When you are planning your activities with your kids, the weather seems to play a big role! If you’re looking for a place for your child(ren) to have fun and burn off some energy, this resource is packed with indoor play area ideas. Whether it be a chilly day, a rainy day, or a too hot to play outside day- Columbus has an abundance of options!
From indoor playgrounds, to museums, play cafes, trampoline parks, we certainly have an abundance of indoor play areas! A number of these options are free as well. Be sure to bookmark this guide as it will quickly become your go-to list to keep your kids engaged and entertained all year long and especially during those long winter months!
Indoor Play Areas
Indoor Playgrounds
Recreations Outlet
Features: A spacious play area with playground equipment, trampolines, basketball and more. They offer pay-to-play times and charitable play on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 9 am – 11 am for $4 per child.
Address: 484 W Olentangy/Powell Road, Powell, OH 43065
Website: Recreations Outlet
MomiLand
Features: Two Locations! Indoor playground featuring play area, trampoline, rock wall, activity room, party room, motion sensing interactive play. $15 per child and each additional child is $10. Must wear Momiland socks (new in 2022) and outside snacks without peanut butter are allowed in the snack areas. A third location will be opening in Gahanna soon! Very clean play space!
Polaris Address: 704 Radio Drive Lewis Center, Ohio 43035
Hilliard Address:3681 Park Mill Run Dr Hilliard, OH 43026
Website: Momiland
Graeter’s Lil Pints Play Area
Features: The play area is perfect for children 9 and younger; featuring multiple slides and plenty of room to play and (of course) yummy ice cream. Bring socks or they have them for sale. FREE!
Address: 2136 Bethel Road, Columbus, Ohio 43220
Website: Lil Pints Play Area
We Rock the Spectrum
Features: A safe, nurturing, and sensory-friendly environment for infants through 13 years of age. Gym equipment, arts and crafts area with beading and painting as well. The gym includes swings, crash mats, zip lines, trampolines, indoor play structure, and sensory-based toys.
Address: 1250 E Powell Road, Lewis Center, Ohio 43035
Website: We Rock the Spectrum
Central Park Playground
Features: FREE open play on Mondays 1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. and Tuesdays from 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. This spot has slides and climbing tunnels and is lots of fun!
Address: 471 E. College Ave., Westerville, Ohio, 43081
Website: Central Park Playground
Naz Playplace
Features: Open play with tunnels and slides. You can register online beforehand to save time! There is a spot to get coffee inside too. 🙂 FREE admission! 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Address: 4770 Hoover Road, Grove City, Ohio 43123
Website: Naz Playplace
Grange Insurance Audubon Center
Features: Weekly story times on Thursdays with play cave, room with turtles, frogs and other water creatures, puppets and a climbing structure. FREE!
Address: 505 W. Whittier St. Columbus, Ohio 43215
Website: Grange Insurance Audubon Center
Westerville Community Center
Features: A free indoor playground that includes a slide. The large climbing wall is opened limited hours and has a fee. Check out the details here: Zenith Climbing Wall. The indoor pool is open for residents and non-residents and has a lazy river, slides, fountains, shallow play area and more. Find out more about hours and pricing here: Watering Hole
Address: 350 N. Cleveland Ave., Westerville, OH 43082
Website: Westerville Community Center
Laser Tag
Coliseum X
Features: Extreme laser tag that is designed for ages 8 and up and has different urban themed arenas and over 50 missions.
Address: 100 Dillmont Drive, Columbus, Ohio 43235
Website: Coliseum X
Ten Pin Alley
Features: An under the sea theme with coral reefs that glow. (Also bowling, arcade games and a restaurant.)
Website: Ten Pin Alley
Trampoline Parks
Rockin’ Jump (Two Locations: Dublin and Westerville)
Features: Jump Arena, Slam Dunk Zone, and Dodgeball.
