USA TODAY 10Best
Make a splash this summer at these 10 incredible splash pads
Best Splash Pad (2023)
When the summer heat starts bearing down, splash pads are a terrific way for kids to cool off outdoors. Beyond offering so much fun and often incorporating some really clever water features, they're also safe and affordable: nearly always free to use!
It's little wonder that splash pads have become a mainstay in so many parks and playgrounds, and our readers voted these 10 splash pads as the best across the United States.
Photo courtesy of RichLegg // Getty Images
No. 10: Chandler Park Splash Park - Tulsa, Oklahoma
Closer to a mini water park than a splash pad, this public park in Tulsa is centered on a shriek-inducing water tower that periodically tips over a bucket of water on the kids below. The kinetic structure sits atop a climbable playground with a pair of waterslides and is surrounded by spray devices resembling flowers and trees. With more than 30 water features in all, there's never a shortage of places to cool off.
Photo courtesy of FatCamera // Getty Images
No. 9: Mission Playground Splash Pad - San Francisco, California
San Francisco's Mission Playground not only has the city's only public outdoor swimming pool but also a splash area for kids alongside a fenced-in traditional playground. Children adore running through the sprayers and fountains.
Photo courtesy of Historic Fourth Ward Park Conservancy
No. 8: Historic Fourth Ward Park Splash Pad - Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta's Historic Fourth Ward Park is home to a splash pad featuring numerous water jets and plenty of space to play. Benches are a welcome addition for parents.
Photo courtesy of Fly View Productions // Getty Images
No. 7: Millennium Park Beach and Splashpad - Walker, Michigan
Just steps from a beach with a well-marked swimming area sits the Millennium Park Splashpad, where more than a dozen water features – sprayers, buckets and splashers – provide a refreshing escape from the heat.
Photo courtesy of FatCamera // Getty Images
No. 6: Adams Park - Chicago, Illinois
Chicago families love to cool off at Adams Park, a Lincoln Park water playground featuring several pipes springing leaks. This fenced-in, soft-surface play area is free and sits right next to a toy-filled sand box for little ones who prefer to stay dry.
Photo courtesy of Laurie Reed
No. 5: Centennial Center Park Splash Pad - Centennial, Colorado
To cool off in Centennial, Colorado, head to Centennial Center Park. The free Nautilus water playground is packed with water features, including a shallow stream running through the middle. Little ones love running through the fountains.
Photo courtesy of Ron Glassman for Hudson River Park
No. 4: Hudson River Park Pier 25 Playground - New York City, New York
The 25,000-square-foot gated Pier 25 Playground at Hudson River Park includes swings, climbing structures and seasonal water features – tipping buckets, sprinklers, a dancing fountain and user-activated water cannons.
Photo courtesy of City of Las Vegas
No. 3: Centennial Hills Park Splash Pad - Las Vegas, Nevada
Discover water in the desert at Las Vegas' Centennial Hills Park. Built in an inverted riverbed known as Tule Springs Wash, the 120-acre park has family-friendly attractions like dinosaur- and butterfly-themed playgrounds, as well as a cooling splash pad with sprayers, fountains and tipping buckets.
Photo courtesy of Fairfax County Park Authority
No. 2: Our Special Harbor Spray Park - Alexandria, Virginia
Our Special Harbor is dotted with Chesapeake Bay-themed features, like a spraying osprey nest, lighthouse, misting sunflowers and Chessie the sea serpent. A computerized water maze, dumping bucket and quieter beach area with interactive water tables and bubblers round out the offerings at this free splash pad.
Photo courtesy of FlightTimeOKC
No. 1: Scissortail Sprayground - Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
A small forest of wand-like water jets squirt in harmony with the shrieking delight of young visitors to Oklahoma City's Scissortail Park, a natural urban oasis.
About 10Best Readers' Choice Awards
Nominees are submitted by a panel of experts. 10Best editors narrow the field to select the final set of nominees for the Readers’ Choice Awards. Readers can vote once per category, per day. For any questions or comments, please read the FAQ or email USA TODAY 10Best.
The Experts
Kyle McCarthy
Kyle McCarthy is the co-founder and editor of... Read More
Kyle McCarthy is the co-founder and editor of Family Travel Forum, the trusted resource for family vacation planners since 1996. FTF’s award-winning publications: MyFamilyTravels.com, America’s Most Popular Family Vacations and The Family Vacationist e-newsletter provide destination reviews, tips and seasonal roundups for all aspects of travel. Ms. McCarthy, author of a dozen Frommer’s guidebooks, also contributes to US News, CNN and other publications. She can be found on most social networks @familytravelforum.
Kyle McCarthy
Kyle McCarthy is the co-founder and editor of Family Travel Forum, the trusted resource for family vacation planners since 1996. FTF’s award-winning publications: MyFamilyTravels.com, America’s Most Popular Family Vacations and The Family Vacationist e-newsletter provide destination reviews, tips and seasonal roundups for all aspects of travel. Ms. McCarthy, author of a dozen Frommer’s guidebooks, also contributes to US News, CNN and other publications. She can be found on most social networks @familytravelforum.
Nicky Omohundro
Nicky Omohundro is the founder and editor of Read More
Nicky Omohundro is the founder and editor of LittleFamilyAdventure.com, the popular family travel & lifestyle website that inspires families to leave no child left inside. Since 2013 LFA has been providing inspiration to get families outdoors, eat well, and travel everywhere from their own backyard to around the world. Always up for a family adventure, she has traveled to 37 states and 6 countries to zip-line through a Costa Rican rainforest, see Finland’s Northern Lights, and go camping throughout the US. Nicky is the co-founder of Tourism WorX a travel consultancy group. Connect with her Twitter and Instagram.
Nicky Omohundro
Nicky Omohundro is the founder and editor of LittleFamilyAdventure.com, the popular family travel & lifestyle website that inspires families to leave no child left inside. Since 2013 LFA has been providing inspiration to get families outdoors, eat well, and travel everywhere from their own backyard to around the world. Always up for a family adventure, she has traveled to 37 states and 6 countries to zip-line through a Costa Rican rainforest, see Finland’s Northern Lights, and go camping throughout the US. Nicky is the co-founder of Tourism WorX a travel consultancy group. Connect with her Twitter and Instagram.
Catherine Smith
Catherine Smith, Readers' Choice Awards Production... Read More
Catherine Smith, Readers' Choice Awards Production Manager and Social Media Director for USA TODAY 10Best, has a special interest in unique culinary experiences and off-the-beaten-path adventures. Catherine is the founder of Her Bags Were Packed where she focuses on helping women release emotional baggage through solo travel and self-discovery.
Catherine Smith
Catherine Smith, Readers' Choice Awards Production Manager and Social Media Director for USA TODAY 10Best, has a special interest in unique culinary experiences and off-the-beaten-path adventures. Catherine is the founder of Her Bags Were Packed where she focuses on helping women release emotional baggage through solo travel and self-discovery.
10Best Editors
USA TODAY 10Best provides users with original,... Read More
USA TODAY 10Best provides users with original, unbiased and experiential travel coverage of top attractions, things to see and do, and restaurants for top destinations in the U.S. and around the world.
10Best Editors
USA TODAY 10Best provides users with original, unbiased and experiential travel coverage of top attractions, things to see and do, and restaurants for top destinations in the U.S. and around the world.