Orange County Splash Parks and Water Play (including Free Fountains, Splash Pads, Waterslides, and Hotels with Water Features)

Always check official sources for Summer 2024 to see if the splash park you want to visit is open. Reservations may be required!

One of Fun Orange County Parks’ regular readers asked about local “spray parks” for water play – and even gave some suggestions herself. 

I keep hearing that Southern California, especially OC, lacks splash pads. My only explanation is our proximity to the beach and the good weather which allows us to make our own splash parks at home with sprinklers.

Here are links to a few splash pad options if you are looking to get wet this summer:

FREE SPLASH FOUNTAINS

Look for these splash pads and spray parks to open for summer around Memorial Day. I will make note if they are open more year-round.

More FREE splash pads not featured on this blog:

• Rancho Santa Margarita Splash Pad at Central Park opened to the public in 2022. I have a post on the playground that is attached to it at RSM Central Park. Open for Summer 2024! It is sometimes down for maintenance, but there is a great playground there and library across the street so there is always something else to do.
• The Splash Pad in Westminster’s Sigler Park is open WEEKENDS (May 25th-June 9th) and DAILY (June 15th – Sept 2nd) for Summer 2024 between the hours of 12pm-5pm and closing 2-2:30pm for maintenance. The splash pad is at the corner of a large rectangular park area right off the main boulevard. They had a few extensions into the first few weekends of September.
• Fullerton actually has an info page about their spray pools. Opened May 24, 2024.
  • Lemon Park Spray Pool at Maple Neighborhood Center in Fullerton used to be a sparse playground with old equipment, although the water play area hasn’t changed much the surrounding playground has newer equipment. It’s near the Fullerton AMC and Costco. Open during summer.
  • Adlena Park
  • Valencia Park
  • Downtown Plaza – this one is open daily in summer from 10 a.m. to sunset.
• Go Park Play reported that the water feature at Alton Park in Lake Forest/Foothill Ranch runs on Saturday mornings only. See her post about it.
• Lake Forest Fun showed evidence of the water feature working at Dinosaur Park in Laguna Hills which is nice because sometimes it’s not! See her post about it.
• Frontier Park in Tustin spray ground “features a state of the art recirculation system and special water conserving spray nozzles that ensures no wasteful water consumption.” Usually opens Memorial Day and remains open 7 days/week through Labor Day from 11am-5pm.
• For Anaheim, there’s Ponderosa Park (OC Register story from June 2018) AND Mira Loma Park & Splash Pad. Opened for the season on Memorial Day weekend.

Other splash pads:

• Atlantis Play Center in Garden Grove – Splash pad usually open during summer except for the weeks when they are running summer camp inside the park. It is open for Summer 2024 and costs $2 to get in. There is a notation on the website that says: “*Please note, the splash pad may be closed intermittently for unforeseen maintenance work. If you would like to confirm operation before you arrive, please call us at (714) 892-6015 once the park is open to check the status of the splash pad for that day.”
• Yorba Linda Adventure Playground opened on April 22, 2023 and it has a splash pad, plus waterslide. I have not promoted this a lot because the hours are pretty tricky and unpredictable.
  • It’s really important to check the official Yorba Linda Adventure Playground website for exact hours and procedures for reservations for residents and non-residents.
  • Pay special attention to days where there may be Modified Hours of Operation or Closures for the site.
  • Reservations are required during summer for VERY limited hours during summer months (historically, there used to be NO summer access for the times when summer camp was in session so this is actually an improvement to access).
  • There are special hours for the week of June 9th.
  • For June 17th through August 11th — Adventure Playground Summer Camp will utilize the entire site Monday to Friday until 5 p.m. which means no public access during those hours.
• Harry M. Dotson Park in Stanton – I haven’t been promoting this option since there was a tragic shooting midday on a Saturday in Spring 2023. But in case you are familiar and local, this could be an option if you are comfortable going? It is open 12pm-5pm as of July 2024.

*Boomer’s Buccaneer Cove, at the end of that video, is no longer in operation.

Always check the city or original source to make sure the parks are open. Sometimes they turn off the water without notice.

PAY FOR WATER PLAY

I’ve never been, but the City of La Mirada Buccaneer Bay (Splash!) is open for Summer 2024 beginning Memorial Day weekend on May 18th (for season passholders) and May 25th for the rest of the public. It gets the best reader comments:

“We visited Splash in La Mirada on Saturday and “OH MY GOODNESS” it was sooo much fun!”  (-Lisa)

“We visited La Mirada (all the way from Lake Forest) today – there’s nowhere we won’t drive! It was definitely worth it. The ‘common pool’ area in the middle is free, parking is free, my 2 year old son was free. That’s a bargain in exchange for the cost of gas. I like that locker rental only cost 50 cents and that you can swim for free or enter Buccaneer Bay for a fee. I thought that cost of the Bay was reasonable for all they had to offer. Can’t wait to go again sometime.” (-Heather)

Season passes are $60-$70 and day tickets are $22/$27.

Newport Dunes Inflatable Water Playground & Water Sport Rentals – Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day (May 24th through September 2nd). For Summer 2024 – a reservation system is in place and your admission is valid for “One Hour Only, No Full Day access!” Price is $15-$20 per person per hour. Walk-ins are still allowed, but they warn that time slots will sell out. This is also recommended for kids over 5 years old.

The Adventure Lagoon Anaheim Water Park just came on the scene in Summer 2021. It’s open for the summer season as of May 18th, 2024.

