7 Best Gyms With Basketball Courts: Costs & Availability

Joining a gym with a basketball court can you give you a chance for fun cardio on recovery days.

Here are the 7 best gyms with basketball courts in most areas.

1. LA Fitness
2. Equinox 
3. Gold’s Gym
4. Life Time Fitness 
5. YMCA 
6. Goodlife Fitness
7. 24 Hour Fitness 

Joining a gym is a commitment, so don't want to waste money on a gym that doesn't help you hit your goals.

Below you'll also learn:

• Other basketball court options
• Top gyms that don't have a basketball court
• How to choose the right gym with basketball courts

1. LA Fitness 

Most LA Fitness locations have basketball courts, but you may need to pay extra on top of your membership to use them. 

LA Fitness holds regular basketball tournaments, so it’s a popular gym for people who are more serious about the sport. If you’re an experienced basketball player, you can join in the tournaments. They usually last 8-10 weeks, and you may have to sign an additional contract or pay extra fees to join a league.

Using the LA Fitness app, you can even track your stats throughout the tournament to monitor your progress. 

Do You Need To Book The Courts In Advance? 

At LA Fitness, you need to book a court before you arrive at the gym. You can do this through the app. 

How does LA Fitness compare to the other gyms on this list? Check out the full comparisons with Equinox, Gold's Gym, YMCA, Life Time Fitness, Goodlife Fitness, and 24 hour Fitness.

2. Equinox 

You can expect clean basketball courts at nearly every Equinox location, but don’t be surprised if they get booked up very quickly. 

Most Equinox locations have at least one basketball court. The basketball courts have great lighting and aesthetics. You can enjoy a great game or practice session on a well-maintained court. 

Equinox also has basketball leagues. There is a registration form on their website to join one. Each league consists of 8 basketball games (1 each week). They run leagues all-year round, from January to April, May to August, and September to December. 

You have to pay to join an Equinox basketball league. You can either pay by phone, in-person at your local club, or get them to add it to your next membership payment. 

The exact prices to join one of their basketball leagues are not on the Equinox website, so you will have to ask your local club for specific pricing options.

Do You Need To Book The Courts In Advance? 

Whether you’re booking a friendly game with your friends or you’re participating in a tournament, you need to book a basketball court in advance at any Equinox location. 

Most Equinox locations hold yearly tournaments, so it might be more difficult to book a court for a casual game when their tournaments are taking place. 

As well, you might struggle to book a court at the last minute due to the popularity of Equinox gyms. It’s best to book the courts as far in advance as possible.

Equinox is one of the best gyms with free passes or trials, but check out the other options to save some money.

3. Gold’s Gym 

Although not all Gold’s Gym clubs have basketball courts, the locations that do are a great option for those of you who want to play an occasional game of basketball.

If your local Gold’s Gym does have a basketball court, you can expect a clean and organized indoor area to play your games. 

Do You Need To Book The Courts In Advance? 

Gold’s Gym generally requires you to book a court in advance, but some locations also offer drop-in sessions, where you can quickly pick up a game or play a match with your friends. 

Gold's Gym is one of the best gyms that allow kids and teens, but check out all the other gyms if you want to bring kids.

4. Life Time Fitness 

Life Time Fitness has high-quality basketball courts that are clean and well-maintained. The courts have professional hardwood floors that are designed to reduce stress on the joints as you run and jump.

Most Life Time Fitness locations have basketball courts. Each club offers scheduled games and tournaments each year that members can participate in.

Since 2006, Life Time Fitness has also run Ultimate Hoops leagues that are open to all Life Time Fitness members regardless of skill level. You must be 18 years old or above to join. The league consists of 8 games (1 per week). You may have to pay an additional fee on top of your monthly membership to join the league.

Once you’ve been involved in the Ultimate Hoops league for a long time, you can join the Ultimate Hoops tournament. To be eligible for the tournament, you must fulfill the following criteria:

• Must be an active Life Time member
• Must have completed 8 Ultimate Hoops league games
• Must register in time (they work on a first come, first served basis)

If you don’t want to participate in the professional tournament games, you can gather a group of friends and play your own game.

As well, if you have children who love playing basketball and want to learn more about how to play, Life Time Fitness has children’s camps for boys and girls under the age of 17.

Do You Need To Book The Courts In Advance? 

You can reserve a timeslot in advance or join one of the ‘pickup play’ sessions that are open for members of any age group, from under 17 to older adults. Life Time Fitness also has open court times where you can drop in and play a quick game. 

Want to see how Life Time Fitness compares to other gyms with basketball courts? Here's our head-to-head comparisons with YMCA, Equinox, and 24 Hour.

5. YMCA 

YMCA is a great option if you want to play a family game of basketball. Its courts aren’t going to be the most high-end, aesthetic options but this is reflected in the affordable membership prices that it offers. 

The Y offers basketball events and leagues for adults and children, and most locations enable you to use the courts for a casual game with your friends. To join a league, you may have to pay a registration fee in addition to your monthly membership.

However, not all locations have a basketball court, so you’ll need to visit or call your local club to find out if it has one.

Do You Need To Book The Courts In Advance? 

The YMCA’s rules around reserving courts in advance vary depending on the location. Check with your local club to determine their requirements for using the basketball courts. 

YMCA is one of the best gyms for seniors, but there are other options in our full post.

6. GoodLife Fitness

GoodLife Fitness is a great franchise for strength and cardio training, but it might not be optimal for basketball lovers. Although some locations have courts, many of them don’t. You also have to pay extra to use the basketball courts at some locations, depending on your gym membership plan. 

