Whether your littles are toddlers or preschoolers, there are lots of places to Find Your Family Fun® in Lynchburg and throughout Central Virginia all year long!
Lynchburg offers an excellent park system for people of all ages to explore and enjoy. There are also wonderful parks in the surrounding counties. In addition, there are many play places that offer indoor fun in any season for your littles.
Here's some favorite indoor fun places for the littles.
Indoor Fun with Toddlers
There are so many places to play indoors in Lynchburg! Check out the Lynchburg VA Guide to Indoor Family Fun for a complete listing!
Here's a few FREE ideas:
Kids Cove, 1 Mountain View Road, is a free ministry of Thomas Road Baptist Church with indoor play areas for children up to age 10.
Lynchburg Museum, 901 Court Street, has over 25,000 objects ranging from antique toys to quilts and from Civil War artifacts to thousands of historic photographs. Open Wednesday through Sunday, admission is free.
River Ridge Mall, 3405 Candlers Mountain Road has a free Children's Play Area with a sea theme in the center of the mall, near J.C. Penney.
Other favorite indoor play areas for toddlers include:
Amazement Square, 27 Ninth Street, is Lynchburg's children's museum and offers hands-on fun and learning for all ages. Amazement Square offers fun for all ages, including a special play area for toddlers.
Bounce LYH, 3405 Candlers Mountain Road in River Ridge Mall in Lynchburg, is an indoor bounce house destination for kids 12 and under. Toddler Town offers a fun, safe space where kids ages 5 and under can jump, play, and explore in their very own town.
Dynamic Gymnastics, 117 Greystone Drive in Lynchburg, offers preschool open gym on Wednesday and Friday mornings during the school year for kids ages ages walking to 4 years. In addition, Dynamic Gymnastics offers gymnastics classes for potty trained children ages 3 and older.
FunQuest Family Entertainment Center, 327 Graves Mill Road, offers roller skating, inline skating, laser tag, arcade and video games and PlayQuest - an indoor playground for kids ages 10 and under. FunQuest offers special themed playdays for toddlers every month during the school year.
Get Air Lynchburg Trampoline Park, 3700 Candlers Mountain Road Get Air Lynchburg is an indoor trampoline park open to all ages. Get Air Lynchburg offers special toddler play times every week and Kiddie Court, a special area for jumpers under 46 inches tall.
Hill CIty AquaZoo is Lynchburg's only interactive aquarium where you and your child can touch, hold, and feed animals from around the world. Hill City AquaZoo is open daily.
The Mingo Coffee and Play, 14805 Forest Road, Ste 101 in Forest, is the Lynchburg area's newest place for indoor play. The Mingo is a coffee shop and children's play area which features a climbing structure, train table, dinosaur table, a large slide structure, and multiple themed play rooms suitable for children ages six months to eight years, their parents and caregivers.
Preschool Play Groups
Lynchburg Parks and Recreation hosts a free preschool play group at Daniel’s Hill Neighborhood Center, 317 Norwood Street, on Wednesdays and Fridays from 10 AM - 11:30 AM from September through May, loosely following the Lynchburg City Schools calendar. The Preschool Community Play Group is co-sponsored with Lynchburg City Schools. The play group, for pre-registered children from birth to age five and their parents or caregivers, includes storytime, play time, snack, outdoor play, and socializing for children and parents. A parent or caretaker must attend with each child. You can learn more about this play group at the Lynchburg Parks and Recreation website.
Lynchburg Parks and Recreation hosts a free Preschool Play Group at Yoder Center, 109 Jackson Street, on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 AM - 11:30 AM from September through May, loosely following the Lynchburg City Schools calendar.. The play group, for pre-registered children from birth to age five and their parents or caregivers, includes storytime, play time, snack, outdoor play, and socializing for children and parents. A parent or caretaker must attend with each child. You can learn more about this play group at the Lynchburg Parks and Recreation website.
Lynchburg Parks and Recreation Moxie Moms on the Move. Moms with infants through 5-year-olds are welcome to meet at 10 AM on the second Tuesday of the month from August through December and join other moms of young children to walk at Riverside Park. Register in advance on the website or just join on the day of the event. You can learn more about Moxie Moms at the Lynchburg Parks and Recreation website.
Toddler Storytimes and Events at Lynchburg Area Public Libraries
Many story times and other family-friendly library events for the Lynchburg Public Library and other area public libraries are included on the Lynchburg Macaroni Kid calendar of events.
