Sandra LawsI don’t know about you, but whenever the sun’s blazing and the beach feels a little too sandy, I bring my whole fam to the nearest water park.
For me, water parks aren’t just a fun way to cool off—it’s where memories are made.
There’s something about racing down a waterslide, floating along a lazy river, or watching the kids go wild in a splash zone that screams summer. Kids (and adults) alike forget their phones for a while and just focus on having a good, wet time.
Lucky for us, San Diego is packed with awesome splash zones. Here’s my handy list of the best water parks in and around San Diego to make the most of your sunny days!
Sesame Place San Diego
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Website: https://sesameplace.com/san-diego/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sesameplaceca/
Address: 2052 Entertainment Cir, Chula Vista
Hours: Sat – Sun: 10 AM – 6 PM
Contact: +1 619-943-3566
Let’s start with Sesame Place San Diego—the only West Coast theme park based on Sesame Street. It has 17 acres of colorful attractions, with wet and dry rides.
We like that it’s beautifully laid out; you can easily hop between rides, snack stands, and splash zones. Speaking of which, check out Big Bird’s Beach, a pool with 500,000 gallons of water, complete with gentle waves and soft sand all around.
Another is Big Bird’s Rambling River—a 1,250-foot lazy river, where you can ride a single or double tube. We also love Cookie’s Monster Mixer, a 6-story family raft adventure.
Lastly, try The Count’s Splash Castle, a multi-level play structure packed with water slides, tipping buckets, squirters, and spinners.
| Pro Tip: Don’t forget the park’s Sunny Day Guarantee. If the weather messes up your plans, Sesame Place will honor your ticket for a future visit—so cool, right? |
LEGOLAND Water Park
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Website: https://www.legoland.com/california/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/legolandcalifornia
Address: One Legoland Dr, Carlsbad
Hours: Mon – Fri: 10 AM – 6 PM
Sat – Sun: 10 AM – 7 PM
Contact: +1 888-690-5346
Tucked inside LEGOLAND California Resort, LEGOLAND Water Park brings all the fun of LEGO to life, just with a lot more splashing involved.
My favorite here is Build-A-Raft River—before you float downstream, you get to build your own LEGO raft. Yep, they offer real floating LEGO bricks that you piece together before hopping in and cruising along.
There’s also the Joker Soaker, a multi-level play structure bursting with slides, climbing areas, and water cannons. It even has a giant clock tower that dumps 350 gallons of water every few minutes!
For the little ones, DUPLO Splash Safari is perfect—a safe, low-key splash pad area built for kids six and under. It has small slides, fun spray features, and DUPLO characters to play with.
| Pro Tip: If you’re planning to go more than once, we recommend their Annual Pass. Check online for awesome deals like buy 3 and get a 4th pass free—a sweet deal for families and large groups! |
The Wave Waterpark
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Website: https://www.thewavewaterpark.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewavewaterpark
Address: 101 Wave Dr, Vista
Hours: Mon – Thurs: 10 AM – 4 PM
Sat: 11 AM – 5 PM
Sun: 12 PM – 5 PM
Contact: +1 760-940-9283
The Wave Waterpark is a local community park. It might not be as flashy as the big-name parks, but it’s still filled with family-friendly chill zones and thrilling rides.
Let’s start with the Slide Tower—basically, the heart of the park; it has four unique slides, such as the Salsa Twist, Tubulation, Glash Flood, and Slam Dunk. All of them end in a 3.5-foot splash pool.
If you want that extra rush, try the Riptide Slide, a twisty adventure that shoots you right into the lazy river. It’s single-tube only, and you need to be 42” or taller for this one.
For the small ones, their Splash Pool is a bubbly park designed for kids under 48”. It’s a safe, shaded area where parents can relax while their kids go wild.
| Pro Tip: The Wave has a strict no-outside food and drinks policy unless you have special dietary needs (as long as you have a food waiver from their front office). But you can bring sealed bottled water (just not in coolers). |
Agua Caliente County Park
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Website: https://www.sdparks.org/content/sdparks/en/park-pages/AguaCaliente.html
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/agua-caliente-county-park/
Address: 39555, 1849 Great Southern Overland Stage Route of Julian
Hours: Mon – Sun: Open 24 hours
Contact: +1 760-765-1188
Agua Caliente County Park is a 910-acre desert beauty that offers natural hot springs you can actually soak in—yes, in the middle of the desert!
The park has three natural mineral pools—there’s an indoor pool and an outdoor pool that’s geothermally heated and open year-round. There’s also an outdoor children’s wading pool that’s shallow and spring-fed.
If you’re planning to stay the night (and trust me, you’ll want to), Agua Caliente has RV sites, non-hookup spots, tent camping areas, and even cozy cabins. The cabins come with heating/AC, queen bed frames, a private bathroom, and a table for four.
