Ah, Arizona. Home to 70-degree winter days and more sunshine than east coasters will ever experience. That’s the kind of weather that deserves a dip in the pool. And where to better to do so than a state-of-the-end water park?
Fortunately for its residents, the Grand Canyon state is home to some of the best in the country. From indoor adventures to watery pursuits under the sun, we’ve got you covered! Check out our list of the best water parks in Arizona.
Quick View: Arizona’s 16 Best Water Parks
- Great Wolf Lodge, Scottsdale
- Oasis Water Park, Phoenix
- Kiwanis Wave Pool, Tempe
- Hurricane Harbor, Phoenix
- Desert Oasis Aquatic Center, Chandler
- Golfland Sunsplash Water Park, Mesa
- River Ranch Water Park, Phoenix
- Hamilton Aquatic Center, Chandler
- Big Surf Water Park, Tempe
- Surprise Aquatics Center, Surprise
- Anthem Community Center, Anthem
- Monsoon Park, Scottsdale
- The Splash Zone at Enchanted Island, Phoenix
- Salt River Tubing, Mesa
- The Hyatt Regency Resort and Spa at Gainey Ranch, Scottsdale
- Mesquite Groves Aquatic Center, Chandler
1. Great Wolf Lodge, Scottsdale
Indoor water park? Check. Towering water slides? Check. Splash pool, lazy river and a hot tub to hang around in once we’re through with the rides? Check, check and check. When it comes to water park adventures and experiences, Great Wolf Lodge hits all the marks. Make sure to explore some of our other attractions as well. Our Arizona resort houses a miniature golf course, arcade, climbing wall and more!
2. Oasis Water Park, Phoenix
Looking for water parks in Phoenix? Check out this next location. The Oasis Water Park stretches across seven acres and offers 8-story thrill slides, a giant wave pool, a 35-person hot tub, kiddie pools, and the only side-by-side active river in the Salt River Valley. As part of the Arizona Grand Resort & Spa, the destination also includes a spa, golf course and high-end dining options on site. The Travel Channel even voted The Oasis Water Park into the top 10 water park’s in the country. This isn’t one you want to miss!
3. Kiwanis Wave Pool, Tempe
Welcome to Tempe’s only indoor wave pools! The Kiwanis wave pool features three-foot waves in eight varying patterns. The pool also provides a 122-foot double spiral water slide and six lap lanes. Raft and tube rentals are available upon request!
4. Hurricane Harbor, Phoenix
Formally known as Wet N’ Wild Phoenix, this Phoenix water park provides a little something for the entire family. Whether you’re traveling with older kids in need of a thrill, or small children who require more kid-friendly attractions, Hurricane Harbor brings a wide range of water park activities to enjoy.
5. Desert Oasis Aquatic Center, Chandler
In search of a low-key place to splash around, learn to swim, or simply soak up some sun? Cool off at the Desert Oasis Aquatic Center. The water park features a 25-yard, 8-lane pool, a 112-foot water slide, a rain drop and spray whale, volleyball court, drop slide, and a zero-depth entry play area. The best part? Admission is only two dollars!
6. Golfland Sunsplash Water Park, Mesa
If you like the sound of rides like “Doubledare,” Thunder Falls,” and “Stormrider,” then you’ll love this next destination! The Golfland Sunsplash Water Park has some of the best thrill rides around, from vertical free falls to 7-story drops. There’s also an amazing 450,000-gallon wave pool, an 800-foot long lazy river, activity pool and kiddie slides to explore during your visit!
7. River Ranch Water Park, Phoenix
The River Ranch Water Park is located within the Pointe Hilton Squaw Peak Resort. The 4-acre water park provides an amazing view of the Phoenix Mountain Preserve. Soak up the sun at one of the many pools sprinkled around the property, float down the lazy river in style, or simply kick back and relax in the cabana area.
The hotel also offers a Coyote Camp for little ones aged 4-12. Sign them up for a full day of fun, a half day away, or evening session so you and your spouse can enjoy a parent’s night out!
8. Hamilton Aquatic Center, Chandler
This sunny spot makes for a great way to spend the day! The Hamilton Aquatic Center provides a zero-depth play pool for all sorts of interactive water play. It also has an 8-lane competitive pool, two water slides, one water cortex, a current river and some shady spots to cool off at. The best part? Admission is basically free! Children 2-17 get in for just $1. Adults pay just $2.25.