Westerville Address: 1220 County Line Road , Westerville, Ohio 43081
Dublin Address: 5625 Shier Rings Rd, Dublin, Ohio 43016
Website: Rockin’ Jump
The Bounce Club
Features: Open jump, fit jump workout classes, and jump and tumble classes. Bounce socks are required and cost $3. You can bring them back each time you come!
Address: 3967 Presidential Parkway, Powell, Ohio 43065
Website: The Bounce Club
Get Air (Two Locations: Hilliard and Pickerington)
Features: Various open jump times and also toddler times on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays form 10 a.m. – 12 noon. 2nd Location in Pickerington.
Hilliard Address: 3708 Fishinger Blvd., Columbus, Ohio 43026
Pickerington Address: 1075 Hill Rd. N Pickerington , Ohio 43147
Website: Get Air
Urban Air (Two locations- Reynoldsburg and Plain City)
Features: Endless play memberships, warrior course, virtual reality, and much more!
Reynoldsburg Address: 6314 East Livingtston Ave. Reynoldsburg, Ohio 43068
Plain City Location:7679 Dublin Plain City Rd, Dublin, OH 43016
Website: Urban Air
Bounce Houses & More
Blue Monkey
Features: New Location! Inflatables, sports arena and dual slide, obstacle courses, bounce fun house, as well as carnival games and green screen technology.
Address: 13260 National Rd. SW Etna, Ohio 43068
Website: Blue Monkey
Play Cafes
Coffee Connections
Features: Located on Hilliard’s Main Street in an old white farmhouse lives a cute little coffee shop with a free play area in the back building for family and friends to enjoy a great cup of coffee while the little ones play.
Location: 4004 Main St, Hilliard, OH 43026
Website: Coffee Connections
Arcade Games
Dave & Buster’s
Features: Load up a power card and play your favorite games! Plenty to do for adults too and a restaurant to eat at.
Polaris Address: 1554 Polaris Parkway Unit 206, Columbus Ohio, 43240
Hilliard Address: 3665 Park Mill Run Dr, Hilliard, Ohio 43026
Website: Dave and Buster’s
Scene 75
Features: 200 + arcade games, laser tag, go karts, ride a roller coaster, inflatables and more!
Address: 5033 Tuttle Crossing Blvd. Dublin, Ohio 43016
Website: Scene 75
Level One Arcade
Features: Travel back to the 80’s with their legendary game choices! Check the hours that children are allowed.
Address: 130 Hutchinson Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43235
Website: Level One Arcade
16 Bit + Bar
Features: Lots of classic games with hours during the day that are appropriate for kids. After 8 pm it is 21+.
Downtown Address: 254 South 4th Street, Columbus, Ohio 43215
Dublin Address: 6564 Riverside Drive, Dublin, OH 43017
Website: 16 Bit + Bar
Chuck E. Cheese’s
Features: Lots of arcade games for all ages.
Address (3 locations): 2711 Martin Rd, Dublin, OH 43016 | 3631 Soldano Blvd. Columbus, OH 43228 | 4284 Macsway, Columbus, OH 43232
Website: Chuck E. Cheese
Escape Rooms
Lockology
Features: Depending on the room you pick you get to be either a Crime Scene investigator, Ghost Hunter, or and Archaeologist exploring a newly discovered Mayan Temple! 12 and older.
Address: 86 Village Pointe, Powell, Ohio
Website: Lockology
The Breakout Room
Features: Play the top Columbus escape rooms. For 60 minutes, experience 5-star immersive entertainment with friends and family, escape normal life, and be the hero of the story. Explore an island, find the kidnapper, restore ancient relics to their rightful owner. Each Breakout location has unique challenges.
Address: 835 Grandview Ave.
Website: The Breakout Room
Sports & Fitness
Bowling Alleys
Star Lanes Polaris
Features: 20 state-of-the-art lanes and a game room to keep the kiddos entertained!
