If you are looking for things to do indoors in Wichita, we’ve got you covered. If it’s too cold or too hot out, sometimes you just need to get out of the house.
Are you tired of being cooped up inside? Check out all the fun things you can do indoors in Wichita! From bowling to museums, there’s something for everyone – get out of the house and have an adventure! Turn to our comprehensive list of indoor play places and activities in the Wichita area for help.
Related: Best Outdoor Playgrounds and Parks in Wichita, Kansas
Public Libraries
Public Libraries are a great resource for families. The children’s reading area at the library usually has puzzles and lots of books. In addition, there are many free activities and Wichita Story Times throughout the year. Libraries are also great places to check out books and rent movies for free. Below is a list of some of our local libraries in Wichita and the surrounding area.
- Wichita Public Library has story times, 3D printing classes, STEAM to-go kits, family movies, book clubs, lectures, and other free events that vary by location.
- Andover Public Library has a Children’s Story Time, activity bags, and even yoga, among other activities.
- Botanica, the Wichita Gardens, has a beautiful indoor library with a tree house, books, and toys! It’s a hidden gem and a great place to visit.
- Goddard Public Library offers children’s story times, take-home kits, and fun movement classes.
- Derby Public Library has a variety of youth and family programs throughout the year, including preschool and baby story times, weekly Tween Zone activity days, and literacy programs filled with activities and imagination for all ages.
- Haysville Community Library has many activities for kids and families throughout the year, including storytime book clubs, board game events, and movie nights.
Free and Cheap Play Areas / Indoor Playgrounds
Kansas Aviation Museum
Has 2 huge upstairs rooms for kids to play in, including full-sized playground equipment with slides, an airplane to climb in, coloring pages, and much more.
Pro Tip: If you have kiddos visiting on Fridays, you can get a discounted Little Aviators price.
Fun City Adventure Park
This is a huge indoor playground with ball pits, slides, swings, trampolines, foam pits, climbing, and more.
Sheels Indoor Playground (FREE)
The indoor play area with a slide and climbing area is free to enjoy. It’s kind of hidden, but when you walk into the store, it’s on the right side about halfway.
McDonald’s Indoor Play Place (Free)
- Takes the kids for an ice cream treat or for lunch. Either way, you can enjoy the free Wi-Fi while the kids enjoy the indoor PlayPlace.
- McDonald’s locations with Play Places:
- Seneca & Douglas
- Hydraulic & I-135
- West Kellogg & Maple St.
- K-96 & N. Rock Rd.
- Webb Rd. & Harry St.
- Park City location on 61st St. & I-135
- McDonald’s locations with Play Places:
Chick-fil-A Playground (FREE)
Enjoy a drink or a full meal, and let the kids play to their heart’s content.
Locations with FREE indoor playgrounds:
- 21st & Maize
- Maple & Ridge
- Central & Rock Rd
- 2400 N Greenwich
Burger Kind Playland (FREE)
Grab a bite to eat and let the kids play at the Burger King Playland
- 11551 E Kellogg Dr.
Carousel Skate Center Play Zone
The Play Zone is open during all public skate sessions. Up to 100 kids can play in it at a time! Price varies, but you can skate and use the play zone for one bundle price.
Carousel is located at 312 N. West St.
Places to go Bowling in Wichita
Bowling Deals in Wichita
Bowling is a universal source of enjoyment, and it’s indoors for our cold Kansas Winters when we are looking for things to do.
Bowling Deals in Wichita:
Arcades in Wichita
Arcades in Wichita
The Arcade in Downtown Wichita
Play retro arcade games such as Pac-Man, Galaga, Street Fighter, and Mortal Kombat all for one entry price.
Pizza Ranch FunZone Arcade
Pizza Ranch has a pizza buffet and an attached arcade.
Lucky Strike Arcade
The arcade is inside the bowling alley, and I was surprised by how big it was.
Scheels Arcade & Attractions
Inside Towne East Mall is Scheels, which has arcade games throughout the store.
Dave & Busters
It is a huge arcade and restaurant in East Wichita. This arcade is great for all ages with a big prize room.
Fun City
Inside the indoor place place they have a arcadewith games
Round 1 Arcade
This one is also inside Towne East Mall. They have bowling, billiards, and a big arcade.
All-Star Sports
All-Star Sports has Miniature Golf, Go-Karts, Interactive Arcade and Redemption Games, Batting Cages, Bumper Boats, Bumper Cars, and more
Chuck E. Cheese
It is South of K-96 on Rock Rd.: Kiddie rides, video and arcade games, laser challenge, pizza, and more, all in one location. If you sign your kids up for the Chuck E. Club, they will receive a special birthday discount.
All-In-One Indoor Activity Centers
Indoor Activities
These places have lots of activities all within one facility. Some of these have already been mentioned, but when you’re looking for a one-stop place with plenty to do, these are what I recommend.
