Palm Springs Air Museum
Palm Springs Air Museum
4.5
Speciality MuseumsEducational sitesHistory Museums
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
About
Rated by CNN as one of the top 14 Air Museums in the World. This facility Gives visitors an up-close look at the legendary fighters and bombers of WWII, Korea, and Vietnam.
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Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.

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  • Cynthia Dite Sirni
    New York City, New York8 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Wonderful place to see how beautiful our military is!!
    Fabulous visit. What a great museum. So much history and information. We had a fantastic time. You could spend hours and hours here there is so much to see. There are plenty of restrooms, cool displays, a cafe and a fabulous gift shop. We had a great time. Col. Robert Lilac was there when we went. What a charming and wonderful man. He is a world renowned pilot and he was willing to share his time and stories with us. Wonderful day!! Go and see it.
    Visited September 2023
    Traveled with family
    Written September 23, 2023
  • bob t
    6 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Well worth a visit.
    I have interest in airplanes and this museum was on my list when we decided to visit Palm Springs and it didn't disappoint. All the exhibits were immaculate and you could get up close, all the staff that we talked to were friendly and had good knowledge of the exhibits I think a lot of them are veterans. The icing on the cake for me was being able to go inside a B17 for $5 something you can't do in the UK.
    Visited September 2023
    Traveled with friends
    Written October 2, 2023
  • TheGatesClan
    Rancho Santa Margarita, California583 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    F117. Need I say more.
    Wow. An F117 up close. Amazing. The docents at this museum are very knowledgeable. DeeAnn in the F117 pavilion was very knowledgeable. They also have the century series fighters and two B17s. If you are anywhere near this museum, it’s worth a visit.
    Visited October 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written October 22, 2023
  • fauxpaw2
    Lethbridge, Canada147 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Really good airplanes museum.
    We visited the Palm Springs air museum and it is certainly worth seeing. Lots of WW 2 planes in particular. Helpful staff who have a knowledge of the planes. Bi-plane rides are available but too expensive for us . ($300 US for 20 minutes) There are a few cars on display too, Studebakers and a mustang or 2. I will certainly go back the next time we are in the area.
    Visited November 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written December 10, 2023
  • Brown_Samantha
    Kennewick, Washington1,730 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Wonderful time spent here looking at lots of history and really enjoyed the stealth bomber up close
    What we really liked about this museum is several history "timelines" were displayed so there is great connection to what you see on display. You could easily spend the whole day here, but we were here for the afternoon. There were several hangers, with many WW II airplanes. The highlight is to be able to see the stealth bomber up close. We also enjoyed the women in aviation as well as the Tuskegee Airmen wall. There are many special exhibits that were very informative. A lot of interactive kiosks for additional information. Each hanger is staffed with knowledgeable veterans. Outside there are many planes as well. It is nicely done. You can even pay extra to go up the air for a ride in some vintage warbirds! The facilities are nice. Clean and multiple restrooms. Also a small snack café on site.
    Visited December 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written December 20, 2023
  • SunnysMom
    19 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    A great informative day!
    Although my husband and I have visited the museum in the past it’s been several years. There is so much to see as many things have been added. The docents are very knowledgeable and helpful. We took our 8 year old grandson and he loved it. Be sure to allow a lot of time because there is so much history!
    Visited January 2024
    Traveled with family
    Written January 15, 2024
  • LeanneinVan
    72 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    This is a living must-see museum
    We spent 2 hours perusing the various hangars and talking with the extraordinarily informative and friendly volunteers. A definite must see in Palm Springs. We went in the morning, shortly after opening, and we were able to see three different historic planes come and go, which was fun to watch (and hear)! Special shout-out to the volunteers - they made this an extra special experience.
    Visited January 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written January 21, 2024
  • Double0Seven
    Walla Walla, Washington117 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    A tasty smorgasbord highlighting the connection between aviation and history . . .
    A wonderful museum packed with great planes and memorabilia. We had only an hour to spend, attempting to consume a huge feast of history and information. The rapid advances in aviation between WWI and WWII are very much on display.
    Visited February 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written February 19, 2024
  • milliegordon2
    Southbury, Connecticut636 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Wonderful historical museum
    This is really a wonderful museum. It's chock full of planes, memorabilia and incredibly wonderful volunteers with stories to share. You could easily spend days here since there is so much to see and experience. The highlight for my husband was being inside a WWII bomber.
    Visited February 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written February 24, 2024
  • PhotoDudeIII
    Toronto, Canada125 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    A Must See
    Quite the museum of older aircraft. If you are a history or military buff, you must check this museum out if you are in the Palm Springs area. Good detail in the various exhibits, and friendly staff. You can whip through it pretty quickly (about an hour) if you don’t read a lot, or if you read all the various exhibits, you could be there all day.
    Visited April 2024
    Traveled solo
    Written May 1, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles2,089 reviews
Excellent
1,560
Very good
455
Average
58
Poor
8
Terrible
8

Smokeyham
Washington256 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020
I enjoyed my visit to this air museum which focuses on military aircraft. I visited on a pleasantly cool weekday in January and it was nice to tour the museum with relatively few people around. Having the chance to crawl through a B17 ($5 donation requested) was a highlight.

As mentioned by another reviewer, a downside of being there solo (I suspect especially as a solo male) on a quiet day was that some of the docents were overeager. In three incidents docents decided to give me a personalized, guided tour without asking if I wanted such a “tour.” I actually prefer to wander around by myself, reading labels and enjoying the atmosphere of the displays.

The docents bombarded me with facts and figures, most of which I did not understand since I did not have the background (or much interest). I did not want to be rude to them, but I finally had to excuse myself saying "I have to go." One docent was so eager to continue sharing his knowledge that he responded "no you don't," and then apologized for making that statement.

