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While visiting the San Diego Air and Space Museum, you’ll learn about the hair-raising antics of the pioneers of flight, whose moxie made air travel possible. The museum is divided into several galleries, each emphasizing the contributions San Diego has made to aviation. The galleries include the Theodore Gildred Rotunda, Special Exhibit area, World War I, Golden Age of Flight, World War II, Modern Jet & Space Age, and the Edwin D. McKellar Pavilion of Flight.
Special Exhibits
SPEED: Science in Motion
The San Diego Air & Space Museum is bringing Speed to San Diego with a focus on competition, record-setting and racing throughout 2018, with of the Museum’s planes, jets, cars, space vehicles, motorcycles, and more – including some of the fastest vehicles known to mankind — having their top speeds posted next to them for everyone to enjoy. The heart of the Museum’s year-long celebration of speed is a new special exhibition, SPEED: Science in Motion. Designed and Produced by Scitech and Produced by Imagine Exhibitions, SPEED: Science in Motion is a fun, interactive exploration of the technology behind everything fast.
American Women of Flight honors contributions to the world of aviation by women. Notable aviatrixes, such as Bessie Coleman, Jacqueline Cochran, Fran Bera, Sally Ride, and many others are featured.
Atlas Rocket Exhibit: The Museum is proud to showcase an exciting exhibit telling the story of the Atlas rocket series from the late 1950s to the present. Both graphics and videos detail the history of the project. Describing its role in the space race, the manned Mercury orbital missions, its effect on the San Diego area. Finally its enormous successes in helping launch many space projects. Benefiting mankind in general along with lessons in rocketry and guidance.
Kids Aviation Action Hangar: This special “kids only” area has an abundance of attractions for kids of all ages. Preschoolers can enjoy magnetic toys and aviation coloring books, plus a dry erase board where they are able to sketch out their favorite airplane! Even pedal planes to whisk them around our kid-size airport. Grade school-age aviators will thrill at the “U-Fly-It” machine. A flight simulator experience in a real wind tunnel atmosphere. They’ll also enjoy a romp in our simulated moon’s surface.
Ethan's Adventures
19:00 13 Oct 24
I visited the museum on the second Tuesday of October 2024, which happened to be my birthday. After showing my state ID (the second Tuesday of October is a free admissions day), I got inside and was excited to see the wide variety of aircraft on display. In the pavilion, there’s a MiG-17, an old AH-1E from the U.S. Army, a Ford Trimotor, a U.S. Navy F-4 Phantom II, a PBY-5 Catalina, and three aerobatic aircraft from the Reno Air Races (only one of them is included in this review). The Blue Angels’ No. 1 F/A-18A Hornet was also on display, which I thought was really cool.The museum features a replica of the plane Amelia Earhart was flying when she disappeared. There are also several aircraft types you can see flying today, including the R-44 Raven and the Pitts Special biplane. In the WWII section, you’ll find replicas of the German Ho-229 and Me-262 fighter jets, along with a replica of the Junkers-Jumo 004 jet engine. Other notable aircraft in this section include a mock-up of the Bf 109 (which appears to be flying upside down), a Supermarine Spitfire, a P-51 Mustang nicknamed “Bunnie,” and replicas of the P-26 Peashooter, F4U Corsair, A6M Zero, F6F Hellcat, F4F Wildcat, and more.Outside the museum, there’s also an A-12 Oxcart and an F2Y Sea Dart on display. The A-12 Oxcart is often mistaken for the SR-71 Blackbird but is a different aircraft entirely. Additionally, the museum has at least two outdoor patios where you can watch planes landing at San Diego Airport, which adds a nice touch for aviation enthusiasts like me. While the variety of aircraft on display was impressive, most of the planes were unfortunately replicas. There's also a space section in this museum, but I didn't go to it today.
Steven Murray
23:47 12 Oct 24
Nice museum, you can zip through in a few hours or spend a whole day. The location in Balboa Park is easy to access and park.
Emma
04:28 06 Oct 24
We came here for a private event, it was cool to have the planes and helicopters over the top of the drinks reception and the terrace where you can watch the planes take off is a great touch.The catering could’ve been better.
Nathan Egge
10:37 24 Sep 24
A fantastic place to learn about aviation history. I highly recommend a guided tour with a docent, ours utilized three and they add so much depth to the visit. From early flight in the late 1700's to the space race and beyond, the San Diego Air & Space Museum has so much to offer. Plan on at least two hours, but more if you want to read the signage and do some of the hands on activities.
