10 Best Aviation Museums to Visit on Labor Day

For aviation enthusiasts, Labor Day weekend presents the perfect opportunity to celebrate flight by visiting one of America’s many world-class aviation museums.

From rare aircraft and spacecraft to hands-on exhibits and simulators, these museums offer immersive experiences that reveal the wonder of human flight.

Plan your Labor Day weekend to be inspired by mankind’s greatest aviation achievements at these 10 outstanding museums across the United States. They’re listed in no particular order.

IMPORTANT: Be sure to call ahead or check the official website for each museum to check if they are open for your planned visit time.

My Top 10 Best Aviation Museums to Visit on Labor Day

1. Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum (Washington, D.C.)

As the most popular museum in the world, the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum is aviation’s hallowed hall of fame. Visitors can view over 60,000 artifacts, including the Wright Flyer, Spirit of St. Louis, and Apollo 11 command module.

Don’t miss the Boeing B-29 Superfortress, the Glen Curtiss Pusher seaplane, and the Apollo Lunar Module LM-2.

2. Museum of Flight (Seattle, WA)

From commercial airliners to space shuttles, Seattle’s Museum of Flight contains over 175 aircraft and spacecraft, including the first Boeing 747 and Air Force One. The Personal Courage Wing spotlights 28 World War I and II planes.

Take a ride in the museum’s 737 and Space Shuttle simulators for exciting hands-on thrills.

3. National Museum of the U.S. Air Force (Dayton, OH)

Boasting 19 acres of exhibits, the world’s oldest and largest military aviation museum displays over 360 aircraft and missiles, including the top-secret B-2 Spirit and SR-71 Blackbird.

Don’t miss the Wright Brothers reproductions in the Early Years Gallery. Hourly bus tours of the base are available.

4. Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum (New York, NY)

The aircraft carrier USS Intrepid now serves as a museum filled with over two dozen aircraft exhibits on the massive flight deck.

Highlights include the supersonic A-12 Blackbird, the Concorde airliner, Space Shuttle Enterprise, and Growler submarine.

5. Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center (Chantilly, VA)

Attached to the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, this companion facility houses massive aviation artifacts that couldn’t fit in the main museum.

See the Space Shuttle Discovery, SR-71 Blackbird, Concorde, Boeing B-29 Enola Gay, and an IMAX theater.

6. Kennedy Space Center (Cape Canaveral, FL)

Get an insider’s look at NASA’s space launch facilities on a tour of the Kennedy Space Center.

Highlights include the Space Shuttle Atlantis exhibit, Saturn V Center, Apollo/Saturn V rocket, and Astronaut Training Experience. Don’t miss the bus tour with launch pad access.

7. Pima Air & Space Museum (Tucson, AZ)

Situated on 80 acres, the Pima Air & Space Museum houses over 350 aircraft including a SR-71 Blackbird, 787 Dreamliner, and B-52 Stratofortress.

Explore flight simulators and cockpits, watch aircraft preservation demos, and enjoy tram and bus tours around the vast grounds.

8. Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museum (Ashland, NE)

This museum located near Omaha provides a comprehensive history of Cold War nuclear strategic bombers and missiles from WWII through the 1990s.

The centerpiece is a massive B-52 Stratofortress bomber loaded with cruise missiles. Other highlights include a B-1 Lancer swing-wing bomber, Titan II missile silo, and experimental X-24B lifting body.

9. San Diego Air & Space Museum (San Diego, CA)

Over 60 historical aircraft are on display at this West Coast aviation museum located in San Diego’s Balboa Park.

Notable exhibits include the Apollo 9 Command Module, a Sopwith Camel from WW1, and a Soviet MiG-15 fighter. Experience flight in the museum’s realistic cockpit simulators.

10. Wings Over the Rockies (Denver, CO)

Explore Colorado’s rich aviation heritage at the Wings Over the Rockies museum.

Located on the former Lowry Air Force Base near Denver, the museum spotlights over 50 aircraft including an F-86 Sabre, B-1 Lancer bomber, and Blue Angels A-4 Skyhawk. Hands-on activities include a cockpit experience and flight simulator.

With breathtaking aircraft, engaging exhibits, and interactive experiences, these ten museums promise an unforgettable Labor Day weekend for aviation fans of all ages.

Discover the thrill of flight this year at one of America’s premier aviation museums.

Final Thoughts

So this Labor Day weekend, give your minivans and SUVs a rest from the highway rat race. Instead, soar to new heights of wonder and imagination at America’s premier aviation museums.

From pioneering contraptions to jets that punch through the sound barrier, these aviation titans offer endless inspiration and discovery. Just remember to refrain from touching the “Launch” buttons…we need you here on Earth!

Read Next: Types of Aviation History Sites and Memorials

Wheels down and prepare for adventure this Labor Day at the ultimate temples dedicated to humankind’s gravity-defying dreams. The sky’s the limit!