Indoor Things To Do On A Rainy Day in Raleigh: 24 Top Indoor Activities!

Rain rain, go away! It can be frustrating when the weather won’t play ball, but that doesn’t mean the fun has to stop, there are plenty of indoor things to do in Raleigh when it rains. If you’re new to Raleigh, it’s important to understand our environment isn’t this lush in the summer without a few downpours of rain here and there. Our humidity also brings many refreshing downpours, but as with tropical weather, they are often over and out pretty quickly.

Raleigh boasts a collection of indoor attractions, activities, and places to explore, so even when it’s thundering outside, you can still find something to keep you entertained. If you’re looking for exciting things to do on a rainy day in Raleigh, besides staying at home or going to the movies, here are some cool places to go and attractions to see when the weather is wet. (of course, if it’s a tropical storm or hurricane, we don’t recommend going out of your home to play!)

Indoor Things To Do in Raleigh When It Rains

1. Learn at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences

Museums are a great place to go to if you’re looking for somewhere indoors to hang out in. Our favorite museum in Raleigh is the Museum of Natural Sciences, which is the largest natural history museum in the Southeast and North Carolina’s oldest museum. It features 4 floors of exhibits, all containing themes related to our natural world. You can learn about the human body and DNA and see life-size dinosaur skeletons.

You can also watch scientists at work, and one exhibit has live animals. One of the best things I saw here was one of their snakes drinking water!! Have you ever seen that before? You’re never too old to live in awe. What’s more is it’s free to enter, making it one of the best free things to do on a rainy day. See a list of all Raleigh museums.

• Address: 11 W Jones Street, Raleigh
• Website: naturalsciences.org

2. Practice Your Swing at Drive Shack

Drive Shack is an awesome activity no matter what the weather, it has a covered roof. While we’re not currently big golfers, we love having a laugh and seeing how far we can hit a ball. This three-story interactive golf driving range is not just a driving range, but also home to augmented reality and virtual golfing games. Another similar option is Top Golf near RDU Airport towards Durham.

• Address: 6901 Play Golf Wy, Raleigh
• Website: DriveShack.com

3. Go Bowling at Kings

Bowling is a classic indoor activity that you can never go wrong with. We don’t just want to go bowling though when we go out – we want to go bowling in style! Kings in North Hills is an upscale bowling lounge with a gaming area complete with a pool table, ping pong tables, foosball, and dart boards. If you want to spend more than just an hour bowling, Kings has enough entertainment to last you a whole afternoon.

• Address: 141 Park at N Hills St, Raleigh
• Website: Kings-de.com

4. Play Arcade Games at Boxcar Arcade and Bar

If you’re looking for things to do with kids indoors, then a popular daytime activity is to play in the arcade at Boxcar Arcade and Bar. Children can visit this venue if accompanied by a parent before 8.00pm on weekdays and 7.00pm on weekends and play one of hundreds of arcade-style games. They have over 70 classic arcade cabinets, pinball machines, Skeeball, Air Hockey, racing games, and 175+ console games. Challenge your kids to a game of Guitar Hero or race each other in Mario Kart, it’s the perfect rainy day activity for families!

• Address: 330 W Davie St, Raleigh
• Website: TheBoxCarBar.com/raleigh

5. Immerse yourself at the NC Art Museum

Escape the rain and immerse yourself in culture at the North Carolina Museum of Art. This renowned museum offers an impressive collection of artworks, from classical pieces to contemporary installations. Wander through the galleries and admire masterpieces from artists such as Claude Monet, Picasso, and Auguste Rodin.

The indoor museum also features special exhibitions that rotate throughout the year, ensuring there’s always something new to see. For a deeper understanding of the art, join a guided tour or attend a lecture. With its serene atmosphere and diverse collection, the NC Art Museum provides a perfect indoor retreat on a rainy day in Raleigh. Read our guide to the NC Art Museum here.

