Jumping and flipping at one of New Jersey's many indoor trampoline parks or bounce houses is a fun way to keep energetic kids busy. Whether you are planning a birthday party, looking for a rainy day activity, or just burning off energy, springy trampolines and inflatable bouncers are sure winners. 

Find more active fun in our Guide to NJ Kids' Sports Centers, Gyms, and Fun Zones.

Trampoline park or bounce house—what's the difference? 

Most trampoline parks feature huge grids of rectangular trampolines so kids can leap side by side or bounce from one trampoline bed to another, and many have angled trampoline walls, so they can literally bounce off the walls. Foam pits filled with thousands of soft blocks invite younger kids to jump in with flying leaps and flips. Throw in some dodgeball and trampoline basketball courts, and older kids will be entertained for hours.

Inflatable bounce houses feature obstacle courses with climbers and slides, padded jousting rings, and bouncy basketball hoops. Some include laser tag and arcade games as an added bonus, and all offer party packages. Some facilities host teen jump parties on weekend nights, with the music turned up and lights dimmed for laser shows. On quieter weekdays, many jump zones offer toddler-only sessions, and some trampoline parks have begun weekday "air"obics classes for adults, with instructors leading a group in bouncing, balancing fitness routines set to music. 

Read on to learn about 12 of NJ's best bounce spots. 

Air Trampoline Sports – Aberdeen
Wall-to-wall trampolines, air basketball hoops, and a dodgeball court are highlights at this jumping spot, along with weekly toddler time and twice-monthly special needs sessions. For teens, After Dark dance parties are held on weekend nights with music, light shows, and dodgeball. Snacks at the Rocket Fuel cafe include pizza, hot pretzels, churros and Icees. 

Altitude Trampoline Park – Hainesport
The main court features more than 40 trampolines plus bounce-off side walls. An adjacent zone has "performance" trampolines that provide an extra-high bounce, propelling kids over walls and obstacles. A trapeze swing is suspended above a foam pit for your little acrobats to try flying. Helmets are required for battle beam jousts, in which kids try to knock each other into the foam pit with padded battering rams. Dodgeall, bounce basketball, fitness classes, and a younger kids' area round out the offerings. 

Get Air – Freehold and Mays Landing
Large trampolines bordered in neon yellow on the primary jumping floor allow plenty of room for flips, cartwheels, and airborne tricks. Vertical trampolines, a dodgeball court, basketball hoops, and individual trampolines are also on the main floor. Tumble tracks, ladders, and foam pits are equipped with video monitors, so kids can watch their moves on the big screen. The Small Air court is reserved for kids under 46" with a viewing area for parents. 

RELATED: Indoor Play Spaces for Kids in Northern New Jersey

Everybody gets space to bounce on High Elevations's huge trampoline grid.

High Elevations – Sewell
A side-by-side trampoline grid with angled wall trampolines allows kids to bounce with friends or get above the rim at one of four slam-dunk courts. A foam pit filled with 7,000 cubes welcomes kids of all ages. Weekly JumpFit classes for adults emphasize aerobics and plyometrics, and DJ tween nights include laser shows. 

Rebounderz – Edison
Open jump space, airborne dodgeball, slam-dunk basketball, and bouncing laser tag are some of the attractions at this indoor trampoline spot that's ideal for school-age kids. An arcade and indoor playground provide post-jump entertainment and cool-down, and a cafe serves basic fare. Summer camp sessions will be announced soon. 

Bouncing dodgeball is part of the fun at Rockin' Jump.

Rockin' Jump – Wayne
Ninja obstacles, a vertical wall with multiple climbing lanes, a foam cube pit and free jump zone will keep kids busy at this new spot near Willowbrook Mall. Bouncing dodgeball and slam-dunk hoops add to the fun. Birthday parties, free wi-fi and a cafe are also available. 

Sky Zone – Allendale, Mt. Olive, Moorestown, Lakewood, South Plainfield, Pine Brook, Hamilton Township, Ocean Township and Springfield  
This pioneering indoor trampoline park with nine New Jersey locations features a massive freestyle jumping floor, tumble track, Sky Hoops, Ultimate Dodgeball, a huge foam pit, wobbly sky ladder, and a curved, warped wall that kids can try to scale. The lobby offers arcade games and a cafe. Party rooms can accommodate large groups. The newest location, on Route 22 in Springfield, opened in February 2018.

Kids can test speed, strength, agility, and stamina in Urban Air's Warrior Course. 

Urban Air – Milltown
A springy tumble track and "drop zone" air bag landing make this spot ideal for practicing airborne tricks. Walls and floors of trampolines, a warrior obstacle course, and a foam pit battle beam will attract older kids, while the "Tubes" indoor playground is restricted to children 9 and younger. Check website for weekly open jump sessions and special events. 

Bounce Houses 

Bounce Factory – Warren
Monster-sized inflatables feature obstacle courses, climbing walls, and many slides, in addition to a Velcro wall and oversized jousting gloves. A two-story laser tag room is also available for kids age 7 and up.  

BounceU – Cherry Hill, Blackwood, Eatontown, Marlboro, Paramus, West Windsor
Geared toward birthday parties and themed open-bounce sessions, this jumping emporium is especially good for younger kids. Scheduled events include preschool play dates, kids' night out, and family bounce, as well as character sessions with Elmo, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and Jake and the Neverland Pirates, followed by a craft project and snacks. Tea party and Lego-themed events are also on the calendar. 

Jumping Jungle – East Brunswick 
This birthday party bounce zone features inflatable slides, tunnels, pop-up obstacles, and a "rock" wall, in addition to a soccer target. Laser tag can be added to party packages. A weekly open jump schedule with weekend sessions is updated online.  

RELATED: Best Indoor Obstacle Courses for NJ Kids

Bounce and shoot hoops at Pump It Up.

Pump It Up – Blackwood, Freehold, Hamilton, Lakewood, Marlton, Piscataway, Randolph, Roselle Park, Secaucus
Floor-to-ceiling inflatables in two different rooms keep kids moving. They can climb up a slippery rope ladder to slide down a huge chute, or duck under obstacles to crawl up to the the top of another slide. Basketball hoops, air hockey, and foam construction blocks round out the fun. The Roselle Park location recently opened a Ninja obstacle course outfitted with hanging bridges, slack lines, jungle swings, and cargo tube nets.

Safety First

Before kids can go airborne, parents or caregivers are required to sign safety waivers, which can be filled out online in advance and kept on file to save time. Staff members monitor the trampolines and bounce surfaces to ensure jumpers follow all safety guidelines, so be sure to remind your kids of the rules before they jump. Check websites for each facility's hours, open jump times, pricing and special events, including toddler-only time, parents' nights out, and sensory-friendly jump sessions. And don't forget socks! 

Top photo: Climb, bounce and jump at Urban Air. Photos courtesy of the venues.