Grab your floaties and make a giant splash at these indoor water parks near Chicagoland! Snow, rain, and wind won’t spoil the fun at these year-round destinations. Whether you crave an afternoon of family fun or an entire weekend away to swim, there are options to choose from within a short drive from sweet home Chicago.
Indoor water parks are great for all ages, from babies to adults. Most have toddler play areas, baby bubblers, and a variety of slides and interactive playgrounds. Many of these parks have lazy rivers or slides for the older kids, too. Indoor waterparks are a fun winter getaway, but during the summer months, some of these spots have outdoor features as well.
Whether you’re looking to travel soon or making plans for a future getaway, be sure to call in advance for the most updated information on what’s available and how to reserve your time slot.
Indoor Water Parks in Illinois
Splash Central Indoor Aquatic Center
700 S Bartlett Rd.
Bartlett, IL 60103
(630) 540-4800
This indoor pool as a zero depth entry pool, a slide, and interactive water features. They are open for open swim and available for private parties. Kids 2 and under are free. Be sure to check their website for safety guidelines.
Pelican Harbor
200 S Lindsey Ln.
Bolingbrook, IL 60440
(630) 739-1700
Open for indoor lap swimming, zero-depth entry pool, two water slides (must be 42” tall to ride), tot slide, tumble buckets, and a hot tub. Available for party rentals.
Kroc Center Chicago
1250 W 119th St.
Chicago, IL 60643
(773) 995-0151
Register in advance for your lap swim time slot online. Features a competition pool with diving boards and a leisurely pool for family fun. This area has a water play structure, a vortex and two slides.
Adventure Island
100 Symphony Way
Elgin, IL 60120
(847) 531-7030
Zero-depth entry, fountains, whirlpool, boat with a slide, tipping toucans for a splash from above, and a 25-foot water slide with a separate plunge pool.
Pavilion Aquatics Center
1000 Wellington Ave.
Elk Grove Village, IL 60007
(847) 593-6248
The pavilion offers an olympic-sized indoor main pool, zero-depth lagoon pool with interactive features and a 72 foot water slide. Pool has open swim hours, as well as private facility rental options and Parents Night Out events.
Great Wolf Lodge
1700 Nations Dr.
Gurnee, IL 60031
(844) 482-9653
This new, closer location in Gurnee features a four-story water slide, water fort tree house, tot-only water slides, and a pool. If you don’t want to spend the night at the hotel, you can also opt for day. With character visits, story time and family games, there’s plenty to do outside of the water, too. Check out Katie’s full review of Great Wolf Lodge in Gurnee.
Great Wolf Lodge is currently running a Groupon; check it out for a discount on your stay. (If you use our affiliate link, we will receive a portion of the sale at no cost to you.)
Oak Brook Park District Family Recreation Center
1450 Forest Gate Road
Oak Brook, IL 60523
(630) 990-4233
Enjoy their warm-water leisure pool, interactive water structure and vortex pool. Water slide is open on a special schedule. Sensory Sensitive Hours available on the first Wednesday of every month. Check their monthly schedule before you plan your trip.
The Water Works
505 N Springinsguth Rd.
Schaumburg, IL 60194
(847) 490-2505
Call ahead for a current schedule. They have three small slides in a zero-depth-entry pool, a diving pool, lap pool and rapid water channel for older swimmers.
Pirate’s Cay Indoor Waterpark
Holiday Inn Fox River Resort
2558 N 3650rd Road
Sheridan, IL 60551
(815) 496-3292
This pirate-themed waterpark has a lazy river, two body slides, two tube slides, and a water playground for kids. Open Fridays through Sundays from 12-8pm. General admission is available even if you aren’t staying at the resort.
Grand Bear Resort
2643 IL-178
North Utica, IL 61373
(866) 399-3866
Their water park includes water slides, lazy river, wave pool, tot pool, ranger station and hot tub. Annie and her family checked out Grizzly Jack’s Waterpark in 2019 and she gives lots of tips in her full review of Grand Bear Resort. If the weather is milder, consider an afternoon hike at Starved Rock afterwards, too.
Arctic Splash Indoor Pool
100 Community Boulevard
Wheeling, IL 60090
(847) 465-7674
Indoor pool is open with a zero-depth leisure pool, mini lazy river, interactive water play structures, four-lane lap pool, and toddler slide.
