Snow day with kids in Washington DC
When roads are slow, stay close and keep it short. A warm indoor stop plus a little time outside covers most snow days.
Details checked on each official site.
U.S. Botanic Garden Conservatory
A warm indoor greenhouse, free with no tickets, open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Federal Center SW Metro is three blocks away.
Warm, free, no booking, and an easy Metro trip.
National Children's Museum
Three indoor floors of play downtown, open 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. except Tuesdays. It is steps from Federal Triangle Metro and three blocks from Metro Center.
Indoor, built for kids, and reachable by Metro so you can skip driving.
National Building Museum
The Great Hall is free and indoors. Open Thursday to Monday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The museum is across the street from the F Street entrance of Judiciary Square Metro on the Red Line.
Free indoor space right next to a Metro entrance.
National Air and Space Museum
Free and indoors, open daily 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. with a free timed-entry pass for everyone. From Exit A of L'Enfant Plaza Metro it is about a 10 minute walk.
Free and warm, with a Metro route the museum publishes.
International Spy Museum
Indoors at 700 L'Enfant Plaza SW, open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays this season, and reachable by Metro. Advance timed tickets are recommended.
Indoor and Metro-accessible, best for kids 9 and up.
Free days change the math. See the Washington DC free and cheap guide.
One good plan for the weekend, in your inbox
Snow days come with little warning. A plan already in your inbox makes the morning easier. The Weekend Scout is a free email that arrives once a week with one family outing idea for the weekend, with age fit and cost notes.
Free. One email a week. Unsubscribe from any email.
More for Washington DC families: all Washington DC activities.