An indoor play place can save the day when it’s rainy, chilly, too hot . . . or if everyone is just bouncing off the walls. Chicagoland’s suburbs are bursting with options for every age, activity, and price.
Some of my favorite memories of when my kids were little are meeting up with friends at a play cafe, where we could grab a much-needed latte and watch the kids play safely from the couch. Now, we’re more likely to take an indoor climber by storm on a day when my kids can’t get their wiggles out in the backyard!
Check out the list below and join us for some indoor fun. Don’t forget the extra socks!
This guide is sponsored by DuPage Children’s Museum and Waterlemon.
Featured Indoor Play Places
DuPage Children’s Museum
DuPage Children’s Museum
301 N Washington Street
Naperville, IL 60540
(630) 637-8000
Website | Facebook | Instagram
Every visit to DuPage Childrenโs Museum (DCM) is an adventure that will spark curiosity, inspire creativity, and lead to new discoveries. Guests can make a splash inย AWEsome Water, engulf the entire family in a giant bubble, build with real tools in theย Construction House, refuel in Bean Sprouts Cafรฉ, and so much more. Play leads the way to building confidence, practicing important problem-solving skills, learning to cooperate, and strengthening the bond between child and caregiver. Plan a visit to DuPage Childrenโs Museum, where you and your family will laugh, learn, and love spending time together.
Waterlemon
Waterlemon
25 S. La Grange Road
La Grange, IL 60525
(708) 286-6747
Website | Facebook | Instagram
Waterlemon is a safe, stylish and engaging indoor play space where imaginations come to life, parents and caregivers can relax + lifelong memories will be made.ย Aย cozy alternative to the bigger play cafรจs around Chicagoland, Waterlemonโsย beautiful, intimate play space was created for small children + their parents to play and spend quality time together. Whether thatโs making a meal in the play kitchen, having a tea party, building at the construction table, conducting the train table or serving soft serve at the ice cream stand.ย Waterlemon is also a gathering place for new moms and dads, nannies and friends, for busy parents to get a little work done and for children to play safely and meaningfully.ย
Waterlemon is also a party venue and hosts weekly character storytimes.ย Family owned and operated.ย Best suited for children under 5.ย
Map of Indoor Play Areas
Park District Play Areas
Park District of La Grange Recreation Center Indoor Playground
536 East Avenue
La Grange, IL 60525
(708) 352-1762
- Price: $4 for residents ages 2+, $6 for non-residents ages 2+, free for residents under 2 years, $3 for non-residents under 2 years
- Hours: See website, then scroll down to “Indoor Playground” and click the link to see this month’s schedule
Bloomingdale Park District- The Clubhouse
172 South Circle Avenue
Bloomingdale, IL 60108
(630) 529-3650
- Closed for the end of the 2023 season.
Jumps n’ Jiggles
Elk Grove Village Park District
1000 Wellington
Elk Grove Village, IL 60007
(847) 437-9494
- Price: $6/ages 2โ13, free for children under 2 and adults 14+; includes admission to Jumps n’ Jiggles and the Pavilion Carousel.
- Hours: Monday โ Friday, 10am โ 2 pm
- Ages: Recommended for ages 8 and under
The Cubhouse
Park District of Oak Park
49 Lake Street
Oak Park, IL 60302
(708) 383-6910
- Price: $8/child, free for adults. Membership passes available. Purchase online.
- Dates: Open October 3, 2023 โ April 19, 2024
- Hours: Tuesdays โ Saturdays, 9am โ 1pm, as well as 5pm โ 7pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays
- Ages: 8 months โ 5 years
The Fort Indoor Playground at Fort Hill Activity Center
20 Fort Hill Drive
Naperville, IL 60540
(630) 995-8900
- Price: $5/resident, $7.50/non-residents.
- Hours:12:30pm – 3:30pm Monday through Friday, and 8:30am – 12:00pm on Sundays.
