Airport Playgrounds for Kids: Real Reviews From Family Travel Days
One of our favorite things to do in airports while waiting for flights is to find the airport playgrounds. Not all airports have them, but when they do, my kids go wild for them. And honestly? So do I, because while they’re running off some energy, I finally get a chance to sit down for five minutes without someone asking for a snack or trying to scale the nearest window ledge.
This post shares how we track down airport play areas, how we access them, and what the ones we’ve visited are really like with young kids. I often travel as the only adult with my kids, so I pay close attention to things like fencing, visibility, stroller access, seating, and whether the space actually feels manageable when you’re trying to keep track of more than one child.
How We Find Airport Play Areas
I keep it simple: a quick Google search like “does Orlando airport have a playground” is usually where I start. (For the record: no, it doesn’t. Huge missed opportunity for the airport literally right next to the most kid-centric place on earth.)
That search usually leads to the airport’s website. If I come up short there, I’ll go hunting through blogs or travel forums. Nine times out of ten, another parent has already figured it out and shared photos or directions.
One tip: if you’re flying through a city with multiple airports—like NYC or DC—double-check you’re looking at the right one. Learned that the hard way once while searching for a kids’ play area at an airport that turned out to be in a different location entirely.
A Note on Airport Playground Access
Some airports have multiple little play zones scattered throughout. Others have just one main airport playground, which of course always seems to be in the opposite terminal from where you’re flying out of.
If we’ve already made it through security and have enough time, I’ll sometimes make the trek. But I won’t leave the secure zone just to find a play area. Going through TSA with toddlers once per trip is more than enough for me, especially when I’m the only adult managing the stroller, bags, and kids.
Airport Survival Guide for Families
Flying with kids? This guide walks you through the airport step by step, from packing and parking to security, boarding, baggage claim, and beyond.
Airport Survival Guide for Families helps you think through strollers, car seats, bags, TSA, bathrooms, snacks, gate-checking, delays, and all the little logistics that can make airport days feel like a lot.
It’s based on real family travel experience, including many flights where I was the only adult with my kids, and it’s written to help the airport part of your trip feel more manageable.
The Airport Playgrounds We’ve Tested (and How They Held Up)
I’ve organized these by city in alphabetical order to make it easier for you to find the airport you’re flying through. These are all places I’ve tested myself while traveling with toddlers, often as the only adult. So you’ll get the real story on what works, what doesn’t, and where you might actually get five minutes to breathe.
Boston, MA (BOS)
Boston Logan International Airport was a total win for us. The airport has multiple “Kidport” play areas, and we made it to two—Terminal B and Terminal C. While the actual play structures are on the simpler side (mostly climbing and crawling setups best suited to younger kids), the layout is what makes them magic. Each one is tucked inside its own little room with three full walls and a single entrance. That meant I could finally sit down without worrying that my toddler would bolt into a crowd or take off down the terminal at full sprint.
Bonus? They’re themed around classic children’s books. Think bright murals from favorites like Clifford the Big Red Dog and play spaces that tie into the stories. It kept my kids engaged way longer than I expected. We genuinely enjoyed our time here, and I’d go out of my way to fly through BOS again just for these quiet little pockets of calm.
Here’s a look at what the Kidport play areas in Boston Logan look like: cozy, colorful, and genuinely helpful when traveling with toddlers.
Buffalo, NY (BUF)
Buffalo Niagara International Airport is our second “home” airport (it’s a little further away than ROC) because it has that glorious direct JetBlue flight to Orlando. It has three little Fisher Price-themed playgrounds in the airport near Gates 2, 9, and 19/21.
My kids are big climbers, so they love these. But they’re located in open gate areas, not fenced, and pretty compact. If it’s a busy day and I’ve got both kids trying to play at once, I end up doing that frantic ping-pong thing where I’m scanning left and right trying to keep eyes on both. The variety is great, but it’s not a space where I can relax at all. More like “let them burn off steam while I sweat bullets watching them.”
Want a better look at the Fisher Price-themed airport play areas at BUF? Here’s a short video showing each of the setups so you know what to expect.
