Indoor playgrounds in Chicago

Chicago indoor playgrounds at a glance

We list 13 indoor play venues in the Chicago area, spread across 5 localities: Schaumburg, Chicago, Evanston, North Riverside and Villa Park. 6 of them publish a child admission price online, and the median published price is $22.90. 7 do not show a price on their website, so you will need to call or book online to see it.

6 venues say socks are required, 6 describe a toddler or baby area or are built only for young children, and 12 offer birthday parties. 4 listings are Kids Empire locations, which run all-day admission with two adults included per paid child according to the chain's location pages. Chicago Children's Museum is a children's museum rather than a pure playground, so expect timed exhibits and a higher ticket price.

Best Chicago 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:

• Chicago Children's Museum in Chicago: ages 4-8; separate toddler area described; admission not published, check with venue.
• Kids Empire Chicago Kedzie in Chicago: ages 1-12; separate toddler area described; admission $19.90 (general admission).
• Kids Empire Evanston in Evanston: ages 1-12; separate toddler area described; admission $22.90 (general admission).
• Kids Empire North Riverside in North Riverside: ages 1-12; separate toddler area described; admission $22.90 (general admission).
• Kids Empire Villa Park in Villa Park: ages 1-12; separate toddler area described; admission $22.90 (general admission).
• WonderPlay & Coffee in Chicago: ages 12 months to 15 years; separate toddler area described; admission $22.00 (daily play pass).

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 Chicago

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. Kids Empire Chicago Kedzie: $19.90 (general admission). Hours listed: Mon-Thu 10am-8pm; Fri-Sun 10am-10pm.
2. WonderPlay & Coffee: $22.00 (daily play pass).
3. Kids Empire Evanston: $22.90 (general admission). Hours listed: Mon-Thu 10am-8pm; Fri-Sun 10am-10pm.
4. Kids Empire North Riverside: $22.90 (general admission). Hours listed: Mon-Thu 10am-8pm; Fri-Sun 10am-10pm.
5. Kids Empire Villa Park: $22.90 (general admission). Hours listed: Mon-Thu 10am-8pm; Fri-Sun 10am-10pm.

At the top end, Family Room Southport lists $35 for 2-hour drop-in play (1 child + up to 2 caregivers). 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 Chicago

12 of the 13 venues mention birthday parties on their website. These say they have a party room or private room: Fit City Kids and WonderPlay & Coffee. Kids Empire Chicago Kedzie, Kids Empire Evanston, Kids Empire North Riverside and Kids Empire Villa Park 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 Chicago

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 Chicago Kedzie: Mon-Thu 10am-8pm; Fri-Sun 10am-10pm.
• Kids Empire Evanston: Mon-Thu 10am-8pm; Fri-Sun 10am-10pm.
• Kids Empire North Riverside: Mon-Thu 10am-8pm; Fri-Sun 10am-10pm.
• Kids Empire Villa Park: Mon-Thu 10am-8pm; Fri-Sun 10am-10pm.

8 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.