The National Museum of the Air Force (formerly called the United Air Force Museum), located on Wright Patterson Air Force Base, is located six miles from downtown Dayton. It is the oldest and largest aviation museum in the world. The museum's collection includes a variety of historically or technologically significant and rare aircraft, memorabilia and artifacts from the history and development of aviation. The museum is a very popular tourist attraction and has about a million visitors a year! 

The museum is great choice as a destination for a bike ride. The museum entrance is directly off Springfield Street and the Mad River Trail bike path is directly across the street from the museum entrance. In order to fully enjoy both your museum visit and your bike ride, you should keep in mind how much walking and cycling you're comfortable doing. When deciding where to begin and end your bike ride, especially if visiting with inexperienced or young bicyclists, we recommend beginning your ride at Eastwood MetroPark. The park has plenty of parking, restrooms and easy access to the Mad River Trail bike path. The Mad River Trail bike path is scenic through the park, almost completely flat and only .... miles in one direction. For longer routes check out our route generator. The museum is accessible by bike from both Mad River Trail and the Wright Brothers/Huffman Prairie Trail.

Things to know

Admission is FREE to the museum, but there is a charge for the theater and flight simulators. Show times and prices are on the website.

No outside food or beverages (including water)

No backpacks

For a full list of prohibited items check the website

Hours

Open 7 day a week     9 - 5PM, first Thursday of month open until 8PM

*** some exhibits have special hours, so check the website

Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day