Address: 8655 Lyra Drive, Columbus Ohio 43240
Website: Star Lanes Polaris
Tin Pin Alley in Hilliard
Features: The newly renovated space is amazing! Bowling, Bocce, arcade games, delicious food and Laser Tag fun for the family! Check out the daily specials: Ten Pin Alley Specials
Address: 5499 Ten Pin Alley, Hilliard, Ohio 43026
Website: Ten Pin Alley
Pins Mechanical (Dublin, Easton, and Downtown)
Features: Foosball, Pinball, Duckpin, Ping-Pong, and Shuffleboard. Lots of fun for all!
Columbus Address: 141 North 4th Street, Columbus, Ohio 43215
Dublin Address: 6558 Riverside Drive, Dublin, Ohio 43017
Easton Address: 4117 Worth Ave. Columbus Ohio 43219
Website: Pins Mechanical
Rule 3
Features: 14 bowling lanes, mini-bowling, arcade, and restaurant. In the summer months, there is live music on the outdoor stage on Friday and Saturday nights.
Address: 650 Windmiller Dr., Pickerington, OH 43147
Website: Rule 3
Plain City Lanes
Features: 10 Lane Bowling Center with great pizza packages!
Address: 325 S Jefferson Ave. Plain City, Ohio 43064
Website: Plain City Lanes
Bowl-ero (formally Sawmill lanes)
Features: Video walls inside of 52 lanes, free wifi, and arcade so that good times can be had by all!
Address: 4825 Sawmill Road, Columbus, Ohio 43235
Website: Bowlero Lanes
Gahanna Lanes
Features: Bowling, mini golf, and a variety of gaming options.
Address: 215 W Johnstown Road, Columbus, Ohio 43230
Website: Gahanna Lanes
Be sure to check out our list of Free Bowling too! Summer Fun: Free Bowling
Indoor Golf
Glow Putt
Features: Premier glow putt mini golf course on your own safari.
Address: 161 Granville Street, Gahanna, Ohio
Website: Glow Putt
Miner 49er
Features: Black Light Miniature Golf
Address: 1558 W 3rd Ave. B, Columbus Ohio 43212
Website: Miner 49er
Climbing, Gymnastics, and Fitness
Movement Lab
Features: Elite obstacle courses, ninja warrior training, and kids camps and open gym (ages 5-12)
Address: 7086 Huntley Rd., Columbus, Ohio 43299
Website: Movement Lab
Ninja Citi
Features: 12 ninja courses, 5 warped walls, parkour arena, rock wall, adult & youth ninja training, and much more!
Address: 2620 Sawmill Place Rd. Columbus, Ohio 43235
Website: Ninja Citi
The Jungle Gymnastics
Features: The Jungle Gym Adventure Center in Delaware is Central Ohio‘s most unique gymnastics and parkour facility with rock climbing, ropes, slack line and more. Open playtime every Tuesday and Saturday 10 AM till 12 noon for $5- $10 per child.
Address: 755 Highway 23 N A Delaware, Ohio 43015
Website: The Jungle Gymnastics Adventure Center
Wendy’s Gymnastics
Features: Gymnastic classes for ages 1-12, along with open gym, kids day out programs, and toddler playdates.
Address: 2460 Wood Ave. Columbus, Ohio 43221
Website: Wendy’s Gymnastics 
Ice & Roller Rinks
Skate Zone 71
Features: Roller and Inline Skating, Lasertag, special guest character appearances and many family events!
Address: 4900 Evanswood Drive, Columbus, Ohio 43229
Website: Skate Zone 71
The Chiller
Features: Hockey, Public Skating, Figure Skating, and Friday Night Meltdown for teens!
Dublin Address: 7001 Dublin Park Drive, Dublin, Ohio 43016
Easton Address: 3600 Chiller Lane, Columbus, Ohio 43219
Chiller North Address: 8144 Highfield Drive, Lewis Center, Ohio 43035
Website: Chiller
Skate America
Features: Premier Skating and entertainment center.
Address: 4357 Broadway Ave., Grove City, Ohio 43123
Website: Skate America
United Skates of America
Features: Family skates, arcade, and live DJ.
