Go-karting reminds me of some pretty fun times with my friends and family. I have been go-karting a handful of times and it is an activity that never gets old. It’s thrilling (and even hilarious), making it the perfect way to spend the day with a couple of your friends or a larger group.
Some places offer kid-friendly go-karts where maximum speeds are not very high, while other locations offer adult-only go-karting experiences where speeds become extreme. The sport is made for everyone, that’s why it’s a great option for groups of all ages.
One thing about go-karting is that I always want to go again when my time is up. However, it is either super expensive or the line/wait is just too long to bother going again. I have decided to list some similar activities, some more extreme than others, so you and your friends can keep the good times rolling!
Let’s take a look at 17 activities related to go-karting:
1. Axe Throwing
Axe throwing is so much fun! I have been axe throwing a couple of times, I remember being at Halimac Axe Throwing and coming first place in a large workgroup. Basically, we did 1v1 showdowns until the champ was the only one remaining.
Many axe throwing locations serve food and beverages, it is a perfect place to go after a day out go-karting as the 2 activities mix well together.
If you have never heard of axe throwing, it is quite self-explanatory. It’s an activity where the participants throw small axes at wooden targets, similar to darts but with an axe. You stand at a designated distance which is usually 12 to 15 feet away, using 1-2 hands you then hold the axe up and toss facing forward towards the target.
Don’t worry, each location offers instructions from employees. You will learn the basics of the game and the proper safety rules required to play the game. Remember, you are throwing axes so safety is very important.
Axe throwing is perfect for friend groups and family outings to either play for fun or turn it into a nice little friendly competition.
Read my related post “19 Activities like Axe Throwing to Do With Your Friends” here.
2. ATV/UTV Tours
If you like the driving aspect of go-karting, then an ATV and UTV tour is likely a must for you and your friends. Being in control of a vehicle is fun! The thrilling ride of driving on a trail and looking at views you may have never seen before is amazing.
I grew up driving quads, side-by-sides, and dirt bikes in Newfoundland, so I know all about it. I also have done a handful of ATV and dune buggy tours when traveling in places like Mexico and the Dominican Republic.
There are so many ATV and UTV Tours available in many places across the United States, Canada, Mexico, and all over the world matter of fact.
These tours may take a bit more preparation than go-karting as you want to make sure you are wearing the appropriate ATV tour apparel.
3. Bumper Cars or Bumper Boats
Go-karts and bumper cars are often found in similar locations. They are common activities included in smaller-style amusement parks. I remember a place in PEI called Sandspit, which is a little amusement park, but it had go-karts, bumper cars, and bumper boats.
I find bumper cars/boats are not as thrilling as go-karting, but they are 10 times more hilarious. After running into your friends at full speed and watching them jolt, I swear it can make you laugh so hard you almost pee your pants.
What’s even funnier was the little battles you get in with random people, you and your friends are determined to bump them so much they wish they never touched you!
4. Sports Car Driving Experience on a Race Track
If you love go-karts for the speed and the driving experience, or you are a race-car enthusiast, you may need to try testing a race car on the track!
Many places across the US, Canada, and Europe, offer supercar racing experiences where you will spend a few dollars to drive some of the fastest cars in the world. Test cars you would have never imagined, such as the McLaren 720S, Audi R8, Lamborghini Gallardo, and many other huge car names.
5. Segway Tours or Electric Scooter Rentals
I have rented an electric scooter, but I have not personally experienced a real segway. They look amazing, and I need to try it out someday. I feel you get a similar thrill as an electric scooter, which is a lot of fun. I rented one in my old city Halifax, and you and a couple of friends could rent them together and explore a new city together. It is so much faster than walking and much more convenient than biking.
You could rent a segway and do a city tour with a guide, depending on the location you are in. Check out “segway tours my location” and see what pops up.
6. Bubble Soccer
Bubble soccer or bubble football, depending on where you are, is simply soccer while wearing an inflated bubble suit like this one. The rules are a bit different, as you can body-check people offensively and defensively. The inflated suits protect you and minimize impact making it much safer than American Football, rugby, and related body contact sports.
Having a group of friends, along with enough bubble suits can make for a great day activity to spend out on a soccer field. Many cities offer suit rentals, and they are much better quality suits so you are protected much better. Also, playing on artificial turf is always best as the ground is most forgiving regarding injuries.
Bubble soccer isn’t like go-karting in the sense of driving, however, it is a very thrilling and fun group activity that you and your friends will love to do together.
