In the Kids' Directory
NC Transportation Museum (opens in a new tab)
Spencer
A historic rail yard with a huge roundhouse of trains and cars to explore, plus train rides.
Museum
$8 ages 3-12, under 3 free; $16 with train ride
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Indoor Play & Rainy-Day Places
Too cold, too hot or pouring rain? Here are the places around Charlotte where kids can burn off energy indoors - trampoline parks, indoor playgrounds, bowling, arcades, climbing walls, skating rinks, museums and aquariums. Businesses in the Kids' Directory are marked in green.
Last checked: October 28, 2026 on each place's own website. Hours and prices change, so check before you go.
Concord & Cabarrus
In the Kids' Directory
Stars and Strikes Concord (opens in a new tab)
Concord
A family fun center with bowling, arcade games, laser tag and VR under one roof.
Bowling, arcade & laser tag
Sunday morning bowling specials
Chuck E. Cheese Concord (opens in a new tab)
Concord
The classic pizza and games spot for little kids, near Concord Mills.
Arcade & pizza
Dave & Buster's Concord Mills (opens in a new tab)
Concord
A large arcade and restaurant at Concord Mills with hundreds of games for a rainy afternoon.
Arcade & restaurant
Eat & Play combos from $19.99
Foxfire Lanes (opens in a new tab)
Kannapolis
A neighborhood bowling center in Kannapolis with low daytime game prices.
Bowling
Weekday daytime specials from $3.50 a game; shoes $5
Great Wolf Lodge Concord (opens in a new tab)
Concord
A resort with a big indoor water park that sells day passes, so families can splash without booking a room.
Indoor water park
Half-day and full-day water park passes; ages 2 and under free
K1 Speed Concord (opens in a new tab)
Concord
An indoor electric kart track with junior karts for younger drivers and an arcade.
Indoor electric go-karts
Kingpin Bowling (Kingpin Underground) (opens in a new tab)
Kannapolis
An underground duckpin bowling spot with an arcade that welcomes families before 7 PM.
Duckpin bowling & arcade
Ages: All ages until 7 PM; 21 and up after 7 PM
Paint Your Hearts Out (opens in a new tab)
Kannapolis
A walk-in studio where kids pick a ceramic piece or canvas and paint it themselves.
Paint-your-own pottery & canvas
Romp n' Roll Concord (opens in a new tab)
Concord
A gym just for babies, toddlers and preschoolers with classes plus open play time for members.
Play & enrichment gym
Ages: 3 months - 5 years
$10 trial class; memberships include unlimited open playtime
SEA LIFE Charlotte-Concord Aquarium (opens in a new tab)
Concord
An aquarium inside Concord Mills where families walk through an underwater tunnel and see sea creatures up close.
Aquarium
Ages: All ages
Tickets from $19 when booked online; annual pass $59
Xtreme Play (opens in a new tab)
Concord
An indoor bounce center on Concord Parkway packed with inflatables for younger kids.
Indoor inflatable playground
Ages: 12 and under
$7 ages 3 and under, $11 ages 4-12; parents enter free
Gaston County
In the Kids' Directory
Monster Mini Golf Gastonia (opens in a new tab)
Gastonia
Glow-in-the-dark indoor mini golf with mini bowling, a laser maze and an arcade.
Indoor glow mini golf & arcade
Mini golf $13.50 Little Monsters, $15 Big Monsters; mini bowling $5
Altitude Trampoline Park Gastonia (opens in a new tab)
Gastonia
A trampoline park on East Franklin Blvd with air bags, dodgeball and other jump zones.
Trampoline park
Chuck E. Cheese Gastonia (opens in a new tab)
Gastonia
Pizza, games and tickets for younger kids on Cox Road in Gastonia.
Arcade & pizza
Classic Arcade and Pinball Museum (opens in a new tab)
Gastonia
A retro arcade full of classic video games and pinball machines with one flat price for unlimited play.
