Check out all the Knoxville Indoor Activities throughout the area!
Also if you are looking for summer activities be sure to check out this fun list, and for birthday parties check out our local guide. We also have an Ultimate Guide to all things Knoxville and family day trips and road trip destinations from Knoxville!
In the market for enrichment and extracurricular activities for your child? Check out our Guide to Enrichment & Activities!
If you are new to Knoxville from a different city or moving across town be sure to check out our Guide to Moving to Knoxville.
THE FREE STUFF:
Story Times
Knox County Public Library: For ages infant to five years, starting around 10:00am Monday through Friday. Check the website for the library closest to you and for specific date and age groups. There are nearly 40 fun and educational story times in the Knoxville area each week!
Blount County Public Library: Little Learners Storytime is held Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10:00am and 11:00am. Baby & Me Storytime is Wednesdays at 10:00am and 11:00am. Family Storytime Matinee is Saturday at 2:00pm. It’s a story time and movie for all ages!
Lenoir City Public Library: Story times are held the first and third Fridays of every month at 10:30am. Children of all ages are welcome.
Loudon Public Library: Preschool Pals story time is held Fridays at 10:30am. See the Loudon Public Library Facebook page for dates and information.
Sevier County Public Library: Story times are held at the various branch libraries for babies, toddlers and preschoolers. Story times are accompanied with a related craft. For the complete schedule, click here.
Barnes & Noble: Saturdays at 11:00am. Check listing for location and story time theme.
Knoxville Symphony Orchestra: Performs at various Knoxville library story times!
Museums
McClung Museum of Natural History and Culture: Open Tuesday to Saturday 9:00am to 5:00pm. The museum is closed on the following dates: January 1, Easter, Memorial Day, July 4, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, December 24 and 25. Admission is free.
Knoxville Museum of Art: Open Tuesday to Saturday 10:00am to 5:00pm and Sunday 1:00pm to 5:00pm. Admission is free.
Beck Cultural Exchange: Small group, guided or self-guided tours by appointment. Tours generally last one hour. Call (865) 524-8461 to schedule. Admission is free.
Farragut Folklife Museum: Open Monday to Friday 10:00am to 4:30pm. Admission is free. (currently closed for renovations)
Lenoir Museum: (Norris, about 30 minutes north of Knoxville) Historical artifacts from early life in East Tennessee. Hours vary. Call (865) 494-9688 for more information. Admission is free.
Local Stores & Malls
Foothills Mall Play Area: Open during mall hours Tuesday through Saturday 10:00am to 8:00pm and Sundays 12:00pm to 6:00pm.
Home Depot Kids Workshops: First Saturday of the month 9:00am to 12:00pm. Each child gets a free Home Depot apron.
West Town Mall Play Area: Open during mall hours Monday through Saturday 10:00am-9:00pm and Sunday 12:00pm to 6:00pm. This is a great way for kids to run off some steam for free!
THE INEXPENSIVE STUFF:
Sporting/Physical Activities
Backyard Bouncers (Clinton): The cost is $10.00 per child for 60 minutes. Call (865) 566-5867 to reserve your spot or reserve online here. Socks are required to play. Parents are welcome to join their children on the inflatable, but no more than two adults per child. Open play is offered all day on Wednesdays and Saturday mornings.
Farragut Golf & Games: Family arcade with games and events. It’s $1.00 for four tokens, $5.00 for 20 tokens, $10.00 for 45 tokens and $20.00 for 100 tokens. Special deals and promotions are often offered. For the latest, visit the Farragut Golf & Games Facebook page.
Foothills Gymnastics/Tumble Bears: Every third Wednesday of each month from 10:00am to 11:00am. Cost is $6.00 per child. Ages walking to five-years-old. Registration must be done in advance here.
Gym Bugs: Open Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 10:30am to 11:30am. The cost is $5.00 per child. There is a $1.00 sibling discount. Cash or check only.
Cool Sports: Public ice-skating sessions. Admission $13.00 for ages 3 and up, Skate Rental $5.00. Check website for public skate hours.
Defy: 90-minute jump is $25.99, all day $33.99. Weekday ages 3-4, 90-minute jump $20.99. Check website for jump schedule.
Farragut Community Center: Toddler Takeover takes place each Tuesday from 10:00am to 11:00am in the Community Center gym. The cost is $2.00 per child. Toddler Takeover is a parent-supervised indoor playtime where children can explore bright, colorful, age-appropriate equipment! Family open gym is also held on certain days. For a calendar of Community Center events, click here.
Maryville’s Play Station: Located inside Foothills Mall in front of Verizon. A day pass is $12.00 per child. Parent and Me classes are also offered. Those classes are free with the purchase of a day pass or membership. Open Monday through Saturday from 10:00am to 8:00pm, Sunday 12:00pm to 6:00pm.
