Jacksonville Guide
Jacksonville summers mean afternoon thunderstorms, and a rained-out beach day does not have to mean a wasted day. Here is where local families actually go when the sky opens up.
Our pick, and not just because it is ours: an indoor, fully air-conditioned trampoline and adventure park at 9292 Arlington Expressway, Jacksonville, FL 32225. All-day jumping is $15 during the grand opening special, spectators get in free, and it is open seven days a week until 8 PM or later. Trampoline courts, ninja course, warped wall, rock wall, dodgeball, slam ball, trapeze, battle beam and a soft play toddler area for the little ones.
MOSH (the Museum of Science and History) and the Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens both give you a few indoor hours, with MOSH the stronger pick for younger kids.
A matinee or a couple of bowling games are reliable rain-killers, though they are sit-down activities. If the kids need to move, pair a movie with jump time before or after.
Jacksonville Public Library branches run free kids programming, and smaller indoor play centers work well for toddlers on a short outing.
The honest trade-off: museums and movies are great for a quiet afternoon, but if your kids have been cooped up inside all day, they need to burn energy, not sit still. That is the gap a trampoline park fills. An all-day pass also means you can leave for lunch and come back when the second storm rolls through.
Indoor options in Jacksonville include trampoline and adventure parks like VOLT Adventure Park in Arlington, museums such as MOSH and the Cummer, movie theaters, bowling alleys, indoor play centers and public libraries. VOLT is open seven days a week with a $15 all-day jump pass.
VOLT Adventure Park at 9292 Arlington Expressway is built for exactly that: wall-to-wall trampoline courts, all indoors and air conditioned, with an all-day pass for $15 during the grand opening special. Toddler Time sessions cover the youngest kids.
Yes. The entire park is indoors, so hours never change for weather: Monday to Thursday 11 AM to 8 PM, Friday 11 AM to 10 PM, Saturday 9 AM to 10 PM, Sunday 10 AM to 8 PM.
Indoor activities for hot days · Things to do in Jacksonville with kids · Birthday parties