The 15 Outdoor Escape Games in the USA to Book First

1.Outdoor Escape Room in Boston – the North End

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 30 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) Our pick

Take your group through Boston’s North End on a spy-themed escape room played across city streets. At 14 N Square, you’ll receive a physical box, find real-world clues, solve puzzles, and enter answers in an app. The private game costs $75 for up to six people and usually takes about two hours.

“This was a great experience. It was a bit challenging, but thankfully there were hints. We used the hints to make sure we were on the right track. However, there were a couple of times we were clueless and needed those hints to move us along.”

Check availability →Read our full review

2.Outdoor Escape Room in Chicago – Fulton Market

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 28 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) Top rated

You and up to five companions investigate a fictional murder around Fulton Market. Use a physical clue box, search real-world locations, solve puzzles, and enter answers in the app to identify the killer, motive, and crime scene. The private game starts and ends at North Morgan Street and West Lake Street.

Check availability →Read our full review

3.Outdoor Escape Room in New York City – Central Park

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 28 reviews · 2 hours (approx.)

You and up to five companions start at The Metropolitan Museum of Art for a two-hour Alice in Wonderland puzzle hunt through Central Park. Use a physical game box, find real-world clues, enter answers in the app, and choose your pace and difficulty. The game ends back at the museum.

“Leaving a review isn’t enough to describe how amazing this escape room adventure was! You have to experience it for yourself and if you like adventure and solving puzzles! Believe me, you will enjoy this! The persons/person that created this game did an amazing job. My first time in NY so it was my first time in Central Park. The game made it 3x better”

Check availability →Read our full review

4.Outdoor Escape Room in Seattle – Seattle Center

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 27 reviews · 2 hours (approx.)

Become Elixir Emporium’s new potion master and solve a series of puzzles around Seattle Center. You’ll use a physical game box, real-world clues, art installations, murals, and an app to find each next location. One $75 ticket covers a private group of up to six, with hints available when a puzzle stalls.

Check availability →Read our full review

5.Outdoor Escape Room in Houston – Downtown

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 25 reviews · 2 hours (approx.)

You become Downtown Houston’s new Sheriff in a two-hour outdoor escape game from Escapely. Use a physical puzzle box, find clues around real streets and landmarks, and enter solutions in an app to track Magnolia Mae. Start and finish at JPMorgan Chase Tower. One $75 ticket covers up to six people.

“We really loved this!! We found it somewhat difficult but I've only done this once before and it was in a room! Having this outside was genius!! Our favorite was the pillar and the sculpture! The whole thing was orchestrated amazingly and we had a blast!! We will definitely do this again!! Thanks for the opportunity to have this much fun!!”

Check availability →Read our full review

6.Outdoor Escape Room in Denver – Upper Downtown

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 24 reviews · 2 hours (approx.)

You and up to five companions become Chronos Agency agents in an outdoor escape room across Denver’s Upper Downtown. Use a physical game box, search for real-world clues, solve puzzles, and enter answers in the app to receive your next location. Plan on about two hours, with no guide leading your group.

“We had a great time learning about downtown Denver but for us, it took a bit longer than 2-3 hours to figure out all the clues. All in all I would definitely recommend having this adventure with family and friends. We had a blast.”

Check availability →Read our full review

7.Outdoor Escape Room in Austin – Downtown

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 19 reviews · 2 hours (approx.)

You and up to five companions will track double agents for the Chronos Agency using a physical clue box, an app, and real-world puzzles around downtown Austin. The self-guided game takes about two hours and ends where it begins. No guide is named, so your group sets the pace.

“Very fun. Great way to see Austin! The challenges were difficult but achievable. Will try other cities”

Check availability →Read our full review

8.Outdoor Escape Room in Detroit – Downtown

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 19 reviews · 2 hours (approx.)

You and up to five companions receive a physical game kit and use an app to guide a spy-themed puzzle hunt through Downtown Detroit. Find real-world clues, solve Chronos Agency challenges, and choose your own pace. Allow about two hours, with extra time if you stop to explore.

