5 Best Playgrounds in the DC Area

1. National Cathedral School – 3500 Woodley Rd, DC

The playground is open to the public when the school is not in session, which is after 6 and on weekends. The equipment here is very unique and not like anything you will find on the average playground. There are tons of areas to play, and the theme here is adventure. There’s a zip line which is a huge draw for kids. There’s limited parking here close to the playground, otherwise you can park on the surrounding streets.

2. Cabin John

Cabin John Regional Park is Montgomery County’s largest park. There’s playground equipment, lots and lots of playground equipment and a miniature train. We checked out the train ride during their Halloween “I Spy” event in the fall. The train runs May – October. There’s also 6 miles of trails, softball and baseball fields, a tennis center, a nature center and an ice skating rink as well as a dog park. Parking is available on site for free.

3. Lafayette – 5900 33rd St NW in Chevy Chase DC

Located on the same block as Lafayette Elementary School, this park has one of the largest climbing structures in DC. There’s an area for smaller kids to play, tennis courts, a baseball field and splash park. There are also indoor facilities with a multi-purpose room and kitchen making this a neighborhood community center.

4. Guy Mason

Located in Glover Park at Wisconsin Avenue at Calvert Street, Guy Mason Park is a Recreation Center offering indoor and outdoor fun. There are classes and a gym inside and a dog park, baseball field, basketball court and an awesome playground with a splash pad. The playground offers a soft surface and equipment for a variety of ages from those playing in the sandbox to older kids who want to climb. There is a parking lot on site where you can park for free and there is also some street parking on Calvert as well. You can rent the picnic areas to host kiddo birthday parties, the current price on the rental is $25/hour.

5. Clemyjontri – McLean – 6317 Georgetown Pike, McLean 

The strange name is a conglomeration of the names of the children of the founder/donor for the park…in case you were wondering. This is an all-inclusive playground where children of many abilities will find their fun! The park has Virginia’s first Liberty Swing, where wheelchair users can swing without having to get out of their wheelchair. There are four separately themed play areas, each of which are pretty expansive. There is also a carousel and train you can get tickets for, plus a picnic pavilion available for rent. Parking is available on site at no charge.

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