9. Big Surf Water Park, Tempe
If you’re looking for a water park with a little history behind it, you’ll want to check out the Big Surf Water Park in Tempe, Arizona. Originally opened in 1969, this popular community attraction is said to boast America’s “original wave pool,” with 2.5 million gallons of water. Hop on a raft, boogie board or learn to surf! If that’s not enough to satisfy the daredevils in your crew, direct them over to the Black Hole. This tube ride sends you spiraling down a pitch-black tunnel. There are tons of other water slides to explore, as well. There’s even a kiddie pool for the little ones!
10. Surprise Aquatics Center, Surprise
This aquatics center is located in…. Surprise! No, we aren’t pulling a fast one here, that’s the actual name of the town. Located about 45 minutes away from Phoenix, this waterpark boasts a tunnel slide, vortex whirlpool, flume side, diving boards and competition-size pool. Local residents get in at a supremely discounted price!
11. Anthem Community Center, Anthem
Welcome to the Anthem Community Center, where you can find a heated swimming pool, open 365 days a year. There’s also a diving area, two water slides, play structure and splash pad to play around on, which pumps out more than 200 gallons of water every four minutes!
12. Monsoon Park, Scottsdale
Surfs up over at Monsoon Park. This 11-acre surfing wave park generates 100 waves per hour and can hold anywhere from 90 to 100 surfers at any given time. While the main attractions revolve around the wave pool, there are plenty of other on-site activities including volleyball courts, ping pong tables, hiking trails and more!
13. The Splash Zone at Enchanted Island, Phoenix
Situated smack in the middle of an extensive amusement park is the Splash Zone, a watery oasis specifically designed for younger children. Here, you can find flower showers, water mushrooms, and dumping buckets! If that’s not enough entertainment for one day, treat yourself to a canoe ride or pedal boat experience!
14. Salt River Tubing, Mesa
Ok, so this isn’t exactly water park material, but if you’re a fish at heart, this isn’t something you want to miss! Crawl into a tube and float down the Salt River through the Tonto National Forest. Get up-close with some of Arizona’s most beautiful scenery. We will note that children must be eight years old and at least four feet tall to get on the tubes, so if you’re travelling with little kids, you might want to prioritize some of the other items on this list!
15. The Hyatt Regency Resort and Spa at Gainey Ranch, Scottsdale
If you’re looking to inject a little luxury into your water park experience, we suggest you visit the Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort. The resort, which overlooks the McDowell Mountains, is surrounded by a 2.5-acre water playground, complete with 10 pools. 20 fountains, 45 waterfalls, a 3-story “high speed” water slide and a sand beach to boot!
16. Mesquite Groves Aquatic Center, Chandler
That’s right, we’re back in Chandler, Arizona! This time, we’re hanging at the Mesquite Groves Aquatic Center. This outdoor playground contains a competition pool. two dive boards, two water slides, a lazy river, water vortex, family pool, toddler slides, and a 752 “Big Blue Bucket” to cool off at! There’s also a big shaded area full of pool furniture for those looking to lounge around — or even sneak in a quick nap!
Just in case we didn’t cover everything you need to know about the best water parks in Arizona, we’re throwing in a few more details about the Grand Canyon state. Listed below are answers to some of your most common questions:
What is the biggest water park in Arizona?
Good Question! While there are tons of water parks throughout the state, the biggest water park is Hurricane Harbor, with over 14 rides and a 42,000 square-foot expansion coming in 2020. That said, we have to give some credit to Big Surf, which has the largest wave pools in the state!
How Many Water Parks are in Arizona?
Another excellent question! As demonstrated by this list, there are lots of places throughout the state to find some relief from the heat. But when it comes to the list of verified, verified water parks with multiple rides, slides and attractions, well, that one gets somewhat shorter. Our estimate of recognized water parks caps out around 7. That said, there are plenty of community
How big is Great Wolf Lodge’s water park in Arizona?
Our Scottsdale Lodge stretches across 18 acres. That includes 14 water park attractions, 350 guest rooms, a mini golf course, Build-A-Bear workshop, arcade and more!