Lynchburg Public Library now has two branches: the main branch, temporarily relocated to the Miller Center, 301 Grove Street, (due to renovations at the Memorial Avenue location) and the new Downtown Branch, located in the former Visitor Center on 12th Street, behind Lynchburg Community Market.. There are storytimes at the main branch throughout the year with short breaks between each season. There are special family events at both branches periodically as well. You'll find all of these events on the LPL website and their social media channels.
Amherst County Public Library has two branches: the Amherst branch at 382 S. Main Street in Amherst and the Madison Heights branch at 200 River James Shopping Center in Madison Heights. Both branches offer story times throughout the year with short breaks between each session, as well as special events. You'll find these events on the ACPL website and their social media channels.
Appomattox County Public Library has one location: J Robert Jamerson Memorial Library at 157 Main Street in Appomattox. The library offers preschool and family story and craft times throughout the year as well as special events. You'll find all events on the ACPL website and their social media channels.
Bedford County Public Library has six branches: Bedford Central Library at 321 N. Bridge Street in Bedford, Big Island Library at 1111 Schooldays Road in Big Island, Forest Library at 15583 Forest Road in Forest, Moneta/ SML Library at 13641 Moneta Road in Moneta, Montvale Library at 11575 W. Lynchburg-Salem Turnpike in Montvale, and Stewartsville Library at 45 Cascade Drive in Vinton. All of the branches offer story times through the year with short breaks between each session, as well as special events. You'll find all events on the BCPL website and their social media channels.
Campbell County Public Library has four branches: the main branch at 684 Village Highway in Rustburg, Timbrook branch at 18891 Leesville Road in Lynchburg, Staunton River branch at 500 Washington Street in Altavista, and Patrick Henry branch at 204 Lynchburg Avenue in Brookneal. There are a variety of story times and other events at all of the branches throughout the year. You'll find all these events on the CCPL website and their social media channels.
Here's a short rundown of the best features for families with littles at the area's parks.
Outdoor Fun with Toddlers
Best Playgrounds for Toddlers
Here are our favorite parks and playgrounds for toddlers with brief descriptions. Most are partially or completely fenced.
Lynchburg Parks and Playgrounds
Compassion Church of the Nazarene playground, 1737 Wards Ferry Road, Lynchburg is a fully fenced playground geared toward children ages 2-12. There's a playground structure with one side for ages 2-5 and one side for ages 5-12. The structure has slides for both age groups and there are climbing features. There are two picnic tables located outside of the fenced area. The playground is available to the public Monday through Saturday from sunrise to sunset and Sunday from 12 PM until sunset.
First Presbyterian Church playground, 1215 V.E.S. Road (off Rivermont Avenue), Lynchburg is a partially fenced playground (fenced on three sides) geared toward preschool aged children. There is a two sided playground structure for ages 2-12 with slides and climbing walls, climbing dome, train structure, musical features, playhouses, and a large sandbox. There are also freestanding child sized swings across the parking lot. Public use hours are weekdays from 3:30 PM to dusk from August through May, all day on Saturdays, and 1 PM to dusk on Sundays.
Heritage United Methodist Preschool playground, 582 Leesville Road, Lynchburg is a fully fenced playground geared toward preschool aged children. Adult supervision is required at all times and no children over age 8 are allowed to play. There's a playground structure for ages 2-5 with slides and climbing features, a smaller young toddler playground structure, a teeter-totter, playhouse, and sandbox. There are also freestanding swingsets with toddler and child sized swings and a small balance beam. The playground is open to the public on weekdays from 2:30 PM to sunset, all day on Saturdays, and Sundays after church hours.
Jefferson Park, located at 405 N. York Avenue, has a large, newly renovated playground for supervised children ages 2-12. The playground features a playground structure with climbing features and slides for older and younger kids, two ground level swings, a teeter-totter for younger kids, a teeter-totter for older kids, a small zipline with climbing platform, a playhouse, a balance spinner, tilted rotating ring (kids can sit, stand, or walk on it to make it rotate), multiple swings including a saucer swing, two kids swings, and two tandem swings that can hold toddlers and older children with an adult. Jefferson Park is open daily from dawn to dusk.
