San Diego Air & Space Museum

Museum · San Diego

San Diego Air & Space Museum

Museum · San Diego

1

2001 Pan American Plaza, San Diego, CA 92101

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San Diego Air & Space Museum by null
San Diego Air & Space Museum by null
San Diego Air & Space Museum by null
San Diego Air & Space Museum by null
San Diego Air & Space Museum by null
San Diego Air & Space Museum by null
San Diego Air & Space Museum by null
San Diego Air & Space Museum by null
San Diego Air & Space Museum by null
San Diego Air & Space Museum by null
San Diego Air & Space Museum by null
San Diego Air & Space Museum by null
San Diego Air & Space Museum by null
San Diego Air & Space Museum by null
San Diego Air & Space Museum by null
San Diego Air & Space Museum by null
San Diego Air & Space Museum by null
San Diego Air & Space Museum by null
San Diego Air & Space Museum by null
San Diego Air & Space Museum by null
San Diego Air & Space Museum by null
San Diego Air & Space Museum by null
San Diego Air & Space Museum by null
San Diego Air & Space Museum by null
San Diego Air & Space Museum by null
San Diego Air & Space Museum by null
San Diego Air & Space Museum by null
San Diego Air & Space Museum by null
San Diego Air & Space Museum by null
San Diego Air & Space Museum by null
San Diego Air & Space Museum by null
San Diego Air & Space Museum by null
San Diego Air & Space Museum by null
San Diego Air & Space Museum by null
San Diego Air & Space Museum by null
San Diego Air & Space Museum by null
San Diego Air & Space Museum by null
San Diego Air & Space Museum by null
San Diego Air & Space Museum by null
San Diego Air & Space Museum by null
San Diego Air & Space Museum by null
San Diego Air & Space Museum by null
San Diego Air & Space Museum by null
San Diego Air & Space Museum by null

Highlights

Aircraft & spacecraft displays, interactive exhibits, 3D theater  

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2001 Pan American Plaza, San Diego, CA 92101 Get directions

sandiegoairandspace.org
@sdasm

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2001 Pan American Plaza, San Diego, CA 92101 Get directions

+1 619 234 8291
sandiegoairandspace.org
@sdasm
𝕏
@SDASM

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Sep 30, 2025

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10 Best Aviation Museums in the U.S.

"This museum traces aviation from the earliest hot-air balloon models (including a model of the 1783 Montgolfier brothers' balloon) through military aircraft used in World War II, Korea, and Vietnam and into Space Age technology. Interactive features include several flight simulators and a 3D/4D theater that presents films such as Legend of Apollo and Delta Zero, offering both historical depth and hands-on experiences." - Lydia Mansel Lydia Mansel Lydia Mansel is a writer with more than eight years of experience editing and writing for both brands and online publications—with a particular focus on travel, fashion, and lifestyle. She’s also the founder of the travel site justpacked.com.  Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines

https://www.travelandleisure.com/best-aviation-museums-in-the-us-11748082
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Toktam Taghvai

Google
The most interesting, beautifully decorated, the historic displays and kind employees are all worth mentioning!! So many displays, put together with such care and thought. Made it an amazing site to experience!! Adding to our favorites!!!

Alex Cameron

Google
Had an absolutely fantastic time visiting the San Diego Air & Space Museum in Balboa Park! If you have any interest in flight or space exploration, this place is a must-see. The collection of aircraft and spacecraft is simply awesome. Walking through the exhibits feels like stepping through history, from the earliest pioneers of flight to the marvels of modern space travel. Seeing iconic planes, historical artifacts, a moon rock and actual space capsules up close is truly inspiring. The exhibits are well-presented, engaging, and packed with fascinating information that appeals to all ages. They really capture the spirit of innovation and adventure. With its awesome exhibits and remarkably friendly staff, it's an engaging, educational, and thoroughly enjoyable destination for solo visitors, couples, and families alike. Highly recommended!

