Water parks in Virginia offer a cool way to beat this state's typically hot and humid summer months. For families looking for the best entertainment value for their dollar, Virginia's water parks provide aquatic wonderlands filled with play areas and wading pools for the little ones; crazy high-speed slides and rides for teens and adults; plus wave pools and lazy rivers that all can enjoy. As part of a Huffington Post Travel series on family-fun parks, here is our guide to all the key information visitors need to know about Virginia's water parks.
Water Country USA
Water Country USA is set in the middle of Virginia's
area and features more slides and rides than any other water park in the Mid-Atlantic region. Locals and savvy out-of-towners alike know to buy a combo ticket for this park and nearby Busch Gardens. The tickets allow guests to beat the heat in refreshing Water Country during the day and go crazy on Busch Gardens' roller coasters and other rides during the cooler parts of the day and at night.
Vanish Point
If you want to experience the sensation of having a floor drop out from under you and falling 75 feet, then Water Country's newest addition,
, is the slide for you. Actually, Vanish Point is four slides: This beast boasts two tubes with drop-away floors and two slides where you lie down and plunge 300 feet straight down. Either way, prepare to have a screaming good time.
Crazy Slides And Wave Pools
Water Country USA offers a variety of other crazy slides, the largest wave pool in all of Virginia and a 1,500-foot lazy river. For the little ones, Water Country has designed three
just for them: Cow-A-Bunga, a 4,500-square-foot heated wading pool with small slides and play areas; H20 UFO, a large water fort filled with splashing and spraying activities; and Kritter Korral, another splash and play zone.
Fast Food Favorites
Guests can enjoy amusement park favorites like hot dogs, pizza and chicken fingers at Water Country's Catalina Grill and Cosmic Cafe. For those looking for lighter fare, the Surfside Market serves deli wraps and fruit. Outside food and drinks are not allowed in the park, but there is a picnic area just outside the front entrance.
Safety Record
Other than an unusual incident that occurred In 1996, in which a guest was
while standing in the wave pool, there have been no recent media reports of any serious accidents or incidents at Water Country USA.
Address: 176 Water Country Pkwy, Williamsburg, VA 23185Phone: 800-343-7946Hours: Water Country USA opens at 10 a.m. and closes between 5 and 8 p.m., depending on the day and month. The park is open daily in June, July and August, and on a limited basis in May and September.Price: Regular admission is $46.99; children 3 to 9 cost $39.99; and for children 2 and under admission is free. Discovery Ticket, good for seven days to both Busch Gardens and Water Country USA, admission for 3 and up, is $74.99.
SplashDown Waterpark
SplashDown Waterpark is located in the Washington, D.C., suburb of Manassas. It is the largest water park in the Northern Virginia area and offers a refreshing oasis from the area's busy and often harried lifestyle. The park features a 770-foot lazy river, slides, areas designed specifically for younger children and a wave pool.
Pipeline Tower
SplashDown's Pipeline Tower consists of two four-story curving water slides that tower above the rest of the park. To avoid the longest lines, head straight to these slides as soon as the park opens.
Hit The Lazy River
This park's lazy river is a fun, refreshing and leisurely way to spend the day. Float down the river with your friends or family members and let the river's gentle current do all the work. No real lines here, just grab a tube and slip in the water. To ensure it lives up to its motto -- "It's like a day at the beach without the drive" -- SplashDown has a large sand beach area where kids can play.
Pizza And BBQ
SplashDown guests can choose from pizza or sandwiches at Paradise Pizza; barbecued pulled pork sandwiches, hot dogs and hamburgers from Coney Island Cafe; or fries, cheese sticks and other snack foods at Beach Break Boardwalk. SplashDown also offers catering and pavilion rentals for large parties or groups.
In The News
There have been no recent accidents or incidents reported at SplashDown Waterpark in the media. Lifeguard services for SplashDown are provided by the
, which has not had a fatality at any of its eight facilities since it first began in 1978. In addition, Prince William Park Authority has been awarded the
by Jeff Ellis & Associates, a safety and risk management consulting company that performs unannounced safety audits on aquatic facilities.
Address: 7500 Ben Lomond Park Dr., Manassas, VA 20109Phone: 703-361-4451Hours: SplashDown opens on a limited basis from Memorial Day until mid-June. Hours are from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. After mid-June, the park is open daily until about the last week in August. During this time, SplashDown opens at 11 a.m. and closes between 7 and 10 p.m., depending on the day and month. Call the park or check its website for more details.Price: SplashDown admission: 2 and under, free; under 48 inches, $10.95; 48 inches and above, $14.95; seniors older than 55, $9; after 3 p.m. Monday through Friday, $9; military discount, $2 off with ID for the entire family.
Other Noteworthy Parks Near Virginia
What's your favorite water park in Virginia?
Check out more WATER PARKS.
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
It's Another Trump-Biden Showdown — And We Need Your Help
The Future Of Democracy Is At Stake
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
Your Loyalty Means The World To Us
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
The 2024 election is heating up, and women's rights, health care, voting rights, and the very future of democracy are all at stake. Donald Trump will face Joe Biden in the most consequential vote of our time. And HuffPost will be there, covering every twist and turn. America's future hangs in the balance. Would you consider contributing to support our journalism and keep it free for all during this critical season?
HuffPost believes news should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay for it. We rely on readers like you to help fund our work. Any contribution you can make — even as little as $2 — goes directly toward supporting the impactful journalism that we will continue to produce this year. Thank you for being part of our story.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
It's official: Donald Trump will face Joe Biden this fall in the presidential election. As we face the most consequential presidential election of our time, HuffPost is committed to bringing you up-to-date, accurate news about the 2024 race. While other outlets have retreated behind paywalls, you can trust our news will stay free.
But we can't do it without your help. Reader funding is one of the key ways we support our newsroom. Would you consider making a donation to help fund our news during this critical time? Your contributions are vital to supporting a free press.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.
Already contributed? Log in to hide these messages.
