10 Best Indoor Water Park Resorts
You may need to bundle the kids up to send them off to school, but when the weekend comes, get ready to grab the swimsuits, goggles and beach towels. It’s time to splash, slide and get wet. If you’re looking for places like Great Wolf Lodge, there are plenty of indoor water park resorts with names like Kalahari Resort in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin and Falls Avenue Resort in Niagara Falls, Ontario. It’s hard not to love hotels with waterslides.
Whether you prefer to float along a lazy river, stand under a 1,000-gallon tipping bucket full of water or get sprayed by a pirate ship, there’s something for everyone at an indoor water park. Take a look at the 10 best indoor water park resorts.
1. Timber Ridge Lodge & Waterpark (Lake Geneva, WI)
Just two hours from Chicago, Moose Mountain Falls Waterpark at Timber Ridge Lodge & Water Park in Lake Geneva is where to go for 50,000 square feet of pools, slides, tubes and a lazy river. For serious sliders, Avalanche Falls engages all the senses thanks to colored lights and rockin’ playlists that let riders jam to their favorite tunes as they slide. In the Activity Pool, kids ages 7-10 can cross cargo nets and shoot baskets.
Slow down at Canyon River, a relaxing lazy river with plenty of single and double tubes just right for a family float around the waterpark. For littles, head to zero-entry Tiny Timbers for wee-sized splashes, slides and spouts. When you’re ready to dry off, head to Crazy Coyotes Arcade for arcade games, family movies and arts and crafts.
2. Camelback Lodge & Indoor Waterpark (Tannersville, PA)
Go skiing and snow tubing all day, then head indoors to splash and slide at Camelback Lodge & Indoor Waterpark in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania. Home of the largest indoor water park in the northeast, Aquatopia, this indoor water park resort has seven pools, 13 waterslides, a wave pool and more water park features across 125,000 square feet.
For the adventurous, try the Storm Chaser, the longest indoor watercoaster in the U.S. Or, ride the waves on the Bombora FlowRider, which offers simulated surfing and boogie boarding. For little ones, there’s Penguin Play Bay, a zero-depth entry pool with geysers and sprinklers.
Click here for more details and the latest rates at Camelback Lodge & Indoor Waterpark.
3. Crown Reef Resort & Waterpark (Myrtle Beach, SC)
Splash, twist and slide at the Crown Reef Resort & Waterpark in Myrtle Beach. Look for two giant waterslides, as well as an eight-foot kiddie slide that’s just right for the smallest ones in your family. Little ones will also love Salty’s Splash House and the Silly Sub.
Crown Reef Resort offers suites and efficiencies that are perfect for families. As a bonus, many offer ocean views, as well as kitchenettes and oversized tubs. Since the resort sits right on the beach, take time out to walk along the sand, even in the winter.
Click here for more details and the latest rates at Crown Reef Resort & Waterpark.
4. Massanutten (McGaheysville, VA)
Less than three hours from Washington, DC, Massanutten is a four seasons resort that offers skiing, snow tubing, golf, pony rides, and yes, an indoor water park. After a morning of snow sports, nothing beats heading indoors for water slides and a float along the lazy river.
We went a couple of years ago and my daughter even tried her skills body boarding on The Pipeline, which looks both fun and scary. Little ones will love the Frog Pond, which has a kiddie waterslide, swings and water-spraying noodles. Book a money-saving vcation package on two or more nights and all-day water park passes.
Click here for more details and the latest rates at Massanutten’s Mountainside Villas.
5. Boyne Mountain Resort (Boyne Falls, MI)
You’ll find Michigan’s largest indoor water park, Avalanche Bay, at Boyne Mountain Resort. Get outside for snow sports, like fat tire snow biking, skiing, snowshoeing and snow tubing before heading inside to take on The Big Couloir, which has one of the steepest drops of any waterslide. WOW.
