National Museum of World War II Aviation
4.9(2.2K)google
5.0(100)yelp
AviationEducationalIndoorMilitary
Overview
The National Museum of World War II Aviation is an aviation museum located at Colorado Springs Airport in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Practical Info
Mon10:00 AM 5:00 PM
Tue10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Wed10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Thu10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Fri10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Sat10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Sun10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Suggested Duration2-4 hours
Best TimeExcellent year-round (all indoor hangars). Booking a docent-led Guided Tour on Tuesdays, Thursdays, or Saturdays at 10:00 AM is highly recommended. The general admission leaves restoration areas restricted; a guided tour grants access to active restoration workshops to see WWII warbirds being rebuilt.
Getting ThereLocated on the northwestern perimeter of the Colorado Springs Airport. Drive from the city center via US-24 E, turn right onto S Powers Blvd heading south, then turn left onto Aviation Way. Follow the road straight to 755 Aviation Way to access the museum's complimentary front parking lot.
Travel Tips
- Located near the Colorado Springs Airport industrial perimeter (755 Aviation Way), the site provides free parking spaces. However, because it borders active military and civil runways, stopping your vehicle outside designated stalls or idling next to hangar fences triggers immediate airport counter-terror towing.
- The high-value Westpac Restoration Facility tours operate on a highly restricted schedule, usually limited to select intervals on Fridays and Saturdays led by veteran aircraft engineers. Review these narrow operational blocks online and coordinate morning arrivals by 10:00 AM to unlock access to active wartime frame rebuilds.
- Because multiple structural warbirds are fully airworthy and highly unstable if altered, gallery perimeters are monitored via active infrared proximity alarms. Touching any aircraft skin, propeller assemblies, or hydraulic landing gears is fully illegal, and open beverage or food containers are blocked past checkpoints.
Reviews
Positive
- The museum features an incredible collection of fully restored, airworthy WWII aircraft kept in flawless running condition.
- The guided hangar tours led by passionate docents are high quality, packed with unsung pilot stories and mechanical insights.
- The layout is logical, showcasing not just planes but support vehicles, radios, and artifacts that immerse you in history.
- The venue is clean and spacious with excellent wheelchair ramps, making it comfortable for visiting veterans and families.
Heads up
- Basic admission excludes the restoration hangar where the best work happens; that requires a pricier ticket and strict tour times.
- Compared to massive federal museums, the footprint is small; if you skip the guided tour, you can walk through it very quickly.
- Located in an industrial park near the airport, there are zero casual dining spots nearby, requiring a drive for lunch.
- There are few interactive screens or kids' activity zones; the tone is academic, making it dry for very young children.