Three days in DC is enough time to see the essential things without killing your family's legs. The key is grouping by geography — the Mall, the Zoo neighborhood, and everything else — so you're not wasting time doubling back. Here's the itinerary that works.
Day 1: The National Mall and Smithsonian Core
The Mall is the obvious start. Get it right and it sets the tone for everything else.
Morning (9:00 AM–12:00 PM): National Mall Free Attractions
Start at Wegmans Wonderplace inside the National Museum of American History when it opens. Free, kid-designed, and a great way to ease into museum mode before the crowds. Budget 1–2 hours.
Then cross the Mall to the Smithsonian Pollinator Garden behind the Museum of Natural History — 20–30 minutes of outdoor sensory break before you head inside. Hit Natural History itself for another hour.
Lunch (12:00–1:00 PM): Eat near Capitol Hill — multiple restaurants within walking distance of the Botanic Garden. Skip the Mall's overpriced food vendors.
Afternoon (1:00–4:00 PM): Capitol Hill Area
United States Botanic Garden is 1–2 hours and completely free. The Children's Garden element is the anchor for younger kids. Older kids can do the outdoor courtyards.
Hit the Playground at 9th & Penn in Capitol Hill for 45–75 minutes of free running-around time before you lose everyone to tired legs. Eastern Market is 3 blocks away for afternoon snacks.
Evening: Stay in Capitol Hill or take Metro back to wherever you're based. Day 1 costs: essentially $0 on admission, just Metro and food.
Parking: Don't drive to the Mall. Metro is dramatically easier. Park at your hotel; Metro in.
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Day 2: National Zoo and Northwest DC
The Zoo is its own full day. Build everything else around it.
Morning (9:00 AM–1:00 PM): National Zoological Park
Arrive at 9:00 AM when it opens — the animals are most active in the morning, and you'll beat the worst crowds. The Zoo is free.
Start at Amazonia — the two-story tropical rainforest is immersive and best early before it gets crowded. 45–90 minutes.
Move to Elephant Trails — 30–60 minutes. The habitat is genuinely impressive and older kids will have real questions.
Hit Great Ape House for 30–60 minutes, then Small Mammal House for the nocturnal exhibit. Great Cats Exhibit closes the morning — lions and tigers always land.
Lunch (1:00–2:00 PM): Pack lunch and eat on the zoo grounds (benches are everywhere). Zoo concessions run $15–20+ per person. Save $40 easily.
Afternoon (2:00–5:00 PM): Woodley Park and Rock Creek Area
Beauvoir Playground is steps from the Woodley Park Metro — 4.9 stars, 45 minutes to 1.5 hours of free play. Great restaurants on Connecticut Ave for dinner within a 5-minute walk.
Evening: Woodley Park has excellent dinner options. Kalorama Park near Adams Morgan if you have remaining energy — another free playground with solid equipment.
Logistics: Metro to Woodley Park for the Zoo. It's a 10-minute uphill walk from the station. Strollers can manage it but it's a real hill.
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Day 3: A Paid Experience + Neighborhood Exploration
Day 3 is when you splurge on one anchor paid activity and fill the rest with free neighborhood exploration.
Morning (9:00–11:00 AM): Sleep in slightly. This is the energy management move that saves day 3.
Mid-Morning (11:00 AM–1:00 PM): The Splurge
Pick one:
Great Big Game Show DC in Georgetown — 5.0 stars, 2,500+ reviews, $80–120 for four. A live host, buzzers, real competition. For kids 6+, this is the single most talked-about paid activity in DC. Book at least a week in advance.
OR The Escape Game DC (Penn Quarter) — 5.0 stars, $100–140 for four. 1.5–2 hours of team problem-solving under real pressure. Best for kids 9+.
OR Bubble Planet — $60–100 for four, 1–1.5 hours. More accessible for younger kids, still visually spectacular.
Lunch (1:00–2:00 PM): Georgetown for the Game Show option (excellent food options on M Street). Penn Quarter for the escape room options (multiple restaurants on 7th St).
Afternoon (2:00–5:00 PM): Open Exploration
United States National Arboretum is the best afternoon closer — 446 free acres, drive-around format, kids can actually run. Free parking on-site. Budget 2–3 hours.
OR Meadowlark Botanical Gardens in Vienna if you're near Northern Virginia — $20–30 for a family of four, 1.5–2.5 hours.
OR Hyper Kidz Alexandria (4.9 stars) at $50–70 if the kids have energy left and need a physical outlet. 2–3 hours.
Evening: Recess Play Center ($40–60) if you want one more organized indoor activity, or Stead Park in Dupont Circle for free outdoor wind-down time.
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Logistics and Tips
Metro: Get a SmarTrip card and load it with $20–25 per adult for the trip. Kids under 5 ride free. Kids 5–11 ride at half fare. Do not drive to the Mall.
Parking at the Zoo: $30 at the zoo lot. Woodley Park Metro makes more sense for most hotels downtown.
Timing: Hit the Zoo and Mall sites at opening (9:00 AM). Crowds build sharply after 11:00 AM. The best Zoo morning requires arriving early.
Strollers on the Mall: Totally manageable. The Zoo has some hills but paths are paved. The National Arboretum is a car trip, not a stroller walk.
Food budget: Plan for $50–80/day for a family of four including one sit-down meal and snacks. Packing lunch for the Zoo saves $30–40 in a single move.
Three days is the right length for DC with kids. You'll leave with things undone — that's normal. The city is genuinely too big to cover in one trip.