Teen Birthday Party Ideas in DC: Escape Rooms

1. Escape the Room DC — ​Washington, DC

This party venue encourages thrill-seekers to "dress the part" for their next adventure. Come dressed as a spy or a bank robber to help set the mood for this great escape. Add well-styled party guests to an elaborately staged room and you have the recipe for an epic party. Teens will have just one hour to use maps, riddles, puzzles, and clues to solve the room's mystery. Escape the Room DC has two convenient locations for your teen's next party: Penn Quarter and Midtown.

2. Escapology — Bethesda, MD and Fairfax, VA

At Escapology's Bethesda location teens can choose from one of four well-themed rooms, including an immersive experience on Air Force One where they can play the role of a secret service agent. The location does not offer birthday packages, but each private room is wheelchair accessible and accommodates up to 11 players. The Fairfax location offers two-hour birthday parties that include one hour of game play followed by one hour of party time. Pizza, cupcakes, and juice boxes are all included. The best part is that tweens and teens up to age 14 can choose to play any of the rooms in Kid Mode, meaning they'll receive unlimited clues from staffers via walkie talkie.

3. Bonds Escape Room — Fairfax and Arlington, VA

Billed as the largest escape room on the East Coast, Bonds Escape Room has 14 themed rooms to choose from, including the Oval Office in the White House and the console of a spaceship. Escape rooms are ranked for difficulty from one to five locks; the easiest room, Art Attack, includes a "splatter room" for the ultimate immersive experience (you'll need a shower cap for this one). Birthday packages are two hours and include the use of a VIP party room to enjoy pizza and beverages (included), plus a one-hour game to be enjoyed before or after the party.

4. 5 Wits Arlington — Arlington, VA

Located in Ballston Quarter, 5 Wits is not a traditional escape room, but a high-tech adventure that places guests in real life, physically immersive sets. Groups must solve puzzles and challenges and perform hands-on tasks to successfully complete the adventure. The three sets—Drago's Castle, Espionage, and Tomb—are extremely detailed and feature synchronized sound and lighting, elaborate special effects, and characters that respond to guests' presence. Birthday party packages include two adventures for up to 12 guests, a decorated party room, a party host, pizza, and paper goods, and you can add on cake or cupcakes and a goody bag or t-shirt for each guest.

RELATED: 15 Fun Indoor Birthday Party Places Near DC

 
Your teen will have much to celebrate after tackling a rock-climbing wall at Vertical Rock Climbing & Fitness.

Teen Birthday Party Ideas in DC: Sports Centers and Trampoline Parks

5. Vertical Rock Climbing & Fitness — Manassas, VA

This indoor rock-climbing center offers two-hour parties that include 75 minutes of climbing time and 45 minutes for birthday cake, presents, and food in a private party room. A party host, 1:5 climber-to-staff ratio, and the ability to bring in your own food and drink make this an easy choice.

6. ZavaZone — Rockville, MD and Sterling, VA

When your teen can't decide between a number of athletic activities, check them all off at ZavaZone. Jump on the trampoline, swing from the ropes course, and challenge friends through obstacle courses at this high-energy, ninja warrior-themed indoor adventure park. Build-your-own birthday packages allow you to customize your teen's party by choosing the number of guests, the party length, the addition of a party room, and more.

7. Dulles Golf Center & Sports Park — Sterling, VA

Mix and match up to three activities for a choose-your-own-adventure party. Teens can take a swing in the batting cages, challenge their friends to a game of putt-putt, test their golf skills on the driving range, or enjoy a team activity like basketball or volleyball. This outdoor-only venue provides a party attendant throughout each two-hour birthday party, as well as a party pavilion, utensils, plates, and table coverings.

8. The Agility Center — Rockville, MD

Take over this entire gym for the ultimate VIP teen birthday party experience. The Agility Center custom-creates birthday events for up to 16 guests, making sure each course is just the right challenge for young ninja warriors. Professional spotters keep partygoers safe as they climb, jump, and swing through the course. Parties are held on Saturdays and Sundays between the hours of 1:30 and 4:30pm. Outside food is not permitted.

RELATED: 7 Awesome Trampoline Parks Near DC for Indoor Family Fun

Teens will jump for joy—literally—over a birthday party at Launch Trampoline Park.

9 Launch Trampoline Park — Herndon, VA and Capitol Heights, MD

Launch has an enormous amount of choices when it comes to flipping, jumping, and defying gravity. One of the most popular attractions at the Maryland location is the ropes course and zip line. There are also trampoline courts, slam-dunk basketball, dodgeball, a giant foam pit, extra-long trampolines for practicing gymnastics, a rock-climbing wall, laser tag, and a ninja course. The Virginia location offers many of the same attractions, plus mini go-karts and virtual reality. Teens can choose from a variety of birthday party packages that include food, prizes, private rooms, and more.

10. Sportrock Climbing Center — Alexandria and Sterling, VA

Tweens and teens can go climbing for their birthdays at this indoor climbing gym. Parties include 90 minutes of climbing with a dedicated instructor, plus all of the necessary equipment, for up to 20 participants.

