20 Best Indoor Play Places In Austin For Toddlers and Young Kids
The days are long, especially when it’s too hot/rainy/cold to comfortably play outside. So, what’s a parent to do? Find some cool indoor play places in Austin for toddlers! There are a ton of them. I’ve been through the parenting ringer with two toddlers of my own, so I’ve scoped out every single indoor play place in Austin. I’m so happy to share a map of all of my favorites with you!
About me: I’m Kelsey, a bestselling travel book author and the creator of 3 Texas travel websites. As a native Texan, I spend my own time and money exploring this state to help millions of readers find the best food, things to do, places to stay in Austin and beyond. Check out my other sites: TheSanAntonioThings.com and TheWacoThings.com!
There are a few options when it comes to indoor play places in Austin:
- Official indoor parks. These include indoor climbing gyms, amazing inflatable parks, and epic trampoline parks. All of these places typically cost somewhere around $20 per person, so I like to save these for special occasions rather than daily play. They’re great for when you need something to do with kids on a rainy day in Austin.
- Unofficial indoor play spaces. Cool spots like public libraries, hidden play nooks inside coffee shops, and indoor mall playgrounds. (Yes, very 90s vibes, but you can find one of these in Austin!)
I’ll include all of my favorites below. Use the map to find an indoor play place near you, or read on for a few insider details about each location.
The Best Indoor Play Places In Austin
1. Catch Air
“Mama, can we go to Catch Air?” My two boys request Catch Air more than any other indoor play space in Austin, which is why I’m including it first. We can spend so much time here! It’s an epic indoor park with huge climbing features, slides, interactive light exhibits, and a really big enclosed area that’s just for ages 4 & under.
Yes, there’s a fee to play here, but they don’t require you to purchase expensive branded socks. (Socks are required though - bring some from home!) When I’m feeling really exhausted yet we still have the full day looming ahead of us (parents, I know you know the feeling…) Catch Air is a great place to bring my children, let them run and play indoors for a few hours, while I sit and read a book or catch up on emails.
And truth be told, sometimes I play with them. 😉 This place is so much fun!
WEBSITE | 13450 N Highway US183, STE107, Austin, TX 78750
2. Indigo Play
Indigo Play is very similar to Catch Air, and they’re both even located in the same part of town. The biggest difference is that Indigo Play is mostly one giant three-story climbing structure, and Catch Air is spread out in a bigger space. So I think my children enjoy Catch Air a bit for the ages 3+ crowd.
If you’re deciding whether to go to Indigo Play or Catch Air, here’s the difference: Catch Air is better for slightly older kids (maybe ages 3 and older) because it’s a little bit more spread out for free roaming and climbing, and if you’re looking for something to do in Austin with a toddler - like a true toddler who toddles - the babies area at Indigo Play is a calmer but still really cute. The babies area at Catch Air is zoned for ages 4 & under, so it can still get a little rowdy and crazy in there. Hope that helps!
WEBSITE | 13530 Research Blvd, Suite 102 Austin, TX 78750
3. Pikopye’s Town
Oh I love Pikopye’s Town! It’s the sweetest little “town” that’s all designed for toddler-sized bodies. There’s a little road, a little grocery store, a little café, a little car mechanic, a little post office…you get the idea.
You have to reserve a play session, and those rainy day time slots go really fast because this is one of the most popular indoor play places in Austin for toddlers! If you have your children at home with you and you wake up to a rainy day, get online to the Pikopye’s website ASAP and snag one of those play spots.
Pikopye’s Town has two locations in Austin.
WEBSITE | Two (2) location
4. Play Street Museum
Play Street Museum is a franchise with locations all over the United States (unlike Pikopye’s Town, which is local to Austin.) However, they’re very similar concepts! Play Street Museum has a little “town” where children can go play at the ice cream shop, the grocery store, and even play in a pretend fire truck with a fire hose.
