Explore some of the top water parks for families in the Lone Star State.
Texas has both indoor and outdoor water parks featuring thrilling, challenging water slides and relaxing lazy rivers that appeal to people of all ages. Many include separate kid-only zones with kid-friendly splash pads and zero-entry pools, while others have adult-only soakers with swim-up bars. Some of Texas’ top water parks are standalone attractions, while others are found in family-friendly hotels or as a component of bigger Texas theme parks. Whether you want to make a holiday out of a longer stay at a water park resort or are planning a splash-filled trip for the day, we’ve picked up some of the greatest water parks in Texas.
(Note: The COVID-19 pandemic may have an impact on some water park activities and amenities, and mask requirements and capacity limitations may be in place. For more information, speak with the water park directly.)
Vineyard Great Wolf Lodge
The Dallas-Fort Worth area’s Texas indoor water park goes above and above for families. The variety of attractions includes everything from the kid-friendly Cub Paw Pool to the four-story Fort Mackenzie water play structure, as well as the exhilarating Howlin’ Tornado raft ride and the swirling Coyote Cannon. Although the Great Wolf Lodge in Grapevine offers day passes, many visitors turn their trip to the water park into a holiday by reserving accommodations there. Standard suites with sleeper sofas, themed cabin, tent, or cave suites with bunk beds, and luxury suites with several bedrooms are among the lodging options suitable for families. Previous guests advise making the most of the water park as long as you can: Following check-out at 11 a.m. until the water park closes, visitors are permitted to use the water attractions as early as 1 p.m. on the day of check-in (rooms are normally ready by 4 p.m.). At Great Wolf Lodge, free entertainment options include storytime, character visits, dance parties, and arts & crafts. A nearby ropes course and arcade are just a couple of the extra-charged activities and attractions.
Grand Prairie’s Epic Waters Indoor Waterpark
According to recent reviews, the largest indoor water park in North Texas is especially appealing to youngsters who want to try surfing since it has steep and twisting slides, plunging raft rides, and a wave rider. You can also race your pals on side-by-side chutes and shoot hoops in the pool that has basketball hoop netting. Rascal’s Round Up, an area with water sprays, geysers, miniature slides, and a 300-gallon tipping bucket, is where the park’s youngest swimmers may have fun. A 10,000 square foot outdoor wave pool is also available from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Kids’ favorites like pizza, hot dogs, hamburgers, chicken tenders, mozzarella sticks, and nachos are available at the on-site cafe. The Longboards Bar & Lounge also serves beer, wine, and cocktails to adults. The 4,000 square foot arcade offers both old and modern games for tourists to enjoy when they become drenched. There are also rents for cabanas. Consider staying at the Courtyard by Marriott Dallas Grand Prairie if you’re going to Epic Waters; it’s conveniently situated across the turnpike and only a mile from the park.
San Antonio, Texas, Six Flags Fiesta
White Water Bay is the name of the water park at Six Flags Fiesta Texas in San Antonio, and entry to the park includes access to the seasonally available water rides. The Texas-shaped pool is exciting for everyone of any age. The Lone Star Lagoon is a huge wave pool with a shallow region with lesser ripples for younger visitors. Families with young children might also enjoy the Bamboo Chutes, two specially designed slides for smaller ones that don’t require a minimum height, which are connected to the Paradise Cove pool. While adults and older children can enjoy thrilling raft rides, body slides, and water coasters to satisfy their need for excitement. This outdoor water park offers free showers and rental lockers where you may keep your valuables. Recent visitors report that Six Flags Fiesta Texas may get very busy on the weekends; if at all possible, schedule your visit during midweek to avoid long waits for both the water attractions and the other amusement park rides. La Cantera Resort & Spa, Éilan Hotel And Spa Ascend Resort Collection, and the Home2 Suites by Hilton San Antonio at the Rim, which offers daily hot breakfast as part of the room rate, are a few of the nearby lodging options.
