When you are tired of being inside visiting all the fantastic, air-conditioned D.C. museums throughout the summer, those hot and humid days are just calling for a day of fun in the water.
The Washington, D.C. area showcasing the beautiful reflecting pool along the National Mall and the fountain at the WWI Memorial may look cool, refreshing and inviting, but you are NOT allowed to jump in to cool off.
However, there are many other locations in and around Washington, D.C. that you can enjoy either a misting sprinkle, float along a lazy river, or a chance to race down some epic slides.
Choose between some of our favorite water parks near me for families below, depending on if you want to be soaked entirely or merely get your toes wet to help you through that next sticky, heat index, hot summer day.
Washington, D.C. Spray Parks
14th and Girard Street Spray Fountains
- Address: 14th and Girard St. NW
Grab a ride on the Metro to the Columbia Heights metro stop and spend the day cooling off in the spray fountains.
The facilities also offer clean bathrooms, picnic tables, and great chess tables for a friendly chess game.
Boiling Splash Park
- Address: Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, Fechet Lane SW
The Boiling Splash Park offers a shady gazebo and benches for onlookers while the kids will enjoy spending hours at the splash pad playing in the sprinklers. With a wide variety of sprayers and sprinklers, there are a few that everyone, from toddlers to older children, can enjoy.
The park also offers bathrooms and a basketball court.
Canal Basin at Yards Park
- Address: 355 Water St. SE
The multi-leveled fountain at Yards Park provides a spot to get your toes wet or for those who wish to get thoroughly drenched.
The splash pad is perfect for all sizes since the water is less than one foot deep.
Splash until after dark and enjoy the light show.
More things to do in Yards Park
Canal Park Fountain
- Address: 200 M Street SE
At the 3-acre Canal Park, you will find two dancing fountains to play and splash in. The fountains have 42 water jets that provide plenty of cool refreshing fun.
Throughout the year, there is also a seasonal farmers market and a variety of events in the park.
Head to the park during the winter for ice skating.
More things to do in Navy Yard
Georgetown Waterfront
Address: Corner of Wisconsin Ave. and K St. NW
Head to the Potomac riverfront in Georgetown and explore the beautiful rain garden with a stunning labyrinth. When the kids get hot and need cooling off, they will enjoy time in the fountain. The fountain has giant arching sprayers that go from Wisconsin Avenue to the Potomac.
Enjoy an evening spritzing, and you can also see the fountain come to life with lights.
More things to do in Georgetown
Joseph Cole Recreation Center
- Address: 1299 Neal Street NE
At the Joseph Cole Recreation Center, the kids will spend the day exploring the park and splash pad. The splash area has two separate splash pads – one for tiny tots and one for older kids. The kids will enjoy playing amongst the four spray bands.
Palisades Playground and Splash Park
- Address: 5200 Sherier Place NW
At the Palisades Playground, learn a bit about how the American Indians used the Potomac River before taking to the mountain climbing wall, bouncing across the swinging bridges, or sailing down the slides.
On hot days, cool off at the splash pad. Here you can sit around or under the fountain, zip down the water slide, or position yourself so the fish will dump water onto you.
Bring a picnic lunch and eat at the shady pavilion. The park also has restrooms.
Petworth Spray Park
- Address: 801 Taylor Street, NW
At the Petworth Spray Park on Taylor Street, you will find bright sculptures that squirt water at those standing in the line of fire. The park is perfect for all little ones since both large and small sprayers are within the area.
This park has little shade, so you may want to bring that beach umbrella or tent to provides some shade time.
Potomac Avenue Splash Pad
- Address: 2501 Potomac Avenue
Between the playgrounds at Potomac Yard Park, you will find the interactive fountain with 36 water jets that shoot in three different spraying sequences.
At night the 12 jets that go between troughs are lit for a dramatic effect after dark.
Turkey Thickett
- Address: 1100 Michigan Avenue NE
Besides the sensory playground equipment, bathrooms, and picnic area, this splash area has two areas the kids will love getting wet and playing in. One area is a mini-village that has playhouses and a market. The other area has a vehicle theme and is perfect for those train and car lovers.
The kids can splash around the lighthouse, climb the hill, hide under the shady structures, and play musical instruments while cooling themselves in the spraying water.
More Spray parks in Washington, D.C.
