You spent years memorizing your toddler’s favorite spots to visit every week, but what about now that your kids are getting older? Are there fun activities for teens and tweens in Charlottesville?
Whether you want to encourage your big kids to get off their screens and head outside, or just need a few fresh suggestions for a bored teenager on the weekend, this guide is for you. There are plenty of fun things for teens and tweens to do in Charlottesville. Best of all, many of them are on bus routes, making them accessible for kids who want some independence but don’t yet drive.
From arcades and escape rooms to concerts and the Dairy Market, find the best spots for teens and tweens to hang out in Charlottesville.
At a Glance
- Free spots where teens and tweens can play sports in Charlottesville include Darden Towe Park (pickleball), Carver Rec Center (pickleball, basketball, roller skating), and the McIntire Skate Park (skateboarding, scooters).
- Charlottesville City pools have $2 admission for teens and tweens at Onesty Water Park, Washington Park Pool, and Smith Aquatic Center.
- Popular hangout spots for teens and tweens include the downtown mall, Dairy Market, Alamo and Violet Crown movie theatres, and music venues like the Paramount and the Ting Pavilion.
- Decades Arcade and Firefly Game Room have arcade games, while The End Games and many JMRL library branches offer tabletop gaming.
- Other fun activities for teens and tweens in Charlottesville include bowling, escape rooms, craft classes at libraries or local stores, thrifting, and bookstore events.
- NEW attractions include duckpin bowling at SunPins in Dairy Market and Rock Revolution Climbing for those interested in rock climbing.
Active Things To Do For Teens in Charlottesville
There are a ton of places teens can gather to play sports or other games with their friends, whether they’re trying out something new or playing an old favorite.
Pickleball and Golf
If your teen wants to try pickleball, there are several places they can play! The best free option is Darden Towe Park, where there are six dedicated pickleball courts. Carver Rec Center also has drop-in pickleball options, free for ages 17 and under.
If you have a membership to ACAC, the YMCA, or Boar’s Head, teens and tweens can reserve a court at any of these spots. And finally, Charlottesville’s first indoor pickleball facility is set to open in September in the old Marshall’s building in Seminole Square.
If your teens are into golf, they can meet up with friends to play at one of the public golf courses: Birdwood, Meadowcreek, Old Trail, or Highlands. For an indoor driving range option, check out Anytime Golf off 29 near Whole Foods.
Charlottesville’s newest pickleball facility is cvilleSMASH, an indoor spot that offers leagues for every age including a new Junior SMASHERS group for ages 8–12.
Free Basketball and Rollerskating
The City of Charlottesville regularly hosts free, drop-in basketball and roller skating at Carver Rec Center, and teens don’t need parents around to attend.
The open gym basketball is free for ages 17 and under, and only $2 for ages 18 and up. (You can find dates and times on the CharlottesvilleFamily calendar.)
Roller skating happens every week on Wednesday and Friday evenings, as well as Sunday afternoons. Roller skates are also available free of charge. (Though teens should make sure they are wearing socks!)
Swimming and Kayaking
Charlottesville pools have $2 admission for kids under age 18, making them an inexpensive place for teens to hang out. In the summer, kids can visit Onesty Water Park and Washington Park Pool. In the winter, the indoor pool is open at Smith Aquatic and Fitness Center.
While the swimming beaches at the local lakes close at Labor Day, teens can still rent kayaks, canoes, and paddleboards at Chris Greene Lake or Walnut Creek for $15 an hour.
Trampolines, Skateboarding, and Rock Climbing
Get Air Trampoline Park, located up Rt. 29, is a fun spot for teens. Friday and Saturday evenings are ‘Club Air’ from 7-10pm, which is intended just for an older teen crowd.
If your kid is into skateboarding, Charlottesville has a popular skate park located in McIntire Park. Teens and tweens can explore different areas, depending on their skill levels, using skateboards, scooters, and bikes.
