Water Theme Parks Near NYC

There are no water theme parks in NYC... yet. But you don't have to go too far to find some awesome ones.

We've rounded up our favorite water theme parks for kids in the tri-state area, all less than a two-hour drive from midtown Manhattan. No two are alike: Each one offers different experiences and thrills.

Before you hop in the car, make sure to check the parks' official websites to confirm hours and prices (sometimes you'll even find online-only ticket specials). Also, if you plan to visit a particular park more than once, consider buying seasonal passes as that may be more economical.

Splish Splash Waterpark – Calverton, Long Island
2549 Splish Splash Drive
631-727-3600
Approximately 90 minutes by car
Open Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day. Hours vary. Click here for the complete schedule.
Admission: $37.99 for adults, $28.99 for children under 48 inches; free for kids under age 2.
Often cited by families as one of the best water parks in the country, Splish Splash has 96 acres of rides, slides and pools. Toddlers can play in the kiddie pools, slip down the elephant slide, take a soak surrounded by bubbles and geysers, and romp in a shipwreck-themed water playground. There are even toddler swings that dip little toes in the water. Although many of rides have height restrictions (like the slide that drops you eight stories in three seconds!), little kids can ride several of them (not that one) if clad in a life jacket and accompanied by a parent. If you become waterlogged, take in a family show while you drip-dry. Cabana rentals ($99 and up) are also available so you can relax in the shade when you need a break from all the sun and fun. Another unique Splash Splash attribute: When the park was built, the developers didn't cut down the trees; they just worked around them. So it's very pretty and comparatively eco-friendly.

Six Flags Hurricane Harbor – Jackson, New Jersey
1 Six Flags Boulevard
732-928-1821
Approximately 90 minutes by car
Open Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day. Hours vary. Click here for the complete schedule.
Admission: $39.99 for adults, $31.99 for children under 48 inches, free for children under age 2. Purchase tickets online and save $5.
Even though Six Flags Hurricane Harbor is significantly smaller than Splish Splash, it really packs in the fun. Located in Ocean County, the gateway to the Jersey Shore, the park offers nine rides, from splashy play areas for tots, to slippery slides with mild, moderate and max thrill ratings. Little ones will enjoy the 1 million gallon Blue Lagoon wave pool, the Discovery Bay water playground and a float down the Taak It Eez Ee Creek: a 700,000-gallon lazy river featuring waterfalls, rapids and geysers. The park also offers some nice amenities like cabanas, a nursing station and stroller rentals. Of course, if you hit Hurricane Harbor, you may also want to visit the other nearby Six Flags theme parks: Great Adventure and Wild Safari. You can even buy a three-park season pass that gives you unlimited access to the trio, as well as 12 other Six Flags Theme Parks around the country.

The Land of Make Believe & Pirate's Cove – Hope, New Jersey
354 Great Meadows Road
Route 611
908-459-9000
Approximately 90 minutes by car
Open Memorial Day weekend to the weekend after Labor Day 10am-6pm.
Admission: $23 for adults, $25 for children ages 2 to 18, free for kids under 2.
A true family amusement park with rustic charm, the Land of Make Believe mixes a traditional country fair experience with thrilling rides. Pirate's Cove is where you'll find the water attractions, including America's Largest Wading Pool, pirate-themed water slides and rides, and a water playground. For nostalgia lovers, there's a Civil War locomotive ride, a real World War II cockpit, a hayride and a talking scarecrow. Families can go back and forth between the two distinct sections, and if you need to get out of the sun, you can hit the indoor arcade and impress the kids with your Skee-ball skills. Food is available for purchase but you can also bring your own and eat in the spacious picnic area.

Tomahawk Lake – Sparta, New Jersey
155 Tomahawk Trail
978-398-7777
Approximately one hour by car
Open Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day. Hours vary. Click here for the complete schedule.
Admission prices vary. Click here for a list. Note: The park accepts cash only!
A water park and a state park, Tomahawk Lake is set in 200 acres of parkland and has a variety of water slides and a water play area. There's a beach on a 20-acre lake, boat rentals (pedal boats, swan boats, bumper boats and kiddie canoes), a picnic area, sports fields and miniature golf—it kind of feels like summer camp. In addition, there's an outdoor beer garden and old-fashioned country food concessions that sell homemade doughnuts, fresh popcorn, charbroiled hot dogs and hamburgers, and cotton candy. However, let's be clear: There's nothing flashy here. If you come expecting state-of-the-art facilities, you’ll be disappointed. The mini-golf course doesn't have windmills, the kiddie area is a roped off part of the lake with some plaster animals to climb, and there's a horseshoe playing court. Need we say more? But if you're looking for simple country fun in a place where you don't have to deal with insane water park prices and crowds, this spot's for you.

