80+ Places to Explore Nature with Kids around the DMV

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Creating memories by adventuring with our kids in nature is so fun! Here is our list of 80+ places to explore nature with kids. One of the best things about living in the DMV is that we have so many opportunities to see beauty all around. Also, check out these waterfallssunflowers, and splash pads/waterparks in our area. Or if you want to stay indoors, check out our indoor play guide.

We have emojis by each child-friendly location specifying what they offer. Please check websites before heading to these places since some require tickets. At the bottom of the article, we have a checklist of what to bring when exploring nature with kids.

Check out the handy MAP at the bottom of this page too!

Emoji Legend:
🌳 – hiking
🌊 – beach
💦 – lake, pond, river, stream
⛺️ – camping
🚲 – bike trails
🛶 – canoeing
🐟 – fishing
🌸 – flower gardens
💛 – a favorite

80+ Places to Explore Nature with Kids in DC, MD, and VA

The Adventure Park at Sandy Spring Sandy Spring, MD (amazing ziplining) 💛

Annmarie Sculpture Garden Solomons, MD 🌳 🌸 💛

Audubon Naturalist Society Chevy Chase, MD 🌳 💦 💛

Battle Creek Cyrus Swamp Prince Frederick, MD 🌳 💦

Bethesda Trolley Trail Bethesda, MD 🚲

Beverly Triton Nature Park Edgewater, MD 🌳 🌊 🐟 (wade and walk, but no swimming)

Bladensburg Waterfront Park Bladensburg, MD 🌳 🌊 🛶 🚲

Breezy Point Beach and Campground Chesapeake Beach, MD 🌊 ⛺️

Brookside Nature Center Wheaton, MD 🌳 💦 💛

Burke Lake Park Fairfax Station, VA 🌳 💦 ⛺️

Cabin John Regional Park Trails Bethesda, MD 🌳 🚲

Calvert Cliffs State Park Lusby, MD 🌊 💛

Calvert Road Park Disk Golf College Park, MD 🌳 (disk golf course)

Cape Henlopen State Park Lewes, DE 🌳 🌊 ⛺️ 🐟

Catoctin Mountain Thurmont, MD 🌳 💦

Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Trail (184.5 Miles with multiple entrances) 🌳 💦 💛

