Pennsylvania, a state steeped in history and natural beauty, also boasts a vibrant and diverse collection of water parks. From the rolling hills of the Pocono Mountains to the bustling cityscapes, opportunities abound to make a splash. Whether you seek the thrill of towering slides, the relaxation of a lazy river, or a family-friendly aquatic adventure, Pennsylvania’s water parks offer something for everyone. And the fun doesn’t end when the leaves begin to turn – the Keystone State is home to an impressive array of indoor water parks, particularly concentrated in the Pocono region, ensuring year-round aquatic excitement. Let’s dive into some of the best indoor and outdoor water parks that Pennsylvania’s Coolest and Wettest Water Parks has to offer.
Aquatopia at Camelback Mountain in Tannersville
Nestled within the sprawling Camelback Mountain Resort, Aquatopia stands as a premier indoor water park destination in the Pocono Mountains. This year-round haven offers a welcome escape, regardless of the weather outside. Camelback Mountain Resort, known for its winter skiing and outdoor Camelbeach water park, presents a complete vacation experience.
Aquatopia boasts a wide array of attractions designed to thrill and entertain. Surfers can test their skills on the FlowRider, while those seeking a more leisurely experience can meander down the adventure river. An interactive play structure, complete with a giant tipping bucket, provides endless fun for the younger crowd. The wave pool mimics the ocean’s rhythm, and a variety of tube slides, body slides, and kiddie slides cater to all ages and thrill levels. For adults, the swim-up bar offers a chance to unwind with a refreshing beverage without ever leaving the water. Access to Aquatopia is exclusively for guests of the Camelback Lodge, making it a private and convenient amenity.
Camelbeach in Tannersville
Complementing Aquatopia, Camelback Mountain Resort also features Camelbeach, a sprawling outdoor water park that comes alive during the warmer months. Camelbeach offers a different kind of aquatic adventure. Thrill-seekers can experience the adrenaline rush of the Triple Venom speed slides or race friends on the Checkered Flag Challenge mat racing slide. The Vortex and Spin Cycle offer exhilarating twin water park bowl rides.
Beyond the high-octane attractions, Camelbeach also provides more relaxed options. Catch a wave in the wave pool, unwind on the lazy river, or explore one of the two water play structures. For those seeking a break from the water, the park also offers "dry" activities such as a climbing wall and bungee jumping. Camelbeach ensures a full day of fun for the whole family.
Carousel Water & Fun Park
For a more intimate and family-oriented experience, Carousel Water & Fun Park offers a charming alternative. This smaller entertainment center focuses on providing a variety of activities to keep everyone entertained. The outdoor water park features water slides and a wading pool designed with young children in mind.
Beyond the water park, Carousel Water & Fun Park also boasts an array of "dry" attractions, including mini-golf, go-karts, bumper boats, a snack bar, and an arcade. This combination of water and land-based activities makes it an ideal destination for families with diverse interests and age groups.
Conneaut Lake Park’s Splash City
Located within the historic Conneaut Lake Park, Splash City offers a delightful aquatic experience as part of a traditional amusement park setting. Admission to Conneaut Lake Park includes access to Splash City, making it a great value for families looking for a full day of fun.
The outdoor water park features a lazy river for relaxation, water slides for excitement, and a sandy beach for soaking up the sun. Young children will delight in Connie Otter’s Kiddie Cove, which offers mini slides and other age-appropriate water features. The combination of classic amusement park rides and aquatic attractions makes Conneaut Lake Park a memorable destination.
Costa’s Family Fun Park in Hawley
Tucked away in the Pocono Mountains, Costa’s Family Fun Park provides more than just a mini outdoor water park. This family entertainment center offers a diverse range of activities, including go-karts, mini-golf, laser tag, bumper boats, batting cages, and gem mining.
While the water park itself is relatively small, with only a couple of slides, it still provides a refreshing escape on a hot day. Though lacking specific water activities for very young children, a play area with playground equipment and pedal go-karts ensures that even the littlest visitors have something to enjoy. Costa’s Family Fun Park caters to a wide range of interests, making it a versatile destination for families.
DelGrosso’s Park and Laguna Splash in Tipton
DelGrosso’s Park combines the charm of a classic amusement park with the aquatic thrills of Laguna Splash, its outdoor water park. Admission to DelGrosso’s Park includes access to Laguna Splash, offering a comprehensive entertainment experience.
Laguna Splash is a medium-sized water park that features a variety of attractions. An activity pool provides a space for interactive fun, while a tipping bucket delivers a refreshing cascade of water. Speed slides and other water slides cater to thrill-seekers, and a lazy river and wave pool offer more relaxed options. The amusement park itself boasts rides such as the Crazy Mouse coaster, the X-Scream drop tower, and traditional favorites like Dodgems and a Tilt-A-Whirl.
Dorney Park’s Wildwater Kingdom in Allentown
Dorney Park offers a thrilling combination of amusement park rides and aquatic adventures with Wildwater Kingdom, its included outdoor water park. Admission to Dorney Park grants access to both the amusement park and Wildwater Kingdom.
Wildwater Kingdom is a medium-sized water park that features a diverse range of attractions. A lazy river provides a relaxing float, while speed slides offer an adrenaline rush. A wave pool mimics the ocean’s rhythm, and a family raft ride provides fun for the whole group. Younger children will enjoy the dedicated play area, while tube and body slides cater to a variety of thrill levels. The Island Water Works water play center offers interactive fun for all ages.
Great Wolf Lodge Pocono Mountains in Scotrun
The Great Wolf Lodge Pocono Mountains is a premier indoor water park resort. Part of a well-known chain, this location features a woodlands theme and offers a wide range of activities, both in the water park and throughout the resort. The water park is included with hotel rates and is exclusively for registered guests, ensuring a private and convenient experience.