Peakland United Methodist Church playground, 4434 Boonsboro Road, Lynchburg is a fully fenced playground geared toward preschool aged children. Playground equipment includes a large playground structure with slides, freestanding toddler and child sized swings, tire swings, a train structure, climbing structure, merry-go-round, playhouses, and a covered sandbox (please cover when you leave). The playground is reserved for preschool use Monday through Friday from 9 AM - 12 PM and from 1:30 PM - 3 PM from August through June. It's available all day on Saturdays and Sundays.
Peaks View Park (lower level off Ardmore Drive), located at 170 Ivy Creek Lane, is the second largest park in Lynchburg and is also very popular with area families. The playground at the top of the park (Wiggington Road entrance) is more suited to older kids, while the littles will enjoy the playground at the bottom of the park (Ardmore Drive entrance). The bottom playground includes a face-to-face swing where babies and toddlers can swing facing an older child or adult. Peaks View Park is open daily from dawn to dusk.
Quaker Memorial Presbyterian Church playground, 5810 Fort Avenue, Lynchburg is a fully fenced playground geared toward preschool aged children. There's a small playground structure for ages 2-5 with slides and climbing features, a climbing dome, playhouse, and freestanding toddler slides and toys. Outside the fenced area, there's a basketball court and a tall metal slide. The church no longer has a preschool program, so the playground is open daily from sunrise to sunset and after noon on Sundays.
St. John's Episcopal Church playground, 205 Elmwood Avenue, Lynchburg is a fully fenced playground geared toward preschool aged children. Playground equipment includes a playground structure for ages 2-5 years old with slides, playhouses, picnic tables, and swings including one adaptive swing. Public use hours are from 5 PM to sunset on weekdays and all day on Saturday and Sunday until sunset.
Forest Parks and Playgrounds
Forest Baptist Church playground, 1313 Two Church Lane, Forest is fully fenced and geared toward preschool ages. There is a playground structure with slides, and a variety of swings, including toddler swings, child sized swings, and a saucer swing. The ground cover appears to be made from used tire material rather than mulch, but is smooth on the surface with nothing toddlers can pick up and eat. The playground is open to the public daily from sunrise to sunset.
Forest Rotary Park, located behind the Forest Public Library at 15583 Forest Road in Forest, was gifted to the Forest community by the Rotary Club of Forest. Forest Rotary Park has climbing structures, swings (including tandem swing and saucer swing), musical and sensory pieces, and spinners. There's also a toddler play ambulance, teeter totter, and a small carousel. The ADA compliant equipment and educational activities allow children of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds to play and learn together. Forest Rotary Park is open daily from sunrise to sunset.
Waymaker Church playground, 1650 Hooper Road, Forest (off Perrowville Road) is completely surrounded by fencing. The playground has one side for younger children and one side for older children. Each side has climbing structures with slides. There are also small free standing slides, climbing dome, hanging bars and monkey bars, tree houses, and a tire swing. This playground uses astroturf on the ground rather than mulch, making it a favorite of many parents of toddlers. Playground hours are Monday through Saturday from sunrise to sunset and Sunday from 1 PM to sunset.
Bedford Parks and Playgrounds
Bedford Baptist Church playground, 1516 Oakwood Street, Bedford, is a fully fenced preschool playground. There are multiple playground structures with climbing features and slides, including one large structure that looks like a castle. There are also several freestanding toddler slides, a toddler playhouse, swings, and monkey bars, The playground is available for public use Monday through Friday from 6 PM to sunset (after preschool closes), all day Saturday, and from 1 PM to sunset on Sundays except during church or preschool functions.
Trinity Baptist Church playground, 947 Lyle Street, Bedford is a fully fenced playground for use by supervised children ages 12 and younger. The playground features a climbing dome, hobby horse, freestanding toddler slide, and two teeter-totters, including one shaped like an airplane that holds six children. There's also a playground structure with climbing features and slides, a saucer swing, one toddler swing, and one swing for older children. Posted playground hours are 8 AM - 8 PM.
Altavista and Gladys Parks and Playgrounds
English Park is located at 206 Pittsylvania Avenue in Altavista, beside the Staunton River. English Park offers playgrounds, athletic fields, walking trails, grilling and picnic facilities, restrooms, and river access, including a boat ramp for canoes and kayaks. The playgrounds have separate components for younger children. There's also a seasonal splash pad, open from Memorial Day through Labor Day. The playground and splash pad area are mostly fenced. English Park is open sunrise to sunset daily.
