
In Milwaukee, you just never know what the weather will do. But don’t sweat it, because we’ve got you covered with the best indoor playgrounds around Milwaukee.
We’ve spent years visiting these places and collecting feedback from you, our readers, to ensure you get the most comprehensive guide for your next indoor family adventure. So, let’s get started!
Sticking around the house on a rainy day? Here are the best rainy day activities for kids to do at home!
Play Cafes
Kidcadia
📍6544 S Lovers Lane Rd, Franklin, WI 53132
Step into a whimsical world at Kidcadia Play Café, where kids can explore enchanting play structures, a Giant Lite-Brite, and cozy coloring corners—all while parents sip lattes from the full-service coffee bar.
Little Sprouts Play Café
📍4606 N Wilson Dr, Shorewood, WI 53211
Little Sprouts Play Cafe in Shorewood is your go-to play cafe in the North Shore. With imaginative play zones, Stone Creek Coffee, and tasty snacks like avocado toast, this is one of our favorite play date spots.
Bug & Goose Play Café
📍Elm Grove & Delafield
Bug & Goose Play Café is a cozy indoor play space in Elm Grove and Delafield for kids 6 months to 6 years. With a large climbing structure, play boulangerie, and enclosed area for the tiniest tots, this suburban hot spot is one of our top recommendations.
The Little Village Play Cafe
📍6505 W North Ave, Wauwatosa, WI 53213
The Little Village Play Café is a vibrant mash-up of a coffee shop, children’s play space, and a gift store, and it gets consistently rave reviews from visitors. Whether it’s for socializing, playing, or just taking a break, this café is Wauwatosa’s favorite play date space.
The Play Retreat
📍1406 W Mequon Rd, Mequon, WI 53092
The Play Retreat offers imaginative play areas including a tiny explorers’ space to a multi-level playhouse with themed shops and a vet clinic. Older kids and caregivers aren’t left out, with dedicated areas for games, art activities, and plenty of seating.
The Wiggle Room Mukwonago
📍507 Main St, Mukwonago, WI 53149
The Wiggle Room is a cozy place with imaginative play and large motor play, comfortable seating, and clear and safe visibility. The space is designed for children and their caregivers, with ever-changing toys and play spaces.
Trampoline & Adventure Parks
Slick City Action Park
📍1435 N 113th St, Wauwatosa, WI 53226
Slick City Action Park is Wisconsin’s first-ever indoor “dry-slide” park, featuring heart-pounding slides like “Big Wave” and “Mega Launch,” plus a mini go-kart track, zip line, and toddler-friendly play areas. It’s perfect for kids ages 7+ who love a thrill
Sky Zone Greenfield
📍Greenfield, Waukesha & Brown Deer
Sky Zone offers a soft play for little jumpers, and plenty for older kids like an Air Court, Freestyle Jump, SkyHoops, SkyJoust, Warped Wall, Ninja Warrior Course, and more!
Urban Air Adventure Park
📍2440 E. Moreland Blvd., Waukesha, WI 53186
Urban Air Adventure Park is a dynamic indoor playground with adventurous offerings like a Trapeze, Spin Zone Bumper Cars, Indoor Go-Karts, Virtual Reality, Mini-Golf, and more!
Ultimate Ninja
📍400 Bell Ct #350, Oak Creek, WI 53154
Ultimate Ninjas, a national franchise known for its obstacle course racing facilities opened its ninth location in Oak Creek. The space offers an authentic ninja warrior experience for children as young as three, adults, and everyone in between.
Indoor Play
Betty Brinn Children’s Museum
📍929 E Wisconsin Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53202
Explore the interactive exhibits at Betty Brinn Children’s Museum downtown, including Home Town exhibit, Pocket Park, and the Be-A-Maker Space. Plus, there’s a coffee shop inside!
Looking for even more family-friendly fun? After exploring these indoor playgrounds, check out our guide to kid-friendly museums around Milwaukee for hands-on exhibits, interactive learning, and memorable adventures the whole family will love!
Kids Empire
📍Glendale & Brookfield
Kids Empire is a massive 11,125-square-foot space filled with towering climbing structures, ball pits, slides, and a dedicated toddler zone.
Nugget Nation MKE
📍12501 W Bluemound Rd, Brookfield, WI 53005
Website
Nugget Nation MKE offers a variety of engaging and safe play spaces for children up to 9 years old, including the Nuggie Town village play space, Tiny Nugget Terrace, and Nugget Square.
Taxi & Tide
📍4016 S Packard Ave, St Francis, WI 53235
Taxi & Tide offers a unique environment for imaginative play, designed with an East Coast (New York’s “Taxi”) and West Coast (California’s “Tide”) vibe.
The Big Backyard
📍2857 S. 160th St., New Berlin, WI 53151
The Big Backyard provides an engaging environment, with a 10,000 square foot converted warehouse with multiple play areas, including a large wooden play set, toddler area, bouncy house, and more.
We Rock the Spectrum
📍140 E. Rawson Ave., Suite #314, Oak Creek, WI 53154
We Rock the Spectrum provides a safe, environment where all children can play, underpinned by expert knowledge and a commitment to inclusion. It’s ideal for neurodiverse kids, with suspended swings, crash mats, a zip line, and more.
For a comprehensive guide to more special needs resources and inclusive activities around Milwaukee, be sure to check out our article on Special Needs Resources for Families in Milwaukee.
The Spot Family Play Studio
📍1752 Wisconsin Avenue, Grafton, WI 53024
The Spot offers a welcoming environment for children of all ages, including a soft space for infants, reading nook, play structure, art space, and a hangout space for older kids with foosball, air hockey, and more.
