Water parks today are way more exciting than they have ever been.
Some of the best water parks in the United States offer everything from water slides to lazy rivers and even beaches.
You may even come across a few that have wave pools and water coasters.
The best part about it is that you can even plan a vacation and extend your stay by trying out the hotel options that some of these water parks offer.
Continue reading to learn more about some of the best water parks in the country.
Contents
- Best Water Parks in the United States
- 1. The Boardwalk at Hersheypark (Hershey, Pennsylvania)
- 2. Schlitterbahn (New Braunfels, Texas)
- 4. Universal’s Volcano Bay (Orlando, Florida)
- 5. Disney’s Blizzard Beach (Lake Buena Vista, Florida)
- 6. Carolina Harbor (Charlotte, North Carolina)
- 7. White Water (Branson, Missouri)
- 8. Sesame Place San Diego (Chula Vista, California)
- 9. Cowabunga Bay Water Park (Henderson, Nevada)
- 10. Island Waterpark (Atlantic City, New Jersey)
- 11. Aquatica (San Antonio, Texas)
- United States Safety Overview
- Frequently Asked Questions
Best Water Parks in the United States
1. The Boardwalk at Hersheypark (Hershey, Pennsylvania)
Hersheypark is more than just a roller coaster park.
It also offers an entire water park known as the Boardwalk.
So, when the warmer weather starts coming around, visitors can head on over to the water park for some quick relief from the sun.
Admission to the Boardwalk is included with the rest of the theme park.
There are approximately 15 attractions within the water park, including a water coaster known as Breakers Edge.
If you’re looking for something a little less thrilling, you can check out The Shore, which is an enormous wave pool.
2. Schlitterbahn (New Braunfels, Texas)
Schlitterbahn is home to some of the most enormous water rides in the entire world.
Schlitterbahn is known for providing the first, ever-to-be-built, uphill water coaster.
They are also well-known for building the world’s first wave river and tubing river, which beats the rest in terms of length.
It also features several areas, each with its very own theme.
They all include a unique swim-up bar and hotel accommodations.
This is surely one of the best water parks, not just in the country but in the world.
3. Noah’s Ark Waterpark (Lake Delton, Wisconsin)
Noah’s Ark in Wisconsin Dells is known as the water park capital of the world.
Many tourists flock here every single year from all over the country.
It’s definitely considered a favorite among people of all ages.
It has been delivering lots of water fun since 1979.
Presently, it is the largest outdoor water park in the United States.
Several popular attractions include various lazy rivers, wave pools, and a total of 51 water slides.
Don’t forget to check out Raja, a tube slide featuring a 37-foot drop.
4. Universal’s Volcano Bay (Orlando, Florida)
Spending a day at Universal’s Volcano Bay will certainly deliver an unforgettable experience.
It’s unlike any other water park in the world because it provides a resort feel and plenty of beaches.
If you enjoy thrill rides, you are going to enjoy the 200-foot volcano water slide.
While you’re at it, don’t forget to check out a few gourmet bites from various diners along the beach.
5. Disney’s Blizzard Beach (Lake Buena Vista, Florida)
If you are looking for something that reminds you of a winter wonderland, there’s no better place than Disney’s Blizzard Beach in Florida.
The park is for both families and those seeking a thrill.
It was designed with a ski resort in mind, so there are plenty of polar-themed slides and more to keep kids entertained.
But for older kids and adults of all ages looking for some real excitement, check out the tallest and fastest slide in the entire world, the Summit Plummet.
6. Carolina Harbor (Charlotte, North Carolina)
Carolina Harbor has been welcoming and entertaining guests for the past 50 years.
It’s one of the best places in North Carolina to escape the heat.
Here, you’ll find plenty of water slides, play structures, and even a mat-racing attraction known as the Boogie Board Racer.
There are also a couple of wave pools to enjoy, one of which is Surf Club Harbor.
This wave pool, in particular, utilizes generators to create six-foot-tall waves.
7. White Water (Branson, Missouri)
Silver Dollar City offers a unique and welcoming water park just a short distance from there, known as White Water.
The main attraction of the water park is a 500,000-gallon wave pool.
So if you’re thinking of just relaxing or taking a swim, this is the perfect spot to do it.
But if you are looking for more of a thrill, you can check out the additional 13 acres of excitement White Water has to offer.
And if you’re courageous enough, you may even consider taking on KaPau Plummet, which has two 245-foot drop slides and a 40-foot plunge.
8. Sesame Place San Diego (Chula Vista, California)
Sesame Place in San Diego is a combination of a theme park and a water park.
There are many things to do for kids of all ages.
Younger children will enjoy meeting Cookie Monster and Elmo and even enjoy rides including The Count’s Splash Castle and Big Bird’s Rambling River.
And while this park has a lot for younger kids to enjoy, there are also plenty of family-friendly activities, including a huge wave pool located at Big Bird’s Beach.
9. Cowabunga Bay Water Park (Henderson, Nevada)
If you and your family plan on taking a trip to Las Vegas, don’t forget to check out Cowabunga Bay Water Park.
It will give you a real break from the Las Vegas heat.
It’s a favorite among tourists who visit here every summer, and it’s definitely considered a hot spot.
The park provides a retro theme and offers plenty of beaches, nine water slides, a wave pool, and much more.
Also, one of the featured water slides is pitch-black!
10. Island Waterpark (Atlantic City, New Jersey)
Another excellent water park to visit during the summer if you’re in New Jersey is Island Waterpark.
Island Waterpark has the largest beachfront water park in the entire world.
In fact, the park takes up a little over 100,000 square feet of land.
Not only can you enjoy this water park in the summer, but you can also enjoy it throughout the year thanks to its retractable roof.
Island Waterpark offers a lazy river that’s 11,000 feet long and a cloud coaster for everyone to enjoy.
11. Aquatica (San Antonio, Texas)
If you’re looking for anything other than your ordinary water park, check out Aquatica.
It’s similar to a tropical paradise.
This park features several attractions where visitors can view sea animals up close.
There is also a raft attraction that lets visitors travel via an underwater cave, where you’ll get to check out stingrays and plenty of tropical fish.
If you have smaller children, they will enjoy playing in Kata’s Kookaburra Cove, featuring various sea animals and much more.
United States Safety Overview
READ THE FULL REPORT: United States Safety Review
Safety Index:
- OVERALL RISK: LOW
- TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW
- PICKPOCKETS RISK: MEDIUM
- NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: LOW
- MUGGING RISK: LOW
- TERRORISM RISK: MEDIUM
- SCAMS RISK: LOW
- WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most visited water park in the United States?
The water park that had the most visitors in attendance in 2022 was Typhoon Lagoon.
There were approximately 1.92 million visitors.
Universal’s Volcano Bay made number two on the list of the most visited water parks in the U.S., with a whopping 1.85 million guests.
How many water parks does the United States have?
Currently, there are just over a thousand water parks in the country.
Many of them are considered stand-alone water parks, while others are included within resorts.
What states in the U.S. have the most water parks?
South Dakota, Kansas, Wisconsin, Missouri, and Colorado are the top 5 states in the country with the most water parks.
South Dakota, however, ranks number one for having the most water parks compared to the other states.
The water park in our town is hands down the best in the USA!