Address: 3362 Refugee Road, Columbus, Ohio, 43232
Website: United Skates of America
Swimming
Goldfish Swim School
Features: Small class sizes, focus on swim safety, lessons, family swims that are open to the public, and clinics.
Westerville Address: 765 Brooksedge Boulevard, Westerville, Ohio 43081
Dublin Address: 6175 Shamrock Court, Dublin, Ohio 43016
Lewis Center: 7838 Green Meadows Drive, Lewis Center, Ohio 43035
Website: Goldfish Swim School
Westerville Community Center
Features: A free indoor playground that includes a slide. The large climbing wall is opened limited hours and has a fee. Check out the details here: Zenith Climbing Wall. The indoor pool is open for residents and non-residents and has a lazy river, slides, fountains, shallow play area and more. Find out more about hours and pricing here: Watering Hole.
Address: 350 N. Cleveland Ave., Westerville, OH 43082
Website: Westerville Community Center
Worthington Community Center
Features: The zero entry leisure pool area is great for children and includes a kiddie slide and play toys. There’s also a lazy river, 110-foot slide and large hot tube. Check out the day rates and schedule: Worthington Indoor Pool
Address: 345 E. Wilson Bridge Rd., Worthington, OH 43085
Website: Worthington Community Center
Go Carts
Buckeye Raceway
Features: Electric carts on challenging courses- must be 12 years or older.
Address: 4050 W Broad Street, Columbus Ohio 43228
Website: Buckeye Raceway
Batting Cages
D-BAT
Features: Batting cages, classes, camps, birthday parties
Columbus East: 650 Taylor Station Road- Suite B, Gahanna, Ohio 43230
Columbus North: 459 Orange Point Drive-Suite E, Lewis Center, Ohio 43035
Website: D-BAT
Mannino’s Grand Slam
Features: Lessons, Leagues, Camps and open Batting Cages
Address: 6635 Dublin Center Drive, Dublin, Ohio 43017
Website: Mannino’s
Strike Zone
Features: 6 indoor batting cages with top of the line machines.
Address: 6796 Thrush Drive, Canal Winchester, Ohio 43110
Website: Strike Zone
Crafts & Artistic Activities
Color Me Mine
Features: Drop in art studio. Pick your ceramic piece, paint it, they fire it and pick up in a week!
Address: 6375 Perimeter Drive, Dublin, Ohio
Website: Color Me Mine
Art with Anna
Features: Grown-up Art and Me Classes, Kids camps, and classes
Address: 420 N Cassady Ave, Bexley, Ohio, 43209
Website: Art with Anna
Elements Art Studio (Aprons and Easels)
Features: Painting Classes and Private events for adults and kids!
Address: 5512 Hilliard Rome Office, Hilliard, Ohio 43026
Website: Elements Art Studio
Home Depot Kids Workshops (1st Saturday of the month)
Features: Kids and DIY Workshops 1st Saturday of the Month
Address: Numerous Locations in Columbus
Website: Home Depot
Virtual Reality
Sandbox VR
Features: Groups of up to 6 can select an exclusive world that makes you feel like you are really in that experience.
Address: 6737 Longshore St, Ste. 130 (Bridge Park in Dublin)
Website: Sandbox VR
Mall Play Areas
Polaris Fashion Place
Features: Zoo themed play area that is enclosed for kids.
Address: 1500 Polaris Parkway, Columbus, Ohio 43240
Website: Polaris Mall
The Mall at Tuttle Crossing
Features: STEAM based play area with science scramble, techno tunes, wonder wall, computer based art gallery, and tile table.
Address: 5043 Tuttle Crossing Blvd. Columbus, Ohio
Website: Tuttle Mall
Museums
COSI
Features: Dynamic Hands-on Science Center with a variety of exploration rooms for all ages.
Address: 333 West Broad Street, Columbus, Ohio, 43215
Website: COSI 
Ohio History Connection
Features: Dig into Ohio’s past with hands-on experiences.