- Ages: 5โ11
TreeTop Escape
Located in the West Chicago Park District ARC Center
201 W National Street
West Chicago, IL 60185
(630) 231-9474
- Price: $10/child. One free adult per paying kid.
- Hours (check Rainout Line for updates):
- Mondays โ Thursdays: 12pm โ 3pm and 7:30pm โ 9pm
- Fridays: 12pm โ 6pm
- Sundays: 8am โ 5pm
- Ages: Designed for ages 4โ12 years old
- Read Katie’s review of TreeTop Escape for more details and photos
Forest the Foxโs Playbox
Mayfair Recreation Center
10835 Wakefield Street
Westchester, IL 60154
(708) 562-6410
- Price: $2/child, under 2 years old free
- Usual walk-in play hours (but call ahead to ensure there is no private rental, especially on weekends):
- Mondays โ Fridays: 5:30am โ 8pm
- Saturdays: 7am โ 5pm
- Sundays: 7am โ 3pm
Zoom Zone
Hodgkins Park District
8997 Lyons Street
Hodgkins, IL 60525
(708) 354-6563
- Price: Free for residents, $3/child for non-residents. Punch passes available.
- Hours:
- Supervised by staff Mondays โ Thursdays 3pm โ6pm, Fridays 3pm โ 9pm, and Saturdays 10am โ 4pm
- Unsupervised (children must be accompanied by adult) Mondays โ Thursdays 8am โ 3pm and 6pm โ9pm and Fridays 8am โ3pm
- Ages: Children above 6th grade are not allowed in Zoom Zone
Free Mall Play Areas
PLAY at Yorktown Center
203 Yorktown Shopping Center
Lombard, IL 60148
(630) 629-7330
Free play space in the middle of the mall, on the first floor.
Fox Valley Mall Play Space
195 Fox Valley Center
Aurora, IL 60504
(630) 851-7200
Free play space in the lower level near JCPenney.
Indoor Playgrounds and Play Places
Jump Town Addison
520 W. Lake Street
Addison, IL 60101
(630) 501-1055
- Price: $13/weekdays, $15/weekends. Two free adults per child. Passes available.
- Hours:
- Mondays โ Wednesdays: 10am โ 3pm
- Thursdays โ Sundays: 10am โ 3pm
- Ages: 1โ12
Bright Futures Play Place
914 S. Arthur Avenue
Arlington Heights, IL 60005
(847) 220-4924
- Price: $18 per child with sibling discounts available
- Hours: Wednesdays and Sundays from 9am โ12:30pm for open play
- Ages: Recommended age is from walkers to about 6/7 years old
Kiddy Club Playground & Sandbox
4314 E New York Street
Aurora, IL 60504
(630) 229-6247
- Price:
- Free for infants 0โ6 months, as well as 6โ12 months with paying sibling
- 6โ12 months without paying sibling: $7 Mondays โ Thursdays, $8 Fridays โ Sundays
- 1โ7 years: $14 Mondays โ Thursdays, $16 Fridays โ Sundays
- 8 โ 13 years: $7 (sandbox and interactive floor game only)
- Hours (see Facebook for updates):
- Mondays โ Fridays: 10am โ 8pm
- Saturdays and Sundays: 10am โ 4pm
- Ages: Geared towards ages 1โ7. Limited access for kids 8โ13.
Kids Town at Fox Valley Mall
2116 Fox Valley Center D1B,
Aurora, IL 60504
(630) 907-7700
- Price: $13/playground admission; half-price for infants under 12 months. See website for current specials.
- Hours (call to confirm on weekends due to private parties):
- Mondays โ Thursdays: 10am โ 8pm
- Fridays โ Saturdays (call to confirm): 10am โ 9pm
- Sundays (call to confirm): 11am โ 6pm
Kids Town 2 at Stratford Square Mall
212 Stratford Square Drive
Bloomingdale, IL 60108
(630) 980-3000
- Price: $13/playground admission; $7 for infants 6โ12 months. $1 discount for second or third child admitted. See website for current specials.
