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 also have lazy rivers or slides for the older kids, too. Some indoor waterpark spots may have outdoor features as well that you can check out during the summer months.
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 features two pool areas, and a hot tub. It has as a zero depth entry pool, a slide, and interactive water features for small swimmers. There is also a large activity/lap pool right next to the activity area with lifeguards on duty. They are open for open swim and available for private parties. Kids 2 and under are free. There are family restrooms for changing and lockers available to use. Be sure to check their website for safety guidelines and hours, as they change seasonally.
Pelican Harbor
200 S Lindsey Ln.
Bolingbrook, IL 60440
(630) 739-1700
Open in the winter 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. Also available for party rentals.
Kroc Center Chicago
1250 W 119th St.
Chicago, IL 60643
(773) 995-0151
Features two pools-a competition pool with 6 lanes for lap swimming with diving boards and a water park pool area for family fun. The water park area has a lazy river, vortex pool, hot tub, water play structure, and two massive slides (must be 48″ to ride). Find open swim hours here, or purchase day passes in advance.
Adventure Island
100 Symphony Way
Elgin, IL 60120
(847) 531-7030
Open year round with 3 different indoor pool options: recreational pool with zero-depth entry pool, floor fountains, whirlpool, large toddler play structure with slide, and tipping toucans to make sure you get soaked. Riders over 42″ tall can also enjoy a 25-foot water slide. Swim laps in the competition pool complete with diving boards and 8 25-yard lanes. There is also a separate heated therapy pool used for senior programming and rehabilitation.
Pavilion Aquatics Center
1000 Wellington Ave.
Elk Grove Village, IL 60007
(847) 593-6248
Swim year round in the an olympic-sized indoor main pool, zero-depth lagoon pool with interactive features and a 72 foot water slide for swimmers over 43″ tall. 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 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 a day pass. With character visits, story time and family games, there’s plenty to do outside of the water, too. Check out Katie’s 2019 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 Aquatic Center
1450 Forest Gate Road
Oak Brook, IL 60523
(630) 990-4233
Enjoy the warm-water leisure pool, interactive water structure and vortex pool. Water slide is open on a special schedule. Swimmers can now enjoy the Aquatic Center amenities (including the water slide) during Pop-Up Hours. Sensory Sensitive Hours available on the first Wednesday evening of every month. Utilize their monthly schedule to plan your trip.
The Water Works
505 N Springinsguth Rd.
Schaumburg, IL 60194
(847) 490-2505
Indoor water park featuring a zero-depth-entry pool, Sprayground with sprayers, small slides, and floor fountains. Separate diving pool with diving boards and three full side water slides (must be 42″ to ride body slides and 48″ too ride drop slides), lap pool and rapid water channel for experienced swimmers.
Pirate’s Cay Indoor Waterpark at Holiday Inn Fox River Resort
Holiday Inn Fox River Resort
2558 N 3650rd Road
Sheridan, IL 60551
(815) 496-3292
This pirate-themed waterpark located inside the Fox River Resort is available to resort guests at a discount and also as a day pass. The waterpark has a lazy river, two body slides (riders must be over 48″ tall), two tube slides (riders must be over 48″ tall), and a water playground for kids. Check waterpark hours before heading out.
Grand Bear Falls Water Park at Grand Bear Resort
Grand Bear Resort
2643 IL-178
North Utica, IL 61373
(866) 399-3866
This indoor water park is located inside Grand Bear Resort near Starved Rock. Water park admission is included with resort stay or available as a day pass. Park includes slide tower for riders over 48″ tall, lazy river, wave pool, tot pool with slide, ranger station and 15-person hot tub. Call beforehand for water park attraction status, as staffing and maintenance may cause certain attractions to be closed. 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
Located inside Community Recreation Center
100 Community Boulevard
Wheeling, IL 60090
(847) 465-7674
Year round indoor pool facility with zero-depth leisure pool, mini lazy river, interactive water play structures, four-lane lap pool, and toddler slide. Party packages available.
