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Note: Many facilities have socks-only policies or height requirements for entry, while others require waivers from parents before entry. Check with each facility about its rules and schedules for open play and reservation requirements. Also, many play spaces have limited open play hours on weekends due to party bookings.

Best Indoor Playgrounds for Toddlers in Northern New Jersey

Exceptional Explorers – Livingston

This travel-themed play space is perfect for toddlers. There's a jungle gym and lots of fun equipment for practicing motor skills. You can also register for classes, parties, and camps.

Mamas Play –  Succasunna

The idea behind this chic spot is to provide at-a-glance observation where parents can relax and watch the kids play nearby in the soft play zone.

Small Town Play Cafe – Westfield

This lovely little play spot—combining a gourmet coffee bar and kids' play space—is perfect for families with toddlers. Parents can sit back and enjoy a cup of coffee while the little ones toddle close by. Intended for ages 6 and under, there are small climbing structures, a twisty slide with a ball pit, imaginative play, building supplies, peg boards, and more. There are also play groups, classes, and more. Reservations are strongly recommended for open play.

The Hive – Hoboken, Jersey City

This spot is as appealing for the kids as it is for the grown-ups! The Hive marries up an amazing coffee shop with a cute play space for small children. Toys rotate to keep the space fun and interesting every time. Now you can have your coffee and drink it, too!

Imagination Lane (formerly Tay + Te) – ​Northvale​

Toddlers and small children can let their imaginations run wild at Imagination Lane. Imaginary play stations include a grocery store, veterinary office, pizza shop, mechanic, firetruck, and more. Parents will love the on-site coffee and snack bar. ​

RELATED: Indoor Activities for a Rainy Day in NJ

Imagine That has many themed areas for kids to explore, including a massive arts and crafts area. Photo by Margaret Hargrove

Imagine That! – Florham Park

This hands-on children's museum features more than 50 exhibits and activities designed to spark the imagination of young children. They can shop at the grocery store, mail packages at the post office, and climb aboard the pirate ship. There's also an electronic sand table, an Everbrite board, and a large jungle gym with a 20-foot spiral slide.

The Little Play Co. – Hoboken

This space is reminiscent of some favorite Hoboken spots, with each themed play area outfitted with costumes, decorations, and toys so your little one can explore, imagine, and play. Serve treats at Sebastian's Bistro, put out the fires at the Hoboken Firehouse, explore the Hoboken train station, shop at Luca's Italian Market, or build at the construction site.

Village Tree House – Hoboken

Cute, clean, and colorful, Village Tree House is the perfect place for your little one to strengthen their gross motor skills while having fun. Featuring blocks, soft play, and little slides, kids enjoy this simple yet stimulating play space. Note that the facility is also a child care center now, so be sure to make reservations for open play before you head out. Starting in March 2026, open play will be available on weekends only.

Where Can Older Kids Burn Energy Indoors in Union County?

Lively Laser Tag – Springfield

This space has an upscale vibe and offers open laser tag sessions (reservations suggested) for kids ages 6 and up, along with an arcade and video games. Plan a laser tag party for your child from one of Lively's spectacular party packages.

NRG Adventure Park – Springfield

This newly opened facility has zip lines, a ninja course, slides, trampolines, and more. For calmer play times, look for Toddler Rush times on Tuesdays and Thuesdays 10am-12pm.

PumpItUp – Roselle Park

This bounce spot offers daily open-jump sessions. There's your basic open-play jump as well as many special themed sessions, including character jumps and glow-in-the-dark jumps. In addition to two arenas full of inflatable fun, there's a ninja warrior course with hanging bridges, jungle swings, cargo tube nets, and more.

Sky Zone – Springfield

This 35,000-square-foot trampoline park lets kids jump on a huge grid of trampolines, play hoops on the SkySlam trampolines, or challenge a friend gladiator-style in a SkyJoust. Don't miss Little Leapers toddler times for ages 5 and younger.

What are the Best Indoor Playgrounds in Essex County?

FunTime Junction – Fairfield

FunTime Junction invites kids to climb a multi-level, soft play climbing area with an enclosed jump pillow. The setup will keep little ones ages 4 and up occupied for a while. Other attractions include an interactive beam play floor and a toddler play area. Advanced pre-registration is required and the 90-minute time slot includes unlimited use of the facility. The helicopter ride, vest-less laser tag, and krazy cars are an additional fee. There's also an arcade with prizes.