Charlotte, NC (CLT)
Charlotte is a little different from the other airports on this list because the playground is not actually inside the terminal. Charlotte Douglas International Airport does not currently have a children’s play area inside the secure area. Instead, there is a large aviation-themed playground at the CLT Airport Overlook, a separate outdoor park near the airport.
We have visited twice now, and it is one of the coolest airport-related play spaces we have found. There are different climbing areas for younger and older kids, a huge open green space, little runway-inspired paths, and incredible views of planes taking off and landing. My kids loved the playground, and even on our second visit when it happened to be temporarily closed, my son was happy running around, checking out the fighter jet on display, and watching airplanes.
My one hesitation is that the park is big and can get very busy. When both of my kids were playing, I had to work pretty hard to keep track of them. I had my husband with me that day, but I know I would have found it stressful alone with both kids. The park is fenced off from the airfield, but there is a lot of space for a little one to wander and the parking lot is nearby.
Because the Overlook is outside the airport, I would not leave security during a normal layover just to visit. We have used it before flights when we already had a rental car, stopping there before returning the car at the terminal. For all the playground details, plane-watching spots, bathrooms, food trucks, and logistics, I have a full guide to visiting the CLT Airport Overlook with kids.
Here’s a quick look at the playground and plane-watching area so you can see what the CLT Airport Overlook is actually like with kids.
Chicago, IL (ORD)
Chicago O’Hare International Airport has a whole family lounge with a play area in Terminal 2 near Gate F1. It’s big. It’s well-equipped. It has seating, outlets, stroller parking, and plenty of space for the kids to play.
But here’s the thing: it’s too big and way too busy for me to fully relax. My kids had a blast, but I was hovering the entire time, worried one of them would get knocked over or wander off. Still, I appreciated the fenced space and the chance to charge my phone while I kept watch.
This family lounge is big and bustling—here’s a quick clip of the O’Hare airport playground so you can get a feel for the space.
Miami, FL (MIA)
Miami International Airport has a big play space near Gate E5 in Concourse E, and it’s pretty amazing. Multilevel, themed like an air traffic control tower, hot air balloon, and cockpit—complete with real ATC audio playing in the background. There’s even a padded crawling area for younger babies.
Theming-wise, it’s probably the coolest we’ve been to. But because it’s so big and my kids were still in that “running in opposite directions” phase, I couldn’t just sit back. It’s mostly fenced in, but I still had to be hands-on the whole time. Not a break for me, but definitely a hit with the kids.
Want to see just how cool this one is? Here’s a quick video clip of the Miami airport playground in action—it’s seriously one of the most fun we’ve visited.
Mexico City, Mexico (MEX)
Benito Juárez International Airport in Mexico City was rough. I had such a hard time finding clear information ahead of time, and when we got there—Terminal 1, Concourse H—I spotted what looked like a children’s play area tucked into a very busy gate area. It wasn’t fenced, was already crawling with a ton of kids, and looked a bit worse for wear.
I made the call not to show it to my kids. Instead, we found a quiet spot away from the crowds and let them run around there. Honestly, that ended up being the better call.
Montréal, Canada (YUL)
Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport has five playgrounds for kids scattered throughout the airport, and I’m honestly bummed we only had time to visit one—Gate 86 in the U.S. departures section. It’s at the far end of the terminal, right up against the wall of windows, and when we were there it was nice and quiet.
No fences, but because of the layout (with the wall on one side), it was still easy to monitor the kids. My daughter was in full toddler sprint mode and had a great time racing up and down. The actual play area was fine—slides and climbing mostly—but the real win was the view of the airplanes right outside. I want to go back and check out the other spaces someday because the one on their website looks epic.
Here’s a quick look at the Gate 86 play area at Montréal airport—plenty of space to run and some great airplane views to keep the kids entertained.
New York City, NY (JFK)
I had a hard time finding information about play spaces at John F. Kennedy International Airport online. JetBlue’s website says there’s a Junior Play Space at Gate 526 in Terminal 5. Other blogs raved about it.
But when we came through, we were exhausted from an international overnight flight and there was heavy construction in that area. We didn’t see it—and I didn’t have it in me to hunt down an airport employee to ask. I think it may have been blocked by a temporary wall. So we skipped it and found a quiet spot instead.
Orlando, FL (MCO)
Orlando International Airport has a few kid-friendly spaces worth knowing about if you are flying through with young kids.
