Kid or adult, waterparks are always the best part of summer. Racing down the slides, the less than tasty food, and the overpriced inflatables. It is the perfect place to let your inner child go crazy. Plus it keeps you cool on a summer day.
Now, with so many waterparks popping up all over the country, knowing which ones are worth your money can be a little difficult. We have done all of the hard work for you!
Below are the top 25 best water parks in the USA. You can easily plan your vacation knowing that you are going to a day filled with fun, rides, and water.
Are you visiting America’s largest water park? Then you need to visit Noah’s Ark located in Wisconsin Dells. Spanning across 70 acres and with other 40 rides, this is the perfect place to spend a hot summer’s day.
The rides are divided into 4 categories:
Thrill Rides
Family Rides
Adventure River
Kiddie Rides
This water park has something for everyone. The Thrill Rides are full of action and are sure to get your heart racing.
For those that enjoy that adrenaline rush, you have to have a go on the Black Anaconda. With speeds of up to 35 miles per hour, it is only for the bravest of riders.
The Kiddie and Family rides are perfect for those with younger children. With water park classics like a relaxing lazy river and wave pools, kids and adults can play, splash, and practice their handstands for the entire day.
Noah’s Ark opens from May through to September and accommodates thousands of people throughout the season.
Families can purchase a single-day ticket to enjoy the fun and adventure or a season ticket where you can enter whenever you wish for the entire season!
If there is one reason you decide to venture to the rather unknown world of Williamsburg, it has to be Water Country USA. This exciting water park is quickly becoming a national treasure.
One of its most iconic rides is The Nitro Racer. This thrilling ride will have you racing down a slide with an almost vertical drop into a pool of water, you can expect to break the water with your heart pounding and a smile on your face.
For families, The Hubba Hubba Highway is the perfect raft ride. Make your way through winding dark tunnels and sharp bends. Or try out the brand-new Aquazoid Amped. With special effects, this sensory immersive ride is becoming a fan favorite.
When it comes to shopping, Water Country USA does it perfectly. Select souvenirs from your favorite rides or if you happen to forget anything, each gift shop is loaded with items for the perfect summer day!
Don’t forget to take part in the Riptide Race this summer!
It’s understandable why Raging Waters in San Dimas is California’s largest water park. It’s the ideal spot to cool off on a hot day with its exhilarating rides, roomy pools, and entertaining wave attractions.
Raging Waters is known for its incredible kiddies section. With rides, splash areas, and shallow pools, you can let your little ones go wild while you take the time to relax poolside.
Or for adults and bigger kids, you can take on the 60-foot drop at the end of The Neptunes Fury. After flying down a 600-foot-long ride, you will be left to drop 60 feet before crashing into the pool below.
You can also go zooming down the Ragin’ Racer at 34 miles per hour. Or if you are in need of a little relaxation time, head over to Splash Adventure Island to enjoy the soothing lazy rivers and gentle wave pools.
Raging Waters has something for everyone, all you have to do is load up the car and layer on the sunscreen!
Disney’s Blizzard Beach is a rather interesting place to spend your summer. The theme, a beach that was hit by a freak blizzard and left behind is rides for thrill seekers and relaxers.
It has quickly become one of the best water park resorts in the USA and of course, works in conjunction with Walt Disney World.
There are many heart-pounding thrills to enjoy, including the 90-foot-tall Mt. Gushmore top and the free-falling Summit Plummet drop.
There are also several calm pools and a lazy river to float down for anyone who wants to unwind. Blizzard Beach offers both excitement and relaxation, so there’s something for everyone.
If there is one thing that Disney knows how to do, it is food. When it is time to fuel up for lunch, visit one of the many food stalls located around the park.
Indulge in some of the tastiest themed foods, and don’t forget to try a Frozen Blue Raspberry Lemonade from the Lottawatta Lodge!
At Disney’s Blizzard Beach there is always something to do!
Now, contrary to the name, there are no animals to be seen at Splashin Safari but there are some of the greatest rides to be explored!
Two wave pools, multiple raft rides, and a ton of kid-friendly water activities can be found at this family-friendly water park.
For the more daring, there are also a number of thrilling rides, including ZOOMbabwe, the largest enclosed water slide in the entire world.
Thrill seekers are challenged to try the Zinga. An eight-story ride that is 336 feet long that drops 6 stories until you land in the pool below.
Or if you are a little more competitive, there is Jungle Racer. Race 9 others in this ten-lane slide and see who reaches the bottom first.
