Airsoft Fields near me in the United States of America

There’s nothing quite like playing in the airsoft fields in the United States (because that’s where I live) to pump up my adrenalin and make me feel alive.

That’s really important in this modern age, when I’ve spent too many days already cooped in an office. I’m getting cabin fever, and the thought of airsoft battles sure can revive my spirits.

Airsoft has always been fun, and it’s obviously a lot more engaging than computer games. Playing FPG battlefield games on a computer screen simply pales in comparison.

It’s also even better than the real thing, since actually shooting people with real bullets (and getting shot at in turn) doesn’t really appeal to me.

So where do I play? I play in several different airsoft arenas near me, but in all likelihood you’re more concerned about where you can play airsoft.

The good news is that you have plenty of options, as airsoft fields are popping up a lot over the years.

Top 10 Airsoft Fields in the United States

You do have lots of airsoft fields in the US, so chances are good that your state has at least one of these places. Even Alaska, Delaware and Vermont have at least 1 airsoft field in each state.

Texas has 22 airsoft fields, the last time we counted. California has 28, Florida has 16, and New York has 18.

If you’re planning on finding one of the best airsoft fields in the US, you may want to take a road trip to the nearest airsoft field on our list of the Top 10 airsoft fields in the US.

Here we list the more important features, along with the operation hours. However, you can’t be too sure about the open hours so you better call them up first.

What exactly is an airsoft field?

An airsoft field is a simulated battlefield, where weapon-toting players can shoot at each other while playing airsoft. Some fields are dedicated for just airsoft, but there are other fields on which players can engage in airsoft or paintball.

While you can play in your own backyard, it’s a lot more realistic and exciting if you have a bigger field to play in. These commercial fields are better options compared to playing in a public place where you may hit bystanders and people who accidentally walk into your battleground.

The field may be indoors or outdoors, and in some places, you have a combination of the two. The field usually has various obstacles where players can take cover, and you usually find buildings and cars.

In some fields, you may even have bunkers, tanks, and helicopters! These are among the more sophisticated places, and you even have airsoft fields in former military bases.

How much does it cost to play on an airsoft field?

That depends on where you’re playing, and the quality of the airsoft field. Some places charge only $10 per person, while the better locations may charge as much as $40 or more.

Usually, you get a discount if you pay for a ticket in advance online, compared to the price if you’re a walk-in. If you come in a large group, the price also tends to drop.

You get to pay more if you need to rent the necessary equipment, such as the weapons and the face protection.

In general, you can expect to pay about $60 on average for entrance and rental.

What you must know about airsoft fields

If you’re going to an airsoft field for the first time, it may seem like a strange place with nonsensical rules. What you have to keep in mind is that airsoft can be a rather dangerous game to play, and the owners of these airsoft fields would rather not be blamed if the players get hurt.

It’s for that reason that these places emphasize safety above all other considerations. They do all they can to minimize the risks, and then they make you agree that you won’t blame them if you get hurt.

In other words, don’t think about suing them when something goes wrong!

Required Safety Gear

All airsoft fields require players to don some eye protection, because it just won’t do to have players get hit by pellets and BBs in the eyes. In fact, an increasing number of fields require players to don full face masks.

You may also be seriously encouraged to wear additional safety gear like elbow and knee pads, vests, and mouthpieces. These aren’t meant to just to keep you uncomfortable, but to keep the game safer to play.

Rules Regarding Weapons

This stands for feet per second, referring to how fast the pellets travel when fired from the airsoft weapons. Most places put in some sort of fps limit, since faster pellets can be dangerous and can go through the skin like they’re bullets.

Usually, there are different fps limits for each type of weapon. Pistols may have a 350-fps limit, with 400 fps for AEGs and maybe 450-500 fps for bolt-action rifles.

Sometimes, the fps limits also take in the weight of the BBs. Heavier pellets may have a lower fps, since the force of the pellet will be greater otherwise.

There may even be some limits as to what kind of magazines you can use. In some places, high-capacity box magazines that can give you 1,500 to 5,000 rounds per magazine may not be allowed.

You may also encounter airsoft fields that only allow certain types of weapons, and in some cases only BBS within a certain weight limit. Sometimes these rules are laid down by their insurer, so the airsoft field managers have no choice but to impose these rules.

