Grab your floaties and make a giant splash at an indoor water park near Chicagoland! Snow, rain, and wind won’t spoil the fun: these indoor water parks are open year round. If it’s an afternoon of fun you crave, or an entire weekend away, 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 for all ages. I have been taking our kids to indoor water parks since they were babies. We like to float as a family on the lazy river and then take the older kids on the slides. We enjoy indoor waterparks as part of a fun winter getaway!
Some of the waterparks listed have indoor and outdoor options, too. This has proved to be helpful for my family in the summer as a back-up plan in case of rain. 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.
Indoor Water Parks in Illinois
Splash Central Indoor Aquatic Center
700 S Bartlett Rd.
Bartlett, IL 60103
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.
Pelican Harbor
200 S Lindsey Ln.
Bolingbrook, IL 60440
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.
Kroc Center Chicago
1250 W 119th St.
Chicago, IL 60643
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
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
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.
Great Wolf Lodge
1700 Nations Dr.
Gurnee, IL 60031
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 Aquatic Center
1450 Forest Gate Road
Oak Brook, IL 60523
Enjoy their warm-water leisure pool, interactive water structure and vortex pool. Water slide is open on a special schedule. Check their monthly schedule before you plan your trip.
The Water Works
505 N Springinsguth Rd.
Schaumburg, IL 60194
Call ahead at (847) 490-2505 for a current schedule and to see what water features are available at present. 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, and two tube slides. Open Fridays through Sundays from 12-8pm.
Grand Bear Resort
2643 IL-178
North Utica, IL 61373
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! If the weather is milder, consider an afternoon hike at Starved Rock afterwards, too.
Arctic Splash Indoor Pool
100 Community Boulevard
Wheeling, IL 60090
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
A resort water park with family activities for all ages, from a safe spot for tots with swings and a tiny waterfall, to an activity pool with a rope climb, lazy river and slides. Play games at the arcade or have a little creative time in their 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
Attached to the Ingleside Hotel, this park includes tube and body slides, a lazy river, activity pool and arcade. Older kids can relax in the indoor/outdoor hot tub and little kids can enjoy their zero-depth Waukesha Water Works.
Breaker Bay Water Park
725 Blue Harbor Dr.
Sheboygan, WI 53081
A 54,000 square foot water park at the Blue Harbor Resort and Spa. Toddlers will love the play area, with bubblers and two toddler slides. Bigger kids will love the surfing simulator, basketball court pool, water obstacle course, and slides. And everyone loves the lazy river! Indoor glow in the dark mini golf and arcade fun, too. Day passes are not available at this time. The waterpark is for hotel guests only. Check out my 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
Get your thrills as you zoom uphill around the water park in their amazing indoor water roller coaster! 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. And, don’t miss their mega arcade.
Great Wolf Lodge
1400 Great Wolf Dr.
Baraboo, WI 53913
Hours of fun await at this 80,000 square-foot waterpark. Their fun water attractions include a water fort tree house, activity pool, countless body and tube slides, toboggan-style mat slides and more. Don’t forget all of the out-of-water attractions such as the arcade, story time and character visits.
Kalahari Waterparks
1305 Kalahari Dr.
Baraboo, WI 53913
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 rollercoaster, 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
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, too – mini golf, bumper cars, rock climbing and arcade!
Wilderness Waterpark Resort
511 E Adams St.
Wisconsin Dells, WI 53965
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. In addition to water fun, kids can take a ride on the go-karts, play a game of laser tag, mini golf, bumper boats 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
Enjoy 60,000 square feet of pure water park excitement including their lazy/crazy river, wave pool, water fort, toddler pool, water basketball, or relax in the hot tubs! You’ll even find non-water attractions such as indoor mini-golf, arcade fun and tubing!
Indoor Water Parks in Indiana
Big Splash Adventure Indoor Water Park and Resort
8505 IN-56
French Lick, IN 47432
Enjoy an afternoon at this park, where the glass ceiling gives the 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 fun, 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
About 3 hours from Chicago, this hotel’s water park is currently operating under limited hours. 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!