All-In-One Activity Places:
The Greater Wichita YMCAs
- There are 11 locaitons in the Wichita area that offer a variety of activities.
- Indoor Swimming
- Rock Climbing walls
- gyms
- gymnastics
- Even if you don’t have a membership, you can get a single-day pass for $10 or a family day pass for $25.
Lucky Strike
- Bowling
- Arcade
- Go Karts
- Restaurant/Bar
Chuck E. Cheese
- Arcade
- Games
- Trampoline area (costs extra)
- Food/Beverage
Fun City
- Ropes Course
- Trampolines
- Arcade
- Foam Pit
Movie Deals in Wichita
Movie Deals
Movies are an easy and cozy way to get out of the house and have some fun, but dont overspend.
Movie Deals:
Places to Skate in WIchita
Places to Jump / Trampoline Parks in Wichita
Wichita is fortunate enough to have several indoor trampoline parks and indoor inflatable bounce houses too. These are a great place to wear the kids out in a short amount of time while having lots of fun.
- Urban Air on Kellogg and Irving St.: is newly remodeled with a zip line and more.
- Jumpy Jump Land has three locations in Andover, Haysville, and Bel Aire: They offer lots of fun in the form of inflatable bounce houses. Check out the schedule at each location to find the open jump times. They are $7 per kid and adults are free with paying child.
- Aviate on K-96 and Greenwich Rd.: is Wichita’s largest indoor trampoline park. They have a Ninja Obstacle Course, dodgeball, an Air Dunk basketball area, a slack line, trapeze, aerial silks, log roll, foam pits and a Kid Zone. View their Activities section on the website for special pricing such as Family Night and Junior Flight (preschool).
- Acrobatic Academy: Located on N. Maize rd.This facility is chock-full of different acrobatic classes as well as open gym times with a foam pit and a large tumble mat. See website for details.
Places for Kids to Climb Indoors
- Bliss Boulder & Climbing Complex on Greenwich Rd. and E. 29th St. N: is “Wichita’s only full-service indoor rock climbing facility”. Visit their webpage for a full list of weekly specials.
- Greater Wichita YMCA: rock walls (see details in the All In One Indoor Activity Centers section of this post.)
- Urban Air: has an indoor ropes course “built 30+ feet high above Urban Air’s trampoline attractions. Visitors can climb, zip, soar and adventure through the state-of-the-art High Ropes Course.”
Indoor Interactive Museums We are lucky to have such a wide variety of kid-friendly museums in Wichita. The following are a list of museums that the kids can learn at while getting the wiggles out.
- Wichita Art Museum near the museums on the river: is in itself not a place for kids to run and play in the exhibit area. However, they do have the Chihuly Bridge that kids can walk on in socks or barefoot.
- Pro Tip: Visit PLAY at the Wichita Art Museum. It’s a FREE Kids Activity Area, and you don’t have to pay any admission to the museum.
- Great Plains Transportation Museum, 700 E. Douglas. Your little train lovers will love this place! There is a small indoor museum and gift shop. Outside, there are lots of train cars they can climb on and go inside of. Adult admission $7, children 3-12 $4, children under 3 are free.
- Wichita Toy Train Museum, 130 Laura Street. Open Saturdays 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (except on holidays). Admission is $7 for Adults (age 13 and up), $5 for Youth (age 6 through 12), and free for Children (age 5 and under).
- Exploration Place in Downtown Wichita: has both traveling and permanent hands on exhibits such as the Design Build Fly exhibit and the medieval castle to play in. There’s always something fun to explore at Exploration Place.
- Museum of World Treasures on 835 E. 1st St. is an eclectic mix of everything from dinosaur bones to Egyptian mummies, sports memorabilia, and World War exhibits. The exhibits are not hands-on, but they also have a newly opened children’s area called Ivan’s Playhouse, where kids are free to climb and explore. They also have a Family Night, among other events and specials.
- Kansas Aviation Museum on 3350 South George Washington Blvd.: Your kids can explore the world of aviation through simulators.
- Pro Tip: Visit the Little Aviators Program every Friday from 10 a.m. to noon. Admission is FREE for children plus one accompanying adult.
- Old Cowtown Museum allows kids to travel the streets of Wichita as it would have looked in the 1800s, hear the stories of the folks who lived in that time, play in a historically accurate schoolyard, and more! Check out the link above for museum hours and prices.
Other Kid-Friendly Museums
If you’re looking for more of an educational adventure with the kids, you’re in luck. Wichita and the surrounding area has a wide variety of free and reasonably priced museums to choose from.
- Great Plains Nature Center has a FREE indoor museum.
- Wichita-Sedgwick County Historical Museum on Main & William St. downtown: is a great place to take the family to learn about our city’s history. You can explore a Victorian cottage, a vintage toy exhibit, as well as an exhibit all about Wichita’s history among others. There is also a children’s area where they can touch and explore a telephone booth, a typewriter and all the uses of a buffalo. Admission for children under age 6 is FREE. Adults are $5 and kids ages 6 to 12 are $2.
