Gow-in-the-dark bowling is lots of fun for teens. Bowlero photo courtesy of Lucky Strike Entertainment

Safe and Fun Teen Nighttime Activities for DC Kids

1. Bowling

Bowling alleys often become extra fun at night, with the music cranked up and blacklights turned on for glow-in-the-dark bowling. Many also have fun extras like arcades, laser tag, and even bocce. Plus, they all serve food and drinks to keep hungry teens energized, so once you drop them off, they can stay in one place for the evening. Check out our favorite bowling alleys near DC

Fun Places to Go Bowling Near DC at Night:

• Pinstripes — Washington, DC (Georgetown) and Bethesda, MD (open until 10pm Sunday - Thursday and 11pm Friday and Saturday)
• Bowlero — many locations in Maryland and Northern Virginia

2. Ice Skating

While outdoor ice skating rinks in the DC area are only open in winter, many indoor rinks have public skating hours in the evening. Have your teen check your local ice rink's website for current skating hours before heading out!

Cool Places to Go Ice Skating Near DC at Night:

• Fairfax Ice Arena — Fairfax, VA (public ice skating from 8:30 until 9:45 or 10pm on Tuesdays through Saturdays in the summer)
• Cabin John Ice Rink — Wheaton, MD (public ice skating from 8:30-10pm on Tuesdays and 8-10pm on Fridays in the summer)

3. Laser Tag

Laser tag is a fun activity for larger groups of teens who don't want to (or can't) crowd into someone's house to hang out. Most places in our roundup of laser tag spots near DC have arcades and other activities to keep teens busy all evening long.

Awesome Places to Play Laser Tag Near DC at Night:

• ShadowLand — Gaithersburg, MD (open until 10pm on Fridays and Saturdays)
• Ultrazone — Bailey's Crossroads, VA (open until 9pm Mondays through Thursdays, midnight on Fridays and Saturdays, and 8pm Sundays)

4. Movies

From first dates to group outings, the movie theater has been the quintessential hangout spot for generations of teens. But today's teens don't need to call Mr. Moviefone to find out what's playing! Just direct them to Fandango.com or Moviefone.come to search for local movie times and buy tickets.

5. The Mall

Shopping malls had their heyday as a teen hangout in the 80s and 90s (just watch any teenybopper movie from that era), but they're making a comeback, turning Gen Z into a new generation of mall rats! And why not? Malls are safe spaces for teens to hang out with their friends, shop (or window shop), grab a bite to eat at the food court, and maybe even meet new people—and they don't even have to spend money if they don't want to!

RELATED: 21 Fun Things To Do with Teens and Tweens in DC

 
Teens will have a blast getting slimed at Beat the Bomb. Photo courtesy of Beat the Bomb

6. Next-Level Gaming

Teens may not want to spend their allowance at a regular arcade when they can play video games at home (or at their friends' houses) for free. But the DC area has some super-cool spots that take gaming to the next level, and teens can play without adults as long as they have waivers signed by a parent or guardian. 

Best Arcades Near DC for Next-Level Nighttime Gaming:

• Immersive Gamebox — Arlington, VA (open until 10pm on Fridays and Saturdays): Teens can step inside a video game, where their movement and touch will bring the walls to life. The games have teen-friendly themes like Squid Game, Batman, and Floor Is Lava.
• VR Zone — Washington, DC (Northwest) and Rockville, MD (open until 10pm on Fridays and Saturdays): VR Zone offers virtual-reality arcades, escape rooms, and free-roaming VR arenas.
• Beat the Bomb DC —Ivy City (open until 10pm Tuesdays through Thursdays and Sundays, and midnight on Fridays and Saturdays): Teams of four to six can suit up in hazmat gear, dodge lasers, and crack codes to disarm a giant Paint, Foam, and Slime Bomb, or else get blasted!  Teens 16 and up do not need an adult on site.

7. Go Ape! — Springfield, VA and Rockville, MD

Nothing can make a teen bond with their friends more than an adrenaline rush! Teens ages 16 and 17 can enjoy the treetop adventure course and zip line at Go Ape! without an adult present, as long as they have an online waiver signed by their parent or guardian. And for a limited time, Go Ape! is offering Nights at Height, a treetop journey after sunset. Just be sure to have your teen make a reservation online before heading over. 

8. Planet Fitness

Teens can help each other meet their fitness goals by working out together at Planet Fitness. Many locations are open 24 hours, and teens ages 14 and up can work out without an adult present as long as a parent or guardian has signed a waiver online. While Planet Fitness memberships are always cheap (starting around $15 per month), teenagers ages 14-19 can work out absolutely FREE all summer long with a High School Summer Pass!

