Note: Many of these indoor places to play are closed on certain days of the week, so check their websites or call ahead for current operating days and hours.

There's so much for young kids to explore at Wonderplace. Photo courtesy of the National Museum of American History

Free Kids' Play Spaces in DC Museums

1. Wonderplace at the National Museum of American History — Washington, DC

This 1,700-square-foot exhibit for kids ages 0-6 features plenty of interactive elements, including a construction area, a climbing structure, a soft-play area for crawlers, a pretend farm and kitchen with play food and accessories, a mini portrait gallery, and more. There's also a nursing bench and a cozy reading area. My kids absolutely loved this place when they were little! On busy days like weekends and holidays, Wonderplace uses a timed ticketing system that allows only 30 minutes of play, so try to go on weekdays.

2. Draper Spark!Lab at the National Museum of American History — Washington, DC

Older kids visiting the National Museum of American History can get hands-on at this activity center designed for ages 6-12. There they can create, collaborate, explore, test, experiment, and invent. The engaging activities pair science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) with art, history, and creativity. Note: Spark!Lab is only open Wednesdays through Sundays. 

3. imagiNATIONS Activity Center at the National Museum of the American Indian — Washington, DC

This huge, interactice exhibit is one of my favorite free things to do indoors in DC! It features all sorts of hands-on activities like basket-weaving, building a giant igloo, crafts, "walking" in snowshoes, exploring a replica of an Amazonian stilt house, and so much more. It's recommended for ages 10 and under, but let's be honest—even grown-ups have fun here. Go early if you can—admission to the activity center is first-come, first-served, and on busy days (like weekends), additional entry procedures may apply and you may not get in—it's happened to some families I know. 

4. Experiential Learning Center at the National Museum of the United States Army — Fort Belvoir, VA

My family was wowed when we discovered this immersive learning space that's amazing for kids of all ages. At Fort Discover, kids 8 and under can use imaginative play to climb an Army tower, radio friends, drop cargo supplies, launch a space rocket, drive a Jeep, and more. In the Training Center, older kids (and kids-at-heart!) can participate in interactive training simulations. My kids didn't want to leave this fun area, but the rest of the museum is worth seeing!

5. Children's Gallery at the National Museum of the Marine Corps — Triangle, VA

Kids ages 10 and under will love the Children's Gallery at this fantastic museum, which features hands-on experiences such as walking through a World War I trench, peering through periscopes, trying on uniforms, and more. The museum also offers fun—and free—children's programs.

6. Planet Word — Washington, DC

My family absolutely loves this free museum that's perfect for older kids and teens. Children can marvel at a 22-foot talking word wall, deliver a famous speech using a teleprompter, bring books to life in a magical library (complete with a hidden door to walk through), sing karaoke, and much more. There's a cool puzzle-solving experience for ages 12 and older on the third floor called Lexicon Lane, but it costs money and you'll need to reserve a puzzle case ahead of time. 

7. King Barn Dairy MOOseum — Boyds, MD

Located in a historic dairy barn, this museum shares the story of dairy farming in Montgomery County. There is a children’s play room with hands-on activities and a craft room with cow-themed art projects.  You can even hand-milk an electronic cow model. The museum is closed in the winter and open on Saturdays (plus the fourth Sunday of each month) from May through October.

Free Nature Centers with Fun Indoor Play Areas in DC

There are nearly a dozen free nature centers in DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia that allow kids to get up close to animals, learn about the natural world, and develop a love for the great outdoors. When the weather is bad, though, these four nature centers have great indoor spaces for kids to play and stretch their legs.

Kids just love a good planetarium! Photo courtesy of the Rock Creek Park Nature Center & Planetarium

8. Rock Creek Park Nature Center and Planetarium — Washington, DC

This fabulous nature center is home to a Children's Discovery Room, exhibits on local plants and animals, live animals, a bird observation deck, and the only planetarium in the National Park Service. It's closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. 

9. Hidden Oaks Nature Center — Annandale, VA

The indoor area of Hidden Oaks Nature Center features a small play structure, a reading nook, dress-up costumes, a kid-sized table with a toy tea set, several live animals, and plenty of hands-on activities. When my kids were little, they loved to pull open the various drawers to discover tiny fossils, plant specimens, and other treasures inside them. Hidden Oaks is closed on Tuesdays. 