David Rottblatt
05:27 02 Sep 24
This review is for San Diego: For two adults and two kids, we paid a little less than $180 with some discounts from our hotel concierge. Very informational tour drivers and stops at all the best places. We loved the air & space museum!
Erinne matte daniels
20:39 29 Aug 24
We really enjoyed the exhibits. A must-see for any aviation or space enthusiasts or history buffs!If you are headed to Balboa Park to see several museums, it may be more cost-effective to buy a discounted pass for multiple attractions.
Laurie Carlson
19:55 10 Aug 24
We were greeted by a guide that explained some of the displays as we moved through the museum. Very friendly and knowledgeable and kept the elementary through middle school aged kids engaged. We also spent quite a bit of time with hands on exhibits related to flight with all ages trying their hands on flight simulation, designing their own plane and mimicking birds flying in a V formation. There were also displays I would have read with interest were I not responding and participating with the kids. Young and old stopped to make paper airplanes using preprinted sheets of three varieties of planes.We ate our lunch at umbrella topped tables after our 2 1/2 hour time in the museum. Also enjoyed standing on the deck outside the back of the museum experiencing commercial airliners flying directly overhead as they came into the San Diego airport ✈️
Silver Sterling
02:30 18 Jun 24
Absolutely wonderful! I’m not typically into air and space related stuff but this place was amazing. I loved all the dioramas and planes they had to show. The talking robots they had freaked me out a little bit lol. My favorite part by far was the vintage PSA Airlines Stewardess Uniforms. Conveniently located in Balboa Park with many other museums. It is a little pricey but I think it’s worth it. Would recommend going!
Kelly Lee
04:59 17 Jun 24
Very very pretty buildings and outdoor scenery, but it's really "art village", all small stores sell artworks, so if you aren't into art, you won't find it interesting.
T C
15:34 08 Jun 24
Add this to your list of places to go to.I was impressed with this museum with all the airplanes and aircraft throughout the ages and all the space items. They even have interactive things you can do in the space section. Part of the space shuttle is there, very impressive. My husband and I stayed for awhile learning a lot and enjoying all the displays. Also check out the gorgeous views on the patios too
Megan Monsanto
01:17 25 May 24
Really cool air and space museum right in Balboa park! Large museum with lots of planes and memorabilia to look at. There is even a 3D theater with a thirty minute film that is included with your entrance ticket. There are flight stimulators they do cost extra $$ but less than $10 and seem pretty cool. We didn’t try it but maybe another time. Great for all ages little to old. Definitely want to go back again.
Krissy Bigelow-Talbert
02:12 19 May 24
Decent museum. They did a great job with the set ups. Easy to see everything in about an hour. Bring extra money if you want to do the flight simulators, which are pretty neat!
Jacob O'Dell
22:46 22 Apr 24
The Air & Space Museum was my favorite part of Balboa Park. There are tons of exhibits for the aviation enthusiast, and it can easily take hours to see everything. The Above and Beyond exhibit was especially interesting due to the various activities offered, like riding up in a space elevator. This museum also holds the original Apollo 9 command module, which was awesome to see.This is definitely a must see if you're in the city.
Nicki Lolk Sørensen
04:24 21 Apr 24
The museum is nowhere near as impressive as the one in Houston. Still, it's worth a visit!I loved the guitar made with artifacts from every Apollo mission.A lot of children ran around the exhibition having fun with some of the activities like designing and flying a space rocket.
David Popler
17:16 18 Apr 24
This is an impressive and extensive collection from air and space history- from the Wright Brothers to the Blue Angels. The docents were knowledgeable and attentive. Being within Balboa Park is a big plus also (lots of other things to see and do while there).
Matt D (Frizbee)
04:21 09 Apr 24
Well worth the entry price, despite being small and having a large number of fake, or replica aircraft on site.There is a cool kids area, and a nice 4D theatre with a real Apollo 12 themed movie, and a sci-fi movie that plays.There are also a large number of simulators and games meant for kids, but equally fun for me to play.
Eddie Lieu
22:40 28 Mar 24
This was our first stop on Sunday (3/24) while visiting San Diego. We got the Limited Explorer Pass which allowed us to visit 4 different museums on the same day. The San Diego Automotive Museum was our first stop.The museum gallery is on the smaller side. The building itself isn’t overly large and can fit only so many exhibits in it. The exhibits are pretty cool to look at and this story/history behind them is even more interesting. There were older older cars (e.g. Model T) to some newer ones (First Tesla!) as well as motorbikes. It takes about 1 to 1.5 hours to make your way through if you take your time. Otherwise will probably cruise through the entire floor in about 30 minutes. The restrooms inside the building is very nice, way better than the public restroom outside.The workers there know their cars. Both my boys spent a good 40 minutes chatting it up with one of the staff worker.If you’re in the area, consider stopping by the San Diego Automotive Museum. I gave this place a 4/5 stars; was really hoping to see more cars perhaps some newer ones will be nice. The place is smaller and fell short of expectations.If your find this review helpful, please give heart or thumbs up emoji reaction below!