Dutch Dummy

Google
As a airplane enthusiast, this is a must to go to in San Diego. There's a lot of aviation history in this building and the SR-71 in front of the building is one of the very few in existence. Mix between real aircraft and replica's. During my visit the lobby ( central area) was closed for a private event.

Lev Oleynik

Google
Good, not great. If you are considering this museum and haven't visited USS Midway, just go to Midway. It is much bigger and better experience. If you have, I would still only come here as a big plane enthusiast. Just walking through without too much attention will take you about 30-minutes, probably not worth your money.

Jari Kalevi Ollikainen

Google
If you are even slightly interested in aviation, you have to come here. From space flights to the early days of aviation and everything in between. Space shuttle flying and landing. Flight simulators (fees apply). Lots to see and do. Great place to visit!

Ru Oakley

Google
Really good quality museum. There was a temporary Da Vinci display up when I went, which was excellent and the permanent displays are also very good. The Space section was a standout. There is a good selection of aircraft from all eras of aviation. Spent 3 hours here

B Davis

Google
The San Diego Air & Space Museum is a must-visit! It’s really well put together, with a ton of fascinating history and an incredible collection of aircraft. The museum has a cool circular layout that makes it easy to explore everything without feeling lost. Each exhibit is informative and engaging, and there are plenty of unique features that make it stand out. We especially enjoyed getting to sit inside a real helicopter, and the Amelia Earhart animatronic was a fun surprise—very lifelike and informative! They also have a theater and tons of nifty aviation and space displays that really capture your attention. There’s a small cafe on the uper deck patio outside if you need a quick bite—we grabbed the chocolate chip cookies (2 for $1!), and they were delicious. They also offer chili dogs, hot dogs, chips, canned drinks, and a few other snacks. It was a cool view with having the San Diego airport planes flying over you. Admission was $39 per adult and totally worth it for the experience. Whether you're a history buff, aviation enthusiast, or just looking for something fun and educational, this museum delivers. We had a great time!

Kenneth Chong

Google
Really compact museum that is chock full of airplanes! The Space section and Military sections were wonderfully done. I could finish the museum within 2 hours. I wish they sold better model scale airplanes in the gift shop. Good to drop by just for a visit.
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Jill W.

Yelp
I came here for free resident Tuesday. Just show your SD license/ID. The museum is really big and there's a lot to see and read. There's not a ton of things geared towards kids. On Tuesdays they close several areas, so maybe the other days, there's more kid activities? If you want to make a day of it, Panama 66 or The Prado are great places for a snack or meal. It's short walk north through balboa park.
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Ryan A.

Yelp
Definitely worth a stop if you are into history revolving around air & space! Had some spare time while walking around, so opted to hit the Air & Space museum, which was totally worth it for me! Not being too expensive at the time and ample items to learn about or just to see in person was well worth the admission. Many could spend all day in here, but I feel like a few hours suffices for most. I'd say take your time as it is journey and guides you through the eras in terms of what is on display. It does appear that some items are temporary, so I'd check ahead of time to verify what is on display if you were looking for something specific.
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Wendy F.

Yelp
Cool place to visit if you are into history and looking at all the exhibits. Lots of history to be learned here and the volunteers are very knowledgeable. Definitely enjoyed the timeline of events and evolution from the first flight. 4D theater was a nice break from walking around and the shorts they played were great. Would recommend!
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Vlad V.

