You get two parks for the price of one at Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom.

Top Outdoor Water Parks in Pennsylvania

1. Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom — Allentown

The best part about Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom is you get into both parks for one admission price. Wildwater Kingdom features so many great attractions; in addition to Lollipop Lagoon, Wildwater Rapids, Aqua Racer, giant wave pools, serpentine slides, two lazy rivers, and a racing slide, Seaside Splashworks was added to the park in 2020 and contains multiple water slides, splash zones, and dozens of beach-themed play features. 

2. Sesame Place — Langhorne

Sesame Place is the perfect water park for the littlest adventurer. Kids love playing on the Count's Splash Castle, riding the huge slip and slide, or going down the popular Sky Splash, equipped with oversized toys, including an eight-foot rubber duckie. The best part is admission gets you into the whole park, so kids can do more than just play in the water.

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Enjoy the rides and cool off in Hersheypark's water park. 

3. Hersheypark — Hershey

Hersheypark may be better known for its dry rides, but the water park is plenty of fun, too. It includes a wave pool, coaster ride, multiple water slides, lazy river, and multiple interactive water play attractions. Big kids will love the East Coast Waterworks section, while little ones can enjoy Sandcastle Cove. The 11-acre water park is included in the theme park admission rate. 

Camelback Mountain becomes Camelbeach in the summer.

4. Camelbeach Mountain Waterpark — Tannersville

This outdoor water park features thrilling attractions, including Sand Storm, a huge funnel tube ride; Triple Venom, a six-story ride with three different high-speed, quick turn, huge drop slides; and Vortex and Spin Cycle, the park's bowl slides. Add in lots of fun splash and water play areas for kids, a surf simulator, and zip lining for a non-water activity, and the kids will be begging to return. If you're too tired to drive home or want to make a whole vacation out of it, stay at Camelback Lodge, fully equipped with an indoor water park for guests.

5. Dutch Wonderland — Lancaster

Called Duke's Lagoon, the water park portion of Dutch Wonderland is a parent's dream and a preschooler's delight. It's not too overwhelming, with many fountains and small slides for little ones. There are a few bigger slides to entertain older siblings. Families can rent cabanas and grab food at Sharkys Grill for slushies, chicken tenders, and burgers.

Splash through all the water features at Kalahari Waterpark.

6. Kalahari Waterpark — Pocono Mountains

America's largest indoor water park, Kalahari is connected to a hotel with an outdoor pool and arcade. This park features a bodyboarding and surfing wave pool, water coasters and flume rides, a water play area for kids, a separate toddler area with tiny slides and activities, and a basketball pool. Kalahari also has a swim-up bar and whirlpool spas for grown-ups to relax and enjoy while kids play. There's a seasonal outdoor pool attached to the water park. Day passes to the water park are available even if you don't stay overnight at the resort.

Families can hit the slides together at Great Wolf Lodge's indoor water park.

7. Great Wolf Lodge — Pocono Mountains

For families looking to beat the heat indoors, the recently renovated Great Wolf Lodge offers so many attractions. From relaxing hot springs and cabanas to thrilling water slides and wave pools, everyone in the family is sure to enjoy a visit to this destination. In addition to water fun, guests can expect a ropes course, bowling, miniature golf, arcade games, and a creation station. This indoor water park is only accessible to overnight guests of the lodge.

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There's room for everyone in the outdoor pool at Sahara Sam's Oasis in New Jersey.

New Jersey and Jersey Shore Water Parks

8. Sahara Sam's Oasis — West Berlin

Boasting indoor and outdoor options, this water park is perfect for year-round adventures. The indoor area contains lots of unique slides, the state's only surfing simulator, an obstacle course, and an adorable toddler area. From Memorial Day through Labor Day, the park also offers an outdoor beach area featuring a leisure pool, full-service tiki bar, splash park, and a 12,000-square-foot wave pool. If kids need a break from the water, head to the arcade area.

Diggerland's water park includes a splash area for little ones. 

9. Diggerland's Water Main — West Berlin

The construction-themed amusement park debuted a brand-new water park in 2020, The Water Main, where guests can enjoy pools, a water obstacle course, slides, and even a toddler splash area. Check out the basketball hoops, too! Reserve a cabana ahead of time so that the whole family can spread out. Admission to the water park is included in the ticket price for the theme park.

Shoot down the slides together at Six Flags Hurricane Harbor. 

10. Six Flags Hurricane Harbor — Jackson

If you like water rides that thrill, Hurricane Harbor is the place for you. Check out the Big Wave Racer, an 1,800-foot slide with lots of steep drops; Cannonball, Wahini, and Jurahnimo Falls, which features a 75-foot drop; or the Tornado, a 132-foot tunnel. Not into high speeds and big drops? Hurricane Harbor also offers family tube rides and kids' rides. The new Calypso Springs contains a 100,000-gallon pool, an erupting geyser, huge lounge deck, and oversized umbrellas. 

11. The Splashplex — Mt. Laurel and East Hanover

Splashplex features outdoor attractions such as wave pools, slides, and a boardwalk; families can reserve a cabana in advance. Get a break from the sun's rays with inside options including bowling, arcade games, and laser tag. Splashplex is open Memorial Day through Labor Day. 

12. OC Waterpark — Ocean City

This beachside water park offers slides, a lazy river, and a few thrill rides, too. Take the younger children to Lil' Buc's Bay for more shallow water play with interactive features. If the family needs a break from water activities, play a round of miniature golf.

Ocean Oasis at Morey's Piers is a tropical thrilling getaway. Photo by Dave Howarth

13. Morey's Piers and Water Parks — Wildwood

There are two water parks at Morey's Piers: Raging Waters Water Park is located at the end of Mariner's Pier while Ocean Oasis Water Park is at Surfside Pier. Check out Shotgun Falls, Rocket Raft Run, speed slides, and rope swings. An interactive pirate ship and family pool are great for younger kids.

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Go down head first, if you dare, at Breakwater Beach's Patriot's Plunge.

14. Breakwater Beach Waterpark at Casino Pier — Seaside Heights

A great place to visit while you're at the shore, Breakwater Beach offers free-fall slides, serpentine slides, a mat race slide with plunge drop, an interactive multilevel splash play area, and hot tub springs. Yes, hot tub springs. 

A version of this article was first published in 2016. Writer Corrie Stango cntributed to this 2022 update.

Photos courtesy the water parks