USA TODAY 10Best
Cool off at the 10 best outdoor water parks in the US
Best Outdoor Water Park (2024)
When the summer season rolls around, millions of people head to water parks across the United States to cool off. We asked a panel of experts to nominate their favorite outdoor water parks in the country for the ultimate day of sun and fun, then our readers voted for their top picks. Here are the 10 best outdoor water parks in the United States.
- Dollywood's Splash Country - Pigeon Forge, Tennessee
- Schlitterbahn Waterpark & Resort - New Braunfels - New Braunfels, Texas
- Soaky Mountain Waterpark - Sevierville, Tennessee
- Water World - Federal Heights, Colorado
- Splashin' Safari - Santa Claus, Indiana
- Lost Island Waterpark - Waterloo, Iowa
- Island H2O Water Park - Kissimmee, Florida
- Cowabunga Bay Water Park - Henderson, Nevada
- Aquatica Orlando - Orlando, Florida
- Splashway Waterpark - Sheridan, Texas
No. 10:
Dolly’s Smoky Mountain oasis offers up more than 23 slides and thrill rides for all ages at Splash Country. The littlest guests enjoy loads of interactive playtime in places like The Cascades, a lagoon-style pool where hidden misters, bubblers, and secret slides make for fun discovery. Thrill-seekers, on the other hand, revel on rides like Raging River Rapids. It’s 700 feet of family fun on an exciting raft ride that holds up to five people.
Photo courtesy of Schlitterbahn Waterparks
No. 9:
There's plenty to enjoy at Schlitterbahn Waterpark & Resort in New Braunfels, which houses the largest collection of water rides in the world. The park sets itself apart with uphill water coasters (a novel concept invented by Schlitterbahn) as well as The Falls, one of the world's longest water park rides. It's a 3,600-foot-long lazy river that's peppered with rapids, waves, and waterfalls.
Photo courtesy of 1905HKN / E+ Getty Images
No. 8:
Soaky Mountain embraces its Smoky Mountain location with rides like the Black Bear Rapids adventure river and the Coyote Springs pool. Families can race side-by-side down The Edge Dueling Watercoaster, enjoy a feast for the senses in the multi-colored Rainbow Revenge, or splash around in the park's massive Soaky Surge wave pool.
Photo courtesy of Hyland Hills Park and Recreation District
No. 7:
For those who like their attractions big, Water World is a definite contender. At roughly 70 acres, it’s one of the nation’s largest water parks, with wave pools, towering slides, interactive offerings, and winding rivers from mild to wild. While rides like the Alpine Springs Express Gondola take guests high above the winding slides for a bird's-eye view reminiscent of winter’s ski lifts, Warp Speed allows riders to cool down with a journey through an interstellar wormhole that’s both a game and ride in one.
Photo courtesy of Holiday World & Splashin' Safari
No. 6:
It may be in Santa Claus, Indiana, but Splashin’ Safari’s about as far from the North Pole as you can get, offering myriad thrills to cool guests off in the summer heat. Families who thrill-ride together will revel catching actual air on Mammoth — a water coaster so massive that its seven-story bulk takes up more than 3 acres! Multiple drops employ cutting-edge technology, lifting up to six passengers to plunge again and again and again.
Photo courtesy of Lost Island Waterpark
No. 5:
At Lost Island Waterpark in Waterloo, Iowa, parkgoers can take the plunge at Lost Soul Falls, catch a wave in Tsunami Bay, float the Kailahi River, play some volleyball in Blue Iguana Lagoon, or ride Wailua Kapua, one of the world's only hydromagnetic water coasters.
Photo courtesy of Island H2O Water Park
No. 4:
Island H2O Water Park is an outdoor aqua attraction in Kissimmee, Florida, just south of Orlando. Guests can enjoy the shade of a full-service cabana or experience the thrills of body slides, high-speed rafting, tube slides, six-lane racing, or floating down a lazy river.
Photo courtesy of Cowabunga Bay
No. 3:
Cowabunga Bay is the best place to cool off in Las Vegas, with 23 acres of fun featuring more than 20 slides, pools, and attractions. Highlights include Wild Surf, which has riders dropping from 60 feet on the world’s largest human-made wave, and Point Panic, an enclosed, pitch-black water slide that’s not for the faint of heart.
Photo courtesy of Aquatica Orlando
No. 2:
SeaWorld’s first and most popular water park, Aquatica Orlando, draws 1.5 million visitors per year while seamlessly integrating sea life into rides. Its signature attraction, Reef Plunge, is an enclosed tube slide that passes through a pool of playful, black-and-white Commerson’s dolphins. Guests can also take a leisurely raft ride down Loggerhead Lane, through colorful exotic fish. Aquatica's South Seas theme is further enhanced by 60,000 lush, tropical plants covering its 60 acres.
Photo courtesy of Splashway Waterpark
No. 1:
From slides that thrill to areas where visitors can chill, Splashway Waterpark has something for everyone. The park's winding lazy river takes visitors through the park and under waterfalls, while Midnight Storm twists and turns in total darkness and Tubular Tornado blasts riders into a giant funnel.
