When extreme weather means outdoor play is off the table, there's still tons of fun to be had inside in the Sioux Falls, South Dakota area, where kids can climb, explore, and learn about history, science, art, animals, and much more, all year round. Here are some of the best places to play inside in Sioux Falls:
Best Free Places to Play Inside in Sioux Falls
Stockyards Ag Experience
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Pork puzzle at the Stockyards Ag Experience
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301 East Falls Park Drive
- The Stockyards Ag Experience is a history museum in Falls Park, with a focus on the history of the Sioux Falls stockyards. The upper floor is primarily information and exhibits that will be of more interest to adults, but the bottom floor is perfect for kids. My kids love the farm to market to table hands-on area and could easily spend an hour or more playing there!
- For more information, check out my post about visiting Falls Park with kids, or visit the Stockyards Ag Experience website.
Outdoor Campus
4500 South Oxbow Avenue
- Nature center with interactive, educational exhibits and a 3,000 gallon aquarium.
- Offers a variety of hikes and nature and outdoor skill learning events for all ages, from preschoolers to adults.
- Run by the South Dakota Games, Fish, and Park Department
- For more information, visit the Outdoor Campus website.
Downtown Sioux Falls branch of the Siouxland Libraries
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| Playroom at the downtown branch of the Siouxland Libraries. Photo used with permission from Siouxland Libraries. |
200 North Dakota Avenue
- Siouxland Libraries across the Sioux Falls area offer storytimes, reading programs, and other events for kids
- The downtown branch library is also known for its playroom
- For more information, visit the Siouxland Libraries website
Morningside Community Center
2400 South Bahnson Avenue
- Free playgroups, open gym time, and other activities for all ages.
- For more information, visit the Morningside Community Center page on the Sioux Falls city website.
Kuehn Community Center
2801 South Valley View Road
- Free playgroups, open gym time, and other activities for all ages.
- Open gym and a selection of other activities also available at other area community center.
- For more information, visit the Community Center page on the Sioux Falls city website.
Best Places to Play Inside in Sioux Falls with an Admission Charge
Delbridge Museum of Natural History at the Great Plains Zoo
805 South Kiwanis Avenue
- The Delbridge Museum of Natural History features a large collection of approximately 150 preserved animals from 6 continents.
- Admission to the Delbridge Museum of Natural History is included with zoo admission. A few other zoo buildings are also indoors.
- For more information, visit the Great Plains Zoo website.
Butterfly House & Aquarium
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| Kids enjoying the Pop-Up Dome. Photo used with permission from the Sioux Falls Butterfly House & Aquarium |
4320 South Oxbow Avenue
- The Sioux Falls Butterfly House & Aquarium is open year round for visitors of all ages to enjoy the many aquatic animals and butterflies they house.
- Kid favorites include the stingray touch pool, pacific tide pool, and the Discovery Den play area.
- Storytimes and other classes are also occasionally held, usually included for free with daily admission or membership.
- For more information, visit the Sioux Falls Butterfly House & Aquarium website.
Kirby Science Discovery Center at Washington Pavilion
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| Riding triceratops in the Kirby Science Discovery Center. Photo used with permission from Washington Pavilion |
301 South Main Avenue
- The Kirby Science Discovery Center includes exhibits exploring a diverse group of scientific disciplines, from paleontology to anatomy, health sciences, physics, and much more!
- Kid favorites include hands-on activities where visitors can use their muscles, dig for fossils, splash in a water table, ride dinosaurs and pretend to be a doctor or nurse!
- Admission to the Kirby Science Discovery Center is included in Washington Pavilion daily admission or membership along with admission to the Visual Arts Center and Wells Fargo CineDome.
- For more information, visit the Washington Pavilion website.
Visual Arts Center at Washington Pavilion
301 South Main Avenue- The Visual Arts Center features several galleries, plus the Raven Children's Studio where kids can create a variety of art or play dress up!
- Admission to the Visual Arts Center is included in Washington Pavilion daily admission or membership along with admission to the Kirby Science Discovery Center and the Wells Fargo CineDome.
- For more information, visit the Washington Pavilion website.
SkyZone Trampoline Park
5129 South Solberg Avenue
- SkyZone Trampoline Park in Sioux Falls offer a variety of activities for kids like jumping versions of basketball and dodgeball, ninja training features like a warped wall, and much more.
- For more information visit the SkyZone website.
Rainbow Play Structures
2801 South Carolyn Avenue
- The internationally renown play structure company is based in Sioux Falls and offers "pay-to-play" in their indoor showroom with dozens of full size, fully built play structures!
- One time admission, 10 play punch cards, memberships, and birthday party packages all available.
- For more information, visit the Rainbow Play Systems Sioux Falls showroom website.
Bloom
1608 South Western Avenue
- No longer open to the public. I will try to check with them whether this is a permanent change.
- This inclusive indoor play space is home to occupational and speech therapy, preschool classes, and more!
- For more information, visit the Bloom Sioux Falls website.
Galaxy Gaming
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| Laser tag at Galaxy Gaming. Photo used with permission from Galaxy Gaming |
3120 South Mayfair Drive
- Galaxy Gaming offers laser tag and virtual reality gaming, as well as consoles for computer gaming, PlayStation, Xbox One, and more.
- For more information, visit Galaxy Gaming.
Midco Aquatic Center
1601 South Western Avenue
- Sioux Falls best place for indoor swimming features a an Olympic size pool for competitive swimming and serious swim training, a warm water pool for therapeutic swimming, and a large recreation pool area for kids with waterslides, lilypad crossing, dump buckets, and much more!
- Daily passes or annual memberships available.
- For more information, visit the Midco Aquatic Center website.
Museum of Visual Materials
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| Photo of museum's craft area used with permission from the Museum of Visual Materials |
400 North Main Avenue
- The Museum of Visual Materials is a museum with two art galleries, and is also known as an event venue and playspace. Kid favorites include their giant block building area, Lego station, Barbie house, and craft area!
- While it does not appear they open open play anymore, they do have fun classes, workshops, and camps are available for kids several times each week, most with a low cost.
- For more information, visit the Museum of Visual Materials website.
The Sandlot
305 West Willow in Harrisburg, SD
- Indoor play paradise with four zones: the Sandpit, the sensory play zone, the imaginary play zone, and the splash room!
- Lots of open play time, but also available to rent for private events
- For more information, visit the Sandlot website.
Tea Play Place
910 North Main Ave in Tea, SD
- Play structure, slides, and more, plus storytimes, yoga, music classes, and more!
- Also includes Dakota Perk coffee shop with drinks, treats, and free Wifi!
- For more information, visit the Tea Play Place website.
Wings Gymnastics
5825 South Bahnson Avenue and 2556 South Lorraine Place
- This gymnastics academy has two locations offering a variety of gymnastics and ninja classes and equipment. While they're often closed to the public for private classes, they also have plenty of open gyms and special events, including special open gyms for babies and toddlers multiple times per week!
- For more information, visit the Wings Gymnastics website.
So grab your coats and cocoa and head to some of Sioux Falls most fun attractions, no matter the weather! And for more ideas of things to do in winter in Sioux Falls, you may also like my post about Snow Sports in Siouxland or take a road trip a few minutes south of Sioux Falls to check out the best places to play inside in Sioux City, Iowa!
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