In Terminal C, we found the Flybrary, and my daughter loved it. It is not a full playground, and it is not fenced in, so it still requires close supervision with toddlers. There are no climbing structures or enclosed play equipment, but there are books, a dedicated kid space where little ones can move around, and an interactive screen with games.
For us, it was a really nice airport find. After a long travel day, having a space that was clearly meant for kids made a difference, even if I still had to stay close and keep an eye on her.
We have also used the Plaza Premium Lounge in Terminal C with Priority Pass. It has a small kids’ area with basic toys, a large touchscreen game, and a few toddler distractions. It is not a major play space, but compared to most airport lounges, it is helpful to have a little corner where kids can reset before a flight.
MCO also has Annie’s Space in Terminal A, pre-security. It is a sensory room designed to give travelers with sensory sensitivities a quieter, calmer place to reset. It is not an airport playground, but it is another helpful family-friendly space to know about if your child needs a break from the noise and crowds.
None of these are the same as a full airport playground, but they are still helpful spaces to know about when flying through Orlando International Airport with kids.
Porto, Portugal (OPO)
Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport in Porto was such a pleasant surprise. We were flying out of the non-Schengen area and found not one, but two different kids’ play zones that completely saved our travel day. The first one, on the second floor post-security, was right in the middle of the terminal—compact but so well thought out. It was mostly a vertical climbing structure, fully enclosed with just one entrance and exit, which made it so much easier to keep track of both kids. My kids loved the challenge of it (and the views of the terminal action didn’t hurt either), while I got to relax nearby without playing constant hall monitor.
Then, on the first floor by the gates, we stumbled upon another gem. This one was inside a gated area and more tactile-focused—less climbing, more buttons, gears, and interactive panels. My youngest was in heaven touching and spinning everything, while my older one quietly worked through each game like it was a mission.
Neither of these areas was huge, but both were just what we needed: safe, engaging spaces that made airport time feel like playtime. I’d absolutely recommend planning extra time if you’re flying through Porto with kids.
Take a peek at the Porto airport playgrounds: compact, smartly designed, and a low-stress layover solution with young kids.
Rochester, NY (ROC)
Frederick Douglass Greater Rochester International Airport is our home airport and it punches way above its weight for family amenities. There are two airport play zones, both sponsored by The Strong Museum of Play. One is themed around the National Toy Hall of Fame and is located in Concourse A—it’s perfect for little kids. Buttons to press, places to climb, and plenty of space to run. The other one in Concourse B is all about the World Video Game Hall of Fame. It’s better suited to older kids or adults wanting a dose of nostalgia.
The play space in Concourse A is mostly fenced in, so I can actually let my kids run a bit without hovering over them every second. It’s clean, interactive, and usually not too crowded. When I’m the only adult traveling with my kids, this space feels manageable, and that’s not something I say lightly.
Check out a video of the Concourse A airport play space here. It’s interactive, clean, and a total win when traveling with toddlers.
Washington, DC (DCA)
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport genuinely surprised me. The airport play area is near the north security checkpoint exit and it’s sponsored by the Boeing Company and the National Children’s Museum. It’s STEM-focused, colorful, and almost completely fenced in.
We had a really long layover here once and this spot basically saved my sanity. The kids made some friends, I found a corner to sit down, and we were there for hours. It overlooks the runways, which added an extra layer of excitement—especially when they spotted the plane we’d be getting on. This one felt like a gift.
Here’s a peek at the DCA play space—STEM-focused, colorful, and one of the few spots where I could actually sit down and breathe.
Airport Playgrounds Can Make Travel Days Easier
If you’re traveling with toddlers, finding a good airport playground can completely change the tone of your trip. It gives the kids a chance to move, explore, and burn off all that pre-boarding energy.
And if you’re the only adult traveling with them, a good airport play area can be the difference between “completely losing it at Gate 23” and “actually enjoying a layover.”
Not every airport play area is a win, and not every airport has one. But when they do I’m always grateful—and so are my kids.
Have questions about this post or want help thinking through the logistics for your own trip? Join my free Facebook community for parents planning family travel. You can ask questions, share what you’re working through, and get real-life advice from other parents who understand how many little details go into traveling with kids.