What to do this summer: Make a splash at these Philly-area water parks
Philly's not without its fair share of pools and spraygrounds, but neither can provide the white-knuckle thrills of a rip-roaring water slide. For those who prefer their aquatic attractions to come with a dose of adrenaline, a visit to any of these eight Philly-area water parks (presented in ascending distance from Center City Philadelphia) is in order.
Open to the public, CoCo Key Water Resort promises 55,000 square feet of (indoor) water-logged fun, including a lazy river and more than 909 feet of water slides.Â
Admission: $29.95–$32.95; kids 2 and under admittedÂ
Season:Â Open year-round
Address:Â 915 Route 73 Mount Laurel, NJ 08054;Â (877) 494-COCO
Distance from Center City:Â ~15 milesMore »
With roots that stretch all the way back to 1907, Clementon Park is one of the country's oldest continually operating amusement parks. However, the venue's water park, Splash World, is anything but old-fashioned: It hosts eight modern, themed attractions, including a 23,000-square-foot wave pool and multiple raft and body slides.
Admission:Â $39.99
Season:Â Memorial Day through Labor Day
Address: 144 Berlin Road, Clementon, NJ 08021; (856) 783-0263
Distance from Center City:Â ~18 milesMore »
Sahara Sam's Oasis opened in 2009 as the Garden State's very first free-standing, indoor water park. A retractable roof shields 90 percent of the park's nearly 60,000 square feet of aquatic and arcade attractions, while two acres' worth of additional water activities offer opportunity for alfresco recreation.
Admission: $24.95–$29.95; kids 2 and under admitted free
Season:Â Open year-round
Address: 535 N Route 73, West Berlin, NJ 08091; (856) 767-7580
Distance from Center City:Â ~20 milesMore »
This Sesame Street-themed amusement park — one of Philly's favorite kid-friendly attractions — augments its lineup of carousels, coasters, and daily character performances with a water park featuring slides, chutes and a 10,000-square-foot wave pool.
Admission: Summer admission starts at $55; kids 23 months and younger admitted free
Season: May–Sept.
Address:Â 100 Sesame Rd, Langhorne, PA 19047;Â Â (866) 464-3566
Distance from Center City:Â ~27 milesMore »
One ticket price grants visitor access to the robust roster of rides and slides at Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom, a 200-acre, two-faced amusement park in Lehigh County. Get your adrenaline pumping on one of Dorney's Park signature thrill rides, then don a bathing suit to take on Wildwater Kingdom's 35-plus pools, slides, and wave pools.
Admission: Single-day admission starts at $44; kids 2 and under admitted freeÂ
Season: Memorial Day through Labor Day
Address:Â 3830 Dorney Park Road, Allentown, PA 18104;Â (610) 395-3724
Distance from Center City:Â ~65 milesMore »
Adventures seeking an alternative to a Poconos camping trip should consider H20ooohh! This family-friendly indoor water park, located in the Poconos town of Lake Harmony, hosts close to 55,000 square feet of thrilling slides and pools.
Admission:Â $36; kids 2 and under admitted free
Season:Â Open year-round
Address:Â 100 Moseywood Road, Lake Harmony, PA 18624;Â (570) 722-9111
Distance from Center City:Â ~95 milesMore »
Making claim to being the "the largest indoor water park in the Northeast," Aquatopia is open year-round and is accessible only to overnight guests of Camelback Lodge. It's heated to a balmy 84 degrees and encompasses 125,000 square feet of attractions over two levels.
The 37 rides, slides, and pools at the seasonal, outdoor Camelbeach, on the other hand, are open to the public with the purchase of a ticket. (Note that Camelback Lodge guests also enjoy free access to Camelbeach.)
Admission: Camelbeach: $39.99 (kids 2 and under admitted free); Aquatopia: included in hotel stay (rooms start at $299/night)
Season: Camelbeach: Memorial Day through Labor Day; Aquatopia: open year-round
Address: 309 Resort Drive, Tannersville, PA 18372; (570) 629–1661
Distance from Center City: ~110 milesMore »
Forget the too-long lines of theme parks: Access to Great Wolf Lodge's water park is reserved exclusively for guests of the Poconos hotel. Geared toward families, this indoor, 80,000-square-foot water park spans zero-depth-entry pools and toddler-friendly slides to speed chutes and steamy hot tubs.
A consistent air temperature of 84 degrees keeps everyone warm and cozy.