Slpashin’ Safari is an excellent place to forget about your troubles and let your inner child go wild. Treat the family to a day of fun in the sun at Splashin’ Safari.
One of this water park’s greatest attractions is that you get access to two parks for the price of one!
If you are taking a road trip across the country, make sure to take a stop at Camelbeach Mountain Waterpark located in the Pocono Mountains of Big Pocono State Park.
Since 1998, the park has become one of the nation’s biggest water attractions. And is the reason many venture out to Camelback Mountain Resort.
Feel the wind rush by you as you take on the final drop of the Dune Runner. Or enjoy darkness as you are fully enclosed in Midnight Rub Tube.
Camelbeach Mountain Waterpark is for anyone looking to have a summer of fun. You may unwind in the full-sized pool or the lazy river, or you can take your kids to the splash pad. There is work to be done in any case!
Take your kids on a single-day adventure at Camelbeach Mountain Waterpark with a day ticket, or have a proper rest and stay at the resort for a couple of nights.
You can also pay for an unlimited pass that comes with a range of benefits including 10% off retail and restaurants!
Six Flags is one of America’s greatest amusement parks and has since branched into water parks. Spanning over 35 acres of land, you can find the Six Flags Hurricane Harbor Phoenix at Adobe Dam Regional Park in North Phoenix.
Along with some of the most thrilling rides in the state, there are various experiences and attractions to keep you and your little ones entertained.
If you are looking to leave your opponent in the dust, or rather mist, then you have to try the Bahama Blaster. The ultimate thrill seeker will love Bahama Blaster’s rapid descent into a new water slide section.
Guests can race in tandem tubes down two parallel slide tracks on this one-of-a-kind coaster, which is the first and only one of its kind in the whole world.
Riders are propelled uphill by gravity-defying water coasters that feature over 830 feet of hair-raising dips and stunning curves. This is the perfect ride to settle any disputes in the family.
Groups of all ages and sizes can enjoy their time at Six Flags Hurricane Harbor Phoenix with a range of thrill rides, family rides, and kiddie pools.
Take a break from the adrenaline and enjoy some food at the dining halls located around the park.
When visiting Silverwood Theme Park, you have to bring your bathing suit. Boulder Beach Water Park is a part of Silverwood Theme Park and it has all of the excitement you could ask for and more.
Open only for three months of the year, you have to spend your time wisely. For thrill seekers the high-intensity ride, Velocity Peak is an incredible water slide.
Choose from three different slides before you travel at speeds of 55 mph. This is the reason that Boulder Beach Water Park made it onto this list.
They also have more relaxed rides that still get your heart racing such as Rumble Falls, Avalanche Mountain, and Riptide Racer.
The Ricochet Rapids is the perfect family ride. Hop in a raft and cascade down a 40-foot mountain that ends with a steep drop that will have butterflies in your tummy.
This is the perfect place to spend a day or two of your vacation. And if your kids somehow get bored of the adrenaline-pumping water rides, they can spend some time playing games in the arcade or take part in an interactive shooting experience.
One of the most popular places to go during summer is New Jersey. With stunning views, a boardwalk filled with activities, and endless food and drinks, you can spend days having fun.
And since 1969, the place of fun has been home to Morey’s Piers Ocean Oasis Water Park.
It really is an oasis.
A straightforward, delicious water park with all the standard amenities, including slides, lazy rivers, kid-friendly areas, and bars, is located on Surfside Pier.
Due to its smaller size, you can relax knowing the kids are having fun and you can keep an eye on them.
For the kids, you have intense rides such as the Cliff Dive, Sidewinders, and Shotgun Falls.
However, one of the main attractions for the adults is the Water Lilies Swim Up Bar. Enjoy a relaxing float in the pool and be handed your beverage without having to get out!
Or spend your time catching a tan in the Cabana and enjoying some food from the restaurant.
New York isn’t always branded as the most exciting place for kids. But taking a trip to Splish Splash can change their minds in a second.
Splish Splash is almost the largest waterpark in the US by space, boasting a staggering 96 acres of area under its belt. It boasts 30 different rides and is incredibly well-known.
Splish Splash takes themed rides to the next level. One of the main attractions is Dinosaur Falls where you are placed on a two-person raft and are taken on an adventure through time.
When you are ready for something more daring, Bombs Away is ready and waiting. A three hundred-foot drop with a fifty-foot climb to the top is part of the Bombs Away water ride, which will satisfy any rider’s thirst for speed.