Kedron Baptist Church playground, 7862 Brookneal Highway, Gladys is an enormous fully fenced playground for supervised children through age 12. This is one of the biggest and nicest playgrounds we've seen. The playground features several playground structures connected by bridges, including features for older and younger children. Each structure has slides and climbing features and there are tire swings attached to one of the structures. There are also multiple swings, including two toddler swings, a hanging swing, and a hanging teeter-totter type swing. There are benches throughout the playground area too. The playground is open to the public from dawn to dusk Monday and Tuesday and Thursday through Saturday. On Wednesdays and Sundays, the playground is reserved for church use during the following hours: Sunday mornings from 9 AM - 12:30 PM, Sunday evenings from 5 PM - 8 PM, and Wednesday evenings from 5 PM - 8 PM.
Madison Heights Park
Seminole Park, located at 101 High Street, behind The Westie apartments on Phelps Road in Madison Heights, includes swings, two playground structures (one for younger kids), climbing structures, a zipline, two covered pavilions, picnic tables, a crushed gravel walking trail around the park, and Central Bark Dog Park, Amherst County's first off-leash fenced dog park. To get to Seminole Park from Lynchburg, take the Business 29 exit off Lynchburg Expressway (the exit with McDonalds, Dairy Queen, and Wendys). Turn right on Phelps Road, then left onto Center Street into the parking lot. Seminole Park is open daily from sunrise to sunset.
Check out the Lynchburg Virginia Parks Guide for complete information about parks in Lynchburg and the surrounding counties.
Riverside Park Sprayground - Open seasonally daily from May through Labor Day from 10 AM - 7 PM
Altavista Splash Park at English Park - Open seasonally daily from Memorial Day through Labor Day from 10 AM - 7 PM
Claytor Nature Center, located at 1844 Woods Road in Bedford, reopens to the public on Monday, Aug. 4, 2025 after being closed for renovations. There is no admission fee at this time, although visitors are welcome to make a donation. Claytor Nature Center's hours are Monday through Saturday from 8:30 AM - 7:30 PM, at least until the end of daylight saving time on Sunday, Nov. 2.
Spring Valley Farm, located at 1191 Horseshoe Bend Road in Moneta, is open to the public year-round Monday through Saturday from 8 AM - 7 PM. It is free to come visit all the animals! You can also book a wagon ride, trail ride or pony ride in advance at the website or by phone. If you come see the animals, remember they love carrots and other fruits and veggies.
Many local churches have playgrounds open to the public when not in use by church groups and preschool programs. We're currently working on creating a listing of church playgrounds.
Lynchburg City Parks
Riverside Park, located at 2238 Rivermont Avenue, is the second oldest park in Lynchburg and one of the most popular park for area families. The popular train-themed Play Core Playground and the Sprayground water play area are favorites for families with littles. Sprayground is open seasonally from May through September. There are also walking and hiking trails; an older playground area; a train locomotive, tender, and caboose; tennis and basketball courts; picnic areas; a scenic overlook; and bathrooms.
Peaks View Park, located at 170 Ivy Creek Lane, is the second largest park in Lynchburg and is also very popular with area families. The playground at the top of the park (Wiggington Road entrance) is more suited to older kids, while the littles will enjoy the playground at the bottom of the park (Ardmore Drive entrance). There's also a fitness course; walking and mountain bike trails; a disc golf course; tennis and basketball courts; multi-purpose fields; a new bicycle pump track; and bathrooms.
Miller Park, located in Midtown Lynchburg at 2100 Park Avenue, is the oldest park in Lynchburg. Families enjoy visiting Miller Park Pool in season. There are also walking trails, basketball courts, playgrounds, and bathrooms.
Ivy Creek Park, located at 118 Clemmons Lake Place, the city's newest park, is a great place to enjoy nature. There's a small nature-themed play area near the parking lot, a fishing lake with pier, walking trails, and wooded trails. Canoe and kayak rentals are available on summer weekends. Lynchburg Parks and Recreation hosts various nature-themed events throughout the year at Ivy Creek Park.
Riverfront Park, located at 1100 Jefferson Street, includes a large open field, walking trails, a zero-depth fountain which is open seasonally, and trail connections to Riverwalk and Percival’s Island Trails. Construction has begun on park improvements, including an amphitheater, playground, public restrooms, fencing, lighting and more. The playground and public restrooms opened in May 2025.