Outside the pools, there are extras like shuffleboard, horseshoes, and a big picnic area.
| Pro Tip: Before or after taking a dip, check out the hiking trails nearby. There are nearly four miles of trails that wind through the desert and offer gorgeous views—just don’t forget to bring lots of water. |
La Jolla Underwater Park
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Website: https://lajollamom.com/la-jolla-underwater-park/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/la-jolla-shores-underwater-park/
Address: 8302 Camino Del Oro, La Jolla
Hours: Mon – Sun: Open 24 hours
Contact: +1 619-525-8213
Nestled along the coast of La Jolla, La Jolla Underwater Park is a unique waterpark that has natural play structures instead of manmade ones. It spans 6,000 acres and includes four cool habitats—reefs, kelp, submarine canyons, and sand flats.
Here, you can go snorkeling, diving, swimming, and kayaking with the whole crew or fam—it also has gentle entry points and clear signage. If you’re lucky, you might spot adorable sea turtles, fish, and rays.
A highlight is the Ecological Reserve. The water in this protected area is so calm and crystal clear—ideal for beginners or families with kids.
If you’re lucky enough to visit between June and December, keep your eyes peeled near the Marine Room restaurant. That’s when hundreds of pregnant leopard sharks gather in the shallow waters.
| Pro Tip: Don’t miss the park’s lovely sea caves carved into 75-million-year-old sandstone cliffs. While most are accessible only by kayak at low tide, you can visit Sunny Jim’s Sea Cave via a tunnel that starts inside The Cave Store. |
Splish Splash
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Website: https://seaworld.com/san-diego/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/seaworldsandiego/
Address: SeaWorld San Diego, 500 SeaWorld Dr.
Hours: Mon – Sun: 11 AM – 8 PM
Contact: +1 619-222-4732
Splish Splash at SeaWorld San Diego is a total win for families. Located right off SeaWorld Drive, it has chill zones for the young ones and thrills for the bigger kids.
The splash pad is absolutely adorable, filled with gentle fountains, sprayers, and interactive water toys. Make sure to bring a swimsuit for your little splash-lover—once they see the fountains, there’s no turning back!
For those who want some waterpark action, the park offers water slides, lazy rivers, and activity zones. You and your fam could easily spend a whole afternoon here.
We also love their full-body dryers. After you’ve had your fill of water rides, you can hop into one of these and in just a couple of minutes, you’re dry and ready to roll.
| Pro Tip: Note that the pavement here can get hot. We recommend bringing water shoes to make it way more comfy and safer to walk between Splish Splash’s attractions without burning your feet. |
Parque Acuatico El Vergel
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Website: https://albercaselvergel.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/albercaselvergel/
Address: Cam. Al Vergel 1, Alamar, 22110 Tijuana
Hours: Mon – Sun: 9 AM – 5:30 PM
Contact: +52 664 621 3066
Parque Acuatico El Vergel is just a short drive from the San Diego border, and it’s actually the largest water park in Baja California! A local favorite since the 1960s, it started as a single pool dreamed up by Mr. Lucio Salazar Gonzalez.
Check out the Latigo, a 10-meter-high, 75-meter-long slide that gives you a rush without being scary. You don’t even need to know how to swim for this one, since it only goes about a meter deep at the end.
The park also has a wave pool and a kids’ water playground. They’ve also got grills scattered around so you can fire up some carne asada while your kids are having fun—just make sure to bring your own charcoal.
We loved that the lifeguards were friendly, and the atmosphere felt really safe and family-oriented. A big bonus is that the food and drinks here are inexpensive.
| Pro Tip: We recommend renting a floatie since some of the rides basically require one. And TBH, floating around is just plain fun. |
Tierrasanta Park
Website: https://www.sandiego.gov/park-and-recreation/centers/recctr/tierrasanta
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tierrasanta-park-and-rec-center/
Address: 11220 Clairemont Mesa Blvd
Hours: Monday: 1 PM – 9 PM
Tue, Thurs: 10 AM – 9 PM
Wednesday: 12 PM – 9 PM
Friday: 2 PM – 9 PM
Saturday: 9 AM – 4 PM
Sunday: 10 AM – 4 PM
Contact: +1 858-573-1393
Tierrasanta Park has quickly become one of my favorite summer hangouts in San Diego. This low-key community spot has everything you need for a great water-filled afternoon without the chaos of a huge water park.
First off, the splash pad area is clean, well-maintained, and thoughtfully designed for families. It has water slides, sprayers, spouts, and a shallow pool area that maxes at around two feet.