You will see the park from above before freefalling at 26 feet per second in two independent AquaLaunch Capsules.
With rides for adults, kids, and everyone in between, Splish Splash is the perfect place to cool off and have some fun.
Another waterpark connected to SeaWorld is Adventure Island. It may not be the largest water park in the USA, but like Aquatica San Antonio, it offers a distinctive and memorable experience by combining cutting-edge technology with one-of-a-kind thrills.
With new rides each season, you can expect something exciting to take place each year you visit Adventure Island.
The latest addition to the water park in the Solar Vortex. This is the first dual tailspin waterslide in the country that will have you holding on until the very end.
Among many others, the open flume Calypso Coaster, the weightlessness of the Colossal Curl, and the 70-foot drop of the Vanish Point drop water slide are some well-known thrill attractions.
If you are looking to perfect your floating technique, then you can train in any one of the five pools throughout the park.
We highly recommend the 17000 square foot Endless Surf wave pool where you can relax and enjoy the waves.
Shipwreck Island Waterpark hasn’t been named one of the best water parks in the US due to its crazy rides.
It has won many awards and praise for its functionality, cleanliness, and of course, the fun and excitement that visitors experience every year.
The Great Shipwreck, also known as “Zip from the Ship,” is the focal point of Shipwreck Island Waterpark.
The park’s major feature is a recreation of an actual vessel from the 17th century. It serves as a zip line site from which you can fly down, not as a normal park attraction.
For kids, one of the best attractions is the Tipping Bucket. Simply wait in anticipation as the giant bucket fills with water and eventually tips, splashing everything in a 20-foot radius with water!
Both season and day passes are available with the park even having online booking processes. Get your tickets and make it through the barriers with ease. Although, you may have to fight for the best seats.
When visiting Schlitterbahn you may want to block out two days just to make it around the entire park. With a thrilling maze of waterslides, lazy rivers, and wave pools, there is endless fun to be had.
Each of Schlitterbahn’s four separate parts is as big as most neighborhood water parks. Each portion has a swim-up bar, a less-than-lazy river, a kids’ area, and a distinctive defining attraction.
One of the most intense rides is Downhill Racer. Four rival speed slides race one another down a three-story drop and over enormous moguls to the finish line, located at the top of the Castle Entrance building.
The Downhill Racer is actually a group of four-speed slides that are placed side by side.
For little kids, there is the Butterfly Bayou. With a range of smaller water slides and body slides, small children can have the time of their lives as they splash amongst the stunning butterfly rides.
Or they can enjoy the pirate adventures at Kiddie Coast. They can explore the pirate ship that is decked out with slides and water tunnels to keep them busy all day long.
Myrtle Waves may not be one of the largest water parks in the USA but it has some of the coolest features. With a range of slides, and attractions, slides, and right next to the beach, Myrtle Waves has a lot to offer.
One of the most exciting rides is the Turbo Twisters. These enclosed body slides are completely dark and will have you traveling at 50 feet per second. You don’t want to eat anything before taking a shot at this slide.
Another attraction that makes this small yet incredible water park so enticing is The FlowRider.
This surfing simulator does come at a small extra fee to enjoy but it is worth every cent. Learn to body surf or become a pro at surfing all without touching the sea.
Myrtle Waves also has a range of events taking place throughout the season to keep little ones and adults entertained. Perfect for kids’ birthday parties or for a place to have some fun through the summer months.
Water World is the Mt. Everest of waterparks, including 49 attractions in all, including the Voyage to the Center of the Earth and Lost River of the Pharaohs rides that rival those found in theme parks.
Many times, it takes several days for visitors to ride each waterslide, so they instead concentrate on the park’s many slide clusters. The water coaster Mile High Flyer propels riders up and over hills.
For those looking to have a little more privacy, the Bungalows accommodate 2 people and are the perfect way to relax, catch some sun, and enjoy each other’s company before hitting the water.
Guests can also get some delicious lunch at The Shaka Shacks. Burgers, fries, hotdogs, and so much more are on offer and are the ideal food for getting you through an exciting day at Water World.
We highly recommend you don’t leave Water World without trying out Voyage to the Center of the Earth. Travel back in time and experience crazy dinosaur animatronics.
Planned to visit a water park and the heavens above decided to open? Not to worry! Avalanche Bay is Michigan’s largest indoor water park.