Hollins Mill Park, located at 521 Hollins Mill Road, is a fun place to visit with littles. Picnic tables and grills make this park a popular weekend site. There's also a launch site for canoes and kayaks, and trail connections to the Blackwater Creek Bikeway. The Hollins Mill Tunnel is a family favorite spot for bike riding.
Amherst County Parks
Riveredge Park, located at 150 Rocky Hill Road in Madison Heights, offers an awesome children's playground, a covered picnic pavillion, paved walking and biking trail, seasonal kayak and canoe rentals, and a boat ramp.
Coolwell Park, located at 646 N. Coolwell Road in Amherst, offers a children's play area, sports fields, basketball and tennis courts, nature trail, grills, and restrooms.
Monacan Park, located at 1159 Monacan Park Road in Madison Heights, is located on the James River. The park offers a playground, boat ramp, a covered picnic pavilion, and restrooms.
Mill Creek Lake, located at 238 Mill Creek Lake Road in the Temperance area of Amherst, offers a 190 acre fishing lake, boat ramp, playground, picnic tables, grills, and restrooms. Enjoy swimming seasonally too. The swimming area is roped off separately from the rest of the lake and has a sandy beach. There's also a swing on the dock across from the swimming section. Swing out over the lake, then jump in.
Stonehouse Lake Park, located at 294 Stonehouse Lake Road in the Temperance area of Amherst, offers a 41 acre fishing lake, boat ramp, playground, covered picnic pavilion, picnic tables, grills, and restrooms.
Thrashers Lake Park, located at 223 Thrashers Lake Road in the Temperance area of Amherst, offers a 36 acre fishing lake, boat ramp, playground, picnic tables, grills, and restrooms.
You can find additional information about Amherst County Parks at the county's website.
Appomattox County Parks
Appomattox Town Park, located on Hunter Street near Appomattox County High School, offers a playground, an original caboose, walking trail, and picnic pavilion.
Bedford County Parks
Forest Rotary Park, located behind the Forest Public Library at 15583 Forest Road in Forest, was gifted to the Forest community by the Rotary Club of Forest. Phase one of the all-inclusive playground project, which includes the main slide and climb module, was completed in September 2022. Swings, musical and sensory pieces, and spinners have also been added. This ongoing project will be installed in phases over the next several years. The ADA compliant equipment and educational activities allow children of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds to play and learn together.
Falling Creek Park, located at 1257 County Farm Road in Bedford, offers playgrounds, BMX bike course, 36-hole disc golf course, picnic shelters, skateboard park, trails, and restrooms.
Edmund Street Park, located at 516 Edmund Street in the Town of Bedford, offers a playground, basketball and tennis courts, soccer field, picnic tables and areas, a covered pavilion, and restrooms.
Liberty Lake Park, located at 939 Burks Hill Road in the Town of Bedford, offers a fishing lake (license required), playgrounds, picnic areas, picnic shelters, walking trails, skateboard area, tennis court, volleyball area, baseball fields, and restrooms.
Greenwood Park, located at 804 Greenwood Street in the Town of Bedford, offers a playground, basketball court, and picnic tables.
Reynolds Park, located at 1110 East Main Street in the Town of Bedford, offers walking trails, picnic areas, and picnic shelters.
Campbell County Parks
Timbrook Park, located at 19040 Leesville Road in Lynchburg, is located beside the Campbell County Timbrook Branch Public Library. The park offers a handicap accessible playground, baseball/softball fields, volleyball court, grilling and picnic facilities, and walking trails.
English Park, is located at 206 Pittsylvania Avenue in Altavista, beside the Staunton River. English Park offers playgrounds, athletic fields, walking and biking trails, grilling and picnic facilities, restrooms, and river access, including a boat ramp for canoes and kayaks. There's also a seasonal sprayground, open from Memorial Day through Labor Day.
Brookneal Recreation Park, located at 299 Caroline Avenue in Brookneal, offers a playground, baseball and softball fields, tennis courts and trails.
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You’ll find lots of local events perfect for toddlers and preschoolers in the Lynchburg Macaroni Kid calendar of events on our website.
Events are added to our calendar on a continuing basis. If your organization is planning any free or inexpensive family-friendly events, please submit to our calendar of events HERE.
Follow us on Facebook for lots of shared local events, subscribe to our FREE weekly newsletter to be first to know what's happening around town, and check the Lynchburg Macaroni Kid website anytime to Find Your Family Fun® in every season in Lynchburg and throughout Central Virginia!