• Address: 2110 Blue Ridge Rd, Raleigh, NC 27607
• Website: ncartmuseum.org

6. Go Shopping in North Hills (and others)

What better way to spend a rainy day than with some retail therapy? Raleigh has several shopping complexes, but predominantly, they require you to go outside. That’s okay! Take an umbrella or raincoat as you move from one store to the next. If you want to escape the rain completely, head to indoor malls such as Crabtree Valley Mall or Southpoint Mall in Durham (we prefer that one). However, we’re not raving fans of malls.

One of our favorite places to shop on a rainy day is North Hills as there is a great mix of stores, restaurants, cafes, and bars to take a break in as you move from store to store, which are mostly boutique or luxury brands (but there is a Target). There’s also a movie theater, which is always a great rainy-day activity. The Village District may be another shopping complex of interest. Read more: Where to Shop Local In Downtown Raleigh (27 Small Indie Retailers)

7. Relax in a Cafe with a Book

One of our favorite things to do indoors when it rains in Raleigh is to go to a cozy cafe and get lost in a good book. Although you can drink coffee and read books at home, it can give you a bit of cabin fever during a rain shower, so it’s always nice to get out into a new environment where you can relax.

Some of our favorite cafes to chill out in on a rainy day are Heirloom Brew Shop, because it has a nice big window and natural light to watch the rain showers from, Fount Coffee + Kitchen for a cozy place to work, and Lucky Tree Cafe for a cozy decor and comfy armchairs that you can sit and read in for hours. They also have lovely local artisan products for shopping, gluten free treats, and deliciously warming choc-nut-latte. If you are in the Wendell area, we love Parallax Coffee.

You may even want to visit a board game cafe such as The Kitchen Table or Meeples Brew. Have a bite to eat over a game of Exploding Kittens or get competitive over a classic game of Risk. You can find more coffee shop recommendations in our complete guide here.

8. Visit an Indoor Brewery

When in doubt, head to one of Raleigh’s breweries for a craft beer, board games, and events. While sipping a crisp pint is usually synonymous with a warm summer’s day, you’ll find many breweries in Raleigh have cozy vibes on a rainy day too! Some of our favorite breweries are Crank Arm Brewing, which has yoga sessions inside every Sunday morning and a huge indoor seating area, Heyday Brewing, which has a huge and modern indoor space and trivia nights, and Bearded Bee Brewery in Wendell has the prettiest, honey-flavored interior decor of any brewery in Wake County.

9. Watch a Show at Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts

Looking for indoor rainy-day activities at night? Then head to the Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts to catch a musical, show, or concert. Whether you want to watch a symphony orchestra or a stand-up comedian, there’s always something on at the theater. Just check the events calendar to see what’s happening during your visit to Raleigh. You can purchase tickets to a show at Martin Marietta here.

• Address: 2 E South St, Raleigh
• Website: martinmariettacenter.com/ 

10. Shop for Local Produce at NC State Farmers Market

The NC State Farmers Market is the place to go for fresh, organic produce, and its open rain or shine since it features a large covered market hall. Half of the market is dedicated to produce, and the other half is dedicated to garden plants, gift items, and artisans. There are also a few bakeries and coffee shops. If you want fresh, local items, this is the place to go. We’ve been here plenty of times on a rainy day! Here is our guide to the State Farmers Market.

• Address: 1201 Agriculture St, Raleigh
• Website: ncagr.gov

11. Cheer On the Carolina Hurricanes at PNC Arena

Raleigh has a huge sports scene, and there’s always a team to cheer on throughout the year. Depending on the time of year and day of the week, the Lenovo Center is home to the Carolina Hurricanes National Hockey Team and the NC State University Men’s Basketball team. Hockey Season tends to happen from October until about April time, so if you’re visiting Raleigh over the winter, be sure tocheck out the schedule and cheer on the Hurricanes. Here’s our guide to the Lenovo Center. Get your Carolina Hurricanes tickets here. We aslo love to watch the NC State women’s basketball team play in Reynolds Coliseum.

