12 Splash Pads in Elk Grove for Kids
I had no idea that splash pads were a thing until I had kids. Now, I can’t get enough of them. As a mom who lives in Elk Grove with toddlers, splash pads are easily one of the best things to do in Sacramento in the summer.
If you didn’t already know, there are 12 splash pads in Elk Grove! Some are better than others, some splash pads are always busy, and you might get some all to yourself if you go on certain days of the week at specific times. All of these splash pads in the blazing hot Sacramento heat are just another reason why our family loves living in Elk Grove.
Splash pads in the summer are definitely one of the best things to do in Elk Grove with kids. While there are other fun splash pads in Sacramento, no other city near Sacramento has as many splash pads as Elk Grove.
When Are Elk Grove Splash Pads Open?
Water play in Elk Grove is seasonal. The Cosumnes Parks and Recreation Department turns on the splash pads from May through September every day from 10am to 8pm. Each splash pad has buttons to turn on and activate the water. Some big splash pads (like Oasis) have multiple water activation buttons.
If it’s your first time visiting one of the 12 splash pads in Elk Grove, the water activation buttons can be tricky to find. Luckily, there’s a guide on how to turn on the water at every splash pad in Elk Grove.
Check the CSD website for current splash pad information before packing the kids into the car. It’s common for splash pads to close for maintenance during the summer months (looking at you, Derr-Okamoto).
Why I Love Splash Pads
When you have toddlers who don’t know how to swim yet (or are in the process of learning), splash pads are the perfect way for kids to cool down. That said, they are fantastic for kids of all ages. Splash pads are low-maintenance options for kids to enjoy water play in the summertime. You could say that splash pads are essentially elevated sprinklers for kids to run through. Plus, there are fewer safety precautions to be mindful of compared to a pool or ocean.
Splash pads also allow kids to burn all that energy. While we have a water table that our kids use in our backyard, going to a splash pad levels up the water play fun. We love posting at a local park for an hour or two and letting the kids get soaked and tired from a splash pad. Even babies can sit near some of the smaller water nozzles.
Our favorite time to go to splash pads is when the water turns on at 10am. While it won’t be the hottest part of the day, when it’s a triple-digit day in Sacramento, it’s still plenty warm enough for a splash pad in the morning before the crowds emerge.
I’d recommend bringing a towel, snacks, cold drinks, water shoes, and sunscreen. After playing at a splash pad for a while, kids typically work up an appetite.
Elk Grove Splash Pads
1. Oasis Park
Oasis Park is our family’s favorite splash pad in Elk Grove! I appreciate that the splash pad at Oasis Park is free (and that all of the splash pads on this list are free!). While there are no slides, it still feels like a mini water park. There’s a camel that spits water, palm tree dump buckets, snakeheads that shoot water at each other, and many fun water play features for kids of all ages.
Snag one of the shaded benches to keep cool while the kids enjoy all the water play. The Oasis Park desert-themed splash pad is pretty big. If you go right at 10am on a weekday when the water turns on, it’s never very crowded. That said, during peak times and weekends, Oasis Park is one of the most popular splash pads in Elk Grove.
In addition to the spectacular splash pad, Oasis Park has two playgrounds —one for toddlers and one for older kids. Another unique feature is a sandbox. There’s a spacious shaded pavilion with picnic tables, bathrooms, and even an outdoor foot shower to scrub those sandy feet from the sandbox.
Location: 8015 Poppy Ridge Road, Elk Grove, CA 95757
2. Derr-Okamoto Park
Go wild with the animals at this splash pad in Elk Grove. Animal-loving kids will flock to the water features. Our family loves this splash pad as my kids love animals. One thing to know is that Derr-Okamoto tends to close frequently, so check the CSD website for maintenance updates before trekking over to this one.
The Derr-Okamoto splash pad is split into two areas. One section features a towering giraffe water sprayer, along with water cannons shaped like zebra and camel heads. The other section is the hippo water sprayers. The hippos have additional water fountains near them that are lower to the ground. The giraffe section is probably better for older kids, while the hippo section is better suited for younger kids. Both areas make this such a fun and creative splash pad to cool down on hot days.
Derr-Okamoto has two playgrounds, both of which maintain the animal theme. There is also a skate park and restrooms.
Location: 9550 Mainline Dr, Elk Grove, CA 95624
3. Morse Park
Like Oasis, Morse Park is probably the other most popular splash pad in Elk Grove. This large water play area has an ocean barrel towering at the center. There are fish water sprayers and various other interactive water spray features.
