Water parks are great destinations for families who want to have fun in the sun all summer long. From water slides to lazy rivers, indoor and outdoor pools, family-friendly aquatic attractions abound across the United States. In fact, there are so many fantastic water parks that it’s hard to know where to start in your search. That’s why we’ve put together this helpful guide to some of the best water parks in America. With so many options out there, how do you know which water park is best for your needs? Let this list be your guide! Here are the top 10 water parks in the USA.
1. Discovery Cove: Orlando, Florida
This tropical-themed aquatic attraction is unlike any other water park in the United States. Discovery Cove is a members-only park that provides visitors with a day in a beautiful marine reserve where they can swim with and feed tropical birds, snorkel with stingrays and tropical fish, and swim with dolphins – all without getting their hair wet! This park is a great choice for those who want to experience aquatic fun without the hassle of getting sand stuck to their feet. Discovery Cove’s marine reserve is home to a ton of marine life, including tropical birds, stingrays, and bottlenose dolphins. Discovery Cove guests can get up close and personal with these creatures in no-barrier pools.
2. Cowabunga Bay Water Park: Draper, Utah
Cowabunga Bay is a tropical-themed water park that offers a ton of aquatic fun for families. This park boasts a whopping 28 water slides, including a lazy river and a 300,000-gallon wave pool. In addition to its slides, Cowabunga Bay also has kiddie pools, a bubbling hot tub, a lap pool, and a splash pad. In other words, this is a water park that is perfect for everyone! Cowabunga Bay offers a variety of water slides for all ages, including the Black Widow, Blue Cyclones, Cyclone, Green Machine, Loggin’, Riptide, and Tiki Twister. In addition to these slides, Cowabunga Bay also has a kiddie area with smaller water slides and a bubbling hot tub.
3. Sandcastle Waterpark: Pittsburgh
This indoor family water park has everything you could ever want in a day of aquatic fun. The Sandcastle Waterpark has a pool for everyone, including a kiddie pool, a family pool, an activity pool, and a lazy river. This park also boasts indoor water slides and an action pool with basketball hoops, volleyball nets, and a climbing wall. In addition to its many pools, the Sandcastle Waterpark also features indoor water slides. The water slides at this aquatic attraction are great for all ages, including younger children.
4. Noah’s Ark Waterpark: Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin
Noah’s Ark Waterpark is a fantastical water park that offers indoor and outdoor aquatic fun for the whole family. This water park boasts water slides, a lazy river, a giant wave pool, kiddie pools, and a bubbling hot tub. In addition to its many pools, Noah’s Ark also has a few unique activities, including a giant spiral water slide, a bouncing water trampoline, and a giant tree house. Noah’s Ark Waterpark has many water slides, including the Cyclone, Green Giant, Green Machine, Loggin’, Typhoon, and Twister. This park also has a giant water trampoline, a giant spiral water slide, a bouncing water trampoline, kiddie pools, and a bubbling hot tub.
5. Water World: Federal Heights, Colorado
This massive water park is a great choice for those who want to experience everything that a water park has to offer. Water World is home to a ton of water slides and aquatic attractions, including a wave pool, a lazy river, a kiddie pool, a surf lagoon, and a lap pool. This massive water park even has a skate park and a ropes course! Water World has many water slides, including the Avalanche, Cyclone, Black Widow, Colorado Cliffside, Green Cayon, Loggin’ Ledge, Maelstrom, Pipeline, and Steamin’ Hawk. In addition to these water slides, Water World has a lazy river, a kiddie pool, a surf lagoon, a lap pool, and a skate park.
6. Schlitterbahn Waterpark & Resort New Braunfels: New Braunfels, Texas
This incredibly fun water park is a great choice for those who want to experience everything that a water park has to offer. This park has a ton of aquatic attractions, including a wave pool, a lazy river, a giant hill with water coasters, and a kiddie pool. In addition to its many pools, this water park also has a variety of indoor “extreme” rides, including a drop slide, a cliff jump, and a pendulum. Schlitterbahn Waterpark has many water slides, including the Boogie Bahn, Cyclone, Dragon’s Tail, the Green Mummy, the Green Reaper, the Herf Trip, the King’s Crown, and the Rhine River. In addition to these water slides, Schlitterbahn also has a wave pool, a lazy river, a kiddie pool, a cliff jump, a pendulum, and indoor “extreme” rides.
7. Legoland Water Park: Carlsbad, California
This aquatic attraction is a great choice for families with younger children. Legoland Water Park has a kiddie pool, a lazy river, and water slides that are perfect for smaller children. This park also has a few water attractions, including a giant bucket that dumps water and a water wall. Legoland Water Park has a kiddie pool, a lazy river, and a few water slides. This park’s water slides are perfect for younger children and are similar to water slides found at many indoor water parks. In addition to these attractions, Legoland Water Park also has a giant bucket that dumps water and a water wall.
8. Six Flags Hurricane Harbor: Jackson, New Jersey
This New Jersey-based aquatic attraction is a great choice for thrill-seekers. This park boasts many water slides for all ages, including the Boomerang, Cyclone, Freefall, Green Machine, Hurricane, Loggin’ Ledge, and Typhoon. In addition to its water slides, Hurricane Harbor also has a lazy river. Six Flags Hurricane Harbor has many water slides, including the Boomerang, Cyclone, Freefall, Green Machine, Hurricane, Loggin’ Ledge, and Typhoon. In addition to these water slides, Hurricane Harbor also has a lazy river.
9. Raging Waters Los Angeles: San Dimas, California
This large aquatic attraction is a great choice for families who want to experience everything a water park has to offer. Raging Waters has water slides, a wave pool, a kiddie pool, a lazy river, and a few unique attractions, like a water roller coaster. Raging Waters Los Angeles has many water slides, including the Cyclone, Hydro Ox Fly-away, Loggin’ Ledge, Raging Rapids, Tropical Cyclone, and the Twister. In addition to these water slides, Raging Waters Los Angeles also has a wave pool, a kiddie pool, a lazy river, and a water roller coaster.
10. Wilderness at the Smokies: Sevierville, Tennessee
This all-inclusive resort for families is located just to the north of Great Smoky Mountains National Park and features both an indoor and an outdoor water park in addition to its lodging options. At each of the three water parks, guests have access to a wide variety of thrilling rides, waterslides, and pools. Salamander Springs Outdoor Waterpark is ideal for families with younger children because it has an activity pool, a 500-gallon dump bucket, and a zero-entry pool with toddler swings. Lake Wilderness Outdoor Waterpark is a must-visit destination for teenagers during the summer months due to its extensive collection of slides. When you stay at the resort for the night, you will automatically receive free admission to both the indoor and outdoor water parks.