Other Southern California Water Theme Parks:

• Wild Rivers Waterpark inside Irvine Great Park is opened for the first time in Summer 2022 and season passes for Summer 2024 are selling now. Great toddler/kids areas are Cook’s Cove, Kontiki Cove, and Castaway River. I wrote a HUGE Family Guide in 2023 on everything you need to know to go play there.
• Knott’s Berry Farm Soak City, Buena Park – Open for the season from May 18th through September 8th, 2024.
• Sea World’s Sesame Place in Chula Vista (San Diego area) – formerly Sea World’s Aquatica. Opened March 2022, but the Sesame Summer Splash water rides open for Summer 2024 on Memorial Day weekend starting May 24th, 2024.
• Legoland California Water Park in Carlsbad and they even have a splash pad area in the Lego Movie World section of the park. The regular splash pad is already open on weekends for 2024, but the LEGO CHIMA Water opens for the season on June 15th, 2024. (San Diego area)
• San Diego Zoo Wildlife Explorers Basecamp – also a splash pad by the gondolas. Looks so fun! First opened Spring 2022.
• The Wave Water Park, Vista – opens Memorial Day weekend and they have a printable calendar for the 2024 season. (San Diego area)
• Hurricane Harbor, Valencia (LA area) 
• Raging Waters, San Dimas (LA area)

SMALLER SCALE WATER PLAY FOR LOCALS

• Aliso Viejo Aquatic Center and Pool
• San Clemente Aquatics and Vista Hermosa Sports Park (pictured with green slide above)
• Go to different cities for recreational swim (click here for my Ultimate Guide to City Recreation Programs and Calendars)
• Join the YMCA to take part in swim lessons or rec swim
• Montanoso Recreation Center in Mission Viejo (splash pad) and Sierra Recreation Center (waterslide) have day use fees or recreation memberships for residents and non-residents

More Info on Community Pools and Public Swim Programs

There are a number of cities with aquatics programs and some have community pools and public swim or “rec swim” programs – either year-round or summer only. You will need to consult these city websites for official information.

• Aliso Viejo Aquatics info
• Anaheim pools info (note that the dates listed are 2022)
• Brea Plunge pool info
• Buena Park aquatics & pool info
• Costa Mesa pool info
• Garden Grove pool info
• Huntington Beach pool info
• Irvine aquatics & pool info
• La Habra pool info
• La Palma pool info
• Laguna Beach pool info
• Laguna Niguel aquatics
• Los Alamitos aquatics info
• Mission Viejo – Recreation Center Memberships (Montanoso/Sierra) or pay day use fees for pool
• City of Newport Beach aquatics
• Placentia rec swim at Whitten Community Center & Gomez Community Center (info on pg 14 of the Palm Quarterly)
• San Clemente Aquatics Center and Ole Hanson Beach Club info
• Santa Ana aquatics info
• Seal Beach aquatics info

Again, you may have to pay a non-resident fee vs. the resident fee if you don’t have to live in the city where you’d like to participate in the activities.

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA HOTELS WITH WATER PLAY

It’s useful to remember that this list is ONLY waterslides or water parks AT hotels — meaning (in most cases) you must be a registered guest and staying at the hotel to enjoy the amenities.

ResortPass is one way to gain access to some hotels by paying for the day without having to pay for an overnight stay. See if the hotel you have in mind is listed!

• Slyder’s Water Playground at Hyatt Huntington Beach (OC)
• Waterfront Beach Resort Hilton in Huntington Beach (OC)
• Splash Landing Pools and Family Sandy Beach at La Costa Resort (North San Diego County)
• Waterslides at Hyatt Mission Bay Spa & Marina (San Diego)
• Family Pool at the Grand Pacific Palisades in Carlsbad (North San Diego County)
• Splashtopia at Rancho Las Palmas Resort (Palm Springs)
• Children’s Pool at Hyatt Regency Indian Wells Resort & Spa (Palm Springs Area)
• Chuckwalla Slide and Family Pool at Marriott’s Shadow Ridge I – The Villages (Palm Springs Area)
• Mirage Pool at The Westin Desert Willow Villas (Palm Springs Area)
• Monorail Pool at the Disneyland Hotel (OC)
• Redwood Pool at Disney’s Grand Californian Resort (OC)
• Rooftop pool at Disneyland Paradise Pier Hotel (OC)
• Surfside Waterpark at Courtyard Anaheim Theme Park Entrance (OC)
• Castaway Cove at Howard Johnson by Wyndham Hotel Anaheim (OC)
• Waterpark at Cambria Hotel & Suites in Anaheim (OC)
• Kids Splash & Play at Renaissance Club Sport Hotel in Aliso Viejo (OC)
• Children’s Splash Zone at Laguna Cliffs Marriott (OC)
• Pool with kids activity area at Knott’s Berry Farm Hotel (OC)
• Great Wolf Lodge, Garden Grove indoor water park (OC)
• Resort Pool and Splash Zone at Terranea Resort (LA area)

What did I miss? Please help me keep this list up-to-date. I’ve been maintaining it every summer SINCE 2008!

BEACHES:

Don’t forget the BEACH! Kids can splash in the surf without going all the way in the water. Hold their hands and cool your toes, too. I have a ton of suggestions with details under my Beach category. And I wrote about the Best Toddler Beaches with no waves.

Originally published in Summer 2008.