Best Water Parks in the Sacramento Area for Kids

As Sacramento parents know, summer in the Central Valley can be hot. But with so many great options for water parks in Sacramento, finding ways to beat the summer heat is easy!  You won’t have to go far to cool down, so if you’re looking for the perfect place to swim with your kids this summer, look no further… we’ve put together our top picks for the best water parks in Sacramento:

Golfland Sunsplash Waterpark

Golfland Sunsplash – Roseville

Located near I-80 and Roseville Parkway in Roseville, Golfland Sunsplash Waterpark is a popular waterpark offering a variety of water-themed rides and attractions for families and kids, including a lazy river, a wave pool, and a variety of water slides. Many rides and slides have height and weight requirements, but there are many fun activities suitable for younger children throughout the park. To plan your visit, check their website for hours, special events and pricing.

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Pirates Cove Aqua Park

Pirate’s Cove Aqua Park – Woodland

Pirates Cove Aqua Park is located within Velocity Island Aqua Park in Woodland. The park was designed to give guests (age 6+) plenty of space to move and play in a safe environment. The aqua park covers a large area and features fun play item slides such as trampolines, swings, challenge tracks, balance beams and wobble pads, all of which are enclosed within the extensive walkways and floating tracks to bring fun to visitors. In addition to the aqua park, the facilities also offer paddle boarding and a swim beach. Guests must be at least 48 inches tall and be accompanied by an adult. To learn more about the park or to plan your visit, go to the Pirates Cove Aqua Park website.

Raging Waters

Raging Waters – Sacramento

Located at Cal Expo in Sacramento, Raging Waters has served Northern California guests for three decades. The park is the largest of its kind in the region, and is home to 25 attractions, which includes 20 waterslides, a lazy river, and their ever-popular wave pool. Younger children won’t feel left out at Raging Waters, as the park has a dedicated area for little swimmers to learn or practice their swimming in a shallow wading area. To plan your family’s summer adventure, visit the Raging Waters website for more information on tickets or dining options in the park.

Wackford Aquatic Complex

Wackford Aquatic Complex – Elk Grove

Located on Bruceville Road in Elk Grove, the Wackford Aquatic Complex is a community water park and aquatic complex unlike anything else in the region. This popular center is so much more than a community pool… it’s home to a huge inflatable structure called “Double Trouble” and is also home to a the “Typhoon Tower”, a single-rider water slide. The park is home to three amazing pools: a shallow interactive wading pool for younger guests, a beach-style entry pool with water-play attractions, and a deep-water pool with two diving boards (one low-dive and one high-dive).  The park also has tons of deck space, grassy picnic areas and shade structures. To plan your trip to the Wackford Aquatic Complex, visit their website.

Roseville Aquatics Complex

Roseville Aquatic Complex

Located on Woodcreek Oaks Boulevard in Roseville, the Roseville Aquatics Complex is comprised of an Olympic-size pool, a zero-depth recreation pool with beach entry, a water-slide and a kid’s interactive water play area.  The complex offers a variety of programs, including recreational swimming, swim lessons, competitive swimming and swim camps. For a complete list of programs, visit the aquatics center website.

Folsom Aquatic Center

Folsom Aquatic Center – Folsom

Located on Riley Street in Folsom, the Folsom Aquatic Center is the perfect place to enjoy a warm summer day with your family.  This wonderful community center offers visitors fun in the sun with their fun inflatable structure, exciting water slide and fun water-play attractions. Visitors can enjoy lap-swimming, aquacise, scheduled swimming lessons, or take advantage of one of their specialty programs. For more information, including hours, fees and directions, visit the Folsom Aquatic Center website.

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Mike Shellito Indoor Pool

Located on Fairway Drive in Roseville, the Mike Shellito Indoor Pool is a brand-new, state-of-the art facility that includes a large multi-lane pool as well as a warm water pool located within the same facility. In addition to recreational swimming, this center offers fitness programs, swimming lessons and lap swimming. For hours, rates and special events, visit the facility website.

Playing it Safe

When visiting a water park with your children, safety is the most important part of the day. Remain close to your children, and always check age, height and weight restrictions for slides and attractions.

Whenever possible, arrive at your destination early. Doing so will help to avoid the frustration of long lines and allow your family to get a desirable location where you can keep an eye on your kiddos from the comfort of your beach towel. Many parks have shade structures, umbrellas or cabanas but these are highly sought after and usually secured by “early birds”. Pro Tip: Be one of those early birds.

Most parks have lockers available for daily rental, and if this is the case, use them. While they might seem like a hassle, they are an invaluable convenience when you consider the alternative. Thieves can and do strike. Lock up valuables (credit cards, IDs, car keys, etc.)

Tips for Vising Water Parks

When planning your outing to water parks in Sacramento, remembering to pack crucial items can make or break your visit. Things like sunscreen, sunglasses and hats are imperative for protection from the sun. Towels, flip-flops (or water shoes) can provide comfort from rough, wet or hot surfaces.

Appropriate attire and swimwear is also an important consideration. Many water parks in Sacramento prohibit metal embellishments on clothing items (such as zippers, buckles or rivets) because they can damage play or slide surfaces. Parents should also remember that many parks also limit the types of fabrics permitted in or on their swim attractions. For example, cotton garments are often prohibited because they can release detergents, germs and bacteria into the water affecting the chemistry and clarity of the water.

When planning your visit to water parks in Sacramento, make sure to check the park’s rules before you head out. Each park will have it’s own set of guidelines, and planning ahead will avoid most issues. If you have toddlers, please remember that most water parks will require that your child wear a swim diaper. While most parks will not allow outside food or drink, some will. Again, each park is different and familiarizing yourself with the rules before heading to the park. Pro Tip: Know before you go.

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More Things to do in Sacramento with Kids…

Looking for more things to do with kids in Sacramento? Sacramento offers countless opportunities for fun! Check out our other lists of things to do in Sacramento, or browse Places to Go section.