Best Family Fun Centers and Indoor Amusement Parks in NYC

Urban Air Adventure Park is much more than a typical trampoline park, with ropes courses, climbers, VR, and more.  Photo by Diana Kim
Urban Air Adventure Park is much more than a typical trampoline park, with ropes courses, climbers, VR, and more. Photo by Diana Kim
7/19/24 - By Rosalind Muggeridge

We've rounded up the best family fun centers and indoor amusement parks in New York City so active kids—and their parents—can enjoy an indoor escape while still blowing off some steam. There's no need to compromise on wild romping at these family fun centers.

From bounce houses to trampolines to obstacle courses and arcades, we've got you covered for all the fun your kids need. And, if you have a family birthday coming up, most of these spots also host parties. Find more romping spots for all ages in our NYC Kids' Guide to Indoor Play Spaces and Fun Zones.

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Fair warning: Many family fun centers and indoor amusement parks in NYC require reservations, so be sure to plan your outings accordingly.

Best Family Fun Centers and Indoor Amusement Parks in Manhattan

1. Complete Playground – Financial District

This nonprofit organization is dedicated to providing a supportive, inclusive, and fun environment for children of all ability levels to play and learn, including those with sensory disorders, ADHD, and learning disabilities. Its 40,000-square-foot, three-floor playground features an obstacle course, slides, swings, rings, balls, ladders, beams, nets, bridges, and tunnels. The open play area for children ages 1-17 is available every weekday and weekend for a two-hour session.

2. New York Ninja Academy – Midtown West

This ninja warrior obstacle training facility offers classes for kids and adults of all levels. Fans of American Ninja Warrior love that they get to train on ninja warrior obstacles like the ones seen on the show, and parents love the high-level coaching. Private training, ninja fitness, and parkour are also available. If you're in Brooklyn, take note: A very popular outpost has also opened there.

3. Chelsea Piers – Chelsea

The ever-popular Chelsea Piers offers plenty of room to stretch and play for all ages. The toddler gym caters to the preschool set, while kids ages 5 and older can run their hearts out on the soccer fields, basketball courts, rock walls, and in the 23,000-square-foot gymnastic area. A smaller Brooklyn outpost is now open in Prospect Heights.

Best Family Fun Centers and Indoor Amusement Parks in Brooklyn

4. Ferox Ninja Park – Greenpoint

The biggest professional ninja training facility on the East Coast for adults and kids, this 40,000-square-foot space includes ninja warrior courses and obstacles, a pro calisthenics setup, a modular parkour setup designed for people of any skill level, a massive trampoline arena, and a full-size cafe and juice bar. The venue is best for kids ages 3 and up. Two-hour, open-play passes are available throughout the week.

5. Area 53 – Williamsburg

This huge indoor adventure park's activities are spread over two levels in a cavernous industrial space in Williamsburg. There's something for everyone here: a ropes course, climbing wall, roller rink, ninja warrior course, laser maze, battle beam, skeeball, pool, foosball, air hockey, and slides. There's even a small area for little ones, with swings and large building blocks.

6. Urban Air – Sunset Park

This action-packed indoor fun zone in Industry City includes tons of trampolines, a soaring ropes course, battle beams, and a little-kid-friendly indoor playground. There are also climbing walls, dodgeball arenas, a slam-dunk zone, and VR games all of which make it a great spot for a mixed-age crowd.

Best Family Fun Centers and Indoor Amusement Parks in Queens

7. Kanga's Indoor Play Center – Long Island City

This indoor playground has plenty of room for kids ages 1-11 to get their wiggles out. Various indoor playground features, including slides and multiple inflatable bouncy houses, provide plenty of play options for kids. Parents of little ones love the toddler play area, which is well-padded and sectioned off from the busier areas older kids use. Walk-ins are welcome.

8. Bounce 'N Play – Astoria

This 6,000-square-foot play center accommodates children of all ages. The space boasts inflatables, a toddler area, a three-level soft-play gym, giant slides, obstacle courses, a rock-climbing wall, three bouncy houses, a carousel, and arcades. Check the website for its open-play calendar.

9. Launch Trampoline Park – Howard Beach

Much more than just an awesome trampoline park, Launch is an indoor entertainment center with activities, including dodgeball, a ninja warrior course, a rock-climbing wall, a battle pit, basketball, and arcades. The venue also hosts an epic teen night with glow-in-the-dark parties complete with black lights, glow-in-the-dark body paint, music, and special appearances from local DJs. General admission tickets allow you to customize your visit to pay for only what you want.

Best Family Fun Centers and Indoor Amusement Parks in Staten Island and the Bronx

10. Kids 'N Shape – Tottenville, Staten Island

This 5,000-square-foot play area has super-fun kids attractions, including a bounce house, ball pit, 32-foot inflatable obstacle course, a zip line, air hockey, and more. We also love that there is a big open space for free play equipped with scooters, balls, and soft play equipment. Two-hour open-play spots are available by reservation. A second location is open in Howard Beach, Queens.

11. Billy Beez – Co-op City, the Bronx

Billy Beez is one of the few indoor play spaces in the Bronx, and it's well worth a visit. This indoor playground is filled with tunnels to crawl through, ropes to swing on, ball pits to jump into, and plenty of slides. Most of the park can be enjoyed by kids ages 1-17, while the Mini Beez area is dedicated to infants and toddlers.

Family Fun Centers and Indoor Amusement Parks with Various NYC Locations

12. Chuck E. Cheese

Many parents have done their fair share of attending birthday parties at this entertainment restaurant. Founded in 1977, the national chain has multiple locations in NYC and features arcade games, small amusement rides, animatronic musical shows, and appearances by the main character and mascot, Chuck E. Cheese. Kids chow down on pizza and other food items while playing arcade games to rack up tickets to trade in for small prizes. There's no need to make a reservation, just drop in.

13. Dave and Busters

This family-friendly chain offers a sports bar-style setting where families can enjoy standard American fare, including pasta, burgers, steaks, seafood, chicken, and desserts at its full-service restaurant. The main draw is the video arcade—called the "Million Dollar Midway"—it features many retro and new video games. Though the games are geared more toward tweens to early 20s, younger kids can find games to play. If you go in the afternoon or early evening, you'll see many younger teens; late evening draws the older teens and the college-age set. No need to make reservations for drop-in guests. Buy a game card from the check-in desk or use the app beforehand.

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