Shooting Distances

You may even have places that dictate how near you can be from a target you’re firing on. You’re not allowed to get too near, and you’re certainly not allowed to shoot people point-blank in the face.

Qualities of a good airsoft field

So, how exactly do I know if the airsoft fields arenas near me are any good? It’s not just the about the price, you know.

It’s about whether you’re getting your money’s worth. In the end, you have to enjoy your time there, while you also emerge unhurt.

Outdoor or Indoor Fields

It’s true that there are airsoft fields that only offer open outdoor terrain, while other fields are exclusively within buildings. Some of these arenas can still be fun to play in.

But the best airsoft fields should have both types of airsoft fields, so you’re able to engage in many types of airsoft gameplay.

With outdoor fields, you can field large teams with scouts, snipers, and heavy automatic weapons all working together in one major battle. These can be more sophisticated games, with the need for excellent distance shooting and camouflage.

With indoor arenas, you still have an option if the weather turns sour. Slogging it out in the mud and rain may seem realistic, but then it’s more miserable than fun.

Besides, you can do various hostage rescue scenarios or pretend to clear a building full of terrorists one floor at a time.

Quality of the Playing Fields

Even if the airsoft field offers both indoor and other options, it’s not enough. The quality of the fields must be exemplary.

The first priority, off course, is safety. The places should be free of hazards that can lead to painful accidents. These include steep drop-offs, rust metal edges, loose rocks, and other things you may trip on.

Getting hurt may be inevitable in any rough and tumble sport, but the airsoft fields shouldn’t add any unnecessary fields.

Then you need a fair playing field. The game must be balanced, so that each team will have a fair chance of winning regardless of which part of the field they start out.

It’s also fun when you have a bit of realism in the playing locations. Some places can simulate various battle grounds, including Vietnam, Kosovo, and Fallujah.

Helpful Staff

The people who run the place also affects the quality of the playing arena.

They should be professional, with a thorough knowledge of the rules and many of the other facts regarding airsoft gameplay. If you’re a newbie, it will help if they can answer your many questions without having to consult the manager.

The staff often play the role of the referees of the game, so they really should know what they’re doing. They should play fair as well, even if one team consists of their friends while the other team is full of newcomers to the playing arena.

Of course, the staff ought to be polite as well. Leave the rude waiters to the cafes and restaurants in Paris—here in the US, people expect courtesy from the staff.

The DMZ

This is a popular term for the “safe zone” or “prep area”. Basically, it’s the area between the actual playing field and the parking lot.

You don’t really want to hang out in a parking lot right beside people who are shooting at each other. You need a lot of distance, and the DMZ gives you that additional safety layer.

That way, you can relax in the parking lot and get your gear ready without having to worry about stray pellets coming your way.

Rental Equipment

Most newbies and casual airsoft players tend to rent the equipment they need from the playing field. Needless to say, a terrific airsoft field can offer high quality options that let you play better while keeping you safer.

Often, the best places have high quality rental options to offer, with a knowledgeable technician available to give advice on what you ought to get.  Even if you do bring your own gear, this technician should be able to offer repair service for your weapons and maybe even other accessories.

Some airsoft fields even have the requisite tools to refill your high-pressure air battles at the site.

Rules You Can Live With

Each playing arena has its own set of rules, and they may be different from one another. It’s up to you whether you can play with those rules or not.

Yes, this is highly subjective, we know. But some rules make sense to me while others don’t, and you may have your own opinions about what rules you’re willing to live with.

What is the difference between indoor and outdoor airsoft fields?

Obviously, you know the difference between “indoor” and “outdoor”. But how does this affect airsoft play?

Lots of players like playing outdoors because it feels freeing, especially after being cooped up at home for days. You get to breathe nice fresh air, and you’re able to boost your vitamin D levels when you get proper exposure to the sun.

On the other hand, it’s not always nice to play in the rain, so it’s better to play indoors when you don’t want to get wet. Heck, there may even be air-conditioning, which is nice when you’re playing during the summer.

The battle conditions also change when you’re playing indoors and outdoors.

When you’re indoors, you have to know how to clear rooms properly, and the enclosed places doesn’t let players maneuver easily. You’re mostly engaging in close-quarters combat, and shotguns, grenades, and pistols become viable weapons.