North Richland Hills’s NRH2O Family Water Park
This city-owned water park is open from May through September during the warm weather. It is one of Texas’ least expensive water parks, with weekday child admission prices beginning at around $20. Additionally, season passes and particularly reasonable discounts are offered to North Richland Hills residents. Additionally, unlike many of Texas’ best water parks, NRH2O Family Water Park permits visitors to bring in their own food and beverages in coolers of any size, with the exception of alcohol. The Tadpole Swimming Hole, which has small slides for little swimmers, Frogstein’s Splashatory, a five-level interactive water playground, Beachside Bay’s big pool and sand beach with volleyball court, and Green Extreme, an 81-foot-tall uphill water coaster, are among the attractions. Recent visitors agree that renting a cabana at this outdoor water park is a good investment because it comes with discounts on admission tickets, attentive wait staff, and complimentary drink refills, among other benefits. Located less than a mile from the water park is the Candlewood Suites DFW West – Hurst, an IHG Hotel. Full-sized kitchens and free laundry facilities are featured in the suites here.
Sheridan’s Splashway Water Park & Campground
Seasonal hours for Sheridan’s Splashway Water Park & Campground are typically from May to September. The outdoor water park’s rides and attractions include a lazy river, two wave pools, high body slides, twisting raft rides, and racing slides. Toddler Bay and Minnow Pond are areas geared toward the smallest swimmers. These attractions offer mild water sprays, brief slides, and shallow water. Rentable tables and cabanas are available. The wristbands that let you load money onto a plastic band with a QR code that on-site vendors scan for the purchase of food, drink, and souvenirs are appreciated, according to season pass holders and day visitors, and they also save you from having to carry cash throughout the day. There are tent sites, RV sites, and cottages with enough for up to 10 people at the nearby campground. One of the spacious bunkhouses, which can accommodate up to 20 people, is a good option if you’re traveling with many families. A campsite registration does not include access to a water park.
Anthony at Wet ‘N’ Wild Waterworld
The largest wave pool in Texas may be found at Wet ‘N’ Wild Waterworld, which is close to the New Mexico border and north of El Paso. According to recent guests, the park also has the most amount of natural shade of any water park in the world, which is a huge plus on hot, sunny days in Texas. This outdoor water park is available year-round and has rental options for cabanas, private tubes, and picnic tables. Although this is not one of Texas’ largest water parks, it does have a number of well-liked activities like raft rides, body slides, and the Alien Vortex, a spinning speed slide that is only suitable for experienced swimmers. On the Slippery Rock Challenge climbing wall, you can compete against your pals before jumping (or falling) into a pool. The Best Western Anthony/West El Paso, which is close by and about half a mile away, is the best option for a convenient spot to stay the night. Breakfast is included with room rates.
Mansfield: Hawaiian Falls
Hawaiian Falls Mansfield, located in the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex on 14 acres, offers thrilling raft rides, twisting and turning tube slides, and The Torpedo, an exhilarating body slide. A lazy river, a kid-friendly wave pool, and the Methodist Mansfield Keiki Kove, which has rope ladders and water buckets, are some of the more laid-back elements of this outdoor water park. While parking, floatation devices, and life jackets are always free, bringing in a cooler will cost you $15. Recent visitors claim that it is worthwhile to pay the cost to bring your own food and beverages because the on-site cafe can have long lineups and expensive prices. The closest family-friendly hotel is SpringHill Suites by Marriott Dallas Mansfield, which is less than a 10-minute drive from the water park and has suites with a sofa bed and a trundle bed. There are more Hawaiian Falls waterparks in Garland, Waco, Roanoke, and The Colony, for a total of four.
