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Trampoline Park vs. 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 NJ's best trampoline parks. 

RELATED: New Jersey Amusement Parks and Water Parks Guide

Airplay – Cliffwood Park

Altitude Trampoline Park – Woodbridge

Head to Altitude for wall-to-wall tramps, extreme dodgeball, tumble tracks, trampoline basketball, and a trapeze. Check the site for weekly deals and specials.

Club Air – Warren

This state-of-the-art indoor trampoline park offers 13 different activities like interactive attractions, augmented reality, obstacle courses, volleyball, and traverse rock climbing walls to name a few. Little ones can enjoy Toddler Time on Tuesday.

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 Kiddie Court is reserved for kids under 46" with a viewing area for parents. 

Rock 'n' Air Adventure Park – East Brunswick 

This 70,000-square-foot indoor park has it all. The huge facility features multiple trampolines, along with a ropes course, climbing wall, virtual reality games, and a three-level playground. Check out our recent review.

RELATED: Indoor Play Spaces for Kids in Northern New Jersey​​

Bouncing dodgeball is one of the activities at Rockin' Jump.

Rockin' Jump – Wayne

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

Sky Zone has a large freestyle jumping floor. Photo by the author

Sky Zone – Allendale, Maple Shade/Moorestown, Mt. Olive, Lakewood, South Plainfield, Pine Brook, Hamilton Township, Ocean Township, Rutherford, 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, a 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.

RELATED: Best Indoor Obstacle Courses for NJ Kids

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

Urban Air – Milltown, Avenel, Hackensack, Sicklerville, Lawrence Township, Toms River, and Hazlet (coming soon)

A springy tumble track and "drop zone" airbag 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 the website for weekly open jump sessions and special events. 

Xtreme Energy – Englewood

We had an awesome time on our recent visit to this indoor action center. In addition to a trampoline gride, there's a three-level climbing structure surrounded by foam and ball pits, a ropes course, a ninja course, rock climbing, virtual reality, and more.​

New Jersey's Best Bounce Houses 

Bounce City – Ringoes

This sweet bounce house spot is perfect for kids 10 and under. There are several bounce houses and obstacle courses for the perfect energy-filled play date.

Bounce Safari – Waldwick

In addition to regularly scheduled open bounce times, Bounce Safari hosts innovative programs like Lunch Bunch (90 minutes of bouncy fun, followed by a healthy lunch and storytime), Art Adventure, and Musical Safari. Registration is required for open bounce sessions and for all special programs.​ 

BounceU – 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.

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.  

Bounce and shoot hoops at Pump It Up.

Pump It Up – Blackwood, Roselle Park

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 top of another slide. Basketball hoops, air hockey, and foam construction blocks round out the fun. The Roselle Park location has a Ninja obstacle course outfitted with hanging bridges, slack lines, jungle swings, and cargo tube nets.

Safety First: What to Know Before You Go to a Trampoline Park or Bounce House

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! 

Unless noted, photos courtesy of the venues