New York City and upstate New York are close to many amazing indoor water parks. Many of these water parks are resorts, meaning they also have lodging available onsite. Some indoor water parks also have restaurants available, and many more attractions in addition to their indoor water parks. Check out this list of indoor water parks near New York.
The Kartrite – Monticello, NY
The Kartrite Resort is an indoor water park resort in Monticello, New York. It’s known as New York’s largest indoor water park.
This resort features a texlon transparent roof above the water park. It’s 84 degrees inside the water park, and the roof allows it to be bright and sunny even in the winter. Be sure to bring sunscreen!
The Kartrite Resort is nestled in the Catskills and also has many fun activities at the resort other than just the water park. There’s an indoor ropes course, climbing walls, mini bowling, and more!
For dining, there’s a mix of restaurants including Bixby’s Derby’s Tavern and Tap room to a more Surfside Grille offering quick bites to eat.
Dreamworks Water Park – East Rutherford, NJ
Dreamworks Water Park is located in nearby New Jersey. This indoor water park is located inside American Dream, which is an enormous shopping and entertainment complex.
This water park features a gigantic indoor wave pool, many different types of slides, a kiddie slide complex, lazy river, and water coaster.
Snacks are available inside the water park, but American Dream also includes restaurants and a food court. There’s also many more attractions at American Dream, including Nickelodeon Universe.
Great Wolf Lodge – Poconos, PA
Great Wolf Lodge is located in the Pocono mountains of Pennsylvania. It’s not too far of a drive from New York City, or southern upstate New York. The Lodge features a large indoor water park, as well as many other kid-friendly attractions and activities.
The water park features a wave pool, kiddie pool and slide area, many water slides, and a water play structure.
Great Wolf Lodge also has other indoor attractions such as an arcade, mini bowling, the MagiQuest interactive game, and more. Activities are available that are kid-friendly, including story time and yoga.
Rooms at Great Wolf Lodge can be themed, especially the kids bunk bed rooms. Some of them have a “Wolf’s Den” where the kids sleep.
Kalahari Resort – Poconos, PA
Another Pocono mountains resort is Kalahari Resort. This resort boasts two toddler play areas with theming throughout the resort.
Some other highlights of this indoor water park include a wave pool and water coaster. Of course, there are many water slides to choose from, including mat racers, tube slides, and drop slides.
In this summer, this resort also has an outdoor water park and treetops adventure rope course. The outdoor water park includes a large pool and a kiddie area with many slides.
Trying to decide between a trip to Great Wolf Lodge and Kalahari? Check out this post: Kalahari vs. Great Wolf Lodge.
Camelback Mountain Resort – Poconos, PA
Camelback Mountain Resort is the third indoor water park available in the Poconos area. This indoor water park, called Aquatopia, features tube slides, body slides, mat slides, and a bowl slide. There is also a water coaster.
This indoor water park also has a wave pool and a small toddler area. The resort is known for its skiing and tubing in the winter.
Splash Lagoon – Erie, PA
Erie, Pennsylvania is in the northwest corner of the state, making it close to upstate New York. Interstate 90 runs through Pennsylvania and then heads into New York state. This indoor water park is beside a Holiday Inn Express, which has packages available for overnight stays and water park admission.
Rocking Horse Ranch – Highland
Rocking Horse Ranch is an all-inclusive resort located in Highland, New York. So, in order to get access to this indoor water park, you must book an overnight stay.
In addition to the indoor water park, the resort has guided horseback riding tours, a large outdoor hot tub, laser tag, mini bowling, and many organized activities.
In the winter, outdoor activities include snow tubing, skiing, and ice skating. In the summer, there are also outdoor water slides at Rocking Horse Ranch.
Big Kahunas – West Berlin, NJ
Big Kahunas (formerly Sahara Sam’s) is an indoor water park located in New Jersey. This makes it closes to New York City for day trips.
Big Kahuna’s has a lazy river, many large water slides, and a kiddie area. If taking a day trip during the warmer months, check out Diggerland, a construction-themed amusement park next door. Diggerland also has an outdoor water park called The Water Main.
White Water Bay at Six Flags Great Escape – Queensbury, NY
The last indoor water park on the list is the only one we haven’t visited. In Queensbury, New York, White Water Bay at Six Flags Great Escape has rooms and suites as well as an indoor water park. Of course, there’s also a large amusement park onsite, if you are visiting in the warmer months.
Indoor Water Parks Near New York
Luckily, while only two of these water parks are actually in New York, many of them are close to the state borders. Have fun!