Morse Park has two playgrounds, bathrooms, and a beloved rock climbing feature for kids. Beginning in May 2025, there will be an outdoor family storytime at Morse Park on Friday mornings at 10am through August. This outdoor story time is one of the best free things to do with kids in Sacramento this summer.
Location: 5540 Bellaterra Drive, Elk Grove, CA 95757
4. Horseshoe Park
With a name like Horseshoe Park, you can probably glean that this splash pad is horse and western-themed. Kids can run through three colorful arches that mist water and engage with water play features sprouting from cacti and an armadillo. Horseshoe Park also has two playgrounds and restrooms. I personally love this splash pad because there are some very fun interactive water features but it’s never as busy as Oasis Park or Morse Park.
Want to know what to expect at Horseshoe Park? Check out my Instagram Reel.
Location: 9800 Denali Cir, Elk Grove, CA 95757
5. Adreani Park
I think that Adreani Park is an underrated splash pad. It’s a smaller water play area, but an adorable one that has a big bear holding a fish. The water features are relatively simple and don’t have sprayers or water dump buckets. The splash pad is right next to the playgrounds. There are also restrooms at the park.
Location: 8894 Dracut Dr, Elk Grove, CA 95758
6. Kammerer Park
The splash pad at Kammerer Park only adds to how awesome this park already is. The splash pad has musical instruments that spray water. Kammerer Park is music-themed, with interactive musical elements throughout two playgrounds, from a piano scale to paths in the shape of a treble clef. Restrooms are also available at Kammerer Park.
Location: 8801 Upbeat Wy, Elk Grove, CA 95757
7. Stephenson Family Park
A large snake spits water out its mouth at the center of this splash pad in Elk Grove that fits right in with the Egyptian-themed playground. Some unique features at Stephenson Family Park include a fenced-in toddler play area, a sandstone pyramid, and Easter Island statues. There are two playgrounds and restrooms.
Location: 5511 Dorcey Dr, Elk Grove, CA 95757
8. Wright Park
Compared to the other splash pads in Elk Grove, the one at Wright Park is a small neighborhood one. That doesn’t mean it’s still not wonderful to enjoy in the summer, especially for younger kids who don’t need to be as entertained by a slew of different water features. Kids will feel like they stepped into a swamp as two frogs spray water from a green (lily) splash pad.
Wright Park has nice playgrounds for older kids and younger kids. Note that since this is a smaller neighborhood park, there are no restrooms at this splash pad.
Location: 9370 Sierra River Dr, Elk Grove, CA 95624
9. Nottoli Park
Like Wright Park, Nottoli Park is another small neighborhood splash pad. It’s typical to have the splash pad all to yourself if you go right when the water turns on. Younger kids will enjoy this splash pad. It includes butterfly and bumblebee water sprayers and other interactive features that sprout water from the ground.
If your kids love farm animals, walk on the path adjacent to Nottoli Park to stroll past the many cows that graze in the field. There are also two playgrounds and restrooms at the park.
Location: 10050 E Taron Dr, Elk Grove, CA 95757
10. Kunsting Family Park
A celestial-themed splash pad sits at the center of Kunsting Family Park. It’s a relatively basic splash pad that will do its job of keeping kids cool in the summer. There aren’t any fun animal statues or features like that at this one. Kunsting Family Park also has restrooms and two playgrounds.
Location: 10069 Wild Orchid Way, Elk Grove, CA 95757
11. George Park
While our family loves George Park because our oldest son is dinosaur-obsessed and this is a dinosaur-themed playground, it’s a stretch to call this one a splash pad. I’d go here for the playground, and if the kids want to run through the water feature, it’s a bonus. However, I wouldn’t come to George Park just for the splash pad.
The main water feature attraction at George Park is a large dinosaur bone skeleton that kids can run through while water mists. Come to George Park for the distinctive playground attractions like the zip line, the shaded sandbox, and all the fun dino elements. Skip this one for just coming for the splash pad, and instead, let the kids run through it to clean off from the sand play.
Location: 10493 Fossil Way, Elk Grove, CA 95757
12. Backer Park
Backer Park sits at the edge of Elk Grove. Compared to the other splash pads on the list, the one at Backer Park is a straightforward splash pad that’s unassuming. It has the essentials of water features spraying from the ground, but there aren’t any standout components like large animals. Backer Park has two playgrounds and restrooms.
Location: 10400 Stathos Dr, Elk Grove, CA 95757
