Bowling is one of those pastimes that cater to both kids and adults. It’s such a wholesome and family-friendly activity, don’t you agree? And a place like Des Moines is a great city for an impromptu bowling match.
This city has something for bowling enthusiasts! Be it those modern bowling lounges or the corner lanes that have been a community staple for decades, there is always an open lane to match every bowler’s whim here.
So whether you are looking for a place that’s a bit upscale or a more classic, hand-set lane with a pinsetter, here are our picks for the top bowling alleys in Des Moines.
The Top 10 Bowling Alleys in Des Moines
Get your bowling ball rolling at the top spots in Des Moines! From classic lanes to trendy hangouts, check out the best bowling alleys for a fun night out.
1. Bowlerama Lanes
Located in one of the most peaceful and well-maintained areas in Des Moines, Bowlerama offers a sleek, high-energy bowling experience. What’s so special about it, you ask? It features an astonishing 28 state-of-the-art lanes with a bar & grill. A visit here remains one of the best ways to entertain friends, family, and co-workers in Des Moines.
Bowlerama Lanes’s high-quality audio system, extensive bar list, and a wide variety of delectable small plates (served lane-side, of course) will keep you dancing and gliding down the lanes on your feet. You’re sure to have a blast!
2. Air Lanes Bowling Center
Conveniently situated in downtown Fleur Drive, Air Lanes Bowling Center is an enormous, modern-casual dining and entertainment emporium featuring a bowling alley with league play, a pro shop, a full bar, and glow-in-the-dark disco nights. Are you picturing it? It sounds like a hip and happening place, don’t you think?
It is a great place to spend time with family and friends without going way over your planned budget. Bowling doesn’t need to be hard on your wallet, right?
Air Lanes Bowling Center has live music, a bistro with exceptional bowling lane grub, and a whopping 24 bowling lanes. You will definitely want to stop in and get the bowling party started.
3. Backpocket Pin & Pixel
At Backpocket Pin & Pixel, one of Des Moines’s newest bowling spots, lucky strikes are never uncommon. This amazing place is a brewery taproom, a retro arcade, and a duckpin bowling alley rolled into one, ensuring visitors are treated with excitement, good food, and fun.
Featuring shorter lanes, chunkier pins, and balls in sizes suitable for children, bowling at Backpocket Pin & Pixel reminds players about the elements that make the game well-loved: social interaction and friendly yet skilled competition. So it’s essentially back to the basics at this joint!
And since there is no requirement to rent shoes, its excellent beer selection, hearty pub grub, and retro arcade experience make for an unforgettable Friday night bowl.
4. B-Roll Bowling
One of Des Moines’s most favored bowling alleys, B-Roll Bowling, is located within B&B Theatres, making it a great destination for watching feature films and bowling. It’s a combo you wouldn’t think would work, but it does!
It features 12 movie screens, an arcade, and a full-service bar, providing visitors with an ideal place to blow off steam and have a blast with family and friends. Imagine how mind-blowingly amazing the experience here is!
While the bowling area is already upscale and good-looking, a small gaming arcade inside the bowling alley is available for kids to enjoy. So you can be sure everyone in the family, even the little ones, gets their share of fun.
With ten bowling lanes, four huge ceiling-to-floor TV screens, and a wide variety of beers and mixed drinks, there is no reason not to spare some time for fun and hit the lanes at B-Roll Bowling.
5. Gameday Lanes
Housed in Merle Hay Mall, Gameday Lanes offers fun, entertainment, and, yes, competitive bowling to all.
It is a great alley for the kiddos and those who are kids at heart. It has a billiards area, a made-from-scratch kitchen, and a full-service bar to ensure that bowlers enjoy a memorable bowling experience.
You might want to call ahead and arrange a visit for when the Cosmic Bowl happens in the alley to witness the house lights going dark and the black lights glowing.
Move your bowling toes as the music starts while a handful of dancing lights fill the lanes with color, making for a truly out-of-this-world adventure. Totally groovy!
6. Val Lanes Recreation Center
Located in the heart of Ashworth Road, West Des Moines, Val Lanes Recreation Center is a bowling destination that flawlessly blends the old-school charm of a retro bowling alley with stylish, contemporary style.
Built in 1957, this 36-lane bowling structure is considered the largest bowling center in the Des Moines area. Yes, you heard that right. 36 lanes. This is the biggest in this list so far.
This classic entertainment venue allows you to immerse yourself in a nostalgic ambiance with its vintage-inspired lanes, all while indulging in delicious food and drinks. Val Lanes combines a spirited atmosphere with the game most of us love.
Imagine a fusion of old and new. Quite an interesting mix for a bowling alley! This makes it the best spot for a memorable night of bowling in one of the most highly spirited areas in the city.
7. Warrior Lanes
Just a few blocks down Laurel St. Waukee, you’ll find Warrior Lanes’s Des Moines location. Encased in an upscale environment that blends excitement and sophistication, it is the ideal place to head for a night of competitive yet friendly bowling.
The sleek venue boasts 16 lanes of standard 10-pin bowling, an arcade, a snack bar, and a full-service bar for the adults, making it a one-stop shop for family fun and entertainment.
So whether you are out for a fun night with friends, on a date night, or celebrating happy hour with your co-workers, Warrior Lanes is the perfect spot for blowing off steam, throwing strikes, and knocking back delightful snacks and drinks.
8. Great Escape – The Ultimate Experience
Located in the iconic Pleasant Hill, Great Escape is a top-notch bowling spot that combines modern entertainment with a timeless pastime we all love.
What makes it stand out? Well, it features a laser tag facility and a 50-game arcade, which makes it a place where family and friends can create valuable experiences every day. You can never get bored here. There are just way too many things to do for fun, including bowling!
Be ready to munch on elevated bowling alley favorites while you perfect your game. Keep your competitive spirit alive with packages that suit group events, corporate outings, and team-building activities, as well as adult and youth birthday parties.
Here, you can also stuff yourself with great food from a menu inspired by modern American cuisine and down it with various craft beers. Yum!
9. RezBlue VR Arena – Virtual Reality
If you wish to try a different style of bowling, head to the RezBlue VR Arena – Virtual Reality, Des Moines. This VR arena, specializing in laser tag, escape rooms, and VR arcades, also offers patrons a chance to try their hand, literally, at a classic game called bowling.
Who says you can’t take your bowling game to the next level? So immerse yourself, your family, and your friends in a wonderful virtual reality experience, or whip those balls down the lane. It’s your call. Whichever activity you choose, you’re bound to have lots of fun here.
10. Uncle Buck’s Fishbowl & Grill
Want to see bowling lanes instead of a salad bar in the middle of a restaurant? Then you are in for a treat. Hungry bowlers flock to this spot in Des Moines for their fill of bowling grub with an atmosphere like no other.
This rustic, nautical-themed bar and restaurant offers appetizers, salads, and burgers, making it the ultimate destination for the hungry bowler.
The place features tons of lanes, snacks, leagues, and more. Simply glide into this classic bowling joint for a handful of tasty food and drinks and lots of friendly competition.
Conclusion
Who would have thought there’d be that many bowling and entertainment facilities in this city?
Equipped with comfortable lounges, world-class lanes, and snack bars, our list undoubtedly contains the best places to bowl in Des Moines.
So, if you and your pals have been looking for something to do on weeknights, why not get a team together and jump into any of these outstanding bowling spots?
You may not be the best in the county, but we guarantee that you’ll be having the most fun