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Our 10 Favorite Indoor Play Areas for Kids in San Francisco
July 20, 2023

Let your kids play and skip the summer heat by heading to the best indoor play areas for kids in San Francisco!

Kids love to play outdoors regardless of the sunburns and bruises. Nonetheless, one vital factor to consider with having your kids play outdoors is that they tend to run off unmonitored. Playing outdoors can sometimes expose your kids to danger due to its open play spaces. Safety is always on top of our list when it comes to playing. So, why not consider alternative options for kids to play, such as an indoor playground or play space in San Francisco? Let them be kids and play year-round at any of our favorite indoor play areas in San Francisco!

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Playing is one of the most important aspects of a child’s life. It can help develop your child’s social skills and keep them healthy and active. And if you’re looking for an indoor playground, San Francisco is a place where kids will never run short of something to wow them. Sure, a visit to the Golden Gate Bridge is a must. But the San Francisco Bay Area also has plenty of favorite indoor play areas that offer kids of all ages to run, jump, climb, bounce, and play big. 

No matter the weather outside, an indoor play space or indoor playground in San Francisco is a great destination to keep your kids occupied in a clean and safe environment. It allows your kids to marvel at the beautifully designed tunnels, slides, bridges, adventure zones, and other soft play equipment, which keeps your kid’s attention for long hours. While your kids are exploring their imagination, it also allows you to sit back and relax while watching from a distance. Scroll down to find your kid’s favorite indoor play areas in San Francisco!

Indoor Play Areas for Kids in San Francisco

Indoor play areas in San Francisco for kids - Curiosity Grove

1. Curiosity Grove

55 Music Concourse Dr., San Francisco, CA 94118
Phone Number: (415) 379-8000

Renamed Curiosity Grove, this area used to be exclusively for babies and caretakers but is now open to kids of all ages. The old check-in area has been remodeled into an additional indoor playroom, and the corridors in the space have been expanded to create a more open environment for kids. Now, the area feels more like an exhibit in the museum than a place to take a break from it.

Young imaginations blossom in Curiosity Grove, a forest-themed environment perfect for little learners. Curiosity Grove is home to notable residents: a colony of Madagascar hissing cockroaches and an Eastern box turtle. Eye-level tanks make observing these not-so-creepy crawlers easy for little ones.

Whether your child is captivated by forest canopies or a library full of field guides, the Grove has enough activities and more open space for curious, growing minds—and plenty of excess energy. For more information, please visit their website.  

2. House of Air

926 Mason St., San Francisco, CA 94129
Phone Number: (415) 345-9675

House of Air is an indoor Trampoline Park and one of the favorite indoor play areas for kids located in West Crissy Field in The Presidio of San Francisco. The main trampoline structure consists of 42 conjoined trampolines. This enormous and awe-inspiring trampoline floor – more extensive than a regulation-size basketball court is surrounded by full-sized trampoline walls set at angles to the floor, allowing flyers maximum uninterrupted bounce space.

They also have a Training Ground, a specialized training area where the Open Air will be available to participants 7 years and up. House of Air has also created a trampoline space designed for children three to six years of age. This area, known as The Fort, contains 15 conjoined trampolines with trampoline walls, and their Junior Geronimo sessions took place. The Colosseum, 22 conjoined trampolines including trampoline walls, is used for organized trampoline dodgeball. For more information, please visit their website.

3. Little Oceanauts

1917 Ocean Ave., San Francisco, CA 94127
Phone Number: (415) 988-7919

Little Oceanauts is an indoor playground and play space in San Francisco for kids ages 0 – 10 years old. Parents understand the importance of having a clean, safe, and fun environment for you and your children to exercise, socialize, and play in. It features a three-story obstacle course play structure with a bouncy trampoline, thrilling slides, tunnels, and a ball pit for kids aged three and up.

They offer a separate infant/toddler play area for younger guests to enjoy stimulating and fun activities, including their ball pit, slides, wall activities, and soft foam area. At Little Oceanauts, they continuously aim to provide an ideal environment for parents and caregivers to play with their children. They offer walk-in open play on weekdays and weekends. Please don’t forget to bring your socks because they are required to play.

Check out all the fun you and your little ones can have at Little Oceanauts! For more information, please visit their website.

4. Learning Haven

80 Escondido Ave., Downstairs Unit, San Francisco, CA 94132
Phone Number: (415) 781-9994

Learning Haven is a teacher-created indoor play space and playground for infants, toddlers, and younger kids in San Francisco. You will find everything from art and sensory activities to imaginative games, your favorite dramatic indoor play areas, and even a rock-climbing wall for kids.

These activities promote early childhood learning, social and emotional development, and fine motor skills. Play Haven features over 4,000 square feet of space for the entire family. The drop-in play is anytime from 9:30 am to 5 pm on weekdays and 9:30 am to 12:30 pm on Weekends. While your kids have fun, they have a relaxing space with a loveseat and glider for mothers to nurse in comfort.

The nursing room also has an infant changing station stocked with diapers and wipes. Find a play option that works best for you. For more information, please visit their website.

Indoor play space and playground in San Francisco for kids - Peekadoodle Kidsclub

5. Peekadoodle Kidsclub

4228 Geary Blvd., San Francisco, CA 94118
Phone Number: (415) 440-7335

Describing itself as “San Francisco’s premier family club and preschool,” Peekadoodle offers a safe facility for children 20 months to five years old. Membership privileges include a 1,300-square-foot indoor play space for kids and access to various classes, workshops, and drop-off programs. Often a first-time drop-off, the Peekadoodle Prep environment is intentionally nurturing and created to allow young toddlers to explore a world outside of the home and begin to develop their “school self.”