Arcade
$14.99 unlimited play
Gaston County Museum (opens in a new tab)
Dallas
A free museum in historic Dallas with rotating exhibits and hands-on pretend play for kids.
History museum
Free admission
Gaston County Public Library - Main (opens in a new tab)
Gastonia
The main library on Garrison Blvd runs preschool storytimes and Pre-K Stay & Play mornings.
Library
Free
Kate's Skating Rink - Gastonia (opens in a new tab)
Gastonia
A long-running family roller rink with a play area and game room.
Roller skating rink
Discount on family-session tickets bought ahead online
Schiele Museum of Natural History (opens in a new tab)
Gastonia
Gaston County's natural history museum with dinosaur exhibits and a planetarium.
Natural history museum & planetarium
Adults $12; planetarium shows $6
We Kan Go Play (opens in a new tab)
Mount Holly
A Mount Holly indoor playground with climbing, pretend play and a zone for children under 2.
Indoor playground
$12 per child for 2 hours; extra adults $5
Monroe & Indian Trail
In the Kids' Directory
Extreme Ice Center (opens in a new tab)
Indian Trail
An ice arena in Indian Trail with public skating sessions, lessons and hockey.
Ice skating rink
In the Kids' Directory
Monster Mini Golf Monroe (opens in a new tab)
Monroe
Glow-in-the-dark indoor mini golf in Monroe with mini bowling, a laser maze and arcade games.
Indoor glow mini golf & arcade
Mini golf $13.50 Little Monsters, $15 Big Monsters; mini bowling $5
Kate's Skating Rink - Indian Trail (opens in a new tab)
Indian Trail
A family roller rink on Independence Blvd with skating sessions, a play area and arcade games.
Roller skating rink
Discount on family-session tickets bought ahead online
Monroe Aquatics & Fitness Center (opens in a new tab)
Monroe
The City of Monroe's center with an 8-lane indoor pool and training pool, plus an outdoor water park in summer.
Indoor pool
Playland Indoor Playground & Cafe - Monroe (opens in a new tab)
Monroe
An indoor playground with ball blasters, obstacle courses and a toddler area, plus a cafe for parents.
Indoor playground
East Charlotte
In the Kids' Directory
Big Air Trampoline Park - Charlotte (opens in a new tab)
Charlotte
A trampoline and adventure park on Sardis Rd N with jump courts, dodgeball and climbing.
Trampoline park
Tue & Thu 3-8 PM: 1 hour $10 or 2 hours $20 (not on school-out days)
In the Kids' Directory
BounceU Matthews (opens in a new tab)
Matthews
Two big rooms of inflatable slides, obstacle courses and bounce houses with a toddler area and open bounce times.
Inflatable play arena
Open Bounce pass $15.99
In the Kids' Directory
Urban Air Mint Hill (opens in a new tab)
Mint Hill
An indoor adventure park on Lawyers Road with trampolines, climbing and other attractions.
Trampoline & adventure park
Unlimited Play $29.99; Shorty ticket (40 in. and under) $14.99; socks $4.99
Chuck E. Cheese Charlotte (Albemarle Rd) (opens in a new tab)
Charlotte
Pizza and kid-sized arcade games on Albemarle Road in east Charlotte.
Arcade & pizza
Monthly memberships from $7.99
High Five Play House (opens in a new tab)
Matthews
A clean, bright indoor play space on Independence Blvd built for little ones.
Indoor playground
2-hour pass $18.99; all-day pass $25.99
Inner Peaks - Matthews (opens in a new tab)
Matthews
A climbing gym with ropes and bouldering walls that offers youth classes and family climbing.
Climbing gym
Lucky Strike Matthews (opens in a new tab)
Matthews
A bowling and arcade center on Brigman Rd with daytime unlimited-bowling deals.
Bowling & arcade
North Charlotte
In the Kids' Directory
Big Air Trampoline Park - University City (opens in a new tab)
Charlotte
Big Air's University City park with trampolines, a ninja course, climbing walls and dodgeball.