At Avalanche Bay, you’ll also find five other water slides, a children’s pool, a lazy river and multiple hot tubs. Kids will love the Splasherhorn, which dumps 800 gallons of water when the horn blows. Boyne Mountain Resorts offer several Splash & Stay lodging packages, so get ready to get wet.
Click here for more details and the latest rates at Boyne Mountain Resort.
6. CoCo Key Water Resort (Mount Laurel, NJ)
Your kids will flip for water slides with names like Sharks Slam and Barracuda Blast, as well as the lazy river and aquatic jungle gym at this 65,000 square foot indoor water park. Spend time splashing around in this tropical paradise or take on the cargo net challenge at the Lily Pad Adventure. For adults-only, the Palm Grotto spa allows stresses of the day to melt away (who wouldn’t want that?).
The littlest guests at CoCo Key Water Resort, inside The Hotel ML, will love the Dip-In, a wading pool that’s just a foot deep and wows littles with a Baby Slide and a Baby Bungee. So fun. Amp up the energy at Coral Cove’s Slam Dunk, a three-feet deep pool just for for friendly b-ball competitions.
Click here for more details and the latest rates at The Hotel ML.
7. Kalahari Resort (Wisconsin Dells, WI)
There’s almost too much to do at Kalahari Resort in Wisconsin Dells, the waterpark capital of the world. Aside from a fantastic 125,000 square foot indoor waterpark, there’s also an indoor theme park complete with go-carts, mini golf and a carousel, as well as laser tag, a massive arcade, bowling and a spa.
At the indoor water park, look for a 920-foot lazy river, a wave pool and multiple water slides including Victoria Falls, a family raft ride. School-age kids will love Leopard’s Lair, a water play structure with water guns, slides and net crawls. Family Getaway packages include a two night stay, waterpark admission, breakfast and more.
Click here for more details and the latest rates at Wisconsin Dells hotels.
8. Falls Avenue Resort (Niagara Falls, ON)
Splish, splash and slide while taking in the views of Niagara Falls at the Fallsview Indoor Waterpark, which is located inside the Falls Avenue Resort in Canada. The water park has 16 waterslides, a huge wave pool and a water play structure with a 1,000-gallon dumping water bucket.
Book a Waterpark Getaway package and stay at one of several connecting hotels, including Sheraton on the Falls and Crowne Plaza Niagara Falls – Fallsview. You’ll also have access to other activities at Falls Avenue Resort, such as Adventure City, an arcade with 125 games, and Hershey’s Chocolate World.
Click here for more details and the latest rates at Niagara Falls hotels.
9. Silver Mountain Resort (Kellogg, ID)
At Silver Mountain Resort in Idaho, you can ski, snow board and snow tube all morning, then splash, slide and body board all afternoon at Silver Rapids Indoor Waterpark, one of the best indoor water park resorts in the U.S. Hop on a single or double tube for a float along the North Fork Lazy River, then shoot some baskets at the Hoop Lagoon.
Little ones will love crossing bridges and spraying water at Minors Island, a water play structure, then relaxing with mom or dad in the Warm Springs. For toddlers, head to Pollywog Pond, a shallow pool with kiddie slides and a swing. Splash & Stay packages are available for those who want to stay at the resort.
Click here for more details and the latest rates at hotels near Silver Mountain Resort.
10. Great Wolf Lodge (18 locations)
No list of the best indoor waterpark hotels would be complete without Great Wolf Lodge. With 18 locations across the country, including Scottsdale, AZ, which opened in late-September 2019, Great Wolf Lodge is a must-visit with kids for slides, water play structures, a lazy river and body boarding.
As one of the best indoor water park resorts, it’s not surprise that Great Wolf Lodge offers so much more than waves and waterslides. Take a morning Wolf Walk, go mini-bowling in the Ten Paw Alley and enjoy nightly storytimes. Book a stay in one of Great Wolf Lodge’s themed suites that are built out to include a playful forest-themed wolf den. It’s the perfect space for little ones to hibernate.
Click here for more details and the latest rates at Great Wolf Lodge locations.
