Visiting Flight 93 National Memorial: What to Know Before You Go
The Flight 93 National Memorial in southwestern Pennsylvania honors the 40 passengers and crew members who lost their lives aboard United Airlines Flight 93 on September 11, 2001. It is not a typical sightseeing stop. It is a place to learn, remember, and spend some quiet time reflecting on the courage shown aboard that flight.
We visited the memorial in the countryside outside Shanksville, where the open fields and persistent wind are as much a part of the experience as the buildings and monuments. This post explains what you will see, the best order for visiting the different areas, how long to allow, and the practical details you should know before arriving.
Flight 93 National Memorial at a Glance
| Planning detail | What to know |
|---|---|
| Location | 6424 Lincoln Highway, Stoystown, PA 15563 |
| Admission | Free; no entrance pass or reservation required |
| Memorial grounds | Open daily from sunrise to sunset, weather permitting |
| Visitor Center | Open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; closed New Year’s Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day |
| Time to allow | About 1½ to 2 hours for the main sites; longer if you walk the seasonal trails or attend a ranger program |
| Parking | Free parking is available at the Tower of Voices, Visitor Center Complex, and Memorial Plaza |
| Restrooms | Public restrooms are near the Learning Center; non-flush toilets are available at Memorial Plaza |
| Food | Water and modest snacks are sold at the Visitor Center bookstore; there is no restaurant or picnic area |
| Cell service | Spotty throughout the area |
| Pets | Leashed pets are allowed on trails and in parking areas, but not inside the Visitor Center or on Memorial Plaza; service animals are permitted |
Before leaving, check the National Park Service alerts and conditions page, especially during winter or severe weather.
What Happened to Flight 93?
On the morning of September 11, 2001, al-Qaeda terrorists hijacked four commercial airplanes. Two were flown into the World Trade Center towers in New York, and a third struck the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia.
United Airlines Flight 93 departed Newark for San Francisco with seven crew members and 33 passengers. After the hijackers took control of the cockpit, passengers and crew used airphones to contact people on the ground. They learned that the attacks in New York and Washington were part of a coordinated assault and made a collective decision to fight back.
At 10:03 a.m., Flight 93 crashed into an open field in Somerset County, Pennsylvania. Investigators concluded that the hijackers’ likely target was the United States Capitol. Because the passengers and crew acted, Flight 93 was the only one of the four hijacked aircraft that did not reach its intended target.
The memorial tells that story through the landscape, personal accounts, preserved objects, and the names of the people aboard.
The Best Order for Visiting the Memorial
The memorial covers a large area, and its major features are not all within one short walk. You will drive between several stops along the park road. This order follows the natural route from the entrance and helps the story unfold clearly.
1. Begin at the Tower of Voices
The Tower of Voices stands near the memorial entrance. At 93 feet tall, it contains 40 individual wind chimes representing the voices of the passengers and crew members.
The chimes are powered by the wind, so there is no scheduled performance or guaranteed “best time” to hear them. They may sound clearly, faintly, or not at all during your visit. The changing sound is part of the design.
Allow time to walk around the tower rather than treating it as a quick roadside photograph. It introduces the 40 individual lives remembered throughout the memorial.
2. Continue to the Visitor Center Complex
The Visitor Center is the best place to understand what happened aboard Flight 93 and how the events fit into the larger story of September 11.
Exhibits include a timeline, photographs, artifacts, oral histories, and recordings connected to the calls made by passengers and crew members. Some material is emotionally difficult. Older children and teenagers may gain a great deal from the exhibits, but parents should be prepared to help them process what they hear and see.
The building follows the final flight path. Outside, the Flight Path Walkway leads to an overlook of the crash site, the Wall of Names, and the surrounding Field of Honor.
If you collect National Park passport stamps, you can get one inside the Visitor Center. Junior Ranger booklets are also available for children.
3. Drive the Ring Road to Memorial Plaza
After visiting the exhibits and overlook, drive the Ring Road to Memorial Plaza. The road passes through the memorial landscape and the 40 Memorial Groves planted in honor of the passengers and crew.