With outdoor play, you tend to have a bigger field so snipers and scouts come into play, and you need to take camouflage considerations into account. You’re also able to do flanking maneuvers that aren’t always possible in a more urban setting.

FAQs of Airsoft Fields in the United States

Q) What are the essential items required to play at an airsoft field?

Each airsoft field has its own ideas regarding what’s essential or not.

But essentially, you need a weapon and eye protection. I don’t know any airsoft field that lets anyone play without either of these items.

If you don’t have a weapon or safety glasses rated for airsoft, the arena would gladly let you use their equipment for a fee. Some even have stores where you can buy these items.

In this Covid-19 era, just about all of these places now require a face mask as well. In fact, an increasing number of airsoft arenas are now requiring full face mask protection.

Q) Do airsoft fields run special events?

Some of them do, especially the better airsoft arenas. These special events are indeed remarkable, and they’re not very common.

Most of the time, special events are large-scale operations, with a lot more people playing. There have been special events that involved close to a thousand participants.

In some cases, the events even involve heavy weaponry and maybe even armored vehicles. Sometimes these scenarios are called military simulations (Mil-Sim) and they can be quite realistic.

There may be special setups involved, such as a hypothetical war between NATO forces and Russian troops that were the staple of many World War III books during the Cold War.

Often, the publicity for these events start way before they’re scheduled to begin. This isn’t an event that you can just walk on in.

The airsoft arena managers may run it themselves. Though in some cases you may have a company specializing in running these events coming to the airsoft fields in your neighborhood.

With events like these, team uniforms are generally encouraged. The rules may include restrictions on magazine capacity for a more balanced game, and you really want to keep in mind how much ammo you have left before you start wasting your pellets.

Are they fun? Heck, yeah! Some special events may just be a bit more sophisticated than your usual formats, but others may be once-a-year extravaganzas.

Q) What should I carry when going to an airsoft field?

Obviously, you need the bare necessities, such as your weapon and your eye protection. The airsoft field managers won’t even let you play without them.

Of course, you may want to bring more items than just the bare minimum. Consider the following items as well:

• Face protection. Even if you’re in a field where only proper eye protection is required, you should really consider covering your whole face. A BB to your cheeks can hurt like heck, and God forbid you’re shot in your face while your moth is open.
• Rifle bag. This is where you put in your bag and other accessories, especially out in public. You really don’t want to walk around with an airsoft weapon that looks too much like the real thing.
• A large bottle should suffice, though a small one may do for the day. More is better in this case, since running out of ammo can be a bummer.
• Obviously, you need more than one magazine. Haven’t you been watching John Wick?
• Power source. You need batteries (bring extra batteries too), or CO2 or green gas.
• BB loader. This is for some magazines and pistols.
• Hydration is important, especially for outdoor games that run the whole day. You don’t know when you can get another bottle of water.
• If you’re playing outdoors and the sun is shining, you need this.
• Bug spray. This is especially crucial in some places where you have lots of mosquitos.
• Cleaning supplies. As any former military personnel will tell you, it’s imperative that you take care of your weapon.

Q) How much should I expect to travel to get to an airsoft field?

That really depends on where you live. In some states such as Wyoming, Nebraska, New Mexico, and Idaho, there’s only a single airsoft field in each state (as far as I know).

On the other hand, you have states like California, Texas, Florida, and Ohio where airsoft fields are scattered around with plenty of choices for enthusiasts.

In these states, you’ll have to travel only an hour at the most. On average, expect to travel only half an hour or so to get to an airsoft field if you live in these places.

On the other hand, in most states you may have to travel for as long as 2 or even 3 hours. You may even have to grab a plane for more convenient travel.

Q) Will I be required to sign a waiver before I play?

Oh, yes, this has always been the case. The legal issues will always exist, and the owners of these airsoft fields won’t guarantee your safety.

Basically, you sign a waiver saying that you understand all the rules and you’ll abide by them. If you don’t, you agree that you can be removed from the game and you may not be allowed inside for some time (it’s basically a suspension).

