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Best Air Museums Near Metro Detroit for Family Fun

Find the Best Air Museum Near Metro Detroit: Options for Family Fun in Michigan

Are your kids obsessed with airplanes? Searching for an air museum near me that the whole family can enjoy? Michigan is full of exciting destinations where you can explore aviation history, tour real aircraft, and even take to the skies. From interactive museums to live airshows, these attractions are perfect for a weekend adventure or a school break outing.

1. Visit the Yankee Air Museum – Belleville

If you’re looking for a top-rated air museum near Metro Detroit, the Yankee Air Museum is a must. Located at Willow Run Airport, this museum showcases an impressive collection of aircraft, including the iconic B-17 Flying Fortress and B-25 Mitchell bomber. Visitors can tour aircraft, attend educational events, and even book flights in vintage planes.

📍 Belleville, MI
🌐 yankeeairmuseum.org

Yankee Air Museum in Belleville spad xiii wwi fighter

2. Explore the Air Zoo – Portage

The Air Zoo is part museum, part amusement park — and completely unforgettable. It offers interactive flight simulators, indoor rides, and dozens of historic aircraft. Kids can touch, play, and explore while learning about aerospace science and innovation. It’s an excellent day trip destination for families looking for educational fun.

📍 Portage, MI
🌐 airzoo.org

3. Attend Thunder Over Michigan – Ypsilanti

More than a traditional museum, Thunder Over Michigan is a live aviation experience featuring WWII-era planes, skydivers, and military flight demos. Held annually at Willow Run Airport, it brings history to life with roaring engines and aerial stunts. This air show is a perfect event for aviation fans of all ages.

📍 Ypsilanti, MI
🌐 yankeeairmuseum.org/airshow

4. Take the Ford Rouge Factory Tour – Dearborn

While not an air museum in the traditional sense, the Ford Rouge Factory Tour offers a unique look into aviation history. During WWII, the factory produced B-24 bombers at a record pace. Today, visitors can see Ford F-150s being assembled and explore exhibits that tie automotive and aviation history together.

📍 Dearborn, MI
🌐 thehenryford.org

5. Discover the Henry Ford Museum – Dearborn

Explore American innovation at the Henry Ford Museum. The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation is home to rare aviation artifacts including the Wright Brothers’ flyer and Lindbergh’s Spirit of St. Louis. It’s a must-see for anyone interested in flight and American ingenuity. With full-size aircraft on display indoors, it’s a great year-round option.

📍 Dearborn, MI
🌐 thehenryford.org

Henry Ford - Spriti of St. Louis Air Museums near me

6. Take a Helicopter Tour – Detroit

Want a view from the sky? Book a helicopter tour in Detroit for a thrilling alternative to the traditional air museum. Several companies in Metro Detroit and across Michigan offer family-friendly rides over downtown skylines, waterfronts, and countryside. It’s an unforgettable way to experience flight in real time.

📍 Detroit & other locations

helicopter tour

7. See the Driggs Skylark Biplane – Grand Rapids

The Grand Rapids Public Museum features the last known Driggs Skylark Biplane, a rare piece of Michigan aviation history. Used in the 1930s and ’40s, it was prized for short takeoffs and steady flight. Families visiting the museum can see the plane up close and learn about early pilot training.

📍 Grand Rapids, MI
🌐 grpm.org

8. Fly in a Vintage Plane – Statewide

Looking to go beyond viewing and into flying? Several organizations, including the Michigan Flight Museum, offer rides in open-cockpit biplanes or WWII warbirds. These unique experiences are often available during air shows or by reservation — perfect for aviation fans looking for a sky-high adventure.

📍 Statewide
🌐 miflightmuseum.org

Want more family-friendly adventures? Explore our list of educational Metro Detroit museums for kids.