Trampoline Park vs. Backyard Trampolines (Pros and Cons)

Jumping on a trampoline is a great way to spend time as a family. It is a fun activity that everyone can participate in and will be different every time that you do it. However, you might wonder if you should buy your family a backyard trampoline or just take them to a trampoline park instead.

Deciding between a backyard trampoline and a visit to a trampoline park can be a tough choice. A backyard trampoline is an attractive choice for several reasons. It allows easy access to the trampoline, and chances for spontaneous jumping parties, and adds to the value of your home. 

A trampoline park on the other hand provides different options. Trampoline parks provide larger and more complex trampoline options which helps you avoid the costs of trampoline maintenance. 

Each of these options comes with its unique benefits and drawbacks, from cost and safety considerations to the quality of the overall experience. Whether you’re a parent planning family activities or a child hoping to convince your family to get a new trampoline, understanding the pros and cons of each can help you make the best decision for your needs.

Why You Should Choose a Trampoline Park

While you are likely familiar with what a trampoline is, you may be less familiar with what a trampoline park is. Trampoline parks are businesses that offer many different trampolines and activities to their visitors. They are generally indoors and include trampolines that you are likely familiar with as well as larger and more complex trampolines, perfect for group activities. 

While trampoline parks can be a lot of fun there are some things that you should consider before bringing your family to one. Here are some pros and cons to trampoline parks. 

Pros

One benefit to a trampoline park is the cost to go to it. If your family wants a backyard trampoline you will likely have to pay over $1000 for it. Once you have it you will also need to pay for any additional maintenance and any accessories you want to add to it. 

A trampoline park on the other hand is much cheaper in comparison. For the price of a ticket similar in price to a movie ticket, you can take your whole family to a trampoline park without having to worry about cleaning up after yourself.

Another benefit to choosing a trampoline park is that you can go there year-round. Depending on where you live you may have winter months where you will not be able to use a backyard trampoline. Something as simple as a rainy day could sink your plans for the day. With trampoline parks being indoor you can feel confident in using them year-round.

The final benefit of choosing a trampoline park is the types of activities that you can do. Trampoline parks will have simple trampolines, but they also have larger ones made for games like dodgeball or trampolines leading into giant foam pits. These aren’t the kind of activities you could squeeze onto a backyard trampoline. 

Cons

While trampoline parks are popular there are a couple of things that you should consider. The first is that while it is rare, the risk of injury at a trampoline park is much higher than on a backyard trampoline. Some doctors report seeing more serious injuries occurring at trampoline parks. 

They also report that more than three-quarters of trampoline injuries to children occur in collisions while sharing a trampoline, an occurrence made more possible by a trampoline park's group-centered nature. 

Why You Should Choose a Backyard Trampoline

A backyard trampoline is a simpler option when compared to a trampoline, but is still a great choice for many families. Here are some of the pros and cons of choosing backyard trampolines.

Pros

The biggest strength of a backyard trampoline is its flexibility. If your family wants to jump on the trampoline early in the morning or late at night they can. If they want to bring friends over at the last minute, they can do that as well. A backyard trampoline is yours and can be customized as much as needed to fill your family’s needs.

Another benefit of a backyard trampoline is its long-term value. While it might be cheaper in the short term to go to a trampoline park, over time the cost of those tickets will add up to more than the cost of a trampoline of your own. If you plan on jumping on a trampoline it may just be a smarter financial decision to buy your own backyard trampoline. 

Cons 

One of the biggest downsides to a backyard trampoline is the maintenance. If a part breaks you have to replace it. When the weather is bad you have to cover the trampoline up or risk it falling apart. If you live in an area with snow you will have to take the trampoline apart each winter and reassemble it each spring. If you do not have the time to maintain a backyard trampoline it might be a better option to go to a trampoline park and let them maintain the trampolines themselves.