The sun is out in full force, and the heat is here. It’s time to be in the water as much as possible! While adults may prefer a peaceful float in a pool or lake, kids sometimes want something a little more exciting.
Luckily, there are plenty of fun water parks in Austin and the surrounding areas to visit this summer!
In This Post
1. Typhoon Texas
Get the big water park experience close to town at Typhoon Texas in Pflugerville! There’s a lazy river, big slides, a four-story play structure, a splash pad area for small kids and floating obstacle course.
If you buy tickets for a specific date, tickets start around $20 depending on the day. If you want an anyday ticket, it’s about $40. You can also rent cabanas!
If you have a Pogo Pass, you get one visit to Typhoon Texas included with your pass. Get half off your pass with code AUSTINWITHKIDS. Commissions earned.
2. Rock’N River
This is a great water park with a price that makes it even better! Head to Old Settlers Park in Round Rock to find slides, a huge splash structure, a small lazy river, zero-depth entry play area and more.
Kids 2 and under are $6; kids 3-17 are $12; and adults are $14. After 5 p.m., it’s half price!
Rock’N River is open from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day (only open weekends once school starts).
3. Splash Shack
In the summer time, you need water or to be indoors. This place has both! Splash Shack is an indoor splash park in Cedar Park and is open year-round. It’s best for kids ages 1-10 or so.
It’s one big room with lots of splashing elements and slides and a giant bucket that dumps every time it fills up. There are also chairs set up on the side for adults to camp out or enjoy a snack.
Admission is $22.99 per kid (and each paid kid gets one free adult admission).
4. Volente Beach
Volente Beach Resort is a fun little water park on Lake Travis with lots of shade, Beachside Billy’s Restaurant and a nice lake view. When the lake level is at normal levels, there’s a sand beach and lake access, but the lake is too low for that right now. There’s a main pool, 4 slides and a pirate ship kiddie pool.
Admission is $20 on weekends and $15 on weekdays. Parking is paid.
5. Kalahari
You can’t talk about Austin-area water parks without mentioning Kalahari, America’s largest indoor waterpark resort. This 223,000-square-foot indoor water park (plus a more recent addition of an outdoor water park!) in Round Rock features so many slides (some giant ones that go from inside to outside and back inside again) and basically every waterpark favorite you can think of.
Waterpark admission is included if you stay at the resort, or you can buy a day pass, which starts at $69. After 5 p.m., there’s a discount.
Children under 48″ have to wear a life vest.
6. Schlitterbahn
If you live in the Austin area, you may like to make a day trip or weekend trip to New Braunfels for this giant water park. There are 4 sections, and each has its own lazy river, swim-up bar and kids area. And there’s a brand new kids area in 2024 with a kids water coaster in the Schlitterbahn West section. This place is so big, it has something for everyone.
Day passes start at $49.99 (or $81.99 for two days). There are also packages to get better rates if you stay at one of Schlitterbahn’s lodging options.
Public Pools With Playscapes
Not quite full-blown water parks, these public pools around the area have great water playscapes, slides or other elements that take them up a notch! Even better, they’re normally very affordable!
7. Veterans Memorial Pool
This Cedar Park pool is a huge hit with my kids! There’s a two-story play structure with small slides and lots of splashing, as well as separate slides for kids, all in a zero-depth entry pool.
Admission: $2-$5
8. Micki Krebsbach Pool
Head to Round Rock for a zero-entry pool with a big pirate ship playscape, floating crates obstacle course and slide.
Admission: $4-$5
9. El Salido Pool
There’s a splash pad and small water playscape with slide at this northwest Austin pool.
Admission: $7-$8
10. Elizabeth Milburn Pool
Elizabeth Milburn Pool in Cedar Park has a playscape with a slide and a big slide for older kids.
Admission:$1-$3
Other must-visit spots to swim? Barton Springs and Blue Hole in Wimberley!
And don’t miss all the best splash pads around town!