Angelique T
17:36 10 Mar 24
Never been a fan of museum. However, if you have little boys or girls they would be mesmerized by the plane and space universe. There are small activities inside too. If you get lucky there was a retired knowledgeable man and we learnt so much from him.It was truly interesting.A few hours tour is enough. The park around is nice to walk by.
Virat
17:24 15 Jan 24
Excellent museum, especially if you are an aviation/space nerd. Lots of stuff for kids to enjoy, especially the mock fighter jet cockpits and simulation. It's not a huge place. It will take a couple of hours if you take time to read and enjoy each exhibit.
Nicholas P
13:59 08 Jan 24
I came here awhile ago but I thought I would write a review and share some pictures. I’m sure they have done some renovations and remodeling since then. Current admission is $24 for an adult. Parking was very easy, we had no issues finding a spot. I really enjoyed this museum. I saw a lot of intriguing exhibits and I liked that they had some interactive activities. We probably spent 3-4 hours here. Museum was well kept. We came on a day where it wasn’t too busy at all.
Jean Tsou
01:17 01 Jan 24
Lots of history and airplane models in this museum as well as computer interaction model creation for kids to drive the airplane that they modeled. Review the histories for different period of time about the airplane evolvement. Great and education place for kids to visit. However, I recommend the air space museum in Washington DC better. Here it’s smaller and more dated.
Jason Fowler
17:16 31 Dec 23
Lots of cool stuff to see and interactive displays, from early aviation to space travel. Lots to learn, very informative . But if I had to pick between the museum and visiting Midway I'd choose the Midway.
Bienve López
18:39 20 Dec 23
Totally recommended! Beautiful cars, plenty of info! Staff was really great, helpful, explaining to us many things. LOVE ITBtw, some cars change after a while
Alexander Ivakhniouk
17:04 24 Nov 23
Wow. This place has so much on space in the beginning, from interactive activities to amazing displays. Later it proceeds to go through the history of aviation, from WW1 to WW2, from the German Ace Manfred von Richthofen to the Luftwaffe.
Stacia Cherry
12:49 18 Nov 23
This place is great! Lots of aircraft to see and informative regarding history of military and commercial planes. The low flying airplanes outside is a bonus! Check out the museum on the free Tuesday for San Diego county residents. It's the 2nd Tuesday of each month.
Dominic
02:56 09 Nov 23
If you're only visiting a few of the museums at Balboa Park this one is a must see! Filled to the brim with aircraft, replicas and interactive displays you could easily spend 2 or 3 hours looking at everything!
Risa
01:26 07 Nov 23
Nice museum with lots of artifacts. It took about 2 hours but if you watched every film it could take longer. They had a few 4d films that were fun and other interactive exhibits.
Shaun Versluis
01:29 30 Sep 23
Great museum located in Balba Park! Some of the best refurbished planes I've ever had the pleasure of seeing and the fact they have the capsule from Apollo 9 makes it even better. Thwy have hands-on exhibits for the kids . Price is reasonable.
Steven Chacko
01:25 11 Sep 23
Phenomenal museum with plenty of life-sized planes hanging throughout the place. Lots of educational experiences to practice “making” a plane, learn about different types of aviation, and discover the history of aircraft. Free parking is also easily accessible throughout all of Balboa Park but some lots may be full so you’ll have to walk up to 10 minutes
Gazzler 100
04:38 01 Sep 23
Great museum! Has a wide variety of replicas to demonstrate the history of aviation. Many simulators are scattered throughout as well, which work pretty well. There’s also a dedicated location/balcony to plane spot, and you could get some nice photos!
Evan Bryan
03:34 16 Aug 23
This museum has been around for decades, and it's a beautiful sight! We went on a free Tuesday as San Diego residents. I actually appreciated the unfinished atmosphere as it is possible to see the process of how they are constructing a model of the California Tehachapi line, which was a vision of the founder. The volunteers are passionate and helpful and are clearly knowledgeable of their craft. We thoroughly enjoyed it!
Beck Orion
06:33 11 Aug 23
This place was interesting, informative, and very well thought out. I only spent a few hours here, but I could easily have spent a whole day if I had time. Each exhibit is a high quality replica or restoration of the vehicle and there are always plaques with some well researched information. It’s easy to spend 10+ minutes per exhibit lost in awe at the marvelous engineering of the time. I definitely would like to come back and see more. Even if you aren’t interested is air & space, the historical background of each display is amazing to marvel at. This is an easy 10 out of 10 for me.