Located at the base of a ski mountain, you can visit Avalanche Bay any time of year and enjoy the exhilarating rides they have to offer.
While Avalanche Bay is smaller than the other parks on this list, it more than makes up for it with inventive, compact thrills.
There is a built-in surfing wave in the park. The Big Couloir, which was just added, offers a startling and dangerous drop.
For on the days that it is simply too chilly, there is a range of pools and hot tubs. The Super-G Slide will have you taking big twists and turns before you splash in the pool below. Ready to go again.
Blizzard Bay is one of the most exciting pools in the USA. With basketball hoops and other activities, all of which can be done from the water. Families of all ages can enjoy endless fun in Blizzard Bay.
We have already discussed Walt Disney World’s Blizzard Beach, however, the theme park has another water attraction, Typhoon Lagoon.
With the largest surf pool in North America Typhoon Lagoon is the place for those looking to get the best thrill.
Humunga Kowabunga is one of the water park’s greatest attractions. These three enclosed body slides are arranged side by side and provide exhilarating thrills.
As you fly 214 feet downhill in the dark and spray your way to a shocking conclusion, you won’t know what’s coming.
Enjoy the water in a smoother way by traveling down the Bay Slides. These kid-size slides are brilliant for kids to get their feet wet and have their own thrills before splashing into a pool of cool water below.
Everyone can enjoy the attractions, pools, and food while the sun beats on giving you that addictive warmth.
Although roller coasters are what Cedar Point is best known for, it also includes a fantastic water park. It contains more than 20 water slides with varying degrees of excitement.
A thrilling raft ride with many curves and drops is called Storm Surge. The Wild Walleye consists of two tube slides that send you plummeting quickly.
Your little child can enjoy smaller slides and water features in Lemmy’s Lagoon and Lakeside Landing, including a sizable sea serpent.
Take a moment to catch your breath at Breakwater Bay. The wave pool is filled with half a million gallons of water and provides thrilling waves all day long.
As the day comes to an end, the fun continues. Cedar Point Shores also has a range of live music and entertainment to be enjoyed as the night goes on.
Amazing live performers, spellbinding dancers, captivating instrumentalists, and themed productions that take you from the Old West to Broadway are all available.
Grab a seat, escape the summer heat, and clap along to Cedar Point’s amazing live performances.
A resort and an indoor water park called Wilderness at the Smokies may be found not far from Pigeon Forge. It’s a fantastic place to stay if you want to visit Dollywood and its water park (see also “Best Water Parks In Wisconsin Dells“).
With hotel suites and resort rooms, you can set up camp for the night or take a full week to enjoy the attractions at Wilderness at the Smokies.
And there is a lot to be explored. With one indoor water park and two outdoor, there is never a moment to do nothing. As you step inside the Wild Waterdome the sunshine never goes away.
Inside you will find the iconic Storm Chaser Thrill Ride. Four riders plunge 55 feet down an exhilarating, shadowy tunnel ride before entering a funnel in zero gravity and experiencing numerous quick oscillations before falling into a pool below.
For groups and families, the Runaway Canyon is an absolute must. Inside the Wild WaterDome indoor waterpark, there is a five-story-high family raft ride called The Runaway Canyon.
Get ready to soar past 450 feet of water curtains, enormous tunnels, and sudden curves. You and your family will always remember your trip to Runaway Canyon!
Do you have a little one obsessed with Legos? Or are you obsessed with them yourself? Then you have to take a trip to Legoland Water Park.
The water park is accessible all year round and heated in the winter. There aren’t any of the large adrenaline rides found at other parks because the water park is primarily made up of kid-friendly attractions.
However, it is one of the best places to create fun-filled memories with your little ones. Race down the racing slides of Splash Out and enjoy the twists and turns of the Twin Chasers.
One of the attractions that are sure to keep your kids busy for most of the day is Build A Boat. Kids are given the chance to build their own boats and race them down the river.
Located in Creative Cove kids can let their creativity flow as they find new innovative ways to make sure their boat wins.
And for when they finally need some food, eat at either of the two restaurants in the park, Beach Street Tacos and Beach-n-Brick Grill.
Have a feast and a rest before you head out to tackle the adventures that await at Legoland Water Park.
In 2012, Aquatica San Antonio debuted alongside the city’s SeaWorld, largely marketing itself as a very family-friendly destination.
It uses contemporary facilities and concepts to boost the ante while showcasing attractions for visitors of all ages and swimming abilities.