- Hours (call to confirm on weekends due to private parties):
- Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays: 12pm โ 7pm
- Closed Tuesdays
- Saturdays (call to confirm): 12pm โ 7pm
- Sundays (call to confirm): 12pm โ 6pm
Funflatables
Locations in Bolingbrook, Chicago Ridge, Lombard, Norridge, North Riverside, Vernon Hills, and more. See all locations.
- Price: $12/child under 18. Multi-passes available.
- Hours: See calendars for Bolingbrook, Chicago Ridge, Lombard, Norridge, North Riverside, and Vernon Hills
- Ages: Designed for kids 12 and under
Bumblebee Play Cafe
1015 N. Randall Road
Elgin, IL 60123
(847) 742-3000
- Price: $16/child. Maximum of two adults per family.
- Hours (admission ends one hour before closing; see website for holiday hours):
- Mondays Thursdays: 10am โ 3pm
- Fridays: 10am โ 5pm
- Saturdays and Sundays: 10am โ 6pm
- Ages: Special play areas for babies, children 4 and younger, and kids 5โ10
Marshmallow Play
572 N. Michigan Street
Elmhurst, IL 60126
(312) 731-4799
- Price: $15/first child, $12/second child, and $8/each additional child. Two adults are free with a paying child; kids under 6 months are free.
- Hours: Change regularly; check the website.
- Ages: Up to 6 years
- Check out Kaitlyn’s recent review of Marshmallow Play.
Let’s Play Work
7228 Circle Avenue
Forest Park, IL 60130
(708) 303-8430
- Price: $16/first child, $12/second, and $8/additional child. Punch passes available.
- Hours:
- Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays: 8:30am โ 4:30pm
- Tuesdays: 8:30am โ 6pm
- Saturdays and Sundays: 10am โ 4pm
We Rock the Spectrum: Franklin Park
10123 Grand Avenue
Franklin Park, IL 60131
(708) 716-3063
- Price: $14/child, $12/siblings for open play. Memberships available.
- Hours: Vary regularly, but are posted on their Facebook page each week.
- Ages: Infants through 13 years
- Kidlist Tip: This kids’ gym is designed to be inclusive and sensory-friendly. Visit the website for information on respite and break time care, as well as one-to-one attendant care.
We Rock the Spectrum: Naperville
5019 Ace Lane, #167
Naperville, IL 60564
(331) 472-0764
- Price: 2-hour play passes are $14, with a $2 discount for siblings. Multi-visit play passes and membership available.
- Hours: 10:00am – 6:00pm daily
- Ages: 12 years old and under
- Click here for Katie’s article outlining what We Rock the Spectrum in Naperville has to offer. Their grand opening is on November 18, 2023.
The Playpen
501 Duane Street
Glen Ellyn, IL 60137
(847) 531-9566
- Price: $16/first child, $14/additional siblings
- Hours: It is open for play Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday 9am-5pm (closed Tuesday), Saturday and Sunday 8:30am-1pm.
- Ages: Recommended for ages 0 โ 6.
- Check out Annie’s article on The Playpen’s opening in September 2023.
Waterlemon
25 South La Grange Road, Unit A
La Grange, IL, 60525
(708) 286-6747
- Price: $12/first child, $10/additional children. $6/child for groups of 8 or more kids. $6/child for the last two hours of play. 3 months and under are free. Memberships available.
- Hours:
- Mondays โ Fridays, 9am โ 4:30pm
- Saturdays and Sundays: Check social media for weekend hours, which are only offered if there are no birthday parties
- Ages: 5 years old and younger
- Kidlist Tip: Socks are required for both kids and adults.
The Treehouse Play Cafe
985 S Rand Road
Lake Zurich, IL 60047
(224) 662-6040
- Price: $16/child; children 12 months and under are free. Memberships available.
- Hours:
- Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays: 10am โ 6pm
- Fridays: 10am โ 5pm
- Ages: Toddler play space for children up to 3; main treehouse for children 3โ10.
