Ages 0 to 10, always
Everything we list is for kids ages 0 to 10.
Free or low cost
We highlight free and budget friendly picks.
Curated by real NoVA parents
Local notes on drive time, bathrooms, parking, and age fit.
Rainy day ready
Find indoor fun when the weather does not cooperate.
Save good ideas
Keep favorite places and events ready for later.
Free things to do with kids in Fairfax County
A free outing still has to be worth the shoes, snacks, and car seats. These Fairfax County picks have enough structure to fill a morning without requiring a paid ticket for the main experience.
Quick answer
Reliable free Fairfax County outings include Frying Pan Farm Park for animals, Clemyjontri for accessible play, Burke Lake and Lake Fairfax for playgrounds and trails, Our Special Harbor for seasonal water play, City of Fairfax Regional Library for an indoor reset, Van Dyck Park for a simple city playground, and Workhouse Arts Center for free campus browsing. Rides, water parks, classes, food, and selected programs can still cost extra.
- Clemyjontri Park, McLean, VA. Large accessible playground with wide paths, year round restrooms, and a strong mixed-age setup. Free Official source
- Frying Pan Farm Park, Herndon, VA. Free farm park outing with animals, paths, and easy parking; paid only for select programs or rides. Free Official source
- Our Special Harbor and Chessie's Big Backyard, Alexandria, VA. Start at the free accessible spray park, then walk over to Chessie's Big Backyard for dry playground time before getting back in the car. The map documents a permanent year round restroom, and picnic tables are available under two pavilions. Free Official source
- Workhouse Arts Center, Lorton, VA. A free historic art-campus visit with galleries, artist studios, public restrooms, accessible single-level buildings, and generally free parking. A hands-on child class is not a standing daily activity and needs its own current program listing. Free general admission Official source
- City of Fairfax Regional Library with Kids, Fairfax, VA. A free indoor backup with children's books, multilingual collections, internet stations, and a covered 199-space garage. Storytimes and other programs appear as dated events with their own age, time, registration, and room limits. Free Official source
- Van Dyck Park, Fairfax, VA. A free 36 acre City of Fairfax park with a playground, paved trail, basketball, pickleball, tennis, volleyball, a skate park, gardens, picnic tables, benches, pavilions, a Throne restroom, and onsite parking. Free Official source
- Reston Farmers Market, Reston, VA. A Saturday food shopping stop at Lake Anne Plaza. Musicians and community groups can appear, but a child activity is not guaranteed. Free Official source
- Burke Farmers Market, Burke, VA. A practical Saturday grocery stop with rotating food vendors. The official page does not promise a weekly child activity. Free Official source
- Lorton Farmers Market, Lorton, VA. A Sunday food shopping stop with rotating vendors. The official page does not promise a weekly child activity. Free Official source
- Burke Lake Park, Fairfax Station, VA. Large destination park with playgrounds, seasonal rides, a lake trail, and 100 wooded campsites for tents or small RVs. Free park entry Official source
- Lake Fairfax Park, Reston, VA. Free playground, trails, and picnic areas with tent and RV camping, plus the paid Water Mine in summer. Free park entry Official source
- Mason District Park, Annandale, VA. A free Annandale park with a playground, tot lot, permanent restroom, fields, natural area, hiking trail, tennis courts, and summer children's entertainment. Free Official source
- Coding Club, Burke, VA. Are you interested in learning how to code, or in advancing and sharing your coding skills? Pohick's Coding Club volunteers will help you learn, co... Free Official source
- Little Pages: English Learning Storytime, Centreville, VA. Enjoy stories and writing activities designed for kids learning English as a second language. Designed for students Pre-K-3rd Grade. Free Official source
- Prehistoric Scavenger Hunt, Reston, VA. Ancient creatures from the Mesozoic Era (252-66 million years ago) are stomping around Reston Regional Library! Locate 10 skeletons in the Children... Free Official source
- Move It Mondays, McLean, VA. Join us for free play using our gross motor toys and equipment. No registration required. For children 18 months - 5 years old. Adult Participation... Free Official source
- Bouncing Babies, Burke, VA. Songs, rhymes, stories and activities for baby and you. Birth-11 months with adult. Limit 12 babies with parent on a first come, first serve bas... Free Official source
- Toddler Storytime Plus, Falls Church, VA. Join us for Toddler Storytime Plus! We’ll share engaging stories, upbeat movement songs, and hands on crafts that help build early literacy s... Free Official source
- Maker Monday: Rainbow Rain & Straw Watercolor Rainbows, Herndon, VA. Today's Maker Monday: Rainbow Rain & Straw Watercolor Rainbows Ages 5-12 with an adult. Free Official source