Onsight Rock Gym: Adult (Ages 13+) Day Pass $19.00, Youth Day Pass (Ages 6-12) $17, Tot Day Pass (Ages 5 & under) $9.00. Weekdays 11:00am to 10:00pm, Saturday 10:00am to 8:00pm and Sunday 10:00am to 6:00pm.
The Climbing Center: Adult Day Package $24.00, Student Day Package $22.00. Open Monday through Friday from 12:00pm to 9:00pm. Saturdays and Sundays from 12:00pm to 7:00pm. See website for more details.
The Ice Chalet: Public skate admission $7.50. Skate Rental $7.50. Ages five and under $7.50 total. Check website for latest public skate hours.
Knoxville Ice Bears: Take the family to watch a hockey game! Tickets as low as $9.00. Check website for schedule and tickets.
Chuck E Cheese: Admission is free. Games are one token each. Check website for times and location as well as coupons for pizza and token combos.
Summit Sports Training Center (Lenoir City): Open gym and Nerf battles. Cost is $10.00 per child. For the latest schedule, visit the Summit Sports Training Center Facebook page.
Tataru’s Gymnastics: Open play admission is $10.00 for one hour, $15 for two hours, $20 for 3 hours. Parents Night Out is $10.00 for one hour, $15 for two hours, $20 for 3 hours, and pizza can be added for $5.00. Open gym is Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 10:00am to 12:00pm.
Tennessee Elite Gymnastics (Lenoir City): Open gym is held Monday through Thursday from 9:00am to 12:00pm and 7:00pm to 8:00pm, Fridays 4:00pm to 8:00pm and Saturday 9:00am to 12:00pm. The cost is $12.00 a child for one hour. A free tummy time class is also offered every Wednesday from 9:30am to 11:30am.
Family Bowl Strike and Spare: Game rates Monday to Friday 11:00am to 6:00pm $3.95, Sunday to Thursday 6:00pm to close $5.20, Friday to Sunday 5:00pm to close $5.70. Shoe rental: $4.35.
Oak Ridge Bowling Center: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday $2.50 game per person all day. Wednesday and Sunday $2.25 game per person all day. Cosmic bowling Friday and Saturday starting at 7:00pm. Three games plus shoes is $15.00. Games are $0.99 per person after cosmic purchase. Shoe rentals are $3.25 per person every day.
Maryville Roll Arena Party Zone: Admission is $7.00 to $10.00. Skate Rental: $3.00.
Hours: Tuesday 1:00pm-4:00pm & 6:30pm-9:00pm, Friday 7:00pm-11:00pm, Saturday 2:00pm-6:30pm & 7:00pm-10:00pm, Sunday 1:00pm-5:00pm & Sunday Night Jam Skate (13 & Up) First Sunday of the month 7:30pm-10:00pm.
Museums, Stores & Movies
Muse Knoxville: Designed for ages 1-12 (all ages welcome). Admission $12.00. Seniors 65+, Teachers and military with ID are $6.00. Babies 12 months and under are free. Open Tuesday through Sunday from 10:00am to 4:00pm. See website for current updates and changes.
American Museum of Science and Energy (Oak Ridge): $10 adults, $5 Youth (10–17 yrs old), $3 Children 6-9, FREE children (5 and under). Monday-Saturday: 9am – 5pm; Sundays 1 – 5pm. Museum open daily except Christmas Eve, Christmas, Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day.
Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge: Adults $10.00, Children 3-17 $8.00. Children under two are free. Open Monday through Saturday 10:00am to 4:00pm. Open Sunday 1:00pm to 4:00pm.
Museum of Appalachia (Norris/Clinton exit): Adults (18-64): $20.00, Children (6-17) $10.00, Children (under 6) with a parent are free. Family rate (2 adults and children ages 6-17) $50.00. Hours depend on seasons and special events. Click here for the latest.
Museum of East Tennessee History: Admission is $10.00 for adults, $8.00 for seniors 55 & over, and FREE for children 16 and under. Admission is FREE each Sunday. ETHS Members always receive FREE admission. Open Monday to Friday 9:00am to 4:00pm, Saturday 10:00am to 4:00pm and Sunday 1:00pm to 5:00pm.
Smart Toys and Books: Call (865) 394-6060 to book sessions at the indoor playground. The cost is $10.00 for the first child and $7.00 for one additional child. No charge for children under two with paid sibling. Socks must be worn at all times. Socks are available for purchase for $3.49. A waiver must be filled out in advance to play on the playground. You can find it here.
Sunsphere: Open Tuesday to Friday 10:00am to 5:00pm, Saturday 9:00am to 5:00pm and Sunday 12:00pm to 4:00pm. Adults and children over age 12 are $5.00 per person. Children 12 and under are free. Tickets must be purchased in advance.