The water park boasts a variety of attractions, including the Hydro Plunge uphill water coaster and The Double Barrel Drop, a two-person raft slide with a mini bowl and lighting effects. The Coyote Canyon bowl ride and the Canyon Run family raft ride offer additional thrills. The Slap Tail Pond wave pool provides a taste of the ocean, and a variety of other slides and attractions cater to all ages. Dry features include a ropes course, a MagiQuest interactive adventure, Ten Paw Alley bowling, and Howl at the Moon mini-golf.
Hersheypark’s The Boardwalk in Hershey
Hersheypark’s The Boardwalk in Hershey offers a unique blend of theme park thrills and aquatic adventures. With one admission price, guests gain access to both the coasters and other dry rides, as well as the outdoor water park.
The Boardwalk features a variety of attractions, including the Breakers Edge uphill water coaster and the Whitecap Racer multi-lane slide. The Shore wave pool mimics the ocean’s rhythm, while the Intercoastal Waterway lazy river provides a relaxing float. The Waverider surfing ride offers a unique challenge, and the Coastline Plunge tube slides provide classic water park fun. The East Coast Waterworks interactive water play structure offers fun for all ages.
Idlewild’s SoakZone in Ligonier
Idlewild is a classic amusement park designed for young children and their families. Its outdoor water park, SoakZone, is included with admission, offering a refreshing escape on a hot day.
SoakZone features a variety of attractions designed for younger children, including the Wowabunga Family Wave Pool and a tipping bucket. The Pipeline Plunge tube slides provide a gentle thrill, while the Float Away Bay lazy river offers a relaxing float. The Hydro Racers mat slides offer a friendly competition, and the Little Squirts play area provides a safe and fun space for tykes.
Kalahari Pocono Mountains in Pocono Manor
The African-themed Kalahari Resort in the Pocono Mountains is the largest of the mega indoor water park resorts in the region. As one of the largest indoor water parks in the world, it boasts an impressive 220,000 square feet of aquatic fun. Unlike some other indoor water parks, Kalahari’s water park is open to the general public, with day passes available. Resort guests enjoy included access with their room rates.
The water park features a wide variety of attractions, including The Smoke that Thunders funnel ride and the Wild Wildebeest family raft ride. A wave pool mimics the ocean’s rhythm, while the Barrelling Baboon mini-funnels ride offers a unique thrill. The Cheetah Race multi-lane racing slide provides a competitive experience, and a FlowRider surfing ride offers a chance to test your skills. Dry features include mini-golf, a ropes course, and zip lines. Kalahari is the home of virtual reality water slide in the US.
Sandcastle in Pittsburgh
Sandcastle is a major outdoor water park located in Pittsburgh. The park offers a wide range of attractions, including a 1/4-mile lazy river and a 20,000-square-foot wave pool. The Lightning Express speed slides offer an adrenaline rush, while the Dragon’s Den bowl slide provides a unique thrill. The Mushroom Pool offers a cool place to relax. Younger visitors will enjoy Wet Willie’s Water Works and the Tad Pool, two dedicated water play areas. In 2022, the park will debut Bombs Away, a new thrill ride.
Sesame Place in Langhorne
Sesame Place combines the beloved characters of Sesame Street with the fun of an amusement park and water park. As with the rest of Sesame Place, the outdoor water park attractions are all relatively mild, with many of them geared toward younger children.
Activities include the Sky Splash family raft ride, Big Bird’s Rambling River, the Sesame Streak, Bert & Ernie’s Slip & Slid, and Slippery Slopes water slides. The Count’s Splash Castle interactive water play structure and a wave pool provide additional fun. Dry attractions include shows and rides such as Oscar’s Wacky Taxi Roller Coaster and the Sunny Day Carousel.
Splash Lagoon in Erie
Splash Lagoon is a major indoor water park located in Erie. The park offers a multitude of attractions, including a family raft ride, a wave pool, a lazy river, two bowl slides, and a tipping bucket. The Tiki Tree House interactive water play center and activities for younger children ensure that there’s something for everyone. Dry attractions include laser tag, an arcade, and a tree tops ropes course.
Split Rock Resort’s H20ooohh! Water Park in Lake Harmony
H20ooohh! is a medium-sized indoor water park located at Split Rock Resort in the Pocono Mountains. While not as large as some other nearby parks, it offers plenty of things to do, including the Komodo Dragon surfing ride, a large wave pool, a family raft ride, hot tubs, kiddie play areas, and lots of water slides.
Waldameer’s Water World in Erie
Waldameer, a traditional amusement park, also offers Water World, an outdoor water park. Visitors can purchase tickets for the water park alone or a combo ticket that includes both the water park and the amusement park. Water World features a double speed slide, a lazy river, an enormous wave pool, the CannonBowl bowl slide, tube and body slides, two hot tubs, the Kidz Zone with activities for younger kids, and the Battle of Lake Erie, a large interactive water play center with a tipping bucket.
WildRiver Waterpark in Entriken
Part of the Lake Raystown Resort, WildRiver is a small outdoor water park. Activities include two water slides, a children’s splash pad, and a play pool. The park also offers an adult pool and a kiddie pool.
From thrilling slides to relaxing lazy rivers, Pennsylvania’s Coolest and Wettest Water Parks offer a diverse range of aquatic adventures for all ages and interests. Whether you’re seeking a year-round escape in the Poconos or a summertime splash in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania has a water park to suit your needs. So pack your swimsuit, grab your sunscreen, and get ready to make a splash in the Keystone State!
