Got that summertime sadness? This article is for you! Shake off all the lethargy, gloom and boredom and cannonball into a swashbuckling summer! Here in the USA, there are tons of opportunities for a splashing good time with your family and friends or if you just want to take a relaxing dip and enjoy a pina colada. This article will present a list of awesome water parks in each region, and in most cities. So wherever you are in the US, you can easily stop by one of these destinations. If you are planning a trip to the land of the free and home of the brave, here is a list of the top 20 water parks to cool off in the summer heat!
Northeast Region
1. Pump House Indoor Waterpark - Jay, Vermont
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
Posted by Jay Peak Resort on Sunday, December 6, 2020
A massive 50,000-square-foot (4,645-square-meter) water park, Pump House Indoor Waterpark is located in the Jay Peak Resort, a great place to stay if you wish to frequent the water park. The water park features a 65-foot-tall (19.8-meter-tall) slide, La Chute, where you can hurtle down, a Double Barrel FlowRider, and a Big River that will take you for a splashing ride around the entire park. Moreover, if you simply wish to relax, soak in the indoor or outdoor hot tubs, and enjoy some snacks or beverages at The Drink poolside bar. This park suits all needs, whether you are an adrenaline junkie or a laid-back soul.
Ticket price: 35 USD per adult
Pump House Indoor Waterpark
Address: 1144 access rd, Jay, VT 05859, United States
Opening Hours: Mon: 11.00 am - 4.00 pm; Thu: 4.00 pm - 9.00 pm; Fri: 11.00 am - 9.00 pm; Sat: 10.00 am - 9.00 pm; Sun: 11.00 am - 8.00 pm. Closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
Duration: around 3 hours required.
Access: 35-minute drive from Newport Airport.
Website: Jay Peak Resort
Contact: +1 800-451-4449
Nearby Food: The Foundry Pub & Grille, Tower Bar.
2. Enchanted Forest Water Safari - Old Forge, New York
Definitely worth spending a day here. A day where you actually spend most of your time enjoying rides instead of standing in long lines! Scoobytic
There are over 50 attractions in this 60-acre-large (24-hectare-large) park. Float around the park for an extensive tour around the park, or try out the wild water rides, such as Serengeti Surf Hill. Another awesome ride is Killermanjaro, which is one of the tallest and speediest tube rides in the park. A whopping 1,100 feet (335 meters) long, it will send you bolting around the entire park. Lastly, one of the best features about the park is that there is free parking all year around!
Ticket price: 32.95 USD per adult (12 years and above); 29.95 USD per child (3-11 years).
Enchanted Forest Water Safari
Address: 3183 NY-28, Old Forge, NY 13420, United States
Opening Hours: July: 9.30 am - 7.00 pm. Check hours here
Duration: around 3 hours required.
Access: 5-hour drive from any airport in New York.
Website: Water Safari
Contact: +1 315-369-6145
Nearby Food: Slickers Adirondack Tavern.
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Midwest Region
3. Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari - Santa Claus, Indiana
Home to 2 of the world’s largest water rides, the Mammoth and the Wildebeest, this 49-hectare-large (121-acre-large) amusement park is definitely an adrenaline junkie’s paradise! The Mammoth is a 6-person ride, where your raft will ascend a hill about 7 stories high before plummeting down 7 times. Every ride is a different experience, as the rafts spin independently of the track. The Wildebeest is another spine-tingling ride that races through a network of underground tunnels and plunges at a rate of 36 feet (11 meters) per second!
Ticket price: If bought online, 44.99 USD per adult, and 38.99 USD for seniors and adults or children under 54 inches (137 centimeters).
Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari
Address: 452 E Christmas Blvd, Santa Claus, IN 47579, United States
Opening Hours: June - July: 10.00 am - 9.00 pm. Check hours here
Duration: around 3 hours required.
Access: 3-hour drive from Indianapolis International Airport.
Website: Holiday World
Contact: +1 812-937-4401
Nearby Food: St Nick’s Restaurant.
