Looking to bowl for free all summer long? Sign up for the nationwide Kids Bowl Free Program and get free bowling at participating locations across the country.

Brooklyn Bowl—Fishtown

Brooklyn Bowl is a lively 24-lane bowling alley and music event venue with occasional family friendly concerts and bowling days. Family-oriented events usually occur on Saturdays and offer parents and kids the opportunity to enjoy bowling and music together. Check the calendar or call before you go as many events are for adults only.

Achieve your new personal best score while having the time of your life bowling at Round1. Photo courtesy of Round1

Round 1—Center City

This bowling alley and arcade is located in the Fashion District and boasts over 60,000 square feet of fun, including bowling lanes, an arcade, karaoke, a snack bar with a full menu, and pool tables. Lanes can be rented out for birthday parties as well. 

PEP Bowl—South Philly

PEP Bowl is currently closed for upgrades and renovations. Please check the website or call for updates.
Bowl for a cause at PEP Bowl. Programs Employing People is a nonprofit corporation providing a full range of vocational, employment, day training and educational opportunities for individuals with developmental disabilities. PEP Bowl is centrally located at Broad and Federal Streets, but its entrance can be a little difficult to find. Guests have to enter through iron gates into the courtyard on Federal Street and take the staircase down by the neon PEP Bowl sign. Call ahead if you’re planning to go because those lanes fill up quickly. Birthday party packages are available.

Lucky Strike—Center City

It might look more like a night club than a bowling alley, but Lucky Strike is a great place to take the kids. In addition to the 24 bowling lanes, all of which have automatic bumpers that adjust for each player, there’s also billiards, ping pong, and a shuffleboard table. The bowling alley opens at 4pm during the week, and 2pm on weekends. After 8pm, the lanes are 21+. Birthday packages are available and include food and drinks.

Have fun with family and friends at these great bowling alleys in Philly and beyond. Photo by the author

South Bowl—South Philly

Along with its counterpart, North Bowl, South Bowl definitely caters to a hip crowd. Weekdays it opens at 4pm with happy hour until 6pm. To encourage parents to bring the kids, on weekends, children under 12 get free shoe rentals, however the lane turns 21+ after 8pm. The lanes are available to rent for birthday parties and private events via their website.

North Bowl—North Philly

With a distinctive retro feel, everyone will have a ball at this converted garage space. Like its sister, South Bowl, North Bowl is a nightlife destination as well as a bowling alley. That means it's a bit cooler than your typical bowling alley, with its upstairs lounge, small set of lanes, and bar, all overlooking the main floor below. The lanes here are also 21+ after 8pm and available to rent for birthday parties and private events via their website.

Playhouse Lanes—Drexel Hill

Playhouse Lanes caters to all ages. The littlest bowling enthusiasts will love the bumpers, light balls, and dragon ramps, while the older kids will like glow bowling where the overhead lights turn down and the lanes start to glow. There’s even a Pizza Bowl Special on Friday and Saturday nights from 6-9pm- with pizza, soda, shoe rentals, and one hour of bowling. Birthday parties are available and include pizza and soda.

Wynnewood Lanes—Ardmore

A big bowling alley with 24 lanes, Wynnewood Lanes is an easy choice for bowling with the kids. On-site covered parking, a lounge, bumper lanes, and bowling ball ramp for kids guarantees a fun afternoon. Wynnewood Lanes offers birthday packages, which include pizza and soda.

Westbrook Lanes has plenty of bumper bowling lanes just for kids! Photo courtesy of Westbrook Lanes

Westbrook Lanes—Brooklawn, NJ

Take a short drive over to New Jersey for Westbrook Lanes. It caters to families and with 42 lanes, you're almost guaranteed a lane no matter how busy it is. All of the lanes have optional bumpers for the littlest bowlers. It also has dragon ramps, light balls, and arcade games. Special packages including bowling, pizza, and shoe rental are available, so the whole family can bowl together. Kids' birthday parties are available.

Our Town Alley—East Norriton

Open from 7am to 1am daily, Facenda Whitaker features a total of 50 lanes! This bowling alley also has an arcade and a sports bar for the adults. Dyno ramps and shoe rentals are free for kids under 12. Birthday party packages include two and a half hours of bowling, free shoe rentals, and arcade cards.

MacDade Bowl—Holmes

This family-friendly bowling alley offers plenty of bumper lanes, and is BYOB. For older kids, this bowling alley also offers Saturday night Glow Bowling with loud music, haze machines, and lots of lights. Birthday parties include bowling, a party room, pizza, drinks, and more. 

Originally published in 2016. Updated with additional reporting by Nicole O'Donnell in 2023.