Atlanta's weather turns fast. You planned an outdoor day and now it's raining. Here are 28 actual indoor options — not the same tired list — organized by what works for different ages and budgets.
Best Indoor Museums and Cultural Spots
Children's Museum of Atlanta is the best rainy-day museum in Atlanta for ages 2–10. The Fundamentally Food exhibit where kids shop, cook, and serve meals runs 2–3 hours on its own. Admission is $17–$20/person plus $10–$15 parking nearby ($80–$100 for a family of 4). ASTC and ACM members get free or discounted entry — check your home museum before you pay full price. Book online to skip the line.
Bubble Planet: An Immersive Experience is floor-to-ceiling bubble rooms — giant inflatable tunnels, foam ball pits surrounded by glowing spheres, interactive blowing stations. It runs 1–2 hours and costs $20–$28/person ($80–$120 for a family of 4). Buy tickets online; almost always cheaper than at the door.
Museum of Illusions at Atlantic Station is 1–1.5 hours of optical illusion rooms. School-age kids get competitive immediately about engineering the best perspective photos in the tilt room and infinity tunnel. About $20–$25/person ($80–$100 family of 4). Atlantic Station has plenty of dining options around it.
Entertainment Venues
Sandbox VR is the highest-rated experience on this list (4.9 stars). Full-body haptic suits, tracked movement in a real 2,000+ sq ft arena, and a highlight reel video to rewatch immediately. Tickets run $40–$50/person ($160–$200 for a family of 4). Groups of 2–6 share the same virtual world. Book at least a week ahead on weekends — prime times sell out.
Puttshack Atlanta Midtown tech-tracks every mini golf shot — kids see their name on the leaderboard update in real time. The holes have interactive elements that make it nothing like traditional putt-putt. Plan $120–$180 for a family of 4 including food. Book a tee time online; walk-in waits on weekends are real.
Andretti Indoor Karting & Games Marietta is 2–4 hours of go-karts, laser tag, bowling, and arcade under one roof. Kids 6+ can ride as passengers on the multi-level kart track. Budget $150–$250 depending on how much you stack. Come at 10AM Saturday to beat the kart line. Fun Card gives bonus arcade credits.
Big Play Entertainment Center ATL in Dunwoody has laser tag, bowling, and arcade — 2–3 hours of activity. Bowling runs $30/lane/hour, laser tag $10/person ($100–$160 total). Arrive at 11AM opening on weekdays for best lane selection.
Activate Games puts kids inside physical challenge rooms where the whole body is the controller. Room challenges use sensors embedded in walls, floors, and barriers — kids who struggle with sitting still tend to excel. Sessions run 60–75 minutes for about $20–$30/person ($80–$120 family of 4). Book at playactivate.com.
Stranger Things: The Experience Atlanta at Pullman Yards is an actor-led narrative walkthrough inside the world of the show. Not a museum — staff in character respond to participants as part of the story. Tweens who've grown up with the series find it genuinely transformative. Tickets $35–$50/person ($140–$200 family with teens).
Fun Spot America Theme Parks Atlanta is mostly outdoor but the arcade section is indoor — rainy-day viable for the arcade portion. Closed Wednesdays. All-day wristbands run $30–$45/person.
Vertigo Fun Park in Alpharetta combines laser tag, arcade, and indoor amusement rides under one roof. Budget $60–$100 for a family of 4 doing 2–3 activities. Check vertigofunpark.com for package deals.
Spin Art Splatter Paint, Rage Room & Game Show — the rage room concept (protective gear, smashing things in a safe space) is genuinely therapeutic for kids who are always told to be careful. Spin art and splatter paint let kids make a mess their parents never allow at home. Budget $60–$100 for 1–2 activities.
Indoor Play Centers (Burn the Energy)
XtremeHopp in Johns Creek combines trampolines, rock climbing, and a café in one venue. It's 2–3 hours of activity and runs $100–$160 including food. Saturday morning 9AM opening is the best window.
Kids Empire Marietta and Kids Empire Plaza Fiesta both have large multi-zone indoor play structures. Both run $60–$90 for a family of 4. Always buy tickets through the Kids Empire app — walk-in pricing is higher.
Funville Factory Indoor Playground in Johns Creek — $60–$80 for a family of 4. Well-padded, age-appropriate equipment. Toddlers love the ride-on vehicles and pretend-play areas.
Catch Air Tucker is thoughtfully run with attentive staff and equipment that stays in good repair. $50–$80 for a family of 4. Bring socks. Weekday mornings are the least crowded.
HippoHopp in Brookhaven has a multi-level play structure with a café so you don't need to leave for food. $80–$110 for a family of 4. Monday is closed.
Ready Set FUN! in Sandy Springs runs $50–$75 for a family of 4. Closes at 6PM every day — arrive by 3PM.
TKT Playtime Inflata Park in Decatur has massive bounce houses and obstacle courses. $50–$80 for a family of 4. Monday is closed; Tuesday opens at noon.
Pokiddo Indoor Playground in Duluth — $50–$80 for a family of 4. Large climbing structures. Note: opens 3:30PM Monday–Thursday.
Kids Avenue Buckhead and Boomerang Play Center in Morningside are both soft-play venues for the youngest kids. Both run ~$30–$45 for a family of 4. Good nursing facilities at both locations.
Trampoline Parks
Atlanta is saturated with trampoline parks — every corner of the metro has at least one. The best options:
- Altitude Trampoline Park (Marietta) — $80–$120/family of 4. Foam pit, dodgeball courts, wall-run section.
- Altitude Trampoline Park Lawrenceville (Gwinnett) — $80–$120/family of 4.
- Adventure Air Sports Kennesaw — $80–$120/family of 4. Closed Monday and Tuesday.
- Sky Zone Trampoline Park — $80–$120/family of 4. Bring your own socks.
- Get Air Trampoline Park (Fayetteville) — $70–$100/family of 4. Unusual 8AM Sunday opening.
- Jump Time (Villa Rica) — $50–$90/family of 4. Combines inflatables with arcade.
Bring your own socks to any of these. Every park charges $2–$3/pair at the door.
Free or Low-Cost Indoor Options
Budget tight? These won't break you.
Outdoor Activity Center in Oakland City runs structured programs that are often free or low cost. It's a nonprofit — check the West Atlanta Watershed Alliance website for the current schedule. Not drop-in.
Boomerang Play Center and Kids Avenue Buckhead are both in the $30–$45 range for a family of 4 — the most affordable paid indoor options on this list.
Quick Picks by Age Group
Toddlers (under 5): 1. Boomerang Play Center — soft play, excellent nursing facilities 2. Kids Avenue Buckhead — upscale soft play, coffee bar for parents 3. Funville Factory Indoor Playground — ride-on vehicles, pretend play 4. Children's Museum of Atlanta — hands-on exhibits at multiple developmental levels
Big Kids (6–12): 1. Sandbox VR — the coolest thing in Atlanta 2. Activate Games — physical challenge rooms 3. XtremeHopp — trampolines + rock climbing 4. Big Play Entertainment Center ATL — laser tag + bowling
Teens: 1. Sandbox VR — unmatched immersion 2. Stranger Things: The Experience — for fans of the show 3. Andretti Indoor Karting — real go-kart racing 4. Puttshack — tech mini golf, actually cool
Bottom line: Atlanta's indoor options cover every age and budget. Toddlers: soft play for $30–$45. Big kids: trampoline or activation games for $80–$120. If you're willing to spend, Sandbox VR is the one everyone talks about for weeks after. Check closed days before you go — several venues are dark on Mondays or Wednesdays.