Ages 0 to 10, always
Everything we list is for kids ages 0 to 10.
Little adventures.
Close to home.
Find somewhere the kids can play this weekend.
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
- 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
- Move and Groove Storytime, Chantilly, VA. Get up and get moving with an energetic and interactive storytime. We will explore old and new favorite children’s books through songs, rhyme... Free Official source
- Baby Lap Sit, McLean, VA. Join us for rhymes, songs, stories and activities for you and your baby. Build an early literacy foundation while enjoying time together in your la... Free Official source
- Baby Storytime, Centreville, VA. Join us for Baby Storytime! We will share songs, rhymes, giggles and favorite books while building an early literacy foundation. Diverse representa... Free Official source
- Baby Storytime, Burke, VA. Connect with your baby through songs, lapsit bounces, and stories. Build an early literacy foundation while enjoying time together in your lap, fol... Free Official source
- Preschool Storytime, Burke, VA. Join us for stories, songs, movement and activities to build early literacy skills for preschoolers. This program is designed to give children tool... Free Official source
- Sensory-Friendly Storytime with ITC, Great Falls, VA. A calm, welcoming space! Our friends from the Infant and Toddler Connection will join us for a Sensory-friendly Storytime full of books, songs, rhy... Free Official source
- Spanish Bilingual Storytime, Springfield, VA. Bienvenido! Join us for books and songs in both English and Spanish as we learn and have fun together in this bilingual storytime presented in part... Free Official source
- Storytime, Alexandria, VA. Pre-school Stories, songs, and fun! Please just register the child/s. Age 18 months - 5 with adult. If you have questions about the appropriate age... Free Official source
- Toddler Time - Monster Theme, Alexandria, VA. Enjoy stories, songs, and rhymes for ages 18-36 months with Adult. Registration encouraged, walk-ins welcome! Free Official source
- Little Wiggles Storytime, Chantilly, VA. Have fun with stories, songs, fingerplays, lap bounces, books and social time for children from birth to 20 months! Free Official source
- Story, Craft and Play, Chantilly, VA. Join us for stories, crafts and some silly songs. This fall, let’s make a fun craft with leaves and acorns! A simple and fun autumn craft for... Free Official source
- Baby Rhyme Time, Reston, VA. Come join Reston Youth Services staff for an afternoon of stories, rhymes, songs, and fun! Ages 0-18 months with an adult. Free Official source
- LEGO Construction Zone, Centreville, VA. Calling all brick-building enthusiasts! We provide the LEGO - you provide the creativity! What will you decide to build? This program is intended f... Free Official source
- Black Cat Scavenger Hunt, Reston, VA. Black cats are pawing around Reston Regional Library! Spot 10 kitties in the Children's Section during the month of October for a prize. Ages 0-13,... Free Official source
- Baby Lapsit Storytime, Falls Church, VA. Bond with your baby through songs, movement, and storytelling! Baby Lapsit Storytime is designed for the youngest learners - bounce along to fun so... 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.