Yelp
On my third visit to San Diego, I checked out the San Diego Air & Space Museum on a Saturday afternoon. Knowing my way around the city a bit, I will say that most of San Diego's most popular attractions are outdoors. The weather while I was there was unusually cold so I was looking for an indoor activity. As a lover of history, this one was a natural fit. Located in Balboa Park, a beautiful area with many entertainment options including other museums and the San Diego Zoo, parking isn't the easiest. It's a popular spot, but even on a weekend, you'll be able to find free parking. Probably not in the lots closest to the museums, but in the ones a little farther away. Which is what I did. Upon arriving, I paid for my $30 ticket (sheesh, California prices). I tend to make my way through museums pretty slowly as I like to read a lot. I made my way through this one in a little over two hours. The first section of the museum was a temporary exhibition on Leonardo da Vinci and his fascination with flight. Awesome exhibit! It was nice to learn more about this legend. From there, you move on into the space portion of the museum. My favorite part of my visit was seeing two short 4D movies: they show them every 30 minutes and its a part of your ticket. The first one is landing on the moon. The second one is space fighter jets. The moon landing was my favorite and very, very cool. It made you feel like you were actually doing it. From there, the rest of the park focuses on aviation: in large part during WWI and WWII. While it's not fair, I compare this museum to Pearl Harbor and Pearl Harbor is tough to beat. It's done at a better level but the San Diego Air & Space Museum is still worth seeing. I also paid an additional $8 to do a rollercoaster capsule experience. The capsules remind me of what astronauts do to prepare for space. If you get sea sick easily, and you don't like amusement parks, this isn't for you. I enjoyed it. Overall, I had a good time. It's just a little too pricey for what you get.
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Chris B.

Yelp
Meh, we were hoping to see more cooler airplanes and engines. Lots of ancient planes. They have a movie theater inside but we skipped it not wanting to watch a movie. Nice clean facility.
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Aruna K.

Yelp
The Balboa park is like a maze of some amazing museums, and the Air and Space museum is one of it. For anyone interested even a little bit in the aviation industry, this visit is a must. The history, the variety and stories are worth every penny you pay. Some of the things on display is an astronaut suit, the moon landing story on the Apollo 9, helicopter, even planes from Japan and Germany from WWII. The building is apparently listed on the US National Register of Historic Places, so it is more significant than the museum itself, it used to be the old Ford Building. Pretty cool ..! There is parking all over the park, and one is right across the museum. There is also an in-house cafe to relax, wonder and discuss about the building and the stuff in it.
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Lil B.

Yelp
This place was cool... but I could tell from the start there was a lot of reading. There's got to be a more kid friendly way to share such important information. My 12 yo liked the displays and videos but was not interested in the abundance of reading throughout the museum. Beautiful but small 9/11 display and culturally diverse segments of the museum. The 4D movies were interesting. Be prepared the VR stuff costs extra. Small and cute gift shop. We really enjoyed the air traffic controll display and watching the planes fly overhead. As well as making the paper airplanes right next to it... my 12 yo liked that part. I only wish there was someplace to launch them close by. I was worried they'd get stuff somewhere in the museum displays. Overall it was worth the money and we stayed just over 2 hrs.
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Yonnie C.

Yelp
First time at the museum for a special event they held for The Bucket List Family. Can only comment on the atrium area where the event was held and it was nice open spacious area, and glad they had space for families to bring in strollers. The stage was just the right size from an audience perspective. Restrooms were thankfully clean and the staff were nice and helpful too. We didn't get to explore the museum interior besides attending the event; but saw plenty of aircrafts on display! Also found free parking in the lot below the museum.
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Michael V.

Yelp
I love the air and space museum in Balboa park. Being an aviation nut i can sspend hours wandering around looking at the aircraft displays, reading about the history, and enjoying the various exhibits. Spent the afternoon with my lady friend wandering around the museum, drooling over the airplanes, watching the videos, reading the descriptions, and enjoying the interactive displays. Always enjoy seeing Randy "Duke" Cunningham and WillieDriscolls's F-4 Phantom exhibit chasing Colonel Toon's Mig-17 reenactment in the main display room. Commemorating the making of the navy's first missle ace.
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Jacqueline S.

Yelp
Yes you CAN drive and fly!!!! Flying machines, history and docents to explain! The inventions are fascinating- and it's a huge museum. There is so much to see in Balboa park. Loads of "hands-on exhibits", it really makes history come alive. LOL: my hubby crammed himself into the Mercury Capsule" that Alan Shepard was in ... not luxuriously padded or spacious- just hard formed metal. Wow- our astronauts are heroes! I have even more respect for their bravery. ‍
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Bert G.