The Essential and Premium memberships don’t allow you to access the basketball courts. However, the more expensive Ultimate and Performance memberships include court access. 

Do You Need To Book The Courts In Advance? 

You will need to book the basketball courts in advance if you plan to have a game with your friends. Some locations may offer drop-in sessions where you can use any court that is free without pre-booking, but you will need to check at your local club to see if this is something that it offers. 

Goodlife Fitness is has some of the best gym showering options, but check out the other gyms known for cleanliness in our full post.

7. 24 Hour Fitness 

Usually, the larger 24 Hour Fitness locations have basketball courts, such as those in big cities and busier areas. 

All of the 24 Hour Fitness basketball courts are clean and well-maintained. You won’t find sweat or dust all over the floor unless you use the courts while they are unstaffed (during the nighttime hours). 

Compared to some of the other gyms with basketball courts, the gym membership prices are slightly higher at 24 Hour Fitness, but you don’t need to pay extra on top of your usual monthly payment to use the courts. 

Do You Need To Book The Courts In Advance? 

At 24 Hour Fitness, you might need to reserve a court if you want to use them at busier times of the day. Some locations have drop-in sessions during the day where you can pick up a game on the spot. 

24 Hour Fitness is similar to Gold's Gym, so read the full head-to-head comparison. 24 Hour Fitness is also one of the best gyms for college students.

Other Gyms To Consider That Have Basketball Courts

1. Your Local College or University

There are several college gyms with basketball courts that are not only available to college students but also to alumni and the general public. Most of these gyms will require you to pay a one-off fee or a monthly membership to access the courts. 

The exact fee will vary depending on the college and location. Some colleges may also have varying prices based on your needs. For example, many college teams with basketball courts have pick-up sessions or pre-scheduled games that you can join. 

Many gyms only allow current or previous college students to join their tournaments. If you want to participate in a tournament, you will need to check with your local college gym. 

2. Privately Owned Gyms

Even though they may not be as large and well-known as big box gyms, privately-owned studio gyms may also have basketball courts. They can be a great option if you prefer to support a smaller gym rather than a large franchise.

You may have to pay more at a studio gym, but it will likely have more of a family-like environment and be less crowded, so you won’t have to compete with as many people to reserve a time slot for a court.

Gyms That DON'T Have Basketball Courts 

The gyms that don’t offer basketball courts are: 

• Snap Fitness: Snap Fitness doesn’t have basketball courts. But if you only need basic gym equipment for your workouts, Snap Fitness will suffice. 
• Anytime Fitness: You won’t find basketball courts at Anytime Fitness. However, every membership plan gives you access to any of their 4,500 locations, all of which have all of the basic gym equipment you will need. 
• Crunch Fitness: Crunch Fitness has no basketball courts, but it’s a suitable gym for anybody who enjoys training. 
• F45: F45 gyms don’t have basketball courts, as this franchise is primarily focused on its unique circuit training style. 
• Planet Fitness: Planet Fitness doesn’t have basketball courts, but it’s a great choice for beginners looking to improve their fitness or lose weight at a cheap membership rate. 
• Blink Fitness: There are no basketball courts at Blink Fitness, but it offers an extensive range of strength machines and cardio equipment. 
• Youfit: Youfit locations do not have basketball courts, but they offer all of the basic gym equipment you’ll need for a great workout. Their memberships are also inexpensive. 

5 Things To Know Before Joining A Gym With A Basketball Court 

Here are some of the important things to know before you join a gym with a basketball court.

• You may need to reserve a court in advance: Most gyms with basketball courts require you to book a time slot if you want to use them. 
• The quality and cleanliness can differ between gym franchises: Some gyms are known for their extreme cleanliness and well-maintained courts, while others may not be as clean. 
• Some gyms charge additional fees to use the basketball courts: Some gyms charge an extra fee to use the basketball courts, while others will offer access to them as part of your gym membership. 
• Some gyms offer access to their basketball courts as part of school programs: Certain gyms offer kids’ school programs or training camps that enable children to improve their basketball skills. 
• There may be organized games at some gyms: Some gym franchises hold organized games and basketball tournaments for their club members. 

Other Gym Membership Resources

• 10 Best Gyms With Pools, Saunas, & Hot Tubs
• 12 Best Gyms With Childcare (What To Expect, Rules, Cost)
• 11 Best Gyms With Classes (What’s Included, Schedule, & Types)
• 5 Best Gyms For College Students (With Student Discounts)
• 8 Best Gyms With Tanning (What’s Expected, Cost, How To Use)
• 9 Best Gyms With Trainers (And, How Not To Get Ripped Off)
• 18 Best Gyms With Showers (Cleanliness & What’s Included)
• Best Gyms for Beginners: My Top Picks + 7 Things to Consider
• 5 Best Gyms for Seniors (Plus, Are Gyms Free for Seniors?)
• 7 Gyms That Allow Kids & Teens (Polices & Prices Explained)
• Best Gyms With Indoor Tracks

Final Thoughts

Joining a gym with a basketball court can help save you time and money since you won’t have to pay for two gym memberships and travel back and forth between two different gyms.

Many gyms with basketball courts also have leagues that you can join if you want to be more competitive. However, if you prefer to support a smaller gym, you can check with your local studio gym to see if they have basketball courts. You may also be able to join a gym at a college or university near you that has basketball courts open to the general public.

About The Author

Athina is a Biochemistry and Genetics graduate, and a qualified personal trainer with a passion for women’s health and fitness. She is passionate about helping women to learn more about the importance of the menstrual cycle and how to balance their hormones. She is the host and producer of Fertility and Freedom podcast, which covers all things women’s health and hormones.