- Kansas Firefighters Museum on 1300 S. Broadway: is inside of a two-story original Wichita firehouse. This is a kid-friendly museum (Though I have not been myself. Not yet anyway!) They are open on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and by appointment for groups over 15. Admission is FREE for kids under 5, adults are $5, seniors are $2.50 and students in grades K-12 are $3.
- City Arts, in Old Town Square, offers a variety of adult and youth art classes.
- Pro Tip: City Arts Is FREE to Visit
- Coutts Museum of Art (in El Dorado) open Tues-Fri from 10am-5pm and Sat from 12pm-4pm. Admission is FREE and all are welcome! This museum is a unique regional destination museum and historic gathering place.
- Kansas African American Museum provides fun and educational opportunities for the entire family. On the fourth Saturday of each month families gain information on a wide array of topics as it relates to African American Culture. VIsit the link above for admission and hours.
- Kansas Sports Hall of Fame in the Wichita Boathouse at 515 S Wichita. Admission is free, but there is a suggested $3 donation for adults.The KSHOF is only open by appointment at this time. To schedule a time to tour, please contact info@kshof.org.
- Mark Arts Museum galleries are open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Admission is free. Visit their website for an array of class options for all ages!
- McCormick School Museum is the oldest school building in Wichita. It is open Sundays from 2-5 p.m. and Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to noon. Admission to the museum is free, although donations are accepted.
- Mid-America All Indian Center Museum where you can learn a variety of stories about American Indian culture and heritage. Children under 6 are FREE. Children are $4 and adults are $7.
- Ulrich Museum of Art, 1845 Fairmount Street(Located on the Wichita State University campus).
- Pro Tip: Ulrich Museum of Art is FREE
- WWII History Center (in El Dorado) is located at 119 W. Central in downtown El Dorado, Kansas. The Center is open every Saturday from 12:00pm to 4:00pm except for holidays. Admission is free, but there is a $2.00 per person suggested donation.
Story Times and Learning
Click here for the Ultimate list of Story Times in and around Wichita
Places to Craft with the Kids Wichita:
Crafting is a fabulous indoor kids’ activity, but save the mess at home with these kid-friendly make-and-take craft places!
- Evans Ceramic Supply, a family owned Wichita business since 1966, has walk-in paint your own pottery times as well as a full supply shop for clay, paints, glazes, tools, and a mold manufacturing company called Starlite Mold Co. Their hours are Monday thru Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturdays 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The cost for paint your own pottery is $7 per person per day, plus the cost of the ceramic items. Their ceramics range from $3.50 for a small piece, to $15 for a large piece. No reservations needed unless you have a group of 6 or more! Then call (316) 262-2551 to make arrangements. They are located at 1518 S Washington.
- Color Me Mine is a paint-your-own-pottery studio. It is open Monday-Saturday 11 a.m. – 8 p.m. & Sunday 12 p.m.-6 p.m. unless otherwise noted on their event calendar. Walk-ins are welcome anytime or contact them for a table reservation 316-425-5614. The studio fee is $10 for adults and $5 for children. Ceramics start at $16.
- Paint the Town offers a variety of host-guided paint parties for kids and adults alike. They also offer take-home paint kits that include the canvas, paints, and instructions.
- Michael’s Kids Club every week, offer inexpensive crafts for kids 3 and up as well as free virtual art classes.
- Karg Art Glass in Kechi: Make your own hand-blown glass ornaments. It is offering seasonal “Make-Your-Own…” options such as pumpkins and ornaments. While this may not be the cheapest craft at $30-$40 a piece, it is definitely a unique experience for kids and adults alike. Call 316-744-2442 to make your reservations.
- Home Depot: On the first Saturday of the month, Home Depot stores in Wichita offer free kids’ workshops for kids ages 5-12.
- Mark Arts has classes for kiddos that you have to enroll in but they offer a great selection of classes.
- Pro Tip: Mark Arts has a FREE Event called Art Together, which is Once a Month.
Places to Watch a Children’s Show or Play
- Wichita Children’s Theatre and Dance Center
- Intrust Bank Arena
- Crown Uptown Theatre
- Music Theatre Wichita
- Wichita Community Theatre
- The Orpheum
4 Responses
Evans Ceramic Supply on Washington is an awesome family-owned local business that offers drop-in ceramics painting Monday through Friday and is a LOT more affordable than Color Me Mine. Would love to see them on here since they’re in a sort of industrial area of town and not many people know about them outside of the pottery community.
Mandy, thanks for sharing. We didn’t know about them either. I’ll look them up.
Miss Emily, there is one old school pool hall / arcade left in Wichita on south Oliver. Family friendly still some quarter games. Pool tables by the hour or 50¢ tables. Four snooker tables, two are 12 foot tables. Open from 3pm to 11pm school nights. 1940 south Oliver, Wichita, KS 67218.
Thanks for the heads up Kevin!