The Museum of Flight
4.8(18K)google
4.7(854)yelp
AviationScienceEducationalFamily
Overview
Standing proudly as the single absolute largest independent, non-profit air and space museum in the entire world, The Museum of Flight offers an incredibly comprehensive look into aviation history. Housed next to historic Boeing Field, the massive complex displays more than one hundred and seventy historic aircraft and spacecraft, including an authentic Concorde supersonic jet, the historic first Boeing 747, and a massive NASA space shuttle trainer. Through interactive cockpits, high-tech flight simulators, and deeply detailed exhibits, it provides an educational and thrilling adventure.
Practical Info
Every day10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Best TimeExcellent year-round; this is one of the world's largest independent air and space museums. Arriving right at the 9:30 AM opening on a weekend morning is highly recommended; you will beat the thick afternoon queues to walk inside the original historic Air Force One presidential jet, a British Airways Concorde, and the ultra-rare Lockheed M-21 Blackbird spy plane.
Getting TherePerched on the edge of historic Boeing Field at 9404 East Marginal Way S, just south of downtown Seattle. Drive south from the city center via I-5 S for 10 minutes, take Exit 158, and follow East Marginal Way S north for a half-mile to find the expansive, completely free visitor surface parking lots flanking the main building. Via transit, ride King County Metro Bus Route 124 for a direct drop-off outside.
Travel Tips
- The open-air Aviation Pavilion hosting historic aircraft like Concorde and Air Force One is exposed to the elements; windproof thermal attire is highly recommended during cooler months.
- Admission is completely free on the first Thursday of every month from 5 PM to 9 PM; however, crowds swell immensely during this window, yielding excessive queues for popular flight simulators.
Photo Tips
Photo Rules
- Camera tripods, monopods, and commercial gear are prohibited; backpacks exceeding 12x12 inches must be surrendered at the coat check, and the entire campus is an FAA drone no-fly zone.
Reviews
Positive
- The massive aviation pavilion displays dozens of real, precious aircraft suspended in mid-air; walking inside the Concorde and Air Force One is genuinely stunning.
- Internal accessible routing is designed flawlessly smooth; restrooms are plentiful and spotless, with multi-language signs supporting wheelchairs seamlessly.
- The flight simulators, capsule interactives, and live captain lectures offer rich engagement, supported by highly dedicated and knowledgeable volunteers.
- Driving accessibility is superb, sitting right off I-5, and the museum provides massive, completely free dedicated customer lots on both sides of the road.
Heads up
- Adult tickets cost over $30, while the core highly realistic motion flight simulators demand hefty extra secondary spending, making full sessions pricey.
- With galleries split across a major highway connected by a skybridge, the scale is massive; lacking internal shuttle carts makes walking exhausting for frail seniors.
- Weekend afternoons or summer camp periods bring high crowd density; narrow cabin aisles fill with noisy kids, hindering quiet history study.
- The internal restaurant fast food choices are sparse and pricey, and official Boeing models in the gift shop carry heavy tourist premiums.