Indoor playDes Moines · Iowa’s capital

Indoor play for toddlers in Des Moines, for cold and rainy days.

We found seven indoor play places in and around Des Moines that work for babies to 6-year-olds: four indoor playgrounds and play cafés and three museums with toddler areas. The cheapest paid pick is Grimes Kids Zone ($5 per family). Each card has ages, prices, sock rules and toddler hours from the place’s own site.

Last checked · 7 places · Every listing links to its official page. How we choose

Rainy-day quick picks7 places
Cheapest paidGrimes Kids Zone$5

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Every indoor play place in Des Moines, side by side

Filter by kind of place, then sort by price. The highlighted boxes are what most parents ask first: ages, price and toddler time.

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Grimes Kids Zone

101 NE Harvey Street, Grimes, IA 50111

Indoor playground
Ages6 and under
Price$5 per family
Toddler timeNot listed
SocksNot listed

A city-run open gym for little kids.

Hours: Mon, Wed and Fri 8:30–11 a.m., October through March

Official site ↗Checked Report a problem

Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden

East Village riverfront

Museum
AgesAll ages
PriceAges 2–12 $10; 1 and under free
Toddler timeNot listed
Socks—

A warm domed conservatory for a winter walk.

Official site ↗Checked Report a problem

Bloom Play Co

Cumming

Indoor playground
AgesToddlers and older kids
Price$14 for two hours
Toddler timeNot listed
SocksNot listed

Hours: Weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Official site ↗Checked Report a problem

JouJou Montessori Play Space

906 42nd St., Des Moines, IA 50312 · Roosevelt / 42nd St.

Indoor playground
AgesBabies, toddlers and preschoolers
PriceSee the site for open-play prices
Toddler timeA calm Montessori-style space made for little ones
SocksNot listed

Hours: Open play Mon, Tue, Thu 9 a.m.–1 p.m.; Wed 9 a.m.–6 p.m.; Sat 9–11:30 a.m.; Sun 9 a.m.–1 p.m.

Official site ↗Checked Report a problem

Playgrounds Cafe

293 SE Westown Parkway, Waukee, IA 50323

Indoor playground
AgesMade for 0–6
PriceReserve open play on the site
Toddler timeNot listed
SocksShoes off; socks for kids and adults

A play café with a full coffee bar and a café menu for kids and grown-ups. Capacity is limited, so book ahead.

Hours: Mon 8 a.m.–1 p.m.; Tue–Thu 8 a.m.–7 p.m.; Fri 8 a.m.–1 p.m.

Official site ↗Checked Report a problem

Before you go

What to pack for indoor play

SocksGrip socks, for everyoneMost play places and trampoline parks require socks, some for grown-ups too. Each card has the sock rule when the place posts one.
TimingGo at toddler timeWeekday mornings are calmer, and toddler sessions keep big kids out.
WaiversSign the waiver at homeTrampoline parks and many play places ask for an online waiver. Doing it before you leave skips the line.

Keep planning

More for little kids in Des Moines

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Good questions

Indoor play in Des Moines: the FAQ

For under-3s, look for a separate toddler area or a toddler-only time: JouJou Montessori Play Space (A calm Montessori-style space made for little ones).

We haven’t confirmed a free indoor play space yet. Library storytimes are free; see free things to do in Des Moines.

Posted prices for little kids run from $5 per family per day at Grimes Kids Zone to Ages 2–12 $16 at Science Center of Iowa. Many places let grown-ups in free and charge per child; each card shows the venue’s own price.

Usually, yes. Playgrounds Cafe: Shoes off; socks for kids and adults. Keep a spare pair in the diaper bag.

At some places, yes: Des Moines Children's Museum (under 1 free).

Each listing comes from the venue’s or organizer’s own page and links to it. We only list a date, time or price when that page shows it, and anything we can’t confirm stays off. These were last checked Oct 18, 2026, and we recheck them once a month, plus whenever a place changes its hours or prices. How we choose and check.

Littles Weekly

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