4. Avalanche Bay Indoor Waterpark - Boyne Falls, Michigan
An 88,000-square-foot (8,175-square-meter) water park with a snowy village theme, Avalanche Bay Indoor Waterpark is Michigan’s largest indoor water park hotel. It is situated in the Boyne Mountain Resort. The park is always a comfortable 84 degrees Fahrenheit (28.9 degrees Celsius) and it is open all year round. Relax in the Glacier Hot Springs, or if you want an adventure, try the newest and most exciting ride, the Big Couloir. Riders step into a capsule, and then drop at an almost vertical angle when the trap door beneath them opens. Riders will then be sent through a network of tunnels and around a 360-degree loop, before landing gently at the end.
Ticket price: From 37 USD per adult and 30 USD per child for resort guests. From 41 USD per adult and 34 USD per child for non-residents.
Avalanche Bay Indoor Waterpark
Address: 1 Boyne Mountain Rd, Boyne Falls, MI 49713, United States
Opening Hours: Mon - Thu: 10.00 am - 9.00 pm; Fri - Sun: 9.00 am - 9.00 pm. Check hours here
Duration: around 3 hours required.
Access: 4-hour drive from Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport.
Website: Avalanche Bay
Contact: +1 855-441-2086
Nearby Food: Beach House Restaurant on Deer Lake, Everett’s @ Boyne Mountain Resort.
5. Noah’s Ark Water Park - Wisconsin Dells
Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing
At 28 hectares (69 acres), Noah’s Ark Water Park is the largest water park in the USA, and it houses 51 water slides and many other attractions. This park has all the rides to keep thrill-seekers entertained. Check out the Scorpion’s Tail, a 10-story high and 400-foot-long (122-meter-long) ride that drops riders down an almost vertical slide, and around an entire loop! Another ride heralded as one of the US’s most exciting rides is the Black Anaconda, which is over a quarter of a mile (402 meters) long and will send you swirling around in a corkscrew-like frenzy! Besides the thrilling rides, there are also plenty of relaxing rides that will gently guide you around the park.
Ticket price: 48 inches (122 centimeters) and above: 38.99 USD; under 48 inches (122 centimeters) and seniors: 28.99 USD.
Noah’s Ark Water Park
Address: 1410 Wisconsin Dells Pkwy, Wisconsin Dells, WI 53965, United States
Opening Hours: From 10.00 am onwards. Check hours here
Duration: around 3 hours required.
Access: 2-hour drive from General Mitchell International Airport.
Website: Noah’s Waterpark
Contact: +1 608-254-6351
Nearby Food: BJ’s Restaurant, Mr. Pancake Restaurant.
6. Schlitterbahn Kansas City Waterpark - Kansas City, Kansas
Schlitterbahn Kansas City Waterpark is a 40-acre (16-hectare) park that features 22 rides. It is also home to the water slide Verruckt, which holds the Guinness World Record for being the world’s tallest water slide! There are many more rides to try out - go boogie boarding at the Boogie Bahn surf ride, or ride the waves at the Torrent River, where you can float on massive waves. For a relaxing time at the park, chill on the beaches and in the heated pools while enjoying a drink from the refreshment bar. Also, enjoy free parking!
Ticket price: From 41.99 USD for general admission. From 29.99 USD for seniors and children.
Schlitterbahn Kansas City Waterpark
Address: 9400 State Ave, Kansas City, KS 66112, United States
Opening Hours: June - July: 10.00 am - 8.00 pm. Check hours here
Duration: around 3 hours required.
Access: 26-minute drive from Kansas City International Airport.
Website: Schlitterbahn
Contact: +1 913-312-3110
Nearby Food: Frontier Steak House.
7. White Water Branson - Branson, Missouri
Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing
White Water Branson is a lovely, neat water park that is perfect for a fun family day out. Check out the newest ride, the KaPau Plummet, which will drop you down a slide at 70 degrees! There are also plenty of rides the entire family can enjoy, such as the Splashaway Cay, a 20,000-square-foot (1,858-square-meter) island full of aqua shooters, geysers, slides, and elevated walkways for people of all ages to enjoy. You can even book your own private cabana, where you can spend some quiet time with the family.
