14 Virginia Water Parks That Will Make Your Summer Unforgettable
Warmer days mean finding creative solutions to beating the heat. But before you start to panic about how you’re going to entertain the kids, the out-of-town guests, or even yourself during the summer months, we’ve got the solution. These 14 water parks in Virginia are a surefire way to beat the heat while having the time of your life. Even if you’re not a throw-yourself-down-a-watery-pipeline kind of person, these water parks in Virginia offer a variety of activities to suit thrill seekers and relax-by-the-pool types alike.
Located in Williamsburg only a few miles from Busch Gardens, Water Country USA is Virginia’s largest water theme park. Featuring dozens of thrill rides, speed slides, lazy rivers, a wave pool, kiddie rides, attractions, themed shows, food, and shopping, there’s no limit to the fun at Water Country. Water Country USA keeps temporary and seasonal hours, so be sure to visit the official website before planning your trip.
Soak City is 20-acres of water-filled fun located inside King’s Dominion – which means you get two parks for the price of one! Featuring full-sized thrill rides and slides, a lazy river, kiddie attractions, and cabana rentals, you can make a day of it just at the water park or split your time between the two parks – without ever leaving the grounds. Learn more about Soak City by visiting the official King's Dominion website.
Ocean Breeze Water Park offers more than 30 rides, speed slides, and water-themed attractions just 2 miles south of the Virginia Beach oceanfront. With rides especially for little ones, cabana rentals, a snack bar, and shopping, Ocean Breeze guarantees fun for the whole family. Ocean Breeze is open seasonally, so be sure to head to the website to learn about hours and more information.
Run by the Roanoke County Parks, Recreation and Tourism department, Splash Valley is an outdoor water park with two 34-foot slides, a sprayground, pools, a lazy river, and more. With season passes and weekly specials, this park is the perfect way to keep cool and have fun all summer long. Find out more by visiting the official Splash Valley website.
For a getaway that’s perfect for the whole family, Great Wolf Lodge delivers year-round fun. Featuring water slides, splash and spraygrounds, a current river, pools, and hot tubs, the water park stays at a perfectly controlled 84-degrees year-round. Plus, when you get tired of the water (as if), the resort has a full array of kid-friendly attractions like arcades, theaters, and mini-golf, as well as spa services, shopping, dining, and fitness facilities. Find out what's in store when you visit the Great Wolf Lodge website.
Like Great Wolf Lodge, Massanutten Resort’s indoor water park is open year-round. The park features slides, kiddie pools, and spraygrounds Virginia’s first and largest “Flowrider”surfing simulator and much more. As an added bonus, an outdoor water park offers more slides and water attractions from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Learn more by visiting the website.
Located at Pohick Bay Regional Park in Lorton, Pirate’s Cove is a pirate-themed park complete with water cannons, a 300-gallon dumping bucket, slides, pools, “Buccaneer Beach” sand and play area, a large sun deck, and a snack bar. In addition to season passes, Pirate’s Cove also offers aquatic lessons and shelter rentals for events.
SplashDown is Northern Virginia’s largest water park with 13-acres of giant slides, kiddie play areas, the sand-filled Big Kahuna Beach, a lazy river, beach volleyball, pools, and 5 concession stands. This is the perfect place to enjoy the summer sun – or plan for a special event with full-service catering and venue rentals perfect for birthday parties, corporate events, and much more. For hours and more information, head on over to the SplashDown Waterpark.
Great Waves Waterpark at Cameron Run Regional Park offers a little bit of everything. Water slides, speed slides, tube slides, and a wave pool will keep even the biggest adventure seeker busy, while kiddie pools and water attractions will keep the little ones happy. If you’re ready to dry off, enjoy the batting cages, mini golf and Paradise Play, a 30 foot high play structure with slides, climbing walls, pogo bounces, mazes and much, much more.
Located in Algonkian Regional Park, Volcano Island has a 500-gallon dumping bucket, slides, pools, and waterfalls all in a tropically themed setting that features a volcano, tiki huts, and Polynesian décor. Play in the sand, sun by the pool, or just stay in the water all day – Volcano Island is the place to do it all. For seasonal hours, head on over to the Volcano Island Water Park website.
11. Allegheny Springs at the Omni Homestead Resort, Hot Springs
Like other resort water parks that we’ve featured, Allegheny Springs is within the Omni Homestead Resort complex. But what sets this park apart is that the two-acre park is fed by natural springs. Featuring family pools, a whirlpool, two 100-foot water slides, a lazy river, a kids’ play area, and a sand-filled beach, the park is truly an exercise in luxury. Poolside cabanas fully-equipped with sofas and flat-screen TVs provide shade while a personal attendant is available to bring snacks and cocktails from the Allegheny Springs Grill.