Indoor Water Parks in Wisconsin
Timber Ridge Lodge and Waterpark
7020 Grand Geneva Way
Lake Geneva, WI 53147
Newly renovated as of November 2023, this resort water park’s family activities range from a toddler area with swings and a tiny waterfall to an activity pool with a rope climb, lazy river and slides. Kids can play games at the arcade or have a little creative time in the activity room. When you stay at Timber Ridge Lodge, you receive four free water park passes with a one-bedroom suite, and six passes with a two-bedroom suite. Day passes are not available at this time.
Springs Waterpark
2810 Golf Rd.
Pewaukee, WI 53072
(262) 547-0201 or (800) 247-6640
Attached to the Ingleside Hotel, this park includes tube and body slides, a lazy river, activity pool and arcade. There’s also an indoor/outdoor hot tub and zero-depth Waukesha Water Works play area.
Breaker Bay Water Park at Blue Harbor Resort
725 Blue Harbor Dr.
Sheboygan, WI 53081
(866) 701-2583
A 54,000 square foot water park at the Blue Harbor Resort and Spa. Toddlers can splay in a play area with bubblers and two toddler slides while bigger kids try out the surfing simulator, basketball court pool, water obstacle course, and slides. A lazy river winds through the park. Outside the water, there’s indoor glow in the dark mini golf and an arcade. Day passes are not available at this time. The waterpark is for hotel guests only.
Check out Nicole’s road trip to Sheboygan including a, a waterpark review, where to eat, and more to do in Sheboygan!
Indoor Water Parks in Wisconsin Dells
Chula Vista Resort’s Los Rios Indoor Waterpark
1000 Chula Vista Pkwy
Wisconsin Dells, WI 53965
(800) 388-4782
Zoom uphill on an indoor water roller coaster at this Wisconsin Dells waterpark. Little ones can enjoy the kiddie area, while older children can race down the mat slides, test their balance at the croc crossing, get drenched under the tipping bucket, or float down the lazy river. The park also has a large arcade.
Great Wolf Lodge
1400 Great Wolf Dr.
Baraboo, WI 53913
(800) 559-9653
This 80,000 square-foot waterpark’s attractions include a water fort tree house, activity pool, body and tube slides, toboggan-style mat slides, and more. Out-of-water attractions include an arcade, story time and character visits.
Kalahari Waterparks
1305 Kalahari Dr.
Baraboo, WI 53913
(877) 525-2427
The largest water park in the Wisconsin Dells at 125,000 square feet, with everything you could imagine including body and raft slides, lazy river, water roller coaster, wave pool and a surfing simulator. The little kids area has a mini lazy river, water play structure, and slides.
Mt. Olympus Water Park
655 N Frontage Rd.
Wisconsin Dells, WI 53965
(800) 800-4997
Features four water slides, a giant play structure, lazy river, swim pool, whirlpool and hot tub. Kids can also play on a 35-foot pirate ship and run through water spouts and geysers. Indoor theme attractions include mini golf, bumper cars, rock climbing, and an arcade.
Wilderness Waterpark Resort
511 E Adams St.
Wisconsin Dells, WI 53965
(800) 867-9453
Wilderness boasts four separate indoor waterparks with attractions such as the country’s biggest indoor wave pool, tons of waterslides, zero-depth play features and much more. Kids can also take a ride on the go-karts or bumper boats, play a game of laser tag or mini golf, or win some prizes at the arcade.
Indoor Water Parks in Michigan
Double JJ Resort’s Gold Rush Waterpark
5900 S Water Rd.
Rothbury, MI 49452
(231) 894-4444
This 60,000-square-foot water park features a lazy/crazy river, wave pool, water fort, toddler pool, water basketball, and more. Non-water attractions include indoor mini-golf, an arcade, and tubing.
Indoor Water Parks in Indiana
Big Splash Adventure Indoor Water Park and Resort
8505 IN-56
French Lick, IN 47432
(812) 936-3866
A glass ceiling gives this space a tropical feel, even in the wintertime. Inside, families can climb a three-story play structure, splash around the toddler pool, float down the Lost River, and whirl around the tube and body slides. Mini golf, arcade and laser tag, too. Day pass tickets should be purchased online and in advance.
Indoor Water Parks in Iowa
Grand Harbor Resort
350 Bell St.
Dubuque, IA 52001
(563) 690-4000
About three hours from Chicago, this hotel’s water park is currently operating under limited hours so be sure to check the calendar before your visit. The water playground contains tipping bucket and water features. You’ll find water sprinklers, slides and shallow waters, too.
In the mood for more water fun with the family? Check out our list of local hotels with pools for more great mini getaway ideas!
