35+ Sensational Water Parks in Florida for a Cool Summer

Water parks in Florida take many forms. Many cities now offer a splash park or sprayground. Many hotels and resorts, especially in the Orlando area, have a water park as one of their amenities. What makes a water park though?

A water park should have several water features. Nearly all of them have a pool, whether it’s a swimming pool like at a hotel or a wave pool like you’ll find at the water theme parks. Many also have at least one water slide. Quite a few also offer a lazy river. More and more hotels now feature a lazy river around their pool. Many water parks also have one or more water rides like a log flume.

Now that we’ve identified what Florida water parks look like, let’s find them around the state. Visitors and residents can find at least one water park in each of the major metro areas in Florida. Orlando, of course, has many more than the rest of the state. No matter where you vacation, though, you’ll be able to find a water park nearby.

Hotels with Water Parks in Florida

You may find, when researching hotels and vacation rentals in Florida, that many of them feature splash parks and other water features, such as slides and lazy rivers. Hotels with water parks in Florida add a new dimension to your vacation – the ability to play in a water park even if your attraction plans don’t include one.

New Hotel Collection Harborside (Indian Rocks Beach)

Splash Harbour Water Park is located within this unique condominium and hotel property in the Tampa Bay area. Indian Rocks Beach offers a more low-key charm than the more popular Clearwater Beach to the north and St. Pete Beach to the south. If heading to the beach is in your plans, too, this is a great beach for families.

The Grove Resort & Water Park (Orlando)

At Surfari Water Park, enjoy the FlowRider double surf simulator, dual water slides (one enclosed and one open), and a 695 foot lazy river. The water slides drop riders right into the lazy river which has it’s own great features, like passing under waterfalls.

Hammock Beach Golf Resort and Spa (Palm Coast)

This luxury resort begs to be your vacation destination in and of itself. Beach-frontage, golf, tennis, and the fantasy pool complex give guests enough activities to never leave the premises. The Fantasy Pool Complex includes a lazy river, twisting water slide, and five pools. Choose to lounge in one of the two main pools (an upper level and a lower level), the adult pool, pool-sized spa, or the zero-entry beach pool.

Westgate Cocoa Beach Resort (Cocoa Beach)

Come play at Wakulla Water Park! Geared towards children, the water park, nonetheless, will delight adults as well. It features a pool, 335 foot long lazy river, and a kids splash pad. The splash pad has a two-story water slide and numerous splash attractions for the kids to enjoy.

Westgate Vacation Villas Resort (Kissimmee)

Westgate Resorts operates a few hotels with water parks in Florida, including this one in Kissimmee, home to Shipwreck Island Water Park. Shipwreck Island is a pirate-themed water park that features dual enclosed water slides, a drop slide, lazy river, water playground, and splash pad.

Coco Key Hotel and Water Park Resort (Orlando)

Coco’s Water Park is one of the larger resort water parks on this list. It’s 54,000 square, shaded by canopies, with 14 water slides, a 6500 square foot arcade, two restaurants, and a tiki bar for the adults. Coco Key thought of everything when designing this park. They set aside a separate kids’ lagoon for the little ones, complete with toddler-sized slides.

Holiday Inn Resort Orlando Suite-Water Park (Orlando)

This Holiday Inn has a ton of activities indoors and out. Two water parks delight tykes and older kids. The zero-entry pool features a splash park at the beach entry side. Tired of the water park? The resort also offers the Bank Heist Laser Tag and an arcade.

Disney’s Vero Beach Resort (Vero Beach)

One of the more modest resorts with water parks in Florida, guests at Vero Beach Resort line up for the main attraction – a two-story, 163 foot spiral waterslide that drops sliders into a plunge pool. If this is too much for the younger kids, a pirate-themed wet play adjacent to the main pool offers tykes smaller slides, water cannons, and a pirate ship.

Disney’s Yacht Club Resort (Lake Buena Vista)

These two Disney resorts share the water park that sits between them. Stormalong Bay is three acres of water fun. Find fun on the 230 foot water slide or relax on the gentle current of the lazy river. The complex also has a variety of pools to choose from – swirling or gentle, cool or warm – as well as a kids’ water area for the younger children.

JW Marriott Orlando, Grande Lakes (Orlando)

This resort in Orlando features a long lazy river and one of the more unique water play areas of any Florida water park resort. The obstacle water course, AquaCourse 360 Water Experience, is a first-of-its-kind as the JW Marriott Orlando is the first resort in the US to offer it to their guests.

Reunion Resort (Orlando)

Reunion Resort’s Water Park covers five acres and has all the amenities your family wants to make a day by the pool a memorable one. The lazy river winds around the water park and passes under waterfalls. Several water slides and water cannons add pizzazz to your time on the water. For more fun, enjoy lawn games or lounge by the pool while enjoy poolside dining.

