20+ Free Indoor Play Areas in Columbus, Ohio to help you and your kids avoid cabin fever when it’s cold or rainy!
I hate to say it, but those days are coming . . . you know what I’m talking about: cold . . . winter . . . snow. 🙁 Luckily for us, you don’t have to spend a lot of money to play in Columbus, Ohio, and when it comes to playing inside, there are a lot of FREE options! This post may contain affiliate links. See my disclosure here.
Make Note of these 20 + Free Indoor Play Areas in Columbus for cold and rainy days!
If you need to pass a morning inside but you also need to GET OUT OF THE HOUSE, keep this list of indoor playgrounds handy! You may also want to check out The Complete List of Columbus Play Cafes or 6 Free or Cheap Indoor Places for Kids to Run Wild in Columbus for more indoor ideas!
1. Blendon Woods Metro Park
metro park nature center in Columbus, Ohio
4265 E. Dublin-Granville Road Westerville, OH 43081, 614-895-6221
Hours:
April to September: 7:00 AM – 8:00 PM
October to March: 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Tips: Inside the Nature Center there are puzzles, activities and books for kids. See more about what to do at the Nature Center in Exploring Blendon Woods Metro Park!
2. Westerville Community Center
free indoor play area at westerville rec center
350 N. Cleveland Ave., Westerville, OH 43082, 614-901-6500
Hours:
Monday – Friday: 5:45 AM – 9:00 PM
Saturday: 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Sunday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Tips: The Westerville Community Center offers an indoor playground for kids as well as indoor programing during the fall and winter months for young children. Read more about this in my list of free indoor activities for kids in Columbus!
3. Grange Insurance Audubon Center
505 W. Whittier St., Columbus OH 43215, 614-545-5475
Hours:
(These are Summer hours, check the website or call to double check!)
Closed Monday
Tuesday – Saturday 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Sunday: 12:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Tips: The indoor play area here also includes a “cave” to play in and there are also weekly story times for the preschool age! See more to do at the Audubon Center in 9 Things to do with Your Kids at Scioto Audubon. Also see: 2 MORE Great Metro Park Natures Centers for Columbus Kids!
4. Scoops and Chutes Playground at Graeter’s Ice Cream
2136 Bethel Rd., Columbus, OH 43220 614-442-7622
Hours:
(These hours may be seasonal, double check the website or call before visiting!)
Monday – Thursday: 10:00 AM – 9:30 PM
Friday – Saturday: 10:00 AM – 10:30 PM
Sunday: 11:00 AM – 9:30 PM
Tips: Socks are required to play on the indoor playground and can be bought for $1 if you forget! I included this play area in one of my Cheap Family Outings in Columbus for Every Day of the Week!
Polaris Fashion Place:
1500 Polaris Parkway , Columbus, OH 43240, 614-846-1500
Hours:
Monday – Thursday 10:00 AM – 9:00 AM
Friday – Saturday: 10:00 AM – 9:30 PM
Sunday: 12:00 PM – 6:00 PM
This mall is home to a few different options for indoor play listed here:
5. Zoo Play Area at Polaris Fashion Place
Tips: Shoes must be removed to play. The area has recently been redone and only has one exit/entrance which is great for keeping an eye on wandering toddlers!
6. Pottery Barn Kids at Polaris Fashion Place
Tips: PBK usually has toys out for play on both sides of the store (boys and girls) and my kids love them all! There is a story time on Tuesdays at 11:00 AM!
7. Bexley Public Library
2411 E Main St., Columbus, OH 43209
Hours:
Tips: Bexley Public Library has an amazing play area for kids! One of the most spacious kids areas around town, this space offers educational and imaginative play activities for kids!
- See more pics here: Two Fun Libraries for Columbus Kids
8. Battelle Darby Nature Center
1775 Darby Creek Dr Galloway, OH 43119, 614-878-7106
Hours:
April to May: 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM
June to August: 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM
September to October: 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM
November to March: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Tips: The nature center has a living stream as well as a small kids’ area to play in. There are preschool programs inside the center on Tuesdays! See 2 Great Metro Park Nature Centers for Columbus Kids.
9. Columbus Metropolitan Libraries
Main Library: 96 S. Grant Ave., Columbus, OH 43215
Hours vary by library and can be found here.
Tips: So many of the branches of Columbus Metropolitan Library have great areas for indoor play! I shared my favorites here and here! Of course, many other area libraries have areas for play too! Check out the locations for Worthington, Westerville, Delaware County, Grove City, and Upper Arlington! You may also want to check out: 2 Fun Libraries for Columbus Kids and 2 MORE Fun Libraries for Columbus Kids!
10. Grandview Heights Public Library
1685 W. 1st Ave., Columbus, OH 43212
Hours:
Monday – Thursday: 10:00 AM – 8:30 PM
Friday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Saturday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Sunday: 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Tips: I included Grandview’s library separately because they have a really good area for toddlers and preschoolers to play that includes a train table and Duplos! They also have a lot of story times! See the schedule here.
11. Whole Foods, Dublin
12. Whole Foods, Upper Arlington
1555 W. Lane Ave., Upper Arlington, OH 43221
Hours:
Monday – Sunday: 8:00 AM to 9:00 PM
Tips: This small play area is near the front and has books, play food, cars and more! Lots of seating nearby. EDITED July 11, 2018: A lot of the toys have been removed from this area recently. There is still a kid-sized table but I don’t know if the toys will be returning! 🙁
13. United Art and Education
3622 Fishinger Blvd., Hilliard, OH 43026, 614-527-8508
Hours:
Monday – Saturday: 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Sunday: 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Tips: First of all, this is a GREAT store for fun and educational kid products! There is a little play area tucked into the front corner of the store with a surprising amount of things to do! Blocks, play groceries, magnets, Calico Critters, and more!
