8 Family-Friendly Spa Resorts Near DC

Massanutten Resort offers lots of family activities all year long.
Massanutten Resort offers lots of family activities all year long.
4/10/22 - By Jamie Radoescu

When it comes to family vacations, it can be difficult to please everyone. The kids may be looking for adventure and fun, while the grown-ups seek to kick back and unwind. Or, everyone may need a little bit of both. These eight family-friendly spa resorts near DC may be just the ticket—they allow families to play and relax together.

At these spa resorts near DC, parents can head to the spa for a luxuriously relaxing experience or take part in their own fun with golf, tennis, sailing, and other pursuits. Kids can enjoy activities like water parks, game rooms, sports, and more. Several of these spa resorts also offer babysitting services so parents can head out for an evening of reconnection. Bonus: All of these family-friendly spa resorts are no further than a three-hour drive from Washington, DC, making relaxation closer than you think!

For more great places to stay on your next vacation, check out our Family-Friendly Resorts & Hotels guide

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8 Family-Friendly Spa Resorts Near DC

1. Four Seasons Hotel — Washington, DC

Though Georgetown's Four Seasons is located in the heart of DC, guests will feel miles away from the hustle and bustle of the city. The hotel offers so many family-friendly (and complimentary!) amenities, you'll have a hard time leaving. Families can enjoy the provided pool toys at the indoor pool, head to the game room to reconnect over board games, or even play a game of basketball or tennis. Parents can book the hotel's babysitting service to relax at the full-service spa, or enjoy dinner and drinks at the hotel's four on-site restaurants.

Come evening, kids can unwind in child-sized robes and slippers and get a good night's sleep in a glow-in-the dark tent. For the youngest guests, the Four Seasons also provides complimentary diapers, swim diapers, wipes, strollers, and bottle warmers.

Related: 17 Splash Pads and Spraygrounds to Beat the DC Summer Heat


Beat the heat at Gaylord National Resort's splash zone.

2. Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center — National Harbor, MD

Gaylord National Resort is located on the banks of the Potomac River, steps away from the Capital Wheel. From the moment they check in, families are on their way to fun—children receive an activity booklet and crayons and can embark on a scavenger hunt that ends with a special sweet treat. Families can swim in the heated, junior Olympic-sized indoor pool, then stay for the "dive-in" movie shown at 8:30pm during the summer months, featuring family classics and animated favorites.

Gaylord National Resort also offers an outdoor whirlpool and splash zone with a pool bar for fun drinks and snacks during warmer days, when families can also enjoy strolling along the property's walking trails or renting bicycles to cruise along the Potomac. Parents who want to enjoy some pampering at Relâche Spa or dine at the on-site steakhouse can take advantage of the resort's babysitting service.

3. Lansdowne Resort and Spa — Leesburg, VA

Lansdowne Resort, located just 30 miles outside the city, is one of the most popular spa resorts near DC. Nestled on 500 acres, the resort boasts four on-property pools—a walk-in activity pool with a water slide, a lower pool with a waterfall, a heated lap pool for fitness-minded parents, and an indoor pool. Parents can hit the award-winning, 45-hole golf course, or the entire family can opt for Sharkbite Foot Golf, a fun take on the sport. Lansdowne also offers a playground; tennis, basketball, and volleyball courts; multiple walking and biking trails (bike rentals are available for a fee); and a full fitness center.

When parents need some extra relaxation, Spa Minérale is steps away, offering services such as massages, skin care, body treatments, and a full-service salon. For meals, Lansdowne has three restaurants and four "quick bite" outlets open seasonally, so you're guaranteed to find something for even the pickiest of palates. After dinner, families can purchase a s'mores kit and head to one of the many fire pits located around the property to roast and enjoy their sweet treats.

4. Salamander Resort & Spa — Middleburg, VA

Located in Virginia's horse and wine country—about an hour from DC by car—the 340-acre Salamander Resort boasts indoor and outdoor pools, tennis courts, golf, zip-lining, an equestrian center, and more. Kids will have the time of their lives at Camp Salamander, where they can partake in fun-filled activities and exploration of the great outdoors, or at Kids Night Out, which includes dinner, s'mores, crafts, and swimming. Careful—they may never want to leave!

