Splash Parks and Water Play in Orange County

by Michele Whiteaker

Orange County Splash Parks and Water Play (including Free Fountains, Splash Pads, Waterslides, and Hotels with Water Features)

Always check official sources for Summer 2024 to see if the splash park you want to visit is open. Reservations may be required!

One of Fun Orange County Parks’ regular readers asked about local “spray parks” for water play – and even gave some suggestions herself.

I keep hearing that Southern California, especially OC, lacks splash pads. My only explanation is our proximity to the beach and the good weather which allows us to make our own splash parks at home with sprinklers.

Here are links to a few splash pad options if you are looking to get wet this summer:

FREE SPLASH FOUNTAINS

Look for these splash pads and spray parks to open for summer around Memorial Day. I will make note if they are open more year-round.

Splash Parks and Water Play in Orange County

To start let's look at this list of FREE splash fountains.

Heritage Park in Irvine with Water Play Fountains

One of my personal favorites for how simple it is. Open more year-round than other splash pads.

Crown Valley Park Splash Pad

It's a park and and splash pad or "sprayground" across from the YMCA in Laguna Niguel. Opening June 2024.

Splashy Play at Irvine Spectrum

This one is more year-round and conveniently located near the Target.

Veterans Sports Park at Tustin Legacy

This one usually runs 11am-5pm daily during the summer months starting Memorial Day through Labor Day weekend. Push the blue button to get it running.

Stanton Central Park and Splash Pad

This awesome splash pad opened in June 2016 with a water play area and railroad themed playground. Should be open Noon-5pm for Summer 2024.

Brio Park and Splash Pad in La Habra

Brio Park splash pad in La Habra is right across the street from the Children's Museum at La Habra. It's nice and shaded with some whimsical and colorful features. Opening Memorial Day weekend. The hours are 11am-6pm, seven days per week. (You can even rent them from 10am-11am and 6pm-7pm for $75 per time slot.)

Splash Pad outside Cerritos Library

I always include Cerritos Library in my lists because even though it is in LA County, it is really close for North OC families to visit. There is a small water play fountain that I love outside the library where the kids can get splashy with dolphins.

Irvine Adventure Playground at University Park

Not an official splash pad, but there is water play from a little fountain at Irvine Adventure Playground.

Pioneer Road Park in Tustin

This park has a very small splash park that's on during the summer. It's right off the parking lot in a small walled off area. Open for summer starting Memorial Day from 11am-5pm. The park and playground got improvements in Summer 2023, so it's nice this one will be going in Summer 2024.

More FREE splash pads not featured on this blog:

Rancho Santa Margarita Splash Pad at Central Park opened to the public in 2022. I have a post on the playground that is attached to it at RSM Central Park. Will open May 18th for Summer 2024. It is sometimes down for maintenance, but there is a great playground there and library across the street so there is always something else to do.
The Splash Pad in Westminster’s Sigler Park is open WEEKENDS (May 25th-June 9th) and DAILY (June 15th – Sept 2nd) for Summer 2024 between the hours of 12pm-5pm and closing 2-2:30pm for maintenance. The splash pad is at the corner of a large rectangular park area right off the main boulevard.
Fullerton actually has an info page about their spray pools. Usually opening on Memorial Day weekend (but info not posted yet for 2024).
- Lemon Park Spray Pool at Maple Neighborhood Center in Fullerton used to be a sparse playground with old equipment, although the water play area hasn’t changed much the surrounding playground has new equipment. It’s near the Fullerton AMC and Costco. Open during summer.
- Adlena Park
- Valencia Park
- Downtown Plaza – this one is open daily in summer from 10 a.m. to sunset.
Frontier Park in Tustin spray ground “features a state of the art recirculation system and special water conserving spray nozzles that ensures no wasteful water consumption.” Usually opens Memorial Day and remains open 7 days/week through Labor Day from 11am-5pm.
For Anaheim, there’s Ponderosa Park (OC Register story from June 2018) AND Mira Loma Park & Splash Pad. Usually opens Memorial Day weekend.

Other splash pads:

Yorba Linda Adventure Playground opened on April 22, 2023 and it has a splash pad, plus waterslide. I have not promoted this a lot because the hours are pretty tricky and unpredictable. Also, reservations for weekend access to the waterslides are hard to come by unless you are a resident of Yorba Linda (since they get priority registration for those Saturday and Sunday required reservations). It’s really important to check the official Yorba Linda Adventure Playground website for exact hours and procedures for reservations. At this time, Yorba Linda residents can reserve a spot “up to two weeks in advance and non-residents can reserve up to two days in advance.”
Atlantis Play Center in Garden Grove – Splash pad usually open during summer except for the weeks when they are running summer camp inside the park. Unfortunately, it was closed for maintenance during Summer 2023 and no word about Summer 2024.
Harry M. Dotson Park in Stanton – I haven’t been promoting this option since there was increased gang activity and a shooting midday on a Saturday in Spring 2023. But in case you are familiar and local, this could be an option?

