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

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There’s lots to love about living in the DC area, but extreme weather is NOT one of them.

Luckily, DC, MD, and VA are home to many amazing indoor play places that hit the spot during our hot and humid summers, or when it’s too cold to be outside in the winter. Check out our favorites below that make kid-life in DC incredible!!

National Children's Museum

Discover science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (or STEAM) through hands-on play at National Children’s Museum! Located in downtown DC, the Museum’s interactive exhibits and programs empower innovators ages 0 to 12 to dream of new possibilities.

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 two enclosed, toddler-specific spaces, Little Dreamers and Little Movers.

Hands-on programs, including pop-up learning stations and tinkering activities, complement the exhibits to extend learning. Weekly early learner programs on offer include STEAM Story Time (Thursdays at 10:30 am) and Baby Jam (Fridays at 10:30 am).

Woodrow Wilson Plaza
1300 Pennsylvania Ave NW
Washington, DC 20004

The Tot Space

A Children’s Activity studio that provides drop in/off activities on a rotating schedule for children ages 3-6 years old. The studio is a space where “Tots” are able to interact, engage, and develop in a warm and positive environment while their parents balance “me-time”.

The Tot Space’s mission is to provide an External Village, while maintaining a “Guilt-Free” Parent Experience – time where you are assured your child is socially thriving during their time at the space, and being instructed by a village of individuals who will continue to engage and build relationships with your Tot.

The Space also offers Parents’ Night Out events once a month, where Tots have the opportunity to participate in a themed 3 hour event during evening hours, allowing parents to take time to themselves at night. Their themed evening events provide fun and collaborative activities full of creativity!

Hours:
Monday – Friday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Saturday & Sunday: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM

1321A Rockville Pike
Rockville, MD 20852

301.712.9206

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

Magic Ground | Columbia Heights, 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

The Lane | Ivy City, NE DC

United States Botanic Garden | Capitol Hill, SW DC

Chuckie Cheese | Various

Climb Zone | Laurel

District Jump | Hyattsville

Glen Echo Park Aquarium | Glen Echo

Jolly Yolly Kids | Bethesda

Kids Play Gallery | Gaithersburg

Launch | Capitol Heights

Monkey Joe’s | Germantown & Hagerstown

My Gym | Bethesda

Play ‘N’ Learn | Columbia

Pump it Up | Lanham

Silver Stars Gymnastics | Silver Spring

Sky Zone | Bowie & Gaithersburg

The Little Gym | Silver Spring

The Little Towns Playseum | North Bethesda

The Tot Space | Rockville

Zava Zone | Rockville

Alexandria Soft Play Room (Chinquapin Rec Center) | Alexandria

Atomic Trampoline | Leesburg

Beehive Indoor Playground | Woodbridge

Billy Beez | Manassas

Children’s Science Center Lab | Fairfax

Chuckie Cheese | Various

Flight Adventure Park | Springfield

Jolly Yolly Kids | Fairfax

Kidz Plaza Indoor Playground | Ashburn

Luv 2 Play | Fairfax

Monkey Joe’s | Dulles

Pump it Up | Alexandria

Scramble | Alexandria

Sky Zone | Manassas, Springfield, Woodbridge

The Little Gym | Arlington & Alexandria

Ultrazone Lasertag | Bailey’s Crossroads

Unplug & Play | Montclair

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

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