The National Air and Space Museum is at 650 Jefferson Drive SW on the National Mall, and all visitors enter through the Jefferson Drive doors. It opens daily from 10 a.m. to 5.30 p.m., closing only on 25 December. Admission is free, but the museum requires a free timed-entry pass for every visitor regardless of age; one booking covers up to nine passes, and a pass does not limit how long you stay.
The collection holds the 1903 Wright Flyer, the Apollo 11 command module Columbia, the Mercury capsule Friendship 7 and Amelia Earhart's Lockheed Vega. A large section at the east end is closed for renovation, including the At Home in Space and Modern Military Aviation galleries, so check what is open before building a day around one object.
George Washington Memorial Parkway runs within 1.6 miles: the Federal Highway Administration designates it an All-American Road, 25 miles through VA.
Been here a while
Long-standing places to eat near National Air and Space Museum, in the town named beside each rather than at the stop itself. We could not confirm this one as still trading in 2026 — ring ahead. Names link to their sources.
- Annie's Paramount SteakhouseWashington, DC17th Street steakhouse; James Beard America's Classic 2019still trading? unconfirmed
Lakes nearby
3 lakes we have checked near National Air and Space Museum. These are the ones from our research that we could check against an official page — not every lake there is.
Lake Accotink
- Fishingyes - Virginia fishing license required
- BoatingLaunch ramp for paddle craft; no gas motors or sailboats
- Rentals & marinayes - canoe and kayak rentals at the marina
- Entry$8 boat launch fee; $60 annual launch pass
County feasibility study on preserving a smaller 20-40 acre lake
Run by Fairfax County Park Authority
Burke Lake
- Fishingyes (fishing pier)
- Boatinggasoline motors prohibited
- Rentals & marinayes; boat rentals at marina
- Campingcampground (reservations via FCPA)
- Entrynon-county residents pay vehicle fee on weekends Apr–Oct (Wikipedia)
- Seasonpark sunrise–sunset
two playgrounds closed for renovation into Dec 2026/Feb 2027
Run by Fairfax County Park Authority
Lake Anna
- Fishingyes; largemouth bass, crappie, bream, striped & hybrid bass, catfish, white perch; invasive northern snakehead
- Boatingpublic side has marinas & launches; private 'hot side' limited to owners
- Rentals & marinayes; marinas on public side; SP kayak rentals (app/kiosk)
- SwimmingSP beach unguarded, open year-round, designated area only
- CampingSP: 23 standard + 23 electric/water sites (Mar-Dec); cabins and lodges year round; yurts run from the first Friday in March to the first Sunday in December; reservevaparks.com
- EntrySP daily parking fee (amount on fees page)
SP closed Nov 2–3 2026; low lake levels may prevent ramp/dock use; private side ~14°F warmer near discharge
Run by Dominion (power-plant cooling lake; owner not stated); Lake Anna State Park
*Check before you go. Every lake here links to the official page we checked it against. Each state a price we read off that page on the date we checked. Fees, seasons, water levels, algal advisories and ramp closures change without notice and belong to the agency that runs the water. A blank is something we did not confirm, not something the lake lacks. Never assume a lifeguard. Whether a beach is staffed turns on the season, the day, and which agency runs that particular beach — two beaches on one lake can differ. If that matters to your family, confirm it with the agency before you set out.
Nearest Airports
Straight-line distance from National Air and Space Museum, not drive time.
- Ronald Reagan Washington National (DCA) — 3 miles
- Fort Meade Executive (FME) — 20 miles
- Washington Dulles International (IAD) — 24 miles
Live Conditions
Wildlife Spotted Nearby
We checked reservations on 2026-10-15. These change without notice — confirm with airandspace.si.edu the week you travel.
Sources — 2 claims, 2 checked against the source
| Claim | Source | Status |
|---|---|---|
| The museum lists 650 Jefferson Drive SW, Washington, DC 20560, open daily 10 am to 5:30 pm, closed December 25, states "Admission is always free" and that "Free timed-entry passes are required for all visitors, regardless of age", with up to nine passes per reservation and no time limit on a visit. Named objects include the 1903 Wright Flyer, Apollo 11 command module Columbia, Friendship 7 and Amelia Earhart's Lockheed Vega 5B; a section at the east end is closed for renovation along with the At Home in Space and Modern Military Aviation galleries (checked 2026-10-15) | Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum — Visit | Checked monitored · 2026-10-15 |
| Designated an All-American Road by the U.S. Secretary of Transportation; 25 miles in VA; FHWA suggests: One hour without stopping or one full day to visit places along the way. Distance from this stop to the route measured against the published byway centreline on the U.S. Department of Transportation map service (geo.dot.gov), which carries no stated licence and predates the 2021 designations; the measurement is ours, the line is theirs and is not reproduced here. 1.6 miles (checked 2026-10-29) | Federal Highway Administration: George Washington Memorial Parkway | Checked |