9. Trampoline Parks

Teens can jump and bounce their energy away at these awesome trampoline parks near DC. While they may have different age requirements, they'll all require a parent or guardian to sign an online waiver for any minor.

Top Trampoline Parks Near DC for Nighttime Fun:

• Sky Zone — various locations in Maryland and Northern Virginia (open until 10 or 11pm on Fridays and Saturdays): While Sky Zone typically allows teens ages 13 and over to jump without an adult present, some locations have Glow parties on weekend nights that require an adult to accompany teens under 15 or 18, so be sure to check with your local park.
• Flight Adventure Park —Springfield, VA: Drop teens ages 13 and older off at Flight on Friday and Saturdays evenings from 7-9pm for Flight Night, a black-light trampoline experience.
• Get Air — Alexandria, VA & Glen Burnie, MD: On Friday and Saturday nights from 7-10pm, teens can enjoy laser lights, a DJ, and jumping with their friends during the park's Club Air event.

10. Mini Golf

Teens can challenge their friends to a game of putt-putt for some old-fashioned, wholesome fun (and the opportunity to win bragging rights). 

Aesome Mini Golf Courses Near DC for Nighttime Fun:

• Scary Strokes — Waldorf, MD (open until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays): This 18-hole indoor mini golf course is immersed in black lights and creepy glow-in-the-dark decor.  There's also virtual reality, an arcade, and an on-site grill to fuel all the fun.
• Monster Mini Golf — Chantilly, VA (open until 11pm every day except Sunday): In addition to indoor glow golf, teens can enjoy an arcade, VR, laser tag, a laser maze, and bowling. 
• East Potomac Golf Links — Washington, DC (open until 9pm) The 18-hole outdoor course at East Potomac Golf Links in DC is the country's oldest continuously operating mini golf course. Teens under age 18 can play for less than $10, then get a FREE replay on Mondays through Thursdays. The course is lit up at night.

RELATED: 21 Teen Birthday Party Ideas in DC

 
Can your teen and their friends escape The Curse of the Mummy in Georgetown? Photo courtesy of The Escape Game DC

11. Escape Rooms

Escape rooms are another fun activity for a group of teens, who can work together to decipher clues and solve puzzles to "escape" a room in 60 minutes or less. Many escape rooms throughout the DC area are open until 10pm or later and have a variety of fun themes teens will love. Find one on our list of the best escape rooms for kids and teens in the DC area. 

Great Escape Rooms Near DC for Nighttime Fun:

• The Escape Game DC — Georgetown and Penn Quarter (open past midnight): Teens will love The Curse of the Mummy in Georgetown and Prison Break in Penn Quarter. 
• Bond's Escape Room — Fairfax and Arlington, VA (open past 10pm): The 15 rooms across both locations include both horror-themed rooms and less-scary ones. Teens can try The Sleepover Slaughterhouse in Arlington if they dare, or have a tamer experience in the aquarium-themed Bowl Voyage in Fairfax. 
• Big Escape Rooms — Silver Spring, MD (open until midnight): Sports-loving teens will enjoy the Basketball escape room here, or they can choose one of three other themed rooms. Those 

12. Rec Centers

From sports courts and climbing walls to workout equipment and swimming pools, rec centers offer loads of fun activities in a safe environment for active teens . If you don't have a membership, most rec centers in Maryland and Northern Virginia offer low drop-in rates for teens. And DC rec centers are FREE for DC residents with a DPR (DC Department of Parks and Recreation) account. Many rec centers stay open until 9pm on weeknights; check your local center for hours. 

13. Go-Karting

Teens can put the pedal to the metal and race their friends on an indoor go-kart track at K1 Speed in Manassas or Dulles, VA, which are open until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays and 10pm every other night. Those under 18 need a parent or guardian to sign an online waiver before they can race. 

14. Indoor Rock Climbing

Many indoor rock climbing gyms near DC allow teens to climb without an adult present as long as they have an online waiver signed by a guardian and have passed a belay test. That makes them great places for active teens to hang out with friends in the evenings and tackle climbing walls of various difficulty levels. 

Fun Places to Go Indoor Rock Climbing Near DC at Night:

• Vertical Rock Climbing & Fitness — Tysons Corner and Manassas, VA (open until 10pm on weeknights)
• Sportrock Climbing Centers — Gaithersburg, MD & Alexandria and Sterling, VA (open until 11pm many nights)

15. Libraries

Before your teen poo-poos the library idea, they should know that public libraries have lots more to offer these days than just books. Depending on the library, there are computers teens can use, board games they can play, and special events they can sign up for, like craft nights and cooking classes. My teen boys still talk about the night they did laser tag in the local library with their friends! Many locations have stay open until 9pm on certain evenings, so have your teen check the hours of your local one.