Colmar Manor Park Colmar Manor, MD

Colonial Beach Colonial Beach, VA 🌳 🌊 ⛺️ 💛

Cunningham Falls Thurmont, MD 🌳 🌊 💛

Dumbarton Oaks Washington, DC 🌸

Dyke Marsh Wildlife Preserve Alexandria, VA 💦

Eastern Shore, VA 🌳 🌊 🚲 💛

Eastern Neck Wildlife Refuge Rock Hall, MD 🌳 💦

Elms Beach Lexington Park, MD 🌊 

Flag Ponds Nature Park Lusby, MD 🌊

Fletcher’s Cove Washington, DC 🌳 💦 🛶 🚲 🐟

Fort McHenry Baltimore, MD 💛

Franciscan Monastery Washington, DC 🌸

Glenstone Museum Potomac, MD (ages 12+) 🌸 💛

Gravelly Point Arlington, VA 💛

Great Falls McLean, VA 🌳 💦 💛

Greenbelt Park Greenbelt, MD 🌳 ⛺️

Greenbrier State Park Boonsboro, MD 🌳 🌊 🛶 ⛺️

Green Spring Gardens Alexandria, VA 💦

Gordon’s Pond Lewes, DE 🌳 🚲

Gunpowder Falls State Park Kingsville, MD 🌳 🌊 🛶

Gunpowder’s Hammerman Area Middle River, MD 🌳 🌊 

Harper’s Ferry National Historic Park Harpers Ferry, WV 🌳 🌊 💦 🛶 🚲 ⛺️ 💛

Hillwood Estate, Museum and Garden Washington, DC 🌸

Holt’s Landing State Park Dagsboro, DE 🌳 💦 🛶

Huntley Meadows Park Alexandria, VA 🌳 💦

Jefferson Patterson Park St Leonard, MD 🌳 💦 🛶

Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary Lothian, MD 🌳 💦 🛶 💛

Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens Washington, DC 🌸 💦 💛

Lake Arrowhead Beach Luray, VA 🌊 🛶 🐟

Lake Anna State Park Spotsylvania Courthouse, VA 🌳 🌊 🛶 🐟

Leesylvania State Park Woodbridge, VA 🌳 💦 🛶 ⛺️ 🐟

Locust Grove Nature Center Bethesda, MD 🌳

Loudoun Heritage Farm Museum Sterling, VA

Matapeake Clubhouse & Beach Kent Island, MD 🌳 🌊

Mayo Beach Park Edgewater, MD 🌊

McKee-Beshers WMA Poolesville, MD 🌻 🌳 🚲

Meadowside Nature Center Rockville, MD 🌳 💦 🐟 💛

Meadowlark Botanical Gardens Vienna, VA 🌳 💦 🛶 🐟 🚲

Metropolitan Branch Trail Washington, DC 🚲

Mount Vernon Mount Vernon, VA 🌳 💦 💛

Monocacy National Battlefield Frederick, MD 🌳 Our Experience

National Arboretum Washington, DC 🌳 🌸 💛

North Beach North Beach, MD 🌊

Patapsco Valley State Park Ellicott City, MD 🌳 💦 🛶 ⛺️ 🐟

Patuxent Research Refuge Laurel, MD 🌳 💦 🐟

Point Lookout State Park Scotland, MD 🌳 🌊 🛶 ⛺️ 🐟 

Pohick Bay Regional Park Lorton, VA 🌳 💦 🛶 ⛺️ 🐟 💛

Purse State Park (Nanjemoy WMA with Mallows Bay) Charles County, MD 🌳 🌊 🛶 🐟 💛

Prince William Forest Prince William County, VA 🌳 💦 🚲 ⛺️ 🐟

Quiet Waters Park Annapolis, MD 🌳 💦

Riverbend Park Great Falls, VA 🌳 💦 🐟

River Farm Alexandria, VA 💦 🌸

Rock Creek Park Washington, DC 🌳 💦 🐟 💛

Roosevelt Island Washington, DC (parking in Arlington, VA) 🌳 💦

Sandy Point State Park Annapolis, MD 🌳 🌊 🐟

Scott’s Run Nature Preserve McLean, VA 🌳 💦 (no swimming or wading)

Seneca Creek State Park Gaithersburg, MD 🌳 💦 🚲 🛶 🐟

Shenandoah National Park Virginia 🌳 💦 🚲 ⛺️ 🐟 💛

Sky Meadows State Park Delaplane, VA 🌳 💦 🚲 ⛺️ 🐟

Sugarloaf Mountain Dickerson, MD 🌳 💛

Terrapin Nature Area Stevensville, MD 🌳 🌊 

Tudor Place Washington, DC (opens July 30) 🌸

Turkey Run Park McLean, VA 🌳 🚲

Underground Railroad (Woodlawn Manor) Sandy Spring, MD 🌳 💛

Watkins Nature Center Upper Marlboro, MD 🌳 💦

Westmoreland State Park Montross, VA 🌊 ⛺️ 🐟

Woodlawn Manor Cultural Park Sandy Spring, MD 🌳

Wye Island Natural Resources Management Area Queenstown, MD 🌊 🛶 🐟

Pro Tips:

  • Pack your belongings or even your vehicle the night before.
  • Leave first thing in the morning.
  • Go during a weekday for even fewer crowds.
  • Leave when you feel like it is getting uncomfortably crowded.
  • Getting excited about your adventure? Check out these additional tips for hiking with kids.

What to Bring to Explore Nature with Kids:

If we have left a gem of a spot off the list or if you think we need to add/delete an emoji, please be sure to email us at info{@}dcmoms.com!

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