Yelp
Visited the Air & Space Museum recently, hoping to find some new aircraft and exhibits. Nope, it was pretty much the same same aircraft and exhibits as displayed over the years. The Da Vinci exhibit was well done, and quite interesting, though. The PSA exhibit, photos, uniforms and aircraft models are quite noteworthy. Granted the toroidal shape of the Ford Building can be challenging to work with, but at least there is the very roomy central courtyard. However, any enjoyment of the F4J Phantom is severely curtailed by the placement of curtains concealing special event paraphernalia. The frames and curtains impinge on the nose of this beautifully restored aircraft, making viewing and photography severely diminished at best. Museum staff, you can do better than this. Why not rescue the extremely rare Douglas A2D-1 Skyshark, currently languishing outdoors at the Gillespie Field Annex, and place it in the courtyard? It's Navy, so the wings fold and it doesn't take up much room. It's placard claims it is the last one remaining, and if that doesn't provide enough incentive to save it, nothing will. It is truly a 'museum piece' not a ramp queen subject to the merciless El Cajon sun and unending bird droppings. A consideral amount of exhibit space is taken up by revenue-raising activities and recreational machines. These no doubt detract from the core mission of the musuem. But revenue is revenue, right? Speaking of revenue, the little museum cafe was closed when I visited.
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Jake B.

Yelp
Really interesting, cool museum. Lots to see, with a great flow to it. There's even a water feature at where you can be surrounded by the huge planes. Overall really cool! The pricepoint was a bit steep, so I think once was enough for me, but definitely really interesting museum.
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Tomas R.

Yelp
Love exploring the grounds of the SDASM and seeing the history and progress of each air and spacecraft. As you approach the museum, the museum is somewhat of a flagship for me in Balboa Park and I appreciate there is parking in close proximity. The building itself is set in a cylindrical shape and easy to explore when you take the full route. Within the center of the space is an atrium that has a glass ceiling and is rentable for private events or experiences. There is a simulator and a movie room that highlights different moments and history moments. I personally appreciate seeing all the uniforms and variances. Check out the gift shop for small trinkets and they have small snacks and drinks available for purchase too!

Mltd C.

Yelp
Had a great t experience revisiting the Air and Space Museum in Balboa park after many years, while visiting the museum i learned a lot of things, like the Apollo 9 is the one of only two Apollo Command Modules flown in space on display west of the Rocky Mountains being transferred to the museum for Display, very cool. In conclusion i had lots of fun learning about all these interesting air and space crafts, the museum is family friendly incase you were wondering what to due these weekend with your family, will give it a 5 star review for its great customer service, the staff were very helpful.
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Rick M.

Yelp
With family in town this place is hard to beat! Loved walking through all the history. Such a cool museum. Everything is displayed perfectly. I love all the information they provide. Spend the day here walking all the museums.

Edwyn C.

Yelp
I think it's a fair price for everything you get to see. I like how it's set up where it's almost chronological starting with da Vinci one of the best museums in balboa park.
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Lee O.

Yelp
Plenty of parking near the museum, which is always a plus! It's actually quite amazing to see so many World War II planes and engines in a building that actually doesn't look so big from the outside. It's a nice circular pattern so there's plenty of things to see in plane engines, including a roller coaster/flight simulation. That is an extra fee, of course The Museum is actually pretty cool and you can spend a half day here easily - love that it is close to Balboa Park to see the other museums. Bathrooms are simple clean, and staff is exceptionally nice. Definitely recommend this place for San Diego visitors. You can also order your tickets online, but it can take up a day to come via email.

Kim J.

