I'm in the U.S for a few weeks. What's the best aviation museum I can visit? Or any aviation related exhibits I can go and see that are really cool. Thanks
Posted by 56au@reddit | aviation | View on Reddit | 58 comments
Boating_Enthusiast@reddit
The U.S. is kinda on the bigger side. Is there a particular region/city you'll be in?
56au@reddit (OP)
All over. I plan to see it all from east to west :))
nekize@reddit
Intrepid is quite cool in NY
MunitionGuyMike@reddit
You’re not gonna see it all unless you’re here for at least a couple months. The US is big
RingGiver@reddit
The United States is bigger than you realize.
jakerepp15@reddit
Thanks for saying this.
OP, unless you have an unlimited budget and plan on traveling 300 miles a day, you wont get anywhere close to 'seeing it all east to west'. Its a 5.5 hour flight from New York to Los Angeles, Miami to Seattle, etc.
Pick a region and cover as much of thatbas you can.
makgross@reddit
In a few weeks?
No, you’re not. The US is roughly the same size as Europe or Australia, and neither can be seen sensibly in a few weeks.
Pick some priorities. Like maybe 3 max, flying between them.
Having once been a local, you can easily spend weeks just at the Smithsonian.
Waste_of_Bison@reddit
This. I always recommend getting to know a few places relatively well instead of spending half your trip in transit. A nonstop flight between New York and Los Angeles will eat six hours (plus airport time on each end) of your trip. Intercity rail is largely nonexistent. Driving between New York and Chicago takes more than 12 hours without traffic. (Large chunks of the country are pretty boring to drive through, too. You can only look at pretty trees for so long before you start wondering whether Pennsylvania is, in fact, its own dimension. That state goes on for years.)
Anyway. If you're traveling in August and need an excuse to spend a beautiful day relaxing on the lakefront in a fantastic American city, I highly recommend the Chicago Air and Water Show. The Golden Knights parachute right onto the beach.
The Smithsonian facility near Dulles is unmissable, frankly. They have lockers that will fit a carryon wheelie, and it's a really cheap cab ride from the airport.
HonoraryCanadian@reddit
Smithsonian (both together) has the most famous aircraft.
USAF (Dayton, Oh) has best Air Force collection.
Museum of Flight (Seattle, WA) has world class depth and breath, with several other outstanding museums in the region.
Pima Air & Space (Tucson, AZ) has an outdoor collection unconstrained by space. One of everything weird and military, not always in good condition.
Naval Museum (Pensacola, FL) has an outstanding naval collection.
For my money, a week a car and an aviation nut would best be served in Seattle unless you're looking to check off specific aircraft (Spirit of St. Louis, XB-70, Space Shuttle) that are found elsewhere. Go up to Everett for the Flying Heritage collection (they actually fly, and have a rare collection of Axis power aircraft), the Museum of Flight restoration hangar, and the Boeing factory tour. Then head to Oregon for the Evergreen museum (Spruce Goose) and, if you have time, Tillamook Air Museum (and ice cream).
imbasicallycoffee@reddit
Pima is super cool and underrated.
slups@reddit
It's my favorite by far. I wanna see the weird shit!
56au@reddit (OP)
Thank you for taking the time to type this out
RhinoRhider22@reddit
Just a heads up about the National Naval Aviation Museum, if you’re not a U.S. citizen you have to be escorted by a U.S. citizen since the museum is on the base there. I’d hate for you to get there and not be able to see it. Although the gulf coast is perfect this time of year.
BigmacSasquatch@reddit
Still a little mad that the last couple of times I was down there they strictly restricted base access to those with CAC cards because of Covid. I did get to see the blue angels practice from across the bay though!
HonoraryCanadian@reddit
Time a trip to Seattle well and you can catch EAA Arlington fly-in (third biggest after Oshkosh and Sun n Fun) or the Blue Angels performing at Seafair.
HonoraryCanadian@reddit
And depending on your time, budget, and plane interests I might suggest taking the milk run to Juneau, doing a flight tour there, then continuing the milk run to Anchorage. Enjoy the Alaska Aviation Museum at the shores of Lake Hood Seaplane base, watch the 747s come and go from the big airport, pop over to Merrill field to enjoy the bush planes, maybe catch some F-22s practicing nearby.
SkullLeader@reddit
> Museum of Flight (Seattle, WA) has world class depth and breath, with several other outstanding museums in the region.
What are the other ones? I was planning to visit Seattle later this summer and was aware of the Museum of Flight (have been there before but it was decades ago) but not any of the others.
zlliao@reddit
Flying Heritage and Combat Armor Museum at Everett
HonoraryCanadian@reddit
Keep reading that comment :)
cschelz@reddit
+1 for Pima. I moved here just over two years ago and I’ve already been 4 times. I’ll gladly keep going and it’s always the first place I recommend when someone visits
fly_awayyy@reddit
Another +1 for Pima truly one of a kind and massive collection of planes.
lovelyfeyd@reddit
Tillamook is great because of the blimp hangar most of the collection is in, plus the cheese and ice cream up the road at the Tillamook factory tour, as noted.
