Nationals Park

Taking your family to a Washington Nationals game at Nationals Park is one of the best family sports experiences in DC, and the stadium has invested heavily in making the experience work for kids of all ages. Located in the Navy Yard neighborhood along the Anacostia River, the ballpark combines solid baseball sight lines with family-friendly amenities that keep kids engaged even when the game itself loses their attention.

The stadium experience starts before first pitch. Gates open 90 minutes early, and heading straight to the outfield sections (135-140) lets your family watch batting practice up close. Players frequently toss baseballs to kids in these sections, and even without catching one, watching major leaguers launch batting practice home runs from 50 feet away is thrilling.

Bring a baseball glove — the hope of catching a ball keeps kids riveted.

The Racing Presidents is the signature between-innings entertainment and a genuine highlight for families. During the fourth inning, giant mascot versions of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, and others race around the warning track. Kids pick their favorite president and cheer with intensity that rivals the actual game.

It is goofy, uniquely DC, and kids talk about it for weeks.

The kids' play area behind center field is your secret weapon for maintaining family sanity during a 3-plus hour game. It has a mini baseball diamond where kids can run bases, a speed pitch cage where they can measure their fastball, and interactive games. When your 5-year-old hits the wall around the fifth inning, a trip to the kids' area buys you two or three more innings of everyone being happy.

Food at Nationals Park is above-average for a ballpark. Ben's Chili Bowl brings its iconic DC half-smoke sausage to the stadium. Shake Shack has a location inside.

There are also standard options like hot dogs, pizza, and chicken tenders. A realistic food budget for a family of four is $50-$80 including drinks. Kids' meal deals are available at several stands and include a small entree, side, drink, and often a small toy or Nationals souvenir.

Seat selection matters for families. The third-base side (sections 200s and 300s on that side) has shade during afternoon and early evening games, which makes a meaningful difference in summer comfort. Upper deck seats in the 400 level are the most affordable and still have clear views of the field.

For a splurge, the first few rows of the upper deck behind home plate offer some of the best value sight lines in baseball.

Getting to the stadium is easiest via Metro. The Navy Yard-Ballpark station on the Green Line is a 3-minute walk from the gates. Driving means paying $30-$40 for parking in the surrounding lots, and post-game traffic congestion is significant. If you do drive, park on the south side of the stadium and exit toward the freeway rather than fighting neighborhood traffic.

The Navy Yard neighborhood has transformed into one of DC's best dining and entertainment areas. Before or after the game, walk the boardwalk along the Anacostia River, grab dinner at The Salt Line or Agua 301, or let kids burn energy at the small park along the river. A Nationals game combined with a Navy Yard dinner makes for a complete family evening that feels special without the planning complexity of a more tourist-heavy DC experience.