Just because it’s raining outside or 500 degrees, doesn’t mean your date day or date night has to be cancelled! You just have to be ready to plan something that is weather friendly. Today, we’re going to share our top picks for the best indoor date ideas. These are great when the weather isn’t cooperating or just when you don’t feel like heading out into the world.
Don’t miss out on LoveTrack’s indoor date nights
Before we get started, there’s one resource we want to share that is light years better than this list (seriously). It’s called LoveTrack, and it’s a 100% free date night planner for couples. It has hundreds of indoor date ideas (that you can sort).
Each date comes fully planned with step by step instructions, supplies lists, expert guides, and everything you need to make it happen. All you have to do is pick out an idea and follow the instructions! And did we mention it’s actually free!
The Best Indoor Date Ideas
Let’s take a look at our favorite indoor date ideas. Spoiler, most of these come from the LoveTrack app, so if you want the full experience, definitely check them out there!
1. The Powers Out Date
Depending on the reason for wanting the date indoors, the power could actually be out! But if it’s not, the idea of this date is to pretend that it is. You’ll use battery powered flashlights, unplug from technology, and play games that don’t require electricity.
This indoor date idea is the most fun at night as it transitions from light to dark. Just make sure you practice safety, and you don’t actually have to turn the power off. Keep that AC or heat going!
2. The Candle Making Date
Something super romantic that you can do for an indoor date night is make candles. It’s actually way easier than you might think, and if the power does go out because of the weather, you’ll have some candles you can use!
This is one of our favorite dates from the LoveTrack app, so make sure you go check it out. It will walk you through exactly what you need and how to make them the easy way (it’s really not that hard)!
3. The Indoor Picnic Date
Picnics are a great way to enjoy nature. However, when the weather isn’t cooperating, it doesn’t mean that picnics are off the menu for a date idea. Instead, move the picnic inside! Set up a blanket, pack your food in a basket, and kick on some nature sounds in the background. This is an incredibly fun date that’s super easy and affordable.
4. The ‘At the Movies’ At Home Date
This might be our favorite rainy day date idea. Everyone knows movies go great with the rain. But what’s different with this date is that you take the time to turn your living room or TV room into a movie theater! You can get some blackout curtains, get some iconic movie theater snacks, and even make tickets for the movie!
If you want help with the little details, make sure you get the free LoveTrack app because it walks you through everything.
5. The Build Legos Together Date
Building with Legos together is an amazingly fun indoor date idea. The premise is simple. Get some Legos, set up some drinks and snacks, and have fun. You can build something together or have a contest to see who can build the neatest thing.
6. The Cereal Tasting Date
There are all types of food and drink tastings out there, but one that is often overlooked (because we came up with it) is the cereal tasting date! With this date, you can get several classic or unique cereals and have fun testing them out together. You can set up cute little bowls and score cards for each with rating categories like taste, crunch, and overall experience!
7. The Christmas Anytime Date
If you or your significant other are big into Christmas, why not bring that joy back around at an obscure time of the year! The Christmas Anytime Date is super straight forward and a great fit for indoor dates. Get out some decorations, turn on some Christmas music, get some holiday snacks, and turn on a classic Christmas movie!
With this indoor date, you can go as all out or as little as you want. That said, the more effort you put into it, the more memorable the date.
8. The Create Your Vision Board Date
For couples who are married or a little more series, making vision boards together (or one together) is a fantastic indoor date night. Get paper or posterboard as your canvas. Then, get some old magazines or purchase a vision board set (we share some options in the LoveTrack app) and cut out things that represent the goals you have for your life, and tape or glue them on the board.
Once you’re done, hang it somewhere to keep you motivated!
9. The Boardgame Challenge Date
Boardgames are such a great go-to for indoor date ideas. You can always just play the game and have a wonderful night. Or, if you want to jazz it up, make it a challenge where there’s a winner at the end. The winner can get a cute little novelty trophy or something fun like getting to pick the next date night.
When you see this date in the LoveTrack app, we share some of our favorite new and unique games to try (that you may not have ever heard of, but they’re amazing)!
10. The Fudgie Brownie Bakeoff Date
Simple, but sweet. This indoor date idea is one where you either make brownies together or you have a bakeoff contest to see who can make the best ones. When you’re done, you can enjoy the brownies together or package them to give to friends as a treat!
11. The Indoor Camping Date
Remember how we said picnics weren’t off the menu for date ideas when the weather wasn’t great? The same is true for camping! Set up a tent in your living room, get an indoor s’mores cooker, and have fun like you’re camping without all the bugs and elements.
There are SO many neat ways to elevate this date, so make sure you check it out in the free LoveTrack app for all of the ideas.
