Are you looking for things to do in Washington DC with kids? Well, you have come to the right place! Washington DC is a great place to bring the whole family. There are so many free things to do around town that your trip will not cost the bank! Be sure to check out these lovely hotels to stay at during your trip to DC.
Planning your trip to Washington DC last minute?
Hotels and tours sell out fast! Make sure to book in advance to ensure availability. Here are our top picks for Washington DC:
Top Experiences And Tours To Book In Advance:
- Monuments By Moonlight Tour (Our pick!)
- Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour (Easy to get around)
- Gourmet Dining Cruise (Can choose brunch or dinner)
- Capital Wheel Entry Ticket (Save time in line)
Best Places To Stay In Washington DC:
- The Architect (Our choice for location)
- Citizen M Washington DC Capitol (Hip and modern)
- Glover Park Hotel Georgetown (four stars)
- Hotel Washington (Panoramic views!)
You have to check out the food scene in DC too. There are so many different types of restaurants so whatever you are craving they will have it. You could explore Washington DC with kids for weeks on end and never get bored but most people spend about 3 days here!
15 Fun Things to do in Washington DC with Kids you Shouldn’t Miss
Washington DC: Monuments by Moonlight Nighttime Trolley Tour
The Monument by Moonlight Tour
One of the things to do in Washington DC with kids at night is to take a Monument Moonlight Tour! After you finish eating dinner you can head out to see the DC at night in an open-air trolley. Your tour guide will drive you around in the moonlight for about 2.5 hours long. Doing this tour will ensure you see some of the best attractions in DC.
This tour covers the following route:
- Jefferson Memorial
- Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial
- Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial
- U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial
- Lincoln Memorial, Washington
- Korean War Veterans Memorial
- Vietnam Veterans Memorial
- National Mall
- World War II Memorial, Washington DC
- Washington Monument
- White House, Washington
- Capitol Hill
Grab your tickets online and meet at Washington DC Welcome Center right before the sun goes down. It is a wonderful way to see the famous buildings illumined at night and the children will love the trolley ride.
Check rates here: Getyourguide.com
National Harbor: Capital Wheel Entry Ticket
One of the best things to do in Washington DC with kids is to ride the National Harbor Ferris Wheel. The whole family can fit inside the big air-conditioned gondolas. You can view the National Harbor, Washington D.C., and even Maryland from the very top.
Try booking a National Harbor: Capital Wheel Entry Ticket at sunset to see the beautiful light 180 feet in the air with views of the Potomac River. After your ride, you can watch the amazing light show that plays every evening around the wheel.
With the flexible ticket plan, you can reserve your ticket online and use it once anytime you want for up to 14 days. The Wheel in the National Harbor is very close to some of Washington D.C’s best restaurants too!
Check rates here: Getyourguide.com
Washington DC: Big Bus Hop-On Hop-Off Sightseeing Tour
Check out the Washington DC Big Bus Hop-On Hop-Off Sightseeing Tour! You will be driven around the city in the coolest double-decker bus while listening to an amazing tour guide. They also have audio guides included in multiple languages if you or someone you are with is traveling from abroad.
Once you figure out when you will be visiting Washington D.C. you can go ahead and purchase a ticket because there are flexible ticket options. When purchasing your ticket pick between the 24,48, or 72-hour options. This way you can go when the weather is the nicest.
On this big bus tour you will be able to see all of these attractions in Washington DC with kids:
- The White House
- Washington Monument
- Lincoln Memorial
- US Capitol
- Jefferson Memorial
- National Cathedral
- Arlington Cemetery
Check rates here: Getyourguide.com
Smithsonian National Zoological Park and Conservation Biology Institute
If you are looking for fun things to do with kids in Washington DC you have to check out the National Zoological Park! Since it is a part of the Smithsonian it is always free. The Zoo is open every day of the year except Christmas. In the winter the hours are 8-4, and in the winter they are open late until 6.
You can see so many different animals and the zoo focuses on conservation. There are over 1800 different animals including giant pandas, red-tailed monkies, tigers, and over 350 more. You could spend hours walking around while your children learn about the different animals.
Although the Smithsonian is free it is required to have passes for everyone in the family, including babies. Try checking out their website to see what types of shows there or you could watch a few webcams to get ready for your trip to Washington DC with kids.
National Children’s Museum
One of the best activities with kids in Washington DC is to check out the National Children’s Museum and science center. With a focus on STEAM, (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math) your children will have so much learning while playing here.
Inside the museum, there are 9 different interactive exhibits to learn from and play with. The data science alley is a favorite. They will learn everyday skills by playing games and collecting data. Children have so much fun they do not even realize they are learning. The exhibits range from ages 3 to 12 years old.
You are able to visit the Children’s museum every day of the week except Tuesdays, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. Starting at 930 in the morning until 4 pm. It is recommended to purchase your tickets before to ensure you can go on the day you want.
Glen Echo Park
If you are looking for outside places to visit in Washington DC with kids then Glen Echo Park is a perfect place for you. Located just 9 miles outside of the Downtown this beautiful park is totally worth the drive. The beautiful carousel is a big hit with both children and adults. It has been in the park since it was built back in 1921.
There is also a big playground and picnic area. If you did not feel like packing your own lunch stop by the Praline Cafe. You can grab a fresh sandwich, soup, quiches, and even salads. If you check out the Glen Echo Park website before you visit you can plan to go to a class or show up for an event.
There are a bunch of interesting events to take including social dances. You are going to love spending your afternoon with kids in DC at Glen Echo Park.