If you’re deciding between Pikopye’s Town and Play Street Museum, the biggest difference is that play times at Pikopye’s are 2 hours versus Play Street Museum’s 90 minute time slots. Also, Pikopye’s Town is really focused on the “little town” aspect, and Play Street Museum also has a big arts and craft area, a life-sized recycle truck that children can play in, and a huge wooden train track in the middle of the room. Also, Pikopye’s Town is socks only, and Play Street Museum is a place where you keep shoes on.
WEBSITE | 5601 Brodie Ln, Sunset Valley, TX 78745
5. Mt Playmore
Mount Playmore is the largest indoor playspace in Texas, so if you’re looking for something to do indoors with kids in Austin…this is it! It’s really fun for bigger kids (I’d say age 3 is a sweet spot), but I’ve brought my children here when they were younger and they still had a great time in the baby zone!
Another reason why Mt Playmore is great for slightly more independent kids? They have a bunch of comfy massage chairs for the parents! So if your children are at the age where you can just let them run free and play and don’t need that constant care that a 2-year-old needs, you’ll be able to sit and relax for a couple of hours while your kids play. {Photo: Rachel G., Yelp}
WEBSITE | 13609 North IH 35 Building 3, Austin, TX 78753
6. Splash Shack in Cedar Park
Splash Shack is SO much fun, and it’s pretty reasonably priced! I didn’t include Kalahari Waterpark on this guide (it’s in Round Rock and it’s a total blast but SO expensive!), but Splash Shack made the cut because 1) it’s an indoor thing to do with toddlers in Austin, and 2) it’s not crazy expensive.
It’s small-ish, but it’s the perfect size for an indoor waterpark adventure when it’s rainy or cold outside and you still want to have fun splashing and going down waterslides.
WEBSITE | 1801 Clover Lane Cedar Park, TX 78613
7. Altitude Trampoline Park
After Catch Air, this is probably the second most requested indoor play space from my two boys. They absolutely LOVE the trampoline park! Note that Urban Air is also a similar concept.
This is one of those annoying places where you have to buy their branded Altitude sticky socks (no, your other sticky socks with another brand on them won’t work…) Besides that one annoyance which kind of irks me, Altitude is lots of fun. I like that you can pay for how much time you need. We usually do 90 minutes or two hours, depending on the time of day.
There’s a large area that’s reserved for young children. It’s a nice way to make sure your little ones can bounce safely without big teenagers playing crazy nearby!
WEBSITE | Two (2) location
8. Figment Creative Labs
Figment Creative Labs is the sweetest place to color, paint, and just get creative! If you’re like me and love the “art” factor of art but hate the “mess” factor of art, you might want to reserve a session here for your little one. They have various toddler programs and music classes designed for little ones.
WEBSITE | 7809 Brodie Lane Austin, Texas 78745
9. Almost Grown Play Café
This is another one of those little “towns” that are specifically designed for toddlers….but this one is out in Dripping Springs. It’s a sweet space that’s set up for imaginative, open play.
In addition to being an indoor play space, Almost Grown is also a full restaurant and an ice cream shop. You can blend play time with lunch time all in one fun outing.
WEBSITE | 18901 Hamilton Pool Rd. Dripping Springs, TX 78620
10. Family Barn (Georgetown)
Book a 2-hour play session at this adorable indoor play space in Georgetown for your little ones. Family Barn is a cute little “town” with roads and tiny cars and a pretend gas pump, as well as an inflatable bounce house, foam blocks, and all sorts of toddler-friendly activities. This is a great spot for very young babies and toddlers, and they limit it to ages 6 & under.
There’s a café adjacent to the play space where you can get a latte while you sit and relax and watch your little one play nearby. Family Barn is a really sweet spot!
WEBSITE | Family Barn 1231 Leander Rd Georgetown, Texas 78628
11. Inflatable Wonderland
Inflatable Wonderland is a CRAZY time, but it’s loads of fun if your toddlers are old enough (probably 3+ for this one!). It’s similar to Catch Air or Indigo Play in that it’s a really big space with lots of places to climb, bounce, slide, and run.
