If you want to treat the kids to a special day, I suggest exploring one of the water parks in New York. Fun aquatic parks can be found all across the state, from the suburbs of NYC to the Finger Lakes region and everywhere in between.
Visiting an aquatic venue is an excellent activity in New York City to participate in with children, particularly during the summer months since most of these parks are outdoors. However, you can also find indoor water parks located in NYC and beyond, where temperatures remain warm year-round.
In this guide, I’m sharing the top 10 aquatic amusement areas in New York and what makes them stand apart. So, whether you’re searching for thrilling water trips, family attractions, kid-friendly water slides, or a mix of all these options, I’ve got you covered.
In essence, these are the best water parks in New York state:
- Splish Splash Water Park (Calverton, NY)
- SplashDown Beach (Fishkill, NY)
- Enchanted Forest Water Safari (Old Forge, NY)
- Zoom Flume Water Adventure Park (East Durham, NY)
- Roseland Waterpark (Canandaigua, NY)
- Thunder Island Water Park (Fulton, NY)
- Seabreeze Water Park (Rochester, NY)
- Hurricane Harbor at Darien Lake (Buffalo, NY)
- Principal Aquatic Venue (Highland, NY)
- DreamWorks Water Park(East Rutherford, NJ)
- Cascades Indoor Waterpark (Cortland, NY)
Table of Contents
1. Splish Splash Water Park, the best water park on New York’s Long Island
If you’re searching for an aquatics facility near NYC, check out Splish Splash Water Park. It`s located in Calverton, a town in eastern Long Island, so it`s a good option if you`re in the Manhattan area.
Splish Splash has over 30 attractions, such as a lazy river, a wave pool, and a water coaster. There are three swimming pools as well as kid-friendly regions for the little ones to splash around.
For something more thrilling, choose from 20 water slides with differing excitement levels, like an enclosed slide, racing slides, or a family raft ride. Splish Splash has a superb mix of attractions, activities and relaxation spots, making it a fantastic place to visit as a family group.
The park is open May through September and has lockers, cabana rentals, lounge chairs, snack stands, and restaurants. Also, if you prefer the ocean, this water park in Long Island, New York is just 30 minutes from Southampton, one of the best beaches near NYC.
2. SplashDown Beach, a great water park in New York for families
SplashDown Beach is an amusement park located in Fishkill, New York, within a two hour drive of New York City. Families will find various activities and entertainment options across this water-themed destination.
Float lazily along the gentle river, take a refreshing swim in the family pool, or leap joyfully over the towering wave crests. Little ones can play safely in the kiddie aqua park with its children`s attractions and waterslides.
Referring to slides, you’ll find all varieties here, from speedy waterfalls to the six-story Arctic Mammoth experience. If you dare, you can feel zero gravity on The Megalodon raft ride. Just remember to securely store your valuables in a storage locker!
Another noteworthy aspect of SplashDown Beach is the presence of a genuine sandy beach. Rock Beach provides ample space to relax and unwind, in addition to an entertainment section hosting performances and shows. When hunger strikes, you can pick from Mexican cuisine, pizza, waffles, ice cream or typical treats enjoyed at beaches.
This is one of the most fun aquatic parks in New York, and it’s open daily from mid-May to early September.
3. Enchanted Forest Water Safari, a large waterpark in New York
Enchanted Forest Water Safari in Old Forge boasts over 50 attractions including numerous waterslides, ranking it as New York`s biggest water park.
This jungle-themed water park is the perfect place to have a family vacation, plus it’s in the Adirondacks, so you can also explore the surrounding areas. Here, you’ll find a wide variety of tube, body, and racer slides, as well as enclosed raft rides.
Youths will greatly enjoy the children’s region and aquatic playground, and older kids can ride bumper boats and climb around on the rope path in the huge swimming pool. Enchanted Forest also has conventional water park attractions like a wave pool and a lazy river.
Not only that, but the watersports venue is next to a campsite, so visitors can stay overnight and continue their entertainment the following day. In addition to the aquatic activities, guests will find an arcade, go-karts, rock climbing, mini golf, a zip line ride, bumper cars, a small rollercoaster, and a Ferris wheel. If facing heights does not cause discomfort, the chairlift aerial transport is a fantastic way to survey the entire park from above.