If your kid is interested in skateboarding but doesn’t yet know how, you can sign them up for skateboarding lessons offered through Charlottesville’s Parks & Recreation department!
Rocky Top Climbing in McIntire Plaza offers indoor bouldering (climbing without ropes or harnesses) for new and experienced climbers. Kids ages 15 and under must be accompanied by an adult, but teens ages 16 and up can climb on their own. Finally, while it’s not open yet, families should keep an eye on Dick’s Sporting Goods at 5th Street Station. They’ll be opening their new indoor rock climbing wall soon!
Rock Revolution Climbing on Old Ivy Road is the newest local spot for climbing enthusiasts. Highlights include a 16-foot adjustable training wall. The gym also offers climbing classes and clubs for teens.
Activities For Cville Teens Who Like Gaming
If your kid loves gaming, but you’re trying to move them off of the screens at home, Charlottesville has many in-person spots where teens and tweens can try out board games and tabletop games together.
Arcade Games in Charlottesville
Decades Arcade is a fun spot on the Downtown Mall that is filled with a variety of retro arcade and pinball machines, air hockey, skeeball, etc. You pay to enter (either for a 2 hour pass or an ‘all day’ pass) and then can play all the games inside at no additional cost. Note that teens 15 and under need to be with an adult.
Firefly Restaurant + Game Room is another spot that you might not have thought of for your teen, but would be an awesome place for them to meet up with their friends to play games and eat. You can choose from their extensive collection of board and card games for free, or pay a little bit to play classic arcade games, foosball, skeeball, or pinball.
Bowling in Charlottesville
Sunpins is a new ‘backyard bowling’ (but indoors!) spot at Dairy Market with small-scale lanes in a modern and updated environment. You pay by the hour to play and can order food as well.
For more traditional bowling, teens can head to Bowlero bowling alley, located up Rt. 29 just past Lowe’s.
Board Game, Comic Books and TTRPG Spots in Charlottesville
The End Games is a gaming store in Charlottesville, located off of Hillsdale Drive offers a wide-range on games and special events.
Sabre Games on 4th Street NW has games, books, secondhand items and more.
Super Bit is the place for buying, selling, and trading video games in Charlottesville.
Hello Comics has two locations in Charlottesville and specializes in graphic novels, manga, posters and more. The shop also frequently hosts crafting events, book signings and other fun things to do.
Many branches of the Jefferson-Madison Regional Library host regular free game-focused events for teens, from chess club to D&D to other one-off events. Check out their upcoming events on their calendar.
Charlottesville Escape Rooms for Teens
Charlottesville has two escape rooms that teens can visit. Cville Escape Room is on the Downtown Mall. It has five different rooms. Unlocked History is near Cville Coffee and has four rooms. An adult is required to be present in each escape room if there are children under age 16.
Creative Activities for Cville Teens and Tweens
If you have a teen who loves crafting and creating, Charlottesville has many places for them to hang out! Different spots have drop-in sessions and weekly classes available.
The Scrappy Elephant (near Cville Coffee) has a calendar of classes on offer. They range from mosaics and knitting to sewing and watercolors, and many are geared towards beginners. The classes typically include an age requirement in the description, but most are available to teens.
The Art Bar (also near Cville Coffee) has a fun twist on art drop-ins with their activity rooms. Pay for a session with a group in the Splatter Room, the Mural Room, or the Glow Room and let teens fully unleash their creativity
At The Glass Palette (near Beer Run), teens can make a reservation online to come in, then choose a glass-based art project to complete under the guidance of the staff.
Foster Art offers a variety of art programs for kids up to age 15, and hosts parties for all ages.
The JMRL branches have regular, free, craft-focused events for teens. Activities include crochet, felting, bookbinding, friendship bracelet making, and more.
If your teens are enthusiastic readers, be sure to check out the author events at Bluebird & Co. and New Dominion Bookshop. Both bookstores often have YA authors visiting on weekends. Teens can hear their favorite authors talk, ask them questions, and get copies of their books signed. Many authors also bring free swag for readers, such as stickers, bookmarks, and postcards.
