Bounce Houses in NYC: BounceU and Other Indoor Places for Kids to Jump Around

[UPDATED: JANUARY 14, 2013]

As the parent of a hop-happy toddler, I can tell you that nothing excites my son like a big old bounce house. These inflatable favorites are a staple of outdoor festivals and street fairs but it's such a bummer waiting on a long line to then shell out $2 or more for a two-minute session. Luckily NYC is home to several bounce house play spaces. These spots offer all kinds of inflatable fun such as long bouncy slides, tunnels and obstacle courses. And best of all, they host open bounce sessions, letting your kids jump all they want for one low price.

BounceU
This national chain has two locations in New York City. Each outpost features a wide array of inflatables available for play, from traditional bounce houses, slides and tunnels to climbing frames and other activities. Both locations are popular spots for birthday parties, but they also offer classes and drop-in open bounce sessions throughout the week. Plus there are special programs like Preschool Playdates, Family Bounce Nights and Cosmic Bounce Nights.

BounceU Brooklyn – Dyker Heights
6722 Fort Hamilton Parkway between 67th and 68th Streets, second floor
All Ages Open Bounce, Preschool Playdate and Family Bounce Night are all $15 per child and free for adults and non-walking infants. Discounts are available if you purchase multiple sessions in advance. Caregivers are required to stay on premises and a non-refundable payment is needed to secure your reservation. Visit the website for a complete schedule.

BounceU Queens – College Point
Whitepoint Center, 132-25 14th Avenue between 132nd Street and 133rd Place
Open Bounce, Preschool Bounce and Family Bounce Night are all $12.99 per child and free for adults and children under 2 years. This location also offers specials like Saturday Sunrise Bounce and Cosmic Open Bounce. During the summer, kids can enroll in a Create and Bounce Camp, featuring afternoons of jumping and themed crafts. Visit the website for a complete schedule.

BounceU also has locations on Long Island, in New Jersey and across the country.

Although BounceU has a monopoly on bounce house play in NYC, you don't have to travel too far outside the city to find similar businesses. Popular options include:

House of Bounce – Wall, NJ
5100 Belmar Boulevard, Suite 9
$8.41 per child for open bounce

Pump It Up – Secaucus, NJ
301 Penhorn Avenue, Unit #5
$10 per child for open bounce

Jump! Zone – Hillsborough, NJ
6 Jill Court, Building 23
$8 per child for open play Wednesday-Thursday, $10 per child Friday-Sunday

Looking for even more bouncy fun? Our Long Island and New Jersey sites both have roundups of indoor play spaces, many of which feature inflatable fun.

For more indoor fun, check out our Indoor Activity Guide.