A Kid at Heart Playland
📍W188N10707 Maple Rd, Germantown, WI 53022
akidatheartplayland.com
A Kid at Heart offers a range of activities including slot car racing, a play cafe, and an indoor climbing gym, catering to both children and adults.
WhirlyBall
📍185 S Moorland Rd, Brookfield, WI 53005
Website
WhirlyBall combines LaserTag, Bowling, Pop-Up Games like ping pong and Giant Jenga, and timed matches of WhirlyBall, aiming the waffle ball at a raised target, all under one roof.
The Children’s Play Gallery
📍126 E. Wisconsin Ave., Oconomowoc, WI 53066
The Children’s Play Gallery is a vibrant space with an Art Room, a gated play area for infants and toddlers, a marketplace and kitchen, Nature’s Nook, whimsical Pirate Ship, Construction Zone, Sunshine Stage, and more.
Just 4 Fun Playland
📍890 Badger Circle, Grafton, WI 53024
just4funplayland.com
Just 4 Fun Playland offers an indoor space for playful adventures, with a 6,000 square foot area designed like an outdoor park, complete with fluffy clouds. There’s a large Rainbow Play Superstructure, soft play area, and a snack bar.
Kids in Motion
📍14135 W. Greenfield Ave., New Berlin, WI 53151
Kids in Motion, a dynamic play center, offers a variety of themed play areas including a Train Room, Diner Play Area, Construction Zone, Grocery Store Play Area, Science & Conservation Room, Center Stage theater area, and more!
Tosa Block Party
📍10600 W. Bluemound Rd., Wauwatosa, WI 53226
Tosa Block Party offers a dedicate space for children to build and explore with Legos. It aims to be a gather place for families and Lego enthusiasts.
New Berlin Activity and Recreation Center
📍15321 W National Ave
The New Berlin Activity and Recreation Center features an indoor playground that caters to a wide range of ages, from toddlers to early teens. There’s even a traverse wall for climbing!
Arcades
Looking for a fun outing the whole family can enjoy? Check out these top Milwaukee arcades, where kids and parents alike can bond over games, prizes, and a bit of friendly competition.
Indoor Water Parks
If your kids love indoor playgrounds, wait until they try the water-filled version! 💦 Check out our favorite indoor water parks around Milwaukee for slides, splash zones, and endless aquatic fun.
Roller Skating Rinks
If your kids enjoy running, climbing, and sliding at indoor playgrounds, why not let them roll into some fun? 🛼 Check out our favorite roller skating rinks around Milwaukee for a classic way to burn energy and make memories together!
Gymnastics and Tumbling Centers
Find an open gym at one of these locations:
Flips4All Gymnastics
📍8643 N Port Washington Rd, Fox Point, WI 53217
Flips 4 All in Milwaukee emphasizes the importance of play and creativity in gymnastics, offering a variety of activities including open gym sessions.
Infinite Gymnastics
📍8989 N. 55th St. Brown Deer, WI 53223
infinitegymnastics.com
Infinite Gymnastics offers exciting open gym sessions where kids have access to trampolines, foam pits, and various gymnastic apparatuses.
LaFleur’s Gymnastic Academy
📍W189 N10991 Kleinmann Dr. Germantown, WI 53022
lafleursgym.com
LaFleur’s Gymnastics provides an open gym with trampolines, foam pits, a big trapeze, and more!
Swiss Turners
📍2214 S. 116th St., West Allis, WI 53227
swissturnersgymnastics.com
Swiss Turners offers a variety of open gym sessions in a supervised environment, perfect for kids who want jump on trampolines, foam pits, and more.
Wildcard Gymnastics
📍13040 W. Lisbon Rd., Suite 300, Brookfield, WI 53005
wildcard-gymnastics.com
Wildcard Gymnastics provides a range of open gym sessions for different age groups, allowing for skill work, trampoline jumps, and general safe play in a matted gym environment.
Free Indoor Play Ideas
- Barnes & Noble Play Areas:
- Train tables and reading spots for kids.
- Locations in Glendale, Wauwatosa, and Brookfield.
- More information available at barnesandnoble.com.
- Southridge Mall Kids’ Play Area:
- A safe and enjoyable play space for children.
- Ride a choo-choo train around the mall for an extra fee!
- Located at 5300 S. 76th St., Greendale, WI 53129.
- Milwaukee Lionel Railroad Club:
- Intricate model train setups to admire.
- Interactive stations for kids to learn about trains.
- Situated at 2721 South Calhoun Road, New Berlin, in the rear of Parkland Plaza.
Looking for another indoor way to keep the kids entertained? 🎨 After all the running and climbing, slow things down with a creative twist! Check out our favorite art and pottery studios around Milwaukee for hands-on fun the whole family will enjoy.
Calie Herbst, Editor-in-Chief of Milwaukee With Kids, has spent over a decade combining her experiences as a parent of three to create a hub for Milwaukee’s family adventures.
Her decade-long teaching career in Milwaukee Public Schools and academic background, including a Master’s in Teaching from Marquette University and dual B.A.s in Sociology and Spanish from the University of Wisconsin – Madison, fuel her passion for inclusive and engaging family content.
Calie is also a recognized voice in local media, contributing to WISN Channel 12 News, WTMJ Wisconsin Morning News, Fox 6’s Real Milwaukee, and B93.3.
Discover more about Calie’s journey and editorial approach on her About Page and Editorial Policy Page.