Best Water Parks in North Carolina in 2024

North Carolina is known for a lot of things. The state lays claim to the Great Smoky Mountains, NASCAR, and even Andy Griffith. The Wright brothers had their first successful flight on Kitty Hawk, North Carolina.

Pepsi was also invented here. Of course, there are the water parks to consider as well. North Carolina is home to some of the best in the nation, which is why we decided to map out what’s offered across the Tar Heel state.

Listed below, we bring you the best water parks in North Carolina.

Quick View: The 12 Best Water Parks in North Carolina

• Great Wolf Lodge
• White Lake Water Park
• Carolina Harbor
• Wet n’ Wild Emerald Pointe
• Jungle Rapids Family Fun Park
• The Salty Pirate Waterpark
• Fantasy Lake Water Park
• H20BX Water Park
• Lion Water Adventure
• Sun Crest Water Park
• Ray’s Splash Planet
• Lake Lure Beach and Water Park

Great Wolf Lodge, Concord

The indoor water park at Great Wolf Lodge, Concord is a great way to dodge unwanted weather. Our indoor water park is kept at a comfortable 84-degrees all year long, which makes it a great place to escape the summer humidity or even cold winter weather.

We’ve got water slides, rides, splash pools and more for guests of all ages. If you’re looking for some on-land entertainment, head over to our cabana area, arcade, bowling alley, mini golf course, or explore the adventure park.

Don’t forget about our interactive adventure game, either! We’ve got tons of activities to check out. You can even spend the night! The lodge contains over 400 guest suites.

White Lake Water Park, Elizabethtown

Looking for something that can appeal to all ages? The White Lake Water Park has you covered. Little children will love the 5,000 square foot wading pool. It’s got plenty of interactive activities for them to play around with, including a wet deck, kiddie slide, dump bucket and more.

Parents, breathe easy. This area is completely fenced in and under full time lifeguard supervision. Bigger kids are encouraged to explore 2,000 square foot swimming pool 100,000 square foot gallon wave pool.

For the thrill seekers, the water park provides an insane 50-foot tall, 2010 foot long Double Turbo Twister Slide. You can thank us for the tip after your visit!

Carolina Harbor, Charlotte

Next on our list is the popular Carowinds, Charlotte amusement park. Brave the Fury 325, one of most celebrated rides in North Carolina. With a height of 325-feet and speeds up to 95 mph, this one is sure to deliver an unforgettable roller coaster experience.

If that doesn’t sound like your kind of ride, we suggest heading over to Carolina Harbor, the Carowinds outdoor waterpark. That’s where you’ll find Blackbeard’s Revenge. The new six-story tall water slide complex features three attractions and six different slides.

Expect vertical drops, 360-degree turns, cannonball drops and more. There are tons of rides around the amusement park, so take your time and spend the day exploring!

Wet n’ Wild Emerald Pointe, Greensboro 

Welcome to Wet n’ Wild Emerald Pointe, where guests can enjoy over 36 water rides and family attractions. The property sprawls across 41 acres. Spend a few hours exploring all the attractions offered! At Wet n’ Wild Emerald Pointe, you’ll also find special events throughout the year, family dining options and more.

Jungle Rapids Family Fun Park, Wilmington 

Jungle Rapids Family Fun Park is one of the most popular outdoor water parks in North Carolina. Located in the seaside of Wilmington, Jungle Rapids Family Fun Park a million-gallon wave pool, a lazy river, a half-pipe water slide and more! There are also go-karts, laser tag, mini gold and an arcade to enjoy.

The Salty Pirate Waterpark, Emerald Isle

The Salty Pirate in Emerald Isle is a family-owned waterpark with a wide variety of water slides, wading pools and tubes for kids of all ages. There’s also a snack bar onsite, so don’t worry about going hungry.

If you need a break from all the excitement, take some time to explore the town. Emerald Isle is home to some of the most beautiful beaches in the south!

Fantasy Lake Water Park, Hope Mills

At Fantasy Lake Water Park in Hope Mills, North Carolina you’ll find Tarzan swings, paddle boards, enclosed tubes, banana slides, jump towers and more. There are also volleyball courts, arcade games, ping pong tables and tons of other games to keep you entertained all day. If you need to take a break from the action, head for the beach and relax on the sand.

H20BX Water Park, Powells Point

This is one of North Carolina’s newest water parks. H20BX is located on the beautiful Outer Banks and features more than 30 water attractions. Breathe in that ocean air, enjoy the coastal views and have fun exploring this amazing selection of rides and slides!

Lions Water Adventure, Kinston

Want to splash around in shallow water with your little ones? How does floating down a 550-foot lazy river sound? What about working out in an eight-lane lap pool? If you’ve answered yes to any of the above, then this is the place for you.

Head over to Lions Water Adventure in Kinston, North Carolina and spend a few hours playing around. Don’t worry about getting tired. There’s a two level pavilion area where you can go to rest.

Sun Crest Water Park, Taylorsville

This family-owned water park is nestled in the heart of the Brushy Mountains. This next-to-nature styled resort comes complete with an old-fashioned rope swing and water slide.

Ray’s Splash Planet, Charlotte

Welcome to Ray’s Splash Planet, a small indoor water park located in the state capital. This place includes a 3-story “Blue Comet” water slide, a lazy river, lap lanes, and quick current pool. There’s also a “gradual beach-like” entry pool to check out.

Lake Lure Beach and Water Park, Lake Lure 

That’s right. We’re adding another lakefront water park to the list. The Lake Lure Beach and Water Park offers outdoor water games, water cannons, water slides, bumper boats and lots of other activities to play around with. If you get tired you can always retire to the beach. Soak up some sun and enjoy a view of the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains.

What do you think of our list of best water parks in North Carolina? We hope you can include at least some of our suggestions into your travel itinerary next time you’re visiting the Tar Heel State!

To learn more about the Great Wolf Lodge in Charlotte, head to our official site. There, you can learn more about our indoor waterpark, adventure zone and all the other activities we offer on-site!

Check out our selection of themed rooms, too! You’ll feel like you’re camping out in the Northwoods in no time. Make sure to sign up for our email alerts to learn about our best deals!