The volunteer manager might wish to consider providing more training to the docents on interpretive techniques, including helping the docents to understand that interpretation is more than just providing facts and figures, but is about helping visitors to relate to the displays based on the visitors' knowledge and experience.

Overall, worth the cost ($16 with $2 off from a coupon in a local paper) plus the $5 to go through the B17, but you might need to ward off the more enthusiastic docents.
Written January 18, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Sightsee306311
2 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2021
I was not expecting the quality or amount of great pieces I saw displayed here the first time I visited. Thursday evenings admission is free HOWEVER, since COVID you need timed tickets...this was not made clear on their website.
Written May 10, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Don'tWaitForRetirement
California5,640 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2021
Tip: Ask for your 10% AAA membership discount!

I've been to Palm Springs probably half a dozen times and this time decided to do something different and visit the Palm Springs Air Museum. We arrived around 11am and stayed for about 4 hours, including stopping to eat.

PROS:
~Four hangers of airplanes, several airplanes outside with a beautiful backdrop of the mountains. A few airplanes in front of the museum. A room full of model airplanes.

~Free parking.

~The museum backdrop is the Palm Springs airport, so it's fun to watch planes take off while you're at the museum.

~Gift shop available upon entry/exit.

~Several restrooms available.

~Great for taking photos.

~Friendly staff/docent volunteers.

CONS:
~Generally, I thought the selection of airplanes was fantastic, but the general organization of the museum and the amount of reading was overwhelming and a little 'mish-mash'. I felt it was like a collection of planes and related items where information had been printed on different pieces of paper in different fonts. It needed to be simplified and streamlined. I have visited other air museums and left feeling completely wowed, but there was something about this one that left me slightly bored, overwhelmed, yet underwhelmed.

~I thought it was a little pricy for entry, but do ask for your AAA 10% discount if you're a AAA member.

~They have a cafe inside but it was closed when we were there (Covid). We brought our own lunch and ate it on a bench out front. It would be nice if they had a couple of picnic benches around the property in front of the museum.

I wouldn't recommend this museum to kids under 10.

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Written April 5, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Indyblonde
US163 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020
This is a museum with mostly World War II airplanes, beautifully restored. Lots of exhibits and well worth the time. We were able to tour the inside of a B-17 bomber with a tour guide who was very informative. It was fascinating. Did you know that the temperatures inside the airplane were minus 60 degrees at 30,000 feet? They had electrically warmed flight suits!
Written February 3, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Penny W
Calgary, Canada38 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020
My husband is the plane fanatic, and he was in his glory, but even I found this museum to be very interesting and engaging. If you are interested in airplanes, history, or war, this is definitely the place for you. The volunteers who run the museum were very welcoming and very happy to share stories or point you in the right direction. Wonderful collection of planes and war memorabilia.
Written March 6, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

luvintotravel
La Quinta, CA201 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2022
Made a visit to the Palm Springs Air Museum, about 30 planes from B17 Bombers used in WWII, to the Stealth fighter plane that they received which the government sent to them after the top secret coating on this plane had been taken off; so it's currently in restoration, but there for you to see up close.
We spent about 1 1/2 hours visiting the museum; lots of people there to explain about the different planes, maps to show you where the wars took place and so forth.
Prices were $20.00 for adults, $18.00 for seniors. We felt it was worth the price and interesting enough to explore.
Written January 14, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Navigate199845
San Antonio, TX12 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020
My father was a bombadier in a B-17 during World War II and I had always wanted to see the inside of one. I was able to see where he spent 35 missions in the nose of the B-17. It mad me appreciate the sacrifice that he made as well as all the other men that placed their lives in danger and hardship to preserve our freedom. Open ports for machine guns, no heat of any kind, temperatures down to 50 below zero! The guide was excellent and explained what the men had to go through during their dangerous flights. It is something I will never forget.
Written March 8, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

461hala
Phoenix, United States14 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2020
This aviation museum is one of the world's greatest. Not kidding. I am USAF vet and 50+ years in aerospace, commercial, instrument, CFI pilot and the depth and breadth of the museum items, history and experience is breathtaking. The Palm Springs Air Museum does not disappoint, it only impresses. Serious aviation preservation and history. The docents are highly trained and many with serious aviation backgrounds and experience, from WWII through today. Very professional, very approachable, very present and seemingly everywhere! They add lots of "color" to all the tangible items. The history and hands-on hardware is second to none. A must-do for anyone with remote interest in aviation and for the most demanding aerospace pro's. Venue is well known and deeply appreciated in aviation community. Do not miss it.
Written March 11, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

lisabinnyc
New York City, NY617 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020 • Couples
Anyone with a beating heart should spend a few hours at this museum. The history is brilliantly presented. The opportunity to speak with the local men and women who served in the military is gratifying. The ability to sort of pay one’s respects is truly rewarding. Plus it’s just a super cool collection of awesome war aircraft. A few years ago I took my boys, then 9 and 11 years old and they loved it. This visit was just with my husband and he loved it too.
Written February 18, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Mickie S
United States15 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2021
My favorite part of this visit was my husband’s enjoyment of this large museum. It was so much more than what either of us expected. We saw it when we landed in Palm Springs. I chuckled to myself thinking it was small and almost blended in with its surroundings. Nothing could be farther from the truth! We were there 2-3 hours. It is well worth the admission fee (which I can’t remember) Highlights were videos you could sit and watch; they were short and very informative, you could go in a plane and sit in the cockpit. You could pay (pretty pricey) for a ride in a few airplanes.
There was an outside area with more planes; there were two large buildings, hangars I guess, just full of memorabilia and airplanes. There were volunteers at the ready to assist you with information and directions. And of course, there was a gift shop at the entrance.
It was a fun day for both of us and I was just “along for the ride”!
Written April 21, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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