Kids Empire – Fairfield

With locations statewide (including Paramus and Linden), this play center features an enormous play gym. We're talking fast slides, multi-layers of climbing, and even a toddler zone.

What are the Best Indoor Playgrounds for Kids in Morris County?

The Funplex – East Hanover

With more than 100,000 square feet of attractions, there’s plenty to keep all ages busy at this family amusement center. The arcade features everything from boardwalk classics like Skeeball to the latest video games. Bowling, bumper cars, go-karts, and laser tag are perfect choices for older kids. Try out the interactive warrior obstacle course, designed for ages 6 and up.

Huckleberry Play – Morris Township

This interactive playground has zip lines, a climbing wall, a jungle gym, ball pits, imaginative play, and more to keep toddlers and elementary school children occupied for hours.

Kid & Caboodle – Morristown

This indoor play space combines a shop, a modern cafe, and a play area. Grab a coffee in the parent lounge while your little one explores the hinoki bean box, themed play stations, sensory play areas, an indoor playmaze, and more.​

Kiddie Dome – Butler

Kids will definitely blow off steam at Kiddie Dome, which features an indoor zip line with foam blocks, slides with a ball pit, a ninja course. a climibing structure, and more. There's also rock climib and kiddie "go karts" on animal cars.

Spark!Lab – Morristown

Located in the back corner of the Morris Museum, the Smithsonian-founded Spark!Lab is filled with interesting and colorful raw materials with which kids can tinker, build, and experiment. It’s one of 10 in the country, modeled after the original that opened in 2008 in the National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C.

Where Can Older Kids Burn Energy Indoors in Warren County?

Riverside Kids – Hackettstown

This facility focuses on the physical development of kids ages 10 months through 10 years, with both morning and evening gym sessions. During open gym time, kids can practice their balance and gross motor skills on the mats, bars, rings, and beams. Toddler Times are available for children under 4. Note that children under 3 must be accompanied by an adult, but those over 3 can be left in the care of the facility.

Play Away — Hackettstown

The sweet space is perfect for the smallest play seekers. There are little slides and imaginary woodland playhouses. It's just the spot for a shorter outing.

Where can Kids Play Indoors in Sussex County?

TagAlongs Play Space – Lake Hopatcong

Designed for crawlers and kids up to age 10, TagAlongs features a large, open play area, toddler zone, custom playhouses, interactive play mats, and a separate, calming sensory room. Open-play sessions are offered daily; check the website for times. Socks are required, and outside snacks and drinks are welcome.

What are the Best Indoor Playgrounds for Kids in Bergen County?

Legoland Discovery Center – East Rutherford

Calling all Lego lovers! Legoland's indoor playground at American Dream is jam-packed with fun, the play space features Lego models of NYC and NJ landmarks, a Ninjago indoor playground, interactive displays, workshops to hone your building skills, a 4-D movie theater, and a gift shop. Reservations are highly recommended.

Bounce Safari – Waldwick

Bounce Safari offers two rooms full of inflatables, games, and climbing structures for kids young and old. Visit during one of its open bounce sessions, where kids can play in the 3-story crazy maze, obstacle course, slides, or with the giant Legos.

BounceU – Paramus​

Known for its epic birthday parties, BounceU also offers open-play sessions as well as special themed events. Kids can enjoy 1.5 hours of bouncing in its two rooms—and parents are free.

CatchAir – Paramus, Hasbrouck Heights, Jersey City

This play spot caters to families with children up to 12 years old. There's a soft play area for toddlers and a Tiny Town for kids under 4 feet. There's also a 3-story play structure, ball cannon, and interactive dance floor for bigger kids. Find out what we thought about CatchAir's Hasbrouck Heights location.

The Great Story – South Hackensack & Ridgefield

The Great Story lets children use their imaginations with a costume closet, sandbox, props, a climbing structure with a small trampoline, a shopping area, a ball pit, and more. The cafe offers some Korean specialties like bubble tea, rice burgers, and noodles.

High Exposure Climbing – Northvale

Kids who like climbing will reach new heights at this indoor climbing facility. Scale the many rock-climbing walls, climb giant Rubik's cubes, explore the ninja course, or challenge a friend to a game in the Nerf arena.

RELATED: NJ Kids Get Aerial at Indoor Trampoline Parks and Bounce Houses

Kids will have a blast with foam ball shooters and the ball volcano at Jumpin' Jax.

Jumpin' Jax – Paramus

This early learning center and indoor playground combo offers open play for toddlers on up to older children. Kids will have a blast with foam ball shooters, hand-pedaled cars, a rock-climbing wall, a Lego area, and imaginary-play areas.

