Indoor Pools with Day Passes

The Connection – Summit

Popular for swim lessons, the kid-friendly pool at The Connection will make little guppies feel right at home. Dive in as a family during Recreational Swim, which is free for members or $20 with a non-member pass. Call for the recreational swim hours and days.

Five Star Swim School – Cherry Hill, Deptford, East Hanover, Eatontown, Edison, Galloway, and Princeton

If your little one is sensitive to chemicals, the saltwater pool at a Five Star Swim School may be gentler on their eyes, skin, and hair than traditional chlorine. The water is also heated to a tropical 90 degrees. It’s $20 per swimmer to take a dip during open swim; kids 3 and under are FREE. You can also purchase a 10-visit punch card for $188.

DeBaun Aquatics Center – Hoboken

When not in use by the varsity team, the Stevens Institute of Technology pool is open for family swim 7 days a week. You can drop in for $25, or get a monthly family membership—$100 per month if you sign up before the 15th (after, it's $60). Note: the pool is kept at a temperature of 81 degrees for competitions and meets, which may be a little too cool for your littlest ones.   

Goldfish Swim School – Various Locations

Goldfish Swim School opens up its shiver-free, 90-degree pool several times a week for Family Swim. It’s a great way to test the waters before signing your little one up for swim lessons. Visit the website to find out the Family Swim hours at your nearby location.

Pershing Field Pool – Jersey City

In addition to a skating rink, baseball fields, basketball courts, and a playground, Pershing Field also includes a 25-meter, 6-lane heated pool. Open to residents and non-residents, the pool has a light and airy feel thanks to its glass ceiling, and the water is 3.5 feet deep at its shallowest. Daily fees are $3 on weekdays and $4 on weekends per adult for residents, and $6 on weekdays and $8 on weekends and holidays for non-resident adults. There is no daily entry fee for children ages 17 years & younger.

Ronald Dario Swimming Complex and Bruce D. Walter Recreation Center – Union City

Union City is home to not just one, but two indoor pools, both with open swim hours Monday–Saturday. It's FREE to Hudson County residents. Be prepared to show your ID to gain entrance.

Indoor Pools with Inexpensive Memberships

Educational Services Commission of NJ Aquatics & Fitness Center – Parlin

The ESCNJ Aquatics & Fitness Center is not as cheap as community pools, but it has pretty much everything an indoor pool should have: a 25-yard lap pool, a warm-water recreation pool for families, and a heated spa. There's recreational swim, but also lessons and exercise classes. Special Needs Aquatic Play invites children with special needs and their families to play and swim in a comfortable, welcoming environment. 

John F. Kennedy Recreation & Aquatic Center – Newark

The unique indoor/outdoor pool has a retractable roof that can be opened on warm, sunny days. The pool is open Tuesday–Saturday and a yearly membership is $5 for Newark residents and $15 for non-residents.

Lyndhurst Community Pool – Lyndhurst​

Located on the Lyndhurst High School campus, big windows allow plenty of sunshine to pour into this clean, well-maintained indoor pool. Open daily for recreational lap swim, a seasonal membership is the perfect way to pass the cold-weather months. For a family of four, it’s $280 per season for residents or $310 for non-residents. The pool also hosts swim lessons.​

RELATED: Splash and Slide at Indoor Water Parks for NJ Families

Snag a membership to the Mercer County Community College pool. 

Mercer County Community College – West Windsor

Grab your goggles and take the plunge at this local community college. The Olympic-size pool is perfectly heated so that little swimmers can stay warm while they float, swim, or splash. Family memberships include up to five people and can be purchased on an annual ($285) or monthly ($25) basis. Locker rooms and showers are available during the pool’s open hours.

Photos courtesy of the colleges and sports centers