It's pouring, the kids are bouncing off the walls, and “go play outside” is not an option. Don't panic, mama — Springfield has plenty of indoor fun. Here are 12 mom-approved ideas for the next rainy day. ☔
FREE Options
1. Springfield-Greene County Library Branches 📚
Our library system is a treasure. Storytimes for little ones, the Midtown Carnegie Branch, the Library Station with its imaginative play spaces, and the Brentwood and Park Central branches all have kids' areas. Check the events calendar — there's almost always something free happening. My kids could spend two hours just in the children's section.
2. Springfield Art Museum 🎨
Always FREE, always wonderful. The museum at 1111 E. Brookside Dr. has family-friendly exhibits, and kids love the interactive areas. It's calm, it's beautiful, and it's the kind of place that makes you feel like a fancy mom even when your toddler is licking the bench.
3. Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World 🐟
The flagship store at 1935 S. Campbell Ave. is basically a free museum. Massive aquariums, waterfalls, animal displays, and the NRA National Sporting Arms Museum upstairs. My kids treat it like a field trip every single time.
Worth the Admission
4. Discovery Center of Springfield 🔬
438 E. St. Louis St. Six floors and 60,000 square feet of hands-on science exhibits — dinosaurs, the human body, the high-wire bike, water tables, and more. Admission is $12 for kids 3–15 and $17 for adults (under 2 free). Open Tuesday–Sunday 10 AM–5 PM, closed Mondays. This place can eat an entire rainy day, easily.
5. Wonders of Wildlife National Museum & Aquarium 🦈
Johnny Morris's world-famous aquarium and wildlife museum next to Bass Pro. It's a splurge, but it's genuinely world-class — sharks, gators, penguins, and jaw-dropping exhibits. Save it for a birthday or a really desperate rainy Saturday.
Indoor Play Places
6. The Jungle Gym — 3322 S. Campbell Ave.
A huge indoor playground for ages 1–10 with a ninja obstacle course, a massive indoor sandbox, and interactive projector games. Clean, well-run, and the kids come home exhausted. That's a win.
7. Nana's Play Place — 3550 N. Glenstone Ave.
Designed for kids under 8, with a sand pit, a tiny roller coaster, and even a quiet room for sensory breaks. All-day play passes are $13 for ages 2–8 and $7 for under 2 (includes one free adult). North Springfield moms swear by this place.
8. Imaginasium — 3444 S. Campbell Ave.
A bright indoor playground built for toddlers and preschoolers, with slides, a ball pit, climbing structures, and pretend play areas. Just $11 for ages 2+ and $6 for crawlers to 23 months. They also do “Kids Night In” drop-off evenings — file that away for date night.
9. Jump Mania — 3202 W. Republic Rd.
8,700 square feet of bounce houses and inflatables for kids up to age 12, plus a dedicated toddler zone. All-day passes are $9.25 on weekdays and $12.25 on weekends. Tuesday and Friday mornings have Jr. Jump for little ones at just $5.25.
10. Springfield Warrior Sports — 605 W. Plainview Rd.
A 7,000-square-foot indoor obstacle course with open gym sessions — think ninja warrior for kids. Great for burning energy when the weather won't cooperate, and they do birthday parties too.
Water Fun (Indoors!)
11. Chesterfield & Doling Indoor Aquatic Centers
The Park Board's indoor pools are open year-round. Chesterfield (2511 W. Republic Rd.) has zero-depth entry, a slide, tumble buckets, and spray features. Doling (301 E. Talmage St.) has a slide and splash features too. Regular admission is around $8 for adults and $6 for youth — call ahead for open swim hours.
12. Jordan Valley Ice Park ⛸️
When it's raining, go skating! The ice rink at Jordan Valley Park downtown offers public skating sessions. Check their schedule online — it's a fun change of pace and the kids will talk about it for weeks.
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🛒 Our Rainy-Day Survival Picks
Sometimes the best rainy-day plan is not going anywhere at all. When the forecast says "stay home," these are the boredom-busters worth keeping in the closet for exactly that — the kind of things that turn a soggy, stir-crazy afternoon into a good one.
1. Play-Doh 65-Pack Jumbo
A giant rainbow stash of Play-Doh is rainy-day gold — sculpting contests, pretend bakeries, and enough cans that nobody has to fight over the good colors.
NOW $10.00 (was $19.99)
2. Gui Gui Mega Slime Haul (50+ pieces)
For the slime-obsessed crowd: a mega haul of slime and mix-ins that can keep a kitchen table happily occupied long after the rain starts.
NOW $20.00 (was $29.99)
3. Magnetic Tiles Kids Set
Castles, rocket ships, and towers taller than the toddler — magnetic tiles are the rare toy that holds a preschooler's attention and a big kid's at the same time.
NOW $17.99 (was $37.78)
4. Crayola Scribble Scrubbie Bluey
Color the little characters, wash them clean, and color them all over again — art time without burning through a whole coloring book in one sitting.
NOW $10.00 (was $15.50)
5. National Geographic Kids Magic Science Set
Part magic show, part science lesson: hands-on experiments and tricks that make a stuck-inside afternoon feel like a field trip to the Discovery Center.
NOW $22.49 (was $29.99)
6. Yoto Mini (2024 Edition) Audio Player
When it's time to wind the energy down, this little screen-free player does stories and music on cards kids control themselves — perfect for fort snuggles and quiet time.
NOW $59.99 (was $79.99)
Rainy day survival kit: pack the diaper bag like you're going on an expedition, bring a change of clothes for everyone (splash pads and water tables happen), and lower your expectations to “everyone survived and had fun.” That's a win in my book.
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