Indoor playgrounds in Los Angeles

Los Angeles indoor playgrounds at a glance

We list 20 indoor play venues in the Los Angeles area, spread across 17 localities: Sherman Oaks, Santa Monica, Los Angeles, Van Nuys, Covina, Monrovia, Northridge, South Gate and Woodland Hills and others. 9 of them publish a child admission price online, and the median published price is $22.90. 11 do not show a price on their website, so you will need to call or book online to see it.

9 venues say socks are required, 11 describe a toddler or baby area or are built only for young children, and 19 offer birthday parties. 5 listings are Kids Empire locations, which run all-day admission with two adults included per paid child according to the chain's location pages. Cayton Children's Museum and Kidspace Children's Museum are children's museums rather than a pure playground, so expect timed exhibits and a higher ticket price.

Best Los Angeles indoor playgrounds for toddlers

For children under three, the useful question is whether the venue keeps little ones away from bigger kids. These venues either describe a separate toddler or baby area on their own site or cap their age range at eight or younger:

• Cayton Children's Museum in Santa Monica: ages 0-8; separate toddler area described; admission not published, check with venue.
• My Little Paris Cafe and Play in San Gabriel: ages 0-7; the whole venue is built for young children; admission $12.99 per child (1 year and up).
• Wild Child Gym in Playa Vista: ages 3 months to 7 years; the whole venue is built for young children; admission not published, check with venue.

Smaller play cafes tend to cap numbers, so book ahead where the venue offers reservations. Before a first visit, read our toddler-safe indoor play checklist.

Cheapest indoor play in Los Angeles

Ranked by the lowest child price each venue publishes. Some prices are for timed sessions and some are all-day passes, so read the detail:

1. My Little Paris Cafe and Play: $12.99 per child (1 year and up).
2. PlayLab Family Playspace: $15 day pass.
3. Noah's Ark at the Skirball: $20 general admission (timed entry).
4. Kids Empire Covina: $22.90 (general admission). Hours listed: Mon-Thu 10am-8pm; Fri-Sun 10am-10pm.
5. Kids Empire Monrovia: $22.90 (general admission). Hours listed: Mon-Thu 10am-8pm; Fri-Sun 10am-10pm.

At the top end, Fun Play World lists $35 per 2 hours (first child), $25 second sibling. If you plan to go more than three or four times a month, compare a membership with single visits in our open play vs memberships comparison.

Birthday party venues in Los Angeles

19 of the 20 venues mention birthday parties on their website. These say they have a party room or private room: Cayton Children's Museum, Kids World LA, Kidz Town Indoor Playground, My Little Paris Cafe and Play and Rockin' Kids Burbank. Kids Empire Covina, Kids Empire Monrovia, Kids Empire Northridge and Kids Empire South Gate use reserved tables in the main play area instead of private rooms. Package prices are usually only on the booking page. Our guide to indoor playground birthday party costs compares published package prices from real venues.

Rainy-day and hot-day picks in Los Angeles

When the weather turns, the venues that help most are the ones open every day or late into the evening. Based on the hours each venue publishes:

• Kids Empire Covina: Mon-Thu 10am-8pm; Fri-Sun 10am-10pm.
• Kids Empire Monrovia: Mon-Thu 10am-8pm; Fri-Sun 10am-10pm.
• Kids Empire Northridge: Mon-Thu 10am-8pm; Fri-Sun 10am-10pm.
• Kids Empire South Gate: Mon-Thu 10am-8pm; Fri-Sun 10am-10pm.
• Kids Empire Woodland Hills: Mon-Thu 10am-8pm; Fri-Sun 10am-10pm.

13 venues do not publish regular hours online, which usually means hours vary with private events. Weekend afternoons are when private parties close play areas, so check the venue calendar before you drive over.