Cowabunga's Indoor Kids Play & Party Center - North Reading
Rating
Family of 4
$55-$80 (admission ~$12-15/child; on-site snack bar; free parking)
Duration
1.5-2.5 hours
Best Ages
Best for ages 1-10
About
Cowabunga's Indoor Kids Play & Party Center in North Reading is a well-established indoor playground serving the North Shore and Merrimack Valley communities. With 876+ Google reviews and a solid 4.5 rating, it's clearly one of those trusted neighborhood standbys that families return to repeatedly.
The facility centers on a large multi-level indoor playground structure with tubes, tunnels, slides, and climbing elements. The design intelligently separates younger toddler play areas from the sections suited for bigger kids, which reduces the collision anxiety that comes when very young children share space with energetic 8-year-olds.
An arcade section gives older kids a secondary draw, and a snack bar keeps everyone fueled without requiring a mid-session departure. The overall setup is clean, well-maintained, and appropriately staffed — hallmarks of a venue that earns high repeat-visit rates.
Closed on Mondays, Cowabunga's is open Tuesday through Sunday with hours that make it accessible for school-day mornings on the weekdays it's open. The busiest times are Saturday afternoons and Sunday mornings; Tuesday and Wednesday mornings are the most relaxed.
North Reading is about 25-30 minutes north of Boston on Route 28, making Cowabunga's accessible for families in Woburn, Wilmington, Reading, Tewksbury, and Burlington as well. Free parking and reasonable admission pricing round out an accessible family outing.
Age Suitability
Parent Logistics
Stroller-Friendly
Yes
Nursing / Changing
Available
Kid Meals
Available
Setting
Indoor
Rainy Day
Great option!
Plan Your Visit
Best Time to Visit
Tuesday or Wednesday mornings for the quietest experience; closed Mondays
Wait Times
No significant wait — admission is timed entry or drop-in based on capacity
Nearby Food
On-site snack bar with pizza, hot dogs, and standard fare. Main Street in North Reading and the Route 28 corridor have casual dining within 5-10 minutes.
Why Kids Love It
Cowabunga's is a classic New England indoor playground done well — a large multi-level tube structure with slides, tunnels, and climbing elements that gives kids ages 1-10 a genuine physical workout in a safe, enclosed space. The arcade games provide a secondary draw for older kids, and the snack bar means refueling without leaving. It's the reliable neighborhood go-to that North Shore families come back to repeatedly throughout the rainy season.
Pro Tips from Parents
- Closed Mondays — plan accordingly for school vacation weeks
- The multi-level play structure has sections calibrated for different ages; toddler areas are separated from older-kid sections
- Socks are required — bring your own to avoid purchasing them at the door
- Birthday party reservations fill up fast for weekend slots — book at least 3-4 weeks ahead
- The arcade tokens and snack bar costs add up; set a budget and communicate it to kids before entering
What to Bring
- Socks (required)
- Water bottles
- Snacks as backup
- Change of clothes for younger toddlers who get sweaty
Cost Info
Admission Prices
- Adult
- free
Tips to Save
- Closed Mondays.
- Tuesday and Wednesday mornings are significantly less crowded than weekends.
- Birthday party packages can offer better per-child pricing if you have a group.
Hours & Contact
Hours
- Friday
- 10AM-6PM
- Monday
- Closed
- Sunday
- 10AM-6PM
- Tuesday
- 10AM-8PM
- Saturday
- 10AM-8PM
- Thursday
- 12-8PM
- Wednesday
- 10AM-8PM