Probably my favorite museum anywhere (http://www.nasm.si.edu/udvarhazy/). ^ In a city -- okay, okay, so I realize that Chantilly, VA is not Washington, DC per se -- of amazing museums, this one tops them all (except for the National Archives, but I have a soft spot for the Magna Carta, Declaration of Independence, Constitution, and Bill of Rights).

The SR-71 Blackbird. The Enola Gay. The Air France Concorde. The Space Shuttle Enterprise. The list goes on and on. Wow.

Should be a mandatory visit for anyone with a stopover of any significance at IAD. And for any aviation afficianado visiting the Capital. The National Air & Space Museum is a must-see, of course, but nobody should miss the Stephen F. Udvar-Hazy Center.

A pity the shuttle service from the Mall has been discontinued.

A pity the shuttle service from the Mall has been discontinued.

I agree with everything you said! I was just there enjoying the Center last Sunday!

I noticed at the mall, right in front of the Air and Space Museum.... there was a Bus in front of a sign that said it was the shuttle to the Center? Not sure if it is seasonal or what? <update - oh, I see... they discontinued the shuttle after this weekend!>

( last I looked, there also a shuttle from the airport ^ )

I assume you cannot, but just wondering, can you take the "express lane" on the Dulles Toll road when going there?

I assume you cannot, but just wondering, can you take the "express lane" on the Dulles Toll road when going there?
If you go into the airport, drive around as though dropping/picking someone up and come back out, sure you can ;) Don't do a U-turn at any of those early overpasses as the police often sit around there looking for that.

Probably my favorite museum anywhere (http://www.nasm.si.edu/udvarhazy/).

Have you ever visited the Air Force museum (http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/) in Dayton?

Probably my favorite museum anywhere (http://www.nasm.si.edu/udvarhazy/). ^ In a city -- okay, okay, so I realize that Chantilly, VA is not Washington, DC per se -- of amazing museums, this one tops them all (except for the National Archives, but I have a soft spot for the Magna Carta, Declaration of Independence, Constitution, and Bill of Rights).

The SR-71 Blackbird. The Enola Gay. The Air France Concorde. The Space Shuttle Enterprise. The list goes on and on. Wow.

Should be a mandatory visit for anyone with a stopover of any significance at IAD. And for any aviation afficianado visiting the Capital. The National Air & Space Museum is a must-see, of course, but nobody should miss the Stephen F. Udvar-Hazy Center.

A pity the shuttle service from the Mall has been discontinued.

Let me co-sign on this one!!! ^

http://www.vatransit.org/d2d.htm

I was last there about 2 years ago but am going this Sunday with my brother before his flight from IAD; how long did you all need at Udvar-Hazy?

I was last there about 2 years ago but am going this Sunday with my brother before his flight from IAD; how long did you all need at Udvar-Hazy?

I'd say a few hours. Myself, being an aviation junkie, could spend 6 hours or more there.

I'd say a few hours. Myself, being an aviation junkie, could spend 6 hours or more there.


co-sign on that one! :D

you will want to give yourself as much time as possible!! but three hours is "good" ... there's also a mc d's in there if you want drink or food...

Absolutely agree that it is fabulous. As I live on the flight-path I can take advantage of it often. We are members of A&S and have purchased the parking pass so visit it as often as we like for free. My five-year-old loves to go to the McD's where there is fabulous views of the planes landing from the south right out the window. Perfect time is 2 - 3 pm when the flights from Europe are starting to roll in.

Nothing quite like standing below the Enola Gay to take your breath away, IMHO.

If you go into the airport, drive around as though dropping/picking someone up and come back out, sure you can ;) Don't do a U-turn at any of those early overpasses as the police often sit around there looking for that.

Be aware that the airport police have a "feel" for which cars entering the airport are just circling through the airport to avoid the tollroad - and will sometimes follow you discretely - if you simply circle through the airport you MAY be stopped.

Officially, anyone may use the airport Access Road who is doing "business" at the airport. Officially, that includes stopping at the Exxon station to buy anything; or going into the Marriott for a few minutes to talk to the front desk.

If you go into the airport, drive around as though dropping/picking someone up and come back out, sure you can ;) Don't do a U-turn at any of those early overpasses as the police often sit around there looking for that.Forget that, just head towards long term parking and make a U-turn at the Exxon station.

Indeed the Udvar-Hazy is a great place to visit ^ Here are some of the photos I took when I went:
http://www.imagestation.com/album/pictures.html?id=2107973591