Kyle Gilmar
16:59 29 Jun 23
This is an absolute must for anyone who likes aviation history. The exhibits are well done and very well maintained. So much to see. Price is absolutely worth it.
vance watson
21:15 06 Jun 23
Sr 71 and rare navy water launched fighter at entrance. Nice interior displays as well. Easy parking and other things around this museum. I came specifically for this museum but found other stuff to do here. Nice mockup of an aircraft carrier inside also. Space related items as well.
Hunter Garcia
04:17 30 May 23
I very much enjoyed my time. I thought it was a great museum very interactive lots of history I would definitely recommend if you enjoy these kinds of things. It’s a great place for the family and children.
Daniel Hannih
12:00 01 May 23
The San Diego Air & Space Museum is an incredible destination for aviation and space enthusiasts of all ages. The museum is conveniently located in Balboa Park, near several other popular attractions. I recently visited the museum and was thoroughly impressed by the quality and depth of the exhibits.The museum houses an impressive collection of aircraft and spacecraft, including replicas of famous planes and rockets. The exhibits are informative and engaging, with interactive displays that allow visitors to learn more about the science behind flight and space travel. Some of my favorite exhibits included the Apollo 9 spacecraft and the replica of the Wright Brothers' 1903 Flyer.In addition to the exhibits, the museum also offers educational programs and events. I attended a lecture on the history of aviation that was both informative and entertaining. The museum also has a planetarium that offers shows throughout the day.The staff at the San Diego Air & Space Museum are friendly and knowledgeable. They were happy to answer any questions I had and provided great recommendations for other attractions to visit in the area.Overall, I highly recommend visiting the San Diego Air & Space Museum. It's a must-see destination for anyone interested in aviation and space travel.
Jesse Blough
19:36 13 Dec 22
Such an awesome place to spend a couple of hours. Our 3.5 year old had an absolute blast. There's a special kid's area with fun stuff to do, cool displays that are interactive and exciting, and plenty of opportunities to sit for a few minutes if you need a break. We combined this museum with a visit to the Natural History Museum, which was also amazing, and it was a great way to spend the whole day learning and exploring concepts and machines.
Justin Shaw
13:19 12 Sep 22
Loved it! My 6 year old son loved it! I'm a native San Diegan who has been going here since I was a kid. It gets better and better. From the original Apollo 9 capsule to gorgeous examples of WW1 and WW2 aircraft, this museum is laid our brilliantly. For all ages, it has great hands on/climb in things for kids including two flight simulators where u can fly one of the blue angels. Conveniently located in Balboa Park and with plenty of parking, it's a must see for anyone!
Angie Vallejo
21:16 09 Sep 22
We spent the day in Balboa Park and this was our first, and best, stop. So much history in this space! Among the many aircraft, saw the original Apollo 9 capsule, a GPS satellite and a police car from 9-11. Enjoyed the Galileo exhibit located right where you enter (set up perfectly for students!). We ran into a great volunteer guide that gave us a load of information that made the visit more entertaining. The only negative is that this museum does not have AC, and we visited during the very hot and humid week (Sept 8) San Diego (and all southern CA) was experiencing. They did have the large fans going, but it didn’t help too much. However, the museum was so fascinating, we stayed to experience it, hot weather or not. If you visit Balboa Park, make this your first stop. It’s in the back of the park, and there is plenty of parking. There is a free shuttle that will take you in other areas of the park that runs every 15 minutes or so.
Andrew Zupcsan
05:20 05 Sep 22
Very interesting museum! Good educational and hands on exhibits on Galileo and physics. Nice collections of early small planes and WWI and WWII aircraft. Space exhibits, especially the Apollo 9 command module were very informative. Lots to see and do for both adults and kids.
Steven Dawoud
20:48 22 Aug 22
The place is really awesome! Free military entrance, It has so many things to watch, do and read about, starting off with massive physics rules, inventions and cool stuff to understand and learn about, then you got so many history about the cold war, the space race, and plenty of NASA items. Next you see attack helicopters from different countries and in different Eras, It looks like the Allied museum in Berlin but it’s more interactive and interesting
Zachary Zeiler
01:42 16 Aug 22
Many options to experience with some classics and some reproductions that look at amazing as the originals. Ideally, this could be elevated to 5 stars with better audio options and more details. It would be great if it was bigger, too. However, it isn't easy to find land or make a big car or small car fit. Totally worthy of a visit and with rotating vehicles, so much to see and a lot of fun. Went through it twice and enjoyed it so much.
