Best Indoor Waterparks in the US

The first waterpark in the U.S. might have opened in the 1970s, but it wasn't until 1994 that the Polynesian Resort Hotel and Suites in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin, opened the first indoor waterpark in the nation. These days, many resorts across the U.S. offer indoor waterparks, allowing guests to engage in water-based activities year-round. Keep reading to see our favorite resorts with indoor waterparks that everyone in the family will love. 

OKANA Resort & Indoor Waterpark 

The Chickasaw Nation opened OKANA Resort & Indoor Waterpark in early 2025 in Oklahoma City, making it the newest resort with an indoor waterpark in the country. The name OKANA comes from the Chickasaw words "oka” – meaning water – and “inkana” – meaning “friend.” The name makes sense, considering that their 100,000-square-foot indoor waterpark is the perfect place to experience water fun with friends. Not only does it have a surf simulator, but there's also a lazy river, an adults-only hot tub, and 15 slides. With a comfortable temperature of 82 degrees, families will have a blast in the multi-level interactive water play structure called Splash Falls or on the Wild Rapids waterslide.  

You don’t have to stay at the resort to access OKANA’s indoor waterpark, which offers day passes. However, if you book a stay, you'll enjoy brand-new modern rooms, 13 food and beverage options, an arcade with an escape room, a spa, and more. By the summer of 2025, the resort’s outdoor waterpark will open with slides, a zipline, and an inflatable obstacle course. 

Wilderness at the Smokies 

When you head to the Smoky Mountains for an outdoor adventure, stop at Tennessee’s largest indoor waterpark, the Wild WaterDome. It’s located in the Wilderness at the Smokies Waterpark Resort, a rustic-style resort with lodges and cabins, multiple dining options, an Adventure Forest Park, and a 3-D adventure ride game. Their Rustic Lodge is connected to the indoor waterpark, which doubled in size thanks to an expansion completed in December 2023. The Kaleidoscope Kaverns Lazy River, an immersive tunnel with kaleidoscope lighting and sounds, will mesmerize you. Not to mention, your adrenaline will be pumping on the new three-story Ridge Runner. It’s the first slide in the world that features Reverse AquaLucent, or colorful patterns and special effects. Adults can suntan thanks to the indoor waterparks’ see-through roof, relax in an indoor-outdoor hot spa, or join their kids for a 55-foot plummet on the Storm Chaser Thrill Ride.

Great Wolf Lodges

Great Wolf Lodge has over 20 resorts with indoor waterparks, earning them the moniker of “North America’s largest family of indoor waterpark resorts." Great Wolf Lodges exist in California, Texas, Kansas City, Scottsdale, Colorado Springs, Naples, Chicago, Cincinnati, and more. 

When you stay at a Great Wolf Lodge, you have unlimited access to their 84-degree indoor waterparks, plus other activities like Story Time, Yoga Trails, and Arts & Crafts. Not all Great Wolf Lodge indoor waterparks provide day passes. Some require that you stay on-site to experience the waterpark. 

All Great Wolf Lodges have themed lodge rooms and similar amenities – like restaurants, shopping, and entertainment. However, there may be some slight differences in the indoor waterparks. For instance, the Niagara Falls resort’s indoor waterpark is 100,000 square feet, which is larger than the 80,000-square-foot indoor waterpark in the Great Wolf Lodge in Scottsdale. However, most of the Great Wolf Lodges feature a Fort Mackenzie water playground, surf simulators, lazy rivers, and various water slides. 

Mt. Olympus Water & Theme Park Resort

The Mt. Olympus Water & Theme Park Resort opens its indoor waterpark from mid-September to mid-May, ensuring guests can enjoy some water fun during the chilly months in Wisconsin. Stay in one of their Roman-themed rooms and get free access to the resort’s indoor and outdoor waterparks and amusement parks. Big tip: book a room in Hotel Rome for direct access to the indoor waterpark.

What can you expect at their indoor waterpark? You and your loved ones can relax on the River Styx lazy river and swim in multiple pools (some that are heated). There is a small children’s play area and, of course, waterslides – including Medusa's Slidewheel, the first rotating waterslide in the nation. 

