Smithsonian Museums & National Zoo is always free — general admission never costs anything. Most museums are walk-in; some use free timed passes on busy days — check each museum's page Verified on Smithsonian Museums & National Zoo's own page, last checked 2026-09-04.
16 institutions, 4 of which want a free timed pass or ticket before you arrive — the rest are walk-in. Each links to its own page with hours, closures and the catch.
| Museum | Where | Admission | Getting in |
|---|---|---|---|
| National Air and Space Museum | Washington, DC | Always free | Free timed-entry pass required for all ages |
| Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center (National Air and Space Museum) | Chantilly, VA | Always free | None |
| Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History | Washington, DC | Always free | None required |
| National Museum of American History | Washington, DC | Always free | None required |
| Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture | Washington, DC | Always free | Free timed-entry pass required for everyone, all ages |
| National Portrait Gallery | Washington, DC | Always free | None required |
| Smithsonian American Art Museum | Washington, DC | Always free | None required |
| Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden | Washington, DC | Always free | None required |
| National Museum of the American Indian | Washington, DC | Always free | None required |
| National Museum of Asian Art (Freer Gallery and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery) | Washington, DC | Always free | None required |
| Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian American Art Museum | Washington, DC | Always free | None required |
| Smithsonian National Postal Museum | Washington, DC | Always free | None required |
| Anacostia Community Museum | Washington, DC | Always free | None required |
| Smithsonian's National Zoo | Washington, DC | Always free | Free entry passes required for all visitors including infants |
| National Museum of the American Indian — George Gustav Heye Center | New York, NY | Always free | None for individuals |
| Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum | New York, NY | Sun/Mon/Tue/Wed/Thu/Fri/Sat 5pm–6pm (PWYW) | Tickets required: buy online (up to nine per order) or at the door |
| Free day | Always free |
|---|---|
| Who qualifies | Everyone |
| Reservation | Most museums are walk-in; some use free timed passes on busy days — check each museum's page |
| What's included | Free admission at all locations except Cooper Hewitt in NYC |
| Regular adult price | Free |
| Source | si.edu · checked 2026-09-04 |
The Smithsonian doesn't need savings math — the ticket line is free for everyone, every open day. The only costs left are the extras — special exhibitions, parking and food are where the day's budget actually goes.
Smithsonian Museums & National Zoo doesn't need a calendar — general admission is free every day it's open, which changes how you plan compared with a free-day museum. There's no crowd spike to dodge and no reservation race — though note the entry mechanics: most museums are walk-in; some use free timed passes on busy days — check each museum's page. The date that matters here isn't an admission date at all: it's whichever ticketed special exhibition you might want to add, since those (free admission at all locations except Cooper Hewitt in NYC) run on their own schedules and prices.
Regular tickets are on si.edu; buying direct means no reseller markup. A membership card from another city's museum or zoo might work here too — the reciprocity lookup answers it in one search.
National Gallery of Art (always free) · Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture (always free) · Smithsonian's National Zoo (always free) · National Air and Space Museum (always free) · Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center (National Air and Space Museum) (always free) · Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History (always free) · National Museum of American History (always free) · National Portrait Gallery (always free) — or see the full free museum days in Washington guide.
A single monthly email covering Washington's free days — every date checked against the official pages first.
↥ Check another museum → Browse all free museum & zoo days →
All Smithsonian locations are free — 17 DC-area museums plus the National Zoo. The only exception that charges is Cooper Hewitt in New York City.
Most museums are walk-in; some use free timed passes on busy days — check each museum's page
Free admission at all locations except Cooper Hewitt in NYC
Free. A free-day visit puts that back in your pocket.
Yes — general admission is free for all visitors, every open day, no residency requirement. Free admission at all locations except Cooper Hewitt in NYC.