Ticket price: 41 USD per adult; 20 USD per child; 31 USD per senior.
White Water Branson
Address: 3505 West Highway 76, Branson, MO 65616, United States
Opening Hours: June: 10.00 am - 6.00 pm. Check hours here
Duration: around 3 hours required.
Access: around a one-hour drive from Springfield-Branson National Airport.
Website: Silver Dollar City
Contact: +1 800-532-7529
Near by Food: Cantina Laredo, White River Fish House.
South Region
8. LEGOLAND Florida Resort - Winter Haven, Florida
A ticket includes entry to both the Legoland theme park and water park, both of which cover over 145 acres (58.7 hectares) of summer fun! Be sure to try the Build-A-Raft River, a one-of-a-kind ride where you can float around the 1,000-foot-long (304.8-meter-long) river in a LEGO vessel that you and your buddies built! Unleash your creativity and construct some wacky rafts! Also, hop on board the Island in the Sky ride, where you can get panoramic views of Legoland from a rotating platform 150 feet (45.7 meters) above the ground. If you are looking for a thrill, the water park has tons of adrenaline-rushing rides, such as Splash Out where you can plummet down a 60-foot-tall (18.3-meter-tall) slide!
Ticket price: From 91 USD per person for general admission.
Legoland Florida Resort
Address: 1 Legoland Way, Winter Haven, FL 33884, United States
Opening Hours: 9 am - 6 pm. Closed on public holidays.
Duration: around 3 hours required.
Access: 1-hour drive from Orlando International Airport.
Website: Legoland Florida
Contact: +1 877-350-5346
Nearby Food: Market Restaurant, Ruby Tuesday.
9. Six Flags White Water - Atlanta, Georgia
Home to over 30 slides and numerous other attractions, the 28-hectare-large (69-acre-large) Six Flags White Water is one of the best places to cool off in the summer heat! There are plenty of thrilling rides for families and friends to experience together, such as the Run-A-Way River ride where you can splash around the park on a large raft. The ride will take you and your buddies through the dark and light, through rapids and peaks, and finally, when you least expect it, an electrifying 70-foot (21-meter) fall! Also, check out the latest ride, the Wahoo Racer, which is 60 feet (18.3 meters) tall and features 6 side-by-side lanes, where you can race alongside others on a toboggan!
Ticket price: From 36.99 USD for general admission.
Six Flags White Water
Address: 250 Cobb Pkwy N #100, Marietta, GA 30062, United States
Opening Hours: June: 10.30 am - 7.00 pm. Check hours here
Duration: around 3 hours required.
Access: 38-minute drive from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.
Website: Six Flags White Water
Contact: +1 770-948-9290
Nearby Food: La Carreta.
10. Carolina Harbor - Charlotte, North Carolina
Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing
Just opened in May 2016, this 20-acre-large (8-hectare-large) water park is located within a larger amusement park, Carowinds, which you can have access to upon entry as well! The largest water park in the Carolinas, Carolina Harbor embraces its history and retains some historical features, such as its pristine beaches, clear waters, and a rustic, old lighthouse. Be sure to try Blackbeard’s Revenge, which features 3 different rides - The Pirate’s Plank, which drops riders at an almost vertical angle down a slide, The Captain’s Curse, that swishes you through a series of 360-degree turns, and Cannonball Drop, a ride that sends you twisting and plummeting.
Ticket price: From 42.99 USD for general admission to both the Carowinds Amusement Park and Carolina Harbor.
Carowinds
Address: 14523 Carowinds Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28273, United States
Opening Hours: 11.00 am - 7.00 pm. Check hours here
Duration: around 3 hours required.
Access: 20-minute drive from Charlotte Douglas International Airport.
Website: Carowinds
Contact: 704.588.2600 from NC; 803.548.5300 from SC.
Nearby Food: Panda Express.
11. Water Country USA - Williamsburg, Virginia
Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing
The biggest water park in Virginia and featuring over 25 rides, Water Country USA is a 1950s / 1960s surf-themed water park with rides and attractions suitable for all ages. One of the more adventurous rides include the Vanish Point, a 75-foot-tall (22.9-meter-tall) tower with 2 different wave paths to choose from. The ride will send you plummeting through a trap door, then sliding down into a pool. Another notable attraction is the Big Daddy Falls, an alternative whitewater rafting experience that will take you around sharp turns and deep tunnels while being bombarded by water jets and cannon blasters!
