2025 Southern California Water Park Guide
Updated Summer 2025
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!
**Heads Up: Hours, policies, and details can change, so be sure to double-check with the water park before you go!
💦 Before you dive in:
This blog is sponsored by Splash! La MIrada Regional Aquatics Center. Make a splash all summer long at Buccaneer Bay Waterpark!
Water Parks in Los Angeles Area
Raging Waters
Spanning a whopping 60 acres, this SoCal favorite 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 |
| 📅 Season Dates | May 17 – September 28, 2025 |
| 📐 Park Size | 60 acres |
| 🧸 Little Kid Area | Yes |
| ⭐️ What’s Special | The Aqua Rocket! California’s only hydromagnetic water coaster. |
| 🍔 BYO Food/Drink? | No outside food or drinks allowed, except for water and sports drinks. |
| 🚫 Not Allowed | Street clothes or swimwear with buckles, belts, rivets, metal or cut-off jeans are not permitted. Masks and snorkels, or swim fins also not permitted. Full park rules here. |
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 |
| 📅 Season Dates | May 24 – September 1, 2025 |
| 📐 Park Size | 25 acres |
| 🧸 Little Kid Area | Yes |
| ⭐️ What’s Special | They’re celebrating their 30th anniversary this year with a fresh, new makeover! |
| 🍔 BYO Food/Drink? | No outside food or drinks allowed. Full details here. |
| 🚫 Not Allowed | Swimwear with metal buttons, rivets, zippers or snaps are not permitted on water slides. Masks and snorkels not permitted. |
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. Open mid-May through early September.
Just remember: Admission is separate from the theme park!
| 📍 Location | Buena Park |
| 📅 Season Dates | May 17 – September 7, 2025 |
| 📐 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! |
| 🍔 BYO Food/Drink? | No outside food allowed. Water, juice, and sports drinks permitted. |
| 🚫 Not Allowed | Swimwear with metal buttons, rivets, zippers, or snaps are not allowed on select attractions. Large coolers, masks and snorkels, fins, water toys, floaties, or whistles from home are not allowed. Find full guidelines on their website. |
Kidsguide Advertising Partner – Check them out!
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 |
| 📅 Season Dates | May 24 – September 27, 2025 |
| 📐 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. |
| 🍔 BYO Food/Drink? | No outside food and beverages allowed, except water. |
| 🚫 Not Allowed | Coolers or containers, glass containers, personal chairs, floaties, portable speakers, tents/canopies, beach umbrellas, and wagons are not permitted. See the full list online. |
| ☝️ 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! |
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 |
| 📅 Season Dates | May 23 – September 28, 2025 |
| 📐 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. |
| 🍔 BYO Food/Drink? | No outside food and beverages allowed, except water. |
| 🚫 Not Allowed | No alcohol, coolers, ice chests, tents, floaties, innertubes, noodles, boogie boards, glass, or gum. See full details online. |
| ☝️ 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 |
| 📅 Season Dates | May 17 – October 12, 2025 |
| 📐 Park Size | 20 acres |
| 🧸 Little Kid Area | Yes |
| ⭐️ What’s Special | Mermaid Mondays! Visit the Kontiki Cove every Monday (July 7 – August 11, between 12-1pm) for magical activities and entertainment. Enjoy live music at the wave pool every weekend and there’s also a Jr. Lifeguard Camp for kids! |
| 🍔 BYO Food/Drink? | No outside food and beverages allowed, except water, baby food, and food for guests with dietary restrictions. |
| 🚫 Not Allowed | No swimwear with metal fasteners, snaps, belts, rivets, or metal ornamentation. No water play toys, portable stereos, glass containers, hard coolers, etc. See the full list here. |
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 |
| 📅 Season Dates | Open Year-Round |
| 📐 Park Size | 105,000 square feet |
| 🧸 Little Kid Area | Yes |
| ⭐️ What’s Special | You don’t need to be a hotel guest to enjoy the water park! Day passes are available. |
| 🍔 BYO Food/Drink? | No outside food and beverages allowed. |
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 |
| 📅 Season Dates | May 23 – September 27, 2025 |
| 📐 Park Size | —- |
| 🧸 Little Kid Area | Yes |
| ⭐️ What’s Special | You don’t need to be a hotel guest to enjoy the water park! Day passes are available. |
| 🍔 BYO Food/Drink? | No outside food and beverages allowed. |
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 |
| 📅 Season Dates | May 24 – September 1, 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! |
| 🍔 BYO Food/Drink? | Yes! You can bring in your own picnic lunch! The catch? There’s a cooler fee based on the size of the cooler. |
| 🚫 Not Allowed | Swimwear with rivets, snaps, buttons, belts, or metal ornamentation are not permitted. No floaties, snorkels, masks, or fins allowed. See the full policy here. |
Dropzone Waterpark
Have a splashing good time down the Jet Stream River, surf the Hydroplane FlowRider, and check out the sandbox!
| 📍 Location | Perris |
| 📅 Season Dates | May 24 – September 1, 2025 |
| 📐 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! |
| 🍔 BYO Food/Drink? | Yes! You can bring in your own picnic lunch! The catch? There’s a cooler fee based on the size of the cooler. |
| 🚫 Not Allowed | Swimwear with rivets, snaps, buttons, belts, or metal ornamentation are not permitted. No floaties, snorkels, masks, or fins allowed. See the full policy here. |
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 |
| 📅 LEGOLAND Water Park | March 28 – October 26, 2025 |
| 📅 LEGO CHIMA Water Park | June 14 – August 31, 2025 |
| 📐 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. |
| 🍔 BYO Food/Drink? | Yes! Bottled water and small snacks that don’t required heating or refrigeration are allowed. Food purchased inside LEGOLAND are permitted. Full details here. |
| 🚫 Not Allowed | Swimwear with exposed zippers, buckles, rivets, or metal ornamentation is not permitted. |
| 🗒️ Notes | The deepest part of the water park is the Lion Temple Wave Pool that goes to 5 feet. |
| ☝️ 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 |
| 📅 Season Dates | May 23 – September 1, 2025 |
| 📐 Park Size | 17 acres (theme + water park) |
| 🧸 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. |
| 🍔 BYO Food/Drink? | No outside food, beverages, or coolers allowed except water. See full policy here. |
| 🚫 Not Allowed | No water play toys, glass containers, portable stereos, etc. See full policy here. |
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 |
| 📅 Season Dates | May 24 – September 28, 2025 |
| 📐 Park Size | 5 acres |
| 🧸 Little Kid Area | Yes |
| ⭐️ What’s Special | Friday Night Splash where the park opens into the evening! |
| 🍔 BYO Food/Drink? | Outside food, beverages, or coolers not allowed except water. See full policy here. |
🏊 Before you head out:
Want your kids to feel confident in the water before your next water park visit? Our awesome sponsor, Splash! La Mirada Regional Aquatics Center, offers year-round swimming lessons for all ages. Morning, evening, and weekend lessons available now!
Categories: Blog
This post was written by Alina Na
