Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History: free entry days, tickets & hours

Before you go

How to actually get in for free

• No ticket or pass is needed: just walk in through security.
• The Hope Diamond and the Deep Time fossil hall are the two busiest spots; go early in the day.
• There is no public parking on the Mall; use Metro (Smithsonian or Federal Triangle).

All free options

Who gets in free, and when

Tickets & tours

Best-rated tickets and tours: Natural History Museum

• Timed-entry ticketShanghai Natural History Museum Entry Ticket★★★★★ 4.6 · 26 reviewsfrom $9.90
• Timed-entry ticketSan Diego Natural History Museum Nighttime Entry Ticket★★★★☆ 4.3 · 13 reviewsfrom $12.50

See all tickets and tours

Ratings and prices from the booking partners; prices may change.

Practical

Opening hours & how to get there

Map © OpenStreetMap contributors

Also free nearby

Make a free afternoon of it

• Always freeNational Archives0.3 km away
• Always freeAmerican History Museum0.4 km away
• Always freeHirshhorn0.4 km away

Worth paying for nearby

Paid highlights within walking distance

• National ArchivesVIP Skip-the-Line National Archives Tourfrom $59 · 0.3 km
• Washington MonumentWashington DC: Washington Monument Ticket and Guidebookfrom $24 · 0.8 km

Visitor reviews

What visitors say about Natural History Museum

No reviews yet. Been here? Tell others how it went — especially on a free day.

Sources

Where this comes from

• si.edu/museums/natural-history-museum · checked Tuesday, 27 October 2026
• si.edu/visit/hours

Every free rule is checked against the official source and re-checked on a schedule. Spotted a change? Tell us.