6 FL Water Parks Are Among Best In America For 2025

FLORIDA — Six of the top 24 water park locations in the country are in Florida, according to a recent list from U.S. News & World Report.

Water parks named to the list are:

Universal's Volcano Bay, Orlando: Notable park features include a lazy river and a dozen waterslides, such as the Maku of the Maku Puihi Round Raft Rides.

Adventure Island, Tampa: Offers mat racing slides, corkscrews, a lazy river and the Solar Vortex, America's first dual tailspin waterslide with top speeds of up to 20 mph.

Shipwreck Island Waterpark, Panama City Beach: Major features include a 500,000-gallon wave pool, the white waters of the Raging Rapids ride, the 60-foot-high Pirate's Plunge Racing Slide and children's activity pools.

Rapids Waterpark, West Palm Beach: The park has around 40 slides and attractions, like the funnel-shaped Black Thunder, which will spin you around in total darkness, or cruise down the lazy river as it takes you through water cannons, mist and a waterfall.

Island H2O Water Park, Kissimmee: This park outside Orlando puts a technological twist on classic water park attractions. Slides like Live Streaming drop you vertically through a trap door while recording you, while the Downloader allows you to control the music while on the way down.

Great Wolf Lodge in Naples: Splash, swim, and slide with the family, then try dry-land attractions such as the MagiQuest adventure game, arcade games and much more. Kids will like the assortment of entertainment included from yoga and arts and crafts projects to a dance party and story time.

U.S. News noted that water parks have evolved to pack in more thrills and are more diverse than they were just a few decades ago. The best of them offer something for everyone, their preferences lean toward lazy rivers, towering slides, water coasters or giant wave pools and surf simulators.

Some of the water parks on the list offer lodging for people who want to extend the fun beyond a day of wild and wet fun. Some water parks may be open seasonally from May to September, although Great Wolf Lodge indoor water parks are open year-round.

Other attractions on The 24 Best Water Parks in the U.S. for 2025 are:

• Cowabunga Bay Water Park: Draper, Utah
• Noah’s Ark Waterpark: Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin
• Water World: Federal Heights, Colorado
• Schlitterbahn Waterpark & Resort: New Braunfels, Texas
• Legoland Water Park: Carlsbad, California
• Silver Dollar City’s White Water: Branson, Missouri
• Wilderness at the Smokies: Sevierville, Tennessee
• Soaky Mountain Water Park: Sevierville, Tennessee
• Timber Ridge Lodge & Waterpark: Lake Geneva, Wisconsin
• Cedar Point Shores Waterpark: Sandusky, Ohio
• Kalahari Resorts & Conventions Wisconsin Dells: Baraboo, Wisconsin
• Camelbeach Outdoor Waterpark: Tannersville, Pennsylvania
• Dollywood's Splash Country: Pigeon Forge, Tennessee
• Splashin’ Safari: Santa Claus, Indiana
• Knott’s Soak City Waterpark: Buena Park, California
• Big Rivers Waterpark & Adventures: New Caney, Texas
• Lost Island Waterpark: Waterloo, Iowa
• Great Wolf Lodge: Multiple Locations