Provo's identity is built on outdoor recreation, which is great — until it's not. Winter inversions can lock the valley under a gray ceiling of cold, hazy air for weeks. Summer heat pushes past 100°F in July and August. Rainstorms roll through in spring. And sometimes you just don't feel like hiking.
The good news is that Provo and Orem have more indoor options than most people realize. From world-class university museums to family entertainment centers, climbing gyms, and creative workshops, there's plenty to do when the outdoors isn't calling. Here's everything worth your time.
Museums & Culture
BYU Museum of Art
Free · BYU Campus
One of the largest art museums in the Mountain West, and it's completely free. The permanent collection includes American, European, and contemporary works, with rotating exhibitions that are genuinely impressive for a university museum. The building itself is worth seeing — clean, modern gallery spaces with good lighting and thoughtful curation. Plan for 1–2 hours. Even if you're not an art person, the quality here will surprise you.
Monte L. Bean Life Science Museum
Free · BYU Campus
A natural history museum packed with wildlife exhibits, taxidermy displays from around the world, and live animal presentations. It's especially good for families with kids — the displays are engaging without being overwhelming, and the fossil vending machine is a guaranteed hit with children. Free admission with free parking. A solid 45–90 minute visit.
BYU Museum of Paleontology
Free · BYU Campus
Smaller and more specialized than the Bean Museum, but fascinating if you're into dinosaurs and fossils. The museum houses specimens from Utah excavation sites, including full dinosaur skeletons and a working fossil preparation lab where you can watch researchers clean and catalog finds through a viewing window. Utah is one of the richest fossil regions in North America, and this museum connects you to that history. Free, with donations appreciated.
Museum of Peoples and Cultures
Free · BYU Campus
A cross-cultural museum showcasing artifacts and art from civilizations around the world. The exhibitions rotate regularly, and the focus on connecting historical artifacts to contemporary cultural understanding makes it more engaging than a typical display case museum. Smaller and less visited than the art museum, which means you'll often have the galleries nearly to yourself.
Covey Center for the Arts
Varies · Downtown Provo
Provo's primary performing arts venue. The Covey hosts theater productions, concerts, dance performances, comedy shows, and community events throughout the year. The theater is small enough that there's genuinely no bad seat, and ticket prices are significantly lower than comparable venues in Salt Lake City — often 30–50% less for touring shows. Check the season schedule, especially for their free concert series. See our events coverage for upcoming shows.
Active & Entertainment
Provo Beach Resort
$$ · Provo
50,000 square feet of indoor entertainment in a single facility. The headline attraction is the FlowRider — an indoor surfing simulator — but there's also bowling, laser tag, an indoor ropes course, a kids' play area, arcade games, and a crocodile-themed mini golf course. It's unabashedly aimed at families and groups, and it delivers on the promise of keeping everyone busy for a few hours. Pricing is per-activity or available as packages. Best on weekday afternoons when crowds are thinner.
The Quarry Climbing Gym
$$ · Provo
Indoor rock climbing with bouldering walls, top-rope routes, and lead climbing for experienced climbers. The facility is well-maintained with routes that rotate regularly, and the staff is helpful for beginners who need instruction. Day passes are reasonable, and rental gear is available. If you're curious about climbing but not ready for outdoor routes at Rock Canyon, this is the place to start. See our Rock Climbing & Bouldering guide for more.
Fat Cats
$ · Provo
Bowling, arcade games, billiards, laser tag, and a casual dining menu under one roof. It's not fancy, but it's reliable fun for groups, families, and date nights when you want something low-key. The bowling lanes are well-maintained, and the arcade section is large enough to keep kids busy while adults bowl. Prices are reasonable, especially during off-peak hours and promotional periods.
Escape Rooms
Provo and Orem have several escape room companies operating at varying quality levels. The best ones rotate themes regularly and invest in set design that goes beyond padlocks and combination codes. Escape rooms work well for groups of 4–8 and typically run 60 minutes. Book in advance on weekends.
GRID Go-Kart Racing
$$ · Orem
Indoor electric go-kart racing on a multi-level track. The karts are faster than the typical family entertainment center variety, which makes this genuinely fun for adults — not just kids. Races run about 10–15 minutes, and the competitive format works well for groups. Located in Orem, about a 10-minute drive from downtown Provo.
Creative & Hands-On
The Soap Factory
$ · Downtown Provo
Make your own custom soap with natural ingredients. It sounds niche, but it's genuinely fun — you choose the shape, scent, color, and texture, then make the soap yourself. It's a great activity for kids and adults alike (no age minimum), takes about 30–45 minutes, and you leave with something you actually made. At $16 per person, it's one of the more affordable indoor activities in town.
Kreative Kiln
$$ · Orem
A paint-your-own pottery studio where you pick a piece (mugs, plates, figurines), paint it, and have it fired. It's relaxing, creative, and works for dates, family outings, and group activities. Pieces need to be picked up after firing, so plan a return trip or have them shipped.
Wick Lab
$$ · Various Utah Valley locations
Candle-making workshops where you create your own custom candle — choosing wax, fragrance, and vessel. Sessions run about 90 minutes and are popular for date nights and friend groups. The experience is more workshop than class, meaning you're mostly guided through the process at your own pace.
Gem Studio
$$ · Orem
A jewelry-making studio offering workshops for rings, bracelets, and other pieces. The permanent jewelry (welded bracelets) trend has made this particularly popular. Good for dates and friend groups.
Study & Work Spots
When you need to be productive indoors rather than entertained, Provo has strong options:
Provo City Library — Beautiful, modern facility with ample seating, free Wi-Fi, meeting rooms, and a children's section. One of the best public libraries in the state.
BYU Harold B. Lee Library — One of the largest university libraries in the country. Massive, with every kind of study space from silent individual carrels to group collaboration rooms. Open to BYU students and guests.
For a comprehensive list, see our Best Study Spots in Provo guide.
Winter-Specific Options
During Provo's cold months (November through March), indoor activities become essential. A few winter-specific suggestions:
Holiday events at the Covey Center — The Christmas season brings special performances, concerts, and family shows. These sell out, so book early.
The Richards Building at BYU — Free for BYU students, the indoor pools, basketball courts, and fitness facilities are an excellent way to stay active when it's too cold or inverted to exercise outside.
Cooking at home — Not technically an "activity," but Provo's Asian grocery stores and specialty shops make cooking a genuine hobby option during long winter evenings. See our Best Grocery Stores in Provo guide for where to shop.
For outdoor winter activities when you are willing to brave the cold, see our Winter Activities Guide.
Related Guides
- Free Things to Do in Provo
- Best Date Ideas in Provo
- Winter Activities in Provo
- Summer Activities in Provo
- Best Study Spots in Provo
- A Parent's Guide to Visiting Provo
- Best Museums & Art Galleries in Provo
- Christmas in Provo
Last updated: April 2026. Hours, prices, and availability may change — check individual venues before visiting.