Adolfo Duarte
16:53 26 Jul 22
The visit to this museum was very nice, I went on a Sunday and yet it was not crowded at all. The prices are not exorbitant and inside the museum there are many things to see and do such as a 4D movie included in the price of admission. The museum has a cafe inside where you can eat. But nevertheless the most fun of the museum was a flight simulator which cost 8 dollars and is the most realistic thing I've seen in flying a plane.
Paul Barton
23:47 26 Jun 22
There is a marvelous collection of aircraft. I was particularly impressed by the WW I era examples. The presentation is engaging. And the background information extensive and interesting. I would have spent a day here. And if I lived close by would visit periodically to attempt to absorb my fill.As it happens I visited as part of a group for which the facility had been reserved. Thus I have no knowledge about wait times, ticket prices or the like.
Evan Mobley (amminadabz)
21:35 22 Jun 22
After having seen the National Air and Space Museum in DC, this felt honestly disappointing (as someone more inclined to the space side). My brother, a military geek, thoroughly enjoyed it, especially because they had a Japanese Zero fighter plane from WWII.If you haven't been to the Smithsonian, or you are interested in specific unusual items they have, it's a pleasant diversion. Otherwise, consider spending your time/money elsewhere in Balboa Park.
Russ Schnapp
00:39 10 Jun 22
A great place for aviation and aerospace enthusiasts, and for kids who might want to learn about air and space craft.My favorite exhibit is the fastest and highest flying air breathing aircraft ever--the beautiful A-12, from which the slower and lower (but more useful) SR-71 was developed. Too bad they're leaving this magnificent work of engineering and art outside, to moulder and peel in the sun and rain... It's almost criminal.
Gail Zittel
21:47 03 Jun 22
Fairly fun. The temporary Galileo exhibit was lots of fun since it was mostly hands on experiments beside simple descriptions of the physics. The siege exhibit was also really cool with a simulator for landing the space shuttle and a trivia game.I'm more interested in space flights than aircraft so I spent most of my time on that section of the museum. The airplane section was a lot larger than the space exhibit so I think it could be good if you're interested in airplanes.I wasn't quite prepared for the 9/11 exhibit but it was interesting and informative.Smallish museum but we spent a couple of hours reading placards and playing with the exhibits you were allowed to.
Gu Lin
04:01 21 May 22
A fun and enjoyable place to know the history of flying and space traveling.There is a session introducing the starting area of modern science, which started from Copernicus, to Kepler and Galileo. It presents ways in which we know our world with more precise data and repeated experiments.Also, there are many models of various kinds of previous airplanes hanging over your head. It is interesting to watch.The part about space traveling is even better. A lot of information and very friendly staff will answer all questions you may have. They are quite knowledgeable and experienced! Kudos!
Ella B
20:41 18 May 22
Loved it here! You can spend a whole day here or a couple of hours as well. If you do a tour ask for Vern! He’s the best, very knowledgeable and humorous. Don’t eat here though, because they don’t have a lot of options.
Theodore McColl
13:48 17 May 22
I am reviewing the Galileo exhibit only. The rest of the museum is excellent. This exhibit is the classical attack on the Church. Galileo had two big problems in claiming the Earth orbits the sun. First he did not have an expiration of how gravity works, and he could not explain the lack of parallax. If in January. We look at the North Star then we look again in July the star should appear in a different place because the earth moved. If we look at the top of a flag pole, then 'orbit ' over to the other side the top will be in a different place. Galileo had no explanation for the lack of this. Today we have tools and can measure it. Back then nobody realized how far away the stars are. This easy test of Galileo's hypothesis is why many did not believe his conclusion. For more on his trial search Galileo Rocky Kolb. The exhibit did not address these and took the lazy, easy way out and blamed the Church.
Jessica M.
13:56 17 Apr 22
This was an on the spot decision for our family and we’re pretty happy! The museum wasn’t as big as I had hoped/expected, but ALL of the cars and motorcycles were super amazing! I wish there were more to see! The young man who was very professional and friendly. He gave us some interesting facts about the cars which helped with the visit.
Michael Wells
01:58 15 Feb 22
Very cool. Always fun to geek out on stuff like this, and they have put on a good show here. Added bonus is that the flight simulator was only $8 a person, it's twice that price at the USS Midway. Excellent experience all around, and we'll be going back!
