Note that some indoor playgrounds are open only for birthday parties on the weekends, not for drop-ins. Reservations may be required to play. Be sure to call your location of choice before heading out. Several of the businesses below also offer kids' classes. 

Indoor Playgrounds on the Westside

1. Pamper & Play — West LA

Westside parents can choose between playing with their toddling little ones in the play area or taking advantage of supervised play as they sit upstairs and get some work done with the free Wi-Fi. Either way, it's a win-win. The space also offers a parents' time out, summer camps, preschool transition classes, and birthday parties.

2. Under the Sea — Mar Vista

Under the Sea in West LA is the last remaining location of this play space chain; this spot offers plenty of room for kids to run and romp. It also has plenty of tables where grown-ups can use the free Wi-Fi. Many of our Facebook friends highlighted Under the Sea when we asked about great play spaces in the city. Pay by the visit, buy a discounted multi-visit pass, or get a monthly membership for unlimited visits. Private and semi-private birthday party packages are available.

3. Big and Tiny Playworking Space — Santa Monica

If you need to clear out your inbox and your little ones are banging on your keyboard and watching too much Bluey (not speaking from experience or anything), check out this "play-working" space. There's an area for kids to play, AND an area for adults to work. Honestly? I may head there tomorrow. These articles don't write themselves, you know. 

4. Wild Child Gym — Culver City

Wild Child Gym describes its space as "California cool with a distinct Hawaiian vibe." Kids can enjoy classes or free play at the gym. Classes range in age from "Droolers" (three to seven-month-olds) all the way up to Advanced Skill + Development classes for ages five to seven years. Summer camps and birthday parties are also available. You might recognize the Wild Child crew from The Grove, where they host a weekly kids club on the lawn. Bonus, they have an adorable storefront too. 

RELATED: 10 Libraries with Great Play Spaces
 
Enter a whimsical world at Noah's Ark. Skirball Noah's Ark photo by Tracie Hall via Flickr, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

5. Noah's Ark at the Skirball — West LA

The Skirball Cultural Center has a special Noah's Ark exhibit for kids, and it's one of our all-time favorites. Noah's Ark will awe and is a one-of-a-kind interactive play space. Climbing structures were built from recycled materials. Kids can also participate in outdoor art making, a storytelling session, or even an archeology dig. Admission is timed, and advance tickets are recommended for the weekends and Thursdays (which are free days!). Note: Noah's Ark does not do birthday parties. 

6. Cayton Children's Museum — Santa Monica

Formerly known as the Zimmer Children's Museum in Mid-City, the Cayton is larger and more educational than ever. It is now in the Santa Monica Place Mall. There's a lot to keep kids busy indoors, from the youngest tots, up to ages 9 or 10. We also love their "Launch Your" space which is a soft, and interactive area specifically designed for little ones, under two years old. 

RELATED: 10 Best Children's Museums near LA and OC

Play among the birds at Peekaboo Playland.

Indoor Playgrounds on the Eastside

7. Peekaboo Playland — Eagle Rock

An Art Deco building in the heart of Eagle Rock houses Peekaboo Playland's inflatables, ball pit, climbing structures, slides, train table, and playhouses. This one is about as "Instagrammable" as you can get, with neutral, relaxing colors, wooden toys, and a great "baby lounge' for mamas and infants that need a moment of zen. 

8. PlayLab — Eagle Rock

​This indoor/outdoor play space caters to infants and younger children. When the sun is shining, this play space makes the perfect option to enjoy the outdoors with a large deck, a sandbox, and more. The 2,200 square feet of space is clean and streamlined, with cozy lounge areas, reading nooks, and complimentary coffee and tea. It's a true respite for tired parents with active tots. PlayLab offers open play Friday to Sunday when the space is not reserved for birthday parties and events. 

RELATED: Great Trampoline Parks in Los Angeles Where Kids Can Bounce off the Walls 

Anything feels possible at Kidspace.

Indoor Playgrounds in the Valleys

9. My Lil' Town — Granada Hills, San Gabriel, Burbank, Topanga, Glendale, and Calabasas

This valley play hub offers an imaginative play area in the form of a small town—one with plenty of climbing structures and impromptu dance parties. My Lil' Town is reminiscent of Pretend City in Irvine, with a hospital, jail cell, grocery store, and more pint-sized places for kids to explore and pretend. 