Ball Factory
864 Illinois Route 59
Naperville, IL 60540
(630) 640-2020
1042 South Elmhurst Road
Mount Prospect, IL 60056
(224) 244-9580
- Price: $20/weekdays, $25/weekends and holidays. Infants under 1 are free.
- First two adults are free. Additional adults (13+) are $5.
- 50% off for the last hour.
- Hours:
- Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays: 9:30am โ 3pm
- Fridays โ Sundays: 10am โ 6pm
- Ages: Crawlers through 12 years old
Funtopia
2639 Aurora Avenue
Naperville, IL 60540
(630) 718-4327
- Price: $25/all-day, all-inclusive pass; $10/toddler area. Food packages, participating parent passes, and Friday/Saturday specials available; see pricing.
- Hours:
- Mondays โ Thursdays: 4pm โ 8pm
- Fridays: 4pm โ 9pm
- Saturdays: 10am โ 9pm
- Sundays: 10am โ 7pm
- Ages: Toddlers through adults
- Check out Annie’s review from the grand opening of Funtopia.
Playroom Cafe
141 Randhurst Village Drive
Mount Prospect, IL 60056
224-318-2108
- Price: $16/child; babies 6 months and younger are free.
- Hours:
- Mondays โ Thursdays: 9:30am โ 6pm
- Fridays: 9:30am โ 5pm
- Saturdays and Sundays: 10am โ 4pm
- Ages: Infants through six years old (or 48″ tall).
Playroom Cafรฉ Two
2075 Calamos Court
Naperville, IL 60563
(630) 946-6879
- Price: $16/child; babies 6 months and younger are free.
- Hours:
- Mondays โ Thursdays: 9:30am โ 6pm
- Fridays: 9:30am โ 5pm
- Saturdays and Sundays: 10am โ 4pm
- Ages: Infants through six years old (or 48″ tall).
- Check out our full review of Playroom Cafรฉ Two.
Rainbow Playsets Showroom Open Play
127 Ambassador Drive
Naperville, IL 60540
(630) 672-3604
- Price: $10/child for two hours; kids under 1 year old are free. No cash accepted.
- Hours: 10am โ 4pm on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays
- Kidlist Tip: No food or drink is allowed in the facility (except for water).
Naperville Yard
1607 Legacy Circle
Naperville, IL 60563
(630) 245-1100
- Price: $10/child. Infants under 1 are free with paid admission. Punch cards available.
- Hours: Mondays โ Fridays, 10am โ 2pm. See website for holiday closures.
Next Level Play Center
4167 N Harlem Ave
Norridge, IL 60706
(847) 261-2838
- Price: $15/all-day pass
- Hours: 11am โ 8pm daily; closed on Mondays during the summer.
Discovery Center at Christ Church
Please note that The Discover Center is closed for construction from November 6, 2023 through February 15, 2024.
501 Oak Brook Road
Oak Brook, IL 60523
(630) 654-1882
- Price: Free
- Hours:
- Mondays โ Thursdays, 12pm โ 4pm
- Closed October 2โ3, November 22โ23, and December 25โ28, 2023
- Ages: Toddlers through 5th graders
- Check out Elyse’s review of the Discovery Center at Christ Church.
Kids Art & Cafe Playground and Birthday Parties
710 E. Schaumburg Road
Schaumburg, IL 60194
(630) 523-1101
- Price: $14/child and up
- Hours:
- Mondays โ Wednesdays: 9am โ 7:30pm
- Thursdays โ Sundays: 9am – 8:30pm. Call ahead to check availability on weekends due to parties.
- Kidlist Tip: Socks required; no outside food or drink allowed.
Yu Kids Island
5 Woodfield Mall G-143
Schaumburg, IL 60173
(847) 969-9000
- Price: Unlimited play starts at $20 on weekdays, and $22 on weekends, with sibling discounts available; check website for specials.