Peekadoodle offers a variety of educational and developmentally appropriate programs for toddlers and preschoolers. From 9:00 am to 12:00 pm, Peekadoodle opens up its preschool to the community for open play on Saturdays. Kids ages 0-5 will have exclusive access to its expansive and interactive indoor playground. Your child will have plenty of opportunities to explore, build, and play in its custom-designed space.

On rainy days, they also open up their preschool classroom for play. For more information, please visit their website.

6. Peek-a-Boo Factory

5411 Geary Blvd., San Francisco, CA 94121
Phone Number: (415) 230-5188

Peek-a-Boo Factory is the first indoor playground for kids in San Francisco that offers walk-in play at all times and provides different play areas for different age groups. Its new semi-3-level play structure features a variety of slides, obstacle courses, tunnels, bridges, swings, a zip line, a sea saw, sit & spins trampoline, and more! They have a bigger and better play structure, a Ninja fitness course, and a toddler area.

Their newest addition would be the ultimate Ninja Fitness course to entertain your inner Ninja warriors. Peek-a-Boo Factory also offers parents a workspace to catch up on emails with their free WiFi and room to sit and socialize with other parents. Everything will be packaged into a safe, clean, climate-controlled, and supervised environment for children and parents to explore together.

Head over to Peek-a-Boo on SF’s west end for a nice break, and let the kids do the running around in a controlled space. For more information, please visit their website.  

7. Recess Collective

2309 Noriega St., #9, San Francisco, CA 94122
Phone Number: (415) 701-7529

Recess Urban Recreation is a fantastic resource for San Francisco parents with infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. While they provide plenty of scheduled playgroups, kids’ classes, and workshops for parents, drop-in play is really at the heart of what they do. With 3,000 sq. feet of play space and separate areas for the crawlers and toddlers to hangout in San Francisco, you’ll want to sign up for a membership ASAP. There are open areas for moving and crawling, cozy nooks for reading and relaxing, and a famous pint-sized climbing wall. The entire center is intentionally designed to support early development so that you, as a parent, can join in on the fun or comfortably watch and be there to interact as your child plays.

When children are free to explore in a developmentally appropriate space, caregivers can take a breath and relax. For more information, please visit their website.

8. STEMful

30 29th St., San Francisco, CA 94110
Phone Number: (415) 660-5975

STEMful is an inspiring environment in San Francisco where kids ages 1.5-10 years old “sprout curiosity” in science, technology, engineering, art, and math (STEAM) in their indoor play space. They are dedicated to cultivating an urban community that sprouts lifelong curiosity through hands-on, engaging learning experiences in STEAM.

STEMful encourages curiosity and resourcefulness, creating a sense of purpose, innovation, and self-expression. STEMful’s Community Play Space in San Francisco will be available between 9:00 am to 1:00 pm with limited spots. This space is designed for caregivers to bring their children to engage in STEM activities and toys without any planning. They have a wide selection of toys and are continually adding to their collection.

Schedule time during its open hours and let your children socialize in a structured environment with project-based learning that feels like play. For more information, please visit their website.  

9. Upper Noe Recreation Center

295 Day St., San Francisco, CA 94131
Phone Number: (415) 970-8061

The Auditorium in the Upper Noe Recreation Center provides a play area for young children. It is a top-rated destination for local children. The indoor play space is open to daily free play during designated times, various classes such as Baby and Me for mothers and babies ages one to three and Karate Kidz for “little kickers” ages five to six. This room has a dedicated drop-in Auditorium with Free Play hours for small children at no cost or commitment. 

They also have an outdoor playground with age-appropriate play structures, a sandpit, benches, and new restrooms. The park is also home to Joby’s Run dog play area, which is open whenever the park’s gates are open. The indoor play space is also available for birthday parties and other special events. For more information, please visit their website.

10. Urban Putt San Francisco

1096 South Van Ness Ave., San Francisco, CA 94110
Phone Number: (415) 341-1080

Willie Wonka meets the Exploratorium in this 14-hole mini-golf experience. Located in the heart of San Francisco’s Mission district, Urban Putt is the city’s first and only indoor miniature golf course conceived by local designers, artists, and engineers to create an experience that is equal parts. They offer guests a fun, only-in-San Francisco indoor playground activity for the whole family.

Let your imagination run wild as you tackle this high-tech mini-golf course. Putt through an earthquake, navigate a maze, or guide your ball onto an 11-foot-high Archimedes screw and listen as it bounces off a battery of drums, cymbals, and bells. At Urban Putt, imagination gets free rein. Kids are welcome until 8 pm only.

For more information, please visit their website.

Indoor Play Areas for Kids in San Francisco

Indoor Play Areas for Kids in San Francisco

For the little ones who need constant exploration, an indoor playground and play space are a brilliant choice to take your kids when the weather outside is just a little too much to bear. It is an excellent venue where kids can have fun and play in a safe, clean, and colorful environment.

When your kids are physically fit, they are more likely to be motivated and alert. You will love to keep your child healthy and happy as a parent. Luckily, your favorite indoor play areas for kids in San Francisco are just a drive away from your home!

San Francisco offers so many opportunities for kids to enjoy and have fun all year round! Check out our list of resources, or browse through our things to do with kids in San Francisco. Still looking for more activities for kids in San Francisco? No problem! Check out our comprehensive listing of places to go in the region and our highly recommended things to do blog posts.

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