Aerospace_Gaming@reddit
If you're going to be in the northeast, check out the Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome. They have airshows on weekends with original and replica WW1 aircraft. They also have a decent size museum on site with more aircraft
dabarak@reddit
I vote for the USS Midway Museum, the decommissioned aircraft carrier in San Diego. It's either the #1 ship museum in the world, or close to it. I volunteer there as a docent most Saturdays.
The aircraft we have range from WW2 to Desert Storm, there are flight simulators (both virtual reality and full-motion), we have a "holographic" movie about the Battle of Midway, a simulation (not scary) of shipboard firefighting, you can visit the bridge and two other spaces in the "island" (four steep ladders above the flight deck; get in line before 4 PM, earlier if you can for a shorter wait time), one of the engine rooms (below the waterline!) and a lot more.
But - and I'm biased - the best feature in my opinion are the docents. Many, like me, are former Navy, and we try hard to explain how things work, etc., in ways that are easy to understand and hopefully entertaining. (I tell guests I'm the silliest docent they'll meet, and I believe I'm one of the best when it comes to making things simple and fun.)
There's food onboard and two nice seafood restaurants within about two minutes' walking distance. You could easily spend all day at the museum, depending on your interest level. In fact, if you run out of time, you can get your ticket stamped so you can come back the next day.
If you come on a Saturday, look for me - I'm Dave with a white beard.
https://www.midway.org/ 10 AM to 5 PM, last tickets sold at 4 PM.
aflyingsquanch@reddit
This is a truly great museum and thank you for volunteering there!
captain_danky_kang@reddit
Military aviation museum in Virginia Beach Virginia. Every aircraft in their hangars are airworthy and do flights every Saturday during the summer.
nocommunicatio@reddit
The USAF museum at Wright-Patterson AFB in Dayton, OH is excellent if you’re in that region
Miss_MechE@reddit
US National Park service also has units at a couple of the Wright brother sites in Dayton that are worth checking out if you are in the area.
rekiirek@reddit
Every time I'm in dayton for work I spend a day at the museum. Still haven't seen all of it
grenamier@reddit
In Manhattan, I like the USS Intrepid Museum. It’s an aircraft carrier docked in the Hudson River.
SevenOh2@reddit
Udvar Hazy and Pima are my favorites, but the US is huge so it will definitely depend on where you are. If you go to Pima, also check out Pinal Airpark which hosts one of the "boneyards" for long term aircraft storage - you need to email them to see if you can schedule an airside tour.
If you are in the Bay Area in CA, check out The Hillman Museum, which is a bit weird but very good. If you end up there, don't forget to head south to Moffett Field and their museum.
Others have mentioned Museum of Flight in Seattle which is amazing. If you go there, also head up to Everett and go on the Boeing Factory tour. Unfortunately my favorite museum (Flying History Arms and Armor) in Everett shut down after Paul Allen's death, but it is still worth the trip to go on the factory tour. The Museum of Flight also has their restoration location up in Everett - it isn't a huge museum, but you can visit and see them working to prepare the next exhibits for the larger Museum of Flight location.
ItsJustSimpleFacts@reddit
We need to know your itinerary. You can't fit the entire country into a trip that short.
BuffsBourbon@reddit
Smithsonian is FIRE! Also the Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola.
quinyd@reddit
If you are near DC, go to the Smithsonian air and space and the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center near Dulles. Both are amazing.
LPNTed@reddit
Thank a is the way... Plus US Air Force museum in Dayton Ohio
Only_Razzmatazz_4498@reddit
In Seattle the Boeing museum is great also.
LPNTed@reddit
Agreed
Mike__O@reddit
It's always amazing to see how much Europeans grossly under-estimate the size of the US.
The distance from New York City to Los Angles is roughly the same as the distance from Lisbon to Moscow. Miami to New York City is roughly the same as London to Naples Italy.
Saying you're going to see the whole US in a "few weeks" is like saying you're going to see all of Europe "in a few weeks". It's impossible. Even if you were in a car and driving continuously, you're not going to see it all, even just by driving past.
As for a museum recommendation that hasn't been mentioned-- if you're in the Atlanta area, the Museum of Aviation at Robins AFB is a bit less than two hours south and I believe it's the 2nd largest US Air Force operated museum in the country. People sleep on it, but they really shouldn't.
Individual_Pilot1216@reddit
SL04LTH@reddit
Echoing the museum in Dayton. Easy to spend a full day there. And, it goes without saying, the Air & Space Museum in DC.
MustangMatt429@reddit
The Air Zoo in Kalamazoo, Michigan is great.
Darius2112@reddit
Plane of Fame in Chino, CA.
DullMind2023@reddit
Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum in McMinnville, Oregon. That’s where the Spruce Goose lives! And the museum is in the best Pinot Noir producing region in the USA!