Hang Out Spots for Teens and Tweens in Charlottesville
Maybe your tween or teen would rather just be dropped off in a space they can wander and hang with their friends. We get it – don’t we all remember the mall hangs of our own youths? While we no longer have an indoor mall in Charlotteville, there are still spots around town where teens can gather with their friends and enjoy some freedom together.
Charlottesville Malls & Shopping Spots
The Downtown Pedestrian Mall is a spot where teens can have freedom to explore and just be together. There are plenty of walk-up food options where they can each buy their own meal or treat (Christian’s for pizza, Marco and Luca for dumplings, Mai Tea for Boba, Splendora’s for gelato, Petite MarieBette for a pastry, Chaps for ice cream!). It’s one of Charlottesville’s best spots for this age group to be out and about on their own.
The Dairy Market is another central hangout spot where tweens or teens can meet up. Most visitors grab a drink or a bite to eat and then stay for a while, so teens and tweens can easily spend an hour or two here with friends. (And while they’re there, they can also check out Sunpins Bowling!)
While they aren’t classic indoor malls, both 5th Street Station and the Shops at Stonefield are spots for teens to wander through stores together, stop at a coffee shop, or grab a bite to eat at one of the many fast casual options.
Thrifting in Charlottesville
Thrifting is a trendy and affordable way for teens to shop, both in groups of friends and even with their parents! Charlottesville has lots of options for secondhand shopping, thrifting, and consigning.
For teens who like to rummage for treasures, visit the Salvation Army on Cherry Ave or the very large SPCA Rummage Store off Hillsdale Drive. Twice is Nice, on Preston Avenue, has both clothing and home goods. And there are two Goodwills in town: a large one up Rt. 29 near Walmart, or a smaller one near Monticello High School.
Teens and tweens who prefer a more curated shopping experience can check out consignment stores such as Darling x Dashing Boutique on the Downtown Mall, Uptown Cheapskate off Hillsdale Drive, and Plato’s Closet in the Rio Hill shopping center. Teens can also sell clothes and shoes at these spots to earn a little extra cash.
For teens who love vintage clothing, stop by the Downtown Mall to visit Arsenic & Old Lace and Low Vintage Clothing & Records.
Music & Movies in Charlottesville
Catching a movie together is a classic teen activity for a reason. Charlottesville has three great options: Regal Cinemas at Stonefield, the Alamo Drafthouse at 5th Street Station, and the Violet Crown on the Downtown Mall.
Charlottesville also has several smaller-scale concert venues with great acts coming through. Teens might enjoy the lineups at the Jefferson Theater, the Southern, or the Paramount, all on the Downtown Mall. Some of these spots also have other types of music events, such as karaoke, dance parties, and open mic nights. While some events are specifically marked as 18+ or 21+, most are open to all.
The Ting Pavilion is also a great spot for teens and tweens to meet up for a concert. In the summer, they can meet up with friends to enjoy the free Fridays After Five concerts on Friday evenings, then wander the mall to get a bite to eat or grab dessert together.
If you know where to look, Charlottesville has fun for every stage of childhood, from the tried and true spots your littles loved to these newer destinations for your independent big kids.
Want more ideas? Sign up for the CharlottesvilleFamily e-mag to get more family events and activity guides. Plus, check out our Birthday Club and Moms Lit Society for ways to get the whole family out and having fun!
CAROLINE SWARTZ recently made an unexpected return to Virginia after six years abroad due to her twins’ premature birth. Now a stay-at-home mom to four, she enjoys reading, thrifting, and exploring what Charlottesville has to offer in this stage of life!
KATHARINE PALJUG is a freelance writer and novelist. She lives in Charlottesville with two busy kids and proudly owns an unreasonable number of books. Find her on Instagram as @katharinewrites.