Houston gets rain. Real rain — the kind that doesn't stop after 20 minutes. When it hits, you need a plan that goes beyond "I guess we'll find a mall." Houston actually has excellent indoor options spanning multiple price points and ages. Here's what's worth your time.
Best Indoor Museums and Cultural Spots
Houston Museum of Natural Science
The anchor of the Museum District and one of the largest natural science museums in the country. Dinosaur skeletons, gems and minerals, space science, ancient Egypt, wildlife halls, a planetarium, and IMAX — all under one roof. A 4.8 rating. General admission runs $60–100 for a family of 4; add-ons like the planetarium and IMAX push it to $150–200 for a full day. Buy the combo ticket that includes the Cockrell Butterfly Center for better value. Plan 2–5 hours.
Cockrell Butterfly Center
Attached to HMNS — a three-story glass atrium with hundreds of live tropical butterflies from around the world. Kids walk through them as the butterflies land on leaves, flowers, and sometimes directly on the kids. A 4.8 rating. Budget $20–40 as a standalone, or include it in the HMNS combo ticket. Plan 45 minutes–1.5 hours.
Children's Museum Houston
One of the top children's museums in the country. Immersive exhibits on science, culture, and creativity that feel more like exploration than education. Budget $60–80 for 2 adults + 2 kids (adults ~$17, kids ~$15; under 1 free). Members enter free. On-site café adds cost. Plan 2–4 hours.
Fort Bend Children's Discovery Center
The suburban alternative to Children's Museum Houston — more intimate, community-focused, and less crowded. Budget $30–50 for a family of 4. Check childrensdiscoveryfb.org for current pricing. Plan 1.5–2.5 hours.
The Woodlands Children's Museum
North Houston's dedicated children's museum. Budget $30–50 for a family of 4. Hands-on exhibits scaled for young children who don't need the overwhelming volume of a major institution. Plan 1.5–2.5 hours.
Houston Museum of Natural Science at Sugar Land
The Fort Bend County outpost of HMNS — same quality, without the Museum District drive for southwest Houston families. Budget $40–70 for a family of 4. Plan 1.5–3 hours.
Entertainment Venues
Hyper Kidz Houston Westchase
A perfect 5.0 from 3,400+ reviews. Houston's benchmark indoor playground. Elaborate structures, themed play areas, significant scale. Budget $40–70 for 2 kids. The best indoor playground option on the west side of the city. Plan 1.5–2.5 hours.
Kids Empire — Multiple Locations
Edgebrook (southeast), Willowbrook (northwest), Maplewood (southwest), Westchase (west) — all earning strong ratings. Budget $40–70 for 2 kids at each location. Book online for best rates; check for weekday specials.
Launch Family Entertainment West Houston
Bowling, arcade, indoor playground, and more under one roof. A 4.9 rating. Budget $80–150 depending on activities. Buy the bundle package — paying activity-by-activity costs significantly more. Plan 2–4 hours.
Immersive Gamebox
A 360-degree digital game room where the walls, floor, and ceiling become the game. Kids play physically inside video games. A 4.9 rating downtown. Budget $80–140 for a family session. Great for kids 7+ who can engage with the mechanics. Plan 1–2 hours.
FUNBOX Bounce & Party Center
Inflatables and bounce houses in northwest Houston's Copperfield area. A 4.7 rating. Budget $50–90 for 2 kids. Plan 1.5–2.5 hours.
Wonderwild
Heights neighborhood boutique indoor playground. Modern, creative design with an emphasis on imaginative play. Budget $40–65 for 2 kids. A 4.5 rating. Plan 1.5–2.5 hours.
Trampoline Parks
Houston has trampoline options spread across the metro — useful for matching location to where you're staying:
- Flip N' Fun — 4.6 rating, $50–90 for 2 kids
- Cosmic Air Adventure Park & Arcade — Katy area, $80–150+ with ropes course and arcade
- iRise Trampoline & Fun Park — Northwest Houston, $50–90 for 2 kids
- Jumping World — Trampolines + arcade, ~$60–90 for a family of 4
- Altitude Sugar Land — Southwest Houston, ~$60–90 for a family of 4
- Altitude Webster — Clear Lake area, ~$60–90 for a family of 4
- Big Air — North Houston/Greenspoint, $50–80 for jump time + socks + snacks = ~$70–100
- Urban Air — Cypress/Northwest, basic $60–80, all-access $100–140
Aquariums
Downtown Aquarium — $60–100 aquarium admission for a family of 4. Rides add $5–8 each. White tigers, stingrays, shark tunnel, carnival rides, and a full restaurant under one roof. Budget carefully — the rides and dining can double your cost fast. Plan 2–4 hours.
Houston Interactive Aquarium & Animal Preserve — $50–90 for 2 adults + 2 kids. Interactive animal encounters (stingrays, exotic birds). Plan 1.5–3 hours.
Restaurants Worth Lingering At
John P. McGovern Children's Zoo — This isn't a restaurant, but it's worth including: the zoo's Children's Zoo section has splash pad and animal encounter areas that fill 3–5 hours even on drizzly days. Budget $60–80 admission + $20–30 food = $80–110 total. Annual membership pays for itself in 2 visits.
Nature Discovery Center in Bellaire — free grounds, programs $5–15/child. The indoor nature science activities are legitimately good rainy day options. Total family day: ~$20–40.
Quick Picks by Age Group
Toddlers (0–4): - Hyper Kidz Westchase — $40–70, perfect 5.0 rating, stroller-friendly - Kids Empire — $40–70, age-separated zones, nursing available - Children's Museum Houston — $60–80, hands-on exhibits, nursing rooms - Fort Bend Children's Discovery Center — $30–50, less crowded, intimate
Big Kids (5–12): - Houston Museum of Natural Science — $60–100, world-class science content - Cockrell Butterfly Center — $20–40 or combo with HMNS - Immersive Gamebox — $80–140, 360° digital game experience - Launch Family Entertainment — $80–150, bowling + arcade + play - Cosmic Air Adventure Park — $80–150+, trampolines + ropes course
Teens: - Immersive Gamebox — $80–140, genuinely challenges older kids - Cosmic Air Adventure Park — $80–150+, ropes course is the draw - Urban Air — $100–140 all-access with climbing wall - Launch Family Entertainment — $80–150, bowling + arcade for older kids
Bottom Line
Houston Museum of Natural Science is the rainy day move if you haven't been. A half-day there plus the Cockrell Butterfly Center runs $60–100 and delivers genuine wow-factor for kids 3–15. If the kids need movement rather than museums, Hyper Kidz Westchase (5.0 rating) or Launch Family Entertainment (4.9 rating) are the highest-confidence bets. Pick based on which side of the city you're on and what the kids are asking for.