Ward 1
- 14th & Park Road: 14th Street and Park Road, NW
- Columbia Heights Community Center: 1480 Girard Street, NW
- Harrison Recreation Center: 1330 V Street, NW
- Park at LeDroit: 319 Oakdale Place, NW
- Westminster Playground: 911 Westminster Street, NW
Ward 2
- Connie Maffin Memorial Park: 1119 10th Street, NW
- Stead Recreation Center: 1625 P Street, NW
Ward 3
- Chevy Chase Recreation Center: 5500 41st Street, NW
- Friendship Recreation Center: 4500 Van Ness Street, NW
- Guy Mason Recreation Center: 3600 Calvert Street, NW
- Macomb Recreation Center: 3409 Macomb Street, NW
Ward 4
- Fort Stevens Recreation Center: 1327 Van Buren Street, NW
- Lafayette-Pointer Recreation Center: 5900 33rd Street, NW
- Riggs-LaSalle: 501 Riggs Road, NE
- Takoma Community Center: 300 Van Buren Street, NW
Ward 5
- Edgewood Recreation Center: 3rd & Evarts Street, NE
- Langdon Park: 2860 Mills Avenue, NE
Ward 6
- Eastern Market Metro Park: 701 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE
- Kennedy Recreation Center: 1401 7th Street, NW
- King Greenleaf Recreation Center: 201 N Street, SW
- Potomac Avenue Triangle Park: 1216 Potomac Avenue, SE
- Watkins Spray Park: 420 12th Street, SE
Ward 7
- Benning Stoddert Recreation Center: 100 Stoddert Place, SE
- Fort Davis Spray Park: 1400 41st Street, SE
- Hillcrest Recreation Center: 3100 Denver Street, SE
- Marvin Gaye Park at Division Avenue: Division & Foote Streets, NE
- Marvin Gaye Recreation Center: 6201 Banks Place, NE
Ward 8
- Fort Greble Recreation Center: Martin Luther King Jr. Ave & Elmira St, SW
Virginia Water Parks within an hour of Washington, D.C.
Great Waves Waterpark
- Address: Alexandria, VA
Catch a wave at the wave pool, race down the water slides, or twist and turn on a tube slide just minutes from Washington, D.C. in Alexandria at the Cameron Run Regional Park.
Thrill-seekers will want to head to the park to try out all five water slides to race, twist, turn and curl before plunging into the pool below. When you want to just bob around, head to the humungous 17,500 square foot wave pool and have a blast.
Small children will have fun playing in the kiddie pools, splash pads, and activity center.
The Riptide Café offers all your park favorites like burgers, hotdogs, French fries, funnel cakes, and refreshing cold drinks when hunger strikes.
When you need a break from the water, head over to the mini-golf course, hit some balls at the batting cages, or test your skills on the climbing walls and mazes at the 30-foot high Paradise Play structure.
More things to do in Alexandria, VA
Pirate’s Cove Waterpark
- Address: Lorton, VA
Head to Pohick Bay Regional Park and walk the plank to cool off at the Pirate’s Cove Waterpark throughout the hot summer months.
For those who don’t want to fight the crowds at the beach, plop yourself down on Buccaneer Beach and enjoy the sun deck, sand, and water while keeping your eyes keeled for lurking pirates.
When you need a bit of cooling off, head to the two water slides, stand under the 300-gallon dumping water bucket, splash around in the pool, or visit the spraying palm trees.
Within the park, there are shelter rentals and a snack bar. The park offers season passes and swimming lessons throughout the season.
Waterworks Waterpark
- Address: Dale City, VA
For an action-packed day, head to Andrew Leitch Park, where you can not only walk the woodsy trails, shoot hoops but have a blast at the Waterworks Waterpark.
Your hours in the water park will be sure to include time in the wading pool, zipping down the water slides, explore the water obstacles, rest under a cabana, or grab a treat at the snack bar.
Tiny tikes will love entering the zero-depth entry pool and playing in the play area.
Volcano Island Waterpark
- Address: Sterling, VA
Volcano Island Waterpark in Algonkian Regional Park is a Polynesian-themed park that will allow adrenaline junkies to have a blast in the giant pool and shooting down the two water slides. For a bit calmer day, head to the kids’ pool where you can enjoy the sprayers, waterfalls, the water deluge from the dumping bucket, or time relaxing under a palm tree or tiki canopy on the deck or in the sand.