- STEMsters, Burke, VA. Join us for hands-on activities presented by STEMsters, a 501(c) non-profit run by students, dedicated to inspiring and educating kids in STEM thro... Free Official source
- Back-to-School Scavenger Hunt, Chantilly, VA. Pick up a scavenger hunt sheet at the Information Desk. Search the library to find each hidden item and fill in the blanks on your sheet. Once you'... Free Official source
- Children's Display Case, Burke, VA. Display your favorite collection in one of our children's display cases! Whether its something you've collected--rocks, trading cards, figurines, r... Free Official source
- Virginia Butterflies Scavenger Hunt, Reston, VA. Native butterflies are floating around Reston Regional Library! Spot 10 lepidopterans in the Children's Section during the month of September for a... Free Official source
- Back to School Scavenger Hunt, Herndon, VA. Stop by the information desk for a Back-to-School Scavenger Hunt! Free Official source
The strongest free destinations
Frying Pan Farm Park gives families a free working farm visit with animals, paths, bathrooms, a playground, and easy parking. Clemyjontri Park is the destination playground for inclusive equipment, wide paths, restrooms, and mixed ages. Burke Lake Park and Lake Fairfax Park can fill a longer outing with playgrounds, trails, picnic space, and restrooms. These are complete free plans even if the family skips every paid attraction.
Free does not mean every activity is free
Frying Pan may charge for selected programs or wagon rides. Burke Lake has seasonal rides, mini golf, camping, and a noncounty vehicle fee on certain weekends even though Fairfax County residents can use the general park without an entry charge. Lake Fairfax has a free playground and trails, while the Water Mine is a separate paid summer attraction. At Clemyjontri, the playground is free and special rides depend on the current schedule. Decide whether the day is a free park day or a paid attraction day before leaving home.
Indoor choices for heat, rain, or a short morning
City of Fairfax Regional Library is the most dependable free indoor reset. An ordinary branch visit does not require an event, while storytimes, clubs, and maker programs need their own current dates, ages, registration rules, and room limits. Workhouse Arts Center offers free campus and gallery browsing, but it does not promise a standing child art session; classes, performances, tours, mini golf, and special events can cost extra. Use the Fairfax library guide when branch hours and children's spaces matter more than a scheduled program.
Seasonal water play without an admission ticket
Our Special Harbor and Chessie's Big Backyard combine a free accessible spray park with a dry playground, permanent restrooms, picnic tables, and shared parking at Franconia Rec Center. The water area is seasonal and can close for weather, maintenance, or capacity. Lake Fairfax and Upton Hill also have free playgrounds beside paid water parks, so do not treat the Water Mine or Ocean Dunes as free just because the surrounding park has no general admission.
A simple free outing in the City of Fairfax
Van Dyck Park is a free 36 acre park with a playground, paved trail, Throne restroom, courts, skate park, picnic space, and onsite lots. The city does not publish a parking count; the place page labels its July 2026 Google Maps estimate. Pair it with the City of Fairfax Regional Library only when the family wants two short stops; either place can stand alone. Fairfax City and Fairfax County are separate local governments, but families searching for Fairfax usually need both nearby options.
Farmers markets are grocery stops first
Reston, Burke, and Lorton farmers markets have free entry, but buying food is optional spending and the official market pages do not promise a child activity every week. Treat them as errands that may include music or a community table, not as guaranteed playground replacements. For a ranked regional shortlist, use the eight best free Northern Virginia outings. For dated no cost programs happening now, use the current free events page.
Parent questions
What is free in Fairfax County with kids?
Frying Pan Farm Park, Clemyjontri, Burke Lake, Lake Fairfax, Our Special Harbor, Fairfax libraries, Van Dyck Park, and free Workhouse campus browsing all provide a complete main experience without a required attraction ticket.
What is the best free indoor backup?
A normal Fairfax County library visit is the most dependable choice. Scheduled storytimes and clubs are also free, but families must check the exact date, age range, registration rule, and room capacity.
Which free Fairfax outing has animals?
Frying Pan Farm Park is the free working farm choice. The animal visit, paths, bathrooms, playground, and parking make a complete outing without buying a program or ride.
Are Fairfax water parks free?
No. Our Special Harbor is a free seasonal spray park. The Water Mine and Ocean Dunes are paid water parks beside free general park areas.
Are Fairfax farmers markets good free kid activities?
They are free to enter but are grocery stops first. The official schedules do not guarantee a child activity every week, and food purchases cost extra.