• Address: 1400 Edwards Mill Rd #3624
• Website nhl.com/hurricanes

12. Go Rock Climbing at Triangle Rock Club

Just because it’s raining doesn’t mean you can’t get active. Sure, you could hit the gym, but if you want something more fun to do, try indoor rock climbing! Our girls love Triangle Rock Club and have had several birthday parties and summer camps here! You can get a day pass for Triangle Rock Club and tackle the climbing walls. There are routes for all skill levels, and you can rent all the gear you need (even shoes). 

If you’ve never done rock climbing before, don’t worry, you can get an orientation before you start. They also have a location in Morrisville and will soon be opening a location in the Salvage Yard, near the Iron Works District. It will be the largest Triangle Rock Club facility at 40,000 sq ft and the largest climbing gym in North Carolina.in the new Iron Works District.

• Address: 6022 Duraleigh Rd, Raleigh
• Website: trianglerockclub.com 

13. Indulge in High Tea | Afternoon Tea

If you’re in the Triangle and fancy getting your “inner English” on, there is no better time to do it than a rainy day in the Triangle, because lets ace it Britain gets a lot of it. For it to be even more authentic you need to choose a place that does scones th way the English does them – flight and fluffy topped with clotted cream and jam

We’ve rounded up the best spots to enjoy this quintessential British tradition. with these best places to enjoy afternoon tea in the Triangle. (Our pick is Farrington Inn and the Washington Duke Inn. I’m eager to taste test more!). Whether you’re celebrating a special occasion, catching up with friends, or simply treating yourself, these places offer delightful tea experiences that even the most discerning Brit would approve of.

14. Escape the Room at Nerd Escape Room Raleigh

Escape rooms are a great way to spend an hour with a group on a rainy day. If you’ve never been to an escape room before, the concept is pretty much what it says on the tin – you are in a room, and you have to escape. You must solve a series of clues and challenges in order to unlock secrets, reveal codes, and eventually, find your way out of the room. The rooms also have storylines that give purpose to the activity. There are seven rooms to choose from at Nerd Escape Room, all with varying degrees of difficulty and some with storylines scarier than others. The Chernobyl room is one of the most popular.

• Address: 117 Glenwood Ave, Raleigh
• Website: ncnerd.com 

15. Take the Younger kids to Marbles Kids Museum

Another museum we love for toddlers, our kids are too old for it now, is the Marbles Kids Museum. It’s designed to foster play-based learning for toddlers and younger children. This two-floor indoor museum features exhibits that inspire creativity and wonder and get children learning in a hands-on way. It also contains the state’s only 3D-capable IMAX theater.  Here is our complete guide to Marbles Kids Museum in Downtown Raleigh.

• Address: 201 E Hargett St, Raleigh
• Website: marbleskidsmuseum.org

16. Go to the Arcade at Frankie’s Fun Park

Ok, so Frankie’s Fun Park has this huge outside space with batting cages, go-kart tracks, and mini golf, but it also has a huge indoor arcade that’s great to visit when it rains. Raleigh has two main amusement parks, Frankie’s Fun Park and Adventure Landing, and we prefer Frankie’s Fun Park because you pay per activity, rather than an entrance fee, which on a rainy day can feel like you’re missing out on half the attraction.

• Address: 11190 Fun Park Dr, Raleigh
• Website: www.frankies.com

17. Dine at Morgan Street Food Hall

If you want to go out to eat, then Morgan Street Food Hall is one of our favorite casual and family-friendly places to eat, because it’s not just one restaurant but a collection of different eateries and diners. Food halls make eating simple, as everyone in your family can find a cuisine they enjoy – whether that be Pad Thai, pasta, or sushi.

There are 20 different food stalls and one central dining space, so even if you choose different things, you can all eat together. The other food hall in Raleigh with plenty of indoor seating is Transfer Co Food Hall in the eastern part of downtown. They don’t have the covered patio like Morgan St Food Hall does though. As for more Raleigh restaurants, see a suggested list for 2026.

