A Trip To Udvar-Hazy

The National Air and Space Museum’s Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center

With the cold winters and unpredictable spring weather, playgrounds have just not been as enjoyable. Unfortunately, I have been nervous about taking my 3.5 year old to indoor places the last few years. When he had a half day at school, I was thinking of where we could go for a couple hours that would be educational, safe and fun. Needless to say, the National Air and Space Museum’s Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center was the perfect place.

Located in Chantilly, Virginia, the museum has a large number of aviation and space exploration displays located in a giant hanger. Within the couple hundred of aircrafts on display, you can find an Air France Concorde, a Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird, the Space Shuttle Discovery, and my son’s favorite, the Air Tractor AT-400A Dusty Crophopper (seen below).

More to explore

After exploring the aviation and space hangers, we took an elevator ride up to the Observation Tower. Here, we were able to watch the airplanes land at Washington Dulles International Airport. My son was so excited that he could spot the lights of the airplane over the mountains and noted how the lights became larger and brighter the closer they got to the runway. The coolest part is that you can hear the air traffic tower report while watching these airplanes take off and land.

Though we didn’t get to check out the IMAX theater, the museum shows a variety of short films based on aviation and space during public hours. Tickets and information on shows can be found can be found here.

This museum is so massive that social distancing was easy. Face coverings are no longer required. We felt so comfortable that we returned during a holiday weekend and still felt at ease.

Steven F. Udvar Hazy Center Information

Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center
14390 Air and Space Museum Pkwy, Chantilly, VA 20151
(703) 572-4118

Open Daily except Christmas from 10:00 am- 5:30 pm

Admission is free, parking is $15/car.