WEBSITE | Lakeline Mall 11200 Lakeline Mall Dr Cedar Park, TX
12. Thinkery
Thinkery, the Children’s Museum of Austin Texas, is probably one of my most-visited places with my children. It is SO sweet, so gentle and lovely, and it has a lot of fun indoor activities.
But I would be remiss if I didn’t tell you that the outdoor component of the Thinkery is my boys’ favorite part of the museum. So if you’re already paying for tickets here, I recommend going on a day when you can also play outside.
However, if you need a good indoor activity with toddlers in Austin, the Thinkery certainly fits the bill!
WEBSITE | 1830 Simond Ave Austin, Texas 78723
13. Little Land Play Gym
There are several Little Land Play Gym locations in the greater Austin area, so look for one near you. It’s a children’s gym that’s designed for pediatric therapy and development. This means that, instead of just a bunch of random equipment thrown together, it’s all artfully and specifically designed with one-of-a-kind equipment for purposeful play
I’ve utilized Little Land Play Gym’s half day camp on days when I need some extra childcare for my boys, and they have absolutely loved it! They also offer drop-in play.
WEBSITE | 200 Buttercup Creek Blvd, Suite 104 Cedar Park, TX 78613
14. My Gym Children’s Fitness Center
Another phenomenal little indoor play gym for kids in Austin! This one also has camps and classes (it’s an excellent option when AISD is out of school because they line up their half-day camps with those out of school days), but they also have a drop-in fee that’s pretty reasonable. Perfect for a rainy day in Austin when you need some fun indoor play space time for your toddler.
WEBSITE | 5307 W US HWY 290 Service Road • AUSTIN, TX 78735
15. Living Spaces Furniture Store
Wait…a furniture store? Yes! Living Spaces is a furniture store that’s designed for the whole family, which means they added this epic two-story playscape here. You can shop for furniture…or just escape the heat and enjoy some indoor play time with your little one.
WEBSITE | Address
16. Austin Public Library
My love for the cool Austin public library branches is no surprise, so this is clearly one of my favorite indoor things to do with toddlers in Austin. I love to visit the big epic Central Library downtown when we want to do story time, play with the life-size chess pieces, or just climb the 5-story floating staircase. And when I’m looking for something a bit more low-key, the neighborhood library branches are lots of fun. Click here to read about a few of my favorite ones.
WEBSITE | 710 W. César Chávez St.
17. An Austin Coffee Shop With A Play Space
When you’re looking for free things to do indoors with toddlers in Austin, one of the best options is to find a coffee shop that has a play space. This is an excellent thing to do with very young children, like ages 1-2! (I’ve found that around age 4-5 my children outgrow this activity.)
Here’s a map that I made with all of the coffee shops in Austin that have play spaces.
18. Disney play space at Barton Creek Mall
Yes, it will feel like you’re stepping right back to the 1990s, but the Disney play space at Barton Creek Mall has saved me on multiple scalding hot afternoons when I’m sick of being trapped at home with toddlers. It’s air conditioned, it’s always open when the mall is open, and it’s FREE!
WEBSITE | 2901 S Capital of Texas Hwy Austin, TX 78746
19. Children’s Play Area at Lakeline Mall
Yes, it will feel like you’re stepping right back to the 1990s, but the Disney play space at Barton Creek Mall has saved me on multiple scalding hot afternoons when I’m sick of being trapped at home with toddlers. It’s air conditioned, it’s always open when the mall is open, and it’s FREE!
WEBSITE | 11200 Lakeline Mall Dr Cedar Park, TX 78613
20. Austin Bouldering Project
There are two locations of Austin Bouldering Project, and either one is an excellent option for indoor play in ATX! This is an excellent option for slightly older kids (maybe 5+?) and minors must be accompanied by an adult. They even have classes and youth programs here!
WEBSITE | two locations
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