Indoor Water Parks in Wisconsin
Timber Ridge Lodge and Waterpark
7020 Grand Geneva Way
Lake Geneva, WI 53147
Renovated in 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 (for swimmers 48″ tall). Adults can enjoy the indoor/outdoor hot tub open year round. The arcade and activity room allow for a little creative time outside the pool. 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
The Ingleside Hotel
2810 Golf Rd.
Pewaukee, WI 53072
(262) 547-0201 or (800) 247-6640
Attached to the Ingleside Hotel, this waterpark is available to both hotel guests and those just looking to visit for the day. Attractions include: zero-depth toddler play area with water cannons, giant dump bucket and toddler-sized-slides, larger tube and body slides, lazy river, kid’s activity pool including ropes course and basketball hoops, and indoor/outdoor hot tub. There is also an arcade, restaurant with bar and snack bar.
Breaker Bay Water Park at Blue Harbor Resort
725 Blue Harbor Dr.
Sheboygan, WI 53081
(866) 701-2583
This 54,000 square foot indoor water park is located within 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 available on Sundays only depending on availability, otherwise the waterpark is for hotel guests only.
Check out Nicole’s 2019 road trip to Sheboygan including a waterpark review, tips on where to eat, and more to do in Sheboygan!
Three Bears Resort Waterpark
701 Yogi Circle
Warrens, Wisconsin 54666
(608) 378-2500
This indoor/outdoor waterpark is located just north of the Wisconsin Dells. Waterpark admission is included for all resort guests, and day passes can be purchased based on availability. Indoor waterpark includes racing slides, lazy river, wave pool, activity pool with basketball hoops, toddler activity area with water play structure and fountains, and hot tub. Check waterpark hours before booking your stay.
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
At this Wisconsin Dells waterpark, swimmers over 50″ tall can zoom uphill on an indoor water-roller-coaster that is one of a kind. Little ones can enjoy the kiddie area, while older children (over 42″ tall) 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 and outdoor waterpark open in the summer. Admission is included for Chula Vista Resort guests, or available as a day pass.
Great Wolf Lodge
1400 Great Wolf Dr.
Baraboo, WI 53913
(800) 559-9653
This 80,000 square-foot waterpark’s indoor 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. There is also an attached outdoor waterpark for use in the summer. Hotel guests’ admission is included, and day passes are also available.
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 body and tube slides, lazy river, indoor water-roller-coaster, wave pool and a surfing simulator. The toddler play area has a mini lazy river, water play structure, and slides. Kalahari is also mid-renovation on their indoor water park (75,000 square foot expansion) expected to be completed by Fall 2026. New attractions will include 3 new slides, new spa whirlpool, swim up bar for adults, racing mat slides and more.
Mt. Olympus Water Park
655 N Frontage Rd.
Wisconsin Dells, WI 53965
(800) 800-4997
Open Mid-September-Mid May, features of this indoor waterpark include, four water slides, a giant toddler 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 park attractions include mini golf, bumper cars, rock climbing, and an arcade. Guests of Mt. Olympus play at the waterparks and theme parks free, day passes are also available.
Wilderness Waterpark Resort
511 E Adams St.
Wisconsin Dells, WI 53965
(800) 867-9453
Wilderness Territory boasts four separate year round, indoor waterparks with attractions such as the country’s biggest indoor wave pool, tons of waterslides, zero-depth play features, separate toddler play areas 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. In the summer months, the four outdoor waterparks are open as well.
Indoor Water Parks in Michigan
Gold Rush Indoor Waterpark at Double JJ Resort
Double JJ Resort
5900 S Water Rd.
Rothbury, MI 49452
(231) 894-4444
This 60,000-square-foot water park features a combo lazy/crazy river, body slides (must be 42″ to ride), bowl slide (must be 48″ to ride), wave pool, water fort, toddler pool, water basketball, and more. Non-water attractions include indoor mini-golf, an arcade, and tubing.
Note: Waterpark is closed January 30-February 9, 2025 for renovations.
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 this 40,000 square foot indoor waterpark, 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 25,000 square foot hotel’s waterpark contains large tipping bucket in extensive climbing structure. You’ll find water sprinklers, slides, and shallow waters, too. Located near many Iowa attractions, right off the Mississippi River.
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!
