Escape Rooms, Go-Karts & Laser Tag in Tampa for Kids

Somewhere around age 8, the indoor playground stops working. They're too big for the foam pit, bored in 20 minutes, and very clear about it.

This list is for that age, roughly 7 to 14. Every place on it still operated in September 2026, and we checked prices and age rules on each venue's own site. Most of these are indoors and air-conditioned, which makes them good rainy-day and August-afternoon backups.

Still have little ones in tow? Trampoline parks and toddler zones are in our indoor play centers guide.

Escape rooms

Escape rooms are the sleeper hit for this age. They reward the kid who reads everything and the kid who notices things. They're also one of the few activities where a 10-year-old and a parent are equally useful.

Escapology Tampa (Armature Works)
102 W Oak Ave, Tampa 33602

Escapology has a Kids Mode built for ages 7 to 14. The puzzles are the same, but the game gives more support so younger players don't stall out. It's at Armature Works, so lunch at the food hall and a Riverwalk stroll are right outside. See our Tampa Riverwalk guide.

The Escape Game Tampa (Midtown)
1134 Gramercy Lane, Tampa 33607

This national chain's Tampa rooms include several family-friendly games, like Playground, Cosmic Crisis, and Timeliner: Train Through Time. You get unlimited clues, which keeps frustration down with younger players. The Depths is also on the menu. Read each game's description before you book, because difficulty varies.

Game Over Escape Rooms
10266 Causeway Blvd, Tampa 33619 (Brandon side)

A good option for east-side families who don't want to drive downtown.

Tip: Book a private room. Otherwise you may be matched with strangers, and nobody wants to be the adult who gets outsolved by someone else's 9-year-old.

Go-karts

Tampa's go-kart tracks are mostly indoor and electric now. That means no gas fumes and no rainouts. The trade-off is that the age and height rules are strict, so check before you promise anyone a race.

Elev8 Fun (Citrus Park)
7902 Citrus Park Town Center Mall, Tampa 33625

This is the most kid-friendly track. Elev8 runs separate kart classes by age:

• Junior karts, ages 5–9: $10 per race, with speeds set for small drivers
• Cadet karts, ages 8–13: $19 per race
• Adult electric karts reach up to 30 mph

The same building has laser tag and mini golf, so you can do all three in one stop.

Tampa Bay Grand Prix (Clearwater)
Kids can drive the junior karts once they're 48 inches tall, and the karts top out around 25 mph. They move to adult karts at 56 inches. Junior races are $19 each or $48 for three. Adults pay $24 each or $59 for three.

K1 Speed Tampa Bay
3404 Cragmont Dr, Tampa 33619

This is the serious track. It has all-electric karts, two indoor tracks, and a restaurant. A walk-in race is $29, or $69 for three. K1 has both junior and adult karts. Kids need to meet the height minimum, so check the current rules on its site before you go. Heads up: K1 doesn't run junior races after 8 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

Laser tag

Laser Ops Xtreme Fun Center
6283 W Waters Ave, Tampa 33634

This one is a dedicated laser tag arena. It also offers tactical laser tag for older kids and teens. Laser Ops recommends players be at least 8. For younger siblings there's a Nerf arena and more than 70 arcade games, so the whole family has something to do.

Also has laser tag: Elev8 Fun in Citrus Park (above) and TGH Ice Plex in Brandon (below). Pairing laser tag with public skating works well for a birthday.

Mini golf

Mister Putters (indoor)
11236 W Hillsborough Ave, Tampa 33635

It's indoor and air-conditioned, which is the whole point from June to September. A first round of 18 holes is $13.95 for kids 3 to 12 and $16.95 for ages 13 and up. Extra same-day rounds are about half price. Tuesdays and Wednesdays are unlimited golf, at $15 for kids and $20 for adults.

PopStroke Tampa (Wesley Chapel)
25297 Sierra Center Blvd, Lutz

This is the Tiger Woods–backed putting course, open 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily. Day passes are $20 for kids and $25 for adults. A $20-a-month kids' membership includes unlimited golf and a free kids' meal every day, and Wednesday evenings are billed as Kids Day. It's outdoors, so go in the evening in summer. More north-side ideas are in our Wesley Chapel guide.

Bowling

Bowling is the most forgiving activity on this list. Bumpers and ramps mean a 7-year-old and a 14-year-old can play the same game.

Pin Chasers
Veterans location: 5555 W Hillsborough Ave, Tampa 33634
Pin Chasers also has alleys in Brandon (the former Oakfield Lanes, with 32 lanes) and East Pasco (Zephyrhills).

It's a local chain with youth leagues, kids' party packages, and a monthly Family Fun Pass that covers one adult and up to four kids. The late-night $13.99 unlimited deals start at 9 p.m., which is too late for most kids.

Also worth knowing: Bowlero Tampa Bay and Brandon Crossroads Bowl are both open and family-oriented.

Roller skating

For kids-only sessions, beginner classes, and current prices at each rink, see our Tampa roller skating rinks guide.

United Skates of America
5121 N Armenia Ave, Tampa 33603

This is a classic rink with all-ages sessions, a café, an arcade, and special events. It's a long-running Tampa favorite.

Skate World Tampa
7510 Paula Dr, Tampa 33615

This rink is on the west side, run by the same operator as United Skates. It offers kids' birthday parties and STEM field trips.

Astro Skate of Brandon
750 W Robertson St, Brandon 33511

This is the east-side rink. It offers lessons for all ages, which helps if your kid is still clinging to the wall.

Ice skating

Yes, in Tampa. The Lightning effect is real, and there are more rinks here than you'd expect.

TGH Ice Plex (Brandon)
10222 Elizabeth Pl, Brandon

It has two rinks, public skate sessions, learn-to-skate classes (including homeschool times), and laser tag in the same building. Public sessions can be on the short side, so check the schedule before you drive over.

AdventHealth Center Ice (Wesley Chapel)
3173 Cypress Ridge Blvd, Wesley Chapel 33544

It's a huge multi-rink complex that calls itself the largest ice facility in the Southeast. It runs public skates plus themed sessions, like its July 4th skate.

Tampa Bay Skating Academy (Oldsmar)
255 Forest Lakes Blvd, Oldsmar 34677

This rink serves Westchase, Oldsmar, and north Pinellas.

Seasonal: Downtown Tampa's Winter Village at Curtis Hixon Park sets up an outdoor rink around the holidays. Last season's price was $17 per skater, including rentals. Check wintervillagetampa.com for 2026 dates.

Picking the right one

Saving money

• Weekday afternoons are usually cheaper and much less crowded than Saturdays.
• Mini golf "unlimited" days (Mister Putters on Tuesday and Wednesday) are the best dollar-per-hour deal on this list.
• Combo venues like Elev8 Fun save you a second admission and a second drive.

Planning a party instead? Our Tampa birthday party ideas guide covers venues by age. And for more ideas sorted by age, see kids activities in Tampa by age.