New Braunfels Schlitterbahn Waterpark & Resort
Between San Antonio and Austin, there is a sizable outdoor water park that attracts families with its assortment of more than 50 mild to crazy rides and activities. The park, which spans 70 acres and is divided into east and west sections by a few city blocks, runs a free tram that transports guests between them. Jump on a two-seat tube with a companion for a completely enclosed, dark ride down the winding Black Knight, or dive headfirst down chutes on a foam mat to compete against pals on the Downhill Racer. There are several areas to unwind, including Kristal Cove, which has a sloped beach area for lounge chairs and a heated pool with a swim-up bar. Schlitterbahn excels in its selection of lodgings: Choose from a variety of accommodations, including budget hotels, quaint cottages, and luxurious apartments in treehouses with full kitchens. Recent visitors report that staying on the property has advantages, such as pools and play areas that are open long after the park has closed to day visitors. related properties Galveston is home to the smaller, 26-acre Schlitterbahn Waterpark, which lacks on-site housing.
Round Rock’s Kalahari Resort & Convention Center
With 223,000 square feet of water rides and activities, the Kalahari Resort & Convention Center’s indoor water park in Round Rock is billed as “America’s largest indoor water park resort” and is scheduled to open in 2020. Day permits to the enormous park are offered, however overnight visitors staying in one of the water park resort’s 975 rooms or suites are welcome to use the water park’s African-themed attractions without paying a fee. Think about the Serengeti Spinner’s thrilling back-to-back bends or the Tanzanian Twister’s free-fall into a deep pool. Children can play in the interactive water elements at Tiko’s Watering Hole, while adults 21 and older can only enter the Grotto Swim-Up Bar. An indoor adventure park with ropes courses and escape rooms, 12 lanes of bowling, and a massive arcade with 250 games are other activities available here that cost extra. Traditional guest rooms, two- and three-bedroom suites, and a king bunk suite with a separate kids’ sleeping section with twin bunk beds and a vibrant jungle animal wall mural are all available at the resort. The towels that are provided to overnight guests should be kept track of because failure to return them to the water park at the end of each day will result in fees, according to previous visitors. Of course, you are also welcome to bring your own towels to use at the water park.
Waterworld: San Antonio
Despite being situated inside SeaWorld San Antonio’s boundaries, Aquatica is a separate outdoor water park that doesn’t accept admission from SeaWorld’s single-day passes. You’ll need to buy a separate Aquatica ticket or a two-day pass that gives you entry to both parks in order to achieve that. The largest drop slide in Texas is located at Aquatica, which is typically open from March to mid-October. Standing in a tube, you plunge to the ground at a heart-pounding approximately 80-degree angle. A brand-new body slide called the Tonga Twister offers an extraordinary light and sound experience. A toddler-only section, a 400,000-gallon wave pool, and a tranquil pool with waterfalls are also available. There aren’t many sheltered spaces at this water park, according to recent guests, so you should think about hiring a cabana or a beach chair with an umbrella. The Hilton San Antonio Hill Country and the Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort and Spa are two nearby hotels.
Hurricane Texas: Katy
During the warm months, Typhoon Texas, an outdoor water park in the Houston area, is open. Little ones can play in splash pads at Buckaroo Bayou, while older children can enjoy being showered by The Rain Fortress’ 800-gallon tipping bucket. In the deep end of Tidal Wave Bay, 3-foot-tall waves are produced every ten minutes, but you can also unwind in the calmer shallow region. Typhoon Texas is conveniently situated next to various low-cost hotels, including the Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, Katy (Houston West), TX (in case you forget to carry any necessities). Breakfast is offered without charge, and rooms come with microwaves and minifridges. Northeast of Austin, in Pflugerville, Typhoon Texas features a second facility that offers comparable rides and activities at a little lesser cost.