7. Indoor Rock Climbing
Go-karting and indoor rock climbing are quite different activities when you think about the two. However, they both are activities that require focus, skill, and the drive to push your limits. Go-karting requires a bit of physical exertion and rock climbing certainly requires much more.
The way I like to compare go-karting and rock climbing is the similar rush you get. When you are go-karting, cruising full speed, and ripping around corners, it is exhilarating! When rock climbing, you get to climb high up and off the ground; you know if you slip or let go, you are falling backward, just waiting for the rope to catch you. This feeling is exhilarating and a bit scary!
You can also challenge each other in both of these activities, which makes both fun for competitive friends. See who can win the race, or see who can climb the fastest/highest!
8. Mini Golf or Pitch & Putt
Mini golf and pitch & putt are great activities you can do with a group of friends. Typically these groups will be played in groups of 4 so be aware of that so you prepare groups before you get there.
Mini golf is when you get a putter and a ball, that’s it. The mini golf course is tiny, there are often little obstacles throughout the course to challenge you. You can keep score and compete with one another!
Pitch & putt is much different than mini golf. Pitch & putt is much more like real golf, you get to play outside on a real style golf course and get to use a pitching wedge iron and a putter. Each hole is typically 50 to 100 yards, it all depends on the course you go to. Some of these courses may even be called “par 3 courses” and will be longer than a standard pitch and putt course.
In groups of 2, 3, or 4, you can play pitch and putt! Take a scorecard and see who can get the best score.
Golf is much less thrilling than go-karting, but it is a really fun activity to spend with your friends without needing to take the game seriously.
Like golfing activities? Then read my related post “19 Activities Like Mini Golf to Do With Your Friends” here.
9. Ziplining
I was a zipline guide for 5 years. Ziplining is a one-of-a-kind experience that everyone needs to try, but there are some similarities when compared to go-karting. Ziplining and go-karting are both high-speed exhilarating activities! You reach high speeds in both activities, but ziplining you don’t get as much control. You can’t turn on a zipline, and in most ziplines, you can’t control your speed.
Also, when ziplining, you fly in the sky, sometimes hundreds of feet above the ground! Where I worked, we flew over a waterfall 8 times. Ziplining offers amazing views, nature experiences, fresh air in the face, thrilling adventure, and so much more.
Grab a group of friends, and I promise you will not regret going on a ziplining tour!
Read our related zipline articles here:
- 10 Longest Ziplines in The United States
- How Safe Is Ziplining? (Ziplining Safety Guide)
- How Much Does Ziplining Cost? (The Ultimate Guide)
- 10 Best Ziplines in California
Read our related post “19 Activities Like Ziplining to Do With Your Friends” here.
10. Jet Ski Rentals
Living in Canada, we have so many huge freshwater lakes, so I have been on jet skis many times in my life. You get a driving experience similar to go-karting; however, it is on the water where you crash into waves, and you get soaking wet at times.
I love jet skis specifically for the adventure, it’s even more of an adventure when renting them in a new location you are visiting. I rented them in the Bahamas once, and it was unbelievable driving around in the ocean, hitting humongous waves, and seeing mansions of famous people like Tiger Woods’s home.
Jet skis with a group of friends is a great way to get out on the water, enjoy some thrilling fun, and experience an unforgettable day. The larger the body of water the more space to explore!
Read our related article “7 Best Jet Ski Tours in Key West” here.
11. Indoor Skydiving
Ever heard of indoor skydiving? It is a pretty unique experience that you need to try with your group of friends. The most popular company that offers indoor skydiving is called iFly and it is available in many large cities in the USA and Canada; they are also in Australia, New Zealand, France, UK and Belarus.
Indoor skydiving offers a thrilling experience like no other! You get to fly in the air without jumping out of a plane. You and your friends can book the day together where you get to learn the process and fly together. If you and your friends are looking for a unique experience, this is the one for you.
Read our related indoor skydiving articles here:
- What Is Indoor Skydiving? (The Ultimate Guide)
- 5 Indoor Skydiving Locations in Canada
- How Fast Is the Wind When Indoor Skydiving?
- How Much Is iFLY Indoor Skydiving Per Person?
- What is the Age Requirement for iFLY Indoor Skydiving?
12. Trampoline Park
Trampoline parks are growing in popularity, they are exhilarating for both kids and even adults. Indoor trampoline parks are full of connected trampolines, foam pits, and similar attractions that allow you to bounce, flip, and basically defy gravity.
Like go-karting, trampoline parks can be thrilling and exciting! You can challenge your friends to see who can perform the best flips or tricks. It’s honestly a really fun way to release your inner child and enjoy being active for the day with your friends.
