The National Museum of the United States Air Force in Dayton is open daily on a regular schedule, and general admission is free. You can plan your visit around the museum’s hours, check for operating updates, and decide whether to add paid attractions or a guided tour.
- Regular hours: Open daily
- Admission: Free; the Air Force Museum Theatre and flight simulators charge fees.
- Location: 1100 Spaatz Street, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH 45433.
- From Air View Inn: About a 9-minute drive.
Where to confirm the museum’s hours
The museum’s regular hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day, except for its listed holiday closures. It closes on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day.
Opening hours
- Monday to Sunday: 9 AM–5 PM
Last checked November 2026. Hours can change on holidays and for special events.
Operating hours can change unexpectedly, particularly during inclement weather. Before you go, check the official site before you go for current updates. The museum also recommends checking its social media for changes.
The museum is six miles northeast of Dayton. Its entrance is on Springfield Street at historic Wright Field (Gate 28B), on Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. For a broader look at what’s there, read what to see at the National Museum of the United States Air Force.
What does admission include, and do you need tickets?
Admission to the museum is free, and you do not need a reservation for its free guided gallery tours. The Air Force Museum Theatre and flight simulators have fees; check the museum’s official information for current details before planning those activities.
Entry may include metal-detector screening, and staff may search bags or put them through an X-ray machine. The museum prohibits firearms, knives, box cutters, food, alcohol and coolers. Purses, camera bags, diaper bags, strollers and service animals are permitted.
Free guided gallery tours run daily and last about one hour and 15 minutes. Published tour start times are 10:00 a.m. for the Early Years, WWI and WWII galleries; 11:30 a.m. for the Korean War and Southeast Asia War galleries; 1:30 p.m. for the Cold War Gallery; and 3:00 p.m. for the Space, Research & Development, Global Reach and Presidential galleries.
Closures, special attractions and gallery access
Give yourself plenty of time: the museum recommends planning for a full day to see everything, and some visitors plan for at least two days. Its collection spans more than 19 acres of indoor exhibit space and includes more than 350 aerospace vehicles and missiles, as well as thousands of artifacts.
For a visit focused on a particular gallery, match your arrival to its tour time. The 10:00 a.m. tour covers the Early Years, WWI and WWII galleries, while the 11:30 a.m. tour covers the Korean War and Southeast Asia War galleries.
How do you get to the museum, and where can you park?
Free public parking is available on site. The visitor parking lot has four electric-vehicle charging stations and spaces for oversized vehicles, including motorhomes and school buses.
The X6 express bus runs seven days a week from 8:45 a.m. to 5:15 p.m., at intervals of less than 40 minutes. RTA Connect On-Demand is another public-transit option for reaching the museum.
Air View Inn is about a 1.4-mile journey from the museum. You can find details about a two-star hotel in Dayton when planning your trip.
FAQs
How long should you plan to spend at the museum?
The museum recommends setting aside a full day to see everything. Some visitors plan for at least two days.
Do the guided gallery tours require reservations?
No. The daily guided gallery tours are free and do not require reservations.
Can you bring food into the museum?
No. Food, alcohol and coolers are among the prohibited items; permitted bags include purses, camera bags and diaper bags.