Admission: Included in hotel stay; suite rates start at $299.99/night
Season: Open year-round
Address:Â 1 Great Wolf Drive, Scotrun, PA 18355;Â (570) 688-9899
Distance from Center City:Â ~110 milesMore »
1. CoCo Key Water Resort at The Hotel ML
Open to the public, CoCo Key Water Resort promises 55,000 square feet of (indoor) water-logged fun, including a lazy river and more than 909 feet of water slides.Â
Admission: $29.95–$32.95; kids 2 and under admittedÂ
Season:Â Open year-round
Address:Â 915 Route 73 Mount Laurel, NJ 08054;Â (877) 494-COCO
Distance from Center City:Â ~15 milesMore »
2. Clementon Park & Splash World
With roots that stretch all the way back to 1907, Clementon Park is one of the country's oldest continually operating amusement parks. However, the venue's water park, Splash World, is anything but old-fashioned: It hosts eight modern, themed attractions, including a 23,000-square-foot wave pool and multiple raft and body slides.
Admission:Â $39.99
Season:Â Memorial Day through Labor Day
Address: 144 Berlin Road, Clementon, NJ 08021; (856) 783-0263
Distance from Center City:Â ~18 milesMore »
3. Sahara Sam's Oasis Indoor and Outdoor Water Park
Sahara Sam's Oasis opened in 2009 as the Garden State's very first free-standing, indoor water park. A retractable roof shields 90 percent of the park's nearly 60,000 square feet of aquatic and arcade attractions, while two acres' worth of additional water activities offer opportunity for alfresco recreation.
Admission: $24.95–$29.95; kids 2 and under admitted free
Season:Â Open year-round
Address: 535 N Route 73, West Berlin, NJ 08091; (856) 767-7580
Distance from Center City:Â ~20 milesMore »
4. Sesame Place
This Sesame Street-themed amusement park — one of Philly's favorite kid-friendly attractions — augments its lineup of carousels, coasters, and daily character performances with a water park featuring slides, chutes and a 10,000-square-foot wave pool.
Admission: Summer admission starts at $55; kids 23 months and younger admitted free
Season: May–Sept.
Address:Â 100 Sesame Rd, Langhorne, PA 19047;Â Â (866) 464-3566
Distance from Center City:Â ~27 milesMore »
5. Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom
One ticket price grants visitor access to the robust roster of rides and slides at Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom, a 200-acre, two-faced amusement park in Lehigh County. Get your adrenaline pumping on one of Dorney's Park signature thrill rides, then don a bathing suit to take on Wildwater Kingdom's 35-plus pools, slides, and wave pools.
Admission: Single-day admission starts at $44; kids 2 and under admitted freeÂ
Season: Memorial Day through Labor Day
Address:Â 3830 Dorney Park Road, Allentown, PA 18104;Â (610) 395-3724
Distance from Center City:Â ~65 milesMore »
6. H20ooohh!
Adventures seeking an alternative to a Poconos camping trip should consider H20ooohh! This family-friendly indoor water park, located in the Poconos town of Lake Harmony, hosts close to 55,000 square feet of thrilling slides and pools.
Admission:Â $36; kids 2 and under admitted free
Season:Â Open year-round
Address:Â 100 Moseywood Road, Lake Harmony, PA 18624;Â (570) 722-9111
Distance from Center City:Â ~95 milesMore »
7. Camelback Lodge Camelbeach and Aquatopia Indoor Waterpark
Making claim to being the "the largest indoor water park in the Northeast," Aquatopia is open year-round and is accessible only to overnight guests of Camelback Lodge. It's heated to a balmy 84 degrees and encompasses 125,000 square feet of attractions over two levels.
The 37 rides, slides, and pools at the seasonal, outdoor Camelbeach, on the other hand, are open to the public with the purchase of a ticket. (Note that Camelback Lodge guests also enjoy free access to Camelbeach.)
Admission: Camelbeach: $39.99 (kids 2 and under admitted free); Aquatopia: included in hotel stay (rooms start at $299/night)
Season: Camelbeach: Memorial Day through Labor Day; Aquatopia: open year-round
Address: 309 Resort Drive, Tannersville, PA 18372; (570) 629–1661
Distance from Center City: ~110 milesMore »
8. Great Wolf Lodge
Forget the too-long lines of theme parks: Access to Great Wolf Lodge's water park is reserved exclusively for guests of the Poconos hotel. Geared toward families, this indoor, 80,000-square-foot water park spans zero-depth-entry pools and toddler-friendly slides to speed chutes and steamy hot tubs.
A consistent air temperature of 84 degrees keeps everyone warm and cozy.
Admission: Included in hotel stay; suite rates start at $299.99/night
Season: Open year-round
Address:Â 1 Great Wolf Drive, Scotrun, PA 18355;Â (570) 688-9899
Distance from Center City:Â ~110 milesMore »