Rob S
10:03 14 Feb 22
This was an excellent Museum but because of a fire back in the 70s a lot of original display planes and items were lost. They have done a super job replacing them and with beatutiful reproductions and the displays are laid out very intelligently with enough information to make them interesting as you walk by and not overload you with information. I actually rate this Museum at 4 to 4.5 Stars
surgioramon
16:27 30 Jan 22
I was pretty happy with this museum considering the relatively smaller size of it. It contained very pristine aircraft and was well designed with a nice layout. There is an outside patio that you come across along the tour. You can grab a bite from a limited menu and eat in the open air. I left feeling that there could have been more but I'm happy it exists to experience. Enter with the right expectations and you'll be happy with your decision. Enjoy if you decide to take the journey.
James
02:23 28 Jan 22
What a great museum. It was perfect for adults and for kids. There were lots of displays, plenty of information available, and interactive games and experiences available to break things up a bit. We really enjoyed this museum, and wished we could have spent a couple of more hours here. We spent about 2 hours here in total, but probably could have spent about 4 or more.
Heironymus de Medina (Heironymus de Medina)
18:37 15 Jan 22
Took grandkids thinking I could ditch them for a while by hiding in restroom. Instead I found the entire museum fascinating. Five year old granddaughter loved it. It’s a whole day walk through mind you and worth every minute. Take good walking shoes ?
Edmund Rose
23:35 31 Dec 21
Small-size museum with good selection of displays from the region. The collection isn't very big so this is more of a starter natural history museum experience which is why it's a good spot to visit if you're in Balboa Park for several stops. Large theater for documentaries worth seeing. A live reptile/amphibian room and several interactive displays for kids. Gems and minerals on the top floor. Took about 2 hours to go through the displays. About $20 for an adult ticket.
Douglas Prodor
21:10 09 Dec 21
First time visiting since I was a kid! It was amazing how much new exhibits and information they have about all the up and coming science projects. Getting up close and personal with space and the clouds as you enter.
Morgan Kelps
00:50 29 Nov 21
One of the better museums in Balboa Park for kids. They have a rotating exhibit that changes about once every three months that my kids inevitably love. Very hands on museum, depending on the age probably about 2-3 hours of time
Britani D.
06:03 28 Nov 21
Fantastic museum full of more information than can be consumed in one day. There are exhibits and activities for all members of the family. In addition to the "walk, look and read"-type displays, there is a 3D-4D movie theater and a kid's area for younger museum goers to enjoy. Tickets aren't cheap, however if you're a San Diego resident and frequent Balboa park visitor, the Explorer Pass might be a better baby for the buck.
Richard “The Food Doctor” Guthrie
21:38 08 Oct 21
This is a really fun and worthwhile attraction, with lots of aviation, space, military, and other American history. Our entire family loved it! Plus they have 4D movies and realistic flight simulators! Would highly recommend this attraction if you're in Balboa Park, or otherwise looking for something to do in SD especially on a rainy day.
RACHEL Wesler
02:15 06 Oct 21
Very interactive! I recommend 2-3 hours mid-morning during the week. Super great museum for small groups or homeschool events. Staff are scattered throughout and know a TON of info about the exhibits, ask questions and have fun!
Kara Johnston
01:43 18 Aug 21
We had a blast at this museum! The best part was the tour guide by the WW2 planes. I believe his name was Verne. He was very knowledgeable, sweet & made my two daughters laugh while learning.There is tons of great pieces of history here. If you haven't visited, you should!
Benjamin Le
23:29 12 Aug 21
A wonderful place to learn about the history of aviation from the first plane to space flights. Took my nieces here. Showed them there are many women pioneers who helped pave the way for others in the field. There are many activities here for people of all ages to enjoy and learn. Plan to spend 2 to 3 hours at least to learn about the amazing history of aviation.
Sal Piazza
15:27 07 Aug 21
Great museum with lots to see. We enjoyed many of the interactive exhibits, including the “landing the space shuttle” simulator. The staff was friendly and informative, providing additional information on specific exhibits throughout. Excellent for kids and adults, highly recommended.
Cara Good
21:39 02 Aug 21
For a small area, the curators have done such a great job providing exhibits about the history of aviation. My son loved it! Offer annual membership for active duty/retired families plus guests for $109. We will be going back!
Glenn
17:46 13 Jul 21
I love Space..the journey out of this world to the next. I grew up with Mercury, Gemini and Apollo and any time I can see some artifacts from that time I jump at the chance. To see the Apollo 9 Command Module, Neil Armstrong’s space suit and other memorabilia was great. Oh, did I mention they also have a tremendous amount of early aeronautics too?! See the Spirit of St Louis replica and the jet Chuck Yeager broke the sound barrier in…worth the mo EY (and the time!!)
