72 Playgrounds & Parks for Kids in & around Fredericksburg, Virginia
Our kids spent their first 4-6 years (depending on the kid!) growing up in amazing Fredericksburg, Virginia (known locally as FXBG), much of which was during the COVID-19 pandemic. As such, we visited as many playgrounds, parks, trails, and other fun outdoorsy spots as possible, trying to work our way through the cabin-fever associated with being at home all. the. time.
This post lists our favorite playground and park finds (we’ll follow up with another post soon about other great outdoorsy options including historical sites and trails - and historical trails!). We’ve also included public elementary schools with playgrounds here - the pandemic was when we learned those are open to the community for play outside of school hours! We’ve organized the parks into three main geographic areas: Fredericksburg City and the wider Fredericksburg areas of northern Spotsylvania County and southern Stafford County. Because Mum tends to go a little overboard, she also scoured satellite imagery of the area and pinpointed over 50 other neighborhood playgrounds in the greater Fredericksburg area.
All of these playgrounds are mapped here using the following symbols:
Yellow stars - our favorite parks, the ones featured prominently in this post.
Purple swings - other county/city-maintained playgrounds.
Red trees - county/city-maintained parks without playground structures.
Orange people - public elementary schools with playgrounds you can enjoy outside of school hours.
Green hearts - neighborhood playgrounds.
Clicking the “box corners” icon in the upper right corner of the map will take you to the full screen version in Google Maps (and is compatible with the Google Maps app on your phone)!
We hope more than anything that you find this helpful in planning great family outings.
If we’re missing great spots, need to make any corrections, or for any suggestions for improvements, please let us know via the comments! We welcome constructive feedback.
Playgrounds & Parks in Downtown Fredericksburg City, VA
Located right in the middle of downtown and with fantastic Rappahannock River views, this park is very nature-based including lots of wood and rope play structures, rocks for hopping, open space, and an interactive water play area (only on in the summer!). Note that this park has some shade, but not a ton.
Kenmore has 2 shady playgrounds and swings, tennis & pickleball courts, restrooms (!) & lots of open space. Our kids particularly love its location downhill from the hill & rocks of Mary Washington monument & its “bamboo forest”, both perfect for childhood adventuring! Kenmore is also a popular spot for sledding when it snows!
This park has everything we love - a modern playground with swings, a bridge over and a trail along a wonderful calm stream with tons of great swimming spots and rocks to throw, and other trails through the woods and under rock overhangs. There are also restrooms and pavilions here for a picnic or cookout (or bday party!) if that strikes your fancy!
Old Mill lies along the Rappahannock River and is the city’s most popular park, with a playground and swings, open fields, picnic shelters, restrooms, and great adventures to be had on the shore of the river. Two important notes: Do not go swimming in the river; park entry fees for non-Fredericksburg city or Stafford residents are $10/car or $5/person walking in, payable by card only. Residents must show ID.
The above 4 parks are our favorites within Fredericksburg City boundaries, but here are some other options if you seek more variety (clicking on the photos below will also take you to the pictured park):
Other FXBG City parks with playground structures: Maury Park, Powhatan Park, Dixon Park (also has a pool & trails), Snowden Park, and W.L. Harris Park.
FXBG City elementary schools with playgrounds: Hugh Mercer (2 playgrounds, at front & back) and Lafayette (1 playground at back).
Other FXBG City parks without playground structures: Cobblestone Park has a one-mile wooded loop trail with views of Hazel Run. Cossey Park is in the heart of downtown next to the dog park and the city’s Canal Path with winding trails, a small fishing pond, open space, and community and botanical gardens.
Playgrounds & Parks in the wider Fredericksburg area [Spotsylvania County]
Loriella is huge (over 200 acres) with 2 mostly shady playgrounds with swings, a public pool, 3 miles of trails through the woods, a disc/frisbee golf course, and tennis & basketball courts. There are restrooms and picnic shelters.
Patriot Park spans over 100 acres including sports fields and wood with trails. The accessible/inclusive playground is a child’s dream, including a 3 level structure with wicked slides, a rope “dragon” swing, regular swings, and a merry-go-round. Its only downside is it has no shade at all. Note: the YMCA’s playground is along the same road (but was sorely in need of repairs and updates last we saw).
Loriella & Patriot parks are our favorites in Spotsylvania County. Here are some other good wider-Fredericksburg options:
Other Spotsylvania County parks near FXBG with playgrounds
Cosner Park is lesser-known with playground; fields; and tennis, pickleball, basketball courts along the Rappahannock River. Harrison Road Park has a sunny playground, sports fields, and some trails. Keswick Park out by Spotsylvania Courthouse has a new fenced playground, fields, courts, and picnic spots. Marshall Park, also out by Courthouse, has a little play structure as well as fields, a basketball court, and restrooms. Mary Lee Carter Park is mostly an open field but technically does have a play structure (we hope the county updates this one soon!).
Fredericksburg-area Spotsylvania County elementary schools with playgrounds
Battlefield Elementary, Cedar Forest Elementary, Chancellor Elementary, Courthouse Road Elementary, Courtland Elementary, Harrison Road Elementary, Lee Hill Elementary, Parkside Elementary (right next to Patriot Park, above!), Salem Elementary, Smith Station Elementary, Spotswood Elementary, Spotsylvania Elementary.
Tip: check the school out on Google Maps/satellite imagery out before you go so you know roughly where the school’s playgrounds are on campus!
Playgrounds & Parks in neighboring southern Stafford County
Chichester has a lovely modernized, multi-structure, and accessible/inclusive playground area in addition to sports fields, a pavilion area, restrooms, and a 1-mile hiking trail. There isn’t too much shade here so bring your own :)
The Curtis Park complex is really impressive. Beyond the playground, there are 5.5 miles of trails, the Mark Lenzi public pool and splash zone for kids, tennis & volleyball courts, picnic pavilions, restrooms, an 18-”hole” disc/frisbee golf course, a skate park, and more. The playground area is lovely and shaded, a great option for toasty days.
Other Stafford County parks near Fredericksburg with playgrounds
Duff McDuff Green Memorial Park (60 mostly wooded acres along the Rappahannock River, McDuff has a playground, sports fields, pavilions, restrooms, 2 miles of trails, and a scenic river overlook); John Lee Pratt Park (playground, 1 mile trail, tennis, pickleball, and basketball courts, fields, pavilions, restrooms, and a disc/frisbee golf course); and St. Clair Brooks Memorial Park (playground, basketball & volleyball courts, skate park, fields, pavilions, and restrooms).
Fredericksburg-area Stafford County elementary schools with playgrounds
Conway Elementary School, Falmouth Elementary School, Ferry Farm Elementary School, Grafton Village Elementary School, Hartwood Elementary School, Rocky Run Elementary School.
Tip: check the school out on Google Maps/satellite imagery out before you go so you know roughly where the school’s playgrounds are on campus!