Museum of Flying

The scoop

The Museum of Flying is a roughly 22,000-square-foot aviation museum on the south side of Santa Monica Airport, at 3100 Airport Avenue. It focuses on the history of flight and on Douglas Aircraft, which was built around this airfield. You get aircraft, artifacts, and a few cockpits you can actually sit in — a short visit, not a sprawling air-and-space campus.

What to do

Start in the early-aviation hangar, which includes a Wright Flyer replica, then walk the aircraft gallery — nearly two dozen planes, some hanging overhead. Kids and adults can climb into a Convair 240 nose section and a Lockheed T-33 cockpit trainer; on the mezzanine, a FedEx Boeing 727 nose has pilot and co-pilot seats. There's also a Douglas boardroom exhibit, a screening room, and an outdoor plaza next to a DC-3. The MaxFlight full-motion simulator is an $8 add-on, offered only on select Sundays; call (310) 398-2500 ahead of time to confirm it's running. There's no age minimum, but you have to be at least 4 feet tall.

When to go

Thursday–Sunday, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Closed Monday–Wednesday. Hours were extended to 5 p.m. in September 2026. Private events can close the museum, so check the website before a special trip.

Who it's for

Aviation fans and anyone who wants a contained museum stop near the airport. It's open only four days a week, and cash isn't accepted.

Kids: A strong visit with young kids. The open cockpits are the draw, ages 2 and under are free, and ages 3–12 are $10. The simulator's 4-foot height minimum means it won't work for every child under 6.

Insider tips

• Admission: $14 adults, $12 seniors and students, $10 ages 3–12, and free for children 2 or younger. Credit or debit only; no cash.
• Parking is free. Spaces directly in front of the museum are limited; there's more parking on the west side of the building.
• Don't follow city signs on Ocean Park Boulevard — those lead to the museum's old location. Use 3100 Airport Avenue, on the south side of the airport.

Skip it if…

You're going on a Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday, or you need a museum that takes cash.