Social distancing indoors at the National Gallery of Art
More and more indoor places around the DC area are figuring out how to safely open their doors to visitors again. I’ve been to a couple of Smithsonian museums and felt very comfortable and safe with the extra measures taken for COVID — and was very happy to wander the galleries and enjoy art in person once again. As weather gets colder and our itch for outings that aren’t outdoors grows, having some go-to indoor spots will be appreciated by many. (But, of course, everyone should do what they’re comfortable with during this unusual and uncertain time!) Here’s a handy list of them, and I’ll continually add to it as more places reopen. Happy revisiting!
DC
National Gallery of Art
When: Daily, 11am – 4pm
Where: 6th Street & Constitution Ave NW | National Mall
Admission: Free, no passes required
COVID policies
National Museum of African American History and Culture
When: Daily, 10am – 5:30pm
Where: 1400 Constitution Ave NW | National Mall
Admission: Free with timed-entry passes
COVID policies
National Museum of Natural History
When: Daily, 10am – 5:30pm
Where: 8th & G Streets NW | Penn Quarter
Admission: Free, no passes required
COVID policies
National Air & Space Museum
When: Closed for renovations until October 2022
Where: 655 Jefferson Drive, SW | National Mall, DC
Admission: Free, no passes required
COVID policies
National Portrait Gallery & American Art Museum
When: Tuesday – Sunday, 11:30am – 7pm
Where: 8th & G Streets NW | Penn Quarter
Admission: Free, no passes required
COVID policies
National Postal Museum
When: Daily, 10am – 5:30pm
Where: 2 Massachusetts Ave. NE | Union Station Area, DC
Admission: Free
COVID policies
Hirshhorn Museum
When: Tuesday – Sunday, 10am – 5:30pm
Where: 7th St. & Independence Ave. SW | National Mall, DC
Admission: Free, no passes required
COVID policies
Renwick Gallery
When: Temporarily Closed
Where: Pennsylvania Ave at 17th Street NW | Downtown DC
Admission: Free, no passes required
COVID policies
National Museum of American History
When: Daily, 10am – 5:30pm
Where: 1300 Constitution Avenue NW | National Mall
Admission: Free, no passes required
COVID policies
National Museum of the American Indian
When: Tuesday – Sunday, 10am – 5:30pm
Where: 4th Street & Independence Avenue SW | National Mall
Admission: Free, no passes required
COVID policies
National Museum of African Art
When: Daily (except Tuesday), 10am – 5:30pm
Where: 950 Independence Avenue, SW
Admission: Free, no passes required
Covid policies
National Museum of Asian Art (Freer | Sackler)
When: Daily (except Tuesday), 10am – 5:30pm
Where: 900 Independence Ave, SW | National Mall, DC
Admission: Free, no passes required
COVID policies
Arts & Industries Building
When: Daily (except Tuesday), 10am – 5:30pm & Fri/Sat, 10am – 7pm
Where: 900 Jefferson Drive SW | National Mall, DC
Admission: Free, no passes required
COVID policies
Anacostia Community Museum
When: Wednesday – Saturday, 11am – 4pm
Where: 1901 Fort Place SE | Anacostia, DC
Admission: Free, no passes required
COVID policies
National Children’s Museum
When: Thursday – Sunday, 9:30am – 12:30pm & 1:30-4:30pm
Where: 1300 Pennsylvania Ave. NW | Downtown DC
Admission: $15.95/ages 1+ for two-hour timed session
COVID policies
International Spy Museum
When: Daily, 9am – 7pm
Where: 700 L’Enfant Plaza SW | Southwest DC
Admission: $24.95/ adult, $16.95/age 7-12, free/6 & under | purchase online
COVID policies
Washington Monument
When: Starting July 14, 9am – 5pm daily
Where: 2 15th Street, NW
Admission: Free with timed-entry tickets (small online service fee)
Covid policies
ARTECHOUSE
