Air Zoo Aerospace & Science Center - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)
Air Zoo Aerospace & Science Center

Air Zoo Aerospace & Science Center

Air Zoo Aerospace & Science Center
4.5
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
12:00 PM - 5:00 PM
About
From rare and historic to inspiring artwork and exhibits, there's always something new to discover at the Air Zoo. The Air Zoo is a world-class, Smithsonian-affiliated aerospace and science museum with over 100 air and space artifacts, inspiring interactive exhibits, full-motion flight simulators, indoor amusement park rides, a theater and over 100 education programs! Spend the day exploring aviation, engineering, science, technology, math and art in both of the exciting and unique Flight Centers. Make sure to take the shuttle to the Flight Discovery Center where visitors have the opportunity to climb in training cockpits, geek out over the intricacies of aerospace technology and engines, and see a nationally recognized restoration program! Volunteers are busy, 7 days a week, restoring two WWII aircraft recovered from the bottom Lake Michigan. It's a must see! Both centers are included in admission and are open 360+ days a year. Come imagine, explore and discover at the Air Zoo!
Duration: More than 3 hours
Suggest edits to improve what we show.
Improve this listing
See what travelers are saying
  • dmc42607
    Kalamazoo, Michigan57 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Great for all ages
    Took my 8 year old granddaughter to the Air Zoo. Neither of us is particularly interested in flight, but we both had a great time and we learned a few things. The Air Zoo is set up to entertain and educate every age - all at the same time. I recommend a trip to the Air Zoo for anyone!
    Visited June 2023
    Written June 11, 2023
  • Lori P
    Indiana59 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Worth the visit
    Well taken care of and up to date. Nice exhibits. 4 nice rides for younger kids that are included with admission. The simulators are fun. Many many planes to enjoy if you are into aviation. The gift shop is huge.
    Visited July 2023
    Traveled with family
    Written July 8, 2023
  • Roy F
    Mason, Michigan11 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Lots to see!
    A friend and I visited the Air Zoo after checking it out online. We were surprised by how large the collection of airplanes and helicopters was. There is lots of hands-on stuff and experiences for the kids and even a few carnival style rides in the main building. We spent most of the day in the main building which houses the Aerospace and Science Museum, then moved to the Flight Discovery Center where they are restoring a WW2 trainer that was recovered from Lake Michigan. Plan on spending the whole day because there is so much to see and do. Somehow we missed the Kitty Hawk Cafe so I can’t review it.
    Visited August 2023
    Traveled with friends
    Written August 15, 2023
  • Alex S
    Elmhurst, Illinois33 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Very nice air museum
    The founder of this museum was a naval aviator during World War II and the museum's collection includes numerous Navy planes. It is well laid out and family friendly. Time yourself to take in a movie on aviation if you need a break...the one I watched was about salvaging planes from Lake Michigan which had been lost in training mishaps during the war. Allow at least half a day if you want to see everything.
    Visited September 2023
    Traveled solo
    Written September 10, 2023
  • WorldwideRover007
    United States2,803 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Interactive Hidden Gem
    This place was amazing. Everything is included in the admission price including unlimited rides on the simulator, hot air balloon ride, plane ride, and the movies. There was a gift shop onsite and multiple interactive features. Its one room so its simple to keep everyone together.
    Visited September 2023
    Traveled with family
    Written March 14, 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 bubbles614 reviews
Excellent
464
Very good
125
Average
24
Poor
1
Terrible
0

Murphy1887
Mackinaw City, MI27 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020
I went back to the Air Zoo after visiting for the first time several years ago. The expanded facility is impressive, but I was disappointed by how thin the actual content was around each plane. There was minimal discussion of larger themes like how these aircraft were designed, how they worked, the experience of flying them, or even why they looked the way they do. Furthermore, given that most of the pieces on display are warplanes, there was little or no discussion of how they were employed in combat, much less anything challenging the visitor to consider the motivations and consequences of things like aerial bombardment. If you want to take pretty pictures of colorful airplanes, this is a great place- the staff members and volunteers stationed throughout the galleries were very friendly and eager to talk to me. However, if you want some actual content to go with the impressive visuals, the Air Zoo might not be for you.
Written February 10, 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.

IndyMM456
Carmel, IN67 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2021 • Family
Fantastic place to spend a morning or afternoon! We were visiting family in Portage and made a stop here with our 2.5 year old and her cousins (6 & 8 yo)…they all had a wonderful time. Very clean & covid-friendly. Especially enjoyed the indoor rides, Pixar short-film about the moon landing, and lots of airplanes and space-shuttle stuff to see. Really enjoyed and will go back!
Written August 15, 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.