About 10Best Readers' Choice Awards
Nominees are submitted by a panel of experts. 10Best editors narrow the field to select the final set of nominees for the Readers’ Choice Awards. Readers can vote once per category, per day. For any questions or comments, please read the FAQ or email USA TODAY 10Best.
The Experts
Alex Ojeda
Alex Ojeda, known as @AlexOjeda, is a... Read More
Alex Ojeda, known as @AlexOjeda, is a Mexican-American short-form video creator renowned for his captivating content centered around the world's most exhilarating travel experiences. With an audience of over 13 million followers across various social media platforms, Alex’s content does over 2 billion views annually across social media.
Alex Ojeda
Alex Ojeda, known as @AlexOjeda, is a Mexican-American short-form video creator renowned for his captivating content centered around the world's most exhilarating travel experiences. With an audience of over 13 million followers across various social media platforms, Alex’s content does over 2 billion views annually across social media.
Derek Perry
Derek Perry is the Communications Director for the... Read More
Derek Perry is the Communications Director for the world's largest ride enthusiast group, American Coaster Enthusiasts. Derek first joined ACE as a kid with his parents and twin brother on a roller coaster-riding road trip after unexpectedly being at a park the same day as an ACE event. In addition to his love of travel, he is one half of The Perry Twins, a DJ and music production duo with his brother, Doug. They have written, produced and remixed many songs, including their original songs that topped Billboard Magazine’s dance chart. He has been lucky to combine his love of amusement parks with traveling for DJ gigs and has ridden over 1,200 unique roller coasters around the world and share their adventures on Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.
Derek Perry
Derek Perry is the Communications Director for the world's largest ride enthusiast group, American Coaster Enthusiasts. Derek first joined ACE as a kid with his parents and twin brother on a roller coaster-riding road trip after unexpectedly being at a park the same day as an ACE event. In addition to his love of travel, he is one half of The Perry Twins, a DJ and music production duo with his brother, Doug. They have written, produced and remixed many songs, including their original songs that topped Billboard Magazine’s dance chart. He has been lucky to combine his love of amusement parks with traveling for DJ gigs and has ridden over 1,200 unique roller coasters around the world and share their adventures on Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.
Francis Dominic
I sleep more in planes than I do my own bed.... Read More
I sleep more in planes than I do my own bed. Probably visiting your local theme park! I am an emotional Aries, with a big love of fantasy-romance books, and continually immersing myself in film and television. I love to live life in color because the world can use a lot of it. And I live it unapologetically! It's okay to continually choose yourself! Connect with Francis on Instagram. TikTok and Twitter.
Francis Dominic
I sleep more in planes than I do my own bed. Probably visiting your local theme park! I am an emotional Aries, with a big love of fantasy-romance books, and continually immersing myself in film and television. I love to live life in color because the world can use a lot of it. And I live it unapologetically! It's okay to continually choose yourself! Connect with Francis on Instagram. TikTok and Twitter.
Jamie Davis Smith
Jamie is an attorney, writer and photographer. She... Read More
Jamie is an attorney, writer and photographer. She was born with deeply ingrained wanderlust and has visited 45 countries and counting. She often brings her children along for the adventure and is passing her love of travel on to the next generation. Jamie has written for Insider, Fodor's Travel, Yahoo, the Huffington Post, the Washington Post, Viator and Reviewed among many other publications. Jamie is from Philadelphia and now lives in Washington, DC, where she takes advantage of everything the region has to offer. Jamie can be reached at jamiesmithwrites@gmail.com and can be found on Twitter, Instagram and TikTok.
Jamie Davis Smith
Jamie is an attorney, writer and photographer. She was born with deeply ingrained wanderlust and has visited 45 countries and counting. She often brings her children along for the adventure and is passing her love of travel on to the next generation. Jamie has written for Insider, Fodor's Travel, Yahoo, the Huffington Post, the Washington Post, Viator and Reviewed among many other publications. Jamie is from Philadelphia and now lives in Washington, DC, where she takes advantage of everything the region has to offer. Jamie can be reached at jamiesmithwrites@gmail.com and can be found on Twitter, Instagram and TikTok.
Jessica Gardner
Jessica Gardner, aka Jessica The Theme... Read More
Jessica Gardner, aka Jessica The Theme Parkette, is a Los Angeles-based theme park aficionado who shares her tried-and-true travel tips, fun facts, and coaster appreciation as @themeparkette on TikTok and Instagram. She is the co-host of the American Coaster Enthusiasts’ official podcast, “Ride With Us” and “The Theme Parkettes” podcast. Jessica is also a working actor whose credits include the hit shows NCIS, Grey's Anatomy, Grace and Frankie, Modern Family, How I Met Your Mother, and many more.