Address: 800 East 17th Ave, Columbus, Ohio 43211
Website: Ohio History Connection
Franklin Park Conservatory
Features: A botanical landmark with plant collections and gardens and seasonal art and nature-based exhibitions. Amazing outdoor space too!
Address: 1777 E. Broad Street, Columbus, Ohio43202
Website: Franklin Park Conservatory
Columbus Museum of Art
Features: Beautiful works of art and hands-on playing in The Wonder Room for kids. Free on Sundays!
Address: 480 East Broad Street, Columbus, Ohio 43215
Website: Columbus Museum of Art
Central Ohio Fire Museum & Learning Center
Features: Stroll through a restored 1908 fire station. There’s a play area for kids.
Address: 260 N. Fourth Street, Columbus, Ohio 43215-2511
Website: Central Ohio Fire Museum & Learning Center
The Works (Newark)
Features: Ohio Center for History, Art, and Technology is just a short drive away!
Address: 55 S. 1st Street, Newark, Ohio 43055
Website: The Works
Other World
Features: Immersive Art Gallery with mystery and mixed reality playgrounds.
Address: 5819 Chantry Drive, Columbus, Ohio 43232
Website: The Other World
Nature Centers
There are several FREE Nature Centers in Columbus that have indoor play areas and many of them host events! Many metro parks have new playgrounds in 2023 as well!
Battelle Darby Creek
Location: Battelle Darby Creek
Blacklick Woods
Location: Reynoldsburg
Website: Blacklick Woods
See pictures and read more about the play area here: Blacklick Woods
Highbanks Metro Park
Location: Lewis Center
Website: Highbanks Metro Park
Scioto Grove
Location: near downtown
Website: Scioto Grove
Classes & Enrichment
Little Gym
Features: Unique educational classes that focus on movement and active play!
Address: 8645 Sancus Blvd., Columbus, Ohio 43240
Website: The Little Gym
Gymboree Play & Music
Features: Activities to develop cognitive, physical, and social skills for children as they play. They have play and learn classes, art classes and music classes.
Address: 1364 Cherry Bottom Road, Columbus, Ohio, 43230
Website: Gymboree Play & Music
Open Gyms
Integrity Athletics
Features: Open gym times for toddlers and school-age children. They also offer a variety of gymnastics and tumbling classes.
Address: 8181 Business Way, Plain City, Ohio, 43064
Website: Integrity Athletics
Gym Skills
Features: Open Gym, stay and play classes, monthly clinics, and camps at this interactive gym!
Address: 710 Cross Point Rd., Columbus, Ohio 43230
Website: Gym Skills
Be sure to check out our guide to Rec Center Roundup: Toddler Edition for a list of local open gyms!
Libraries
Northwest Library
Features: The Story Garden features characters from classic children’s literature, such as Cinderella, Corduroy and Humpty Dumpty. It also has the Three Bears Cottage, where children and parents can find a chair that’s just right for reading. There’s a case full of blocks, trucks and other little toys to play with.
Address: 2280 Hard Road, Columbus, Ohio 43235
Bexley Library
Website: Bexley Library
Grandview Heights Library
Website: Grandview Heights Library
Upper Arlington Library (Main)
Restaurants
Locations: Play area only at Sawmill Road
Locations: 3 Locations in Columbus
Locations: Several Locations in Columbus: be sure to check their website for open play areas near you!
Further Distances
Take a little drive and check out these indoor play areas:
Boonshoft Museum of Discovery (Dayton)
Little Buckeye Children’s Museum (Mansfield)
Mighty Children’s Museum (Chillicothe)
AHA! Children’s Museum (Lancaster)
When you feel like heading outdoors, be sure to check out the spectacular playgrounds that Columbus has to offer- Parks that Spark Imagination, 10 Parks to check out this Spring, or Get outside in Delaware County! Wherever the weather takes you and your family, we hope it’s full of fun and smiles!
Be sure to confirm the information with the business website as specials, hours and pricing can change for these indoor play areas.
 to have fun and burn off some energy, this resource is packed with indoor play area ideas.){kind=link}