Darin H
Waterford, MI242 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2022 • Couples
Very good airplane museum. They had a lot of planes in static displayed laid out by era - history, biplanes, WW2, jets, and space. There are some rides and simulator for kids to use too. And the rides and movies are not an extra fee which is nice.

We watched a movie that was very good about the carrier training in Lake Michigan.

Very good museum
Written May 15, 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.

dmc42607
Kalamazoo, MI57 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2023
Took my 8 year old granddaughter to the Air Zoo. Neither of us is particularly interested in flight, but we both had a great time and we learned a few things. The Air Zoo is set up to entertain and educate every age - all at the same time. I recommend a trip to the Air Zoo for anyone!
Written June 11, 2023
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.

Barbara G
8 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2022 • Couples
My husband is an Air Force veteran. We decided to go to the Air Zoo.
The Displays are well managed. So much history! I was particularly interested in the WWII planes retrieved from Lake Michigan. We met a very knowledgeable restoration volunteer that gave us a very interesting visit to the museum.
Written May 29, 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.

Alex S
Elmhurst, IL33 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2023 • Solo
The founder of this museum was a naval aviator during World War II and the museum's collection includes numerous Navy planes. It is well laid out and family friendly. Time yourself to take in a movie on aviation if you need a break...the one I watched was about salvaging planes from Lake Michigan which had been lost in training mishaps during the war. Allow at least half a day if you want to see everything.
Written September 10, 2023
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.

Roy F
Mason, MI11 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2023 • Friends
A friend and I visited the Air Zoo after checking it out online. We were surprised by how large the collection of airplanes and helicopters was. There is lots of hands-on stuff and experiences for the kids and even a few carnival style rides in the main building. We spent most of the day in the main building which houses the Aerospace and Science Museum, then moved to the Flight Discovery Center where they are restoring a WW2 trainer that was recovered from Lake Michigan. Plan on spending the whole day because there is so much to see and do. Somehow we missed the Kitty Hawk Cafe so I can’t review it.
Written August 15, 2023
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.

Dean M
Warrensburg, MO246 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2022
I have been to a number of various Aviation Museums, to include some of the Biggest. This amazing place easily scores top marks. The Air Zoo has the only surviving SR-71B Trainer, a restored F-117 Stealth Fighter, and many other aircraft. I could have easily spent much more time than I did.
Written July 26, 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.

Thomas S
Lansing, MI100 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2023 • Family
This place is just an absolute destination for anyone interested in aircraft, but more importantly it's an engaging facility with traveling exhibits and a history of the space program and 20th century military aircraft. There are free flight simulators and also if you have teens or small children there are free carnival style rides inside the building which are an absolute joy. There's also a movie theater where you can take a break, sit down, and absorb some historical content - not to mention a terrific gift shop and concession stand / cafeteria to grab a bite to eat. Don't forget about the outbuildings where there are aircraft restorations taking place and it is adjacent to an actual small airport. Good eats nearby, I'd recommend Taco Bob's
Written February 13, 2023
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.

bobx77
Florida2,356 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2022
Right now it’s a special on the SR-71 Blackbird.
A lot of veterans around, who are especially connected to this bird.
I had the chance to listen to one of the engine engineers = WOW!
And I could talk to some of the pilots, who did fly this aircraft. One of them (Al) turned out to be the one still holding world’s speed record with that plane.

So I met the fastest man on earth.
How cool is that!!!

On the other hand:
There is a lot to see with ample information about the planes etc

All the staff is very friendly and helpful!

So I encourage you to visit this museum!!
And the adult admission is $ 15.95 only.
Written August 12, 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.

…
Showing results 1-10 of 604
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing

Air Zoo Aerospace & Science Center - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

Frequently Asked Questions about Air Zoo Aerospace & Science Center

Air Zoo Aerospace & Science Center is open:
  • Sun - Sun 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM
  • Mon - Sat 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM


Restaurants near Air Zoo Aerospace & Science Center: View all restaurants near Air Zoo Aerospace & Science Center on Tripadvisor


All things to do in Portage
RestaurantsFlightsVacation RentalsTravel StoriesCruisesRental Cars
© 2024 Tripadvisor LLC All rights reserved.

This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu.