicles and rockets. This is definitely geared to adult aviation fans. Theaters were not offering any films on this Tuesday. Subject experts did some remote conferencing but not much engagement.

We were disappointed that after traveling almost two hours by metro and county connector bus to get here late morning, there was no food at all available onsite. We left (very hungry) by 2 pm to head back to DC’s mall. They are selecting a new vendor apparently, but an appalling situation for a remotely located Smithsonian facility!

If people agree this much, it must be good. And it really is!
Much quieter than the Air & Space Museum in Washington, better exhibits.
We didn't go up the tower or into the IMAX theatre because of time constraints, but just walking around on your own or taking a tour was amazing. The kids also wanted to go on the ride simulators and interactive flight simulators and had a great time.
No passes required (not even a time reservation), parking is $15 (we were 7 people, so about $2 per person).

This museum surprised me. I was expecting to learn about the history of flight and the development of comercial airlines and space missions. I did learn about these things but in addition, I found myself in tears in front of the eerily beautiful Enola Gay, that dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima and caused such untold horror and trauma to Japanese civilians.

I had recently watched a very moving documentary about the survivors of this bomb (now in their 90s having been small children at the time). I was honestly shocked that very little was said in the exhibition about the consequences of the bombing. It felt strange to see this object of mass slaughter and radiation illness portrayed almost heroically.

I know that some Americans still view this bombing as justified but I expect many visitors will feel unsettled and appreciate more sensitivity. I learned from this documentary that the occupying American forces suppressed all information about it and so the survivors (many of which were children) lived their whole lives with illnesses but also discrimination and obfuscation. To imagine men sitting in that cockpit and dropping this misery on people below was chilling and upsetting.

I also recently watched masters of the air, in which they talked about how the American pilots bombed during the day to try to target military bases to avoid civilians but the more war wearied British pilots flew at night because they had suffered such high casualties and no longer cared about hitting civilians.

It would be interesting for the museum to examine these kind of moral dilemmas more. These beautiful shiny machines caused such terror and suffering (not to mention the fact that nazi rocket scientists helped lead space exploration at NASA after the war); I would expect a museum to dwell more on these issues and give the visitor more context. So much of our invention and ingenuity as a species has been driven by weapons and war. I think we need to reflect on that.

This museum is wonderful and we have been several times. Now that my son is 4 however, it’s not engaging for kids 5 and under. It’s a museum. Meaning you look at stuff. That’s it. The only engaging thing is to ride the airplane, but it’s a half hour wait or more, for a one minute experience. They had storytime for little kids and a coloring activity after. However, a lot of the kids lost interest because you couldn’t hear the man telling the story. A simple microphone would have helped wonders. I also believe there should be people in costume walking around; like robots and space people. My 4 yr old wanted to climb in the planes and the spacecrafts. Can you blame him? How fun would it be if there was a blow up space craft that kids could climb in. You could even charge families! It’s boring for kids my sons age because it’s not engaging. All you do is walk around and see airplanes. I also think there should be another choice of restaurant besides McDonald’s. With just a few improvements, you would see even more families with kids under 5.

This is an absolute must must must do when in Washington DC. Whilst the Smithsonian Air & Space museum in the city is good (see separate review) , this one located near Dulles airport is incredible. It is a bit tricky to get to, but worth the effort. The collection of retired and restored aircraft is astounding, from WWII fighters to modern day jet fighters to the Concorde to the space shuttle. WOW.

Like this museum very much. We just keep coming back. It is suitable for kids of all ages. For younger kids it is parent job to tell stories, but when kids grow up they can explore it on their own. And I never saw this place packed.

My wife and I visited the Udvar-Hazy Center prior to leaving on international flight out of Dulles. We really enjoyed our visit. Admission is free and you need to pay $15 parking fee if you have a car. You get to see a lot including SR71 Blackbird, Concorde, Space Shuttle and multiple military and commercial/personal type aircraft. There is observation tower that is included that overlooks Dulles airport which was fun to visit. IMAX movies are available for additional fee. Highly recommend and nice visit. Enjoyed it better than the one in DC.

This was an amazing place. There are so many aircraft and we viewed everything from early flight to military and from novelty builds to space flight. There are places where you can talk live to docents through televisions. We were able to ask some questions about the space shuttle and got really interesting information. We spent hours here and enjoyed exploring it all. We really appreciated the view into the shop (the area where they are working on restoration) and how it was incorporated as part of the exhibit.

Passing through the area and decided to stop by this place because it looked neat. Figured we spend an hour and be back on the road. We spent the whole day here! So much to see and do! Being able to stand next to a space shuttle and realize just how big they are was my highlight but the SR 71 was a close second. Definitely would like to make it back here again some day.