There’s also a larger heated pool located at the opposite end of the park for older children. It’s a separate facility, which is nice because it keeps the splash area from getting too crowded.
I love that the spot is gated and has three shaded areas, a couple of umbrellas, and spacious picnic tables with loungers.
| Pro Tip: There aren’t many trash cans nearby, so please be respectful and pack out what you bring in. This will help keep Tierrasanta Park clean for other community members. |
Fiesta Island
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Website: https://www.sandiego.gov/missionbay/fiestaisland
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fiesta-island-san-diego/
Address: 1590 E Mission Bay Dr.
Hours: Mon – Sun: 4 AM – 10 PM
Contact: +1 619-525-8213
Tucked inside Mission Bay, Fiesta Island is a massive sandy peninsula that becomes a water park of sorts during summer since it offers something for everyone.
If you’re into watersports, the east side of the island has a 5-MHz zone that’s great for casual paddling, kayaking, or just floating around. You can also visit the Hidden Cove, a designated water ski area.
We love that this spot is incredibly dog-friendly. Your furry friend can roam off-leash almost anywhere—just make sure to bring bags and clean up after them.
Plus, picnicking is totally allowed, so bring snacks. However, keep in mind that you’re not allowed to bring glass containers or any alcohol.
| Pro Tip: Note that there are no permanent restrooms on Fiesta Island, so if you’re coming with a crew or planning to stay a while, plan ahead. Larger groups usually bring portable toilets when hosting events. |
Knott’s Soak City
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Website: https://www.knotts.com/soak-city
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/knottsberryfarm
Address: 8200 Beach Blvd, Buena Park
Hours: Fri, Sun: 10 AM – 6 PM
Saturday: 10 AM – 7 PM
Contact: +1 714-220-5200
Knott’s Soak City is right next door to Knott’s Berry Farm. This 15-acre water park has 23 water slides, making it the ultimate splash zone just outside of San Diego.
Don’t miss Shore Break, which has six different waterslide experiences, or The Wedge, a fun family raft ride that’s made for sharing screams and laughs. If wave pools are more your thing, try Tidal Wave Bay, a 750,000-gallon wave pool.
For the little ones, the Beach House Slides are a total blast. It’s an interactive three-story water play zone that has everything—from water guns and surprise nozzles to one epic 500-gallon tipping bucket that soaks everyone below every five minutes.
This water park is open from mid-May to early September. Make sure to plan ahead—admission is separate from Knott’s Berry Farm.
| Pro Tip: When hunger strikes, dine at Longboard’s Grill, which serves delicious burgers, wraps, salads, fish and chips, and hot dogs. It’s a top-notch spot to refuel before hitting the next round of slides. |
Bonita Cove
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Website: https://www.sandiego.gov/missionbay/bonitacove
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bonita-cove-mission-bay/
Address: 1100 W Mission Bay Dr
Hours: Mon – Sun: 4 AM – 10 PM
Contact: +1 619-235-1169
Bonita Cove is one of Mission Bay’s best-kept secrets. Located near South Mission Beach, this scenic spot is split into East and West sides.
This is definitely a family-friendly area, with a large playground, including a tot lot for the littlest kids to run around. There’s also easy access to the water, and yes, lifeguards are on duty.
While it’s not a full-on water park with slides, the calm bay waters, beach access, and water rinse-off showers make it feel like your own aquatic playground.
The cove can host up to 450 people with room for four inflatables; if you’re planning a big event, make sure to reserve the picnic shelter off Mariners Way. Otherwise, the smaller picnic shelter by the playground is first-come, first-served.
| Pro Tip: Bringing your car? Remember that Bonita Cove’s parking lot closes at 10 PM, so make sure to plan your exit before then. |
Waterfront Park Playground
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Website: https://www.sdparks.org/content/sdparks/en/park-pages/Waterfront.html
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sandiegoparks/
Address: 1600 Pacific Hwy
Hours: Mon – Sun: 6 AM – 10 PM
Contact: +1 619-232-7275
Waterfront Park Playground in San Diego’s Little Italy is located along the harbor, offering sunshine, water play, green space, and a stunning view.
Check out their interactive splash fountains that run all the way from the landmark County building into the park. It’s a super fun space for kids to run wild—just make sure to check fountain safety tips before diving in.
There’s even a cool jungle gym setup that keeps kids climbing, swinging, and sliding for hours. Pair that with intimate garden rooms and picnic tables, and you have your whole day mapped out.
We love that it’s within walking distance of the San Diego cruise terminal. This means your kids can play at the splash fountains and then hop on a whale watching or dinner cruise.
| Pro Tip: For movie buffs, don’t miss Summer Movies in the Park, which kicks off every summer. Playing at the splash pads and then catching a movie is honestly one of the coolest family traditions around. |