Signing the waiver also means:

• You understand that you can get hurt (or even die)
• You won’t sue the airsoft field and you can’t get any money from them
• You can be photographed or recorded on video and the airsoft field can use the images for publicity or other reasons
• You give permission to be moved to any medical facility if you’re hurt
• You authorize the release of your medical information

Usually, you can just print out the copy of the waiver from the airsoft field website and then sign it. Then you just hand it over to the staff before you play.

Or you can just get there and they’ll give you their own copy to sign.

Just be sure to read it. This takes time, which is why it’s better that you read the waiver document at home first so you know what you’re agreeing to.

Q) What is the biggest airsoft field in the world?

Nobody really knows, since airsoft is a worldwide game and other places in other countries may just use lots of empty fields for the battle simulations.

It’s pretty well-known, though, that the largest indoor airsoft field in the US is the Gamepod Combat Zone in Antioch, California. You have 120,000 square feet of indoor space to play with.

But that’s less than 3 acres, which is nothing compared to outdoor fields.

The GSF (Grab Some Fun) Airsoft outdoor field offers 80 acres for gameplay, and that’s not even the biggest in the world. In fact, it may not be the biggest in the US for that matter.

Don’t worry though, as it’s not as if you’ll be forced to march 40 miles in 4 days before you get to a battle. Battle simulations try to simulate the exciting bits of battle, and not the drudgery that real military personnel deal with.

Q) What do I do if I cannot find an airsoft field near me?

You still have options, though they’re not quite as fun.

Backyard Plinking

You can always practice your shooting skills and hold shooting competitions with other enthusiasts. Just make sure you’re not hitting your neighbors when you shoot.

It’s actually a lot more fun than just playing with darts or just wasting time goofing around.

Travel

So, what if you don’t live anywhere near somewhere with an airsoft field? Go on a vacation and get yourself in a town or city where there’s a decent airsoft field.

In fact, why not go in a town or city with the best airsoft fields on our recommended list? That’s way more fun than going to an amusement park.

You may even time it so you can go when there’s a large-scale special event with hundreds of participants. It’s like an outdoor concert with guns (and nobody dies).

Play FPG Games

It’s not exactly the same, but you may learn some tactics that you can employ in a real-life basis. Also, what else are you going to do with your time anyway?

With some FPG games, you may also learn about more weapons so that you can get a replica for yourself to try out in airsoft battles.

Start Your Own Airsoft Field

It’s probably safe to say that plenty of airsoft fields started out because the owner had no place to play in town. After all, if there was already one in a small town, there may not be enough demand to justify a second airsoft field.

You do have to treat this more like a business than just an extension of your hobby. It may help if you already own land or old buildings that you’re not using anyway.

Q) Do I need to call ahead, or do I just show up to the field on game day?

That depends.

It’s a bit like not reserving a table at a restaurant. In many cases it’s alright, but when the place is packed you feel stupid for not getting the reservation in advance.

In most cases, it’s alright that you just show up. Most airsoft fields are like your local McDonald’s—you can always come in without a reservation and you’d be fine.

However, keep in mind that it’s better to be safe than sorry.

You may as well get a ticket in advance, so that you’re absolutely sure that you can get in to play when you get there. It can be incredibly annoying if you can’t, especially when you’ve travelled a long way for airsoft.

Also, in most cases you get a discount if you pay in advance. Take advantage of these discounts, as the savings can go into getting yourself a better weapon in the future.

Q) How big should an airsoft field be?

That’s a rather subjective question, and the right answer is just as subjective: it’s big enough if everyone has fun.

In general, however, it depends on what kind of gaming you want to hold.

For CQB, you need at least 1 acre, but 2 acres is certainly better.

Now for larger-scale outdoor play, you will want at least 10 acres. That’s because you need lots of space for maneuvering before teams encounter one another.

Also, you’ll need enough space for a buffer zone, so that the people in the neighboring properties aren’t at any risk of getting hit by stray pellets.

Bottom Line

Consider yourself lucky if you live near any of the airsoft fields we’ve put on our list. You have a terrific battlefield where you can indulge your passion without going out of your way.

But if you’re not anywhere near any of these places, don’t lose heart. As we’ve already mentioned, the US has lots and lots of airsoft fields, and more are cropping up all the time.

Just play it safe, take it seriously, and have lots of fun. In the best airsoft fields near me in the United States, having gun is virtually guaranteed!