The Best Indoor Play Places in DC, Maryland, and Virginia

1
This article is written in partnership with the featured sponsors. We are grateful for their partnerships which help us continue to create helpful resources.

Ahh, spring in DC. It’s the most beautiful time to be outside. But it doesn’t last forever – between hot, humid summers and below-freezing winters, the great IN-doors is often the place to play.

Luckily, DC, MD, and VA are home to many amazing indoor play places. Check out our favorites below! We have a full list of indoor play spaces listed at the bottom categorized by location.

National Children's Museum

Inspire your young learners to dream big at National Children’s Museum! Designed for the whole family, children and parents alike will enjoy playful and modern exhibits that explore science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (STEAM) concepts.

Big kids will love climbing through the Dream Machine, the three-story, cloud-inspired structure of colorful pods and netting pathways that lead to a thrilling slide; flexing their sports skills in Engineering Games + Play, where they’ll hit virtual home runs and send racecars hurtling towards a photo finish; and so much more. Meanwhile, your littlest ones will explore from the safety of our two enclosed, toddler-specific spaces, Little Dreamers and Little Movers.

While exploring the exhibits, keep an eye out for themed programming and family workshops that will prompt further STEAM exploration. On any given day, you might also discover the surprise of a spontaneous pop-up program ranging from DIY builds to science demonstrations.

Woodrow Wilson Plaza
1300 Pennsylvania Ave NW
Washington, DC 20004

Kids Play Gallery

Kids Play Gallery is an indoor imaginative play space that your children will love. They offer a fun, friendly, clean, and safe environment with custom play homes for creative exploration.

Escape the screens and bring your kids to this one-of-a-kind play center! Stroll around the “neighborhood” exploring each of their uniquely designed Play Houses. Grocery shop at the food market, fight fires from the fire engine, get dolled up at the beauty salon, pump gas at the gas station and so much more.

Their friendly staff is happy to welcome you, whether you’re visiting for daily play or whether you’re booking a birthday party or event. With a clean & wide open space for your kids to enjoy, they assure you of an impeccable play area, fun private party room, and well organized environment at all times.

Bring your family today and check out Kids Play Gallery in Gaithersburg, MD!

217 Muddy Branch Road
Gaithersburg, MD 20878

The Wonder

Come one, come all to The Wonder, an absurdly playful space for curious, imaginative families!

The doors to this brand-new shiny space in Ballston Quarter, Arlington open on May 12. (Think ball pits, a bounce house and lots of space for your kids to run and run around.)

Play passes start at $29 per kid; monthly membership starts at $124 a month.

238 Wilson Blvd
Suite 1295
Arlington, VA 22203

Full Circle Montessori School

See what an intentionally designed indoor play space for children under 3 can be; one that promotes independence, confidence, fine and gross motor development, and creativity.

You’ll watch in wonder as your child plays independently while you can engage with other parents and our child development experts!

870 S. Greenbrier Street
Arlington, VA 22204

703-243-8282

Bloombars | Columbia Heights, NW DC

Explore DC & Kogod Courtyard (National Portrait Gallery) | National Mall, NW DC

Gymboree | Woodley Park, NW DC

Library of Congress | Capitol Hill, SE DC

Little Ivies | Palisades, NW DC

National Museum of American History | National Mall, NW DC

National Museum of the American Indian | National Mall, NW DC

National Building Museum | Penn Quarter, NW DC

National Children’s Museum | Downtown, NW DC

National Postal Museum | NoMa, NE DC

National Zoo | Woodley Park, NW DC

United States Botanic Garden | Capitol Hill, SW DC

Adventure Theatre | Glen Echo

Chuckie Cheese | Various

Climb Zone | Laurel

District Jump | Hyattsville

Glen Echo Park Aquarium | Glen Echo

Imagination Stage | Bethesda

Kids Play Gallery | Gaithersburg

Launch | Capitol Heights

Monkey Joe’s | Germantown & Hagerstown

My Gym | Bethesda

Nook | Bethesda

Play ‘N’ Learn | Columbia

Silver Stars Gymnastics | Silver Spring

The Little Gym | Silver Spring

The Little Towns Playseum | North Bethesda

Zava Zone | Rockville

Alexandria Soft Play Room (Chinquapin Rec Center) | Alexandria

Chuckie Cheese | Various

Flight Adventure Park | Springfield

Jolly Yolly Kids | Fairfax

Monkey Joe’s | Dulles

Once Upon A Dream | Sterling & Vienna

Scramble | Alexandria

The Little Gym | Arlington & Alexandria

Zava Zone | Sterling

Book Stores (Walls of Books, Solid State Books, Politics & Prose) | Various

Explore DC & Kogod Courtyard (National Portrait Gallery) | Chinatown

Indoor Playground (Malls) | Various

Indoor Pools | Various

Libraries/Story Time | Various

Library of Congress | Downtown

National Museum of American History | Downtown

National Museum of the American Indian | Downtown

National Postal Museum | Capitol Hill

National Zoo | Woodley Park

United States Botanic Garden | Downtown

Want to be part of our Indoor Play Guide?

We want to show our readers all the great indoor play spaces available right here in the Washington, DC area. Partnering with us allows your business greater visibility with a large targeted market of local families. Join us and help enrich the lives of DC area Moms!

1 COMMENT

Comments are closed.