But children aren't the only ones who can have fun at Salamander Resort. Parents can take art classes, practice archery or axe throwing, go on a romantic sunset horseback ride, tour a local winery, or schedule some pampering at the full-service spa (just be sure to book spa treatments several weeks in advance). When the family is all together, daily activities include craft classes, scavenger hunts, games, hiking, and bird watching. When all that activity works up an appetite, head to one of the five on-site restaurants to grab a quick bite or sit down for a family-style meal.

Related: 9 Family-Friendly Beaches Near DC


Take in the beauty of the Chesapeake at Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay.

5. Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay Golf Resort, Spa, and Marina — Cambridge, MD

Located just under a two-hour drive from DC, the Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay is a 342-acre waterfront property with tennis courts, Frisbee and miniature golf, beach volleyball, and horseshoe pits. After all that family fun, relax poolside in a cabana by the infinity pool overlooking the Choptank River, or head with the kids to the activity pool, where they can zoom down the water slide to their heart's content. For cooler days, the Hyatt Regency also offers a heated indoor pool with a hot tub, which has nightly dive-in movies to make it extra fun.

If all the activity of the day wears parents out, they can make reservations at Sago Spa, the full-service spa with treatments such as custom and deep tissue massages, facials, full-body exfoliation, and more. After their pampering session, they can head over to the adults-only hot tub to continue the relaxation. When the family rejoins, they can play a round of board games in the Captain's Parlor game room, then get dinner at one of the six on-property dining outlets.

Related: 7 Best Ski Resorts Near DC for Kids and Families


Enjoy mountain hikes at Massautten Resort.

6. Massanutten Resort — Massanutten, VA

While Massanutten Resort is known for its skiing and winter sports, there is so much more to do at this year-round, 6,000-acre mountain retreat a little over a two-hour drive from DC. The winter season brings traditional winter sports like skiing, snow tubing, and ice skating, but also an indoor water park with slides, inflatable adventures, a lazy river, hot tubs, and a sauna. During the warmer months, families can still use the indoor water park, but there is also an outdoor one with slides, rides, and a wave pool. Plus, Massanutten has two 18-hole golf courses, escape rooms, a family adventure park, crafts, basketball courts, a game room and arcade, curling, and much more.

But even with all of the activities available, there are still opportunities to relax. The Spa at Massanutten offers a full menu of services and is one of the few spas to also cater to tweens and teens. When hunger strikes, everyone can find something to eat at one of the resort's 12 on-site dining outlets, whether it's pizza for the kids or pub favorites after a fun day. You'll surely need a few days to enjoy everything Massanutten has to offer!

7. Kingsmill Resort — Williamsburg, VA

Kingsmill Resort—about 2.5 hours from DC by car—offers not only standard guest rooms, but also multi-bed, multi-bathroom condos and cottages on the James River for families small and large to enjoy a home away from home. There are three family-friendly pools, including a lazy river and an indoor heated pool that offers times for both open swim and lap swim. Golfers can enjoy two championship golf courses and an on-site golf academy offering year-round instruction. For tennis players, there are 15 outdoor courts—two of which are lit for evening and night play—and junior tennis clinics to get kids familiar with the game. 

On nice days, families can rent bikes and pedal around the property and its adjoining neighborhood. Or, they can enjoy water sports on the James River, where jet skis, kayaks, paddleboards, fishing poles, and more are available for rent. All of that activity is sure to work up an appetite, and the resort's four restaurants make it easy to find something for everyone. When relaxation calls, parents can let all their worries slip away at the property's popular spa offering body work, hydrafacials, massages, and salon services.

Related: 10 Great Lakes and Swimming Holes for DC Families

 
Enjoy all sorts of water activities at Tides Inn.

8. Tides Inn — Irvington, VA

This waterfront property, located less than a three-hour drive from DC, has been welcoming families for fun and relaxation for 75 years. Activities include complimentary kayaks, paddleboards, and paddleboats to explore Chesapeake Bay on your own, or you can book a cove or sunset cruise to sit back and relax while taking in the local sights. If water activities do not strike your fancy, there are complimentary bike rentals so the family can cruise together through the quaint town of Irvington. The Inn also offers bocce ball, corn hole, croquet, and pickle ball on the lawn, as well as board games in the parlor for indoor fun.

Tides Inn offers a kids' club from 9am-2pm daily, which has options for painting classes; nature excursions; supervised pool time; historical tours; fishing, crabbing, and sailing academies; and much more (the offerings change with the seasons). While the kids are away, parents can lounge at the pool, play some golf, or get a massage at the on-site spa.

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