Cam Cam
00:19 03 Jul 21
Love this place! Fun for people of all ages. The volunteers were so kind and helpful! Will definitely be coming back, lots more to see.
Wyatt Smith
02:51 01 Jun 21
This was a good museum, I really enjoyed my time here, the space section was pretty impressive for such a small museum. Some of the planes are scale models but they are still impressive. The focus is primarily on planes before 1950 however there are some newer planes at the end of the tour. There are some very interesting early planes that I have not seen previously. It reminds me a smaller WWI and WWII hanger section at the National Museum of the USAF. I would highly recommend going here for a quick tour for those that love aviation. The WWI section was impressive as was the HO229 model.
Brittany Holloway
02:03 18 May 21
This place sure is a fun place to go! My family had a blast! Perfect for anyone. Their flight simulators are open too! My husband had a blast in those with the kids ?
Sandy Mccluskey
01:10 15 May 21
A lot to see. We arrived at 4pm . Last entry is at 430pm. This should be cut off to 330pm. Too much to see. They start chasing you out at 440pm, with 20 min reminders they are closing. The lady in the gift shop was already counting her money at 4:50 pm and asking if we were the last people. I felt really uncomfortable . The museum is great. Give yourself at least 3 hours. We missed a lot
Lisa Cantu King
00:38 02 May 21
It was so nice to see this museum open. The once free for all is now organized to have the crowd flow through out. You do not miss anything.A new auto greeter starts you off and I swear he looked right at me, lol.A few free simulation machines in the middle and at the end simulation machine to let you experience a jet or older plane. Quite reasonable at least than $10 each.Go with friends and family or go alone, you will not regret it!
Allen Worth
23:31 23 Apr 21
Very informative docents... Been wanting to go for years. Even though im disabled the place is very accommodating...
Geo Curtis
05:14 23 Apr 21
I always love checking out this Museum. They have an A-12 on display outside (the predecessor to the SR-71).Definitely give this Museum a visit the next time you find yourself in Balboa Park...
Anais Gradilla
21:48 20 Apr 21
So much fun! Even though we needed to wear masks at all times it was enjoyable. Lots of great aircrafts to look at.
Nick Nennig
21:17 19 Apr 21
George the tour guide really made are trip unique and special! He very knowledgeable and had funny jokes along the way. “The plane that played cricket!” Would highly recommend seeing George when you visit the establishment. Well worth the money !Thanks George!
Chris Kalev
18:20 06 Apr 21
What a FANTASTIC place to visit! SO much history. SO many faces of aviation on the walls! The facemasks on the statues was a hilarious added touch..LOL
Gavin Zau
22:04 02 Apr 21
Great sports fishing place in point Loma. They have been around for years. They have half day party boat too 3-5 days tubas fishing boats. Staff is friendly
Kenneth Kraft
21:01 25 Mar 21
Fascinating! Go see Verne for an in depth experience to understand engineering and all sorts of fun facts & stories!
Victoria Baker (EasySnacks)
08:57 21 Mar 21
The exhibits are amazing. Lots of great displays and different aircraft. Also have multiple interactive cockpits and planes to get into. And if you need lunch or an ice cream there’s a great cafe in the Hall of Champions!!
Corey Ramsey
04:35 21 Mar 21
Great place. Try the simulator and prepare to really fly a plane. Keeps you on edge.
Siddharth Kamdar
21:07 09 Mar 21
Great place for kids 1-8 years old. Many different artistic play areas and activity spots. Take your home food and plan for full day outing .Go in early morning to take part in Workshops for kids and also some guided Art & Craft workshops for kids above 6 years.The clay modelling area is open all day and fun for all age kids.
Sobreena Alfeché
09:53 22 Jan 21
Better than Tacomas museum of flight! I liked this museum alot and will definitely encourage people to come and look. I had an amazing time there
Mohammad Qutaishat
23:39 28 Dec 20
An excellent museumSan Diego Automotive Museum is in the amazing Balboa Park next to the Air and Space Museum. It is a nice museum with a big collection of awesome vintage cars and motorcycles, the museum is small but packed, the staff was helpful and nice, overall it was an excellent experience.
Joshua Writer
00:29 11 Nov 20
First time I visited this museum and wow it had some cool stuff inside. A ton of history with lots of reading materials, plaques, and videos.This museum is also free for san Diego county residents on Tuesday. Look it up on Google to see what other museums are free.
Brandon Carter
05:59 08 Nov 20
Great place to see the history of airplanes, but not too many exhibits on space. A good history of flight and an interesting place to spend an hour of your day in Balboa park.