Lastly, a variety of edible selections are available here, like a pizza establishment, a café, an ice cream shop, and a bar. Enchanted Forest is accessible from mid-June to early September, making it an excellent northern New York aquatic recreational area for summertime trips .
4. Zoom Flume Water Park, one of the best New York water parks for kids
Another eminent water park found in New York is the Zoom Flume Water Park in East Durham. It offers an affordable locale for families with children to engage in some enjoyment and find relief from the summer weather conditions.
This outdoor waterpark is open from mid-June to early September and contains the typical attractions usually expected, like a wave pool and a lazy river. There is also a lagoon area designed specially for younger children so they can splash around safely.
Also, if you’re looking for some exceptionally thrilling water activities in New York, Zoom Flume features numerous options, such as speedy slides for racing, a winding tube route, and a massive raft experience. There are also enclosed slides where riders travel in low light conditions, and body slides that don’t necessitate an inner tube.
When seeking a break, one could explore the arcade, relax in the relaxation area, or grab a snack from the café and enjoy it in the picnic area. Zoom Flume offers private cabana rentals, dressing rooms, restrooms, and locker rentals, so all possessions will remain safe.
While Zoom Flume is best suited to younger kids, it’s in the Catskills, so there are lots of cool places to discover in the surrounding area .
5. Roseland Waterpark, one of the best water parks in upstate New York
Situated in Canandaigua, in the Finger Lakes region, Roseland Waterpark is another reasonably priced waterpark in upstate New York.
While this is a smaller park, it has plenty of attractions to keep you and the kids occupied during your stay. For example, everyone will have fun on the family raft ride, while risk-takers will reach speeds up to 30 mph on the steep body slide. There is a waterslide for every thrill level here, like enclosed slides and innertube rides.
Young people can have plenty of fun at the play area for kids, which is filled with water cannons, small slides, and a bucket that holds one thousand gallons and empties every minute. Older children will love participating in water balloon fights at the Water War Zone, while adults can relax in the wave pool or along the lazy river.
In addition to the aquatic activities, Roseland Waterpark has lounge regions, beach volleyball, and a cafe serving wraps, salads, burgers, and more. Plus, the park has certified lifeguards, locker rentals, and free parking access. Therefore, if you want to visit one of the most excellent water parks in New York, go during the summer since it’s open from early June to Labor Day .
6. Thunder Island Water Park, a New York water park with lots of activities
Thunder Island Water Park is another water-based attraction in northern New York, situated specifically in Fulton, NY. This park has activities and facilities suitable for all ages, including adults, so it’s perfect for your summer trip.
Here, you’ll find eight waterslides, including an enclosed slide, a bowl slide with 1,000 gallons of water, a traditional innertube slide, and a kiddie slide. Speaking of kids, they’ll have their own children-only aquatic playground, which has water sprays, a mini lazy river, and other amusements.
All visitors can take a dip in one of the five swimming areas or unwind in the lounge locations, which have sunbathing chairs and umbrellas. Those who prefer dry activities can check out the miniature golf course, the go-kart track, the carousel, or the zipline experience. There is also an entertainment center where you can enjoy the air conditioning while playing fun video games, Skee Ball, and more.
This aquatic fun spot in Fulton, New York is a hit with budget-focused families since it has free parking and free admission (you pay for the attractions). You can rent a storage locker for your things, grab a bite to eat at the café, or bring a cooler with your own food. Thunder Island is open daily from early June through Labor Day .
7. Seabreeze Waterpark, a fun water park in New York with waterslides
Around 1.5 hours to the west of Fulton, you’ll find Seabreeze Waterpark. A notable feature of this water park in Rochester, New York is its tidal pool, containing 260,000 gallons of water and waves up to four feet high. Certified lifeguards are employed and flotation devices provided, allowing kids to safely enjoy all Seabreeze offers.
