Your Guide to Southern California’s Best Water Parks (2026)
Updated Summer 2026
Get ready for a splashing adventure as we dive into the ultimate guide to Southern California’s most thrilling water parks. From heart-pounding slides to lazy rivers, we’ll dive into everything these parks have to offer.
Discover their unique attractions, season dates, and find insider tips to make the most of your trip. So grab your sunscreen and let’s make a splash!
🚗 Know Before You Go: Hours, policies, and details can change, so be sure to double-check with the water park before you go!
This post is sponsored by Splash! La Mirada Regional Aquatics Center. Don’t miss Family Friday Nights on June 26 and July 24!
Water Parks in Los Angeles Area
Raging Waters
Spanning a whopping 60 acres, Southern California’s largest water park packs in over 50 attractions for all ages, including the state’s only hydromagnetic water coaster, Aqua Rocket. You’ll also find a massive wave pool, a lazy river, a giant water playground, and plenty of slides from chill to thrill.
| 📍 Location | San Dimas, CA |
| 📅 Season Dates | May 9 – September 27, 2026 |
| 📐 Park Size | 60 acres |
| 🧸 Little Kid Area | Yes |
| ⭐️ What’s Special | It’s Southern California’s largest water park! |
Six Flags Hurricane Harbor
Celebrating 30 years of splashes, slides, and SoCal sunshine, this 25-acre waterpark next to Magic Mountain just got a vibrant new makeover—complete with bold colors, lush landscaping, and refreshed guest areas.
| 📍 Location | Valencia, CA |
| 📅 Season Dates | May 23 – September 6, 2026 |
| 📐 Park Size | 25 acres |
| 🧸 Little Kid Area | Yes |
Water Parks in Orange County
Knott’s Soak City
Right next door to Knott’s Berry Farm, this 15-acre waterpark is packed with slides, sprays, and splash zones for every kind of water-loving kid (and kid-at-heart). You’ll find 23 different slides, plus a giant wave pool, lazy river, and a three-story water playground loaded with 200+ sprayers and surprises. Admission is separate from the theme park!
| 📍 Location | Buena Park, CA |
| 📅 Season Dates | May 16 – September 7, 2026 |
| 📐 Park Size | 15 acres |
| 🧸 Little Kid Area | Yes |
| ⭐️ What’s Special | The 1950s Southern California beach town vibe makes us feel like we’ve stepped into a retro, sunny postcard! |
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Splash! Buccaneer Bay
The La Mirada Regional Aquatics Center has two sides: one side features two year-round pools used for swim lessons and competition, the other side is Splash! Buccaneer Bay, a seasonal pirate-themed water park.
| 📍 Location | La Mirada, CA |
| 📅 Season Dates | May 23 – September 26, 2026 |
| 📐 Park Size | 18 acres (the water park is only a portion) |
| 🧸 Little Kid Area | Yes |
| ⭐️ What’s Special | The Aquatics Center features year-round swimming lessons, while Buccaneer Bay is only open for summer months. |
| ☝️ Kidsguide Tip | Splash! is perfect for little water lovers. It’s got all the fun stuff like slides, lazy river, and splash zones, but without the overwhelming size of the mega water parks. It’s easy to navigate and super family-friendly! |
| 🌙 Family Friday Nights | Don’t miss Family Friday Nights on June 26 and July 24, 2026. Admission is $5 from 5-8pm. |
The Adventure Lagoon
This floating water park features a massive obstacle course on a warm freshwater lake and tons of action for kids, teens, and families. From bouncing, sliding, and climbing to paddleboarding and kayaking, it’s a next-level beach day for the whole family.
| 📍 Location | Anaheim, CA |
| 📅 Season Dates | May 21 – September 28, 2026 |
| 📐 Park Size | 14 acres |
| 🧸 Little Kid Area | Yes |
| ⭐️ What’s Special | Besides the floating obstacle course, there’s lots of other activities like paddle boarding, kayaks, water volleyball, games, etc. |
| ☝️ Kidsguide Tip | Parking fills up fast! Get there early. |
Wild Rivers
Ride the waves in a giant wave pool, take a float on more than a quarter-mile long lazy river, or get your adrenaline pumping on wild water slides and rides, including the largest collection of family raft rides in the region.
