The many aviation exhibits at the National Air and Space Museum will delight airplane lovers. Photo courtesy of the museum

What Are the Best Kid-Friendly Smithsonian Free Museums in DC?

1. National Air and Space Museum — National Mall, DC

The National Air and Space Museum is nearing the end of a $1 billion renovation that is set to be finished in July 2026.  Thousands of aviation- and space-related artifacts are back on display, including the Spirit of St. Louis, John Glenn's Mercury Friendship 7 capsule, a touchable moon rock, and so much more. Free planetarium shows are offered throughout the month. It's a space and airplane lover's dream! 

Best Ages: 5 and up; toddlers may lost interest

Insider Tips: The museum currently requires visitors to reserve free timed-entry passes online. No outside food is allowed, but the Mars Cafe on the lower level has pizza, salads, sandwiches, and a full espresso bar. 

2. Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center — Chantilly, VA

The Air and Space Museum's companion facility in Chantilly features two large hangars filled with over 3,000 history-making objects. Get up close to over 200 aircraft and spacecraft, from World War II planes to a Concorde. Don't miss my family's absolute favorite thing on display—the Space Shuttle Discovery. It's truly awe-inspiring!

Best Ages: All ages! The large open spaces make it extremely stroller-friendly, and there is plenty of room for toddlers to run around and gawk at the huge planes. Older kids and teens will appreciate all the history.

Insider Tips: While the museum is free, parking costs $15. To avoid the parking fee, take the Metro's silver line to Innovation Center, then take the Fairfax Connector Bus No. 983. A Shake Shack is on site—try the museum-exclusive Constellation Crunch Concrete or Out of This World Shake for a sweet treat! 

3. National Museum of American History — National Mall, DC

This is hands-down my family's favorite Smithsonian museum, with so many historic objects to see. Some highlights include gowns worn by First Ladies, the actual American flag that inspired the national anthem, and Abraham Lincoln's top hat.

Best Ages: All ages! Wonderplace is a hands-on exhibit for ages 0-6 featuring a construction area, a pretend farm and kitchen, a climbing structure, and more. Kids ages 6-12 can create, invent, experiment, and more in Spark!Lab. And teens will be wowed by the Entertainment Nation exhibit, featuring al sorts of pop-culture memorabilia such as Star Wars props, Michael Jordan's jersey, and Dorothy's ruby slippers from The Wizard of Oz. 

Insider Tips: Outside food and drinks are allowed as long as they are properly closed and secured, and may only be consumed in approved areas. There are also two on-site cafes with a variety of food options. 

4. National Museum of Natural History — National Mall, DC

From the iconic African elephant display to fossils, Ancient Egyptian mummies, and more, the National Museum of Natural History is one of the best free museums for families. The museum houses a collection of more than 145 million specimens and is truly a bucket-list item that every family should try to check off. Check out our guide to visiting the National Museum of Natural History with kids. 

Best Ages: All Ages! Toddlers will love the dinosaur fossils, the animal displays, and the Insect Zoo. Older kids and teens will be especially dazzled by all the gems and minerals on display, including the famous Hope Diamond.

Insider Tips: This is one of the most popular museums on the National Mall, so visit on a weekday if you can, and go earlier on in the morning to avoid crowds. There are two cafes in the museum, but you can also pack a picnic to eat outside on the Mall. If you're nursing, visit the nursing room in the Constitution Avenue lobby.

5. National Museum of African American History and Culture

Children can witness and learn about the rich and fascinating history, community, and culture of African Americans at the NMAAHC. More than 3,000 objects are on display, including an actual stool from the Greensboro lunch counter sit-ins, a dress worn by Rosa Parks, and Chuck Berry's red Cadillac convertible. Read my guide to visiting the National Museum of African American History and Culture with kids.

Best Ages: 7 and up. The history galleries on the museum's below-ground levels contain topics that may be too heavy for younger kids, such as slavery and the mistreatment of Black people, but older kids and teens will find them eye-opening. They'll also enjoy the pop-culture exhibits on the upper levels. My sports-loving boys were thrilled to see jerseys worn by Jackie Robinson and Michael Jordan and to learn about many decorated African American Olympians.

Insider Tips: You must reserve free timed-entry passes to visit the museum. Since there are often lines to enter the history exhibits, I recommend starting with those and working your way up. The on-site Sweet Home Cafe has delicious food and more artifacts on display. 

Mitsitam, the cafe at the National Museum of the American Indian, is top-notch. 

6. National Museum of the American Indian

This is one of my favorite free museums near DC for kids because of its imagiNATIONS Activity Center. This amazing children's exhibit is filled with interactive elements and hands-on activities like basket-weaving, building a giant igloo, and playing inside a life-sized tipi. There are also plenty of other exhibits kids will love throughout the museum.

