Museum of Flight Seattle: Tickets, Prices & Hours

Opening hours

The Museum of Flight opens 10:00am–5:00pm daily. It closes on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day, which in 2026 fall on November 26 and December 25.

Admission is also free from 5pm to 9pm on the first Thursday of every month. Check the museum’s calendar before planning around a specific free evening, because programs and special events can change what is open.

What airplanes can you see?

The aircraft collection is the main reason to visit.

Highlights include:

• the first Boeing 727,
• the first Boeing 737,
• the first Boeing 747,
• a Boeing 787 Dreamliner,
• Concorde,
• the first jet-powered Air Force One,
• Boeing 247D,
• Douglas DC-2,
• B-17 Flying Fortress,
• B-29 Superfortress,
• B-47 Stratojet.

Concorde

The museum displays British Airways Concorde G-BOAG, one of its headline commercial-aviation exhibits.

For anyone interested in passenger jets, it is one of the best reasons to come.

Boeing 747

The Aviation Pavilion holds the first Boeing 747, which makes the museum especially valuable for anyone following Boeing’s history.

Boeing 787 Dreamliner

A Boeing 787 Dreamliner is also on display in the Aviation Pavilion.

If your main goal is to see a complete 787 up close, the Museum of Flight is the more relevant attraction. The Everett factory tour currently focuses on the 777 and 777X, not the 787.

Air Force One

The collection includes the first jet-powered Air Force One, which adds presidential and political history to the museum’s aviation story.

Space Shuttle Trainer

The museum does not display a flown Space Shuttle orbiter, but it has NASA’s Space Shuttle Full Fuselage Trainer, which astronauts used during training.

Apollo exhibits

The museum also covers the Apollo program and the Space Race, including recovered rocket hardware and other space artifacts.

Main galleries

Great Gallery

A broad overview of the first century of flight, with aircraft hanging from the glass roof.

Red Barn

A historic building connected with the early Boeing Airplane Company.

Personal Courage Wing

Military aviation, particularly World War I and World War II.

Space Gallery

Space Shuttle and aerospace exhibits.

Aviation Pavilion

Large commercial and military aircraft, including Concorde, the 747, the 787 and Air Force One. It sits on the west side of East Marginal Way, linked to the main building by a pedestrian bridge.

How long do you need?

For most visitors:

3–4 hours

For serious aviation enthusiasts:

4–6 hours or longer

This is not a museum to rush through in 90 minutes. If you arrive after lunch, you will be choosing which galleries to skip before the 5pm close.

Is it good for children?

Yes. Families get a mix of real aircraft, interactive displays, simulators, space exhibits and children’s areas.

It is often easier for families with very young children than the Boeing Factory Tour, because there is no general height requirement just to visit the museum. The factory tour turns away anyone under 4 feet, whatever their age. Individual simulator experiences can have their own limits.

Flight simulators

The museum offers simulator experiences at extra cost. Treat them as optional add-ons, not the core reason to visit.

Do you need to book in advance?

Ordinary museum admission is more flexible than the timed Boeing Factory Tour: you pick a day and walk the galleries at your own pace, with no tour slot to catch. Booking ahead can still save time at the desk on busy dates.

Parking

Parking at the Museum of Flight is free. The lots sit beside the museum entrances on both the east and west sides of East Marginal Way; from Interstate 5, take Exit 158 and turn right onto East Marginal Way South.

Public transport

King County Metro route 124 runs from downtown Seattle and from Tukwila Station, and stops directly in front of the museum. Check the current Metro timetable before you travel.

Museum of Flight vs Boeing Factory Tour

Choose the Museum of Flight for:

• historic aircraft,
• Concorde,
• the 747,
• the 787,
• Air Force One,
• military aviation,
• space exhibits.

Choose Future of Flight for:

• current aircraft manufacturing,
• 777/777X production,
• Boeing engineering,
• plane spotting from the Paine Field Sky Deck.

The museum costs $29 for an adult and needs no car if you take the 124 bus. The factory tour costs $42–$46 direct from Boeing, and without a car the simplest option is a round-trip factory tour from downtown Seattle, rated 4.6/5 from more than 550 reviews. Our Future of Flight vs Museum of Flight comparison goes through the trade-off in detail.

Can you do both in one day?

Yes, but it makes a full aviation day, because Future of Flight is north of Seattle while the Museum of Flight is south of downtown.

It works best with a morning factory tour and a car. The museum closes at 5pm, so an afternoon factory slot leaves too little time for the museum’s 3–4 hours. If you can spare two days, you will enjoy both more. The booking and availability guide explains how the factory’s timed departures work.

What should aviation enthusiasts prioritize?

1. Concorde.
2. The first Boeing 747.
3. The Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
4. The first jet Air Force One.
5. The Boeing 727 and 737 prototypes.
6. The Space Shuttle Trainer.
7. The Red Barn and early Boeing history.
8. The Apollo exhibits.
9. The Personal Courage Wing.

Planning your visit

The Museum of Flight deserves a place on your list if your interest in aviation goes beyond Boeing’s working factory.

Allow at least half a day if you can. With historic Boeing aircraft, Concorde, military aviation and space exhibits under one ticket, it is one of the strongest aviation attractions in the Seattle area. Buy direct from the museum or book the Museum of Flight entry ticket through GetYourGuide, and arrive by late morning so the Aviation Pavilion does not get squeezed at the end of the day.

Related planning guides

Future of Flight vs Museum of Flight · Factory tour booking and availability · Which factory tour ticket to buy · Future of Flight Aviation Center · Getting to Future of Flight

Sources and booking notes

Prices, hours, closures, free First Thursday evenings, return-visit rates, parking and the Metro 124 route were checked on September 28, 2026 against the museum’s hours and admission and directions and parking pages. Official site: museumofflight.org. The GetYourGuide rating and review count were checked the same day; the listing’s price can differ from the museum’s own desk price, so compare before you pay. We may earn a commission from GetYourGuide bookings.