Always check the city or original source to make sure the parks are open. Sometimes they turn off the water without notice.

lemon park spray pool fullerton — Lemon Park Spray Pool

PAY FOR WATER PLAY

I’ve never been, but the City of La Mirada Buccaneer Bay (Splash!) will open for Summer 2023 beginning Memorial Day weekend on May 18th (for season passholders) and May 25th for the rest of the public. It gets the best reader comments:

“We visited Splash in La Mirada on Saturday and “OH MY GOODNESS” it was sooo much fun!” (-Lisa)

“We visited La Mirada (all the way from Lake Forest) today – there’s nowhere we won’t drive! It was definitely worth it. The ‘common pool’ area in the middle is free, parking is free, my 2 year old son was free. That’s a bargain in exchange for the cost of gas. I like that locker rental only cost 50 cents and that you can swim for free or enter Buccaneer Bay for a fee. I thought that cost of the Bay was reasonable for all they had to offer. Can’t wait to go again sometime.” (-Heather)

Season passes are $60-$70 and day tickets are $22/$27.

Newport Dunes Inflatable Water Playground & Water Sport Rentals – Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day (May 24th through September 2nd). For Summer 2024 – a reservation system is in place and your admission is valid for “One Hour Only, No Full Day access!” Price is $15-$20 per person per hour. Walk-ins are still allowed, but they warn that time slots will sell out. This is also recommended for kids over 5 years old.

The Adventure Lagoon Anaheim Water Park just came on the scene in Summer 2021. No word on dates for Summer 2024, but it often opens as early as April.

Other Southern California Water Theme Parks:

Wild Rivers Waterpark inside Irvine Great Park is opened for the first time in Summer 2022 and season passes for Summer 2024 are selling now. Great toddler/kids areas are Cook’s Cove, Kontiki Cove, and Castaway River. I wrote a HUGE Family Guide on everything you need to know to go play there.
Knott’s Berry Farm Soak City, Buena Park – Will open for the season on May 18th through September 8th, 2024.
Sea World’s Sesame Place in Chula Vista (San Diego area) – formerly Sea World’s Aquatica. Opened March 2022, but the Sesame Summer Splash water rides open for Summer 2024 on Memorial Day weekend starting May 24th, 2024.
Legoland California Water Park in Carlsbad and they even have a splash pad area in the Lego Movie World section of the park. The regular splash pad is already open on weekends for 2024, but the LEGO CHIMA Water opens for the season on June 15th, 2024. (San Diego area)
San Diego Zoo Wildlife Explorers Basecamp – also a splash pad by the gondolas. Looks so fun! Just opened Spring 2022.
The Wave Water Park, Vista – opens Memorial Day weekend and they have a printable calendar for the 2024 season. (San Diego area)
Hurricane Harbor, Valencia (LA area)
Raging Waters, San Dimas (LA area)

SMALLER SCALE WATER PLAY FOR LOCALS

Aliso Viejo Aquatic Center and Pool
San Clemente Aquatics and Vista Hermosa Sports Park (pictured with green slide above)
Go to different cities for recreational swim (click here for my Ultimate Guide to City Recreation Programs and Calendars)
Join the YMCA to take part in swim lessons or rec swim
Montanoso Recreation Center in Mission Viejo (splash pad) and Sierra Recreation Center (waterslide) have day use fees or recreation memberships for residents and non-residents

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA HOTELS WITH WATER PLAY

It’s useful to remember that this list is ONLY waterslides or water parks AT hotels — meaning (in most cases) you must be a registered guest and staying at the hotel to enjoy the amenities.

ResortPass is one way to gain access to some hotels by paying for the day without having to pay for an overnight stay. See if the hotel you have in mind is listed!

Slyder’s Water Playground at Hyatt Huntington Beach (OC)
Waterfront Beach Resort Hilton in Huntington Beach (OC)
Splash Landing Pools and Family Sandy Beach at La Costa Resort (North San Diego County)
Waterslides at Hyatt Mission Bay Spa & Marina (San Diego)
Family Pool at the Grand Pacific Palisades in Carlsbad (North San Diego County)
Splashtopia at Rancho Las Palmas Resort (Palm Springs)
Children’s Pool at Hyatt Regency Indian Wells Resort & Spa (Palm Springs Area)
Chuckwalla Slide and Family Pool at Marriott’s Shadow Ridge I – The Villages (Palm Springs Area)
Mirage Pool at The Westin Desert Willow Villas (Palm Springs Area)
Monorail Pool at the Disneyland Hotel (OC)
Redwood Pool at Disney’s Grand Californian Resort (OC)
Rooftop pool at Disneyland Paradise Pier Hotel (OC)
Surfside Waterpark at Courtyard Anaheim Theme Park Entrance (OC)
Castaway Cove at Howard Johnson by Wyndham Hotel Anaheim (OC)
Waterpark at Cambria Hotel & Suites in Anaheim (OC)
Splash Zone water playground at Holiday Inn & Suites Anaheim (OC)
Kids Splash & Play at Renaissance Club Sport Hotel in Aliso Viejo (OC)
Children’s Splash Zone at Laguna Cliffs Marriott (OC)
Pool with kids activity area at Knott’s Berry Farm Hotel (OC)
Great Wolf Lodge, Garden Grove indoor water park (OC)
Resort Pool and Splash Zone at Terranea Resort (LA area)

What did I miss? Please help me keep this list up-to-date. I’ve been maintaining it every summer SINCE 2008!

BEACHES:

Don’t forget the BEACH! Kids can splash in the surf without going all the way in the water. Hold their hands and cool your toes, too. I have a ton of suggestions with details under my Beach category. And I wrote about the Best Toddler Beaches with no waves.