KID Museum
Head over to the KID Museum to see one of the best attractions in Washington DC with kids. This is a big museum right on the outskirts of DC. They have a maker space for children to explore and tinker with all different types of experiments.
For the little engineers, you can head to the robot tech area. Or you can print your own creation in the 3D and the wonderful forest of lights exhibits are always so much fun. If you are in town on Sunday it is the best day of the week to visit. There are always workshops for children aged K-8 ranging in all different subjects. You will have to purchase tickets either before or at the door before you head inside.
United States Botanic Garden
The United States Botanic Garden is so beautiful would be a great place to visit in Washington DC with kids. Start your free tour by visiting the Conservatory display. Inside you will find a large variety of plants from everywhere in America. Ranging from beautiful tropical flowers to desert cacti, the conservatory has it all.
The Bartholdi Foundation and Gardens is up next and is one of the parts of the whole Botanic Garden. Built back in 1932 this two-acre garden has any type of flower or plant you can think of. And inside it all is a 15-foot water fountain. This is a functioning garden as well because they grow edible herbs, fruits, and vegetables that are used in the restaurant’s Kitchen Garden.
Last but not least on the tour are gated outdoor gardens. Spend your time strolling through the grounds. You can visit 5 different kinds of gardens and then take a break in the wooden gazebo. The beautiful botanic garden is one of the best free things to do with kids in Washington DC.
Beauvoir Outdoors Playground
If you need a break from the city takes your children to the Beauvios Outdoor Playground. This epic playground is on the grounds of a school, but they open it up to the public for everyone to enjoy. There is a small rock climbing wall, a fun bridge to climb, swings, sliders, and so much more. But the most popular thing at the playground has to be the zip line.
During the summer the park is open all day long, and during the school year, the park opens when the school gets out. Visiting here is one of the best things to do in Washington DC with kids. You will find this epic play area on the grounds of the National Cathedral Elementary School. There is plenty of parking and shade during the day.
International Spy Museum
Do you or your children have what it takes to go undercover at the International Spy Museum? You can test your skills at this fun museum in DC. Kids love walking through the International Spy Museum gathering data and testing their theories along the way. There are 17 different exhibits along the way. In the end, you will learn what your top two spy skills are. There is also an option to continue your spy lessons at home.
You can get the best price for tickets by purchasing them online before you arrive. When you are on the website it is also recommended to download the undercover mission map. The Internation Spy Museum also teaches a bit about the history of spies as well. This is one of the best places to visit in Washington DC with kids they will love it!
Go to a Washington DC Professional Sporting Event
Washington D.C. has 5 professional sports teams tucked into its small quarters. The Washington Commanders is the NFL team and they play during the fall and winter. The ticket prices are pretty reasonably priced and would be a great place to take a football lover.
The Washington Wizards play from October to April and are one of the best Washington DC activities with kids. The next sport to check out would be Hockey. The Washington Capitals won the Stanely Cup back in 2018 and have been playing very well ever since. The Capitals also play from October to April so you could knock out two games in one trip.
And the final team is the DC United soccer team. They have won the championship four times since they first started back in 1996. Visiting any of these games would be one of the best family activities in Washington DC.
National Air and Space Museum
The National Air and Space Museum is another Smithsonian site and is free to the public. There are two different museums to visit. Every month has a new theme and the permanent exhibits date all the way back to the Wright Brothers’ first flight. There are even scale models of some of the Startrek ships.
You will see the famous Apollo 17 that went all the way to the moon as well as some of the artifacts that were on the rocket. You can visit any day of the week starting at 10 am until 5 pm and you will need a ticket to enter. There is so much to love at the National Air and Space Museum and it is one of the many free activities for kids in Washington DC.
Explore the Mall in an Electric Vehicle
If you are thinking about taking touring the Mall there is no better way to do it than in an Electric Vehicle. This is a great way to ensure you all the historic and important sites with a private tour guide. There are two different types of tours you can book a small private party or a shared group tour.
Take the electric vehicle while visiting Washington DC with kids it is so much easier than walking around all day. The tour starts and ends at the Museum of Natural History and should last about 2 hours. You will get the see the following monuments.
- Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History
- Jefferson Memorial
- Washington Monument
- Lincoln Memorial, Washington
- District of Columbia War Memorial
- Korean War Veterans Memorial
- Vietnam Veterans Memorial
- White House, Washington
- Capitol Hill
- Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History
Check rates here: Getyourguide.com
Go Ape
The is a zipline and adventure park right outside of Washington DC. There are two different courses you can take. You can take the first one with has the biggest zipline its the treetop adventures route. It is 52 feet in the air and 400 feet long. The second course the treetop discovery and has 19 exciting courses.
If you need to get outside and explore this is one of the best Washington DC kids’ activities to get some exercise. Children of all ages can explore this wonderful outdoor adventure park, but you must be at least 4 ft 7 in tall.
Rock Creek Park Center and Planetarium
When visiting Washington DC with kids you have to check out the Rock Creek Park and Planetarium. There is plenty to do inside and outside Rock Creek Park. The park manages over 1754 acres in Washington DC and is the oldest urban park in America. It is a wonderful place to hike with over 32 miles of hiking trails, and many people enjoy fishing here as well.
The Planetarium is a special theater that only shows educational movies and fun films for children about the sky and stars. You can also catch live concerts on the main stage all year long. If you want to get out and explore the water they also have kayaks to rent. Be sure to put Rock Creek Park high on your list of things to do
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