Best Waterparks in Southern California

SoCal has great weather which equals more time to enjoy the best waterparks in Southern California.

Orange County water parks, and surrounding area, are a perfect place for a quick one day trip or making a staycation out of it.

Waterparks like LEGOLAND Waterpark, Knott’s Soak City, and Great Wolf Lodge have hotels onsite making them a one stop destination.

Of course, you can expect large crowds during the high summer months of July and August.

Instead, plan to visit during May or September when parks are still open and the tourist have left.

Water parks also offer season passes which is great to keep kids busy throughout summer vacation. Here’s a list of our favorite waterparks in Southern California:

Los Angeles

Raging Waters – Opening Day is Saturday, May 29!

Raging Waters in Los Angeles is a sixty acre water park with fifty rides, slides and attractions for entire family.

It is the largest water park in Los Angeles county. They offer group discounts for groups of fifteen and more.

Two areas for kids play, Kid’s Kingdom and Splash Island. They offer H2Go Pass, which holds your time for popular attractions ensuring you get to enjoy as many slides as possible.

Open: May – September
Admission: $54.99
Season Pass: $77.99-$159.99 (save $10 online)

Six Flags Hurricane Harbor

Hurricane Harbor is next to Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia. It has trilling water slides, wave pool, lazy river and kids play zones.

Castaway Cove and Splash Island are perfect for little swimmers and an area for parents to lounge.

If you seek thrills then try Tornado a 132-foot tunnel which leads to an enormous funnel, just make sure to hold on.

Teens will enjoy the all the slides, specially Black Snake Summit, a 75 feet high with 500 feet of curves and turns and all in complete darkness. 

Open: May-Oct. (Select Dates)
Admission: $39.99
Season Pass: $52.99

Splash! La Mirada – Opening Day is Saturday, May 29!

Splash! in La Mirada is another smaller water park with a flowing river channel, three water slides, a children’s interactive play structure, zero-depth beach entry, and two spray pad areas.

Rent a cabana for $80 a day which accommodates 6-8 people.

Open: May-September
Admission: $23 Above 48″ / $18 Under 48″ / Kids 2 under Free

Riverside

Buccaneer Cove – Opening Day is Sunday, May 30!

Buccaneer Cove in Riverside features four levels of family water play with dozens of interactive water elements, including 5 colorful water slides, interactive aqua domes, fun spray cannons, spray loops and cylinder spray fountains.

Lounge chairs and seating as well as private cabanas available to rent that will provide guests with the chance to take a break from the sun.

Orange County

Knott’s Soak City

The largest water park in Orange County is Knott’s Soak City with plenty to do for entire family.

Soak City is across the street from Knott’s Berry Farm making a great two-for-one staycation.

This water park has water slides and tubes, plus a huge wave pool. Sunset River is a one-third mile lazy river taking you through many of the parks play areas. A three story Beach House with water sprayers, small slides and a water dump tank.

If you seek thrills then try the solo slides at Old Man falls at sixty feet high it offers three types of slides; Pipeline, Point Break and Riptide.

Open: May-September (select dates)
Admission: $55 at the gate, $48 online
Season Pass: Gold Pass $135 (includes Knott’s Berry Farm and Soak City)

Great Wolf Lodge

Great Wolf Lodge is the only indoor water park in Southern California.

Having it indoors makes it great for a year round water fun for entire family. It is kept at a warm 80 degrees inside and has all you would expect of a great water park.

There is plenty of water fun including a wave pool, lazy river, kids water tower, and slides.

If you have little ones there’s a gated toddler water play area with age approoiate slides and water features.

If you dare ride Wolf Tail a sudden drop slide where the floor drops from under you or as a family ride Howling Tornado a whirlwind funnel with a stomach wrenching drop. Entrance to water park does require hotel reservation, or you can request a Great Wolf day pass. Find great deals on Groupon for Great Wolf Lodge.

DEAL: Book by 09/06/2021 using code “CAMPIN” for one complimentary package with your room rate.

San Diego

LEGOLAND Water Park

Inside LEGOLAND Carlsbad you will find LEGOLAND Water Park. The water park is divided into two and each park has plenty to do. LEGOLAND Water Park has a Splash Zoo for toddlers, Surfers Cove with Riptide Racers and splash zone, plus one of the funnest lazy rivers Build-A Raft-River.

Here you can relax and let the current take you while kids build rafts made with floating Legos. Chima Water Park has Cragger’s Swamp, a water tower full of water guns and sprayers.

Lion Temple Wave Pool will keep little ones to teens entertained with rolling waves and sprayers.    

Open: LEGOLAND Water Park: April-Nov (select days)
Admission: $115.99 for adult (ages 13+) and $109.99 for child (Ages 3-12)
Season Pass: $239 (Includes LEGOLAND, Sea Life Aquarium and LEGOLAND Water Park)

Aquatica Park – Opening Day is Saturday, May 29

A Sea World water park with exciting water slides, lazy rivers and pools. Seven Slides for the entire family from solo riders to group ones.

You can also expect a wave pool, a 1,250 foot long lazy river, two kids water areas and a water tower full of sprayers.

Aquatica Park offers cabana rentals and chair reservations, plus a flamingo encounter all for an additional charge.

Open: May 29 – September 6
Admission: $35.99
Season Pass: $49.99

We hope you enjoyed our list of these best waterparks in Southern California, and hope that you’ll visit them now that everything is opening up.

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Originally published on May 19, 2021. Last Updated on September 9, 2021 by Pattie Cordova