Yelp
My family visits San Diego at least once a year and we try to check out a new museum/attraction every time since there are so many options. $30 per person was kinda steep for general admission. That being said, we had two wonderful volunteer docents who walked us through the museum explaining the history behind each aircraft (thank you Jack & Mike). We easily spent hours here and enjoyed it thoroughly. Our toddler also enjoyed seeing the replicas, the interactive displays, and the play area for kiddos. The docent led tours are included with admission - don't be afraid to ask!
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Laurinda O.

Yelp
We brought our toddler granddaughter here to play in the play area upstairs for small children. She has a ball! It's too bad that so many of the activities were broken or in disrepair. I'm not sure why this isn't maintained in better condition? It would not take much to repair the broken items! Also, be careful your little one doesn't wander off as the stairway does not have a gate and little ones seem attracted to that stairway! I think a gate shd be installed given its proximity to the toddler play area. Exercise caution!

Kenzie F.

Yelp
My senior prom was here this last Saturday 4/26/25 such a beautiful venue. So amazing to see all of the pieces from space missions to the wars. Staff were amazingly sweet bathrooms were so clean. I have no complaints. Was so surprised with how the venue is set up and how beautiful the main area is where the fountain is walking in seeing the planes and helicopters was very attracting. I WOULD TOTALLY GO BACK!!! There so many places to take photos. Overall amazingly gorgeous done so good!! WILL BE A MEMORY FOREVER!!!!
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Cameron Z.

Yelp
Excellent exhibit for people interested in seeing aircrafts such as helicopters, old planes, and also science about space. They also have old cars from the early 1900s which was a pleasant surprise. Very educational! Lots to explore.

Nelson D.

Yelp
We had a blast! Our daughter loved this so much. There are not only a ton of airplanes like you'd imagine, but they have the ACTUAL Apollo 9 capsule! That's pretty insane. They also have exhibits like replica space capsules you can get into, cockpits so you can see what it was like for pilots, and a ton of educational exhibits. They also have actual moon rock (I'm assuming this is real, not like the Mona Lisa where a lot of people see a replica when it's being cleaned and never realize they didn't see the real thing), which I thought was cool, and then exhibits that explain how flight technology has developed and how stuff works. Overall, an awesome place to either explore your interest or just learn more in general about aviation and space flight. I was pretty skeptical going in but it turned out to be awesome. Also, the food (tucked away around a corner outside) was really good.
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Cydney M.

Yelp
THE SAN DIEGO AIR & SPACE MUSEUM IS WORTH A VISIT ============================================== My family and I have visited twice and I would go back again. There are so many planes and space exhibits. They even have exhibits on drones which is they way of the future as far as military combat. All active duty visitors get in this museum for free. That is a nice perk. My husband and son had fun in the flight simulator. I did not go as I get motion sickness. Definitely check out this museum if you are visiting this Balboa Park.
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Nick P.

Yelp
This was easily my favorite museum in San Diego. Admission is $25 for an adult. There is a lot to see here. Very educational and informative. You can plan to spend at least a couple hours here if you look and read or like an hour or less if you just walk without reading. Employees were pleasant and helpful if you ever had any questions. Parking is free if you're driving.
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Brandon A.

Yelp
The Air & Space Museum is lovely for a history buff or for a family friendly affair. They have educational attractions throughout to allow customers a chance to gain insight into planes, spaceships and more. I did like how they had a little bit of everything as well as exhibits on where we are going with the future. Famous war planes are on display including a theater and moon walking experience. Kids will love the immersive activities. Bring your camera.
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Candy S.

Yelp
Fantastic Museum! We have the balboa explorer pass, so we come and go which makes it worth it having littles that can only handle so much. Great place for the littles, older kids and everyone. Lots of interactive stuff to do, lots of visual exploration, there's a theater, Cafe, Clean bathrooms. It's a great place to be. Great history lessons and just amazing artifacts to gaze over. The gift shop is also excellent and decently priced. They have camps available. Handicap accessible with wheelchairs as well. Parking is plentiful and free You can shuttle Tram over for free as well. Lots of running room, umbrella tables. Definitely recommend. Enjoy!
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John M.