When: Monday – Thursday, 12-8pm & Friday – Sunday, 10am – 10pm
Where: 1238 Maryland Ave SW | Southwest DC
Admission: $24/adult, $20/senior & first responder, $17/age 4-14, free/under 4 (purchase online for $5 off)
COVID policies
National Museum of Women in the Arts
When: Monday – Saturday, 10am -5pm & Sunday, 12-5pm
Closed for renovations
Where: 1250 New York Ave NW | Downtown DC
Admission: $10/adult, free/child – timed entry tickets required
COVID policies
Kennedy Center Grand Foyer and The REACH
When: Fri 4-8pm, Sat 12-6pm, Sun 12-6pm
Where: 2700 F Street NW | Foggy Bottom
Admission: Free and passes are not required for this short walk-thru
COVID policies
Mansion on O Street
When: Daily, 11am – 3pm
Where: 2020 O Street NW | Dupont Circle
Admission: Tours start at $25 — online reservations required
COVID policies
Ford’s Theatre
When: Wednesday – Monday, 9am – 5pm
Where: 511 10th Street NW | Penn Quarter
Admission: $3 – reserve timed tickets online here
COVID policies
Phillips Collection (See more about the museum)
When: Thursday – Sunday, 11am – 6pm
Where: 1600 21st Street NW | Dupont Circle
Admission: $16/adult, free for kids – reserve in advance
COVID policies
Planet Word
When: Thursday – Saturday, 10am – 5pm
Where: 925 13th Street NW | Downtown DC
Admission: Free timed entry passes required
COVID policies
National Building Museum
Where: 401 F Street NW | Judiciary Square, DC
When: Friday – Monday, 11am – 4pm
Admission: $10/adult, $7/child (free for members)
COVID policies
[Note: It’s free to hang out in the Great Hall, most exhibits require admission.]
Library of Congress Thomas Jefferson Building
When: Thursday – Saturday, 10am – 4:30pm
Where: First Street SE, btwn Indie Ave & East Capitol St.
Admission: Free with timed-entry passes
Covid policies
National Museum of Asian Art/Freer Gallery
When: Wednesday – Sunday, 11am – 4pm
Where: Jefferson Drive and 12th Street, SW
Admission: Free, no passes required
Covid policies
The Lane Social Club
When: Reservations for Open Play
Where: 1408 Okie Street NE
Admission: $15
COVID policies
Kreeger Museum
When: Tues – Sat, 10-10:50am/11-11:50am/2-2:50pm/3-3:50pm
When: 2401 Foxhall Road | Foxhall-Palisades, DC
Admission: $10 suggested donation for adults
Covid Policies
Tudor Place
Where: 1644 31st Street NW | Georgetown, DC
When: Saturday & Sunday, 12-4pm
Admission: Free with timed-entry passes (donations accepted)
Covid policies
Dumbarton House
Where: 2715 Q Street NW | Georgetown, DC
When: Friday – Sunday, 10am – 3pm
Admission: $10/adult, free for children
Covid policies
[Note: The wonderful Dumbarton Oaks Garden is also open. Timed-entry passes required.]
Museum of the Bible
When: Thursday – Monday, 10am – 5pm
Where: 400 4th Street SW
Admission: $20-25/adult, 10-15/age 7-17, free/6 & under
COVID policies
MARYLAND
Maryland Science Center
When: Friday, 10am – 4pm | Saturday – Sunday, 10am – 5pm
Where: 601 Light Street | Baltimore
Admission: $25.95/adult, $19.95/age 3-13
COVID policies
Port Discovery
When: Wednesday – Sunday, 10am – 5pm
Where: 35 Market Place | Baltimore
Admission: $17.95 advance purchase required
COVID policies
B&O Railroad Museum
When: Monday – Saturday, 10am – 4pm & Sunday, 11am – 4pm
Where: 901 West Pratt Street | Baltimore
Admission: $20/adult, $17/senior, $12/ages 2-12
COVID policies
National Aquarium
When: Sun-Thurs 9am – 5pm | Fri 9am – 8pm | Sat 9am – 6pm
Where: 501 E Pratt Street | Baltimore
Admission: $39.95/adult, $29.95/age 3-11, free/2 & under
COVID policies
American Visionary Art Museum
When: Wednesday – Sunday, 10am – 5pm
Where: 800 Key Highway | Baltimore
Admission: $15.95/adult, $13.95/senior, $9.95/age 7-17, free/6 & under
