Air Zoo
The Air Zoo, founded as the Kalamazoo Aviation History Museum, is an aviation museum and indoor amusement park next to the Kalamazoo-Battle Creek International Airport. It lies in Kalamazoo itself. Its origins go back to 1977.
A theme park inside Kalamazoo
Places to stay next door
Portage-Brady Lodge #340 is 0.0 miles away; Airport Inn (0.5 mi) and Hampton Inn Kalamazoo (0.6 mi) are close too. 33 places to stay are within 4 miles. Hotels nearby ↓
Check the season before you go
Most theme parks this far north close for the winter. Check the park’s calendar for opening days. When to go ↓
Winters are cold
January nights drop to 17°. When to go ↓
Best months: May, Jun, Jul, Aug and Sep
May, June, July, August and September are the mild months, with highs of 71–84°. When to go ↓
An airport 1 miles away
Kalamazoo/Battle Creek (AZO) has airline service, about 1 miles from Air Zoo.
Written from NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Overture places to stay, Census town figures, Wikidata and Wikipedia.
Weather, month by month
The months below show the weather around Air Zoo.
Air Zoo
The Air Zoo, founded as the Kalamazoo Aviation History Museum, is an aviation museum and indoor amusement park next to the Kalamazoo-Battle Creek International Airport in Portage, Michigan. The Air Zoo holds many historical and rare aircraft, including the world's fastest air-breathing aircraft, the SR-71B Blackbird. Many of its antique planes are airworthy. Among its other attractions are a 180-degree theater that projects a simulation of a B-17 bombing mission during World War II; and various amusement rides, including flight simulators of a rocket trip to Mars, a U.S. Navy (former Blue Angel) F/A-18 Hornet, a stunt biplane, a hot air balloon, a U.S. Navy F-14A Tomcat that served aboard USS America, and more. Air Zoo is a Smithsonian Affiliate.
- Type
- Theme park
- Established
- 1977
- Wikipedia readers
- 17K a year
Overnight by Air Zoo
Inside 4 miles you will find 33 places to stay. For the closest bed, Portage-Brady Lodge #340 is 0.0 miles away.
Closest places to stay
- 1Portage-Brady Lodge #340lodge or cabins · 0.0 mi westDirections
- 2Airport Innhotel · 0.5 mi northDirections
- 3Hampton Inn Kalamazoohotel · 0.6 mi northDirections
- 4Anr Kalamazoo Hotel 2 Llchotel · 0.6 mi northDirections
- 5Days Inn & Suites by Wyndham Kalamazoohotel · 0.7 mi northDirections
- 6Americas Best Value Innhotel · 0.7 mi northDirections
- 7Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, Kalamazoo, MIhotel · 0.9 mi northDirections
- 8Bay Hotel Group Llchotel · 0.9 mi northDirections
- 9Comfort Inn Wings Stadiumhotel · 0.9 mi northDirections
- 10Anr Kalamazoo Hotel Llchotel · 1.0 mi northDirections
Places to eat nearby
49 restaurants, cafés and bars within 1½ miles
Compare 8 towns to stay in
| Town | From Air Zoo | Drive | Places to stay | People | Typical home | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kalamazoo | in town | — | 36 25 hotels · 2 motels · 7 inns & B&Bs · 2 lodges & cabins | 72,683 | $179K | D− |
| Portage | 3 mi southwest | 5 min | 6 4 hotels · 1 motel · 1 lodge or cabins | 49,862 | $262K | C− |
| Oshtemo Township | 8 mi northwest | 15 min | 8 8 hotels | 23,971 | $308K | — |
| Texas Township | 8 mi west | 10 min | 7 7 hotels | 18,864 | $415K | — |
| Comstock Township | 6 mi northeast | 10 min | 5 5 hotels | 15,512 | $242K | — |
| Battle Creek | 18 mi east | 25 min | 19 14 hotels · 3 motels · 1 inn or B&B · 1 lodge or cabins | 52,021 | $142K | D− |
| Paw Paw | 17 mi west | 25 min | 6 4 hotels · 1 motel · 1 lodge or cabins | 3,386 | $148K | D |
| Paw Paw Township | 20 mi west | 30 min | 8 5 hotels · 1 motel · 2 lodges & cabins | 6,884 | $197K | — |
Getting there
Nearest airports with airline service
Next door to Air Zoo
Within 66 miles you can add these well-known places.
Big draw51 mi Stadium & arenaNotre Dame Stadium
51 mi MuseumGerald R. Ford Presidential Museum
50 mi Park & preserveNorth Country Trail
51 mi CaveGrotto of Our Lady of Lourdes, Notre Dame
52 mi MuseumFrederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park
16 mi MuseumGilmore Car Museum87K visitors a year
65 mi MuseumEli and Edythe Broad Art Museum150K visitors a year
4 mi MuseumKalamazoo Institute of ArtsPhoto credits
Notre Dame Stadium: Tysto, Public domain · Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum: Staff of the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum, Public domain · North Country Trail: Huron-Manistee National Forests, Public domain · Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes, Notre Dame: Know1one1, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park: User Jeffness on en.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 2.5 · Gilmore Car Museum: Kevin S. Forsyth, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum: Dj1997, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Kalamazoo Institute of Arts: 72elyod, CC BY-SA 3.0
A visit to Air Zoo: questions
Is Air Zoo open in winter?
Most theme parks this far north close for the winter. Check the park’s calendar for opening days.
Is Air Zoo in Kalamazoo?
Yes. It’s inside Kalamazoo, MI.
When is the best time to visit Air Zoo?
May, June, July, August and September, with highs of 71–84°.
What is the closest airport to Air Zoo?
Kalamazoo/Battle Creek (AZO), about 1 miles away. The nearest big hub is Gerald R. Ford (GRR), about 45 miles.
What hotels are near Air Zoo?
Portage-Brady Lodge #340 (0.0 mi), Airport Inn (0.5 mi) and Hampton Inn Kalamazoo (0.6 mi). 33 places to stay are within 4 miles.
Tips from Kalamazoo
Ask a question, or answer one, in Kalamazoo’s Town Square.
Sources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · NOAA climate normals · U.S. Census.