12. The Build a Banana Split Date
While we’re on the topic of delicious foods like s’mores, let’s talk banana splits. Get bananas, ice cream, and a bunch of toppings, and set everything up like a cute little buffet station where you can build your splits together. Take turns and see who can make the best looking and the tastiest banana split.
13. The Best of YouTube Awards Date
This is one of our favorite indoor date nights from the LoveTrack app, and we think you’re going to love it too. With this date, you come up with a set of award categories like at an award show, but for YouTube. Things like “Best Cat video” or “Most Emotional Short of the Year” (if you need ideas, there’s a complete list on the app).
You and your date take turns privately the few days before the date coming up with your nomination for each category. Then, on the date night, you watch the videos together and vote on winners!
14. The True Crime Podcast Date
Most people consume podcasts by themselves. However, listening to a great true crime podcast as an indoor date is so much fun. You can pause at different points and discuss who you think did it and what you feel about what’s happening (or what’s going to happen next. What’s also great is that you can do this as multiple dates as there are generally multiple episodes!
Other ‘Staple’ Ideas for Indoors Dates
Now, these are just our tip picks for the most unique indoor date ideas. For completeness, though, we want to make sure that we mention several other ideas that may not be as creative, but are still fun for indoor date ideas.
Here you go!
- Go bowling together.
- Try out laser tag.
- Visit an indoor trampoline park.
- Play a few rounds at an arcade.
- Go rock climbing at an indoor gym.
- Try an escape room challenge.
- Play glow-in-the-dark mini golf.
- Do karaoke at a lounge or private room.
- Go axe throwing at an indoor venue.
- Try virtual reality gaming together.
- Take a dance class together.
- Do a pottery class at a local studio.
- Try indoor go-kart racing.
- Go roller skating at a rink.
- Visit an interactive museum or science center.
- Try a cooking class at a culinary school.
- Play billiards at a pool hall.
- Take a painting class with drinks.
- Go ice skating at an indoor rink.
- Check out a board game café.
- Go to a comedy club for a show.
- Try indoor skydiving.
- Visit an indoor botanical garden.
- Attend a trivia night at a pub.
- Go to a planetarium show.
- Try a sushi-making class.
- Attend a live storytelling night.
Some Tips to Make Sure Your Indoor Date is Still Special
No matter which of these indoor date ideas you choose, there are some things you can focus on to make sure it’s the best date ever. Here are some of our favorite tips.
If you’re going to an indoor establishment, still plan for the weather.
Remember, just because it’s not raining inside doesn’t mean it’s not raining in the parking lot. You still want to make sure you have a plan to keep you and your date comfortable on the walk from the car to the door of the establishment. This could mean rain jackets, umbrellas, or even something to shield the sun if it’s a long walk.
Remember that everyone else will probably have the same idea.
When it gets super-hot out or is planning on raining heavily, expect everyone to have the same idea to move their date and social plans indoors. This means places will get busy, wait times will be longer, and everything may feel more crowded. To mitigate this, look to make reservations when possible. If not possible, consider getting to places a little earlier than others might to ensure you get in and get a spot. Or, you can always use one of the indoor date ideas that takes place at home!
If indoors is at home, you can still dress up if you want to make it a little more special.
Just because you’re not leaving the house to stay indoors doesn’t mean you can’t treat it like a “real date”. Want to make it feel just as special as going out? Dress up! Act like you’re going out and your house is the date location. You certainly can rock PJs or something comfy if you want, but be aware that this is also an option.
Pros and Cons of Indoor Date Ideas
In case you’re considering an indoor date and aren’t sure if that’s the best date idea for you, we wanted to help. Below, you’ll find some of the biggest pros and cons that come with this type of date.
Pros
- If they’re at home, they’re usually less expensive or free. – Indoor dates at home are almost always going to be less expensive than going out somewhere. If your indoor date is at an establishment, though, there won’t really be any price savings over an outdoor date.
- Weather can’t put a major damper on your plans. – While weather can still play a small role, you’re not going to get rained out of your date or have to go home because it’s too unbearably hot.
- It removes a lot of logistical concerns. – Because you’re takin weather out of the occasion with an indoor date, there’s less you have to worry about logistically. This can include being able to ignore things like sunscreen, heat mitigation, and dealing with excessive wind blowing you two off the map.
Cons
- Weather can still play a role. – While you can’t really get rained out of your date, weather can still play a role. For example, if you’re going to an indoor establishment, you still have to drive there and walk inside. If the weather is terrible, you still have to contend with it.
- They’re less fun if the weather is nice out. – Sometimes people choose indoor dates while the weather is great outside. While this is totally fine, it may create some FOMO when you know you’re indoors on a beautiful day.
- Indoor establishments may get extra crowded when the weather isn’t ideal. – When the weather is bad, most people are going to look to shift their plans instead of cancel. This means indoor establishments become much more popular and crowded date night options. Remember, this is when prior planning and reservations become your friend.