In conjunction with the wave pool, this water park has a bowl slide that plunges riders through an enclosed passageway before ejecting them into a colossal bowl that they slide around. Another cool attraction is the Hydro Racer, a series of slides where you and the kids can compete to reach the bottom.
Seabreeze is an enjoyable aquatic facility in New York, but it also has a calm river and fun activities for kids like water cannons and a giant water container. Also, there is a grill inside the waterpark so you can quench your thirst and fill your stomach. Best of all, the waterpark is right next to Seabreeze AmusementPark, one of the top amusement parks in New York.
8. Hurricane Harbor at Six Flags Darien Lake, another awesome water park in upstate NY
Hurricane Harbor at Six Flags Darien Lake is an excellent aquatic park in western New York, situated just one hour west of Niagara Falls, one of the top attractions in New York state.
This is another wet park that’s a part of a more extensive amusement park, so you can maximize your time here. As for the water park, it’s full of family-friendly attractions and children`s areas, including Hook’s Lagoon. Here, the little ones can play on an aquatic playground with waterslides and a huge dumping pail.
Older children tend to enjoy amenities like the wave pool, lazy river, and various waterslides, such as a giant funnel slide, extreme slides, an aquatic half-pipe, and racing slides. There is even a body slide allowing free falls from 70 feet high.
Fear not, as Hurricane Harbor has certified lifeguards stationed throughout, as well as locker rentals permitting safekeeping of possessions. Showers and restrooms are also available, and private cabanas can be rented for those planning to spend the full day. This outdoor water park in Buffalo, New York welcomes guests from mid-May through late September .
9. Big Splash Indoor Waterpark, a cool water park in a New York hotel
- Recommended lodging: Pod Brooklyn is among the top inexpensive hotels in Brooklyn near the Williamsburg Bridge.
The temperature remains at a comfortable 85°F year-round here, allowing you to feel like you`re on a tropical vacation even in deep winter. You can sprawl out on a beach chair by the pool or cool off using an array of fountains and sprinklers. The large family pool features a ropes course certain to delight all ages, while little ones will love the child-friendly play areas.
The main attraction at the resort is the Gold Rush waterslide, an enclosed, winding tube slide that winds around both the interior and exterior of the resort. For a more leisurely activity, check out the heated indoor/outdoor pool, which provides hydrotherapy jets to help you unwind.
Not exclusively is this one of the peak aquatic parks in the New York arena, nevertheless it’s fraction of Rocking Horse Ranch Resort, which furnishes other attractions suchlike watersports, winter activities, mountain tubing, banana boat rides, and climbing rock .
10. Cascades Indoor Waterpark, the best water park in New York with indoor and outdoor pools
Facility-wise, guests have use of a swimming pool and restaurant serving delicious traditional Canarian cuisine. I additionally suggest utilizing the hotel`s spa, which offers a unique water circuit and pampering gourmet brunch package sure to leave you feeling refreshed.
This water park can be enjoyed year-round given its tropical temperature of 84 degrees Fahrenheit. Besides an outdoor heated pool and series of jacuzzis combining indoor and outdoor areas, highlights include rapid rides down slides, an arcade for games and a wave pool maintaining 67,000 gallons of water volume with a 13-foot tall waterfall feature.
This is without doubt one of the more suitable water recreational facilities in Ny for kids because there are loads of children’s places for them to play. Massive Bear Falls aspects a playground with water cannons, slides, and a 500-gallon unload bucket, whereas Little Bear Falls has swings and mini slides for smaller kids. In addition, the onsite cafe will keep all appetites fulfilled.
Not only is Cascades another excellent water park situated in New York`s Finger Lakes region, but it`s part of the Greek Peak Mountain Resort, where you can go skiing, snow tubing, mountain biking, ziplining, and more activities.
That’s the conclusion for the best water recreational areas in New York state, but before moving on, here is a downloadable map with all the parks referenced.
Here is a embedded map showing the locations:
I hope you found this guide helpful, but if you have any other questions, feel free to ask them below. I’d be pleased to answer! I also suggest reviewing our article on the prime day excursions from NYC since you can easily add these water parks to those trips. Have fun splashing around!
