14 Coolest Playgrounds in the DC Area (2025 Map)

Clemyjontri Park is designed for children of all abilities to play together. They cater to those with physical, developmental and sensory disabilities and offer ramps, rubber surfacing, lowered equipment and other specially designed equipment. They also feature a carousel and trackless train.

This large and beautiful park has two playgrounds, including a treehouse-inspired play structure with a slide. Younger kids who are still getting the hang of riding a bike will love the "learning loop" that's just for them.

The concept for Palisades plays on the history of the area through play equipment and designs that feature Native American symbols. The space includes a spray feature, wooden play equipment, and swings separated from the main play area.

Friendship Turtle Park features a playground, recreation center, basketball court, tennis courts and baseball field. They also host lots of fun events throughout the year.

The Chevy Chase Recreation Center is a smaller site, nestled in the midst of a myriad of outdoor opportunities. From the baseball field, to the dog park, to a splash park, and tennis courts, Chevy Chase offers a variety of leisure opportunities to the community.

The Family Recreation Area at Franconia Park is home to Our Special Harbor and Chessie's Big Backyard. Our Special Harbor is a fully accessible Chesapeake-Bay themed spray ground. The playground at Chessie’s Big Backyard is fully accessible to all children with padded rubber floor surface and lots of features to crawl through, climb over and ramps wide enough for wheelchair access as well.

Both younger and older children will find exciting equipment, including climbing equipment and small boulders to sit or play on. A rubberized play surface brings additional color and accessibility to the site.

The enormous climbing structure is one of the biggest and best in DC, with enclosed rope bridges, net climbers and a huge slide. Don't miss it if your kids love heights! There are also small cabins to explore, a toddler playground and a splash pad area.

A recent renovation has made this one of the best playgrounds near DC. The big draw (literally!) is the towering net climbing structure that ends in a tall tunnel slide. There's also smaller scale play equipment for littles, swings and a sandbox.

This amazing private school playground in DC is shared with the public after school hours, and all day when school is not in session (that means weekends!). You'll find creative natural-material play structures for all ages, including net bridges, forts, climbing walls, a two-story slide and a zip line.

In addition to a well-equipped indoor center, Kennedy Recreation Center also offers a great outdoor environment with 2 playgrounds, tennis court, baseball field, basketball courts, splash-park, horse shoe pit, outdoor grills and a walking trail.

The magic is in the details at this cool DC playground inspired by the Fibonacci sequence, a series of numbers that makes a spiral shape (like a fiddlehead fern) when used to create squares. Equipment for all ages includes climbers, slides, a 4-person teeter totter and different kinds of swings.

Ahoy Matey! Anacostia Park is home to three playgrounds, including a giant pirate ship for kids to explore, play on, climb and slide. There's adult fitness equipment around the ship, so you can exercise while your kids play.

Watkins Regional Park is home to a destination-worthy Wizard of Oz playground. Families can walk the yellow brick road, explore Dorothy's farm house and the Emerald City, spin in the poppy field, and slide down ruby slippers. The park also has a carousel, train and mini golf.