10. Kidspace — Pasadena

Much more than a play space, Pasadena's kiddie Mecca has more stuff going on than the average kid can do in a day. Indoor (and outdoor) fun abounds in this beautiful space that even has a live creek to play in (so bring a change of clothes and some waterproof shoes). 

RELATED: Free Museum Days in Los Angeles for Kids 

This indoor playground welcomes kids of all abilities.

11. We Rock the Spectrum Kids Gym — Locations include Tarzana, Studio City, Agoura Hills, Santa Monica, and more

With several locations in Southern California, this unique gym caters to kids across the spectrum—including those with special needs. The playground is designed to help kids build strength, enhance mobility, encourage sensory processing, develop communication skills, and more.

12. Pump It Up — Van Nuys

This funhouse is chock full of unique inflatables. Open play hours are limited but should allow plenty of time for the kids to get worn out. There are also locations in Chino Hills, Anaheim Hills, and Lake Forest. 

13. Kids Empire — Woodland Hills, South Gate, Monrovia, Anaheim, and Northridge

​Kids Empire is an indoor playground on steroids in the best possible way. It's super-sized fun, with a giant, multi-level play structure, a babies-only area, a disco room, and tons of seating for parents. It's a place that can entertain toddlers and tweens alike, making it a fantastic option for families with mixed-aged siblings. Luckily, there are several locations, so this level of fun is never very far away. Speaking of luck- two adults get in free with each paid child admission.

14. Kids World — Oak Park

​This Simi Valley play space is a world of fun with a gated toddler area, ball city, a modern LED and touch-zone arcade, basketball, and more.

RELATED: 16 Los Angeles Restaurants Where Kids Can Play While Parents Eat 

There's a lot to love here, but the cleanliness level is a standout. Photo courtesy of My Little Paris

15. My Little Paris Café & Play — San Gabriel

One of the newest entries into the indoor play space scene is My Little Paris, am adorable French cafe and indoor playground in San Gabriel. The space is impeccably clean and has an array of brand new toys, most from high-quality European manufacturers—it's going for a vibe, after all. On one side of the space is the playground, and on the other is a cafe with authentic French-inspired cuisine, an espresso bar, and even beer & wine! You can dine and sip a cappuccino or Malbec while your kids frolic in air-conditioned paradise. It's a great spot for parents to eat while kids play. 

16. Dream Big Children's Center — Monrovia, Ontario, Riverside, and Rancho Mirage

Despite being located in a relatively small space, Dream Big Children's Center offers a wide range of activities. The company started in Monrovia to provide kids of all abilities a place to grow and thrive. Dream Big in Monrovia has several different themed rooms, each offering unique stimuli and play. 

17. Southern California Children's Museum — Pasadena

SCCM is a favorite of ours. This central Pasadena staple is in an airy, expansive storefront on Colorado Boulevard. It includes a wide range of activities and programming throughout the day, plus plenty of room to explore. It also has its own (free!) parking lot in the back, rare for a downtown Pasadena space. Drop in for an open play, or come for one of the almost-daily events or activities. 

Munchkins is a ball of indoor fun. 

18. Munchkins Indoor Playground — North Hollywood

I recently took my daughter to this new indoor playground for her 2nd birthday, and we fell in love with the colors, cleanliness, and creativity. Munchkins encompass two separate play structures with slides, ball pits and climbing equipment, plus a pretend town where toddlers can visit the grocery store, veterinarian, or fire station. A virtual target practice game on the wall keeps older kids entertained (my boys lobbed balls at the digital targets for two hours). This play space is perfect for toddlers- all the structures are easy to navigate, so parents won't have to contort and climb up the structures behind over-adventurous tiny people (a win for us). Just park yourself at a table in the center of the room, connect to the WiFi, and enjoy a few minutes of alone time while the kids play happily within your eyesight. 

19. Adam's Garden — Sherman Oaks 

When we asked our Facebook friends about their favorite indoor play spaces, Adam's Garden was an overwhelming winner. Adam's Garden gets major bonus points because of its high standard of cleanliness. In addition to regularly cleaning all equipment, they sanitize each ball in the ball pit everyday. They also have a soft baby space, reserved for little ones 18 months and under, so your little ones won't get trampled by over-excited "big kids." 

