Rainy Day Activities for Kids in Washington DC
34 indoor and rainy day activities for kids in Washington DC. Museums, entertainment centers, and indoor play spaces with age-fit and planning notes.
Highest rated: Hyper Kidz Rockville, Hyper Kidz Alexandria, Beat The Bomb DC. 9 listings are free. 23 listings are indoor. Qualified listings include age ratings, stroller access, and practical planning tips.
Rainy day plan
Pick one indoor stop as the main event. These hours and prices were read on each place's own site.
Details checked on each official site.
National Children's Museum
Open 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. every day but Tuesday. Over Thanksgiving week it runs 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Nov. 25 and 27 to 29, and it is closed Nov. 26. Tickets are required.
The whole museum is indoors downtown, with posted daily hours.
International Spy Museum
Fall and winter hours run September to February: weekdays 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Sunday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. The last ticket sells an hour before closing, and advance timed tickets are recommended.
An indoor museum at L'Enfant Plaza with published hours for this season.
National Air and Space Museum
Open daily 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and closed Dec. 25. Entry is free, but everyone needs a free timed-entry pass, babies included. How Things Fly has more than 45 hands-on stations.
A big indoor museum on the Mall with daily hours, and passes don't cap how long you stay.
National Building Museum
Open Thursday to Monday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thanksgiving and Christmas. The Great Hall is always free. Brick City is closed for a refresh until Nov. 27, and a LEGO brick activation called Building Together runs in the City Action Hall through Nov. 20.
An indoor museum with a free Great Hall and posted hours, across from Judiciary Square Metro.
Children's Science Center Lab
Inside Fair Oaks Mall. Open Saturdays and Sundays in three sessions, 10 a.m. to noon, 1 to 3 p.m. and 3:30 to 5:30 p.m., plus school holidays. Built for ages 2 to 12.
Indoor, with fixed weekend session times posted.
Hyper Kidz Alexandria
A 17,000 square foot indoor playground for ages 0 to 13, open Monday to Saturday 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Indoor play open seven days a week with posted hours.
U.S. Botanic Garden Conservatory
The Conservatory is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, closed Dec. 25. Admission is free with no tickets. Restrooms in both the men's and women's rooms have changing tables.
A free indoor greenhouse with daily hours near the Capitol.
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How to use this rainy day activities list
These are the backup plans worth saving before weather pushes everyone indoors. KidPaths is currently tracking 34 indexable picks for this page in Washington DC, with details for cost, age fit, stroller access, weather backup, and parent logistics.
Quick fit
9 for infants, 28 for toddlers, 33 for little kids, 32 for big kids.
Weather and access
34 indoor or mixed-weather picks. 11 outdoor or partly outdoor picks. 21 stroller-friendly stops. 33 rainy-day backups.
Cost scan
9 free picks. 19 paid picks. Each listing links to the venue for current tickets and hours.
Top Picks
Hyper Kidz Rockville
4.9 starsThe multi-level play structure with dedicated toddler areas, slides, climbing zones, and on-site food creates a complete visit experience.
Hyper Kidz Alexandria
4.9 starsSlides, climbing structures, soft play and the interactive dance floor give children several ways to move and explore.
Beat The Bomb DC
4.9 starsTeams race through video-game rooms, solve physical and mental challenges and try to stop a paint, foam or slime blast.
Recess Play Center
4.8 starsSilver Spring families rely on it as a local rainy day destination with reliable clean equipment, friendly staff, and enough variety to keep kids ages 1-10 engaged for 2+ hours.
Small Mammal House
4.8 starsA fox with oversized ears, mole-rat tunnels and animals that climb, dig or rest give children different details to look for.
Parks & PlaygroundsHyper Kidz Rockville
Ages: Toddlers to Big Kids
Parks & PlaygroundsHyper Kidz Alexandria
Ages: Infants to Tweens
EntertainmentBeat The Bomb DC
Ages: Little Kids to Teens
Parks & PlaygroundsRecess Play Center
Ages: Toddlers to Big Kids
ShoppingFreeSmall Mammal House
Ages: Toddlers to Tweens
EntertainmentLittle Ivies DC
Ages: Toddlers, Little Kids
MuseumsNational Museum of African American History and Culture
Ages: Toddlers to Teens
Parks & PlaygroundsFreeJerome "Buddie" Ford Nature Center
Ages: Toddlers to Tweens
EntertainmentFUNBOX Bounce & Party Center
Ages: Toddlers to Tweens
Outdoor AdventuresFreeElephant Trails
Ages: Toddlers to Teens
Tours & ExperiencesUnited States Botanic Garden
Ages: Infants to Tweens
EntertainmentBubble Planet: An Immersive Experience - Washington DC
Ages: Toddlers to Teens
Common Questions
- What can we do with kids on a rainy day in Washington DC?
- Washington DC has 34 rainy-day-friendly activities for families. Best options: Hyper Kidz Rockville, Hyper Kidz Alexandria, Beat The Bomb DC, Recess Play Center, Small Mammal House. All are indoor or covered.
- How many rainy day activities in Washington DC are stroller-friendly?
- 21 of the 34 rainy day activities in Washington DC are fully stroller-friendly.
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