14 Virginia Water Parks That Will Make Your Summer Unforgettable

Summer in Virginia means 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. The 14 best 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 Virginia water parks offer a variety of activities to suit thrill seekers and relax-by-the-pool types alike.

1. Water Country USA, Williamsburg

2. Soak City at King’s Dominion, Doswell

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.

3. Ocean Breeze Waterpark, Virginia Beach

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 Ocean Breeze Waterpark website for hours and more information.

4. Splash Valley, Roanoke

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.

5. Great Wolf Lodge Water Park, Williamsburg

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.

6. Massanutten Resort Indoor Waterpark, Massanutten

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 at the Massanutten Resort website.

7. Pirate’s Cove Waterpark, Lorton

8. SplashDown Waterpark, Manassas

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 website.

9. Great Waves Waterpark, Alexandria

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.

10. Volcano Island Water Park, Sterling

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.

12. Waterworks Waterpark, Dale City

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.

13. Water Mine Family Swimmin’ Hole, Reston

14. Ocean Dunes Waterpark, Arlington

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!