Water Parks: Slipping, Sliding, and RVing

Visiting a water park is one of our family’s favorite things to do while RVing. We love that there are indoor and outdoor varieties around the US, so you can visit one any time of the year. We’ve been a full-time RVing family for quite some time now and have visited many water parks over the years.

The best thing is, there are no wrong choices! Water parks can range from elaborate, Disney-type adventures with themed lands and characters to a simple collection of slides, wave pools, and a lazy river or two. And they’re all guaranteed to put smiles on faces of all ages.

Naturally, they’re all kid-friendly, which is a must when you’re traveling as a family. That said, we do prefer some to others based on crowds, food, amenities, and of course, ride excitement level. So, pack plenty of sunscreen and join us as we visit some of our favorite parks from around the country.

Universal’s Volcano Bay, Florida

By far, our favorite water park, Volcano Bay, is outdoors, but because it is part of the Universal Orlando Resort in Florida, you can essentially visit year-round. We’ve been when it was a balmy 80 degrees outside and also when it was a pleasant 60 degrees—and we had an amazing experience each time. When temps are much milder, usually during the off-season in January and February, there is hardly anyone at the park, so you don’t have to wait in line nearly as long as during peak season.

The park is landscaped with sand and palm trees, which makes you feel like you are in Hawaii or on a tropical island, and not just a few miles from Mickey Mouse and the big city in the middle of The Sunshine State. Volcano Bay has the typical rides, lazy rivers, and a wave pool that you’d expect at a first-rate water park. But that wave pool features a huge volcano that “erupts” as the backdrop, and there’s a second lazy river that isn’t lazy at all; rather, it’s a river of rapids that you ride with your life vest on.

There’s also a roller-coaster ride that is partly on a coaster and partly in the water. And the huge tube rides will have your group screaming in delight as you whip down the slide.

The resort serves tropical drinks and has comfy lounge chairs scattered across the sand. Cabana rentals are available. The food goes a bit beyond the standard water-park staples of burgers, chicken strips, and french fries, and there are healthier options as well.

One thing we love is that the resort offers a wristband device that allows you to load your credit card and set a code so you don’t have to carry any money around. This means you can drop your things in a locker and just walk around with your wristband on. Speaking of lockers, the wristband can also be used as a key, as a “virtual” placeholder in line, as a weather reminder, and also to personalize your experience at the park by unlocking selfie opportunities, unique play areas, and more. Be sure to sample the delicious, colorful Waturi Fusion ice cream treat that our kids get every time we visit.

Stay Here!

Bill Frederick Park at Turkey Lake is close enough to Volcano Bay that you don’t even need to get on the highway to get to the park, and full- and partial-hookup RV sites are available.

Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin

The Dells don’t just offer a single water park but an entire city of water parks. Wisconsin Dells is the water-park capital of the world, and for good reason—there are more than 20 indoor and outdoor water parks for your enjoyment.

A visit to one of the indoor water parks generally requires a stay in the adjacent hotel/resort, but for the outdoor parks, you can stay at one of the local RV parks in the summer and make your way over to the water park. Being Wisconsin, the outdoor park season is short, but they do it right since everyone is so excited to be outside.

At more than 70 acres, Noah’s Ark is the largest outdoor water park, and in my opinion, it is the ultimate Wisconsin Dells water park. I remember going as a kid and spending all day running through the water park from ride to ride, going on the water zip line, and splashing in the wave pool.

Our favorite indoor water parks are at Wilderness Resort, which is a collection of four indoor water parks and four outdoor water parks (the outdoor parks close for the season the first full week of September). Plus, there is a gaming area with a ropes course, an arcade, and climbing structures.

Apart from the water parks, Wisconsin Dells offers a fun downtown area, nearby nature hikes, go-cart tracks, and mini-golf. Plus, you can ride the Ducks, which are vehicles that start on the road and drive you straight into the water for a ride down the river before taking you back onto land.

Stay Here!

Open April–October, Baraboo RV Resort includes a jumping pillow, skate park, and an Aqua Park of its own. Available sites include full and partial hookups, plus some pull-throughs.

Wings and Waves Waterpark, Oregon

A water park with a Boeing 747 on its roof? You read that right! Located in McMinnville, Oregon, Wings and Waves offers slides that begin inside the Boeing itself, a wave pool, a vortex pool, a virtual reality slide, an interactive science center, and so much more.

Wings and Waves is located next to the Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum, where visitors can discover more than 150 aircraft, including the massive Spruce Goose, the largest wooden airplane ever built. You can purchase an RV overnight parking pass, which includes one admission to the museum. The facility is also part of the Harvest Hosts program; members can overnight for free.

Stay Here!

Olde Stone Village RV Resort is a premium resort with 71 full-hookup sites and a host of on-site recreation and activities. RV age restrictions apply.

Great Wolf Lodge Resorts

Great Wolf Lodge Resorts are located across the country and really go above and beyond to make for more than a simple water-park visit. These resorts offer themed rooms, water parks, and plenty to do if you don’t feel like getting wet that day. There are also planned activities, mining, a MagiQuest game, a ropes course, an arcade, and plenty of places to eat and gift shops to explore.

A vacation at Great Wolf Lodge usually requires you to stay at the resort in order to use the water park, but it’s always worth asking if you can park your RV in the lot overnight (we were able to do so during one visit when they weren’t too busy). If not, you can purchase a day pass (if available) and stay at a nearby RV park.

Jellystone Park Camp-Resorts

There are more than 75 Jellystone parks in the US and Canada. Many of them offer a large pool and waterslides, and some of them are located on lakes, which have large inflatable obstacle courses in the water. Granted, Jellystone water parks aren’t likely to be of the full-blown, pulse-pounding variety, but they do offer the convenience of walking right back to your RV for nap time, snacks, meals, etc.

The resorts are great if you have younger kids who would be fine with a smaller-scale water park. Not all offer a water park (so be sure to research before you book), but Jellystone resorts are fun without ever getting in the water, offering top-notch amenities, themed weekends, Yogi Bear visits, and a variety of fun activities throughout each day.