This fun-filled water park is at Andrew Leitch Park in Dale City. Featuring slides, water obstacles, wading pools, kid-friendly play areas, and cabanas, it’s the perfect place to spend a day in the water. A full-service snack bar and Leitch Park’s wooded trails, basketball courts, and pavilions make Waterworks a one-stop shop for summer fun. Learn more by visiting the Waterworks Waterpark website.
The Wild West comes alive at this family water park in Reston. Run by the Fairfax County Park system, the park offers than an acre of slides, flumes, and water-themed attractions – all surrounded by Rattlesnake River, a current river perfect for floating. The park theme is based on local legend, Pete the Prospector, who staked a gold claim here in 1849 – all he found was water, but the park has turned his legend into summer gold.
Located at Upton Hill Regional Park in Arlington, Ocean Dunes beach-themed attractions give you a day at the beach without leaving the city. The park features dune grass and beach-y attitude with waterslides, lap pools, family pools, and a kids’ play area and dumping bucket. Swim lessons are available throughout the summer, as well as batting cages and mini-golf.
Water parks in Virginia are always a great idea for the whole family. Many of them offer season passes at a discount, as well as special events throughout the summer. So start planning now — and in the meantime, tell us about your favorite water parks in Virginia in the comments below!
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Address: Water Country Pkwy, District 1, VA 23185, USA
Address: Kings Dominion Boulevard, Kings Dominion Blvd, Doswell, VA, USA
Address: 849 General Booth Blvd, Virginia Beach, VA 23451, USA
Address: 7415 Wood Haven Rd, Roanoke, VA 24019, USA
Address: Great Wolf Lodge Williamsburg, 549 E Rochambeau Dr, Williamsburg, VA 23188, USA
Address: 1200 Adventure Dr, Massanutten, VA 22840, USA
Address: 6501 Pohick Bay Dr, Lorton, VA 22079, USA
Address: 7500 Ben Lomond Park Rd, Manassas, VA 20109, USA
Address: Great Waves Waterpark, 4001 Eisenhower Ave, Alexandria, VA 22304, USA
Address: 20015 Volcano Island Dr, Sterling, VA 20165, USA
Address: The Omni Homestead Resort, 7696 Sam Snead Hwy, Hot Springs, VA 24445, USA
Address: 5301 Dale Blvd, Woodbridge, VA 22193, USA
Address: 1400 Lake Fairfax Dr, Reston, VA 20190, USA
Address: 6060 Wilson Blvd, Arlington, VA 22205, USA
The OIYS Visitor Center
Water parks in Virginia
May 03, 2021
Beth C.
What are the best summer destinations in Virginia?
With the arrival of summer, Virginia becomes a land of adventure. From breathtaking outdoor attractions to charming small towns, major cities, and just about everywhere in between, the Old Dominion is perhaps the most fun to explore during the warm months. Some of the best -- and lesser-known -- summer destinations in Virginia include Carter Mountain Orchard in Charlottesville, Sandbridge in Virginia Beach, Lake Anna in Spotsylvania, Peaks of Otter in Bedford, Caledon State Park in King George County, Tangier Island, Busch Gardens in Williamsburg, Shenandoah Caverns in Quicksburg, and the Martinsville Speedway. Learn more about these incredible summer destinations in Virginia.
Does Virginia have any swimming holes?
Now that you've learned about some of the best water parks in Virginia, it's time to venture into the wild a bit more. You'll find that Virginia has loads of natural swimming holes, and they can be incredibly refreshing. Some of the best swimming holes in Virginia include Little Stoney Creek Falls, Devil's Bathtub, the Beach at Tangier Island, Douthat State Park, Emerald Pond in New Market Gap, and the Shenandoah River. Learn more about these lesser-known swimming holes in Virginia.
What are some fun things to do in Virginia?
As mentioned above, Sandbridge Beach is one of the lesser-known summer destinations in Virginia. However, it also makes for a great day trip in any season. Located south of Virginia Beach, this sandy stretch of shoreline is positively beautiful. Plus, it's relatively uncrowded compared to the main beach. For more inspiration, check out our list of fun things to do in Virginia.
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Virginia staff writer for Only in Your State, freelance writer and journalist. Even though Anna has lived other places, somehow Virginia is where she always seems to land.