10. Croydon Creek Nature Center — Rockville, MD

This nature center a short distance from downtown Rockville features kid-friendly exhibits, games, puzzles, and small animals including reptiles, amphibians, and an owl. It's open every day except Monday, and on Sundays you can only visit from 1-4pm.

11. Long Branch Nature Center at Glencarlyn Park — Arlington, VA

Long Branch Nature Center features seasonal exhibits, a Children's Discovery Room, live animals, and more. Many of its programs and activities for kids, including storytimes and animal meet-and-greets, are free. The nature center is closed on Mondays and only open from 1-5pm on Sundays. 

Libraries with Free Indoor Play Areas in DC

Visiting the DC area's public libraries is one of the best free things to do with kids. Almost all of the libraries offer dedicated children's sections and free kids' programs such as storytimes, performances, game nights, and more. Here are a few libraries we think offer a little something extra for kids.

Explore a child-sized village at Storyville Rosedale. Photo courtesy of the Baltimore County Public Library

12. Storyville — Baltimore, MD

Inside the Rosedale branch of the Baltimore County Public Library you'll find Storyville, a child-sized village filled with books, toys, and activities for kids ages 0-5. The village includes a pretend grocery store and mailroom, a puppet stage and theater, a home living area, a construction zone, a library, a baby garden, and a toddler area. It's like having a free mini children's museum right inside the public library! Storyville is busiest on weekday mornings and weekend afternoons and has a capacity limit, so weekday afternoons and weekend mornings are your best bet. 

Note: The Woodlawn library branch also has a Storyville, but as of January 2026 it was closed for renovation.

13. Noyes Library for Young Children — Kensington, MD

This adorable one-room library is filled with books, toys, puzzles, and activities just for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers. Founded in 1893, the library also offers free storytimes and other events for little ones. After playing and reading in the library, families can explore the great parks, shops, restaurants, and historic homes in the charming town of Kensington (see our guide to visiting Kensington, MD with kids). Note: The library is closed on Mondays, Fridays, and Sundays. 

14. Haymarket Gainesville Community Library — Haymarket, VA

This library has one of the best children's sections in Northern Virginia. In addition to a huge variety of books, kids can enjoy a small play area, puzzles, computers, and rentable tablets. The library also hosts various programs for kids of all ages, including storytimes, coding and dance classes, LEGO clubs, and more. The library is closed on Sundays.

Free Indoor Playgrounds at DC Malls 

Free mall play areas sometimes get a bad rap, but they're great places for babies, toddlers, and even preschoolers to burn energy on a cold or rainy day—especially after being pushed around the mall in a stroller. But not all mall indoor playgrounds are created equal. Here are seven we think are especially cool.

15. Springfield Town Center — Springfield, VA

Little ones never get as excited over fruits and veggies as they do while playing at this produce-themed play area on the first floor of Springfield Town Center. Kids can slide down a slice of watermelon, climb on a pile of grapes, shimmy across a giant banana, and more. There are plenty of cushioned benches for grown-ups to rest on.

16. Westfield Annapolis — Annapolis, MD

The small play area at Westfield Annapolis has a bright, colorful ocean theme. There's a blue whale for little ones to slide down, a tall lighthouse to crawl through, starfish to step on, and more fun activities.

Dulles Town Center's Nationals-themed play area knocks it out of the park. Photo courtesy of Dulles Town Center

17. Dulles Town Center — Dulles, VA

Little sluggers go batty over Nationals Play Park, a Nationals-themed play area at Dulles Town Center. Kids can slide down a hot dog, crawl through a bucket of popcorn, sit in a giant baseball glove, and more. The play area's convenient location in the food court makes it easy to grab a bite when the kids get hungry.

18. Arundel Mills — Hanover, MD

The play area at Arundel Mills has a fun Maryland theme. Kids can go inside a replica of Thomas Point Lighthouse, crawl through an oak tree, clamber onto a crab, and "swim" in a birdbath next to a giant oriole. Perimeter benches provide places for grown-ups to take a breather.

