It might be surprising to learn that Las Vegas is not only about the nightlife, clubs, casinos, and adult entertainment. I mean, for adults, it might be. But there are also a ton of ways to enjoy Las Vegas too! Especially in the summer season when all you want to do is cool off in some water.
Since the inception of the first water park, Las Vegas is getting quite a name for itself as the ideal location for a family vacation for those looking for some water activity fun.
Whether you’re visiting with family or as a group of friends, here are a few of the best ways to splish-splash the day away at the best water parks in Las Vegas.
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10 Best Water Parks In Las Vegas Perfect For The Whole Family
1. Cowabunga Bay
If you’re looking for a full-fledged water park in Las Vegas, Cowabunga Bay is the place to go. It’s the ultimate waterpark playground for family fun!
Cowabunga Bay opened its doors for the first time in 2014, bringing joy and adventure to the ever-sunny destination of Las Vegas. You will find this water park only a 15-minute drive from the Las Vegas Strip –close enough for out-of-towners to get to.
Located on an extensive piece of land, Cowabunga Bay includes 23 acres of water park featuring 25 fun-filled attractions. With so many available options, there is something for everyone to choose from, including child-friendly and even note-worthy adult attractions.
Cowabunga Bay’s fantastic activities include regular slides, water slides, surf pools, swimming pools, sandy beaches, and lazy rivers.
You will find the world’s largest artificial wave at this water park, which stands at 72 feet. There are also a good amount of water slides for all types of adventure seekers, namely “Wild Surf”, the ultimate waterslide!
Another noteworthy thrill ride is the Point Panic, a wholly enclosed waterslide with only a few lighted areas. Some other water rides you shouldn’t miss out on include Breaker 1-9, Cowabunga River, and Downhill Doggers, among others.
If you seek the perfect area for younger adventure seekers, then Kids Cove is the place for you. As a parent, you might be surprised, but this section can be just as enjoyable for you as it is for your little ones.
Cowabunga Bay is open Mondays to Sundays during the summer months. Unfortunately, the water park is closed during the winter months. (It’s best experienced in the summer anyway.)
Best For: All Ages
Address: 900 Galleria Drive (Henderson)
2. Cowabunga Canyon (previously Wet ‘N Wild Las Vegas)
Located just 20 minutes from the Las Vegas Strip, the Cowabunga Canyon water park brings Las Vegas the perfect family-friendly water park experience.
While it was previously known as Wet ‘N Wild, they’ve since rebranded to Cowabunga Canyon in 2023. The new name means new rides and lots of renovations too!
As this is another full-fledged water park in Las Vegas, you can expect to enjoy the full experience of a waterpark when visiting.
Cowabunga Canyon features thrilling attractions including the Boomer Wrangler, Texas Tornado, Duece’s Wild, and Hi-Ho Silver, among others.
For the best spot for the younger adventure seekers, try out the Kids’ Aquatic section for some great activities. If you feel like a more relaxing experience, you have the option of lazying around in the sprawling river or the giant wave pool.
There are also cabanas for rent should the adults want to post up and read a book, relax, or suntan as their kids hop around the park all day long.
The park is open from Mondays to Sundays during the summer months.
Best For: All Ages
Address: 7055 S Fort Apache Road (Summerlin)
Pro Tip: Debating between Cowabunga Canyon vs Cowabunga Bay? You can opt for their season pass, where you get unlimited admission to both Henderson and Summerlin parks.
3. The Aqua Park At Lake Las Vegas
You will get a completely unique experience at The Aqua Park on Lake Las Vegas, and you only need to travel approximately 20 miles to get to this fantastic water park!
Lake Las Vegas’ Aqua Park features 40,000 square feet of family-friendly attractions on the water. If you can picture a jungle gym on top of a lake, that’s what you’ll be getting here.
There is a range of activities that you and the whole family can enjoy, including swings, ramps, bridges, water slides, jumping pads, and trampolines all jumbled among each other.
