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(Updated for 2024) Get ready to make a big splash all summer long with your little ones! From mid-May to mid-September, when the sun is shining and the temperatures are soaring, water parks in Southern California come alive with endless fun and thrilling adventures. Brace yourselves for a wild ride as you navigate through a colossal list of both outdoor and indoor water parks in Southern California that will keep you and your family soaked and smiling throughout the season. It's time to dive into the ultimate watery wonderland!
1. Knott's Soak City
2. Raging Waters
3. Six Flags Hurricane Harbor
4. Super Silly Fun Land
5. Legoland Water Park
6. Sesame Place San Diego
7. Great Wolf Lodge
8. Splash La Mirada Regional Aquatics
9. Aquatica SeaWorld San Diego
10. DryTown Water Park
11. Newport Dunes Waterfront
12. Buccaneer Cove Water Park
13. The Wave Waterpark
14. The Cove Waterpark
15. Lake Casitas
16. Castaway Cove
17. DropZone WaterPark
18. HyTides Water Park
8039 Beach Blvd.
Buena Park, CA 90620
Just across the way from Knott's Berry Farm, you will find a virtual tidal wave of fun at Knott's Soak City. With everything from soaring slides to a meandering float on a lazy river, it has everything you need to make a splash. Knott's soak city is open on select days starting May through mid-September.
111 Raging Waters Dr.
San Dimas, CA 91773
Raging Waters Los Angeles is California’s largest water park. This 60-acre waterpark is home to more than 50 world-class rides, slides, and several attractions for all ages to enjoy, including Aqua Rocket, the state’s only hydromagnetic water coaster! Attendance is limited per day, and reservations are required for season pass holders and daily ticket guests.
26101 Magic Mountain Parkway
Valencia, CA 91355
From pulse-pounding speed slides to gentler options for tots, you can find so many water rides at Six Flags Hurricane Harbor for families and kids. Little kids would love the enormous shallow water playground with waterfalls and kid-sized slides. A giant 7,000-square-foot lagoon is the ultimate hangout spot for teens and up. And a relaxing and scenic 1,300-foot cruise down a lazy river is a must to do with the entire family. Tickets and reservations are available online.
100 Universal City Plaza
Universal City, CA 91608
Super Silly Fun Land inside Universal Studios Hollywood is an expansive play area located next to the Despicable Me Minion Mayhem attraction. This lively and interactive outdoor venue is directly inspired by the seaside carnival depicted in Illumination's "Despicable Me" movies. Its main purpose is to provide entertainment for guests of all ages, featuring a wide array of more than 80 water-play features.
1 LEGOLAND Dr.
Carlsbad, CA 92008
With slides to ride and rafts to build, the sun is always shining at the LEGOLAND and CHIMA Water Park! Make a splash at Wipeout Lagoon in Surfer's Cove featuring water jets and new LEGO models, making it the ultimate place to cool off! Put your skills to work while you design and build a LEGO raft before you proudly float downstream. Little kids 6 and under would love the DUPLO characters ready to splash and spray. There is so much to do at LEGOLAND and CHIMA Water Park. We recommend downloading the LEGOLAND App to check the wait time for all different rides and activities.
Sesame Place is a new theme park in San Diego that brings all your favorite Sesame Place characters to life. From your child's first roller coaster to exciting water slides, there will be plenty of whirls, twirls, splishes, and splashes to experience at Sesame Place San Diego. Sesame Place features 11 water attractions including a 500,000-gallon wave pool – one of the largest in Southern California.
12681 Harbor Blvd.
Garden Grove, CA 92840
Great Wolf Lodge is an indoor water park and it is open all year long! If you stay at the hotel, you will get access to the 105,000-square-foot indoor water park for free, or you can purchase a day pass. The water is 84 degrees, and the park features more than 15 water slides and water activities for different ages. You can also find an outdoor pool with lots of sunshine at the Lodge.
13806 La Mirada Blvd.
La Mirada, CA 90638
The family-fun-oriented “Buccaneer Bay”, combines the excitement of a water park with the type of decorative pirate features found in a theme park. Buccaneer Bay features a flowing river channel, three water slides, a children’s interactive play structure, zero-depth beach entry, and two spray pad areas. Decorative pirate-themed features, such as a dramatic skull rock and a marooned ship, create a fun atmosphere throughout the water park. La Mirada Regional Aquatics Center also offers year-round swim lessons for all ages and ability levels.