Ticket price: 52 USD for ages 10 and above. 45 USD for ages 3 - 9.
Water Country USA
Address: 176 Water Country Pkwy, Williamsburg, VA 23185, United States
Opening Hours: June - July: 10.00 am - 7.00 pm. Check hours here
Duration: around 3 hours required.
Access: 46-minute drive from Richmond International Airport.
Website: Water Country USA
Contact: +1 800-343-7946
Nearby Food: The Whaling Company, Doraldo Restaurant.
12. Dollywood’s Splash Country - Pigeon Forge, Tennessee
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
Only true daredevils know how this feels. ( IG: @jlmiller88)
Posted by Dollywood on Monday, August 24, 2020
This 35-acre (14-hectare) water park is great for a fun family day. Home to lovely retreats, gorgeous views and exciting attractions, Dollywood’s Splash Country is guaranteed to keep anyone entertained. One of the latest attractions is the RiverRush, featuring four drops and exciting twists and turns, all in the dark! Other exciting rides include the Big Bear Plunge, a whitewater rafting experience, and the Fire Towel Falls, where you can hurtle down a 70-foot-tall (21-meter-tall) slide. Lastly, be sure to check out the Mystery Mine steel coaster, a thrilling ride that will bring you to actual, abandoned coal mines!
Ticket price: 48 USD for ages 12 - 59; 43 USD for ages 4 - 11 and seniors 60 years and above.
Dollywood’s Splash Country
Address: 2700 Dollywood Parks Blvd, Pigeon Forge, TN 37863, United States
Opening Hours: 10.00 am - 7.00 pm. Check hours here
Duration: around 3 hours required.
Access: around 3 hours and 20 minutes to drive from Nashville International Airport.
Website: Dollywood
Contact: +1-800-365-5996
Nearby Food: Miss Lillian’s Chicken House.
13. Blue Bayou Water Park - Baton Rouge, Louisiana
The Blue Bayou Water Park has over 20 attractions, inclusive of exciting slides and rides that will send your adrenaline levels skyrocketing! Slide down the High Water Slide, a twisting and turning triple slide that is 7 stories high! Also, do not forget the CONJA, heralded as the biggest in-line water slide in the world. If you have a need for speed, get on board the Racers, the speediest and tallest water racer in the world! If you think these rides can’t get any more wild, hop on board the MAMBO, the largest water slide in the world that you ride upside down!
Ticket price: 36.99 USD for guests above 48 inches (122 centimeters); 29.99 USD for guests under 48 inches (122 centimeters); 29.99 USD for seniors.
Blue Bayou Water Park
Address: 18142 Perkins Rd, Baton Rouge, LA 70810, United States
Opening Hours: 10.00 am - 6.00 pm. Check hours here
Duration: around 3 hours required.
Access: 1-hour drive from Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport.
Website: Blue Bayou Water Park
Contact: +1 225-753-3333
Nearby Food: Serop’s Express Highland Rd., Wontons.
14. Water Zoo - Clinton, Oklahoma
Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing
Whether you wish to be crazy, or just lazy, the Water Zoo has the perfect summer vacation waiting! An indoor water park with a retractable roof, the Water Zoo is always kept at a lukewarm 82 degrees Fahrenheit (27.8 degrees Celsius) all year round. Play basketball at the activity pool, play with your toddler at the child-friendly Cub’s Cove, or enjoy riding the tall waves at the wave pool. If you are unsure whether you should be lazy or crazy, drift along the 400-foot-long (122-meter-long) Lazy and Crazy River, which will slowly make its way to the wave pool. For a thrilling time, slide down the 3-story tall Inside Out Water Slides, which bring you outside the water park, before darting back inside.
Ticket price: From 34.99 USD for guests above 48 inches (122 centimeters); From 23.49 USD for guests under 48 inches (122 centimeters).