11. The St. James — Springfield, VA

This massive sports center offers many birthday party options for teens with various interests. At Super, Awesome and Amazing, teens can have an adventure and obstacle-course party with climbing and trampolines, with the option to add on time in the VR gaming zone or Esports video game arena. At the on-site rink, they can have an ice skating party including a skating lesson and rentals. For sports lovers, the St. James offers basketball, soccer, and flag football parties with a dedicated coach offering lessons and game setup. For any party, you can add on catering and dessert, including a custom cake or cupcakes.

12. Urban Air Trampoline and Adventure Park — Laurel and Frederick, MD

Urban Air is more than just a trampoline park. Its signature Adventure Hub activity combines a ropes course with a tube playground and a zip line-like experience. At Urban Air you can also bounce off the walls—literally—with its wall-mounted trampolines. Depending on the location, there are also bumper cars, ropes courses, dodgeball, slam-dunk zones, a wipeout game, and a battle beam where players can try to knock their opponent off the beam. Urban Air offers a variety of birthday party packages.

13. Sky Zone — Springfield, Manassas, Woodbridge, and Sterling, VA; Gaithersburg, Waldorf, and Bowie, MD

Sky Zone has seven locations in the DC area, with another coming soon to Annapolis. Attractions, which vary by location, include wall-to-wall trampolines, ninja warrior courses, warped climbing walls, ultimate dodgeball, foam pits, arcades, and more. Sky Zone's variety of birthday party packages include the use of a private party room.

RELATED: Top Kids' Birthday Party Spots Near DC

Brighten up their birthday at Bowlero.

Teen Birthday Party Ideas in DC: Bowling Alleys, Laser Tag, and Arcades

14. Bowlero — Arlington, VA; College Park, Bethesda, and Rockville, MD

Teens are treated like VIPs at this upscale bowling chain with locations in both Maryland and Virginia. Blacklight bowling sets the mood for an Insta-worthy birthday party where the fun doesn’t stop on the lanes. Each location also features an arcade and lounge area so teens can challenge each other at classic games like Skee-Ball, or just chill and chat on leather sofas.

15. VR Zone DC — Washington, DC and Rockville, MD

Bring your own cake to this virtual-reality arcade where up to 10 guests can get cozy in a private birthday room with four VR stations. You must be 10 or older to play, making this a tween- and-teen-only zone. Birthday parties last for two hours. If you anticipate your gamers getting hungry, tack on the pizza package (no outside food is allowed).

16. Monster Mini Golf — Gaithersburg, MD

Don’t let the name fool you. This venue isn’t just about putt-putt (although the indoor, all-glow course is pretty awesome). You can bowl, spend time in the arcade, play virtual-reality games, and (for those up for the challenge) test your luck in the laser maze. Parties are hosted in a well-themed “haunted house” room with packages that range from 90 minutes to three hours for up to 50 guests.

17. Pinstripes — North Bethesda, MD and Georgetown

For an upscale twist on the classic bowling birthday party, check out Pinstripes, with locations in Georgetown and North Bethesda. Birthday parties include two hours of bowling or bocce, food, and dessert in a private party room.

18. Players Fun Zone — Westminster, MD

At Players Fun Zone's unique 18-hole indoor glow golf course, golfers begin their journey in Ancient Egypt, continue through a glowing underwater seascape, trek through the jungle, and then travel back in time to the land of the dinosaurs. There's also laser tag, bumper cars, virtual-reality games, inflatables, batting cages, an arcade, and a snack bar. Players Fun Zone offers two types of birthday party packages: structured, where guests do all of the activities together, and all-you-can-play, where participants choose which activities they want to do.

19. Scary Strokes — Waldorf, MD

Scary Strokes is a ghost-, ghouls-, and monster-themed 18-hole indoor mini golf course immersed in black lights and creepy glow-in-the-dark decor. There's also an arcade and a virtual-reality gaming area. Scary Strokes offers a two-hour Teen Party for ages 11-16 that includes a private party room (no adults allowed), glow golf or virtual-reality, a game card for each guest, pizza, chicken tenders, and unlimited soda.

Your teen will feel the need for speed at K1 Speed. 

Other Teen Birthday Party Ideas in DC

20. K1 Speed — Dulles & Manassas, VA

This indoor go-kart facility offers high-speed birthday parties for tweens and teens. Kids must be 48 inches or taller and able to safely operate the kart in order to race. Parties include a reserved party area, a medal package and podium ceremony, pizza and soft drinks, and digital photos. The Manassas location is inside the Manassas Mall, and the Dulles location also has an arcade.

21. Pev's Paintball — Aldie, VA

This paintball park offers hosted birthday parties for ages 10 and up that include one to two hours of play times on private fields, a private instructor, and all necessary paintball and safety equipment. Kids ages 8 and 9 can have a low-impact paintball party. You can add on a tent or indoor party room as well as food from the on-site concession stand, and outside dessert and drinks are permitted.

All photos courtesy of the venues