| 📍 Location | Irvine, CA |
| 📅 Season Dates | May 16 – October 11, 2026 |
| 📐 Park Size | 20 acres |
| 🧸 Little Kid Area | Yes |
| ⭐️ What’s Special | There’s a Junior Lifeguard Camp for kids! |
| ☝️ Kidsguide Tip | Attend opening weekend (May 16-17, 2026) to enjoy spontaneous surprises and giveaways, sweet treats, live DJ set, waterproof face painting, and cotton candy. |
Great Wolf Lodge
An indoor water park resort with themed suites, bowling alley, arcade, glowing mini golf, Build-a-Bear Workshop, and MagiQuest, a live-action game where kids embark on magical quests throughout the lodge.
| 📍 Location | Garden Grove, CA |
| 📅 Season Dates | Open Year-Round |
| 📐 Park Size | 105,000 square feet |
| 🧸 Little Kid Area | Yes |
| ☝️ Kidsguide Tip | You don’t need to be a hotel guest to enjoy the water park! Day passes are available. |
Newport Dunes
The Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort & Marina boasts a large fleet of floating inflatables and watercraft rentals inside a secluded, tranquil bay. There’s over 30 oversized inflatables including challenging jungle gym, monkey bars, bouncers, and more. The aquatic park is open to resort guests and visitors.
| 📍 Location | Newport Beach, CA |
| 📅 Season Dates | May 22 – September 27, 2026 |
| 📐 Park Size | —- |
| 🧸 Little Kid Area | Yes |
| ☝️ Kidsguide Tip | The inflatable water park is open to both resort guests and the public! |
Water Parks in the Inland Empire
The Cove Waterpark
The Cove is part of the Jurupa Aquatic Center. The pirate-themed attractions at The Cove include slides, splash pool, lazy river, and more.
| 📍 Location | Riverside, CA |
| 📅 Season Dates | May 23 – September 7, 2025 |
| 📐 Park Size | 9 acres (waterpark + aquatic center) |
| 🧸 Little Kid Area | Yes |
| ⭐️ What’s Special | The Riptide Reef Flowrider simulates a wave current so you can experience body boarding! They also have a summer camp! |
DropZone Waterpark
Have a splashing good time down the Jet Stream River, surf the Hydroplane FlowRider, and check out the sandbox!
| 📍 Location | Perris, CA |
| 📅 Season Dates | June 6 – September 14, 2026 |
| 📐 Park Size | 12 acres |
| 🧸 Little Kid Area | Yes! The Launch Pad features geysers that blast water high into the air. |
| ⭐️ What’s Special | There’s a sandbox are for beach volleyball games and sandcastle building! |
Water Parks in San Diego
LEGOLAND Water Park
The LEGOLAND Water Park is tucked inside LEGOLAND California Resort, and entry is only available through the main theme park. LEGO CHIMA Water Park is a themed section within the water park and is only open during the summer months. A Resort Hopper ticket is required to access the water park.
| 📍 Location | Carlsbad, CA |
| 📅 LEGOLAND Water Park | Now – October 25, 2026 |
| 📅 LEGO CHIMA Water Park | June 13 – September 6, 2026 |
| 📐 Park Size | 10 acres |
| 🧸 Little Kid Area | Yes |
| ⭐️ What’s Special | The Build-a-Raft River! A not-so-lazy river where you can design and build your own LEGO raft with bricks floating throughout the river. |
| ☝️ Kidsguide Tip | This water park is great for younger kids! If you can spring for a 2-day ticket, you won’t have to cram the theme park and water park on the same day. |
Sesame Place
This 17-acre theme and water park is where Sesame Street comes to life. Enjoy water attractions from exciting slides to a family-friendly wave pool.
| 📍 Location | Chula Vista, CA |
| 📅 Season Dates | May 22 – September 7, 2026 |
| 📐 Park Size | 17 acres (theme + water park) |
| 🧸 Little Kid Area | Yes |
| ⭐️ What’s Special | Don’t miss special events like Tango’s Gotcha Day (July 10-12, 2026), National Water Park Day (July 28, 2026), Best Friends Weekend (July 31 – August 2, 2026), and more! |
The Wave Waterpark
Tube down the Riptide Slide and land right into the lazy river! And catch the Flow Rider that simulates the perfect wave break to ride on a boogie board.
| 📍 Location | Vista, CA |
| 📅 Season Dates | May 23 – September 27, 2026 |
| 📐 Park Size | 5 acres |
| 🧸 Little Kid Area | Yes |
| ⭐️ What’s Special | Friday Night Splash where the park opens into the evening! |
Categories: Blog
This post was written by Kidsguide
