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Sight National Mall & Downtown

National Museum of Natural History

A sight in National Mall & Downtown, free to visit and worth about 2.5 hours. Best time to go: Morning.

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Why go

Smithsonian museum of the Hope Diamond, dinosaur hall and ocean hall; free, and open on Jan 1.

It is one of 9 curated places we feature in National Mall & Downtown, alongside 2 activities, 2 bars & cafés and 2 places to eat. 6 more of our picks sit within about half a mile in a straight line, so it pairs easily with National Gallery of Art and Rasika.

Type
Sight · Culture
Neighborhood
National Mall
Price
Free
Time needed
2.5 hr
Best time
Morning

Nearby

Our closest curated picks, including 4 beyond National Mall & Downtown. Distances are straight-line, not walking or driving.

  1. 1
    National Gallery of Art

    Free galleries including the only Leonardo da Vinci painting in the Americas.

    Sight · Washington, DC · 0.3 mi straight-line
  2. 2
    Rasika

    Ashok Bajaj's modern Indian restaurant in Penn Quarter, known for its crispy spinach palak chaat.

    Food · 0.4 mi straight-line
  3. 3
    National Museum of African American History and Culture

    Smithsonian museum tracing African American history from slavery to today.

    Sight · Washington, DC · 0.4 mi straight-line
  4. 4
    National Air and Space Museum

    Wright Flyer, Apollo 11 command module and the Spirit of St. Louis.

    Sight · Washington, DC · 0.4 mi straight-line
  5. 5
    Round Robin Bar

    Circular bar in the Willard hotel where the mint julep came to Washington.

    Drinks · Washington, DC · 0.5 mi straight-line
  6. 6
    Round Robin Bar

    Circular, green-walled bar inside the Willard, a meeting place for Washington politicians for generations.

    Drinks · 0.5 mi straight-line

On these curated routes

National Museum of Natural History is a stop on our Washington, DC New Year's Eve route. Open it to see the full day-by-day plan.

More sights to see in National Mall & Downtown

Another curated sight in National Mall & Downtown. See the full National Mall & Downtown guide.

When to go: weather by month, based on Washington, DC

Our climate figures for National Mall & Downtown come from nearby Washington, DC. Average daily highs in Washington, DC run from 40°F in January to 88°F in July; June is usually the wettest month. For National Museum of Natural History itself, we suggest: Morning.

Modelled monthly averages for Washington, DC from NASA POWER, not a forecast. Washington, DC weather by month (covers National Mall & Downtown).

Getting there

Map links open a live search for National Museum of Natural History, so hours and directions come straight from the map app.

Coordinates
38.89130, -77.02590
Destination
National Mall & Downtown, District of Columbia
Website
naturalhistory.si.edu

National Museum of Natural History: quick answers

How much time do you need at National Museum of Natural History?

Plan on about 2.5 hours at National Museum of Natural History. That is our curated estimate for a typical visit; groups that linger will want more.

When is the best time to visit National Museum of Natural History?

Our pick: Morning. Insider tip: Smithsonian museums close only on Dec 25, so this works for a slow New Year's Day too.

Is National Museum of Natural History free?

Yes, we list National Museum of Natural History as free to visit. Check the official website before you go, since special exhibits, parking or tours can carry a fee.

Which TripsCircle routes include National Museum of Natural History?

National Museum of Natural History appears on Washington, DC New Year's Eve, a curated route you can open on TripsCircle and plan with your group.

Add National Museum of Natural History to your crew's plan

Save it to a shared TripsCircle itinerary, settle the timing with a quick poll, and split the costs with everyone going to National Mall & Downtown.

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Lists & regions

Also in National Mall & Downtown

Curated recommendation, not live listing data. Confirm hours, prices, bookings and access before you go.