Water Zoo Indoor Water Park
Address: 1900 Boulevard of Champions, Clinton, OK 73601, United States
Opening Hours: 10.00 am - 8.00 pm. Check hours here
Duration: around 3 hours required.
Access: around 1 hour and 23 minutes by road from Will Rogers World Airport.
Website: Water Zoo
Contact: +1 580-323-9966
Nearby Food: Adamo’s Route 66 Italian Villa, Picante Grill
West Region
15. Water World - Denver, Colorado
If you are a water park lover, you definitely cannot miss America’s biggest water park. At 27 hectares (66.7 acres), Water World is home to 49 attractions and features 2 wave pools - the gentler Captain Jack’s Wave Pool, and the newer, more electrifying Thunder Bay wave pool. Go inland surfing at The Wave, or fly around on the Mile High Flyer, a crazy hydromagnetic water coaster that will send you bolting around the park! Lastly, try out The Storm, a one-of-a-kind ride where you hurtle down a dark tube designed to create the illusion of being in a storm!
Ticket price: 41.99 USD for general admission; 36.99 USD per child; 10.99 USD per senior.
Water World
Address: 8801 Pecos St, Federal Heights, CO 80260, United States
Opening Hours: 10.00 am - 6.00 pm. Check hours here
Duration: around 3 hours required.
Access: 35-minute drive from Denver International Airport.
Website: Water World Colorado
Contact: +1 303-427-7873
Nearby Food: Rancho Alegre, Lotus Chinese Restaurant, Los Arcos.
16. Roaring Springs Water Park - Boise, Idaho
Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing
Voted the 8th-best water park in America, Roaring Springs Water Park houses plenty of invigorating rides. One of their newest addition is the Corkscrew Cavern, an upside down water slide that has a 360-degree loop and is the first of its kind in the Northwest. Other rides to check out include the Cliffhanger, a whopping 6-story high ride that sends you plummeting to the ground in 4 seconds at a near vertical angle! Furthermore, you can get sucked into the Viper’s Vortex, a high-speed bowl ride that whirls you and a buddy around in a vortex! If you are here with young children, they are bound to have a great time on the Kiddie Kowabunga slide at the Little Splash Mountain Kiddie Play Area. Finally, if you are exhausted from all the excitement, or just want a calming experience at the water park, snooze at the Leisure Lagoon or on a raft on the Endless River!
Ticket price: 30.99 USD for general admission; 25.99 USD per child and per senior.
Roaring Springs Water Park
Address: 400 W Overland Rd, Meridian, ID 83642, United States
Opening Hours: 11.00 am - 8.00 pm. Check hours here
Duration: around 3 hours required.
Access: 14-minute drive from Boise Airport.
Website: Roaring Springs
Contact: +1 208-884-8842
Nearby Food: JB’s Restaurant, The Curb Bar and Grill
17. Wild Island Family Adventure - Sparks, Nevada
Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing
If you are looking for a family-friendly waterpark you and your kids will absolutely love, then head to Wild Island Family Adventure! The little ones can splash around at the little lagoon, or go wild on the mini slides. Also, you can float around the park with your kids on the quarter-mile (402-meter) Bahama Mama River, which passes by the refreshing mushroom waterfalls. If the bigger kids are looking for a thrill, get on board the Black Widow, a double tube ride that is completely in the dark! Furthermore, there are a myriad of other fun activities on Wild Island, such as bowling at the Coconut Bowl, golfing at the mini golf course, playing at the arcade, or riding a go-kart!
Ticket price: 29.99 USD for general admission; 23.99 USD per child; 10 USD per senior.
Wild Island
Address: 250 Wild Island Ct, Sparks, NV 89434, United States
Opening Hours: 11.00 am - 7.00 pm. Check hours here
Duration: around 3 hours required.
Access: 14-minute drive from Reno-Tahoe International Airport.
Website: Wild Island
Contact: +1 775-359-2927
Nearby Food: Outback Steakhouse, BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse.