Lily & Liam Kids' Indoor Playground and Cafe – Englewood

Kids 12 and under can climb, build, pretend, and explore at this sweet indoor playground. Attractions include a climbing maze, bubble ball pit, soft play for toddlers, a "sand" pit, a pretend-play area, and more.

Paper Street Play – Park Ridge

Paper Street Play is a delightful destination for little ones in the Pascack Valley area. This tiny town is modeled after real-world encounters—including a house with a fenced-in yard and soft-play structures for the youngest explorers—plus a diner, a food market, and more.

Urban Air – ​South Hackensack

Urban Air has locations in other parts of NJ, but this is the only one in North Jersey. Enjoy an array of impression attractions like the trampoline tumble track. the climbing hill, the tube playground, the warrior's course, and more.

Xtreme Energy – Englewood

This indoor playground has something for everyone. There's a 3-level climbing structure surrounded by foam and ball pits, a trampoline grid with a velcro wall, a ropes course, a ninja course, rock climbing, virtual reality, and more.​

What are the Best Indoor Playgrounds in Hudson County?

Liberty Science Center – Jersey City

Yes, it’s a museum, but the Liberty Science Center can definitely qualify as an indoor play space—and it's always a good bet on a chilly or rainy day. A favorite of kids of all ages, there are always new exhibits like the current Wobbly World, events, and, of course, the IMAX theater and state-of-the-art planetarium.

Funzy Play – ​Jersey City

This facility features a host of fun options from an interactive ball pit, an enclosed climbing gym, and a dramatic playroom. A variety of toddler classes are offered. Funzy Play also offers a flexible afterschool drop-off program as well as group and private piano lessons for older kids.

Jersey Jungle – ​Jersey City

Kids will love the maze/labyrinth to explore, the interactive ball wall, the Legos and imaginary play props. There's also a Toddler Zone for little ones.

Urban Jungle – Hoboken

This jungle-themed indoor play facility is packed with fun things for kids to explore, including a jungle gym, Imagination Playground blocks, a water and sensory station, arts and crafts, and a soft play area for toddlers.

Where Are There Indoor Play Spaces in Passaic County?

Rack 'N Roll – Passaic

This family entertainment center occupies kids of all ages (and their parents) with more than 100 video games, foosball, kiddie rides, air hockey, basketball, billiards, and more.

Rockin’ Jump – Wayne

With wall-to-wall trampolines, a vertical climbing wall, dodgeball courts, basketball hoops, and a foam cube pit, kids burn off some serious energy at Rockin' Jump!

What Are Some Hidden Gem Indoor Play Spaces in New Jersey?

RELATED: Play Spaces With Drop-In Hours in Central NJ for Kids

Play with magnetic tiles and robots a t Genius Gems.

Genius Gems – Millburn

If your little one loves to build and create then this is the place for them! Genius Gems is said to house the world's largest collection of magnetic tiles and offers a special STEM experience for kids ages 3-12. In addition to the building area with tiles, Ozobots, Cubelets, and more, there's an adjoining room with daily engineering challenges. STEM classes and mini-camps are also available.

M & Em's Imagination – Union

This sweet little indoor playspace just opened and specializes in play sessions for kids 7 and younger. There's a playhouse with a slide, a ball pit, a bouncing tire with slides. There's also a mini-slide for toddlers.

Neverland Fun – Berkeley Heights

Book a playtime slot at Neverland and enjoy imaginary play at the bakery, market, police station, and campsite. 

The Playroom –  Clark

This simple play spot has soft play items, a small ball pit, little ride-ons, and lots of activities to practice motor skills. This spot is great for toddler meet-ups.

Are There Indoor Play Spaces That Are Affordable or Free?

Indoor Playground – Livingston Mall, Rockaway Townsquare

While you’re shopping at the mall, check out this gem right inside the shopping center. Located on the lower level, this playground allows kids to blow off some steam. There’s even comfortable seating for grown-ups and free Wi-Fi. There's also a play center for Morris County shoppers at Rockaway Townsquare on the lower level between JCPenney and The Cheesecake Factory.

Sunshine Village – Rockaway

This indoor playground is located at Rockaway Town Square Mall near Lower Level Macy's. Sunshine Village is meant for ages 0-5 years old, and there's open play and classes. Buy tickets by the day or purchase a monthly membership. Birthday party packages are available.

Unless noted, photos courtesy of the venues.

This post was originally published in 2016 and has been updated since.