Memorial Plaza brings visitors closer to the crash site and debris field. The walkway follows the edge of what is considered sacred ground.
4. Walk to the Wall of Names
The Wall of Names consists of 40 white marble panels, each engraved with the name of one passenger or crew member. The wall is aligned beneath the flight path, marking the final seconds of Flight 93.
From the plaza, you can also see the large sandstone boulder that marks the impact site. The boulder sits within an area reserved for family members of the passengers and crew, so visitors view it from a respectful distance.
This is often the quietest and most personal part of the visit. Give yourself time here. There is no need to rush back to the car simply because you have reached the end of the walkway.
How Long Should You Spend at Flight 93 National Memorial?
Plan on 1½ to 2 hours for the Tower of Voices, Visitor Center exhibits, overlook, Memorial Plaza, and Wall of Names.
You may want closer to three hours if you:
- Read most of the exhibits in detail.
- Attend a ranger program.
- Walk one of the seasonal trails.
- Visit with children completing a Junior Ranger booklet.
- Prefer time to sit quietly and reflect.
Trying to squeeze the memorial into a 30-minute roadside stop would miss much of what makes it meaningful.
Ranger Programs, Tours, and Special Events
The memorial does not require a guided tour, and you can visit all the main public areas independently. Rangers and volunteer ambassadors are normally available to answer questions.
Scheduled programs may include short talks at Memorial Plaza and guided walks dealing with the passengers’ actions, the response at the crash site, and the investigation that followed. Dates and times change, so check the National Park Service program calendar before your trip.
The annual September 11 observance is free and open to the public. Expect larger crowds, altered traffic patterns, standing-room conditions, and limited accessible seating. Anyone planning to attend should review that year’s official event information rather than relying on details from a previous ceremony.
Accessibility and Walking Conditions
The memorial welcomes visitors with disabilities, and the principal visitor areas include accessible parking and routes. Because individual mobility needs differ, consult the official accessibility information or contact the memorial before visiting if you have specific questions.
Useful things to know:
- The Visitor Center and its exhibits are indoors and accessible.
- Memorial Plaza is a long, open walkway with little protection from wind or weather.
- Benches are available in portions of the memorial, but you should not assume seating will always be close by.
- The major areas can be reached by car, so walking the connecting trails is optional.
- Cell service is unreliable, making it wise to download information before arriving.
The memorial’s openness is visually striking, but it also means sun, rain, cold, and wind can feel more intense than expected.
Trails at the Memorial
The National Park Service identifies three designated walking trails: the Allée, Western Overlook Trail, and Trail of Remembrance. These trails connect parts of the memorial landscape and offer a slower way to experience the site.
Trails are open from sunrise to sunset during the warmer months but close during winter. Stay on maintained surfaces, carry water, and check conditions before setting out. Leashed pets are allowed on the trails, though they are prohibited at Memorial Plaza and inside the Visitor Center.
You do not need to hike to see the primary memorial features. The trails are an optional addition for visitors with more time.
Visiting in Winter
Winter at Flight 93 National Memorial deserves serious preparation. Somerset County averages about 80 inches of snow annually, and snow can begin by mid-October and continue into March or April. Temperatures frequently remain in the 20s and 30s, and the wind chill can make the exposed landscape feel considerably colder.
Adverse weather can delay opening or close the grounds. Trails are not maintained for winter use and are closed during winter months.
If you visit during cold weather:
- Check official conditions before driving to the memorial.
- Wear warm layers, a wind-resistant outer layer, and shoes suitable for ice or slush.
- Do not depend solely on mobile service for directions or weather alerts.
- Allow additional driving time on rural roads.
- Remember that the Tower of Voices and Memorial Plaza are exposed to the wind.
Spring and fall can also be cool and unpredictable. Even during summer, bring water, sunscreen, and rain protection.
Location and Directions
The memorial is located at:
Flight 93 National Memorial
6424 Lincoln Highway
Stoystown, PA 15563
Download your route before leaving a populated area because cell service near the memorial can be spotty.