18. Cliff’s Amusement Park Watermania! - Albuquerque, New Mexico
Also child and family friendly, Watermania at Cliff’s Amusement Park is the perfect place for you and your little ones to have the time of your lives. Upon entry, you will have access to both the water park and amusement park. There are 2 main water attractions at the water park - Li’l Squirts, a little park where you can play with your toddlers, and Mega Water Monkeys, where you and your kids can ride the crazy slides and have a great splash!
Ticket price: 8.95 USD for general admission.
Cliff's Amusement Park
Address: 4800 Osuna Rd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87109, United States
Opening Hours: 11.00 am - 9.00 pm. Check hours here
Duration: around 3 hours required.
Access: 13-minute drive from Albuquerque International Sunport.
Website: Cliff’s Amuseument Park
Contact: +1 505-881-9373
Nearby Food: Siam Cafe, Thai Vegan, Saigon Restaurant.
19. Raging Waters - San Dimas, California
Come splash around Raging Waters, California’s largest water park! Housing more than 50 slides and attractions, Raging Waters has the most exciting rides in the south, and guarantees a swashbuckling time for all ages. Little kids can have fun at the Kid’s Kingdom at Splash Island. On the other hand, bigger kids with an appetite for adventure can try more daring rides. Dart around in the dark on the Dark Hole, or bolt around at lightning-speed on the Bermuda Triangle, one of the speediest rides in the US that accelerates up to 50 mph (80.5 kmph), runs in the dark, and features a 52-foot (15.8-meter) plunge! The newest addition to the park is the Aqua Rocket, a ride that combines a roller coaster and water ride using new hydromagnetic technology!
Ticket price: 42.99 USD for general admission; 29.99 USD per child and per senior.
Raging Waters Los Angeles
Address: 111 Raging Waters Dr, San Dimas, CA 91773, United States
Opening Hours: 10.00 am - 5.00 pm. Check hours here
Duration: around 3 hours required.
Access: 40-minute drive from John Wayne Airport.
Website: Raging Water Los Angeles
Contact: +1 909-802-2200
Nearby Food: La Poblanita Mexican Food, Little Tokyo Restaurant.
20. Wet‘n’Wild Hawaii - Kapolei, Oahu, Hawaii
Surrounded by 29 acres (11.7 hectares) of natural cliffs and lush tropical forests, Wet’n’Wild Hawaii is a beautiful water park that was recently featured in Best of Honolulu magazine as the best family attraction. Home to more than 25 attractions and rides ranging from mild to wild, Wet’n’Wild Hawaii has something for everyone. Little ones can have a blast with the mini water-spurting volcano and water cannons at the Keiki Kove. For moderate thrill-seekers, ride the waves at the Hawaiian Waters Wave Pool, which can go up to 2-feet (0.6 meters) high! For extreme daredevils, get on board the Tornado, which sends riders whirling around a funnel, before catapulting into the air and free falling into a 12-foot-deep (3.7-meter-deep) pool!
Ticket price: 42.99 USD for general admission; 37.99 USD per child; 37.99 USD per senior.
Wet‘n’Wild Hawaii
Address: 400 Farrington Hwy, Kapolei, HI 96707, United States
Opening Hours: 10.30 am - 5.00 pm. Check hours here
Duration: around 3 hours required.
Access: 20-minute drive from Honolulu International Airport.
Website: Wet'n'Wild Hawaii
Contact: +1 808-674-9283
Nearby Food: Zippy’s Kapolei, Outback Steakhouse.
Summing up the summer
All around the country, there are bountiful opportunities to get out of the house and enjoy the summer! Whether you are looking to get that tan on, splash around, ride the waves, or have a wild and wet summer adventure, there is a water park out there for it. So grab your sunglasses, swimsuit and sunblock and get out there!
For your convenience, here are a list of things to take along with you: sandals / flip flops, beach bag, towels, cash, tissues, camera (waterproof preferred), goggles, sunblock, bug spray, park map, phone charger, water-proof bag or ziplock bag for electronics, extra clothes, water-proof watch, lock for locker, sun hat / visor, water bottles, medication, shampoo, conditioner, body soap, sunglasses with UV protection, wristband for keys.
Have a fabulous time in the water!
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