Whether it’s cold, rainy, or just way too hot, moms need indoor play options in Albuquerque all year long.
Luckily, there are plenty of great indoor play areas around town for kids to get their wiggles out, no matter the weather.
Plus, all of these spots make great birthday party spots if you’re looking for a fun way to celebrate a special kid!
Check out the list of indoor play areas in the Albuquerque area below.
Anderson Abuzzo Albuquerque International Balloon Museum
9201 Balloon Museum Dr NE
Features: Elevation Station in the back of the museum is a great place for kids to get their wiggles out with an air tube scarf launcher, color room, book nook, and chase crew game. Throughout the museum are interactive activities, including my kids’ favorite: a digital game where they can design and launch their own hot air balloon.
Great for: All ages
Price: $0-6 (free for kids 5 and under, on Sunday mornings, first Fridays and for Wednesday morning Stories & Music in the Sky)
Food: No
Mom notes: Stories & Music in the Sky is one of my favorite storytimes in Albuquerque.
Cool Springz
5205 San Mateo Blvd NE
Features: Trampolines, ninja course, climbing walls, little kid play area, laser tag, arcade games
Great for: Toddlers to teens
Price: $19-25
Food: Cafe with pizza, slushies, churros, nachos
Mom notes: Cool Springz has great lighting and the littles play area is perfect for younger kids to play while older siblings bound around the trampolines and climbing walls.
Coronado Center
6600 Menaul NE
Features: Small slide, block letters to climb on
Great for: Babies & toddlers
Price: Free
Food: Food court and various restaurants available in the mall
Mom notes: The play area is located on Level 1 near JCPenney.
Dave & Buster’s
2100 Louisiana Blvd NE Bldg 201
Features: Play video games, eat, and drink to your heart’s content
Great for: Elementary and older
Price: Varies
Food: Full menu and bar
Mom notes: Dave & Busters is just as fun on date night as it is for a family outing!
Electric Playhouse
5201 Ouray Rd NW
Features: Immersive, interactive games combining physical and digital worlds
Great for: Elementary and older
Price: $15-18
Food: Bar and cafe inside
Mom notes: Electric Playhouse is a really neat spot to take older kids. It’s dark inside, so keep an eye on littles.
Elevate Trampoline Park
3301 Southern Blvd SE, Rio Rancho
Features: This 30,000-square-foot indoor activity center in Rio Rancho features trampolines, basketball, ninja course, jousting, rock climbing, foam pit, dodgeball, and more
Price: $15-26, plus fee for grippy socks (Discounts are available for kids 5 and under Monday-Thursday mornings, and Sensory Sunday mornings with quieter music and dimmer lights for $10.)
Food: Pizza, snacks and drinks available for purchase
Explora
1701 Mountain Rd NW
Features: Amazing STEM-based play, from ball ramps to bubbles to water play to the piano inside the elevator!
Great for: All ages
Price: $7-11
Food: Three Sisters Kitchen serves up great food, or you can bring your own lunch to enjoy in the lovely outdoor space.
Mom notes: Explora is my absolute favorite children’s museum + science center—and I’ve been to a lot of them around the country! The play opportunities are unmatched. Plan to spend several hours here. We like to end our visit in the water areas so I can load wet kids straight into the car.
Hinkle Fun Center
12931 Indian School Rd NE
Features: An Albuquerque staple for attractions, games, and more! Hinkle has both indoor and outdoor activities that your whole family is sure to enjoy!
Great for: Elementary and older
Price: Varies by attraction
Food: Pizza, wings, hot dogs, and more available for purchase
Mom notes: The laser tag and bumper cars building is separate from the main Hinkle building, but both have arcade games and food.
Kids Empire
10000 Coors Blvd NW
Features: A giant indoor playground that even features surprise parades and Huggy the Dragon! Fun for the whole family!
Great for: All ages
Price: $20
Food: No
Mom notes: Tickets are for the whole day, so if you leave for lunch or a snack, you can return later that day for free!
Liv and Mimi’s Play Cafe
10301 Comanche Rd NE #2
Features: Small play structure, Cozy Coupes, imaginary play areas, puzzles, books, frequent special events
Great for: Under 5 years old
Price: $12.92
Food: Snacks and drinks available for purchase. Or bring your own food to eat at the tables outside the play area.
Mom notes: Liv & Mimi’s is the perfect play area for littles 5 years old and younger. There is great visibility, bright lighting, chairs, and couches for working or nursing, as well as wonderful special events, mom groups, and occasional movement and music play groups, too.
Lunar Golf at Cottonwood Mall
10000 Coors Bypass NW
Features: Check out this indoor, black-light, miniature golf course if you love a good round of mini golf inside.
Price: $6-9 (children 2 and under are free)
Food: Snacks and drinks for sale, or bring your own.
Mom notes: Kids can bring in their school ID or report cards and play for $5!
Jungle Jam
9227 Coors Blvd NW
Features: Indoor playground, trampolines, toddler-only play area, crash pit, small arcade, Toddler Tuesday with extra activities
Great for: Toddlers to teens
Price: $15-28, plus reduced prices for adults and fees for grippy socks
Food: Cafe
Mom notes: Jungle Jam is a great option if you have kids of multiple ages. There is decent visibility, and the littles’ play area is cute. My elementary school kids love playing in the playground or doing flips into the crash pad.
Main Event
4040 Pan American Freeway NE
Features: Main Event is a haven for families to share in a variety of activities like laser tag, gravity ropes, arcade games, billiards, bowling, and more . . . all under one (very big) roof.
