Things to do with kids in Bethesda
Bethesda is one of the best places in the DC area to raise small kids: ten minutes west are Great Falls and the C&O Canal on the Potomac, Glen Echo's old amusement park has become a carousel and puppet theater, the big Cabin John playground sits in the shade, Clemyjontri is 15 minutes across the river, and downtown has the library and the ice cream shops of Bethesda Row.
A perfect toddler day: a puppet show and the carousel at Glen Echo in the morning, lunch on Bethesda Row, the Cabin John playground after. Big kids go to Great Falls for the waterfall, walk the Billy Goat Trail from age 6, or build things at KID Museum. In early April, walk the Kenwood blossom tunnel at least once. When it rains, head to Bethesda Library or ride the Red Line downtown to a museum.
- 12 places
- 9 free
- 11 stroller-friendly
- closest is 5 min away
12 places
Drive times from Bethesda
Bethesda Library
5.0Bethesda · 5 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Small free lot behind the library and metered street parking on Arlington Rd
Cabin John Regional Park playground and train
5.0Bethesda · 10 min drive
2.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free lot by the playground off Westlake Dr, plenty of room on weekend mornings
Glen Echo Park carousel and puppet theater
5.0Glen Echo · 10 min drive
2 h · stroller-friendly
$ · Parking: Free lot inside the park
Rock Creek Park Nature Center and Planetarium
5.0Washington · 10 min drive
2 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free nature center lot, plenty of room on weekend mornings
KID Museum
2.0Bethesda · 10 min drive
2.5 h · stroller-friendly · reservation needed
$ · Parking: Free lot shared with the Davis Library; admission about $10–15 per person (check the website)
Wheaton Regional Park train and carousel
5.0Wheaton · 15 min drive
2.5 h · stroller-friendly
$ · Parking: Free lot at the Shorefield Rd entrance, by the train and playground
Brookside Gardens
5.0Wheaton · 15 min drive
2 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free lot at the Glenallan Ave visitor center; if full, park at Wheaton Regional Park and walk over
Sligo Creek Trail
5.0Silver Spring · 15 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Several free lots along Sligo Creek Pkwy; some stretches close to cars on weekends, so check which section is open
Silver Spring Library
5.0Silver Spring · 15 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: County garage on Wayne Ave, free on weekends; 8-minute walk from Silver Spring station on the Metro Red Line
Clemyjontri Park
5.0McLean · 15 min drive
2 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free lot, full after 10am on sunny weekends, street parking available
Smithsonian National Zoo
5.0Washington · 15 min drive
3.5 h · stroller-friendly · reservation needed
Free · Parking: Zoo lots $30/car and often full; Metro Red Line to Woodley Park or Cleveland Park and a 10-minute walk (downhill from Cleveland Park)
Scott's Run Nature Preserve falls
3.0McLean · 15 min drive
1.5 h · carrier recommended
Free · Parking: Two small lots on Georgetown Pike (the east one is closer to the falls), free but full after 10am on weekends, no roadside parking
💡 Good to know
- The Maryland side of Great Falls backs up at the gate after 10am on weekends, so arrive by 9; the $20 national-park pass covers both sides for 7 days.