Trampoline park
Tue & Thu 3-8 PM: 1 hour $10 or 2 hours $20 (not on school-out days)
In the Kids' Directory
Monster Mini Golf Charlotte (opens in a new tab)
Charlotte
Glow-in-the-dark mini golf on W.T. Harris Blvd with mini bowling, a laser maze and an arcade.
Indoor glow mini golf & arcade
Mini golf $13.50 Little Monsters, $15 Big Monsters; mini bowling $5
DEFY Charlotte (opens in a new tab)
Charlotte
An extreme trampoline park on University City Blvd with jump zones and obstacle challenges.
Trampoline park
2-hour single-day ticket $24.99
Inner Peaks - NoDa (opens in a new tab)
Charlotte
Inner Peaks' NoDa gym, focused on bouldering walls.
Bouldering gym
Kids Empire Charlotte (opens in a new tab)
Charlotte
A multi-level padded playground at Northlake Mall with slides, a ball pit and a separate toddler zone.
Indoor playground
Ages: 1-12
General admission $22.90; 2 adults free with each child
Sky Zone Northlake (opens in a new tab)
Charlotte
A trampoline park in north Charlotte with GLOW nights and a Little Leapers time for small kids.
Trampoline park
90-minute pass $26; Little Leapers $13
West Charlotte
In the Kids' Directory
Create Your Splat (opens in a new tab)
Charlotte
A messy-on-purpose art studio off Westinghouse Blvd where kids splatter paint on canvases.
Splatter-paint studio
Sullenberger Aviation Museum (opens in a new tab)
Charlotte
An aviation museum near the airport that is home to the Miracle on the Hudson plane, with flight simulators and hands-on areas for kids.
Aviation museum
Uptown
Discovery Place Science (opens in a new tab)
Charlotte
Uptown's hands-on science museum with an IMAX dome and a KidScience play lab for ages 0 to 7.
Science museum
Ages: KidScience lab ages 0-7
ImaginOn (opens in a new tab)
Charlotte
A children's library and theatre center on 7th Street, home to the Spangler Library for Children and Children's Theatre of Charlotte.
Children's library & theatre
Free library
Inner Peaks - South End (opens in a new tab)
Charlotte
A South End climbing gym with youth classes and climbing for families.
Climbing gym
Mecklenburg County Aquatic Center (opens in a new tab)
Charlotte
A county natatorium in Uptown with a 50-meter pool and a warm therapy pool open to the public.
Indoor pool
Day pass: county residents 17 and under $8; non-county 17 and under $10
Mint Museum Uptown (opens in a new tab)
Charlotte
An Uptown art museum at the Levine Center for the Arts with free admission for kids.
Art museum
Free for youth 18 and under
NASCAR Hall of Fame (opens in a new tab)
Charlotte
A racing museum with interactive exhibits and racing simulators for older kids.
Museum
Ages: Simulators: 54 in. minimum height
Youth 4-12 $22; under 4 free
South Charlotte
In the Kids' Directory
Golf Links Simulators (opens in a new tab)
Charlotte
An indoor golf simulator lounge near Ballantyne where families can play virtual courses year-round.
Indoor golf simulators
Bowlero South Boulevard (opens in a new tab)
Charlotte
A big bowling center on South Blvd with daytime unlimited-bowling specials.
Bowling
Chuck E. Cheese Pineville (opens in a new tab)
Charlotte
Pizza and games for younger kids on Pineville-Matthews Rd.
Arcade & pizza
Dish It Out Pottery (opens in a new tab)
Charlotte
A paint-your-own pottery studio on Rea Road where kids choose a piece, paint it and pick it up after firing.
Paint-your-own pottery
$6 per painter per hour plus the piece ($10-$95)
Mint Museum Randolph (opens in a new tab)
Charlotte
North Carolina's first art museum, on Randolph Road, where kids get in free.
