If you’re planning a winter vacation, a family holiday, or a special day in the Empire state, consider checking out one of the indoor water parks in New York. While we have a guide to the best New York water parks, an indoor park is open year-round, so you can enjoy a bright, warm atmosphere even when it’s snowing outside.
Spending the day at a nearby waterpark is one of the best things to do in NYC with kids, although you’ll find indoor waterparks across New York state. Some are part of larger resorts or near other recreational activities, so you can make the most of your trip by staying overnight. Also, while these parks vary in size and location, they all include the most popular waterpark attractions like wave pools, lazy rivers, and waterslides.
In this guide, I’ll tell you about five awesome indoor waterparks in the NYC area and beyond to help you plan a fun family getaway. No more waiting until summer to have a wet and wild adventure!
To sum up, these are the 6 best indoor water parks in New York state:
- Big Splash Indoor Waterpark (Highland, NY)
- Six Flags Great Escape (Queensbury, NY)
- Cascades Indoor Waterpark (Cortland, NY)
- Kartrite Resort (Monticello, NY)
- DreamWorks Water Park (Rutherford, NJ)
- Great Wolf Lodge (Niagara Falls)
1. Big Splash Indoor Waterpark at Rocking Horse Ranch Resort
About two hours north of Manhattan, you’ll find the Rocking Horse Ranch Resort, home to Big Splash Indoor Waterpark. So, if you’re looking for an indoor water park near New York City, you won’t have to go too far.
Located in Highland, NY, Big Splash is a family-friendly waterpark where it’s always 85°. There are plenty of lounge chairs for the adults and all kinds of amusements for the kiddos.
1. Big Splash Indoor Waterpark at Rocking Horse Ranch Resort
Younger kids will have a blast at the Fort Geyser Aqua Station, a kid-centric splash area with waterslides, fountains, sprayers, geysers, and a big dumping bucket. In the large swimming pool, there is a ropes course that will test their balance.
Everyone will enjoy the enclosed, 250-foot-long Gold Rush waterslide, which curves throughout the park and around the resort’s exterior. There are even heated indoor/outdoor pools with hydrotherapy jets, so you can relax after all the fun.
Admission to Big Splash is included with your stay at Rocking Horse Ranch Resort. Without a doubt, this is one of the best New York hotels with an indoor waterpark, plus the resort offers other watersports and cold-weather activities like tubing, skiing, and ice skating.
2. Six Flags Great Escape, the best indoor water park in New York
Six Flags Great Escape Lodge in Queensbury, NY offers guests free admission to its indoor waterpark, White Water Bay. This 32,000ft² balmy oasis is full of waterslides and attractions, making it one of the best indoor water parks in New York.
It’s always 82°, so you can visit year-round and enjoy the wet and wild amusements. Take a ride on the family raft ride with a 41-foot drop, challenge your friends on one of the racer slides, and try your luck at indoor surfing or boogie-boarding.
2. Six Flags Great Escape, the best indoor water park in New York
For something more laid-back, float along the lazy river, which leads to a lagoon with refreshing waterfalls. Adults 18 and older can relax in the Soakum Springs water spa, while younger kids can splash around in the children’s area. The large treehouse is a family-friendly attraction with water jets, sprayers, slides, waterfalls, and a huge dump bucket, so it’s sure to be a hit.
In addition to having one of the top indoor water parks in New York state, Six Flags Great Escape is also home to one of the best amusement parks in New York. It’s worth staying overnight because the resort is close to Lake George, another beautiful place to visit in New York state.
3. Cascades Indoor Waterpark, a great indoor water park near NYC
Over in the Finger Lakes region in Cortland, NY, you’ll find Cascades Indoor Waterpark. This is another indoor water park at a New York resort, specifically Hope Lake Lodge.
The 41,000ft² waterpark is smaller than some other parks, but it has enough attractions to keep everyone happy. There are over 500 feet of twisting and turning waterslides and a large pool where you can swim or play water basketball. The wave pool contains 67,000 gallons of water and a 13-foot waterfall, making it a big hit with families.
3. Cascades Indoor Waterpark, a great indoor water park near NYC
The children’s areas have plenty of activities to keep kids occupied for hours. Little Bear Falls has swings and mini slides for smaller children, while Big Bear Falls has an aquatic playground with water blasters, slides, and a 500-gallon dump bucket.
