Free and Affordable Summer Camps in DC, Maryland, & Northern Virginia

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The DC Department of Parks & Recreation offers a variety of affordable summer camps, including football camp. Photo at Edgewood Rec Center, courtesy of DC Parks & Recreation

Summer break is magical for kids, but summer camps near DC can sure be expensive. If you’re looking for a day camp that will keep your kids happy, safe, and entertained without breaking your budget, we’ve found 14 summer camps in DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia that are reasonably priced and full of fun—plus a FREE virtual camp!

From traditional day camps to coding and STEM camps to music and art camps, there’s an affordable summer camp option to fit every child’s interest—from preschoolers all the way through teens—in the DC area. Registration has already begun for many of these popular camps, so sign up soon!

For more summer camps in the DC metro area, including great picks for preschool summer camps near DC, be sure to bookmark our Washington DC Summer Camp Guide and our< a href="https://mommypoppins.com/directory?area=116&keys=camps"> Camp Directory, where you can search for summer camps by type, age, and town.

Top Indoor Playgrounds & Play Spaces in DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia

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Toddlers have their own soft space to play at the National Children's Museum. Photo by Jason Dixson Photography courtesy of the museum.

When the weather is bad and the kids need to burn some energy, head to one of these top indoor playgrounds and play spaces in the DC area.

While getting kids out of the house to blow off steam is a must for everyone's sanity, it's not easy on cold, hot, or rainy days. But there are lots of indoor playgrounds in DC and beyond that allow kids to crawl, run, jump, climb, and play to their hearts' content—without causing a storm inside your house. Many of these indoor playgrounds include extra perks like free WiFi, cafes, fun classes, and more.

Here are 21 of the best indoor playgrounds and play spaces in DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia to visit with kids on those bad-weather days. For more ideas for indoor fun near DC, from awesome trampoline parks to amazing indoor water parks, check out our Guide to Indoor Playgrounds and Play Spaces for Kids in DC.

Best Free and Affordable Summer Camps in Atlanta

Elsa Simcik's picture Submitted by Elsa Simcik on

Kids can spend the day playing in the park at one of several camps across Gwinnett County. Photo courtesy of Gwinnett Park and Recreation

Finding affordable summer camps in Atlanta can feel like trying to find a unicorn. But unlike unicorns, these summer camps are out there! Check out our list of affordable summer camps in Atlanta — helping parents get the most out of their buck and helping kids have an awesome summer.

For this article, we've capped "affordable" summer camp cost at $225 per week or less for 2024. Luckily, Atlanta's suburbs and counties have awesome parks and recreation departments that offer parents lots of affordable camp options. 

STEM Summer Camps in Westchester and the Hudson Valley

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Your kids will love the fun STEM topics and themes at Snapology in White Plains. Photo courtesy of the camp

Are you looking for a ​STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) summer camp in Westchester or the Hudson Valley? Look no further, as there are plenty of camps in the region that teach important technology skills while also offering a fun summer experience for your kid. 

If your kid has an interest in coding, robotics, or even just building with Legos, they are sure to have a blast at the STEM camps we've rounded up below. For more outdoorsy kids, we have also included STEM camps with a focus on natural science, as well as camps that offer traditional camp activities in addition to STEM learning. 

Find more fun camps in our Camps Guide for Westchester and Hudson Valley Kids and Camp Directory. You can search the Directory by the type of camp you are looking for, your child's age, and the area you live in. 

Best Free and Affordable Summer Camps in Orlando

Submitted by Charlotte B on

Jump into fun at the City of Winter Park summer camp!

Summer will be here before we know it, and that means its time to start looking at Orlando summer camp options for the kids! We've rounded up budget-friendly summer camps in Orlando and Central Florida (for the purpose of this article, we've capped the camp cost at $200 per week or less). There are so many fun summer camps near Orlando, so don't let hefty costs get in the way of a memorable summer camp experience for kids!

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