Four Seasons Orlando at Walt Disney Resort (Orlando)

Four Seasons hotels are known for their luxury and many amenities making this not only a great resort with a water park in Florida, but also one of the best all-inclusive resorts in Florida. At this resort, Explorer Island provides a day’s worth of entertainment. Whether you choose to play in the adults-only pool, ride one of the two water slides, or float on the lazy river, the day will only have just begun. After playing in the pool and water areas, play land-based games in The Mansion and The Hideaway. The family pool also hosts dive-in movies with dinner on weekends.

Marriott’s Harbour Lake (Orlando)

These vacation villas come with a pool complex where guests can ride a water slide or play on the pirate-themed Shipwreck Landing. Kids love the water cannons and splash features located in the middle of a shallow pool.

Renaissance Orlando at SeaWorld (Orlando)

Splashy fun for the whole family can be had at R Aqua Zone. From pools to a splash park for the younger kids to water slides and water cannons, everyone will find something thrilling at this Florida resort water park. Tropical landscaping and comfy loungers will have you thinking you’re at the beach.

Flamingo Water Park Resort (Kissimmee)

The last hotel with a water park on our list gives the pricier Orlando water parks a run for their money. Though available only to resort guests, flamingo water park thrills everyone in the family with a variety of features, such as three slides, six kiddy slides, two pool areas, and a lazy river.

Water Parks in South Florida

If you’re in South Florida, you’re in luck. A few of the water parks in Florida can be found in that part of the state. From West Palm Beach south to Miami and over to Naples in southwest Florida, this part of Florida has 10 water parks to satisfy your family fun cravings.

On the Atlantic coast, try the largest water park in South Florida, Rapids Water Park. Located in West Palm Beach, Rapids has more than 40 slides and attractions. Nearby Calypso Bay in Royal Palm Beach features an 897 foot lazy river. Coconut Cove Water Park in Boca Raton and Sailfish Splash in Stuart are both county-run parks. They each feature a 1000 foot lazy river, splash pad for toddlers, and two 40-foot-tall water slides, plus a few smaller slides.

Heading south into the Fort Lauderdale area, Paradise Cove Water Park at C.B. Smith Park offers a lazy river, Paradise Pipeline (four 5-story-tall waterslides), Sharkey’s Lagoon with three smaller slides and interactive water games, and Parrot’s Point for children 5 and younger. Castaway Island at T.Y. Park in Hollywood is a bit smaller. If you go to this park you’ll find two interactive water areas – one for younger children with a small slide and climbing features and a larger one for older children with a deeper pool, water slide, and waterfall.

The Miami area has three water parks for visitors to check out. Tidal Cove Water Park in Aventura makes spending the day there easy. From dining to shopping to water play, the park offers something to entertain everyone in the family. Attractions include the FlowRider Triple surf simulator, a lazy river, kids’ cove, and several high-speed and/or drop slides. If you find yourself in Hialeah, try Bucky Dent Water Park with it’s splash park and waterslide. Or check out Grapeland Water Park in Miami, also public park with a splash park and waterslides.

Over in southwest Florida, Naples and Cape Coral both offer water parks to visitors in the area. Sun-N-Fun Lagoon in Naples has several attractions to keep everyone busy. Ride one of the five water slides, float down the 1250-foot-long Sunny’s River, swim in Family Falls or the Dolphin Dive and Lap Pool, or play in Turtle Cove or Tadpole Pool. Sunsplash Family Water Park in Cape Coral is 14 acres of water adventures filled with water slides, a lazy river, eco walk, rope walk across the pool, and volleyball.

Water Parks in Central Florida

Central Florida is the heart of Florida and the heart of Florida’s theme parks and attractions. Of course, it’s where you’ll find Orlando so that makes sense, right? Would it surprise you to know that about half of the water parks in Central Florida are actually not in Orlando? It’s true! If you want to enjoy water parks in Florida but don’t want to head to Orlando, central Florida presents other options.

About 45 minutes outside of Orlando, try Legoland Florida Water Park in Winter Haven. Part of the Legoland theme park, the water park thrills kids with rides like the Build-Your-Raft lazy river, water slides, Splash Safari, wave pool, and Joker Soaker. If you’re over in the Tampa area, head to Adventure Island for a day of water park fun. Ride on water slides such as Solar Vortex, Vanish Point, and Colossal Curl. The park also offers a wave pool, lazy river, cabanas, and several dining options.

To find two of the most unique water parks in Florida drive north from Tampa. About an hour or so north of Tampa, The Lift Adventure Park takes advantage of Florida’s beautiful scenery and weather to create a unique experience on a spring-fed lake. Learn to wake board in the Wake Park or challenge yourself on the inflatable obstacle course in the lake. You can also sunbathe on their sandy beach or try kayaking with their rentals.

Up the road from The Lift, Buccaneer Bay inside of Weeki Wachee State Park uses one of Florida’s best natural features as a water park. I’m talking about Weeki Wachee Springs, of course. The 1st magnitude freshwater spring flows from deep within the ground, creating a large pool and a river that winds for several miles to the Gulf of Mexico. Buccaneer Bay has a lazy river, diving platform, sandy beach, and three water slides.

