Top Water Parks near NYC for Families
1. Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom – Allentown, Pennsylvania
Wildwater Kingdom features a slew of water slides, a wave pool, a lazy river, and three water play areas specifically designed for the park's youngest visitors. Wildwater Kingdom's amenities include poolside cabanas and myriad dining options. Of course, there's also Dorney Park with its amusem*nt park rides, midway games, arcades, live shows, and special sections like Planet Snoopy, inspired by the beloved Peanuts pup. Older amusem*nt park enthusiasts won't want to miss the intense, 95-degree drop Iron Menace, the park's newest addition and the first dive coaster in the northeast. Best of all, both parks are included in one price.
2. SplashDown Beach – Fishkill, New York
SplashDown Beach is a particularly great destination for preschoolers, with attractions like the Croc Creek Wavy Lazy River and the Splash Works area, which features slides, geysers, and buckets that dump water on their heads. There are more exciting attractions for older visitors, like the Megladon, a high-thrill raft slide that gives you a zero-gravity experience. Thrill-seekers will also love the four-story Bullet Bowl slide, and another zero-gravity ride, the Humunga Half-Pipe. Don't miss the park's newest attraction, Pelican Bay Water Playground, where you'll find kid-friendly slides and a huge 500-gallon water dumping bucket.
3. Camelbeach Mountain Waterpark – Tannersville, Pennsylvania
Located in the beautiful Poconos, this winter ski resort turns into a water park for kids near NYC come summer. There are more than 37 rides and slides, many geared toward older kids. Up for a competition? Race down the park's newest slide, the Rival Racer, where eight friends or family members can see who's the fastest water slider among you! Little ones will enjoy Kahuna Cove, located next to the Kahuna Lagoon Wave Pool, with gentle tipping buckets and interactive spray structures. The Pharaoh's Phortress and Mummy's Oasis are more family favorites, with water slides, sprinklers, fountains, and spray guns galore. The Blue Nile Adventure River is a 1,000-foot-long ride that takes passengers on a relaxing journey through waterfalls, past geysers, and across bubbling waters.
This summer, Camelbeach is taking visitors back in time to the age of the dinosaurs, turning the park into a "Dinobeach." This event will last all summer and features 35 animatronic prehistoric creatures, including a 35-foot-long Yangchuanosaurus. Don’t want to get wet? Camelback Mountain Adventures offers fun ranging from zip-lining to a mountain coaster and more.
4. Casino Pier & Breakwater Beach Waterpark – Seaside Heights, New Jersey
When it comes to fun along the boardwalks of the Jersey Shore, it seems like the philosophy is "too much is never enough." Casino Pier offers loads of over-the-top fun like classic amusem*nt park rides, an antique carousel, an arcade, and go-karts, all right along the Seaside Heights boardwalk. Meanwhile, Breakwater Beach is a state-of-the-art water park in New Jersey with a massive interactive play area, including water slides, flumes, and a huge water play area for little kids. Check out the newly opened Boston Sea Party, which is made up of two separate tube slides called "Lexington" and "Concord," and includes thrilling twists and turns. The park now has brand new electronic lockers for rent so you can store and retrieve any of your belongings with ease.
5. The Land of Make Believe & Pirate's Cove – Hope, New Jersey
A true family amusem*nt park with rustic, old-fashioned charm, the Land of Make Believe mixes a traditional country fair experience with thrilling rides. Pirate's Cove is where you'll find the water attractions, including America's Largest Wading Pool, pirate-themed water slides, rides, and a water playground. For nostalgia buffs, there's a Civil War locomotive ride, a World War II co*ckpit, a farm, and a talking scarecrow.
Families can go back and forth between the two distinct sections, and if you need to get out of the sun, you can hit the indoor arcade and impress the kids with your skee ball skills. Food is available for purchase, but you can also bring your own and eat in the spacious picnic area. Bonus: You pay just one ticket price for the amusem*nt and water park, and tickets aren't tied to any particular date—an admission ticket will get you in any day the park is open.
