Full Guide 2023
Indoor water parks provide a great alternative for families looking for a fun and safe way to cool off and have fun, regardless of the season.
Many offer affordable accommodations and convenient amenities, making them ideal destinations for family vacations or day trips.
So let’s take a closer look at some of Philadelphia’s top indoor water parks that anyone can enjoy!
The Kalahari Resort in the Pocono Mountains boasts the title of being the largest indoor water park, resort, and convention center in America. In addition to a sprawling family entertainment center, this African-themed resort offers a variety of thrilling activities. The indoor water park is the resort’s highlight, spreading over 220,000 square feet and presenting a wide array of experiences for all ages.
The water park offers a plethora of rides for every age group, with different thrill levels (tranquil, moderate, and extreme) and height requirements, thus ensuring an unforgettable time for every family member.
Test your surfing skills on a 5-foot wave simulator, challenge your family to a race down the four-lane water slide, soar down tandem tube slides, experience a wild ride by going down a slide in a tube, feel the adrenaline rush by speeding down a funnel slide with a free fall into a catch pool below, unwind in the zero-entry wave pool or indoor/outdoor whirlpool spas, and much more!
Young children will love Coral Cove, a zero-entry kids’ water playground with tiny slides, bouncers, and mini basketball. Tiko’s Watering Hole is another interactive kids’ area with a lazy river specially designed for tiny tots. Teens will relish the challenge of playing basketball on a water court, going down Screaming Hyena, a thrilling slide designed for the most daring of thrill-seekers which begins its journey by bursting through the roof, 60 feet above the water park floor, and Zimbabwe Zipper, a super fast flume that lets you reach a speed of more than 40mph!
The grown-ups will love the adults-only swim-up bars, one of which features an immersive grotto.
The resort also boasts an impressive outdoor water park, as well as several on-site activities for the whole family.
The resort offers supervised activities for children, such as movies, crafts, and storytelling. For adults, there’s a full-featured spa, relaxing therapy services such as halotherapy, and amenities specifically designed for them.
The whole family can have fun in the game room and escape rooms, play black-light mini golf, go mini bowling, have a unique and thrilling experience at the 7-D Motion Theater, or go shopping for swimwear and accessories, souvenirs, kids’ toys, and more!
Water park dining includes six dining outlets, with options for everyone.
The indoor waterpark operates during specific hours. From Sunday to Thursday, it is open from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.; on Fridays and Saturdays, it opens at 10 a.m. and closes at 9:00 p.m.
Resort guests will have access to the water park starting from 10 a.m. on the day of the arrival until 3 p.m. on the day of the departure. Water park passes come included with your stay.
It’s important to keep in mind that at select times, attractions will rotate openings and closings to ensure all visitors can enjoy all amenities.
Be sure to check the prices in advance, as the pricing for all-day indoor water park passes varies throughout the year.
Children under 48″ must wear life vests. Complimentary vests are available on a first come, first serve basis. The water park offers locker rentals, with prices varying seasonally.
Aquatopia is an excellent indoor water park, but it’s also a year-round gateway filled with family-friendly adventures.
The indoor water park at Camelback Resort offers 125,000-square-foot of wet ‘n’ wild fun and a dozen unique water slides, including a free-fall drop slide reserved only for the bravest, the only head-first water slide in the region, a wave pool with the biggest waves in the Northeastern USA, an adventure river, kids’ pools and splash zones, a water basketball court, a surfing simulator, an above-water ropes course, a multi-level water play structure boasting 84 interactive water features, multiple adrenaline-pumping slides, and an indoor/outdoor spa lagoon perfect for adults.
Families can have a blast at the arcade, try out laser tag, go rock climbing, challenge their problem-solving skills at the escape room, step into a world of virtual reality, conquer the indoor ropes course, and bounce around in bumper cars.
The resort boasts various dining options that will delight anyone’s tastebuds.
The temperature at Aquatopia is maintained at around 84 degrees Fahrenheit, so don’t worry about feeling chilly.
The hours of operation for the indoor water park are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday to Thursday and 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.
Day pass tickets to Aquatopia can vary from $69-$99 (and up) per person. Families might want to get the Aquatopia 4 Fun-Pack, reserve a private family cabana with a mini fridge and a TV, or reserve VIP seating and private access to a wave pool with beverage service.
Stay a night at Camelback Resort and enjoy complimentary access to the water park.
Visitors can rent a locker for a nominal fee.
Lastly, bringing your own food and beverages to the park premises is not permitted.
Located just a few minutes off of Pennsylvania’s border with New Jersey, Big Kahuna’s is an oasis of splashy family fun. You’ll find everything you need for a budget-friendly aquatic adventure at Big Kahuna’s.
Fan favorites include Mount Kilimanjaro, named after the dormant African volcano, which puts you on a family-sized raft and takes you through a series of seemingly endless twists and turns before crashing you into the water, and the Riptide, a high speed 350 feet long body slide. If you’re looking for something slower, Big Kahuna’s offers a lazy river that spans nearly the entire length of the indoor facility runs, a leisure pool perfect for the whole family to unwind, and private cabanas.
Families with young children will be pleased to know that the park provides a toddler-friendly water playground with small slides and low pool depth.
Preteens and teens will love playing water basketball, taming the waves on the FlowRider®, and crossing the on-water ropes course.
There’s more to explore at Big Kahuna’s!
The water park is the main attraction, no doubt, but I’m sure you’ll love to know that Big Kahuna’s is also home to an outdoor water park, not to mention the state-of-the-art arcade, which makes for the perfect end to an exciting day.
A full-day pass costs more for walk-up purchases, so make sure to buy your tickets online! However, don’t forget to check the park hours before purchase, as they may vary.
Bring the whole family and save up on tickets, as kids 2 and under can enter for free, while seniors can purchase tickets at a discount.
Big Kahuna’s also offers special deals for medical and military personnel available in-park only.
Visitors can book a private cabana and enjoy a new level of luxury with the family.
Kalahari Resort at Pocono Manor is ideal for families seeking the best indoor water park experience in Philadelphia. Apart from its sprawling indoor water park, which boasts dozens of attractions for kids and adults alike, Kalahari also offers various activities such as black-light minigolf, an arcade, and escape rooms. Rooms and suites can host up to 22 people, and water park admission is included in the stay, making it an excellent choice for groups.
There are several indoor water parks near Philadelphia, including Aquatopia at Camelback in Tannersville, Big Kahuna's in West Berlin, and Kalahari Resorts Indoor Waterpark at Kalahari Resorts & Conventions in Pocono Manor.
The best indoor water park in Philadelphia for adults is Aquatopia at Camelback. It's open year-round and offers thrilling water slides and several pools for a thrilling and relaxing water vacation.
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