2052 Entertainment Circle
Chula Vista, CA 91911
Experience thrilling water rides and attractions for the whole family at the Aquatica, or take a moment to unwind and relax in a lazy river or pool. From exciting high-speed slides to little kids' slides, Aquatica has something for every member of the family. You can even reserve a semi-private area to relax and soak in the sun.
DryTown is Antelope Valley's best place to take kids and the best place for wet and wild fun! With six beautifully landscaped acres of attractions, they offer family fun. Grab a tube and head down Big Rock River, or race for the win on the super-fast Dusty’s Mineshaft Racer. Younger kids will have a blast splashing around Little Miner’s Camp, while thrill-seekers will enjoy twisting and turning down DryTown’s thrilling slides.
Playing at Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort & Marina is an aquatic adventure of a lifetime. From Radiant Ride night tours to Southern California’s largest inflatable obstacle course, you’ll be amazed at how different you feel in the water, whether you’re making a splash at the Newport Dunes Water Park, cruising through the Marina, or meeting the friendly marine animals in the Back Bay.
Thrill-seekers can scale the giant icebergs or scream down epic waterslides, young families will enjoy the safety of the Back Bay, and animal lovers can get up close with dolphins, sea lions, sea turtles, and stingrays.
3500 Polk Street
Riverside, California 92505
Buccaneer Cove features four levels of family water play with dozens of interactive water elements, including 5 colorful water slides, interactive aqua domes, fun spray cannons, spray loops, and cylinder spray fountains. Lounge chairs and seating as well as private cabanas, are available to rent that will provide you with the chance to take a break from the sun. Must be at least 36” in height to slide. Children less than 36” may use the yellow multilane slide.
The Wave Waterpark is a park with a pool, water slide, simulated wave attraction & lazy river, plus an area for small kids. They also offer a unique mermaid program geared towards ages 5-11. Create special memories by meeting a real mermaid and then exploring what it is like to be a mermaid, complete with a tail and monofin for swimming!
The City of Vista’s Wave Waterpark is open for weekend operations from June 19th through September 6th on Saturdays and Sundays from 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm.
The Cover Waterpark offers wade pools, tidal waves, racing slides, a treehouse structure & Adventure River. The Jurupa Aquatic Center features a 25-Yard by 35-Meter competition pool. Anyone under the age of 13 must have a responsible adult with them at the facility and parents must actively supervise children 6 years and younger or persons needing supervision. For height restrictions, visit the Attractions page.
Children and adults alike can enjoy two distinct water playgrounds. For the younger children, a multi-level jungle gym with waterfalls, bridges, and slides in a lagoon with water up to 18" deep. Parents can relax in a shady spot while the children play, or join their youngsters for a "splashing" good time.
For the whole family, the Lazy River offers a cool water ride on inner tubes along a scenic waterway featuring waterfalls, fog-filled bridges, and lifeguards at every turn to keep your family safe. The inner tubes are available free of charge on a first-come, first-served basis. For the smallest of tots, a zero-depth pool sprays water from all angles, providing a safe, fun play area.
Kids young and old will love splashing around at Castaway Cove, a watery pirate playground featuring slides, water cannons, and a pirate ship with a splash! Little swashbucklers will love “Speedy’s Sprayground” featuring Speedy, the turtle, splash fountains, and a toddler pool with beach-style entry. The water park has not announced a reopening date yet.
2165 Trumble Rd.
Perris, CA 92570
Attractions at DropZone WaterPark include the Jet Stream, the Hydroplane FlowRider, Lil’ Jumper’s Landing, LaunchPad Geysers, Jumpers Sandbox, and more. Some attractions like launch Pad Geysers are suitable for all ages, but please check height requirements before you go.
44600 Indian Wells Lane
Indian Wells, CA 92210
Nestled in Greater Palm Springs, Hyatt Regency Indian Wells Resort & Spa features swimming pools with two dueling slides, a 450-ft lazy river, and a splash pad. HyTides provides year-round fun for both kids and adults alike. Guests must be 48” for HyTides and 42” for Lil Lizard to slide.
1405 E. Washington St.
Colton, CA 92324
Experience the ultimate summer cooldown at Pyrite Rapids Water Slides, where you'll find an assortment of three incredible slides. Embark on a wild adventure by riding the Pyrite River Rapids slide, where you can opt for double the fun by sharing a double tube with a friend. Thrill-seekers can satisfy their adrenaline cravings with the 250 ft. Sidewinder Body Slide guarantees an exhilarating ride like no other. And for an unmatched rush, brace yourself for an adrenaline-pumping high-speed plunge on the locals' favorite slide, Blast Off, propelled by hundreds of gallons of water.
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