Art museum
Free for youth 18 and under
Mission Laser Charlotte (opens in a new tab)
Charlotte
A laser tag arena on Park Road with one-, two- and three-game packages.
Laser tag
Game packages from $12 per player
Playland Indoor Playground & Cafe - Pineville (opens in a new tab)
Pineville
An indoor playground near Carolina Place with play structures for children 1 to 10 and a cafe.
Indoor playground
Ages: 1-10
2 hours: first child $14.99 Mon-Thu, $16.99 Fri-Sun; siblings less
Sky Zone Pineville (opens in a new tab)
Pineville
A trampoline park in south Charlotte with toddler jump times and weekend GLOW nights.
Trampoline park
90-minute pass $26; Little Leapers $13
Lake Norman
In the Kids' Directory
Urban Air Cornelius (opens in a new tab)
Cornelius
An indoor adventure park in Cornelius with trampolines, climbing and other attractions.
Trampoline & adventure park
Unlimited Play $29.99; Shorty ticket (40 in. and under) $14.99; socks $4.99
In the Kids' Directory
Victory Lanes (opens in a new tab)
Mooresville
A family bowling center in Mooresville with an arcade, billiards and party hosts.
Bowling & arcade
Discovery Place Kids - Huntersville (opens in a new tab)
Huntersville
A children's museum on Gilead Road built for pretend play and hands-on learning.
Children's museum
Frankie's Fun Park Charlotte (opens in a new tab)
Huntersville
A fun park off I-77 with an arcade and bowling inside plus mini golf and rides outside.
Family fun center
Bowling $35 an hour Mon-Thu, $40 Fri-Sun
Meg-Art Pottery Studio (opens in a new tab)
Huntersville
A paint-your-own pottery studio on Northcross Drive with open studio hours.
Paint-your-own pottery
Ninja Nation Huntersville (opens in a new tab)
Huntersville
A ninja obstacle arena with open gym sessions where kids try warped walls and other obstacles.
Ninja gym (open gym)
Ages: 5 and up on the arena floor
Playland Indoor Playground & Cafe - Mooresville (opens in a new tab)
Mooresville
An indoor playground and cafe in Mooresville for children 1 to 8.
Indoor playground
Ages: 1-8
2 hours: $14.99 Mon-Thu, $16.99 Fri-Sun; siblings less
York County SC
In the Kids' Directory
Big Air Trampoline Park - Rock Hill (opens in a new tab)
Rock Hill
Big Air's Rock Hill park with trampolines, Cosmic Nights on weekends and family packages.
Trampoline park
In the Kids' Directory
Purrfect Pair Cat Cafe (opens in a new tab)
Rock Hill
A cafe with a cat lounge where families can visit adoptable cats.
Cat cafe
Cat lounge $10 for 30 minutes, $15 for 60 minutes
In the Kids' Directory
Stars and Strikes Rock Hill (opens in a new tab)
Rock Hill
A family fun center with bowling, arcade games, laser tag and VR.
Bowling, arcade & laser tag
Sunday morning bowling specials
Adventure Air Sports Rock Hill (opens in a new tab)
Rock Hill
An indoor adventure park on Cherry Road with trampolines, a zipline and more than a dozen activities.
Trampoline & adventure park
Main Street Children's Museum (opens in a new tab)
Rock Hill
A hands-on children's museum in downtown Rock Hill run by York County's Culture & Heritage Museums.
Children's museum
$10 children and adults; 12 months and under free
Play House Play Cafe (opens in a new tab)
Fort Mill
A Fort Mill play cafe with open play for young children and coffee for parents.
Indoor playground
Monthly memberships from $45
PlayTopia Rock Hill (opens in a new tab)
Rock Hill
An indoor playground on Riverview Road designed for children 10 and under.
Indoor playground
Ages: 10 months - 10 years
Weekday all-day pass $13.99 first child (2 adults included)
Planning a party at one of these? See my Birthday Party Places list.
Run an indoor play place I'm missing? Tell me about it and I'll check it and add it.