The memorial is approximately:
- 20 miles from Somerset.
- 1½ hours from Pittsburgh.
- 3½ hours from the Washington, D.C., and Baltimore area.
- 4 hours from Philadelphia.
Driving times are approximate and can increase with weather and traffic.
Food, Restrooms, and Other Facilities
The location is rural. There is no restaurant, café, picnic area, campground, or recreation area inside the memorial.
Water and modest snacks are sold at the Visitor Center bookstore. Public restrooms are located near the Learning Center at the Visitor Center Complex, and non-flush toilets are available at Memorial Plaza.
Eat before arriving or plan your meal for after the visit. Somerset offers the widest nearby selection of restaurants, lodging, and fuel. Fill your gas tank and download directions before heading into the countryside; this is not the place to discover that your phone and fuel gauge have formed an alliance against you.
Visiting Respectfully
Photography is allowed in public areas, but this is an active memorial and the final resting place associated with 40 people. A respectful visit does not require complicated rules—only awareness of where you are.
- Keep voices low around Memorial Plaza and the Wall of Names.
- Do not climb on memorial features or cross barriers.
- Avoid posing for playful photographs at the crash site or Wall of Names.
- Give grieving families and other visitors personal space.
- Follow posted guidance about photography inside the Visitor Center.
- Leave plants, memorial objects, and tributes undisturbed.
- Carry out any trash you bring.
It is entirely appropriate to take photographs. The difference lies in whether the photograph documents the memorial or turns it into a backdrop.
What to Bring
- Comfortable walking shoes.
- Water, especially if you plan to walk the trails.
- A jacket or wind-resistant layer.
- Sunscreen and a hat during warmer months.
- Downloaded directions or the NPS app for offline reference.
- Tissues. The exhibits and recorded messages can be difficult to hear.
Is Flight 93 National Memorial Appropriate for Children?
Families are welcome, and the Junior Ranger program can help school-age children engage with the memorial thoughtfully. However, the Visitor Center includes difficult subject matter, including accounts of the hijacking and final phone calls.
Parents should consider a child’s age, sensitivity, and understanding of September 11. This is generally a more suitable stop for older children and teenagers than for young children expecting an attraction or play area. The memorial has no picnic or recreation areas.
Why the Memorial Leaves Such a Lasting Impression
The Flight 93 National Memorial does not overwhelm visitors with grand displays. Much of its power comes from the contrast between the ordinary Pennsylvania countryside and the extraordinary events that occurred there.
Standing on the windswept hill, looking across the Field of Honor, makes the history feel immediate. The memorial tells a story of devastating loss, but it also preserves the unity, courage, and quick decisions of people who understood what was happening and acted together.
If your travels take you through western Pennsylvania, this is a stop worth making—not to check an attraction off a list, but to remember the passengers and crew and understand what their actions meant.
Books About Flight 93
Reading about Flight 93 before or after your visit can provide more context about the people aboard, the investigation, and the creation of the memorial.
The links below are paid links, which means I may earn a commission if you make a qualifying purchase at no additional cost to you.
- Let’s Roll: Ordinary People, Extraordinary Courage by Lisa Beamer shares the story of her husband, Todd Beamer, and reflects on his life, faith, and actions aboard Flight 93.
- Flight 93: The Story, the Aftermath, and the Legacy of American Courage on 9/11 by Tom McMillan examines the flight, investigation, and development of the national memorial.
- Among the Heroes: United Flight 93 and the Passengers and Crew Who Fought Back by Jere Longman tells the individual stories of the passengers and crew.
- The 9/11 Commission Report provides the official account of the broader attacks, including the events aboard Flight 93.
Continue Exploring Pennsylvania
If you are planning a longer Pennsylvania trip, visit Latrobe, learn about another chapter of American history during a Gettysburg food tour, or continue east toward Amish Country and Hershey.
Remembering Flight 93
Have you visited Flight 93 National Memorial? What part of the memorial affected you most—or what would you want to know before making the trip? Share your thoughts in the comments, and consider passing this post along to someone planning a visit to western Pennsylvania.
