The National Air and Space Museum is thrilled to welcome learners for field trips. Our guidelines for field trips include: 

 

 Group Size

Field trips are available for a minimum of 10 people. 

 Advance Notice

Please provide at least 3 weeks advance notice for field trip requests. 

 Chaperone Policy

Students must be supervised at all times. The required student-chaperone ratios are:

  • Pre-K through 3rd Grade: 1 adult for every 5 students
  • 4th through 6th Grade: 1 adult for every 10 students
  • 7th through 12th Grade: 1 adult for every 15 students

An adult with a baby or small child is not a suitable chaperone.

 Chaperone Responsibilities

1) It is the responsibility of the chaperone to stay with the group and keep students together.   

2) Chaperones are requested to promote "museum manners" by encouraging the group to

  • Use quiet voices
  • Walk, don’t run
  • Remember museum exhibits must be respected so everyone can enjoy them. 
  • Remember that gum, candy, food, and beverages are not allowed in the Museum. 
  • Remember rough-play - like throwing, running, spitting, backflips, or shouting- is not promoting "museum manners."
  • Enjoy purchases from the Museum shop after your visit, but remember that visitors who use their purchases inappropriately in the Museum risk confiscation
 Cancellation Policy

All reserved museum tours and programs are free and supported by staff and volunteers. We ask that groups who need to cancel a reservation, or expect to arrive later than planned, call the Museum’s Welcome Desk at 703-572-4118. If reserved groups do not alert Museum staff to a cancellation at least 24 hours in advance, your group may not be allowed to reserve future programs.

 Docent Policy

For all tours, one docent will be assigned for every 20 people in the tour group.

 Parking Policy

At the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, there is a parking fee of $15.00 per vehicle. Tour buses and school buses park for free. All vehicles must pull a parking ticket upon entry. Buses must exit through Lane 1 (the staffed lane) in order to have the parking fee waived.

 Food Policy for Groups

Outside food and drink, other than bottled water and sealed containers, are not permitted inside the museums.

There is no space for outside food to be eaten at the Museum in Washington, DC. There is the small Mars Café on the first floor with limited options.

At the Udvar-Hazy Center, groups are encouraged to eat on their buses or use the picnic tables provided outside the Museum near the bus parking lot. There is a full-service Shake Shack open at the museum where visitors may purchase food.

 Security Screening

All bags/backpacks will be checked by Security. Please limit the number of bags brought into the museum to help expedite your entry.