When not in the water, grab some food at the Paradise Café snack bar or head to the mini-golf course and have a little miniature golf competition.
Atlantis Waterpark at Bull Run
- Address: Centreville, VA
What could be more fun than spending a hot day racing down a 230-foot open slide or 170-foot enclosed slide before slashing into the cool pool below?
The Atlantis Waterpark has a large pool for your swimming, splashing, and playing pleasures. Around the pool, there are small slides for a splash entry and a play island for some extra laughs and fun.
Head to the park’s centerpiece, where you can get drenched by the 1,000-gallon dumping bucket or get soaked by the water cannon.
When hunger strikes, head to the Nepture Reef snack bar for your favorite foods, drinks, and sweet treats.
Those who enjoy people watching or just want to sunbathe have plenty of chairs in the sun and shade for you to stretch out and relax the day away.
Water Mine Family Swimmin’ Hole
- Address: Reston, VA
When you need to cool down on a hot summer day, head to the Water Mine Family Swimmin’ Hole and floating along the 725-foot Rattlesnake River, splashing around the interactive water playground or zig-zagging down the slides and flumes before plummeting into the pool below.
In the Tenderfoot Pond and Boomtown kiddie areas, your little ones will discover wild animals, covered wagons, and ore carts that dump, spray, and shower them with water.
Take the challenge and head to Box Canyon Crossing to see if you can make it through the log obstacle course or enjoy a game of water volleyball.
This Wild West theme park is based around local legend Pete the Prospector. In 1849 Pete staked a gold claim but only found water.
SplashDown Waterpark
- Address: Manassas, VA
The SplashDown Waterpark is NoVa’s largest water park and has 13-acres of water fun.
The nine giant slides, Big Kahuna sandy beach, 750-foot lazy river, and zero-entry kiddie play area are all designed to help you cool down throughout a hot and humid Virginia summer.
Climb to the top of the four-story Pipeline Tower before barreling down the twisting and turning slide, test your balance on the log walk, or swish and swirl through the Tropical Twister.
SplashDown’s two huge pools are perfect for swimming, splashing, and having a fantastic watery time.
Both children and adults will enjoy the bubblers and fountains in the kiddie area. Here they will also find water slides just for them.
When not in the water, enjoy a game of beach volleyball or head to one of the five concession stands for a refreshing drink or a favorite snack.
Chessie’s Big Backyard’s Our Special Harbor Sprayground
Address: Alexandria, VA
Our Special Harbor Sprayground is the perfect place to come and relax while enjoying the cool refreshing water around the Chesapeake Bay-themed spray park.
The kids will run the day away as they sprint through the sunflower, lighthouse, and sea serpent sprinklers, along with navigating the computerized water maze
When the kids need to slow down, go to the beach area with interactive activities, bubblers, and interactive water tables.
Take a break from the water and head to the Tiki Village playground. The treehouse is vast and fully accessible to all children.
More Water Parks in Virginia
- Ocean Dunes, Upton Hill Regional Park: Arlington
- Signal Bay Waterpark: Manassas Park
- Ocean Dunes Waterpark: Arlington
Find all of our favorite Virginia water parks
Maryland Water Parks within an hour of Washington, D.C.
City of Gaithersburg Water Park at Bohrer Park
- Address: Gaithersburg, MD
On those hot, steamy days, you will want to head to Bohrer Park to enjoy the refreshingly cool water at the Gaithersburg Water Park.
When not racing down the double 250-foot water slide, splashing in the zero-depth entry swimming pool, and letting the buckets of tumbling water dump on your head, enjoy the shade of the palm trees.
More fun in Gaithersburg, MD
Edward T Hall Aquatic Center
- Address: Prince Frederick
Where it is 90o or 9o outside, your water time at the Edwards T Hall Aquatic Center will be memorable.
The heated pool is enormous and offers plenty of space for everyone. For those wishing to perfect their dive or cannonball, there are three diving boards. Preparing for a triathlon or just enjoy swimming laps, then head to the lap swimming area.
The pool also offers a zero-depth entry, has three slides, dropping water buckets, and other aquatic play structures.