18. Tour The North Carolina State Capitol 

The State Capitol building is an iconic landmark in Raleigh, located in the heart of downtown. It’s a National Historic Landmark and housed the office of the Governor, the Supreme Court, and the chambers of the General Assembly, as well as various other state offices. Not many people know this about Raleigh, but it was actually built to be the state capital. Even its position, nestled in the center of the state, was done on purpose.

You can learn all about this and more about NC state’s political history on a self-guided tour of the building from 9.00am – 5.00pm, Monday – Friday, or take a guided tour from 10.00am – 1.00pm on weekdays.

• Address: 1 East Edenton St, Raleigh
• Website: historicsites.nc.gov

19. Tour the NC Executive Mansion

The North Carolina Executive Mansion is the official residence of the Governor of North Carolina and their family, which currently is Governor Roy Cooper, the thirtieth governor to live in the Mansion. On the tour, you’ll explore the history of the 1883 Victorian style mansion, learn about past and present Governors and tour the beautifully furnished downstairs rooms. Discover the purpose of each room, notable décor such as the Joan of Arc Inkwell gifted by France during World War II, and personal items like Governor Cooper’s photographs.

The only thing with this rainy-day activity, is tours aren’t year-round. To schedule a tour, it’s best to reach out directly to [email protected]. as it’s not always clear as to when tours are running. We did this tour recently with my parents visiting from Australia as we showcased the best of Raleigh. We all loved it!

20. Try Axe Throwing at Graffiti in Cary

Axe throwing is a fun rainy-day activity if you’ve never done it before. We love doing this as a date in Raleigh because it allows you to be a bit fun and adventurous. Although it looks easy, there is a technique to make it stick, so if you’ve never done it before then I recommend getting a lesson to see how it’s done. Graffiti is a cool indoor place to enjoy axe throwing with six axe-throwing lanes. They also have TV screens everywhere for sports lover and a full bar. At this Cary bar I love how this bar is like a living street art gallery with the walls decorated by local street artists!

• Address:158 E Cedar St, Cary, NC 27511
• Website: thecrazyaxe.com 

21. Get Your Ninja on at OC Aerial

Just a 35-minute drive from Raleigh is OC Aerial, an indoor adventure park in Durham, which is kind of like a trampoline park mixed with a ninja course and rock-climbing gym in one. Spread out over 16,000 square feet, it has four ninja courses, a 165-foot zip line, and a 16-foot high, high ropes course. If you’re looking for a way to get active with your teens and have fun in the process, this is one of the best attractions in Durham County to do just that. It is quite the fun workout! Do not miss the high-speed slide – just be prepared for an explosive landing.

22. Bounce Around at Sky Zone Trampoline Park

Raleigh has several indoor trampoline parks, and it’s one of our favorite rainy-day things to do with our teenagers because it gets them active and it’s also a lot of fun. Sky Zone Trampoline Park is one of our favorite parks because it has a huge space where you can practice your flips and jumps and play a game of ultimate dodgeball. Big Air, Urban Air and Defy are a few more trampoline parks in Raleigh to consider.

• Address: 2101 Westinghouse Blvd Suite 111, Raleigh
• Website: skyzone.com/raleigh 

23. Take a Creative Class

Let out your inner creative on a rainy day in Raleigh at an indoor creative class. Whether it’s painting, pottery, or crafting, there’s a class to spark your imagination. Head to Artspace in downtown Raleigh for a variety of workshops where local artists guide you through unique projects. If crafting is more your style, head to AR Workshop Raleigh for DIY home decor projects. These creative classes provide the perfect escape from the rain while allowing you to learn a new skill and express your artistic side.

Wine & Design in Raleigh has different paint and sip classes (fun with friends). Joy Worthy Co has a diverse number of creative classes from paint and sip to cupcake decorating and bourbon tasting and Barista classes. The object is to bring JOY and CONNECTION to the creative process.

If you have a teenager, or fancy doing something a bit girly with your besties, then why not try and make your own lipstick or lipgloss? You can book this experience pretty last minute too, so don’t worry if you haven’t checked the weather forecast in advance. See prices and availability here.