Some trampoline parks will also have areas for different trampoline activities, such as dodgeball, volleyball, or basketball.
Of course, be safe jumping around as us adults may not be as flexible as we once were (funny but true). An injury is possible, so take it easy my friends! Stay clear if you are really out of shape because trampolines can really do some damage.
13. Laser Tag
Playing a game of laser tag was super popular when I was growing up in my small town. When it opened up, almost every birthday party was there, and it was a lot of fun. After growing up a bit I had not played in a long time. One day at a mall during a hockey trip a few of my friends and I decided to play a game and it was a lot of fun.
We tossed on our vests, walked into the battlefield, and waited for our vests to light up and guns to ignite. Hearing the game start-up really sparked some memories of being a kid.
Laser tag is fun as you do your best to get the top score, compete against your friends, and spend time together between sessions.
A few hours of laser tag is similar to spending a few hours go-karting, the excitement of each is awesome and both require a bit of movement but nothing that will tire you out.
Enjoy laser tag? Read our related post “16 Activities like Laser Tag” here!
14. Escape Room
Escape rooms are like real-life puzzle games that you play with your friends. You and your team get locked into a room where you have to solve a series of clues/puzzles to find a way out. You will be competing but not against each other, it is a race against the clock! Typically you have about an hour to escape from an escape room.
There are escape rooms all across the world of different themes and style challenges. These can be mystery-solving, haunted house escapes, treasure hunts, and anything related.
You and your friends get to work together, which makes this activity a bit different as most activities on the list are competitive games.
If you are looking for a mental challenge with less physical exertion, escape rooms may be the perfect activity for you and your friends.
Read our related post “25 Activities Like Escape Rooms to Do With Your Friends” here.
15. Snowmobile Rental/Tours
Like an ATV tour, you can rent snowmobiles if you are near the snow. I grew up in Canada, and snowmobiling was an activity I could do from my own house. We had a skidoo that I could hop on and meet my friends on the trails within 20 minutes.
Renting snowmobiles and doing tours in new locations are amazing. You can tour the mountains, find some deep powder to play around in, and stop into a shack to light a fire and have a good snack. I have missed a few recent seasons of riding, and I miss it, I can’t wait to get out riding again someday.
Riding a snowmobile itself is thrilling. They are fast machines, they can fly through deep snow, dig into the powder, making you feel as if you are floating. It is an experience you need to try, trust me.
If you love driving go-karts, ATVs, jet skis, and anything related, then this is the activity for you!
16. Ropes Courses
When I worked at a zipline (Marble Zip), we had a huge ropes course that was constructed of a 3 level course. Each level got harder and higher up, eventually reaching 50 feet on level 3. Ropes courses are awesome because you can go in groups but you get to play at your own pace.
You can choose the difficulty usually, there are kid’s levels, and then they will often get harder and harder. Many have various obstacles, such as rock climbing, but my favorite additions to ropes courses are the ziplines and freefall they might offer.
Many ropes courses are challenging, which is great for those who are competitive as you can time yourselves against one another, similar to go-kart racing.
17. Rent a Supercar for the Day
Renting a supercar for the day is similar to testing a sports car or race-car on a race track, but you get a lot more time with the car. Renting a nice car for the day can be expensive, but on a special occasion, it may be worth it for a car enthusiast.
Although it isn’t racing like go-karting, you still get an experience like no other. Sports cars are fast; they take off like a go-kart and driving them is a lot of fun. You and your friends can hop in one, drive around the city, show off, and experience a day like the one percent do.
Final Thoughts
After looking at 17 activities like go-karting, I hope you found one that you thought was perfect for you and your friends. Driving a go-kart is exciting, exhilarating, and just a lot of fun, especially with your friends.
No matter if you are looking for a related driving experience or just a fun activity to do with some friends I have you covered!
If you are looking for a more adventurous activity, I can still help, you can check out one of these articles to find the thrilling activity you are seeking:
- 10 Activities Like Rock Climbing
- 13 Activities Like Paragliding
- 10 Activities Like Bungee Jumping
- 25 Activities Like Skydiving
Looking for something a little less thrilling then check out:
Let me know what activity was your favorite from our list and mention it in the comments below, or let me know of any other ideas you have!
Read our related post “99 Adventurous Things to Do With Your Friends” here.
Jamie is the founder of Action Sporter. He is the chief zipline writer and the lead editor. He has 5 years of zipline experience being a tour guide in Newfoundland. Most of the time you can find Jamie adventure traveling, hiking, skiing, skateboarding, or anything action related!