You can best describe this obstacle course-styled water park as a giant floating playground. Unlike the other water parks in the area that grant you full-day access, you can only buy 90 minutes of adventure time in one go, and each session lasts only 45 minutes.
Every visitor to this adventure-filled water park will receive a life jacket on arrival, which you must wear at all times, no matter your age. Once decked out in your life jacket, you will have free reign to enjoy all the park offers!
The Aqua Park is open year-round, although always check with them to ensure they are open before heading out to the Lake. Guests who wish to try out the aqua park must know how to swim.
You also have the opportunity to rent out a kayak, paddleboard, flyboard, electric boat, or yacht to enjoy everything Lake Las Vegas has to offer. Check out the rest of their offerings here.
Best For: All Ages
Address: 20 Costa Do Lago Street, Henderson.
4. Mandalay Bay Beach
You will find Mandalay Bay Beach conveniently located right on The Strip inside the one and only Mandalay Bay Resort. This casino resort is famous for having a one-of-a-kind aquatic playground that often deemed the best of all the Las Vegas hotels.
If you’re going for a more laid-back water park experience, then you can’t go wrong with Mandalay Bay Beach. This 11-acre water park will seem like a tropical oasis with its lazy river, white-sandy beaches, a wave pool, hot tubs, even a day club, and a three-story casino you can busy yourself in too.
While Mandalay Bay Beach does not have massive waterslides or thrill rides as some of the previous water parks do, it’s still a really fun time – especially if your first priority is convenience. Because it’s located right on The Strip, it’s perfect for those traveling to Vegas without a car!
There are options available for the whole family, including an adults-only pool where adults can relax, sip on some adult drinks and spend some time away from the little ones.
The 1.6 million gallon wave pool will give you that open ocean feel, the lagoon is perfect for lounging, and the massive lazy river is available for you and your family to enjoy while floating on inner tubes (you can either bring your own or buy them there).
If you or the little ones have happened to work up an appetite from all the sun and swim, you can enjoy a bite to eat next to the beach at one of the many food and grill bars available.
People rave about the pool area (it’s one of the best in all of Las Vegas!), hotel cleanliness, and friendly service throughout the whole resort.
NOTE: Mandalay Bay Beach is available to hotel guests only. You might want to book a night or two at the hotel to ensure you get to enjoy every aspect of the hotel, beach and pool areas included! Guests at the Four Seasons Las Vegas and the Delano Las Vegas also have access to this pool complex.
Best For: All Ages
Address: 3950 Las Vegas Blvd S
Read More: Mandalay Bay Review: Is This Vegas Hotel Worth Staying At?
5. The Tank
The Golden Nugget Hotel offers something unique you can only dream of finding in Las Vegas – an aquarium built under and through the hotel, as well as a pool to pair with the aquarium!
The Tank is essentially 200,000-gallon shark aquarium filled with real live sharks. It’s a super cool sight to see!
But we haven’t mentioned the best thing about The Tank yet – you can actually take a super tube ride through the shark tank aquarium — viewing the sharks through the glass encasing of the ride. What person wouldn’t love this?
Even if you choose to opt out of the shark aquarium slide, the Tank Pool will bring pleasure to the entire family. For those that might not feel comfortable taking the ride can still swim and view the fish through the glass barrier from within the pool!
The Tank pool provides you with other water fun, including Jacuzzis and an adult pool for 21+’s called The Hideout. The main pool also sports several stunning waterfalls you could just splash around in!
Hotel guests can access The Tank for free, but outside visitors will need to pay a fee to enter.
Best For: All Ages
Address: The Golden Nugget Hotel & Casino, 129 East Fremont Street
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6. The Splash Zone At Circus Circus
If you prefer a more private and less crowded water park experience, then The Splash Zone at Circus Circus can provide you with the perfect time.
The Splash Zone and Pool feature a phenomenal 50-foot water slide, a splash pad, water canons, spill buckets, rain trees, two pools, and whirlpools.
The slides have height restrictions (heights above 42” and 48”, respectively), but those that don’t meet the mark can enjoy the endless water-filled fun at the splash pad and be ready to get drenched in water.