6. Tomahawk Lake Water Park – Sparta, New Jersey
A water park and a state park, Tomahawk Lake is set on 200 acres of parkland and has various water slides and a water play area. There's a beach on a 20-acre lake, boat rentals for an added fee (pedal boats, swan boats, bumper boats, and kiddie canoes), a picnic area, sports fields, and miniature golf—it kind of feels like summer camp. In addition, there's an outdoor beer garden and old-fashioned country food concessions that sell ice cream, fresh popcorn, hot dogs and hamburgers, and cotton candy.
If you're looking for something a little calmer and more down-to-earth than the spectacular attractions, crowds, and prices of other water parks, this place is for you. The simple country park includes Papoose Land, a charming section in the lake for kids under 4 feet tall, complete with climbable plaster animals and gentle water slides. Kids under 5 feet can also explore Cherokee Corner, which includes a tipping bucket, trampoline raft, giant lily pads, and more kid-friendly attractions. For a more exciting ride, take a plunge down the 610-foot-long Apache Plunge raft slide.
7. Mountain Creek Waterpark – Vernon, New Jersey
This winter ski resort turns into one of the best summer water parks near NYC. Mountain Creek has about two dozen wet attractions, including the Fishing Village, a multilevel, interactive play fort with water slides and spray cannons. There are family-friendly slides, plenty of high-thrill slides, and even cliffs to dive off for older kids and adults. This water park is one of the wildest, leaning into the gorgeous surrounding nature, complete with tree-lined slides.
8. Splish Splash Water Park – Calverton, New York
Often cited by families as one of the best water parks for kids in the country, Long Island's Splish Splash has 96 acres of rides, slides, and pools. Preschoolers can play in the kiddie pools, slip down the submarine slide, and romp in a shipwreck-themed water playground. There are even toddler swings that dip tiny toes in the water.
Although many rides have height restrictions (like Shotgun Falls, which drops you 5 feet), little kids can ride several clad in a life jacket and accompanied by a parent. Cabana rentals are also available so you can relax in the shade when you need a break from all the sun and fun. Another unique Splish Splash attribute: When the park was built, the developers didn't cut down the trees; they just worked around them, making for a very scenic experience. The park has several new food vendors this year, including Locos Tacos and Ben's Soft Pretzels, as well as plenty of fun events planned for summer.
9. Runaway Rapids Family Waterpark – Keansburg, New Jersey
This water park near NYC is run by the folks behind the adjacent Keansburg Amusem*nt Park. It's a summer family favorite, featuring more than 10 slides, plus splash zones, a kiddie lagoon, a toddler play area, relaxing hot tubs, and a crazy lazy river. Lockers and dressing rooms are available, along with lounge chairs and umbrellas. There's also a full-service snack bar. If you want to enjoy the attractions in both parks, you can opt to buy a combo ticket.
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Pose with playful Lego Pirates during your visit to the Legoland New York Water Playground. Kelly Patino
10.Legoland New York's Water Playground–Goshen, New York
While not a full-fledged water park,Legoland New Yorkdebuted a sprawling water playground last season, and for little kids it's got plenty of wet-and-wild action to compliment a visit to this Hudson Valley theme park. Good news for parents: It's allincluded in regular admission. The Legoland New York Water Playground is home to multiple slides, water spouts, and a 318-gallon tipping bucket. In short, there are plenty of ways to play here. The water playground is great for all ages: Kids taller than 40 inches can ride all the slides, while those between 36 inches and 40 inches can ride the two lower slides. There's a splash pad surrounding the playground and a spot to build and race Lego boats. Do note, however, you'll have to book your 20-minute water park reservation before visiting. If that's not enough Lego action for you, more fun awaits at theon-siteLegolandHotel, which has a Lego-themed swimming pool, too!