The center also offers a therapy pool and an 18 and over spa/hot tub area.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Indoor and Outdoor Swim Center
- Address: Silver Spring, MD
At the Martin Luther King, Jr. Swim Center in Silver Spring, you will find an 8-lane, 25-meter pool that is available to swim, dive, splash, and play in for hours.
Do you have little ones that need something smaller? They have a kiddie pool just for them.
The hydrotherapy pool is perfect to work out those soar muscles.
Are you looking for a place to take swim or fitness classes throughout the year? This facility is guaranteed to be your place.
More fun in Silver Spring, MD
North Arundel Aquatic Center
- Address: Glen Burnie, MD
Not only can you find a 25-meter, 8-lane indoor pool at the North Arundel Aquatic Center, but you can also enjoy the zero-depth entry leisure pool.
The leisure pool offers thrill-seekers a 134-foot water slide and dumping water buckets. Younger children will love the preschool water slide, while the adults will want to relax in the spa.
The aquatic center offers both aquatic classes and swim lessons throughout the year.
Hurricane Harbor – Six Flags America
- Address: Upper Marlboro, MD
Six Flags America is home to not only terrific roller coasters and all kinds of amusement park thrills and fun, but the interactive Hurrican Harbor water park with 30+ slides, pools, and a beach.
Adrenaline seekers will want to race down the Halfpipe, 517-foot Bahama Blast tube ride, and the ZoomAzom Falls, which boasts not just one slide, but a four-slide complex.
When you need a break, head to Buccaneer Beach or experience the fast current that will wind you around the park and under waterfalls along the Wahoo River.
Those who may not be ready for all the adrenaline rides will have a terrific time exploring the 100+ features of Splashwater Falls. This multi-level interactive play area has spouting geysers, fountains, and tipping buckets that will keep everyone cool. There are plenty of chairs and umbrellas along the deck for relaxing and getting out of the sun.
Glenn Dale Splash Park
- Address: Glenn Dale, MD
Enjoy the day at this pool that features a water slide and other fun features.
Hamilton Splash Park
- Address: Hyattsville, MD
Test your skill on the aqua climbing wall the cool off under the tipping buckets waterfall. Slip down the waterslides into the cool, refreshing pool while having fun with friends and family.
The park offers both a large outdoor pool and a kid’s pool.
Ellen E Linson Splash Park
- Address: College Park, MD
The park features two outdoor pools, one a kiddie pool with sprayers.
North Barnaby Swimming Pool
- Address: Oxon Hill, MD
Not only will you enjoy time having a blast in the swimming pool, but you can challenge friends on the aqua climbing wall, make a splash as you enter the water from the pool, or relax under the waterfall.
Lane Manor Splash Pad
- Address: Riverdale, MD
Take the kids to the Lane Manor Splash Pad. While you get your workout in completing laps in the lap lanes, they can enjoy playing in the outdoor pool that features waterfalls and a slide.
There is also a kid’s pool on site.
Rollingcrest-Chillum Splash Pool
- Address: Hyattsville, MD
When the kids want to hit the water any time of year, visit the Rolingcrest-Chillum Splash Pool. Here the kids will find plenty of fun while you can enjoy the lap lanes or spa area.
Allentown Splash, Tennis and Fitness Park
- Address: Fort Washington, MD
At Allentown, you can do more than dive off the 1-meter diving board, climb the aqua wall, swim in the 24-meter family pool, slip down the slides, or get sprayed by the sprayers. The park also has a toddler’s pool with a zero-depth entry and a slide that splashes into a foot of water.
You will also find a fitness room, along with tennis and basketball courts within the park.
Color Burst Park
- Address: Columbia, MD
Head to Color Burst Park, where the kids will love dancing with the dancing fountains around the splash pad.
More fun in Columbia, MD
Woodland Wonderland Playground – Walker Mill Regional Park
- Address: Capitol Heights, MD
At Walker Mill, you will find a humongous 2,000-square-foot mister pad where you can lounge between the cattails and mushrooms while you catch a cool mist to keep everyone comfortable on those hot summer days.
Interactive Fountain
- Address: Silver Spring, MD
In downtown Silver Spring you will find a colorful fountain with a mosaic pattern shooting water at various heights and intervals.
Visit on Wednesday and enjoy the water and live music for children during the day and adults in the evening.
This splash pad opens in mid-Spring and continues to be open through the fall from 10:00 AM until 9:00 PM.
