Best Indoor Playgrounds in the Twin Cities (Local Map)

Hannah Scott said:  The Lookout Ridge Indoor Playground is nature themed, so it's a great way to have faux outdoor adventures even when the weather is less than cooperative. Kids will love exploring the tree house, cave, cliffs, slides, tree foam forest, and more! Note that this is a particularly popular destination on no-school days, so the price increases a bit when ISD 833 is not in session.

Age: 1-12

Cost: from $3.50/child

Hannah Scott said:  Good Times Park is home to a wide variety of play spaces and equipment for all ages: including a turf field, basketball court, playground, building area, climbing web, and crawling area for the youngest kiddos. A nursing and diaper change facility is a nice perk, and a picnic area (still indoors) is great for a much-needed snack or lunch break.

Note: This play space is not supervised. Admission is purchased online, and a unique same-day code will be sent to you to grant you access to the facility.

Age: 1-17

Cost: from $8/child

Hannah Scott said:  Millz House is a recreation showroom featuring swing sets, trampolines, game tiles, and basketball courts for sale. During open play times, kids can enjoy the equipment for a small fee. It's a win/win!

Age: 10 and under

Cost: from $6/child ($18/family)

Hannah Scott said:  The Blast is a unique space-themed indoor playground, complete with launch pads, propulsion launchers, a space jet, Milky Way tunnel, and a wormhole slide portal. The structure itself might not be that much different from many other indoor play spaces in the area, but the themed attention to detail here is a breath of fresh air for a different kind of imaginary play!

Age: 18 months - 12 years

Cost: $4/child

Hannah Scott said:  

Gleason's Gymnastics School offers weekly Open Gym time for kids to experience the gymnastics equipment at their leisure rather than in a structured class environment. School age (K- 13 years), Preschool (age 0 - Kindergarten), Teenage (age 13+), and homeschool (4 - 13 years) time slots are available. Kids can use the trampoline, bars, tumbling mats, and foam pit, and preschool open gyms also include a fun circle time!

Age: 0+

Cost: from $8/child ($10/family)

Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays

Hannah Scott said:  Shoreview Community Center has a Tropical Adventure themed play space available to both members and nonmembers. Kiddos can explore caves, swing, slide down a pretend waterfall, and enjoy a five-level spiral slide. Open play areas encourage jungle imaginary play!

Age: 1-10

Cost: nonmembers $6/day

Hannah Scott said:  Burnsville Mall recently upgraded their play area with a new "Explore Minnesota" theme. Now kids can interact with various characters like a bear, moose, and foxes, pretend to roast marshmallows around a fire, camp out in a tent, and drive in a model of a Honda Odyssey.

Ages: most appropriate for primary school and younger

Cost: free

Hannah Scott said:  The Eagle's Nest indoor Playground is full of open-ended creative fun, thanks to a web tower, weave slide, walk-on piano, tight rope, hanging "foam forest," ball pit, and more! A special toddler area features foam play, a tree slide, and mini versions of the big kids' play structures. Note that this playground is a big hit, an only a certain number of kiddos are admitted at a time for safety reasons. On high-traffic days like school holidays, you may want to call ahead!

Age: 12 months - 12 years

Cost: $6

Hannah Scott said:  IGM Gymnastics offers two Open Gym times on Fridays: one for younger kids (ages 1-6) in the morning, and one for older kid (ages 5+) in the evenings. Both time slots include access to the gymnastics equipment, foam pit, and trampoline.

Age: 1+

Cost: from $8/child

Hannah Scott said:  InnerActive is open 365 days a year, so it's a perfect choice for school breaks, rainy or snowy days, or any other time cabin fever strikes! Activities include an indoor playground, climbing wall, basketball court, turf field, jumping pillow, large building blocks, and even a dedicated toddler space. As an extra bonus, outside food and drink IS allowed -- score!!

Note: Passes must be purchased online in advance.

Age: 1-17

Cost: Day pass from $9.75/child

Hannah Scott said:  What do you get when you bring your child to a room full of rainbow-colored swingsets, basketball hoops, and trampoline? Hours of fun! That's what you'll find at the showroom for Rainbow Play Systems, and the public is welcome to come have a blast on the equipment during designated Pay-to-Play times.

Age:all

Cost: $7/child (2 hours) ;16 months and under are free

Hannah Scott said:  Edinborough Playpark features three separate areas for kids to enjoy: Adventure Peak (a large climbing structure with slides and tunnels), Little Peak (a padded area for toddlers with music elements), and the Great Hall (a gym with bounce house, scooters, and small basketball hoops). Admission grants access to all areas.

Age: 1-12

Cost: $8/child

Hannah Scott said:  Open Gym at Dynamic Gymnastics gives kids (both members and nonmembers) an unstructured time to use the gymnastics equipment and facilities. They can spend that time getting in extra practice, or just have fun with friends!

Age: Preschool and Up

Cost: from $7/child ($12/family)

Hannah Scott said:  Obstacle Academy offers a truly unique birthday experience, giving kids a chance to learn some Ninja Warrior skills and practice on an age-appropriate timed course. The party hosts are ninja warrior coaches, and your party will have exclusive gym access, as well as access to a party room!

Age: 5+

Cost: $249 - $499 for 10 participants

Hannah Scott said:  This family-owned play space is a great bet for the younger crowd. It's a small structure than some of the others on this list, so parents will easily be able to keep a watchful eye on their energetic little ones. Outside food is not permitted (although coffee is welcome -- tired Moms rejoice!) but an extensive snack bar offers a wide variety of meals and snacks to keep your kiddos going.

Age: 1-12

Cost: $7/child (cash only -- ATM in lobby)