Casino Pier & Breakwater Beach – Seaside Heights, New Jersey
Casino Beach Pier
800 Ocean Terrace
732-793-6488
Approximately 100 minutes by car
Open mid-May to mid-September. Click here for the complete schedule.
Admission to both parks: $44.95 for adults, $39.95 for kids under 48 inches. Click here for complete pricing options.
When it comes to the Jersey Shore, it seems like the philosophy is too much is never enough. Casino Pier offers loads of over-the-top fun like classic amusement park rides, an antique carousel, miniature golf, a penny arcade and go-karts, all right along the Seaside Heights boardwalk. Casino Pier’s Breakwater Beach (formerly known as Water Works) is a state-of-the-art water park with a massive interactive play area, including water slides and flumes, and a huge kiddie water play area.

Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom – Allentown, Pennsylvania
3830 Dorney Park Road
610-395-3724
Approximately two hours by car
Dorney Park open May to October; Wildwater Kingdom open Memorial Day to Labor Day. Click here for the complete schedule.
Admission varies. Click here for pricing options. Save money by purchasing tickets online.
Wildwater Kingdom features dozens of water slides, two gigantic wave pools, a pair of lazy rivers and four kids' water play areas—three of which were specifically designed for the park's youngest visitors. And of course, there's also Dorney Park with its amusement park rides, midway games, arcades, live shows and special sections like Planet Snoopy, which is inspired by the beloved Peanuts pup. Wildwater Kingdoms’ amenities include poolside cabanas and a wide variety of dining options.

Sesame Place – Langhorne, Pennsylvania
100 Sesame Road
215-752-7070
Approximately two hours by car
Open May to October. Click here for the complete schedule.
Admission: $57.99 (can visit twice in one season), free for children under age of 23 months.
The world's only theme park based on the award-winning TV series, Sesame Place isn't exclusively a water park. However, it offers lots of water attractions and fans of the show are sure to have fun, both wet and dry. There's the interactive Count’s Splash Castle, with more than 90 play elements, including a 1,000-gallon tipping bucket. Big Bird’s Rambling River offers a leisurely float along a 1,000-foot waterway of bubbling, swirling waters with surprises like water-filled tipping coconuts, waterfalls and spraying geysers. Got older kids? Don't worry, there are things for them to do, too, like Sky Splash, an exhilarating ride that takes passengers from gentle ponds with whirlpool-like jet streams to slides with speeds of up to 20 feet per second, culminating with a final plunge into a pool of water. Amenities include cabanas, double strollers and lockers for rent.

Camelbeach Mountain Waterpark – Tannersville, Pennsylvania
1 Camelback Road
570-629-1661
Approximately two hours by car
Open Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day. Click here for the complete schedule.
Admission varies. Click here for pricing options.
Nestled in the Poconos, this winter ski resort turns into a water park come summer. There are a variety of rides and slides, many geared toward older kids. Little ones should enjoy Kahuna Cove, which is located next to the Kahuna Lagoon wave pool, with gentle tipping buckets and interactive spray structures. Pharaoh's Phortress Family Play Structure has eight water slides, a four-story-high tipping bucket, fountains and spray guns. Camel Cove allows kids and families to “control” the action of a giant bucket (that dumps all its water every few minutes) with various valves and levers. The Blue Nile Adventure River is a 1,000-foot-long ride that takes passengers on a relaxing journey through waterfalls, past geysers and across bubbling waters. Don’t want to get wet? Take a scenic chairlift ride or hunt for gemstones at Tut’s Treasures, which requires an additional fee. Cabanas and lockers are available for rental.

Mountain Creek Waterpark – Vernon, New Jersey
200 McAfee Vernon Road
973-864-4444
Approximately 90 minutes by car
Open June to Labor Day. Click here for the complete schedule.
Admission: $36.99 for adults, $26.99 for children under 48 inches, free for kids under age 2.
Another winter ski resort turned summer water park, Mountain Creek has almost two dozen rides, five of which were designed for the littlest visitors. Those attractions include the Fishing Village, a multilevel, interactive play fort with water slides and spay cannons while Junior Rapids is a mini version of the park's famous Colorado River ride. Cabanas and locker rentals available.

Check out our Summer Fun Guide for additional seasonal fun.

Updated May 10, 2012