Sesquipedalian_Vomit@reddit
Any of the aircraft carriers; I've personally been to the Midway in San Diego and Intrepid in NYC and they're great. Obligatory recommendations like the Smithsonian in DC and Udvar-Hazy Centre near Dulles have already been mentioned.
Only_Razzmatazz_4498@reddit
The intrepid is very nice plus it does have a lot of interesting planes from a space shuttle to a Concorde. Also there is a submarine you can tour next to it.
DowntownABQFan@reddit
I second Udvar-Hazy near Dulles, which has a space shuttle, a Concorde, an SR-71 Blackbird, the Enola Gay B-29 and many other fine aircraft. If you are on the West Coast and near Portland, Oregon, Howard Hughes' flying boat, the H-4, a/k/a the Spruce Goose, is pretty cool. It's at a museum in McMinnville.
Only_Razzmatazz_4498@reddit
I know it’s space and not aviation but Kennedy Space Center in central Florida is amazing also plus you might be able to see a Falcon9 rocket go up and if very lucky land the first stage back at the cape.
kiffend@reddit
There are a wide variety of museums with different subject focus and pretty well spread around the country. What is your primary interest in aviation?
Personally, I prefer flying museums over static ones. Nothing beats watching, hearing and smelling an airplane fly vs looking at a bird with clipped wings. Rhinebeck and Military Aviation Museum on the east coast. Chino and CAF Arizona on the west.
I_am_Russ_Troll@reddit
Strategic air command museum in Ashland, Nebraska
3rdm4n@reddit
I stopped there after seeing the sign on the highway knowing nothing about it and that place was awesome.
Additional_Bench_269@reddit
Aerospace Heritage Museum of Utah. In Ogden, Utah. It's a truly great aviation museum.
External-Creme-6226@reddit
What part of the country? So many great ones.
Zealousideal_Mud7263@reddit
Air Mobility Command museum at Dover AFB. Get yourself a tour of a C5!
JamesInDC@reddit
The Smithsonian Udvar-Hazy Center near Dulles Airport is fabulous. Strongly, strongly recommend.
DeliciousEconAviator@reddit
The best aviation museum in the U.S. depends a bit on your interests—military aviation, spaceflight, vintage aircraft, or interactive exhibits—but here are the top contenders widely regarded as the best overall:
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🇺🇸 1. National Museum of the United States Air Force – Dayton, Ohio • Why it’s the best (arguably): It’s the largest military aviation museum in the world. • Highlights: Over 360 aircraft and missiles, including the only surviving XB-70 Valkyrie, B-2 stealth bomber, and several presidential aircraft (like SAM 26000, the Air Force One that carried JFK’s body from Dallas). • Admission: Free.
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🚀 2. Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum – Washington, D.C. & Chantilly, Virginia (Udvar-Hazy Center) • Why it’s amazing: Arguably the most iconic and historically significant aviation/space museum in the world. • Highlights: • Washington, D.C. location: Wright Flyer, Spirit of St. Louis, Apollo 11 command module. • Udvar-Hazy Center (near Dulles): SR-71 Blackbird, space shuttle Discovery, Concorde. • Admission: Free.
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✈️ 3. Pima Air & Space Museum – Tucson, Arizona • Why it’s notable: One of the largest non-government-funded aviation museums in the world. • Highlights: 400+ aircraft on 80 acres. Adjacent to the “Boneyard” (AMARG)—tours available of the massive aircraft storage facility. • Good for: Military aviation buffs, aircraft variety, desert photo ops.
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🌊 4. Museum of Flight – Seattle, Washington • Why it’s cool: Incredible collection in a tech-rich, aviation-loving city. • Highlights: First 747 ever built, Concorde, Air Force One (707), and a full space shuttle trainer used by astronauts. • Bonus: Near Boeing Field—great for watching takeoffs and landings.
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🛩️ 5. EAA Aviation Museum – Oshkosh, Wisconsin • Why it’s unique: Home of the EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, the world’s largest airshow. • Highlights: Strong focus on experimental aircraft and aviation innovation. • Best time to visit: Late July during AirVenture.
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TL;DR: • Best overall (military): National Museum of the USAF (Dayton) • Best for space & icons: Smithsonian NASM + Udvar-Hazy (D.C. & VA) • Best outdoor aircraft & boneyard: Pima (AZ) • Best tech & Boeing roots: Museum of Flight (Seattle) • Best grassroots aviation vibe: EAA Museum (Oshkosh
Cake-Over@reddit
Greater LA area- March Air Field museum in Riverside, Ca. Planes of Fame and Yanks Air Museum, both at the Chino airport. Blackbird Airpark in Palmdale. Torrance Air Museum. The Cal Science Center in downtown LA has the F-20 Tiger Shark, the two seat A-12 trainer, the space shuttle Endeavor (it's not on display yet), and a couple of others spread around.
Hopinan@reddit
Tour the Boeing factory if visiting Seattle, global supply chain!!
Hopinan@reddit
Tour the Boeing factory if visiting Seattle, global supply chain!!