19. Tysons Corner Center — Tysons, VA

The large third-floor play area at Tysons Corner Center has a National Geographic Kids theme. There are animals to climb on, a honeycomb to hide inside, a log cabin to explore, and lots more. Plus, it's next to the food court, so families can easily fuel up between play sessions.

20. The Mall in Columbia — Columbia, MD

The Mall in Columbia has one of the larger free mall play areas, giving toddlers and preschoolers plenty of space to run around. Its health and wellness theme means little ones can crawl through a pile of fruits and veggies and a water-bottle tunnel, step over a giant toothbrush, climb aboard (and slide out of) a pretend ambulance, and more. There is plenty of seating for adults.

21. Potomac Mills — Woodbridge, VA

The Virginia-themed play area at Potomac Mills is unique in that it is geared to children up to 48 inches tall. Kids can climb aboard a ship, hang out in a mini replica of Monticello, crawl through a tree, and more. There are also two toddler nooks with wall-mounted mirrors, various manipulatives, and a giant piano keyboard.

 
Get creatuve at the LEGO Store. Photo by Blake Handley via Flickr 2.0

Stores Where Kids Can Play for Free

22. LEGO Store — Various Locations in MD & VA

Seven malls in the DC area are home to LEGO stores, where kids can build for free before or after creating their LEGO wish lists. They include Fashion Centre at Pentagon City, Tysons Corner, Westfield Montgomery, Potomac Mills, Arundel Mills, and Westfield Annapolis. There's also a store attached to the LEGO Discovery Center at Springfield Town Center that offers free building opportunities, but the discovery center charges admission (it's worth it for LEGO lovers). The stores sometimes hold free building events where kids can create things to take home.

23. IKEA Småland — Baltimore & College Park, MD and Woodbridge, VA

Småland is a supervised, magical forest-themed playground inside IKEA stores, where parents can drop off their potty-trained kids for one hour while they browse the store (which is basically a playground for adults).

24. American Girl Washington, DC — Tysons, VA

There are only eight locations of the beloved American Girl Store and Cafe in the US and Mexico, and one of them is at the Tysons Corner Center mall in Virginia. Kids are welcome to play with the dolls and play sets on display for as long as they'd like, but beware—leaving the store without making a purchase may be impossible!

25. Because Science — Washington, DC

Get your geek on at Because Science, a quirky, woman-owned, STEM-focused store in Adams Morgan. Because Science hosts events for all ages including craft nights, science playtimes for preschoolers, origami classes, and more—many of which are free!

26. Growing Minds Bookstore — Catonsville, MD

This small, cozy bookshop specializes in children’s books. The friendly and knowledgeable owner is often on site to welcome families and make book recommendations. The shop has a play area and a used-book section. It also hosts various free events.

Free Rec Centers in DC

27. DPR Fitness Centers

Washington, DC is home to nearly 30 recreation centers that are free for DC residents. They offer varying indoor places where kids and teens can play, such as basketball courts, tennis courts, gymss, arts and crafts spaces, and game rooms. Try the indoor pools with water slides at Barry Farm Recreation Center and Deanwood Community Center, the children's pool at Takoma Community Center, and the soft-play space for toddlers at Arthur Capper Community Center. Some of the fitness centers even have dedicated teen rooms.

FAQ: Free Indoor Places to Play in DC

Q: What can kids do indoors for free in DC?
A: Public libraries, free museums, bookstores, and nature centers are great places to hang out with kids indoors. They also often host no-cost playtimes, craft workshops, and storytimes for kids. 

Q: Are there free indoor playgrounds in DC? 
A: Yes! Most DC-area malls have indoor play areas that are open to the public at no cost. 

Q: Where can I go on a rainy day with kids in DC?
A: Try local libraries, free museums, and free nature centers. We share some of our favorite nature centers above, but there are even more on our list of free nature centers near DC for kids and families. 

Q: What are the best free things to do with toddlers in DC? 
A: Library storytimes are ideal, as are toddler-focused library play areas like Storyville in Baltimore. 

Q: Which museums in DC are free?
A: All of the Smithsonian museums in DC are free, and some even have dedicated play spaces for kids, like the fantastic imagiNATIONS Activity Center at the National Museum of the American Indian. But there are other awesome non-Smithsonians that are free as well, like Planet Word. See them all on our list of free museums near DC to visit with kids.