Exploring the National Museum of World War II Aviation in Colorado Springs

Colorado Springs is home to stunning mountain views, the U.S. Air Force Academy, and Garden of the Gods. But tucked next to the city’s airport is a destination that aviation enthusiasts and history buffs won’t want to miss: the National Museum of World War II Aviation. This museum tells the story of how aviation shaped the outcome of the war. The restored aircraft, immersive exhibits, and guided tours bring history to life.

Our family explored the museum this past summer and booked a guided tour with a docent. That approach allowed us to dive deeper into what we were looking at, as opposed to just wandering through the exhibits. In fact, the National Museum of World War II Aviation was the whole reason we picked Colorado Springs as our family vacation destination. It didn’t disappoint.

Here’s what you need to know about visiting the National Museum of World War II Aviation.

Tickets and Museum Hours

The museum is open Wednesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. We looked up the hours as we started booking our trip, that way we didn’t plan to visit on Monday or Tuesday when the museum is closed. It’s always a little annoying when you show up to visit a museum and it’s closed.

Parking at the museum is free, making it an easy stop for families or groups traveling through Colorado Springs.

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Admission varies by age, with discounts for seniors, military, and children. Tickets can be purchased online in advance of your visit or at the door. I recommend adding a guided tour.

Here’s a comparison between the guided tour and self-guided tour option.

Guided Tours vs. Self-Guided Visits

Visitors can explore the museum on their own, but the guided tours are where the experience really shines. For just $5 more per person, docents lead groups through the exhibits and hangars, weaving in stories of pilots, mechanics, and the technological leaps that defined the war.

The tours also provide access to areas that aren’t open to self-guided visitors, including working restoration hangars where you can see aircraft being brought back to flying condition. That’s one of the unique aspects of this museum. Many of the planes are display are flight worthy, and there are events and shows throughout the year where some of those planes give quite a show.

Buildings and Layout

The museum spans three large hangars on a 20-acre site adjacent to the Colorado Springs Airport. Each hangar has a different focus:

• Main Exhibit Hall: Displays aircraft, artifacts, and interpretive exhibits that explain the role of aviation in WWII.
• Restoration Hangars: Active workshops where volunteers and experts restore historic planes to flying condition.
• Special Exhibits & Event Space: Rotating displays and educational programs for families, students, and veterans’ groups.

Aircraft Highlights

Unlike many aviation museums where planes are static displays, most of the aircraft here are fully restored to flying condition. That means you’re not just looking at history. You’re seeing machines that can still take to the skies. Check out their website for any upcoming special events or shows where those planes will spread their wings and fly.

Some highlights include:

• B-25 Mitchell Bomber – Famous for its role in the Doolittle Raid over Tokyo.
• Grumman F3F-2 Biplane – One of only three still flying in the world.
• P-38 Lightning – A twin-boom fighter that was a favorite of American aces.
• L-19 Bird Dog – Used for artillery spotting and reconnaissance.

Each aircraft is paired with stories of the men and women who built, maintained, and flew them.

Why Visit?

The National Museum of World War II Aviation is more than a collection of planes. It’s a living classroom. Families can learn how aviation technology advanced rapidly during the war, how pilots trained for combat, and how air power shaped the outcome of battles across Europe and the Pacific.

There are also several exhibit areas about different battles and milestones in World War II. Visitors can touch an actual piece of the U.S.S. Arizona in the area about Pearl Harbor. I appreciated the small display case about a B-24 bomber pilot who served in the same Bomb Group as my grandpa – the 459th. I read everything in that display case and even noted a copy of book about the group’s history: Coffee Tower.

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For kids, the sheer size of the planes and the chance to peek into cockpits is unforgettable. For adults, the guided tours provide context that connects the aircraft to the broader story of WWII.

The Details

Address: 775 Aviation Way, Colorado Springs, CO 80916

How long to spend: Plan on about 2 hours. If you booked a guided tour, plan on 2.5-3 hours (tours are about 90 minutes).

Cost: Adults are $17, while Seniors/Military are $15. Youth (4–12) admissions is $12 and Children under 4 are free. Guided tours is an additional $5 per ticket.

Hours: Wednesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.

Website: https://www.worldwariiaviation.org/

Phone: (719) 637-7559

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