Oh, the weather outside is frightful, and the kids are destroying my house and making me crazy. If your house is anything like mine in the winter, you’re alternating between hiding in the bathroom to get some peace and quiet and looking furiously for somewhere to go where the kids can release some energy. Search no more! We’ve compiled a list of the best indoor play areas in San Antonio. Let us know if we missed any!
Indoor Play Places and Bouncy Houses
5511 West Loop 1604 North, 78253 (Alamo Ranch Shopping Center near Best Buy), $10 per child, with options available for monthly and multi-day passes.
Pee Wee Bees is an indoor play area with toys and bouncy houses, as well as a snack bar for adults. Be prepared: it’s kind’of small and can get crowded. Best for younger kids (five and under).
7715 Mainland Road, 78250, $5 per child, $2.50 for infants 6–11 months
Indoor playground with age-specific play areas, bouncy houses, and a separate snack area with picnic tables and concessions available for purchase. Much larger than Pee Wee Bees.
Northwest—7723 Guilbeau Road, 78250; Northeast—14036 Nacogdoches, 78247, $6–$8 per child for Open Jump. See schedule for Open Jump hours and pricing.
Pump It Up has two large rooms filled with inflatables. Kids spend 45 minutes–one hour in each room (depending on Open Jump schedule). My three-year-old was pretty overwhelmed last time we visited; probably best for kids five and up.
Rolling Oaks Mall—6909 North Loop 1604 East, 78247; Wonderland of The Americas Mall—4522 Fredericksburg Road, 78201, $8 per child Monday–Friday, $10 per child on Saturday and Sunday.
Inflatable Wonderland is my favorite of the indoor play places. It’s huge, with several large age-specific play rooms that include mazes, bouncy houses, and even a movie theater. There is a large concession area, and the facility is clean and well monitored.
4902 Fredericksburg Road, 78229, ages six and under: $10 for one hour, $15 for two hours; ages seven and over: $13 for one hour, $20 for two hours
Thin Air is an “Extreme Air Sports” park, with large trampolines and Ninja warrior-style obstacle courses.
1145 Loop 337, Suite 200, New Braunfels, 78130, children 12 months–10 years: $8; free for kids under 12 months.
Large bounce houses, toys, and seating area for adults. Bring socks!
7702 North IH-35, 78218, kids six and under: $10 for one hour, $15 for all day; kids seven and over: $12 for one hour, $20 for all day
Trampoline playground with trampoline basketball and dodgeball courts. Also has toddler village and large inflatables.
6700 IH-35, New Braunfels, 78130, $12 for a session (two hours) or $20 for all day.
16,000-square foot indoor trampoline park with separate game room and concession area. Located at Texas Ski Ranch.
11075 IH-10 West, Suite 126, 78230
An indoor jumping mecca, Altitude boasts clean and safe facilities. There are several trampoline areas, a foam pit, a basketball court and 2 dodgeball courts. Check out toddler time for kids 5 and under on weekday mornings.
910 SE Military, $11/hour or $30/unlimited jumping
Located next to Pica Pica plaza, families can play basketball or dodgeball, or just work on their jumping skills at Flip’z.
Tumbleweeds of San Antonio
8301 Speedway Dr, 78230. Open Monday-Thursday from 10-5 for open play, $5 per child
Indoor play that has everything from a zip line to a media room. Also has kitchen area with wifi for parents.
11791 Bandera Road, Suite 79100B, 78250 (opening 2017) and 8600 Fourwinds Drive, Suite 8510 A, 78239
Urban Air has a plethora of trampolines as well as an enclosed playground and indoor coaster.
2267 NW Military, 78213, $8.99 for kids
18 hole, glow-in-the-dark mini golf course.
Gymnastics Open Gym
Many gymnastics studios have open play hours during the week when kiddos can play on the equipment. This has been one of my family’s favorite activities since moving to San Antonio.
7903 Mainland, 78250
Fridays at 11:00 A.M., Saturdays at 12:30 P.M., $6 for non-members, $3 for members
10229 Culebra Rd., 78251
Mondays at 11:30 A.M., $5 per child for ages five and under
4335 Vance Jackson, 78230 and 17361 Bell North, Schertz, 78154
Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 10:00–11:30 A.M. (Schertz location), Fridays from 10:00–11:30 A.M. (San Antonio), $5 per child for ages six and under
16665 Huebner Road, 78248
Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 10:00–11:00 A.M., $5 per child
6925 East Sunbelt Drive, 78218
Mondays and Wednesdays at 10:30 A.M., Mondays at 12:30 P.M., Saturdays at 9:00 A.M., $5 per child
14242 Cross Canyon, 78232
Thursdays at 10:30 A.M., Saturdays at 1:00 P.M., $5 per child
5500 Babcock, 78240
Wednesdays and Fridays at 10:00 A.M., $4 for first child, $2 for additional children
Story times
Looking for something a little quieter and calmer? Check out the following story times. Most feature a story and a craft or two. Unless otherwise noted, they are free.
Check website for the location and time nearest you. Most have story times for specific age groups, and there are usually some in the evening for working parents.
Check website for locations and times. Best for ages 2–6.
Miss Anastasia’s Storytime at the Twig
The Twig Book Shop, 306 Pearl Parkway, 78215
Fridays at 10:30 A.M.
Movies
Sometimes all you want to do is sit in a quiet, dark room for a few hours. The following theaters are great options.
At all movies starting before 2:00 P.M. on Tuesdays, guests are invited to bring babies. The lights will be up and the sound will be down so babies aren’t frightened.
Every Wednesday at 11:00 A.M., Santikos Silverado 16 and the Santikos Embassy Theater will feature a PG, PG-13, or R-rated movie for babies and their caregivers. Sound will be down and the lights will be up. Regular admission tickets are required, but children three and under are free.
Tuesdays are discount days at Cinemark 16 (5063 NW Loop 410, 78229). All movies are $1.25 per ticket. Cinemark McCrellas Market (4224 S New Braunfels Ave., 78223) has $4.50 tickets on Tuesdays as well.
We hope this helps you survive the dark, cold days of winter!
THIS IS MOST IMPORTANT THING ON THE INTERNET TODAY. Thank you!!!!!!!
I’m with you girl. Although I’m so cold today I don’t even want to walk to the car.
Funtastic PlayLand is the best! WE went one summer and spent hours there.
Thanks for including Utopia Play Cafe ! As we our new, I thought I’d clarify $13.50 is drop in child care, we’ll watch your little ones:) We also have $6 open play days and can host meetup groups.
Thanks for clarifying, Jocelyn!
There is also a small indoor free playground at Rolling Oaks Mall near the Inflatable Playland.
I didn’t know that! There is one in North Star Mall and Ingram Park Mall as well. Thanks for the tip!