11. Big Kahuna's Outdoor Water Park – West Berlin, New Jersey
We've loved the massive indoor water park at this NJ mainstay—formerly called Sahara Sam's—for years, and we feel the same way about its 2-acre outdoor water park for kids. The park features the 25-meter Mystic Shores leisure pool, a children’s splash zone, and Tidal Waves, a 12,000-square-foot wave pool. Other on-site attractions include an indoor water park and an arcade.
12. Six Flags Hurricane Harbor – Jackson, New Jersey
Located in Ocean County, the gateway to our favorite Jersey Shore beaches, this Six Flags water park offers 12 attractions, from splashy play areas for tots to thrilling slides. The toddler-friendly Caribbean Cove offers tons of water fun with a pool, slides, water guns, and a giant dumping bucket. Other kid-friendly attractions include the 696,000-gallon Blue Lagoon wave pool, the Discovery Bay water playground, and a float down the Taak It Eez Ee Creek: a 2,150-foot lazy river featuring mild waterfalls and rapids. The new Splash Island water playground opens this season and includes 14 little kid-friendly slides.
The park also offers some nice amenities like cabanas and a nursing station. Of course, if you hit Hurricane Harbor, you may also want to visit the nearby or book an overnight at its other new-in-2024 attraction: the Savannah Sunset Resort.
13. Sesame Place – Langhorne, Pennsylvania
The world's first theme park based on the award-winning TV series Sesame Street, Sesame Place isn't exclusively a water park. However, it offers lots of water attractions, and fans of the show are sure to have fun, both wet and dry. There's the interactive Count’s Splash Castle, with more than 90 play elements, including a 1,000-gallon tipping bucket. Big Bird’s Rambling River offers a leisurely float along a 1,000-foot waterway of bubbling, swirling waters with surprises like water-filled tipping coconuts, waterfalls, and spraying geysers.
Other characters make an appearance as well, like slides named after Abby, Rosita, and Elmo, and Bert & Ernie's Splashy Shores, a "water adventure area" complete with lots of fun water play elements, like buckets and a spraying water tower. Amenities include cabanas, strollers, and lockers for rent. Everyone can appreciate its standing as the world's first Certified Autism Center theme park.
14. Quassy Amusem*nt & Waterpark – Middlebury, Connecticut
The Splash Away Bay water park at Quassy features eight attractions, including Slide City, a five-slide complex for the under-48-inch set. Admission prices include access to all the rides at the attached amusem*nt park, too. The beautiful lakeside location and view make you leave all your city worries behind for the day.
15. Diggerland's Water Main – Berlin, New Jersey
This construction-themed South Jersey amusem*nt park is home to The Water Main, which includes a tot splash area, main pool, slide tower, and several pool activities, including a challenge course and water basketball. There are cabana and locker rentals, too, so you can sit back and relax without a care. Admission to the water park is included in the ticket price for the theme park, so visitors can enjoy both options on one trip. The park's newest expansion features a wave pool that generates waves nearly 4-feet high. The entrance is zero-depth, allowing little ones to walk in and relax with the gentle waves while bigger kids can wade deeper to face the larger waves at this water park near NYC.
16. Island Water Park at Showboat – Atlantic City, New Jersey
Atlantic City's newest water park is back for another year of action-packed fun. Island Water Park at Showboat includes a total of 11 water slides, a lazy river, a wave pool, and a water playground for a splashing fun time for the little ones. Family-friendly food and drink are available for your group, plus there are four on-site bars for adults. Don't miss out on the Lucky Snake, a huge—we're talking 100,000-square feet!—arcade. The water park is housed under a retractable roof, so it provides all-seasonfun on the Jersey Shore.
17. Zoom Flume Water Park – East Durham, New York
This water park is located in the scenic Catskill Mountains and is a favorite with families, since so many of its attractions can be enjoyed as a group. Splash around with the fam in the wave pool, explore the water activity playground, embark on a twisting family rafting trip down the Wild River, or take a more relaxing route by floating along the lazy river. The Rip Van Racer joins the slide lineup this year, with its high-octane twin-racing action through a total drop of over 35 feet.
A previous version of this post was first published in June 2009, but it has since been updated and revised.
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