14. Barnes and Noble
See the Columbus locations here!
Tips: Barnes and Noble is a hit for kids who love train tables and there are always lots of books to read! There are also story times on Saturdays!
15. The Naz Playplace
4770 Hoover Rd, Grove City, OH 43123, 614-305-2034
Hours:
Sun: 10:00 AM – 2:00 PMam – 2pm
Monday – Tuesday, Thursday – Saturday: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Wednesday: 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Tips: Shoes must be removed and socks worn inside this large indoor playground in Grove City! Socks can be purchased for $1 if you forget. There is a story time with crafts on Tuesday mornings! You can also register online before your first visit to save time. Outside the play area there is a cafe where you can purchase food (coffee is only $1!) and lots of seating!
16. Central Park at Westerville Christian Church
471 E. College Ave., Westerville, OH 43081, 614-891-6842
Hours:
Open Play Hours September 18, 2018 – May 2019:
1st & 3rd Tuesday of the Month: 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM
Every Thursday: 10:00 AM – 11:30AM
1st, 2nd & 3rd Saturday of the Month: 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM
Tips: Shoes must be removed for play in the play area. There is also a rock climbing area here! This cute indoor playground follows all Westerville City Schools closing and delays.
17. The Shops at Worthington Place
7227 N. High St., Worthington, OH 43085
Hours:
Monday – Saturday: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Sunday: 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Tips: Shoes must be removed for play in the fenced in playground area. If it’s warm enough, there is also an outdoor play area just outside the exit close to the indoor play area!
18. The Mall at Tuttle Crossing
5043 Tuttle Crossing Blvd, Dublin, OH 43016, 614-717-9300
Hours:
Monday – Saturday 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Sunday 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Tips: This indoor play area in Dublin has a STEAM theme: Science, Technology, Arts and Music. Lots of hands-on, fine motor activity here! My kids particularly loved the Magna-Tiles! (There is also an area with coin-operated vehicles in the food court area!) You can read more about this indoor play area here: NEW! Children’s Play Area at The Mall at Tuttle Crossing
19. Wonder Room at Columbus Museum of Art
480 E. Broad St., Columbus, OH 43215, 614-221-6801
Hours:
Sunday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Tips: This is a area for art and exploration just for kids on the bottom floor of the Art Museum. The Columbus Museum of Art (and this kids’ area) is free on Sundays only!
20. LEGO Store at Easton Town Center
4004 Gramercy St., Columbus OH 43219, 614-342-2710
Hours:
Monday – Thursday: 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Friday – Saturday: 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Sunday: 12:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Tips: Most of the time there is a table set up for building with LEGOs and/or Duplos inside the store!
21. Coffee Connections of Hilliard
4004 Main St., Hilliard, OH 43026, 614-664-3993
Hours:
Monday: 7:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Tuesday – Friday: 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Saturday – Sunday: 8:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Tips: Coffee Connections is a coffee shop in Hilliard with a community space and an indoor play area in the back building. This play area is fun for preschoolers and younger and is totally free! (Though, you should probably buy a cup of coffee. 😉 ) See more pictures here.
22. Play Cafe at New Life Church, Gahanna Campus
3690 N. Styler Rd., Gahanna, OH 43230, 614-475-8500
Hours:
Every Wednesday, Friday and First Saturday of the month: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Tips: This is a fun little indoor play area for kids ages 6 and under with toys to play with and coffee for the adults!
23. Two Dollar Radio Headquarters
1124 Parsons Ave., Columbus, OH 43206
Hours:
Monday: Closed
Tuesday and Wednesday: 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Thursday – Saturday: 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Sunday: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Tips: This is a coffee shop/book store with a small area with a kids focus! If you’re looking to have a coffee date while your kids play, this is a great spot! This is a vegan cafe serving, coffee, meals, drinks and special offerings throughout the week.
I hope this list of indoor play areas in Columbus gets you through the winter! I know we will be making use of many of these free indoor play places as the weather gets cold and I get cabin fever! 🙂
Need more ideas? Try 100 Fun Things to do in Columbus, Ohio
Share this post with your friends!
ICYMI: Top 10 Things to do with Kids in Columbus Ohio
Save this post on Pinterest!
airmaniax
Wednesday 6th of March 2019
A great and nice list and I am amazed that it's all free.
Skai
Sunday 9th of February 2020
I too am amazed that this is all free.
Thiago :D
Friday 29th of September 2017
duuuuuuude !! just wanted to say: THANK YOU !! your work is freakin' amazing !! everything so well explained and simple to read =) just wanted to let you know that your work is very appreciated (I know that you know, but you know ... its good to know that is appreciated haha :D) much love #Peace from Brazil
Columbus Christmas Staycation 2016 | What Should We Do Today?
Monday 26th of December 2016
[…] Grandview Library […]
Mega Central Ohio Train List | What Should We Do Today?
Monday 14th of November 2016
[…] 2. Grandview Library, Grandview Heights […]
5 Moms of Nationwide Share their Favorite Places to take their Kids in Columbus | What Should We Do Today?
Monday 7th of November 2016
[…] our favorite Columbus events and low-cost or free places to play! Of course I shared my list of 20 Free Indoor Play Areas in Columbus, but I also talked about some of our other favorite places like the OSU Airport and Barnstormer […]