Yelp
Definitely recommend this space and air museum. One of many attractions at the Balboa Park complex of museums and exhibits, it was the main attraction for my kid. It has a lot to see and do in a large space. There's just so much that the ticket to get in ~$25 is reasonable.
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Tom G.

Yelp
This is a really great museum and should get more recognition. They have a nice collection or originals and reproductions and a fine staff of docents to tell the stories
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Rob A.

Yelp
Located on the far south end of Balboa Park. You can`t miss it with the rocket and aircraft sitting in front of the entrance.The cool thing about its location is it's close proximity to the airport's flight path for landing airliners. You'll most likely see one or two aircraft fly over as you walk towards the museum. Check in ticket counter is to your right as you enter. The foyer is large, circular and filled with an impressive array of air and space related mockups, artifacts, models and information stations. The walk through is a giant counterclockwise path through the building. Everything is bright and clean with displays along every wall and covering most areas of the ceiling so be sure to look up. There is a lot to read and hands on displays as well. They also have a movie theater about 3/4th of the way through. It's included with admission, flight related and last about 20 minutes or so. They have several actual military aircraft on static display including a US Navy Blue Angels F-18 Hornet. This museum is a must for aerospace fans and well worth the visit for all
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Jackie W.

Yelp
Having visited this museum with my family and most currently, visiting for a hosted event ( the Khaki Ball) the location, space and hospitality I'm giving a full five stars. When we arrived there was a welcome table where all covers ( caps) were placed. Two full bars as needed for the amount of Chiefs in attendance. The space allowed for an open dance floor,a separate area for catered food and a photo booth. The tour guides / historians of the museum were in attendance and were there to offer tours, historical fun facts and warm hospitality throughout the evening . We danced the night away under the makeshift moon and stars until the very end. I would recommend visiting this awesome museum if ever in the area as well as investigating if the space is available to rent for private events.
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Lynn O.

Yelp
Super clean and well maintained, the museum has lots of fun air and space craft to see. There are lots of human interest stories to read if you take the time, and it's always good to take a moment to reflect on and respect the people in the military who keep us all safe while we're having a Friday night drink in beautiful SD. Parking in Balboa Park is tight during the day, but nice at night after many of the other museums close. The Rock n Roll Night at the Museum event is pretty cool. The ticket includes a complimentary drink. The drink selection is pretty good, with cocktails, beer and wine. There are light snacks as well. The stage area is set up in the rotunda, which has lots of seating, but isn't the best for acoustics. The event wraps up at 9:30, so there's still time to hit nearby Gaslamp or Hillcrest if you want a full night out.
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Ella A.

Yelp
I'd personally skip this museum. As a San Diego local this museum is run down, broken, and a little dirty. I'd personally recommend any of the other museums in Balboa Park.

Bill V.

Yelp
The aircraft on display are rare and cover the story of flight from beginning to current day. They have a very welcoming group of knowledgeable people who answer questions and provide presentations. This facility is a must for the aviation enthusiasts. I only wish they had more room, since the aircraft craft are tightly packed into the space available. Beautiful location!
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Alex D.

Yelp
Accessibility: there were disabled parking spot in front of the museum then lots of other spots. Getting inside, it is all flat ground. Inside the museum there are ramps to get up to the restrooms, but they are a bit steep. Experience: the museum is actually a lot smaller inside than I expected it to be, but it was PACKED full of history and aircrafts! They had tons of planes, helicopters, models of people and real clothing from historical people. They had movies playing about certain people and events as well as the normal displays and writing about each thing. I really liked that they had timelines of the 1990s, 80s, 70s, 60s, and back (relevant to aircraft history), and I especially loved that they have an entire set up for women in aircraft history and their importance. For anyone who loves learning about aircrafts or things like the World Wars, this is a really cool museum.
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Sharon B.