Great for: Elementary and older
Price: Varies by attraction and date
Food: Full menu (including kids menu)
Mom notes: Sign up for Kids Bowl Free for two free bowling games a day for kids ages 2-15 from April 14 to Oct 31!
Ninja Gyms
Addresses: Albuquerque has two ninja gyms:
- Ninja Force – 2513 Comanche NE, Suite E
- Ultimate Ninja Gym – 7901 4th St NW
Features: Both gyms offer weekly ninja classes, split by age and ability, as well as day camps during school vacations. Pre-requisite class required.
Great for: Elementary and older
Price: Varies
Food: No
Mom notes: My elementary schoolers did classes at Ninja Force for a semester and loved it. The classes are a great way to get out their wiggles, and help them learn new skills with adult coaching.
Public Libraries
Various locations
Features: Most public library locations have spaces for kids to play (quietly) for free. Common features are stuffed animals, play kitchens, puzzles and coloring pages.
Great for: Babies to young elementary
Price: Free!
Food: No
Mom notes: My toddler loves playing in our local library’s play area. Just remember to supervise kids while they play and help them keep their voices quiet.
Round1 Bowling & Arcade
6600 Menaul Blvd NE
Features: Bowling, pool, and a huge arcade all under one roof!
Great for: Preschool and older
Price: Varies by attraction, visit their website for discounts
Food: Yuu Japanese Food Hall, pizza and more
Skate-O-Mania
400 Paisano St NE
Features: Nostalgic roller skating rink featured in Stranger Things. It’s indoor fun on wheels!
Great for: Elementary age and older
Price: $10-15, plus $3 for skate rentals
Food: Food for purchase, or outside food allowed for a $50 “snack tax” during public skate sessions and $150 for private parties.
Mom notes: Make sure to get your Stranger Things re-enactment photo. Grab a walker for kids who are new to skating.
Stone Age Climbing Gym
2 locations: Midtown & North
Features: Adult and kid climbing areas, including spots to belay and boulder
Great for: Elementary age and older
Price: $21 entry fee, plus fees to rent equipment
Food: No
Mom notes: If you don’t have experience climbing, I highly recommend signing your kids up for a week-long summer, winter, or spring break morning camp at Stone Age. My kids had a blast and learned the basics of climbing.
Swig-N-Pickle
1700 Eubank Blvd NE
Features: A new Albuquerque hot spot, Swig-N-Pickle features indoor pickleball, batting cages, and full-swing golf simulators.
Great for: Elementary and older
Price: Starting at $30/half hour for one attraction
Food: Bar and restaurant serving lunch and dinner.
Urban Air Adventure Park
3930 Pan American Fwy NE
Features: Trampolines, obstacle course, indoor playground, ball pit. Additional fee for zip line, rock climbing walls, and sky diving, as well as arcade games.
Great for: Elementary age and older
Price: $24-$31. Plus $4 for Urban Air grippy socks (or bring your own grippy socks to trade for Urban Air ones for free)
Food: No outside food or drinks allowed. Pizza available for purchase in cafe.
Mom notes: Urban Air has free wifi. The franchises are typically dark, and it’s not possible to see the entire play area from one spot, so it’s a great fit for older kids. Or, parents can play for an additional fee.
We Rock the Spectrum
1101 Golf Course Rd SE, Ste 103, Rio Rancho
Features: An amazing, inclusive chain specifically created for people on the autism spectrum. We Rock has a zip line, small rock wall, imaginary play areas, toddler area, calming room, and lots of features you see at pediatric occupational therapy, like various swings and balance obstacles.
Great for: Babies through elementary age, though open to anyone
Price: $16-20 with discounts for siblings
Food: Outside food and drinks allowed in the lobby area. No food for purchase.
Mom notes: We love We Rock the Spectrum. Because it’s specifically designed to be inclusive, the standard is to welcome and celebrate everyone. It also has several opportunities to calm down, like a quiet room and swings, which are great for kids who get overstimulated by the loud music and lights at other play areas. You can see the entire play area from everywhere in the room.
Chick-Fil-A
Multiple Locations
Good chicken and lemonade, as well as air-conditioned play. Yes, please.
Chuck E. Cheese
4418 Wyoming Blvd NE & 10510 Coors Blvd. NW
The O.G. gaming spot for kids is still a fun indoor option.
Peter Piper Pizza
3109 San Mateo Blvd NE & 9260 Golf Course Rd NW
Another nostalgic choice that’s still fun for kids of all ages.
McDonald’s
Multiple Locations
- A nostalgic choice for sure! When you can eat and play all in the same place, it feels like a huge mom win!
Indoor Play in Santa Fe
These next two options are a bit more of a drive, but they’re also great choices for indoor fun!
Meow Wolf
1352 Rufina Circle, Santa Fe
Features: Immersive art experience meets playground meets mystery, Meow Wolf is truly one of a kind and impossible to describe. The Santa Fe location is the original, and now the concept has expanded around the country—it’s that amazing!
Great for: All ages
Price: Varies by date, with discounts for New Mexico residents, military and kids
Food: Café outside the experience for enjoying snacks and drinks before or after exploring
Mom notes: Don’t forget to take the iconic photo of sliding into the washing machine! Meow Wolf is dark inside, so keep a close eye on littles, but even my toddler loved it!
Santa Fe Children’s Museum
1050 Old Pecos Trail, Santa Fe
Features: Toddler zone, water play areas, sandbox, spaces for imaginary play, building, exploring and more!
Great for: Under age 12
Price: $8-14.50 (Free admission Thursdays 4-6 p.m. and for kids under 1)
Food: Pack a lunch and enjoy it in the outdoor picnic area
Mom notes: Check the calendar for fun events, like toddler programming on Wednesday mornings.
