The Best Water Parks for a Summer Cool Down

Written by EJ Ray

June 14, 2022

Outdoor Travel | Florida | Indiana | Pennsylvania | Tennessee | Travel | Virginia

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Hot summer days demand some great water fun. Here are our picks for five of the country’s best water parks, sure to keep the entire family happy.

Water parks offer coaster-like thrills, family rides, and lots to do for the little ones, without some of the fatigue parents can feel from a day at the amusement park. And kids engaging in water sports are working their bodies in a beneficial way, while parents can often take a breather and look on from the sidelines. Here are five of the country’s best water parks guaranteed to help you beat the heat on a hot summer’s day.

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Splash Country, TN

Thirty-five acres of exciting water slides and relaxing water rides have earned Dollywood’s Splash Country a spot on the Travel Channel’s list as one of the best water parks in the United States.

Enjoy a lazy river experience at one of these best water parks. Photo by Carther via iStock by Getty Images

Splash Country offers summer fun for all ages. Get your heart racing on Tennessee’s first and only water coaster, RiverRush – or relax and cool off on the Downbound Float Trip, a slow-paced lazy river dotted with interactive children’s play areas.

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Splash Country’s location in Pigeon Forge, at the foot of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, also makes the park an especially attractive family destination. Accommodations in the area include hundreds of Gatlinburg cabins nestled in the foothills. Rather than a hotel, cabins offer spaciousness, fully equipped kitchens, and amenities such as hot tubs, arcade games, and entertainment features—all perfect for keeping kids of all ages occupied. At the same time, the elders take a rest on the deck and gaze at the mountains, or get ready to visit the nearby attractions.

You can rent a cabin close to the action in Gatlinburg but with enough space for everyone. Photo by sepavone via DepositPhotos.com

Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon, FL

When you need a break from the long lines and the hot sun of Disney’s other parks in Orlando, Florida, cool off at Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon. The tropical oasis-themed park is home to North America’s largest wave pool, with 6-foot swells that make for some exciting body surfing!

Enjoy thrill rides like Crush ‘n’ Gusher, a tube slide 400 feet long, with lots of twists and turns—or relax and unwind in the shade of your own private Beachcomber Shack. Animated playful elephants, squirting seals, and fun-loving crocodiles make Ketchakiddee Creek the perfect playground for the little ones, with scaled-down slides, waterfalls, caves, and water cannons.

Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon. Photo by nataliafrei via DepositPhotos.com

For some cool relaxation, ride on Castaway Creek, the continuous 2,100-foot-long lazy river that passes through gentle waterfalls and lush rainforests as it circles the entire park.

Typhoon Lagoon has six separate areas — Mount Mayday, Hideaway Bay, Typhoon Lagoon, Shark Reef, Castaway Creek, and Ketchakiddee Creek — each offering its unique experience.

Water Country USA, VA

Close to Busch Gardens, Colonial Williamsburg, Yorktown Battlefield, and Virginia Beach, Water Country USA is one of the most popular water parks in the United States and the largest water park in Virginia.

With abundant accommodations in the area, Water Country USA offers fun for the whole family with over forty state-of-the-art water rides and attractions.

Relax on a trip down the park’s lazy river or share a thrill with the entire family on Big Daddy Falls, a whitewater rafting adventure with crazy curves, dark tunnels, big drops, and a few super-soaking cannon blasters along the way. Experience family-friendly 4-foot waves at Surfer’s Bay, the water park’s wave pool.

Three separate areas for smaller parkgoers—Cow-A-Bunga, H2O UFO, and the Kritter Korral—feature splash zones, scaled-down water slides, a heated kiddie pool, and water cannons. These are perfect for the tiny ones still learning to swim or practicing their swim moves.

Water Country USA has spots for the little ones to hang out. Photo by Anna_Om via iStock by Getty Images

If your kids are old enough to roam free, the park has plenty of ways to relax and beat the heat with available lounge and cabana rentals located throughout. Water Country USA even has flat-rate monthly passes that offer unlimited admission.

Holiday World and Splashin’ Safari, IN

Located in Santa Claus, Indiana, and with many unique accommodations close by, the family-owned Holiday World and Splashin’ Safari water park rank high on both TripAdvisor and USA Today’s lists of top water parks in the country. The water park features two wave pools, family water slides, and many play areas for children.

Splashin’ Safari is home to the world’s longest water coaster, the Mammoth. One-third of a mile long, the coaster reaches seven stories in height and covers over three acres. The Mammoth’s round-shaped rafts hold six passengers, so there’s usually enough room for the whole family.

Holiday World and Splashin’ Safari also host many shows and seasonal events throughout the year, especially at Christmas, as the location suggests. Live entertainment includes fireworks, concerts, high-dive demonstrations, special events at Halloween, and Santa’s Storytime every day of the year.

Splash Lagoon Indoor Water Park, PA

With the largest wave pool in the Eastern United States and a thermostat set to a toasty eighty-four degrees, the indoor Splash Lagoon water park brings in visitors year-round.

The sprawling water park in Erie, Pennsylvania, has seven water slides, a lazy river, and several family whirlpools. The five-story Tiki Tree House features twelve activity levels, most of which involve getting yourself or others wet!

Check out the new FlowRider at Splash Lagoon in Erie, PA. Photo by lucidwaters via DepositPhotos.com

If you prefer to stay dry, relax in a rental cabana by the Wave Pool, or explore the water park’s huge arcade—6,000 square feet and packed with games.

There’s also the Tree Tops Ropes Course, laser tag, and an immersive holographic game environment. Splash Lagoon also makes celebrating that January birthday a snap with party packages for various budgets. If you can convince your boss that a day at the water park makes for excellent team-building, Splash Lagoon also hosts Corporate Outings.

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Heading to a Water Park for a Summer Cool Down

These are just a few of our favorite places to head out for some water park fun this summer. Let us know in the comments where your favorite water parks are around the USA. Check out Wander for more great summer travel ideas and plenty of other family travel fun.