Bay Area Water Parks for Families 2025 Season
Whitney and I have done the hard work of visiting the Bay Area’s amazing collection of water parks over the years in the hopes that we could form very strong opinions and break down all the options for you! Here are some splashy, thrilling water parks to seek out when the temperature passes 85 degrees.
Six Flags Hurricane Harbor, Concord
Description: Giant Water Park for thrill-seekers and big kids. Hurricane Harbor is quite large. 48″ is the magic height to try the bigger slides. There is a lazy river in the middle of the park, best enjoyed with a rented tube. Children’s sprayground for smaller people. Kids under 7 likely need to stay with their adults as navigating the park is probably too big a task for a younger kid.
- Our review of Concord’s water park: Hurricane Harbor.
- Check their website for current hours and rates. Open weekends beginning May 17; Open daily beginning June 9, 2025.
Best ages: Older preschoolers to teens and beyond. The price structure is all about height.
Prices: Many deals are available online, and a season pass is well worth it. Save money when you buy tix online a week in advance. Regular admission is $34 per person. Children under 2 are FREE; tube rental extra for lazy river; Parking $30/car, which is best to pay for in advance.
NOTE: An annual pass to Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in Vallejo also works for Hurricane Harbor.
Food situation: No outside food; snack bar; ample shade structures and tables for picnics. Pre-pay for food packages for savings.
Location:Â Concord
Antioch Water Park, Antioch
Description: Opening Memorial Day Weekend 2025. Water activities for every age from baby on up: Five slides including a super shallow tad-pool, toddler and preschooler waterslide, big kid slides, lily pad for balancing (pictured). UPDATE : The two largest slides are closed and likely to remain closed for the 2025 season.
- Our review of Antioch Water Park.
- Check their website for current hours and rates. Open weekends beginning May 24; Open daily beginning June 9, 2025.
Best ages: Infant to tween. Wristbands are handed out based on height to restrict the littlest ones from going on the bigger slides and vice versa. With the two largest slides closed, it is an even more attractive location for younger children.
2025 Prices: Weekdays – $15; Weekends/Holidays – $17; After 4 pm – $9; Children under 2 – FREE
Food situation: Snack bar with lots of treats; ample grass outside for picnic; outside food OK (no glass or hard-sided coolers).
Location: Antioch
Aqua Adventure Water Park, Fremont
Description: Lazy river, splashy water play structure, a few big water slides. Lots of fun; kids over age six can navigate the park while you relax.
- Our review of Fremont’s Aqua Adventure.
- Their website to check current hours and rates and how to get reservations. Open weekends beginning May 24; Open daily beginning June 2, 2025. Some special field trip days, too.
- Family Fridays
Best ages: Toddler to tween. Price structure is all about height and residency
2025 Prices: Over 4′ Non- Resident $26.99, Fremont Resident $24.99; Under 4′ Non-Resident $21.99, Fremont Resident $19.99; Children 3 and under – $4 includes swim diaper. Save $2 per ticket by buying two days in advance.
Food situation: No outside food; snack bar with lots of treats; ample grass outside for picnic
Location:Â Fremont
The Wave Waterpark, Dublin
Description: In addition to a full-service aquatic center for swim lessons and lap swimming, The Wave has a massive Slide Tower with six ways to reach the bottom, including a near-vertical drop through a trap door (OMG!). The Splash Zone is for toddlers and others who aren’t ready for a thrill slide, and it’s packed with knobs and cranks for spilling and splashing.
- Read our review of The Wave Waterpark.
- Visit the website. Open daily beginning Memorial Day, 2025.
Best ages: Toddler to Teens will enjoy this sparkling new facility
Prices: Non-residents of Dublin pay $19 for over 40″ tall; $17 for under 40″ tall. Children under 2 are $4. Prices are $2 cheaper after 3 pm. You can buy tickets in advance here.
Food: No outside food. Concession stand that sells meals, snack items and beverages. Wristbands include in and out privileges, so plan to bring a cooler and tailgate.