Check availability →Read our full review

9.Outdoor Escape Room in Kansas City – the Garment District

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 19 reviews · 2 hours (approx.)

You and up to five companions investigate a fictional murder around Kansas City’s Garment District. Use a physical puzzle box, real-world clues, and an app to eliminate suspects, locations, and alibis. Plan for about two hours of walking, with time to pause at the library, explore the area, or stop for food and drinks.

“This is a great time. You get to get out and enjoy the city. You could make an afternoon out of it as ther is no rush and have lunch or drinks along the way.”

Check availability →Read our full review

10.Outdoor Escape Room in Salt Lake City – Downtown

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 19 reviews · 2 hours (approx.)

Explore Downtown Salt Lake City as your game board in a private murder-mystery escape game for up to six people. Find physical clues, solve puzzles, enter answers in the app, and follow the case from one location to the next. Plan about two hours and bring water on hot days.

“This was a really fun activity for our family of six - 2 parents and 4 college age kids. Took us a little under two hours and was definitely a fun way to make our way around downtown Salt Lake City. I think this would be fun for locals as well as people visiting town. We’re frequent visitors bc we have a grad school kid, but also not exactly locals. There was definitely no need to be familiar with the area. The clues were inventive and interesting while showing us hidden nooks and crannies in the downtown area. I also think this was a great cost/time/fun adventure. Can’t wait to…”

Check availability →Read our full review

11.Outdoor Escape Room in San Diego – Little Italy

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 19 reviews · 2 hours (approx.)

You and up to five companions follow a Chronos Agency spy mystery through Little Italy. Use a physical game box, find real-world clues, solve puzzles, and enter answers in the app to receive your next location. Plan on about two hours, with the game ending where it began.

“Glad our team included 6 adults of varying ages and life experiences to solve the puzzles. Don’t hesitate to use the hints.”

Check availability →Read our full review

12.Outdoor Escape Room in Philadelphia – Logan Square

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 18 reviews · 2 hours (approx.)

You’ll use a physical game box, an app, and real-world clues around Logan Square to track double agents for the Chronos Agency. The private game lasts about two hours, starts and ends at Swann Memorial Fountain, and costs $75 per group of up to six.

“It was a lot of fun!! We enjoyed the puzzles and learning new things about the city! We did the Logan Square, Philadelphia box.”

Check availability →Read our full review

13.Outdoor Escape Room: Downtown Nashville Adventure

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 17 reviews · 2 hours (approx.)

Take a self-guided murder mystery through Downtown Nashville with up to five companions. Use a physical game box, real-world clues, QR codes, and the Escapely app to identify suspects, motives, and locations. Allow two to three hours, bring a notepad, and plan for walking, weather, crowds, and parking.

Check availability →Read our full review

14.Outdoor Escape Room in San Francisco – SOMA/Embarcadero

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 17 reviews · 2 hours (approx.)

Start at Lotta’s Fountain and turn SOMA and the Embarcadero into your game board. Your private group of up to six uses a physical puzzle box, real-world clues, and an app to finish an anti-earthquake invention before time runs out. Plan on about two hours, with the route ending back at the starting point.

“The games, puzzles and riddles were just the right amount of fun vs. challenging. We actually saw some new sights in San Francisco. Although, we went on a Sunday morning, and there weren't many tourists or business people in the Financial District, so "be aware" of homeless approaching your group and pan-handling. "Best to go during busier times", but the experience itself was quite fun, and I'd recommend it.”

Check availability →Read our full review

15.Outdoor Escape Room in Washington, D.C. – Adams Morgan

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 17 reviews · 2 hours (approx.)

You and up to five companions investigate a fictional murder while walking through Adams Morgan. Use a physical game box, your phone, QR codes, street art, buildings, and local landmarks to solve puzzles and eliminate six suspects. Plan on about two hours of play, with time for food or drinks along the way.

Check availability →Read our full review