20. BallnBounce — Encino and Los Angeles

High-energy littles can get hours of action sliding, climbing, swinging, and scaling rock walls at BallnBounce—a relatively new spot in Encino. This vibrant space is packed with fun activities, and admission is good all day long. There are no restrictions on outside food and drinks, so pick up a latte on your way and enjoy chatting with your mom tribe while the kids run free. 

 
Cart around pretend groceries. Photo courtesy of Posh & Petite Playhouse

21. Posh & Petite Playhouse — Woodland Hills

An LA mom of twins created this darling, aesthetic play place with a healthy cafe and plenty of space for parents to relax while kids pretend to their heart's content. Posh & Petite features a small town with a mini-sized ice cream shop, hospital, fire station, and more. This business also does parties, and the cafe has creative snacks and meals to delight your little ones. You won't be begging them to "take just one more bite" here. 

22. Candy Land — Sherman Oaks 

The beloved kids' board game comes to life at this whimsical play place with a lollipop carousel, slides that end in a colorful ball pit, and a tiny town for the littlest of civilians. Parking is tricky with this one; there is street parking outside the location or paid parking in a lot nearby. Outside food and drink are welcome in the rest area, and socks are required. 

23. Funland on Sunland — Sun Valley

This happy little play space is relatively new and great for toddlers. At only $20 per kid, this is one of the more affordable spots in the valley. The tropical vibe will have you dreaming of Hawaii,  and if you bring a book and find a comfortable seat, you might just feel like you're on vacation for a few hours.  

South Bay and Orange County Indoor Playgrounds

24. Jump 'n Jammin — Moreno Valley, West Covina, Arcadia, and Oxnard

Entertainment includes multi-level play structures, giant slides, obstacle courses, an exploding foam ball volcano, and rock climbing. There's enough to keep everyone from toddlers to tweens busy, and admission prices are more than reasonable. We've been to several birthday parties here that are a blast for kids of all ages. 

25. AdventurePlex — Manhattan Beach

Expect super-size fun at this Manhattan Beach play emporium, with giant climbing structures, a fitness area, a reading nook, and a cafe inside—plus plenty of outdoor activities. Call before visiting because if camps are in session, the facility may be closed for drop-in play.

26. Seascape Kids Fun — Anaheim

This three-story play arena in Anaheim offers enormous slides, an obstacle course, and foam shooting ranges, all with a bubbly ocean theme. 

Spark imagination with pretend play at Pretend City. 

27. Pretend City — Irvine

Pretend City is just what the name implies: an entire miniature city set up for imaginative play. Be prepared for the price tag, though, because everyone over the age of twelve months old pays admission, including adults. However, it's worth the money to see the kids acutely engaged for an entire play session. There's even a kids' version of Trader Joe's. I mean, could anything be cuter? Check out their online calendar as well; there are events at Pretend City almost daily.  

28. Scooter's Jungle — El Segundo, Valencia, and Placentia

Scooter's Jungle has multiple locations where kids can romp on huge inflatable (custom-made and one-of-a-kind) jumpers and slides. This place is loads of fun for an afternoon of play, but where they shine is setting up birthday parties where parents can relax and enjoy themselves without doing any planning, set-up, clean-up, or work! 

29. Billy Beez​ — Anaheim and Valencia

Wild slides, tunnels, and swings—kids will burn off any extra energy at this candy-colored indoor playground that buzzes with (pretend) bees. Get ready for a good night's sleep after a day of climbing and sliding- and even a good nap in-between play sessions because Billy Beez allows re-entry. Bonus: They have free Wi-Fi- so bring your laptop and some AirPods to get some work (or binge-watching) done. 

The kids will dig this place. Photo courtesy of Discover Torrance

30. Dig It Play — Torrance 

Construction vehicles and indoor play places are two things that little boys love. Dig It Play combines the construction craze with STEM-enhanced free play and plenty of structures for climbing and sliding. This new space focuses on providing kids with opportunities to learn through exploring. Make sure to bring your grip-bottom socks.  

All photos courtesy of venues unless otherwise noted. 

Originally published August 14, 2022

Additional reporting by Kylie Williams