COVID policies
Baltimore Museum of Industry
When: Friday – Saturday, 9am – 3pm
Where: 1415 Key Highway | Baltimore
Admission: $12/adult, $7/youth, free/under 6
COVID policies
College Park Aviation Museum
When: Tuesday – Sunday, 10am – 4pm
Where: 1985 Corporal Frank Scott Drive | College Park
Admission: Reserve in advance | $5/adult, $4/senior, $2/child
COVID policies
Watkins Nature Center
When: Tuesday – Sunday, 11am – 4pm
Where: 301 Watkins Park Drive | Upper Marlboro, MD
Admission: Free, but advance reservations required
Covid policies
Calvert Marine Museum
When: Daily, 10am – 5pm
Where: 14200 Solomons Island Road | Solomons
Admission: $9/adult, $7/senior, $4/child — reserve two-hour time-slot
COVID policies
Pinstripes – Bistro, Bocce, & Bowling
When: Mon-Thurs 12-9pm/Fri 12-10pm/Sat 10am-10pm/Sun 10am-9pm
Where: 11920 Grand Park Ave | North Bethesda
Admission: Varies by game, # of people
COVID policies
Glenstone
When: Indoor areas Thursday – Sunday, 10am – 5pm
Where: 12100 Glen Road | Potomac, MD
Admission: Free with timed-entry tickets
Covid Policies
[Note: There is also an outdoor area that shouldn’t be missed.]
ClimbZone
When: Mon-Wed 12-7pm | Fri 12-8pm | Sat-Sun 11am – 8pm
Where: 13200 MidAtlantic Blvd Suite 130 | Laurel
Admission: $15/age 2-5, $25/age 6+ for 2 hours — reserve online
COVID policies
Zava Zone
When: Thursday – Monday, hour vary by day
Where: 40 Southlawn Court | Rockville
Admission: Starts at $21.50/hour
COVID policies
Baltimore Museum of Art
When: Wednesday – Sunday, 10am – 5pm
Where: 10 Art Museum Drive | Baltimore
Admission: Free with timed entry passes
COVID policies
Walters Art Museum
When: Wednesday – Sunday, 10am – 5pm
Where: 600 N. Charles Street | Baltimore
Admission: Free
COVID policies
VIRGINIA
Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center
When: Daily, 10am – 5:30pm
Where: 14390 Air and Space Museum Parkway | Chantilly
Admission: Free, no passes required
COVID policies
Mount Vernon – Museum & Mansion
When: Daily, 9am – 5pm
Where: 3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Highway | Mount Vernon
Admission: $20/adult, $12/age 6-16, free/under 6
COVID policies
Super, Awesome, & Amazing at the St. James
When: Monday 10am – 7pm Saturday & Sunday 9am – 7pm
Where: 6805 Industrial Road | Springfield
Admission: $13/hour, $23/2 hours
COVID policies
Zava Zone
When: Thursday – Monday, hour vary by day
Where: 45685 Oakbrook Court Suite 110 | Sterling
Admission: Starts at $12/hour
COVID policies
Flight Trampoline Park
When: Daily, times vary by day
Where: 7200 Fullerton Road | Springfield
Admission: Starts at $14
COVID policies
Buddie Ford Nature Center
When: Thursday – Saturday, 11am – 4pm
Where: 5750 Sanger Avenue | Alexandria, VA
Admission: Free
COVID policies
National Museum of the Marine Corps
Where: 18900 Jefferson Davis Highway | Triangle, VA
When: Daily, 9am – 5pm
Admission: Free
COVID policies
Looking for indoor places that are especially great with little kids? Check out this KFDC post!
Mount Vernon is also open
The Marine museum at Quantico
Thanks for the reminder about Mount Vernon and heads-up about the Marine Museum!
Hello! I just saw your post about indoor places that are open. I’m on an email list for Once Upon a Dream, an indoor play business that is in VA (Sterling and Vienna). They are not open to walk-ins, but have options, including a work space for parents.
It’s a family that owns the business and we loved going there, so I’d hate to see it go under because of the pandemic.
Thank you for sharing!
Hillwood museum, has a great outside area for picnics and kids to run around.
The College Park Aviation Museum is open again!