- Hours:
- Mondays โ Thursdays: 10am โ 8pm
- Fridays โ Saturdays: 10am โ 9pm
- Sundays: 12pm โ 6pm
- Designed for kids 48″ and under.
Kids Empire
619 E. Dundee Road
Palatine IL 60074
(847) 261-4930
270 W North Avenue
Villa Park, IL 60181
(630) 425-0555
1835 North Neltnor
West Chicago, IL 60185
(630) 517-9160
- Price: $19.90/child. Two adults free per child; additional adults $5. Punch cards available.
- Hours:
- Mondays โ Thursdays: 10:00 am โ 8:00 pm
- Fridays โ Sundays: 10:00 am โ 10:00 pm
- Holidays: 10:00 am โ 10:00 pm
Nellyโs Playground
338 Georgetown Square
Wood Dale, IL 60191
(630) 475-8941
- Price: $15/child. Infants 6โ12 months are $6 without sibling, or free with sibling. Infants under 6 months are free.
- Two free adults per child.
- Memberships available.
- Hours: Mondays โ Fridays, 9am โ 8pm
- Ages: 7 and under
Westmont Yard
233 West 63rd St.
Westmont, IL
(630) 737-1000
- Price: $8/visit. Punch cards available.
- Hours: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10am โ 2pm
2 Hours of Freedom
1425 Busch Pkwy
Buffalo Grove, IL 60089
(847) 220-4385
- Price: start at $18 per child for 90 minutes
- Hours: daily from 9am-9pm
Fast Food Play Places
McDonald’s Play Places
McDonald’s lists indoor play places at the following locations:
- 920 N York Rd, Elmhurst, IL 60126
- 445 W Roosevelt Rd, Glen Ellyn, IL 60137
- 7850 Ogden Ave, Lyons, IL 60534
- 350 E St. Charles Rd, Villa Park, IL 60181
- 11110 W 31 St, Westchester, IL 60154
- 31 E 63rd St, Westmont, IL 60559
- 2175 W Roosevelt Rd, Wheaton, IL 60187
- 2401 63rd St, Woodridge, IL 60517
- 2310 W 75th St, Woodridge, IL 60517
Chick-fil-A Play Places
Chick-fil-A indoor play places tend to be good for toddlers, preschoolers, and young elementary schoolers. The spaces have toddler activities on the ground and a small climbing structure with a slide. They list indoor play places at the following locations:
- 4435 Fox River Center Drive, Aurora, IL 60504
- 185 N. Randall Road, Batavia, IL 60510
- 354 W. Army Trail Road, Bloomingdale, IL 60108
- 245 N. Weber Road, Bolingbrook, IL 60490
- 6007 S. La Grange Road, Countryside, IL 60525
- 235 S. IL Route 83, Elmhurst, IL 60126
- 717 E. Butterfield Road, Lombard, IL 60148
- 2 Winston Plaza, Melrose Park, IL 60160
- 950 N. Elmhurst Road, Mount Prospect, IL 60056
- 7201 W. Cermak Road, North Riverside, IL 60546
- 935 E. Golf Road, Schaumburg, IL 60173
- 301 E. Loop Road, Wheaton, IL 60189
- 7101 Kingery Highway, Willowbrook, IL 60527
Other Options for Indoor Fun
Places to Bounce
Looking for places to bounce on inflatables and indoor trampoline parks? We have all the details! Check out Jump Places, Bounce Houses, Inflatables, and Trampoline Parks That Will Have Kids Jumping for Joy.
Open Gyms
Many park districts and gymnastics gyms offer open gym for kids to run, jump, and play! Find out the locations and times in our guide to Local Open Gyms: Where Kids Can Bounce Off the Mats (Instead of the Walls).
Children’s Museums
Children’s Museums are full of opportunities for combining play and learning. And we have so many wonderful children’s museums in the Chicagoland area! Our roundup of Chicago Area Childrenโs Museums highlights what you can expect at each one as well as recommended ages.
Looking for more kids activities for any type of weather or time of year? The Kidlist Giant Map of Places to Go is the place to be!