Let fossils, gems and the natural world lead your next family afternoon.
The plan
A natural-history day gives a mixed-age group plenty of ways to follow its curiosity. Make the Smithsonian museum your main indoor plan, choose a few interests and give yourselves time to stop. The free admission makes a shorter visit worthwhile too: you do not need to turn it into an exhausting all-day itinerary.
Hours, location and entry
The National Museum of Natural History opens seven days a week, 10am–5:30pm, except December 25. General admission is free and no tickets or passes are required. Entrances are on Madison Drive facing the National Mall and Constitution Avenue; the location is 10th Street and Constitution Avenue NW.
Start with a few priorities
Use the museum’s current map and exhibition information to choose your own route once you know what is open. A manageable visit might focus on two or three galleries, with a break between them. That is our suggested pace, not a booked guided tour or a promise of a particular daily program.
Budget beyond admission
Entry to the museum does not include transport, meals or shopping. Leave those optional costs separate when planning a free-admission day. The visitor page explains screening and access arrangements, so consult it if you are arriving with mobility equipment, a stroller or a group that needs more time at the entrance.
Before you go
The building closes at 5:30pm and all visitors must leave then. Aim to arrive with enough time for your chosen galleries and the security screening rather than treating closing time as a final entrance time.