It’s always 84° inside this NY indoor water park, but next door, you’ll find the Northwoods pool and hot springs, which are heated and open year-round. Also, if you go over to Greek Peak Mountain Resort, you can do other activities like skiing, snow tubing, mountain biking, and ziplining.
4. Kartrite Resort, a fun indoor water park in a New York resort
The Kartrite Resort has the biggest indoor waterpark in New York, so if you’re going to the Catskills, you must check it out.
This indoor water park in Monticello, New York is inside a conservatory with lush gardens and palm trees. It’s always 84°, so you can enjoy a tropical getaway even in the dead of winter. Plus, admission to the waterpark is included with your stay at the Kartrite Resort, so it’s a great deal.
4. Kartrite Resort, a fun indoor water park in a New York resort
The water park has rides and attractions for all thrill levels, so it’s perfect for a family outing. Zip down the side-by-side racer slides, go surfing indoors on the crashing sheet waves, or pile onto a large raft and glide down the family slide. The Nor-Easter waterslide is a stomach-churning zero-gravity ride for adventure-seekers.
If you prefer something milder, you can cruise along the lazy river in an innertube or take a break at Affinity Springs, a relaxing hot spring spa tub. The kids will love the central play structure with its waterfalls, fountains, slides, and dump bucket, as well as the Later Gator ropes course and the large pool with basketball hoops. There is even an aquatic play structure for infants.
After enjoying this New York indoor water park, check out the surrounding area, which is full of restaurants, bars, and nearby hiking trails.
5. DreamWorks Water Park, the closest indoor water park to NYC
Even though it’s in New Jersey, DreamWorks Water Park is just 30 minutes from Manhattan, making it the best indoor water park near NYC. It’s part of the American Dream entertainment complex in East Rutherford, which includes an amusement park, a mini-golf course, an aquarium, and other attractions.
As for the DreamWorks Water Park, it’s one of the biggest indoor waterparks in North America, with over a dozen attractions for the whole family. Some highlights include a surf simulator, a 1,500,000-gallon wave pool, a lazy river, and hot tubs.
There is also a kids splash area with a multi-level play tower and a huge dump bucket, as well as a toddler-friendly fun zone themed after the Penguins of Madagascar. The entire park is full of Nickelodeon and DreamWorks characters like Shrek, Kung Fu Panda, and Toothless the Dragon, so it’s sure to be a hit with kids.
5. DreamWorks Water Park, the closest indoor water park to NYC
DreamWorks Water Park also has 15 different waterslides, including a family funnel ride, an aquatic rollercoaster, racing slides, enclosed tube slides, and the world’s 2nd-tallest body slide with a 50-foot free-fall drop. So, if you’re looking for an indoor water park near NYC, this is the best place to go.
Finally, this waterpark is always a tropical 81°F and offers family restrooms, free Wi-Fi, and lounge areas. You can also rent a storage locker or private poolside cabana.
6. Great Wolf Lodge, the best indoor water park in New York’s Niagara Falls
Finally, Great Wolf Lodge Niagara Falls is technically in Canada, but it’s right on the border between New York and Ontario. So, if you plan on visiting Niagara Falls, add this place to your itinerary.
This indoor water park is near Buffalo, New York, and admission is included with your stay at the hotel. You’ll also get complimentary life vests and towels. The central attraction here is the four-story treehouse fort, which has all kinds of aquatic activities, including children’s slides and a dump bucket. If you have smaller kids, let them splash around at Chipmunk Cove.
6. Great Wolf Lodge, the best indoor water park in New York’s Niagara Falls
For older kids and thrill-seekers, there is a variety of rides and attractions, like the high-speed free-fall waterslide, a bowl slide with a 40-foot drop, a water coaster, and an enclosed family tube slide. You’ll also find traditional waterpark features like a wave pool, a lazy river, and swimming pools.
This indoor waterpark is always 84°, even during the cold Canadian winters. During the summer, check out the outdoor area with kiddie slides, a large pool, and water basketball. The indoor and outdoor whirlpool spas are open year-round for those who want a relaxing hot tub soak.
In addition to its water park, the lodge has an arcade, a mini-golf course, virtual reality games, and laser tag, so it’s one of the best resorts right across the border.
That’s it for the best indoor water parks in New York state! I hope this article helps you plan your family trip. Here is a map of all the places I mentioned so you can download it and organize your itinerary.
If you have any questions about indoor water parks around NYC and New York state, feel free to leave me a comment below. Until then, have a wonderful time!