Yelp
I am not one to visit this type of museum because I'm more the arts, paintings and sculpture type but one of the people I travelled in Cali with in my family wanted to see this so here we were looking at old airplanes, lol. I tried my best to take shots of the planes but it took me some time and moving around to get them in with the size of them. I wish I had used other aspects that my new iPhone has to get wide shots but of course I hadn't looked into or practiced them yet. I'm sure anyone interested in air and space will appreciate the photos.

Tara F.

Yelp
This was not worth the $30 admission charge. Had we known how small it was we never would have made the drive much less paid the price. Such a disappointment.
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Michelle G.

Yelp
WOW! What an amazing experience. I came here with my family on the second Tuesday of the month (which is free for SD residents), so it was quite busy. The parking lot was hectic, but we managed to secure a parking spot within 10-15 minutes of arriving. Entry was fairly easy & you don't have to go to the admissions area they check your ID at the door (so make sure to have it out before reaching the doors). If the AC was on it was hard to tell, it was quite warm inside. Once you're in, there are so many artifacts around you it's hard to know where to start in the room. For the most part, the flow of the museum is pretty self explanatory. If you get turned backwards, have questions, or even looked lost there are always staff members walking around to help you out. While here, I was approached by a few of the workers who gave me some fun facts! The WWII outfits you see the mannequins in are real. It's so cool to be that close to such a large part of our history. Something else that caught my eye was seeing fragments of the planes of the enemy here from Pearl Harbor. Definitely gives me chills to read these facts & be so close to a part of US history. Overall, I had a great experience. Although there were a lot of people, you don't really feel it with it being so spread out. There is a flight simulator there for a small fee which looks like a ton of sun. It'll be fun to come back & see the Space room that's also interactive. Unfortunately, it wasn't open when we went as it is under construction currently. I'll absolutely be coming back. My in laws, husband & son thoroughly enjoyed our time & new facts we learned!
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Arlene P.

Yelp
I always learn something new and experience something fun each time that I go here. I've been every year for these past many years and I truly enjoy the history of flight, which fascinates me From the frivolous display of flight attendant/ stewardess uniforms to the historic displays honoring those who first dreamed that man could fly... this is a wonderful wonder filled place. I like their 4 d theater and the display room that sometimes features a different aspect of history that changes often... maybe annually. Young and old, you will love this place
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Dani S.

Yelp
In my opinion, the best museum in San Diego! Super cool! I've been here a couple of times over the years and each time I'm still very impressed by all of the items on display and all the things I'm still learning. The museum is pretty big, and it's configured in a circular manner. Lots of cool old planes from war time and peace times. The flight simulator ride was awesome, you can spin any which way and go upside down, it was kind of exciting. There are also documentaries you can watch. I liked the space program exhibits. Bathrooms are clean. Parking was easy.
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Takashi Y.

Yelp
I found this museum to be a great place to show the history of aerospace. For example, I was able to see the history of various airplanes and spaceships from the Wright Brothers' airplanes to the present day, and I was able to see materials and historical facts that were even deeper than what I knew, which was very educational for me. Actually, I work for the US military, so everything I saw was fascinating. By looking at the various airplanes and spaceships on display, we can see that mankind has always dreamed of going to the skies and even to space, which is a great message to us. What struck me the most in this museum was the scene of the attack on Pearl Harbor. The reason is that I live in Hawaii and Pearl Harbor is special to me. In fact, I was born and raised in Japan. The history of Pearl Harbor is very special to Japanese people. We all know that the events at Pearl Harbor were very tragic, and I had very mixed feelings when I saw the film of that time. I think this museum is a fun place for children and adults. It is about a 15-20 minute drive from the San Diego airport, so I think the location is good. The San Diego Zoo is also located on the same street, so I thought it would be possible to visit there after visiting the zoo.
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Francine L.