If you love all things aquatic then you are going to love Aquatica San Antonio. Visit StingRay Falls to float through tunnels and a grotto of tropical fish and stingrays. Pass underneath as they swim above you. Truly magical.
For something a little more heart racing, take on Walhalla Wave. This family ride on a clover tube gives riders the sensation of weightlessness as they soar through aquatic waves and up to the top of a zero-gravity wall, making it the first of its kind in North America.
Kiwi Curl is another fan favorite as you speed along and experience high wall turns on one of two body slides. Both of which are more than 450 feet long.
Experience each ride over and over again this Spring when Aquatica San Antonio opens for the season!
This family ride on a clover tube gives riders the sensation of weightlessness as they soar through aquatic waves and up to the top of a zero-gravity wall, making it the first of its kind in North America.
The 15-acre water adventure park Knott’s Soak City Waterpark is a separate, gated attraction located next to Knott’s Berry Farm. With 23 blood-pumping rides, 6 unique waterslide experiences, a wave pool and so much more.
Knott’s Soak City has a three-story Beach House with 200 water guns, nozzles, sprayers, and other surprises to keep you on your toes.
This is the ideal attraction for your little ones to make friends or to show them who’s boss as you spray with everything you have.
You can visit Soak City from the middle of May right through until early September. Excellent for cooling down through summer and creating one-of-a-kind memories.
Zoombezi is an ever-improving attraction with fun and crazy water rides to be explored. From Cocktail Creek and The Sandbar for drinks to the Slippery Seals Body Slides.
This animal themed water park is the perfect place for spending your summer weekends.
At Zoombezi Bay, there are many amusing attractions, such as the Soundsurfer, a five-person enclosed raft slide with music and lights. It was the country’s first ride of its type.
In addition, the park has Big Boa Falls, the nation’s first Boomerango Express, and Croctail Creek, a sluggish river that is tolerant of alcohol.
From a day with the girls to a family day out, Zoombezi Bay is ready to accommodate everyone.
One of the most anticipated rides at Zoombezi Bay is the Eye of the Cyclone. This daring four-person raft descends from a 55-foot start tub at unparalleled speeds of 24 mph before entering the largest enclosed reducing-radius tunnel in the world.
Hold on as you experience the steep banking drops and massive splashdowns of Cyclone.
All of the Dolly Parton fans come forward! Dollywood’s Splash Country, a unique 35-acre waterpark with a Dolly Parton-themed motif, is located immediately next to the Dollywood entertainment park.
Since 2001, visitors of Dollywood can be transported into the unique and rather unconventional childhood of Dolly Parton. It occupies 25 acres of land and was built into the surrounding steep landscape.
The Wild River Falls, Butterfly, and Mountain Scream are just a few of the famous attractions that are present there, and more have since been added.
With 3 awards to its name, it is no wonder that Dollywood made it on this list. With an incredible kids’ play area with a splash zone and interactive activities, thrill rides, and areas for relaxation there is something for everyone to enjoy.
And for those that are brave enough, there is Fire Tower Falls. Rising 70 feet in the air and plunge down the 140-foot water-filled lane to splash into a pool of water. Do you dare?
For over 25 years, millions of people have visited Whales Tale Water Park to experience the 11 unique attractions that the water park holds.
Included in this are the 430-meter Downpour, which connects to the Plunge and reaches a staggering 40 mph, and the hugely well-liked Shipwreck Island, which is crammed with various sprays and slides.
Don’t forget to have a go on Poseidon’s Voyage. Stand in a capsule and wait to be rushed through a 360 loop as your body fills with adrenaline and you hit an all-time high.
Whales Tale Water Park is one of the best waters in America and is worth the visit!
Final Thoughts
Water parks are a great way to get the family together for a day of fun throughout the summer. Spend the entire day racing on heart-racing rides, relaxing as you float down the lazy river, or topping up your tan as you bask in the sun.
Above are 25 of the best water parks in the USA. From a Dolly Parton themed park to indoor water parks, the fun never ends.
Check them out and begin planning your trip to one of the best water parks in the USA.
Hi, my name is Alex Kallen and I love to travel. Ever since I could afford the ticket, I hopped on a plane and never looked back. I’ve made a living writing travel guides and blogging my experience all over the world.
I want to encourage and inspire others to travel around the US like I am. There’s no need to go on vacation overseas when there is an amazing land of opportunity right on your doorstep. Enjoy my website, I hope to see you out here one day.