JOEY Gaines
16:43 18 Oct 20
Interesting if you love planes and the history of mostly military planes. Small area about commercial flights beginning. Nice little area about space.
Kris Scotten
19:41 17 Oct 20
This is a great place for a home schooling history/science lesson and/or field trip. To my pleasant surprise... Kids were free right now. And it's not super crowded like the zoo.
Wulfgar
00:34 04 Oct 20
Was an awesome museum to go would of loved to take my family. If you are active duty military make sure to bring you military ID it's free for you!.
Me
20:48 01 Oct 20
Don't know much about aircrafts so there were lots of interesting information + models to take a look at here. Well worth the price.
Angie Garcia
21:06 20 Sep 20
Overall the museum was a great place to visit. However, I don’t think it’s worth $20 just to get in. They also had additional charges for some of the simulation activities. Will not be coming back.
Alejandro Quintero
21:04 20 Sep 20
Lots of cool things to do and knowledge. They charge for different interactive games apart from the tickets. Other sections are closed due to COVID-19.
Marissa Larsen
20:31 13 Jul 20
For how much you pay for it's not very exciting. Took my young kids here and they enjoyed looking at all of the displays. But there were a lot of things that were closed due to covid. might have been worth the price if those things were open and we were able to interact with them. My husband did enjoy being able to do the flight simulator though.
Altaf Hussain
21:28 01 Jul 20
This is a great museum for someone to nerd out during the space exhibit as well as the various era's aircrafts
Christopher Fetros
05:48 26 Jun 20
Honestly a letdown. I thought this would be a great museum and all but I have seen so many of the cars that were there and even have one more valuable then some of them. Also, the Plank Road display has so little information that I have read websites that had more info so it made that one pointless. The cars were in nice condition though.
Blue lives Matter
20:10 20 Jun 20
Great museum! But it’s very hard to get there rn. Mostly bc of constructions over there !
Erik Prager
22:00 19 Jun 20
Great experience in a post-shutdown world! Felt safe and they took the time during the pandemic to update the exhibits and do some touch-up. New articles about African American history in Aviation are especially relevant in today's conversations.
Andy Christoffersen
01:22 07 May 20
Great air museum. Lots of great displays and different aircraft. Make sure you look up as you go through. Lots of exhibits hanging from the museum ceiling. Close to many different things in the park.
Ronnie Watson
12:40 16 Mar 20
Absolutely LOVE this place. Unlike other museums where you see pictures and comment cards and plaques this is the real deal. An airplane hanger filled with some inanely historical, interesting, and important aircraft that are just a marvel to look at. I 100% recommend taking a guided tour also. These guides are smart individuals who actually enjoy explaining everything you could want to know about the museum and it's contents. I visit a fair amount and every tour I'll still hear some new information that is just fascinating. I could spend days here and still enjoy myself.
David Shih
14:10 11 Mar 20
Excellent museum for military and history buffs. It's incredible to see how large and intricate a carrier can be.The displays are well-marked and informative. And the gift shop is pretty extensive as well.It's awe-inspiring and makes me proud that we can make such incredible and powerful machines.All in all, if you're in San Diego, this is definitely worth a visit!
Khai Le
02:25 20 Feb 20
This is a place of history and fun. There is so much to see in this museum, more planes than in the Smithsonian museum. It has its own gems and is the house of some of the rare items for the world war artifacts.There are flight simulations and other activities for kids. It will make a nice family outing packed with history.
Carol Noyes
23:48 10 Feb 20
It is a very nice museum. All ages can enjoy it. Every 4 months they change many of the cars. At present, there are many 70's vehicles along with many unique and unusual vehicles. This is brand new. It is worth the trip.
Fayr Lysure
15:17 09 Feb 20
This museum was truly an amazing experience. The memorabilia collected all in one place. And there was an older museum tour guide who told us amazing stories about the Japanese bombers and his own personal encounters with astronauts. It was wonderful hearing his stories. We will be visiting here again ASAP.
Marichu Harvey
19:18 22 Jan 20
It was a very cool place to visit. A lot to see and learn and there's a little bit of interaction to do around. Kid friendly museum, it has cool discounts for everyone,. I wish they will put more newer stuff too, like new type of planes, things like that. We definitely enjoyed it, and might go back once in a while.
Brendon Bay
06:56 17 Jan 20
This is a must see!! First time being here. It's in Balboa park and easy walking distance from everything. This air and space museum is remarkable. The time and effort put into it is worth the stop. Prices are very reasonable. 20$ a person. 15$ if your military. We made it through in about 4hrs. Could easily spend more time. The place is very clean. Friendly staff
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