These are the best hotel water parks in the U.S., from California to Florida.
Everybody loves a hotel with a pool, but a hotel with a water park is next level — and we're not just talking about some dinky slide or diving board. Imagine stepping out the door of your hotel room and minutes later, floating along a lazy river or careening towards the final plunge at the end of a drop slide. astral swimming pool equipment
In the U.S., water park hotels come in all shapes and sizes from an epic four-acre park in Nashville to a sweet candy-themed splash palace in Hershey, Pennsylvania. Here are the best hotels with water parks in the U.S.
At Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa, Disney’s only property in Hawaii, you can expect the world-class experience you’ve come to know from the leading brand in family travel. Located on the stunning shoreline of O’ahu just a few steps from the beach, kids (and kids at heart) can enjoy a lazy river, multiple pools — including a private saltwater lagoon you can snorkel in — and splash zones built into towering rock structures designed by Walt Disney Imagineers.
Gaylord Opryland is a property like no other, encompassing a spa, a multitude of restaurants, and its crown jewel: SoundWaves. The truly unique indoor/outdoor space adds a bit of luxury to the water park experience with its posh, contemporary feel. Complete with an adults-only level with an infinity pool, scream-inducing drop slides, and a winding river with immersive music and effects, this is the perfect water park for a family outing or a romantic getaway.
The best indoor water park in the Midwest also happens to be from one of the most trusted (and growing) brands in hotel water parks. Kalahari Resorts in Sandusky features indoor/outdoor spas, a slide reaching speeds of over 40 mph, and a swim-up bar. The park’s star is Victoria Falls, a family-sized raft attraction that takes guests outdoors (while enclosed inside the tube) before plummeting into a pool.
At this 5-star resort just outside Miami, the fun is on at Tidal Cove Water Park. Here you'll find inner-tube slides, a FlowRider pool large enough for three surfers at a time, and a lazy river that winds its way around the five-acre pool deck. Daredevils can also test their nerves on the near-vertical AquaDrop. Entry is complimentary for guests of the JW Marriott Miami Turnberry Resort & Spa, but the private cabanas are a deluxe extra worth considering. Each one features a flat-screen TV and a stocked mini-fridge, so you never need to go back to the room.
Courtesy of Great Wolf Lodge
They weren’t kidding when they dubbed the Wisconsin Dells “the water park capital of the world.” Even with a high concentration of parks to choose from, few can compete with the flagship location of the Great Wolf Lodge. This icon of the family hotel industry shines with over 70,000 square feet of water space featuring dozens of pools and slides, including a 200-foot mountain waterslide that drops you in the lazy river — and the entire complex is kept at a toasty 84 degrees Fahrenheit year-round.
Things really are sweeter in Hershey because guests at Hersheypark’s on-site hotel, Hershey Lodge, have access to their very own indoor water park. Hershey’s Water Works invites hotel goers to splish and splash across unique attractions themed to favorite candies, like the Reese’s Water Walk and the Twizzlers Twists waterslides. It also includes basketball hoops, two pools, and an outdoor splash pad.
Set in the stunning rolling hills of Texas, JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa is a serene escape that expertly combines rustic charm with luxury. Its nine-acre River Bluff Water Experience is fun for the entire family, offering a 1,100-foot-long lazy river, an adults-only pool, and the sky-high Acequia Tube slide. The outdoor park offers private cabanas, a beach-like swimming pool, and an adults-only area with an infinity pool.
Courtesy of Timber Ridge Lodge
With dozens of water parks to choose from in Wisconsin, Timber Ridge Lodge & Waterpark stands out as one of the best. The property, boasting spacious suites with full kitchens, is home to a 50,000-square-foot indoor/outdoor water park that is themed after the region’s natural beauty. Lush trees surround a family-friendly lazy river, and the little ones can get in on the fun with their own Tiny Timbers play area.
Upscale water park The Reservoir debuted at The Ritz-Carlton Naples, Tiburón in 2021, adding to the property’s already impressive list of amenities, including two golf courses and a spa. After lounging in a private cabana, you can float along a 630- foot-long lazy river, try out the three waterslides, supervise the kiddos in the splash zone, and top it all off with lunch at the poolside eatery.
Courtesy of Great Wolf Lodge
Since the opening of its original Wisconsin Dells location, Great Wolf Lodge has expanded rapidly to include San Francisco, Kansas City, and (a first for the region) Concord, North Carolina. Located just outside of Charlotte, the latter is the largest indoor water park in the Carolinas, thrilling guests with body and tube waterslides, an interactive four-story water fort, and pools for all ages.
Courtesy of The Grove Resort & Water Park
It takes something special to stand out in a competitive market like Orlando, but The Grove Resort & Water Park does just that. Located just miles from Disney World, guests can soak the day away at the Surfari Water Park’s lazy river, double waterslides, and even the double FlowRider, a surf simulator. Those looking to take the ultimate plunge — marriage — can even say "I do" on the waterslides.
Courtesy of Westgate Smoky Mountain Resort & Water Park
Westgate Smoky Mountain Resort & Water Park draws inspiration from its unique location within the stunning Great Smoky Mountains. The highlight of the Gatlinburg resort is its Wild Bears Falls Water Park, an indoor/outdoor park with a state-of-the-art retractable roof, making it ideal for year-round fun. In addition to a lazy river, tube slides, and a heated grotto, kids won’t be able to get enough of an interactive treehouse-themed jungle gym.
Few hotel experiences at Disney World can top that of Four Season Resort Orlando. The world-class leader in hospitality shines at its Central Florida location which features the luxurious Explorer Island. It’s the ultimate in sophistication, featuring a tranquil, adults-only pool with an underwater speaker system, a lazy river, and an innovative slide made with see-through fiberglass — plus an elegant splash zone inspired by ancient ruins.
Kick back after a marathon park day at Disneyland at the Courtyard by Marriott Anaheim Theme Park Entrance. Just minutes from the magic, families can chill out at Surfside Waterpark and enjoy its 400-gallon drench bucket, slides, and an oversized 17-person hot tub. The waterpark is exclusive to hotel guests, but you still need to reserve your timeslots in advance.
splash pad sprinkler for pets Mountain latitudes meet Jimmy Buffet’s island attitude at the Camp Margaritaville RV Resort & Lodge. At this carefree resort, guests can enjoy a double-loop water slide set against the stunning backdrop of the Great Smoky Mountains. It’s a true day-to-night experience — in the evenings, guests can gather around firepits or soak in a hot tub before taking part in a game of duckpin bowling.