Arlington’s Six Flags Hurricane Harbor
Six Flags Hurricane Harbor, which is located between Dallas and Fort Worth, should be at the top of your list if thrills are what you’re after. This outdoor water park has a plethora of thrilling rides. Consider the Der Stuka, a seven-story body slide that promises riders an adrenaline-fueled descent, or the Black Hole, a coil slide that is fully encased in darkness. At Hook’s Ship, there are four small slides and numerous water sprayers for kids. Among the other attractions are a lazy river, a surfing simulator, a wave pool, and a huge swimming pool. One important piece of advice from previous visitors is to wear water shoes in the park because the ground can get fairly warm on warm days. Although Six Flags Hurricane Harbor and Six Flags Over Texas are next to one other, each park has its own entry policies. The Hilton Garden Inn Dallas/Arlington is a motel that is close to both parks.
Baytown’s Pirates Bay Waterpark
Pirates Bay Waterpark, run by the Baytown Parks & Recreation Department, receives good praise from visitors for its inexpensive costs and manageable size (it measures less than 8 acres). The outdoor water park isn’t the biggest in Texas by any means, but it might be a good option if you’re searching for a location to cool off east of Houston in the summer. A couple more exciting attractions are Boomerango, a two-person raft ride that shoots riders up vertically after a steep drop, and the Space Bowl, a spinning flume ride that can reach speeds of 40 mph. A play structure with miniature slides and water sprays allows kids cool off while the lazy river meanders across half of the park. Coolers may be brought in by visitors, parking is free, and locker rentals are offered. Consider Candlewood Suites Baytown, an IHG Hotel less than 2 miles north, for staying on a tight budget.
Grapevine’s Paradise Springs Water Park
Paradise Springs Water Park in Grapevine is a special feature reserved only for overnight visitors at the Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center. It spans 10 acres of entertainment for the whole family. A zip line, a lazy river, a tiered water playhouse, two hot tubs, numerous water slides, and a toddler-only area are among the amenities at this Marriott outpost. There are shady cabanas for rent. Families visiting at the Gaylord Texan Resort during the summer can take advantage of unique Summerfest programming, which includes acrobatic performances, arts and crafts projects, escape rooms, real animal encounters, and dance parties (all available for an extra cost). Some of the rooms and suites include views of the famous main atrium, which is an indoor garden with a constant temperature of 72 degrees Fahrenheit. Recent visitors report that on-site eateries can be pricy; therefore, if you’re looking for more economical dining alternatives, think about riding the free Grapevine Visitors Shuttle downtown.
New Caney’s Big Rivers Water Park
Big Rivers Water Park, located northeast of Houston and open seasonally, offers a range of outdoor attractions and activities. You can race up to four pals down winding tubes on the COLORado River Racer, or you can face an engulfing current in the Storm Surge raft ride. With more than 300 different water play features, the park bills itself as Texas’ largest interactive play structure and a “water park within a water park.” Wild Isle, a floating challenge course where you must attempt to slide, bounce, and crawl through inflatable obstacles without falling into the lake, is exclusive to this Texas outdoor water park. Big Rivers Water Park entry includes access to Wild Isle. Fans of this water park also like the “dry land” activities, such as a petting zoo, ax throwing, archery, and a woodland maze, that are included with a daily entrance ticket or season pass. The Grand Texas RV Resort, which is right across the street, would be a good choice for families traveling with campers. Just down the street is the Best Western Premier Executive Residency Grand Texas Hotel, which provides suites with kitchenettes.
Dallas’s Bahama Beach Waterpark
The Dallas region’s Bahama Beach is a tiny outdoor water park with enough attractions to keep the whole family occupied when you need a place to cool down in the summer. The reasonable 8-acre size of this water park, according to visitors, makes it particularly suitable for families with young children. The Riptide Slide and Bahama Bullet are one- or two-person high-speed tube rides, while the lazy river and splash pad are perfect for the youngest swimmers. If you want to guarantee some shade while visiting, you can rent cabanas and tables with umbrellas. The Dallas Park & Recreation department manages Bahama Beach. The TownePlace Suites by Marriott Dallas DeSoto, which provides suites with full kitchens and a complimentary breakfast buffet, is one of the nearby inexpensive lodging options.