Yelp
Do you want to learn more about what planes, space, and cars looked like back in the day? Well, this museum will blow your mind at how many different types of varieties happened and changed during the times. This place is very large and has so much more detailed history. I enjoyed the space side, it has a lot of different things like getting into a spacecraft and how it would feel like to be in one. Also, there's a moon rock here! Also, there's a wall of photos of different people that say what they accomplished during their time in life and how they made an impact on flying! It was cool. In the middle of the museum, there is a 4D kind of video that is a simulator. That was pretty enjoyable! This museum just has so many different planes that I have never seen before so it was pretty interesting to look at and to read up about them. You can also see how many of the planes were all named different names! This place would be great for flying. A nice place for families to just check out how times have changed and the progress of how flying has also changed during history. The only thing that was a negative would be the price is this place. Wish it was a little bit cheaper.
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Matthew H.

Yelp
Ehh heard great things about this museum and love any thing history related, but this museum fell flat. Prices: EXPENSIVE. To get in with a family of four, about $80 with discounts. Little steep. But at least its going to the upkeep of this museum so that can slide. Museum itself: Lots of interactive and interesting things to read and see. Lots of hidden areas where cool exhibits can he seen. Such as entering a cockpit, or being inside a control tower, but thats about it. You basically go around in a very large circle with some exceptions, but you start and end where you began. It was fun to escape the heat from the park, but this museum surly was not worth the expense.
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Kris P.

Yelp
This and the LA space museum are pretty awesome for any AV geek like me. I keep telling myself should have became an aviator. Oh well. Next life maybe. It's in Balboa Park with all the other museums and stuff. It's amazing they can fit all that stuff in a tight spot. Value is perfect and parking is plenty. It was a little stuffy inside so I don't think there is AC or maybe it wasn't working. But great place for sure. Really enjoy the pieces related to 9-11. The cop car from NJ Port Authority. I was under the impression it was a genuine car. I hope it was, cause if it wasn't shame on them for not disclosing that it was a reproduction. Also enjoyed the life size planes on the outside atrium. Really neat!
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Aaron D.

Yelp
Over the last few years this museum has really stepped up their game and created really amazing exhibits for people of all ages. They have incredible pieces and even an Apollo command module, the only one on the west coast. It is definitely worth visiting this museum if you like planes. My only suggestion is they are really missing out on a good opportunity to have a great Cafe in the center rotunda.
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Joline A.

Yelp
We enjoyed all the displays in this museum. We went as a couple, but they have so many things to do for kids. Many displays had interactive learning areas to make it more interesting for them. We enjoyed all the old planes and reading about the history of aviation. It is really a fascinating place and I highly recommend visiting.

Chris Rosenbluth ..

Yelp
Well worth the price of admission. Stay and spend time in Balboa Park as well. Many original artifacts and exhibits.
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Nicole G.

Yelp
This is a great activity for all age groups to explore and see the history of aeronautics. There's a small room for the little ones to build airplanes, VR and play with cars. There is also other buildings/museums around, so you can definitely have a full day!
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Jules F.

Yelp
The sheer size of this place is - wow. Airplanes and spaceships/capsules hang from the ceiling. Some exhibits allow you to get very close to the action, with stairs leading up to peer into cockpits and all kinds of unique spectacles. There are many hands-on physics displays near the entrance and a talking robot with an airplane from the 50's explaining some thing or another. There's an entire kids room with activities for them, and a movie theater. Plus, for a few extra dollars you can get into a flight simulator and "fly" around. It's a ton of fun, and it feels a lot like you're flying, as it moves in almost all directions. We unintentionally went upside down a few times (the controls at the front allow you to switch between pilots, which explains why my controls weren't working at first and we just divebombed and loop de looped). The gift shop was a little underwhelming, which is fine. Mediocre food at the cafe. Overall a great experience. If you want to take everything in, plan to spend 3-4 hours here.
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The Critical J.

Yelp
PROS: This place has everything from models to robots! The price is reasonable for what you're getting and parking is plentiful CONS: there weren't a lot of authentic things in this museum. Many things are reproductions. Also, there was no air conditioning in this museum OVERALL: amazing place to go to if you're into flying. Just wear breathable clothes