We’ve been visiting Washington, DC for over a decade. It’s one of our favorite places to visit for a weekend getaway because it’s easy to travel there on a budget.

The National Mall is a great space to explore with young children because it is stroller-friendly and all the Smithsonian museums are free. Read on to find out about our 5 favorite indoors activities in Washington, DC for families with young kids.

A child stands in front of the Washington monument on a sunny day. — Standing in front of the Washington Monument

When to visit Washington, DC?

We generally skip cherry blossom season when the city is very busy, and recommend traveling in the fall or winter if you plan on spending most of your time exploring museums. Between October 1 and December 15 is a great time to visit.

What are the most kid-friendly places in Washington DC?

Here are our top museums in Washington, DC for children and the activities that our daughter has enjoyed from age 2 to 5. All of these locations are free, and as of November, 2024 only the Air and Space Museum requires a reservation. In two days you could visit all five of these locations, and take a walk around some of the memorials (if you have a kid who has strong legs and does not nap).

Museum of Natural History
American History Museum
Air and Space Museum
Museum of the American Indian
United States Botanic Garden

National Museum of Natural History

The Museum of Natural History is the first place we always go when we arrive in DC. We park the car on Constitution avenue, and try to get inside as close to 10am as possible. Our daughter loves to explore:

The epic elephant in the rotunda
The hall of fossils
The Hall of Human Origins
Hall of Mammals
Ocean hall

National Museum of American History

The National Museum of American History is an unassuming museum near the Washington Monument. It’s easy to skip it, but after three visits, we found the most amazing kid-friendly parts of the Museum of American History.

The museum is divided into wings and many floors. You could spend most of your first visit on the first floor.

Specific zones for children and the Museum of American History:

Sparklab (better for children ages 4-12)

The Sparklab is a large space where
Our daughter could have spent two hours here if we left her. I would save this for after you have walked around a little bit and are ready for a break to sit and explore.

Wonderzone (best for children 5 and under)

This small area is good for toddlers who love pretend play. There is a Wegmans grocery store area and a small play center. Our very tall 5-year-old was probably a little too big for this, but it would be perfect for 2-4 year olds.

Family-fun for everyone:

Visit the exhibition entitled America on the move: This gallery is tucked behind two others, and once you move past the food exhibition and on the water, you will be rewarded with views of how transportation has changed over the years. From wagons to trains to cars, this is the best place to spend some time exploring. You can even hop on a subway car and pretend you are traveling across Chicago.

Museum map courtesy of the National Museum of American History.

National Air and Space Museum

The Air and Space Museum is an obvious choice for a visit to DC. When I was a child and we visited on school trips, this is where we spent most of our day. Airplanes, rockets, models of the solar system, and an IMAX Theatre and Planetarium all make this a great place to spend a few hours. Remember to book a timed entry ticket for the Air and Space Museum. You can book the day before or the morning of a visit if you are there on a weekday or a normal weekend. We generally stay for less than 2 hours, and just visit a few highlights.

Our favorite spots are:

America by Air: Walk through the interior of old planes.
Destination Moon: Watch a video about the moon landing, see the evolution of space suits, including Alan Shephard’s suit, and browse a collection of Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo artifacts.
Planets Gallery: explore models of the solar system, explore how planets and moons rotate, sit on the floor and watch an immersive video about all the planets.

Museum of the American Indian

Near the Air and Space Museum is the Museum of the American Indian; on the second floor, there is a imagiNations activity center where children of all ages can explore and celebrate the culture and knowledge of indigenous people. This is very interactive, and it’s the first toddler-friendly spot we discovered in DC. This section is open from 10am-4:30PM Tuesday-Sunday. This is one of our favorite spots, and it’s a nice contrast to the Air and Space Museum which is showier and a bit more overwhelming. Children can explore how the native populations of the Americas lived throughout time. Our daughter’s favorite parts of the imagiNATION station include:

The listening station which allows children to hear the sounds of different animals
The kayaking station where you can practice your balance
The large teepee and hut on stilts which allow children to see different types of housing
The library/ reading room

United States Botanic Garden

Near the Capitol Building, not far from the Museum of the American Indian, is the United States Botanic Garden. On a chilly day, this is a great spot to warm up. The conservatory offers various habitats and a wide array of plants. From the dessert room to a two-story tropical forest with a canopy walkway, this is a great way to spend a lovely 30 minutes or an hour warming up in the winter. Around Christmas time there Botanic Garden also features holiday decor and model trains.

Visiting the Memorials

It’s easy to visit a few special areas by parking the car one and walking. We like to park on Constitution Avenue and walk this route:

Vietnam Memorial.
Lincoln Memorial (looking down at the reflecting pool)
Korean War Veterans Memorial
Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial

Where to stay when visiting Washington DC with kids?

When we visited DC, we used to try to stay within walking distance of the White House and the museums. There are many hotels nearby, from budget to luxury stays. However, on a recent trip, we stayed by The Wharf and really enjoyed this are overlooking the Washington Channel. If you have an IHG card, you can use a free night certificate here. (Be prepared to pay $50-$60 for parking in Washington DC when you stay overnight.)

5 places to visit in Washington, D.C. with kids