Best Ages: All ages! While imagiNATIONS is recommended for ages 10 and under, even tweens and teens (and grown-ups!) will enjoy checking it out. Older kids will also love the Americans exhibit, which displays images and objects from American brands that were influenced by American Indian culture.

Insider Tips: The activity center is first-come, first-served, and on busy days (like weekends), additional entry procedures may apply and you may not get in—it's happened to families I know. So, go early on a weekday if you can! Be sure to stop in at the museum cafe, Mitsitam—it's one of our favorite spots to eat on the National Mall.

7. National Postal Museum

This museum across the street from Union Station is dedicated to the history of the postal system. Kids can climb aboard a historic railway mail train and a modern mail truck, design their own stamps, recreate the path of mail, and participate in many other hands-on activities.

Best Ages: All ages! This museum tends to be less crowded than the ones on the National Mall, so it's easy to maneuver strollers and offers plenty of space for little ones to roam. And with so many interactive elements, kids of all ages will be entertained. 

Insider Tips: Have your kids complete the museum's scavenger hunt and turn it in at the Information Desk to receive a prize. When hunger strikes, head across the street to Union Station, which has tons of kid-friendly food options like Chick fil A, Raising Cane's, and Shake Shack. 

8. Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden

A visually rich experience, the Hirshhorn captivates kids and gives them a great first experience with contemporary art. The outdoor Sculpture Garden is in the midst of a huge revitalization and is set to reopen around October 2026.

Best Ages: All ages! On Wednesday mornings, the museum hosts a popular Storytime Studio that includes play, read-alouds, and art exploration for kids ages 0-6 and their caregivers. On Saturdays, kids and adults of all ages can create art at Open Studio. 

Insider Tips: Enhance your visit by going to hi.si.edu on your phone to enjoy a self-guided experience with artist videos, behind-the-scenes content, and more. When you need a refreshment, the lobby cafe serves locally sourced and handcrafted gelato and drinks. Yum!

9. National Portrait Gallery

See the US founding documents at the National Archives Museum. Photo courtesy of the museum

What Are Some of the Other Best Free Museums for Families in DC?

10. National Archives Museum

Head into the famed Rotunda of the National Archives Museum and come face to face with the original and founding documents of the United States, including the Declaration of Independence, the Bill of Rights, and the Constitution. At the Discovery Center, kids can learn how government works in the arcade, dance along with historical films, and test their civic superpower skills. 

Best Ages: 7 and up, once kids have learned about these documents at school and can appreciate their significance.

Insider Tips: While tickets are not required to visit the museum, reserving a free general admission ticket in advance will help enhance your experience. For exampe, scanning the barcode on your ticket in the Discovery Center will track your progress and the number of points you earn. You can also reserve a $1 timed-entry ticket to help you avoid long wait times on busy days like weekends and holidays. 

11. United States Holocaust Memorial Museum

For older children, a visit to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum will help teach about a painful era in human history as well as celebrate the strength and survival of the human spirit. Remember the Children: Daniel's Story is a fantastic exhibit for young people and their families. The exhibit, which tells the story of one family's experiences during the Holocaust from a boy's perspective, brings visitors into realistic environments where they can touch and engage with items and places from the boy's world.

Best Ages: 8 and up for Remember the Children: Daniel's Story; 11 and up for the rest of the museum

Insider Tips: The spaces in this museum can be pretty tight, so on busier days you'll need to be patient to view all the exhibits. Try to visit on weekday mornings to experience the fewest crowds. Bring a sweater, as the museum gets pretty cold. If you're looking for the cafe, exit the museum facing Raoul Wallenberg Place, cross the plaza, and enter the building to your right. While most Smithsonian are only closed on Christmas Day, the Holocaust Memorial Museum is also closed on Yom Kippur. 

12. National Museum of the United States Army — Fort Belvoir, VA

This museum celebrates the history of the US Army through a variety of immersive exhibits. Army vehicles, uniforms, and many other objects from various wars and time periods are on display. Virtual-reality and motion-theater experiences are available for purchase. Kids ages 4-8 can do crafts and other fun stuff on weekend mornings from 9am-12pm in the on-site Experiential Learning Center, which is full of hands-on activities for children of all ages.

Best Ages: All ages!

Explore the world of language at Planet Word. Photo courtesy of planetword.org

13. Planet Word

Planet Word is one of the most unique free museums near DC because it's the world's first voice-activated museum. Planet Word includes interactive galleries and exhibits that bring words and language to life in fun ways. Kids can marvel at a 22-foot talking word wall, deliver a famous speech using a teleprompter, enter a magical library, sing karaoke, and much more.

14. National Museum of the Marine Corps — Triangle, VA

Explore the history of the US Marine Corps at this museum full of immersive exhibits. The highlight for kids is the Children's Gallery, which features hands-on experiences such as walking through a World War I trench, peering through periscopes, trying on uniforms, and more. The museum also offers fun children's programs.

A version of this article was originally published in 2019. Additional reporting by Christine Mooney