Over on the East Coast, Daytona Lagoon gives families more than just a water park to enjoy. After riding water slides like Kraken’s Revenge, Blackbeard’s Revenge, and Shaka Halfpipe, relax while the kids play in Castaway or Treasure Lagoon. When you’re all sunned out, head into the Family Entertainment Center to play in the mega arcade, try laser tag, or take in a round of mini golf.

Water Parks in Orlando FL

Orlando, of course, is where we find the largest concentration of water parks in Florida. And also the largest. Orlando offers visitors to the area a choice of 6 water parks. All but one are associated with other theme parks – Disney, SeaWorld, or Universal.

With Disney’s multi-day pass, you can visit Blizzard Beach or Typhoon Lagoon. Or both, like we did. Each park has it’s own back story which speaks to all of the attractions and architecture within the park.

Several water slides, a lazy river, tike’s peak, and private decks spread across 66 acres in Blizzard Beach. The star attraction here is Summit Plummet, the country’s highest and fastest flume ride at 120 feet. Blizzard Beach is also the largest of the water parks in Orlando.

At 56 acres, Typhoon Lagoon is slightly smaller but no less fun. In fact, I think we enjoyed Typhoon Lagoon more. It, too, has a kids’ area, a bunch of water slides of varying intensity, and lazy river. It also has a wave pool and a log flume ride.

SeaWorld also owns and operates two water parks in Orlando – Aquatica and Discovery Cove. Aquatica Orlando was born from the old Wet N Wild, one of the original water parks in Florida. Covering 59 acres, it has numerous water slides from somewhat tame to wild and adventurous, as well as a lazy river, side-by-side wave pools, and two kids’ areas.

Aquatica Orlando is also the first water park in the world designated as a Certified Autism Center. This means the park employs staff trained to work with special needs guests, a quiet room, and a ride accessibility program, ensuring that the entire family can enjoy a day at the water park.

Discovery Cove is also a Certified Autism Center but offers guests a much different experience, this one centered on the animals in the park. Whether you swim with dolphins, snorkel on the tropical reef, or unwind on the beaches, every inch of Discovery Cove’s 22 acres is geared towards understanding nature and leaving with a one-of-a-kind tropical experience.

In 2017 Universal jumped into the world of water parks with Volcano Bay. A tropical-themed water park surrounding a 200 foot tall volcano, this attraction features a beach, several water slides, wave pool, lazy river, and cabanas. The final water park in Orlando on this list is Orlando Watersports Complex. An attraction similar to The Lift Adventure Park, OWC offers wakeboarding and an inflatable obstacle course on the water. The park is also used for special events like the Cable Games in October and the Wakeboard College Nationals in September.

Water Parks in North Florida

North Florida presents fewer water parks than the rest of Florida. Perhaps because it has less tourists. Perhaps it’s because this part of Florida provides more natural freshwater features. This part of the state has a number of freshwater springs for swimming and diving as well as crystal clear creeks and rivers to enjoy a natural lazy river tubing experience or kayaking. Whatever the reason, only five of the water parks in Florida are found in North Florida.

Starting in northeast Florida, Adventure Landing on Jacksonville Beach features Shipwreck Island, filled with fun things to do such as a 720 foot lazy river, four extreme water slides, and a wave pool. The family entertainment center also has laser tag, miniature golf, and a gator attraction. There are two other locations in northeast Florida – Jacksonville and St. Augustine – though neither has a water park.

Headed west, we find River Ranch Water Park. This one is open only for special community events or can be reserved for group outings, such as for a church, camp, family outing, etc. The park features a lazy river, wave pool, and water slides.

Nearby in Branford, try Bob’s River Place. Located on a popular swimming hole along the historic Suwannee River, Bob’s is one of Florida’s true hidden gems. Built around the natural features of the land and river in this spot, the water park delights guests with rope swings, tree houses, water slides, a log roll, splash pads, and diving platforms.

The final two water parks in Florida on this list are in the panhandle. Visitors to Panama City Beach can play at Shipwreck Island, an iconic attraction in this part of Florida for the last 25 years. This water park has a wave pool, lazy river, several water slides, and two splash areas for younger kids. In Destin, Big Kahuna Water & Adventure Park has more than 40 attractions, including water play areas, water slides, a wave pool, lazy river, miniature golf, and the Skycoaster.

Indoor Water Parks in Florida

Truth is, I don’t know of any indoor water parks in Florida. With our weather, this isn’t surprising. Many of the water parks in Florida close in the winter. Though our winter weather is more mild than our northern friends, the water parks still don’t see enough admission to remain open outside of a seasonal schedule. If you visit in the winter and want to experience one of the water parks, please check their websites for opening schedules.

Final Thoughts on Water Parks in Florida

Water parks in Florida take advantage of the state’s mild weather and natural water features. Wherever you find yourself in the state, you’ll find a water park and even if there isn’t a large one nearby, you’ll like find a city-owned splash pad at a local park. One thing is sure, though, despite thousands of miles of shoreline, tons of freshwater springs, and hundreds of beaches, water parks in Florida remain a popular attraction with visitors and residents alike.