DC's reputation as a "free city" is half true. The Smithsonian museums and National Mall are genuinely free. But the moment you want escape rooms, trampoline parks, aquariums, or anything else your kids are actually begging for, the meter starts running. Here's exactly what you'll spend — no vague "affordable" claims, just real numbers.
Truly Free Activities (Yes, Actually $0)
The Smithsonian National Zoo is free. Full stop. Amazonia, Elephant Trails, Great Ape House, Small Mammal House, and Great Cats Exhibit — all free. Budget $30 for parking at the zoo lot, or $5–7/person on Metro and walk in from Woodley Park.
United States Botanic Garden is free. Wegmans Wonderplace inside the National Museum of American History is free. Smithsonian Pollinator Garden is free. United States National Arboretum is free (free parking too — bring a car, it's a drive-around space).
DC playgrounds are free. Beauvoir Playground, Turkey Thicket Playground And Spray Park, Chessie's Big Backyard, Turtle Park, Takoma Playground, East Potomac Park Playground — all $0. The spray parks are free in summer. Pack snacks; most playgrounds have no food vendors.
Low-Cost Paid Options ($30–60 for a Family of Four)
Glen Echo Park Aquarium runs $30–50 for a family of four — intentionally low admission for a small nonprofit aquarium. It's intimate and unhurried in a way the big-city aquariums aren't.
Hyper Kidz Alexandria (4.9 stars, 5,000+ reviews) and Hyper Kidz Rockville (4.9 stars, 2,442 reviews) both run approximately $50–70 for a family of four — roughly $12–16 per child. That's 2–3 hours of high-energy indoor play. Book online to save; check for weekday pricing.
Recess Play Center is $40–60 for a family of four. Junior Playland in Hyattsville runs $40–60. FUNBOX Bounce & Party Center in Bowie is $50–70 (4.7 stars). Scramble Parkour in Arlington runs $50–70 for a family.
Meadowlark Botanical Gardens charges approximately $20–30 for a family of four — $5–7/adult, kids often free or reduced. Good value for 1.5–2.5 hours outdoors.
Mid-Range Paid Options ($60–100 for a Family of Four)
Great Big Game Show DC runs $80–120 for a family of four — $20–30/person. It's a 5.0-rated live game show where your family are the contestants. Worth every dollar if your kids are 6+. Book it.
Bubble Planet runs $60–100 for four — $15–25/person depending on age. About 1–1.5 hours. Book online in advance.
Trampoline parks cluster in this range: Flight Adventure Park Springfield at $60–100, Get Air Trampoline Park at $60–80, Off Limitz Adventure Park at $60–80, Magic Ground at $60–80 (~$15–18/child), Scramble Alexandria at $60–80 (4.4 stars).
NOVA Wild in Vienna runs $60–80 for a family of four. Super, Awesome & Amazing in Springfield is $60–100+ depending on what you access.
Children's Science Center Lab runs $40–60 for structured 2-hour science sessions — good value given the quality of engagement.
Premium Experiences ($100+)
Escape rooms are the clearest splurge. The Escape Game DC (Penn Quarter) runs $100–140 for four people ($28–35/person) — it holds a 5.0 rating and is genuinely one of the top escape room operations in the country. Escape the Room DC runs $100–140 as well ($25–35/person) with a 4.9 rating. Both are 1.5–2 hours including briefing. Weekday slots can be cheaper and have better availability.
Urban Air Trampoline and Adventure Park can hit $60–100 for a family depending on the pass level you choose. The Ultimate Pass is worth it if you're staying 3+ hours.
Maryland Science Center in Baltimore runs $80–120 for a family of four (~$20–25/adult, reduced for kids). Add IMAX and you're at the top of that range. Budget 3–4 hours — it earns the time.
National Aquarium in Baltimore is the biggest-ticket item on this list: $110–160 for a family of four (adult tickets ~$45, child tickets ~$35 for ages 3–12). It's one of the best aquariums on the East Coast. Plan 3–4 hours.
Tips to Save
- Smithsonian everything: The National Zoo, all 19 Smithsonian museums, and the Botanic Garden are free. A family can spend 3 full days in DC spending $0 on admission.
- Metro over parking: A day of parking in DC easily runs $30–50. Metro fares for a family of four for a day are $20–30 total. Do the math.
- Book escape rooms midweek: Both Penn Quarter escape room chains have better rates and availability Tuesday–Thursday.
- Pack lunch: National Mall options are overpriced. Pack sandwiches and eat on the Mall. Save $40–60 in one move.
- Trampoline parks: watch for socks: You'll pay $3–4/person for grip socks if you don't bring your own. Bring them.
Budget Day vs. Splurge Day
| | Budget Day | Splurge Day | |---|---|---| | Morning | National Zoo (free) | Great Big Game Show DC ($80–120) | | Afternoon | National Mall + Botanic Garden (free) | Escape Room ($100–140) | | Evening | Playground + neighborhood dinner | Maryland Science Center + IMAX ($80–120) | | Total | ~$30–50 (Metro + food) | ~$300–400+ |
The budget day wins on value. The splurge day wins on bragging rights. Most families land somewhere in between — one paid anchor experience per day, the rest free.
Parking: The Hidden Cost You Need to Plan For
This deserves its own section because parking in DC will eat your budget fast if you're not paying attention. Street parking near the Mall is nearly impossible on weekends. Garage rates in Penn Quarter and Georgetown run $15–25 for a few hours, $30–45 for a full day. The zoo lot is $30 flat.
The math on Metro vs. parking: a family of four on Metro for a day costs roughly $15–25 total (kids under 5 ride free, kids 5–11 at half fare). That's $20–50 less than a garage. Over a three-day trip, Metro saves you $60–150 in parking alone. Use it for the Mall and Zoo. Rent a car or use rideshare for Hyper Kidz Alexandria or the National Arboretum, which aren't Metro-accessible.
Also worth noting: many of the Virginia-side attractions (Hyper Kidz, Meadowlark Botanical Gardens, NOVA Wild, Maryland Science Center) have free parking. Factor that into the real cost of visiting them versus staying downtown.