Arlington's seven spraygrounds open Memorial Day weekend, county camp registration opens in February, and four indoor pools are open all year.
Last checked Oct. 19, 2026. This page is updated each year at the same address. Facts come from Arlington County’s spraygrounds and summer camps pages, APS Aquatics, the Arlington Public Schools calendar and NOVA Parks. The 2027 camp catalog and dates are not out yet; dates marked 2026 are last year’s.
Arlington’s summer starts on Memorial Day weekend, when the county’s seven spraygrounds open. School lets out Thursday, June 17, 2027, and county camps fill fast after registration opens in February. Public lap pools are indoors at three high schools and at Long Bridge in Crystal City, and NOVA Parks runs a waterpark at Upton Hill. For Parks and Recreation questions, call the county’s main line, 703-228-3000.
What this means for you
- Spraygrounds: open Memorial Day weekend (May 29-31, 2027) to Labor Day weekend.
- Camps: registration opens in February on the county’s registration site.
- School’s out: Thursday, June 17, 2027 (early release).
- Summer school: planned for July 6-30, 2027.
Spraygrounds
The county’s spraygrounds are open Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend. Hours may change on holidays, and the county sends text alerts on sprayground status through Arlington Alert.
| Sprayground | Address | Hours (2026 season) |
|---|---|---|
| Virginia Highlands Park | 1600 S. Hayes St. | Daily 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. |
| Long Bridge Park | 475 Long Bridge Drive | Daily 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. |
| Mosaic Park | 544 N. Pollard St. | Daily 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. |
| Penrose Square | 2597 Columbia Pike | 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.; closed Wednesdays for maintenance |
| Drew Park | 3514 22nd St. S. | Mon. and Thu. 2 to 8 p.m.; Wed. and Fri. from 10 a.m.; Sat. and Sun. noon to 8 p.m.; closed Tue. |
| Hayes Park | 1516 N. Lincoln St. | Mon. and Thu. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Tue. and Fri. 2 to 8 p.m.; Sat. and Sun. noon to 8 p.m.; closed Wed. |
| Lyon Village Park | 1800 N. Highland St. | Mon. and Tue. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Wed. and Fri. 2 to 8 p.m.; Sat. and Sun. noon to 8 p.m.; closed Thu. |
The county’s page lists two different Wednesday closing times for Drew Park; check before you go.
Pools
Arlington Public Schools’ three aquatics centers are indoors and open to the public on a published swim schedule. Fees and public swim times are on the APS community swim schedules page.
| Pool | Address | Phone | Pools |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wakefield Aquatics Center | 1325 S. Dinwiddie St. | 703-228-2395 | 25-yard, 8-lane main pool; 25-meter pool with a 12-foot diving well |
| Washington-Liberty Aquatics Center | 1301 N. Stafford St. (Door 7) | 703-228-6262 | 10-lane main pool; 12-foot diving well; 0- to 4-foot instructional pool |
| Yorktown Aquatics Center | 5200 Yorktown Blvd. (Door 3, off Greenbriar Street) | 703-228-8754 | 8-lane main pool; 12-foot diving well; 0- to 4-foot instructional pool |
The county’s Long Bridge Aquatics & Fitness Center, 333 Long Bridge Drive in Crystal City, is run separately by the Department of Parks and Recreation. APS says interim repairs to the hot water at Washington-Liberty are done but may cause cooler water at times.
Ocean Dunes Waterpark, a beach-themed waterpark at NOVA Parks’ Upton Hill Regional Park, 6060 Wilson Blvd., is an outdoor option in Arlington. The same park has mini golf, batting cages and Climb UPton, which NOVA Parks calls the largest ropes course in the Mid-Atlantic. Season dates and hours are on NOVA Parks’ site.
Summer camps
Arlington’s Department of Parks and Recreation publishes a camp catalog each winter and runs camps itself, alongside partner camps from community groups. You can search the season’s camps by type, location and age in the county’s CampTranslate tool on the summer camps page.
For 2026, registration opened in three steps, each at noon:
| Step | 2026 date |
|---|---|
| Early registration for families in the fee reduction program | Feb. 2-10 |
| Partner camps | Feb. 11 |
| Parks and Recreation camps | Feb. 18 |
Expect the 2027 dates in a county announcement around December. Register through the county’s online registration site.
School calendar
From the Arlington Public Schools 2026-27 calendar:
- Last day of school: Thursday, June 17, 2027, an early release day. High schools have early release June 11-16.
- Juneteenth (observed): Friday, June 18, 2027, a holiday.
- Summer school: planned for July 6-30, 2027.
More summer
- Fourth of July: see our Fourth of July fireworks guide.
- Rainy days and playgrounds: see our kids’ activities guide.
- Trails and parks: see our walking and biking trails guide.
Related guides: Memorial Day, free things to do and parks and trails.
Frequently asked questions
When do Arlington spraygrounds open?
Memorial Day weekend, and they stay open through Labor Day weekend. Memorial Day 2027 is May 31, so they open that weekend.
When does Arlington summer camp registration open?
In February. For 2026, families in the county’s fee reduction programs registered early from Feb. 2-10, partner camps opened Feb. 11 and Parks and Recreation camps Feb. 18, each at noon. Registration is online through the county’s recreation site.
Are there public pools in Arlington, Virginia?
Yes. Arlington Public Schools runs three indoor aquatics centers open to the public, at Wakefield, Washington-Liberty and Yorktown high schools, and the county runs Long Bridge Aquatics & Fitness Center in Crystal City.
When is the last day of school for Arlington Public Schools in 2027?
Thursday, June 17, 2027, an early release day. Summer school is planned for July 6-30, 2027.
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