Location: Dublin, CA
Silliman Aquatic Center (indoor!), Newark
Description: Lazy river, two mid-size water slides, lap pool, massive play structure for littles, in-pool basketball.
- Our review of Newark’s Silliman Aquatic Center.
- Their website to check current hours, rates, and to make sure the Lazy River and Slides are actually open. Open year-round.
Best ages: Toddler to tween.
Prices: General admission $13; Children 2 and under – $4 includes swim diaper (Discounts for Newark residents)
Food situation: No outside food permitted
Location:Â Newark
South Bay Shores at Great America, Santa Clara
Description: Lazy river, massive water play structure, several big water slides, wave pool, zero-entry baby pool. Cabanas and lockers for rent. So much fun, but how do you fit this into a full day at an amusement park?
- Our review of Great America’s South Bay Shores.
- Their website to check current hours and rates. Open Memorial Day Weekend, for weekends, then daily in June (with some random closures, so check hours!).
- Special Events are posted on their calendar
Best ages: Toddler to teen and beyond.
Prices:Â Included with admission to Great America
Food situation: All food okay; lots on sale.
Location:Â Great America in Santa Clara
CaliBunga, San Jose
Description: This is an older water park (a re-brand of Raging Waters, which closed a few years ago; I remember it from an elementary school trip!). It’s huge, with a lazy river, many water play structures, a bunch of big water slides, wave pool, obstacle courses, and more. Cabanas and lockers for rent. But they didn’t do much to refresh or update the park, so it definitely feels older. Many slides aren’t open each day, the water is pretty darn cold and cloudy, and the prices are high. Not our favorite of the bunch.
- Their website to check current hours and rates. Open June 14, then daily in June and July, then August weekends.
- Check out their calendar for more on dates and hours
Best ages: Toddler to teen and beyond.
Prices: General Admission ages 10+: $44 online, $66 at the gate. Kids ages 3-9: $33 online, $56 at the gate.
Food situation: No outside food, though you can bring water. Plenty of food options, but expensive.
Location: 2333 South White Road, San Jose, CA 95148
Great Wolf Lodge, Manteca (Open year-round)
Description: This is a hotel AND indoor waterpark that will entice you to Manteca, CA, about an hour from the East Bay. Part of a national chain that’s popular because of its year-round operating schedule, Great Wolf Lodge is new to the Bay Area, and includes a large-scale indoor adventure park with a ropes course, arcade, and more.
- Our review of Great Wolf Lodge
- Website for more details
- Possible deals to be found here>
Best ages: All ages
Prices: Stay overnight in a suite at Great Wolf Lodge to get access to the park. A family suite is about $600 for an overnight trip, but look for discount codes to knock it down to the $300s.
Food situation: Bring whatever you like to enjoy in your room which will have a fridge (but no kitchenette) or in the outdoor areas. There are numerous onsite restaurants and a deli/shop.
Location: Manteca, CA
The best Bay Area Water Parks for any age
- Best for little kids? Either Antioch’s Water Park or Fremont’s Aqua Adventure. For little kids with a dedicated parent, I’d send you to Antioch. Trying to keep an eye on mixed ages by yourself? Head to Fremont.
- Best for cold and rainy days? Newark’s Silliman Aquatic Center
- Best value? Silliman or Antioch.
- Best for older but still on-the-short-side kids? Antioch’s Water Park
- Best for water slide junkies? Concord’s Hurricane Harbor
- Best for kids who also want a full day of roller coasters? South Bay Shores at Great America
Some Other Bay Area pools with play structures or slides:
- Heather Farm Park pool in Walnut Creek
- Rankin Pool in Martinez
- San Ramon Swim Center
- El Cerrito Swim Center splash pad
- Robert Livermore Aquatic Center
- Larkey Spray Ground & Larkey Pool in Walnut Creek
- Golfland in San Jose has water slides!
- Water Oasis at Gilroy Gardens
- Hamilton Community Pool in Novato
- Spring Lake in Santa Rosa
Hunt around for bargains on admission prices, consider a season pass if you live close, and always double-check that the water park is open before you pack up your kids and gear!