Zehnder’s Splash Village Hotel & Waterpark

Zehnder’s Splash Village Hotel & Waterpark has a 50,000-square-foot indoor waterpark called Splash Village. It features 4-story tube sliders, a six-story family raft ride, and water activities for kids and people of all ages. Did we mention their Super Loop Speed Slide is a four-story drop in 6.9 seconds? The indoor waterpark’s roof retracts in the summer, bringing the outdoors inside for all to enjoy.  

When you book a room in the hotel, you'll experience other forms of fun, like an arcade and free movie nights every evening in the lobby. Plus, there are two restaurants on-site where you can refuel before diving back into the waterpark. 

Jay Peak Resort

After a full day skiing and snowboarding on the slopes of Vermont, why not keep the thrills going with a visit to Jay Peak Resort’s indoor waterpark? Called the Pump House, this indoor waterpark is open throughout the winter. Visitors can enjoy a lazy river with rapids, a play area with canons and buckets, four slides, and a deep pool with a basketball area and climbing wall. If you want to keep your snowboarding skills sharp, try the Double Barrel Flowrider. 

Day passes and season passes to the waterpark are available, or you can book a room package with access to the waterpark. Jay Peak Resort has multiple lodging options within walking distance to the Pump House, but if you want to be as close as possible, book a room in Hotel Jay.

Massanutten Resort

Massanutten Resort is an adventure resort in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. Set on 6,000 acres of mountain, the resort provides a full entertainment calendar, skiing, an adventure park, two golf courses, a spa, an outdoor waterpark, and an indoor waterpark. The Massanutten Resort indoor waterpark is heated to 84 degrees so families can comfortably “hang ten” on a surf simulator, race down body slides, soak in hot tubs, and play in a water fortress. You don't have to leave the indoor waterpark to grab a bite, as there are two dining options. Whether skiing in the winter or golfing in the summer, the Massanutten Waterpark is a great place to spend an afternoon or a whole day! 

Be sure to book lodging in the Valley section of the resort for the shortest walk to the indoor waterpark.

Kartrite Resort & Indoor Waterpark

New York’s Catskills region is beautiful and full of outdoor adventure, which is why many families book a stay in one of the 324 junior, two-bedroom, and three-bedroom suites at Kartrite Resort. The second reason they stay at Kartirte? To visit the indoor waterpark. 

The Kartrite Resort & Indoor Waterpark is New York’s biggest indoor waterpark, boasting the world’s largest texlon transparent roof and an 84-degree temperature all year long. Race down slides with siblings, boogie board on a simulated wave, or hop on an inflatable raft and ride down a slide with the whole family. When you’re not at the indoor waterpark, you can check out Kartrite Resort's other offerings, from archery to paintball, hiking trails, indoor obstacle courses, and great restaurants. 

Kalahari Resorts

Kalahari Resorts is a collection of four African-themed resorts with indoor waterparks. Located in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin; Round Rock, Texas; Sandusky, Ohio; and the Poconos Mountains, Pennsylvania, each resort offers a different indoor waterpark experience. At the Poconos Mountains location, you can ride a slide with a VR headset. The Round Rock location has a Grotto Swim Up bar for adults and a funnel slide called the Barreling Baboon. In Sandusky, you can try the brand-new Dawn Breaker slide. By 2026, the Wisconsin location will go from 125,000 square feet to 200,000 square feet, thanks to a significant expansion project. Guests will be able to enjoy three more slides and a retractable roof. 

If you think indoor waterparks are all that the Kalahari Resorts have to offer, you’d be wrong. They’ve got everything from spas to arcades, bowling, golf, dining options, outdoor waterparks, and more. Don’t forget to add their newest location in Spotsylvania, Virginia, to your calendar when it opens in 2026. 

Silver Mountain Resort

In the winter, Silver Mountain Resort offers skiing, tubing, and snowshoeing, and in the summer – a bike park, golfing, hiking, and gondola rides. The one amenity that’s year-round? Their indoor waterpark has a lazy river, flowrider, slides, a basketball area, an obstacle course, warm pools, play areas, and a surfside bar.

Many resorts offer day passes to their indoor waterpark, but that's not exactly the case at Silver Mountain Resort. The Idaho waterpark is included with a stay at the Morning Star Lodge, making it an excellent amenity for guests. Unfortunately, the resort only sells a handful of individual tickets per day (or large group bookings of 15 or more people), so staying there is in your best interest. 

For the latest travel news, updates and deals, subscribe to the daily TravelPulse newsletter.

Topics From This Article to Explore