Only guests at the hotel can enjoy the pool amenities, so if you want to get in on the fun, you’ll want to reserve a room here for a night or two. With an indoor amusement park, you might have to schedule a few nights at this hotel to get to all the fun they have to offer!
And don’t worry, this is one of the most budget-friendly hotels on the entire Las Vegas Strip!
You can rent one of the limited cabanas at an extra cost, but if you want to do this, remember that the hotel rents them out on a first-come, first-served basis, so ensure that you get there early.
Best For: Younger children
Address: Circus Circus Las Vegas at 2880 S. Las Vegas Boulevard
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7. Walnut Water Park
One of the more budget-friendly water park options in Las Vegas, Walnut Water Park will not disappoint if you decide to give this place a visit. Despite its size, the kids will still have a ton of fun at super bang-for-your-buck prices!
The main attraction of this lovely little water park is its slide that will take you into the pool, a highlight for children. If your plan is for a family outing, you will be pleased to know that the park enforces a strict policy on safety.
Another fantastic aspect of this park is that if you get tired of the water fun, there is an array of other non-water activities for all. These activities include a basketball court, gym, and playground.
The park is closed during the winter and open during the summer seasons.
Best For: Younger children
Address: 3075 N Walnut Rd, Las Vegas
8. Desert Breeze Water Park
Desert Breeze Aquatic Center houses a smaller water park, another budget-friendly option, that’s perfect for younger kids and smaller ones.
Despite its smaller size, several fun-filled activities will keep everyone entertained. A water beach entry, two slides, and a play structure are situated within the water, making it the perfect location for children.
Other attractions at Desert Breeze Aquatic Center include a children’s play zone for when the kids get tired of all the water fun and an indoor swimming pool.
The outdoor water fun is only open during summer, but the indoor swimming pool is open year-round. Before visiting the indoor pool, phone ahead to ensure it is open, as management sometimes rents the pool out for private functions.
Best For: Younger children
Address: 8275 Spring Mountain Road, Las Vegas
9. Garside Pool
A lesser-known water park in Las Vegas, Garside Pool offers hours of fun for the whole family!
Much like Desert Breeze Water Park, Walnut Water Park, and Hollywood Aquatic Center, you’re going to find unbeatable prices of less than $3 for admission.
This small, budget-friendly water park features two waterslides, a lap pool, diving boards, a walk-in swimming pool, and an aqua playground perfect for children.
Some great things about this water park include its lockers, picnic tables, and shaded areas, making it a perfect spot to make a day out of being next to the water.
There are lifeguards on duty, ensuring a safe and fun experience.
Garside Pool is open during the summer season. Your best bet would be to check opening times online or call ahead to confirm they are open when you visit.
Best For: Younger children
Address: 250 S Torrey Pines Dr, Las Vegas
10. Hollywood Aquatic Center
Hollywood Aquatic Center is the ideal location if you want a budget-friendly, low-key water park experience that isn’t nearly as crowded as the major water parks are.
You might be surprised to find out lovely this little water park is packed with goodies, with its indoor and outdoor pool facilities, splash pad, and giant water slide. The outdoor pool area is relatively shallow, so it’s an excellent place for children. There is also some interactive play equipment if your children want something else to occupy them.
The water park has lifeguards on duty to help ensure safety. You can bring food and drink into the water park, but no glass or alcohol is allowed.
The indoor pool remains open year-round, and the outdoor water park section is open during the summer only.
Best For: Younger children
Address: 1550 S. Hollywood, Las Vegas
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Big Bus Las Vegas Open Top Night Tour – Enjoy 3 hours of dazzling neon lights that Las Vegas is famous for. Take in dancing fountains and erupting volcanoes as you travel the Las Vegas Strip!
Las Vegas Helicopter Night Flight – Soar over the famous Las Vegas Strip with an exclusive sightseeing tour of Sin City’s downtown skyline and beyond, including the Bellagio, the Mirage, and the Fremont Street Experience.
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