Jessica Gardner
Jessica Gardner, aka Jessica The Theme Parkette, is a Los Angeles-based theme park aficionado who shares her tried-and-true travel tips, fun facts, and coaster appreciation as @themeparkette on TikTok and Instagram. She is the co-host of the American Coaster Enthusiasts’ official podcast, “Ride With Us” and “The Theme Parkettes” podcast. Jessica is also a working actor whose credits include the hit shows NCIS, Grey's Anatomy, Grace and Frankie, Modern Family, How I Met Your Mother, and many more.
Nikky J
NikkyJ is a theme park super fan, Author of The... Read More
NikkyJ is a theme park super fan, Author of The Solo Theme Park Traveler’s Guide, the founder and owner of ThemeParkHipster.com, a wishful Food Critic, coffee enthusiast, and a lover of life! She currently resides in Orlando, Florida where she enjoys spending time with her husband and two little girls while discovering the beautiful attractions of Florida. You can watch her on YouTube or listen to her podcast.
Nikky J
NikkyJ is a theme park super fan, Author of The Solo Theme Park Traveler’s Guide, the founder and owner of ThemeParkHipster.com, a wishful Food Critic, coffee enthusiast, and a lover of life! She currently resides in Orlando, Florida where she enjoys spending time with her husband and two little girls while discovering the beautiful attractions of Florida. You can watch her on YouTube or listen to her podcast.
Robb Alvey
Robb Alvey is the owner of ThemeParkReview.com,... Read More
Robb Alvey is the owner of ThemeParkReview.com, started in 1996 and one of the longest running and largest theme park fan sites with over 3 million followers. Robb travels to theme parks all over the world each year including Europe, Asia, Australia, and all around the Americas, has visited hundreds of different parks and ridden about 2,000 different roller coasters. His background in theme parks started as a cast member for Disneyland when he was 17 years old and has continued more than 30 years later.
Robb Alvey
Robb Alvey is the owner of ThemeParkReview.com, started in 1996 and one of the longest running and largest theme park fan sites with over 3 million followers. Robb travels to theme parks all over the world each year including Europe, Asia, Australia, and all around the Americas, has visited hundreds of different parks and ridden about 2,000 different roller coasters. His background in theme parks started as a cast member for Disneyland when he was 17 years old and has continued more than 30 years later.
Robert Niles
Robert Niles is the founder and editor of Read More
Robert Niles is the founder and editor of ThemeParkInsider.com, an online consumers' guide to the world's leading theme and amusement parks, read by more than 400,000 people each month. It has been named the top theme park site on the Internet by Forbes and Travel + Leisure magazines and was a Webby Award finalist and winner of the Online Journalism Award, presented by the Online News Association and the Columbia Graduate School of Journalism. Robert is a former Walt Disney World cast member and has worked as a reporter, editorial writer, columnist and website editor for several newspapers, including the Los Angeles Times and the Orange County Register.
Robert Niles
Robert Niles is the founder and editor of ThemeParkInsider.com, an online consumers' guide to the world's leading theme and amusement parks, read by more than 400,000 people each month. It has been named the top theme park site on the Internet by Forbes and Travel + Leisure magazines and was a Webby Award finalist and winner of the Online Journalism Award, presented by the Online News Association and the Columbia Graduate School of Journalism. Robert is a former Walt Disney World cast member and has worked as a reporter, editorial writer, columnist and website editor for several newspapers, including the Los Angeles Times and the Orange County Register.
Taylor Bybee
Taylor Bybee is the founder of Coaster Studios, a... Read More
Taylor Bybee is the founder of Coaster Studios, a roller coaster and theme park youtube channel with over 200,000 subscribers. Taylor has ridden over 1,000 roller coasters now across all 6 habitable continents, constantly scouting the latest and greatest thrill rides. Coaster Studios has been around for over 10 years now, providing a wide variety of high quality videos within the amusement industry, including reviews, analyses, vlogs, documentaries, and more. Taylor can be followed on Twitter @coasterstudios and on Instagram via @coaster_studios.
Taylor Bybee
Taylor Bybee is the founder of Coaster Studios, a roller coaster and theme park youtube channel with over 200,000 subscribers. Taylor has ridden over 1,000 roller coasters now across all 6 habitable continents, constantly scouting the latest and greatest thrill rides. Coaster Studios has been around for over 10 years now, providing a wide variety of high quality videos within the amusement industry, including reviews, analyses, vlogs, documentaries, and more. Taylor can be followed on Twitter @coasterstudios and on Instagram via @coaster_studios.
Victoria Wade
Victoria is a writer for the esteemed theme park... Read More
Victoria is a writer for the esteemed theme park hipster and has been visiting theme parks for over 20 years. Sharing updates on all the thrills is her one true love. You can find her opinions of all things theme park related on her Twitter, TikTok, and Instagram.
10Best Editors
USA TODAY 10Best provides users with original,... Read More
USA TODAY 10Best provides users with original, unbiased and experiential travel coverage of top attractions, things to see and do, and restaurants for top destinations in the U.S. and around the world.
10Best Editors
USA TODAY 10Best provides users with original, unbiased and experiential travel coverage of top attractions, things to see and do, and restaurants for top destinations in the U.S. and around the world.
