Want to know how to visit the United Flight 93 National Memorial in Shanksville, Pennsylvania?
Flight 93 National Memorial is a National Park Service site that commemorates and preserves where United Flight 93 crashed after it was hi-jacked during the September 11th terrorist attacks.
It’s near the remote town of Shanksville in the southwestern part of Pennsylvania, off of I-76, which travels east-west between New Jersey and Ohio, making it easily accessible for road-trippers.
The Flight 93 Memorial is open every single day from sunrise to sunset and it is always free to visit.
You can experience the full site in about a 2 hour visit.
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United Flight 93 National Memorial Day Trip Itinerary
When we were on a road trip from Ohio to New York, we saw signs for the Flight 93 National Memorial all along I-76.
I decided to look it up on a map and it wasn’t too far out of our way, so we decided that we should stop in to check it out.
I actually didn’t even know that they had designated this as a memorial site that people could visit, even though it obviously should be.
So I did a little bit of research to see what all was there, how long it would take to see it all, and found out that it’s always free to visit and it’s always open, so the stars were perfectly aligned for our visit!
1. Start at the Flight 93 Visitor Center
Right in front of the main parking lot is the visitor center.
Inside is a permanent exhibit with a timeline and artifacts that were found around the crash site.
It’s a self-guided walk through gallery where photos and videos are prohibited.
There is a gallery with information on each person that was onboard that plane and you can even listen to some of the voicemails that some of these passengers left once they realized what was happening.
If you’ve ever seen the United 93 film, you’ll recognize a lot of what is in the exhibit and I highly recommend watching it before you visit.
While the memorial itself is open every day, the visitor center is closed New Year’s Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day.
This is an essential part of visiting the United 93 site, so schedule your visit on any other day!
2. Flight Path Overlook
On the back side of the visitor center, along the trail that will eventually lead out to the crash site, is an overlook.
The signs show you everything you’re looking out at such as the crash site, the debris field, the flight path, and the memorial plaza.
From here, you can walk the trail down to the crash site, which is about 0.7 miles, or you can go back to the parking lot and drive to a closer parking lot.
We opted to drive down because we wanted to save a little bit of time, but also because the walk back is on a slight incline the entire way back and that’s not always possible for everyone.
3. Debris Field and Crash Site
From the parking lot, you’ll walk about a quarter mile along the pathway lining the debris field and heading toward the crash site.
You must stay on the path and not wander into the debris field.
As you make your way down the path, you’ll see a large boulder which shows exactly where United Flight 93 made impact on the ground.
4. Flight Path and Wall of Names
As you continue along the path, you’ll see a white marble wall that leads to the Wall of Names, which lists all 40 passengers and crew members that were onboard the flight.
The wall follows the exact flight path as the plane crashed.
5. Special Events
All throughout the year the Flight 93 National Memorial hosts commemorative events re-telling the story of the events that took place here.
Specifically on 9/11, they host a Moment of Remembrance in the morning where they read all of the names of passengers and crew members.
At exactly 10:03 am, when the plane crashed, they ring the bells of the Tower of Voices for each person.
6. Tower of Voices
On your way out of the memorial site, stop by the Tower of Voices.
This is a 93 foot bell tower with 40 wind chimes that each have a unique tone as a tribute.
It serves as a landmark that makes this memorial site visible from the nearby roads.
Where To Stay Near The Flight 93 National Memorial
Hampton Inn Somerset is an affordable hotel, less than 30 minutes from the Flight 93 National Memorial.
Free parking and a free breakfast buffet are included.
It’s located in the nearest town with plenty of gas stations, restaurants, and other hotels.
Click Here To Book Your Hampton Inn Somerset Stay Today!
Know Before You Go
There are National Park Service rangers on site at the visitor center and along the trail to answer any questions you might have.
The only times that the site might be closed is if there is inclement weather, especially in winter with the potential for snow storms.
Keep in mind that this is a memorial site, so be quiet and respectful, especially while others are nearby.
There is a spot at the memorial plaza where you can leave notes and wreaths if you feel like you want to do that.
Even though it is free to visit, you can still get a national park stamp to commemorate your visit.
The visitor center gift shop has great memorabilia – we always collect Christmas ornaments from each place we travel.
They also sell some locally made pre-packaged snacks and treats – we enjoyed the maple coated peanuts from Brantview Farms.
Conclusion: United Flight 93 National Memorial Day Trip Itinerary
United Flight 93 National Memorial is often over-looked, but it’s a must visit.
It’s very easy to visit, with minimal planning, and it’s always free.
You can find more 9/11 memorial sites to visit in our Manhattan day trip itinerary and Washington DC things to do list.
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