Whether you want to make a huge splash or take a leisurely float, these Water Parks in the U.S. and resorts provide plenty of options to keep you entertained.
Today’s water park attractions are significantly more exciting and diversified than they were a few decades back. In reality, the top water parks in the United States offer everything from towering slides and water coasters to sandy beaches and meandering rivers. Some even feature enormous wave pools and surf simulators to test out, and many have on-site hotel choices, making it simple to prolong your visit beyond a single day.
Cowabunga Bay Water Park: Draper, Utah
This swinging 1960s-themed water park, located less than 20 miles south of downtown Salt Lake City, is furnished with surfboards, retro beach furniture, and a bright color palette that exudes joy. This seasonal outdoor park’s extravagant water playground (described as the world’s largest) has bridges and tunnels spanning 12 levels. There are also 11 thrilling waterslides that are well worth a visit. While larger youngsters swirl around the 800-foot-long Mondo waterslide in the dark, younger children may relax at Cowabunga Beach or play on the smaller slides in Cowabunga Kids Cove. Cowabunga Bay has a site near Las Vegas.
Noah’s Ark Waterpark: Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin
Noah’s Ark is the largest water park in the country and is located in Wisconsin Dells, often known as the “Waterpark Capital of the World”. In addition to restaurants and stores, the park features over two dozen aquatic activities, including the Flash Flood flume ride and two meandering lazy rivers with waterfalls. One of the most thrilling rides at this unique park is Raja, a side-by-side tube racer that sends riders hurtling around 335 feet of track before plunging 37 feet into the jaws of a king cobra.
Water World: Federal Heights, Colorado
This park in Denver spans more than 70 acres and boasts over 50 attractions, including family waterslides, a tranquil lazy river, and the massive Thunder Bay Wave Pool. If your children are too little to be flying down slides alone, there are plenty of lower-adrenaline activities, such as the Caribbean Family Adventure, an aquatic playground perfect for splashing about without fuss. You’ll also get access to free parking (though the park is also accessible via Denver public transportation), free entry for children under 40 inches, and senior discounts.
Schlitterbahn Waterpark & Resort: New Braunfels, Texas
In 1979, owners Bob and Billye Henry constructed a model German castle tower with four waterslides to their riverfront resort in San Antonio, kicking off what would become one of America’s most famous water parks. Schlitterbahn has grown significantly over the last few decades, becoming one of Texas’ top water parks.
It is now practically two parks (East and West) combined, offering a wide range of river rides, pools, and waterslides for the whole family to enjoy. Thrill-seekers will not want to miss the Master Blaster Uphill Water Coaster, which has a high speed and several dramatic drops. This water park has a facility in Galveston, Texas.
Legoland Water Park: Carlsbad, California
This water park, located around 35 miles north of downtown San Diego within the Legoland California Resort, is primarily designed for children aged 2 to 12. Its Lego-themed rides, slides, and splash pads captivate even the smallest visitors. Kids may use Lego bricks to customize their rafts for the lazy river, adding to the pleasure. Other notable elements of this park include a space for children to design and build bridges and dams, as well as the Twin Chasers, which allow family members to race down slides. Or you may simply play among the water cannons of the splashy Joker Soaker ride.
Universal’s Volcano Bay: Orlando, Florida
The Volcano Bay water park at Universal Orlando Resort (a popular Orlando theme park) opened in 2017 and is themed around a genuine volcano. Admission includes access to over 20 unique attractions as well as a waterproof TapuTapu wristband, which guests can use to schedule and hold a space in the Virtual Line for rides (which eliminates the need to wait in a real line), pay for meals, and enter lockers. The park has a lazy river and a dozen waterslides, including the Maku of the Maku Puihi Round Raft Rides.
Silver Dollar City’s White Water: Branson, Missouri
Branson is all about country music, live events, and family-friendly entertainment. Consider this 13-acre water park, which has 2 million gallons of water flowing via a lazy river, a wave pool, and a variety of slides. Thrill-seekers will flock toward the KaPau Plummet attraction, which has a near-vertical 40-foot descent at a pace of 26 feet per second. If you have kids with you, take a tube ride down the Aloha River or play in the Coconut Cove water playground.
Wilderness at the Smokies: Sevierville, Tennessee
This family resort, located just north of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, mixes accommodation with three indoor and outdoor water parks. The three water parks provide a variety of waterslides, pools, and thrilling attractions. During the summer months, adolescents should visit Lake Wilderness Outdoor Waterpark, which has a variety of slides, while Salamander Springs Outdoor Waterpark has an activity pool, a 500-gallon dump bucket, and a zero-entry play area for families with small children.
Finally, Wild WaterDome, one of the best indoor water park resorts in the United States, has a glass canopy that allows a forest of tropical plants to thrive. Water park attractions include anything from exciting slides to beautiful displays.
Adventure Island: Tampa, Florida
The 30-acre Adventure Island water park is located just a short walk from Busch Gardens Tampa Bay. This outdoor water park, which features mat racing slides, corkscrews, a lazy river, and other attractions with breezy tropical design, provides lots of ways to cool yourself on a hot Florida day. The park is also constantly developing; in 2022, it will unveil the multirider Rapids Racer and the Wahoo! Remix family raft ride. Castaway Falls, an interactive playground with slides, sprays, soakers, and more, is slated to open at Adventure Island in 2024.
Timber Ridge Lodge & Waterpark: Lake Geneva, Wisconsin
This family lodge at Grand Geneva Resort & Spa is situated on tranquil woodland grounds and provides access to a championship golf course (part of the larger Grand Geneva complex), an arcade, and Moose Mountain Falls Waterpark. This 50,000-square-foot resort and water park features both an indoor water park and an outdoor area that is open from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Overnight visitors receive a minimum of four complimentary permits to the facility’s twisting slides, lazy river, and hot pool. Children will especially like climbing ropes in the activity pool and riding Avalanche Falls, which plays various music as they whiz past colored lights.