Best Water Parks in Dallas

This tropical-themed wet zone, operated by the Dallas Park and Recreation Department-- packs in the fun with water balloon launchers, a lazy river and slides galore. And though the park may be smaller in size compared to most, there's certainly no shortage of activities to keep kids entertained for the day. Not-to-be-missed is Coconut Grove, a massive water rain fortress--tricked out with pulleys, ladders, geysers, three 40-foot slides and a 1,000-gallon dumping bucket. Plus, Bahama Beach offers up everything from terrific food to private cabanas and fun events like dive-in movies. The park opens May 28 through August 14, as well as on the weekend of August 20, 2022.

No matter what the weather is like outside, it's always a balmy 84 degrees inside this 80,000-square-foot tropical paradise. As far as attractions go, the Great Wolf Lodge has it all--seven pools, twelve water slide rides plus a multi-level tree house tricked out with a boatload of interactive features. Oh, and in addition to the indoor water park, the lodge also features Racoon Lagoon, an outdoor water park that is open from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Even better, the lodge now offers day passes for families who just want to splash out for an afternoon.

Forget the man-made stuff--the best water parks are the ones created by nature itself. Case in point: Burger's Lake, a 1950s-era spring-fed watering hole located on the outskirts of Fort Worth. Offering sandy beaches, a plethora of diving boards, a 20-foot-high slide and a 25-foot trapeze that swings over the water, this retro swimming spot has something for everyone, no matter what age they are. In addition to swimming, the 30-acre park features tennis and volleyball courts as well as grills, picnic tables and concession stands. And though it's a slight hike from Dallas (about 45 minutes from downtown) this aquatic treasure makes the trek worthwhile. The Lake is open daily from May 28 to August 14, 2022, then on weekends only until Labor Day.

If you're looking for a water park that caters to both adults and kids then you may want to head over to the King Spa, a family-friendly Korean bathhouse where guests can soak, steam, swim, eat and even spend the night. Along with a veritable smorgasbord of feel-good treatments, guests can enjoy a massive indoor water park that features everything from a therapeutic bade pool to a whirlpool to a children's play pool-- complete with a 30-foot water-slide and lazy river. The complex also includes a movie theater, a childcare room, workstations and a food court that serves up Korean fare as well as tacos, burgers and pizza.

Another hotel that has splashed into the waterpark action is the Hilton Anatole, located in Dallas' Design District near downtown. Created to appeal to hotel guests of all ages, this 4-acre, Asian-inspired resort not only features a heated, 4,000-square foot leisure pool with a swim-up bar but also a 7,000-square-foot, beach-entry family pool--complete with a pair of 30-foot-tall water slides and a 630-foot-long lazy river. Additional amenities include luxury cabanas, daybeds and an outdoor bar and grill. Along with water activities, the resort dials up the fun with lawn games, dive-in movies and a host of family-fun events. The resort pool opens on weekends beginning March 12, 2022 and then daily from May 27 through Labor Day weekend.

Taking the concept of water parks to another level is the WhoaZone, the largest floating aqua park obstacle course in Texas. Set across 25,000 acres on Grapevine Lake (around 25 miles from Downtown Dallas), the buoyant wonderland boasts everything from bridges and monkey bars to slides, trampolines and balance beams. The park is open from Memorial Day through Labor Day 2022, from noon to 6:30 p.m. weekdays and 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. on weekends. Note that you also must pay a fee of $5 per day per car, or $1 for walk-ups and bike riders, to the City of Grapevine for access to Meadowmere Park, where the venue is located.

Owned by the City of Grand Prairie, this 80,000-square-foot, indoor-outdoor aquatic paradise boasts eleven different waterslides, including the nation's tallest indoor Aqualoop and the first indoor double rider Aquasphere inner tube ride. Not into water slides? No problem, the park also features a surf simulator, a 10,000-square-foot wave pool, a kiddie play area and one of the longest lazy rivers in America. Add in a 4,000-square-foot arcade, a café and a full-service bar, and good luck convincing your family to leave. Best of all, you don't need to wait for summertime to get your splash on, the park is open year-round.

While not as large as some of the major waterparks on this list, Hawaiian Falls packs in plenty of soak-filled fun for family members of all ages. And one of the best things about this park is that there are four Dallas-Fort Worth locations to choose from. Along with wave pools, lazy rivers and interactive water-play complexes, expect to find state-of-the-art rides that feature everything from four-story drops to tube slides equipped with laser lights and music. The park opens the last two weekends of May and then operates daily from June 4 through August 7. Also note that the park is open on weekends from August 13 through September 17, 2022.

Ranked among the top water parks in the nation, NRH2O is a city-operated park located mid-way between Dallas and Fort Worth in North Richland Hills. Situated on 17-acres, the park features over twenty-two water slides, a 660-foot long endless river, a 12,000-square-foot wave pool and a children's swimming hole complete with a five-level water playground. NRH2O is also home to the Green Extreme, the world's largest uphill water-coaster, measuring over 1,100-feet long and 81-feet high. Aside from rides, guests can play volleyball on a white sand beach and take a dip in a 5,300-square-foot pool. Be sure to keep an eye out for weekly events like music festivals, dive-in movie nights and fireworks displays. The park opens for weekends only May 7 to May 28, then daily through August 14. The park will continue to operate on weekends through September 24, 2022.

If you thought Six Flags had it all, wait until you dive into the company's behemoth water wonderland. Here you'll find 47-acres filled with everything from a million-gallon wave pool and a lazy river to over a dozen different water slides and jaw-dropping rides. Highlights include the Black Hole, which plunges riders 80-feet down a twisted tube into total darkness; and the Geronimo, a steep body slide ride featuring a free-fall drop-down six-stories. As an added bonus, visitors can purchase combination tickets and enjoy admission to both parks. Open on May 21 and 22, and then daily from May 28 through August 14. The park will also be open on weekends from August 20 to September 5, 2022.