Best Water Play Spots for Kids Near Sacramento
When Sacramento temperatures hit triple digits in the summertime, splash pads, wading pools, lakes, and water parks become the ultimate places for families to cool off. Kids of all ages can splash, slide, and cannonball their way into the best water play spots near Sacramento. These water play spots are perfect for a hot afternoon, day trip, or weekend adventure.
Thank you to Splash-n-Dash Aqua Park for sponsoring this guide to the best water play spots near Sacramento. Splash-n-Dash is the largest floating inflatable water park in North America, located at Lake McSwain Recreation Area in Snelling, CA — making it an exciting summer day trip or weekend getaway from Sacramento. With three splash adventures designed for different ages, including options for younger kids, plus a cafe, cabanas, and beach rentals, it’s an easy way to turn a hot summer day into a core memory.
Water attractions are some of the best things to do in Sacramento for kids in the summer. Bookmark this list for hidden gems and fun ways families can enjoy water attractions in Sacramento and beyond.
Free Life Jacket Loaner Program
While water play is a fun summer activity, it’s also important to ensure kids enjoy water play safely. Throughout the Sacramento area, several fire stations offer a free life jacket loaner program. Life jackets can be borrowed for a day or for a weekend.
The Life Jacket Loaner program is available at select fire stations in the Sacramento area, including:
- Cosumnes Fire (Elk Grove & Galt)
- Folsom Fire
- Metro Fire
- Roseville Fire
- Sacramento Fire
- West Sacramento Fire ($10 deposit required at this station)
Best Splash Pads Near Sacramento
Splash pads are ideal for low-key water-play days and are among the best free things to do in Sacramento with kids in the summer. Splash pads are particularly great for younger kids, as there is less of a safety concern with kids being near deep water in a pool.
There are tons of great splash pads around the Sacramento area, but a few stand out as the best.
White Rock Splash Park — Rancho Cordova
Why families love it: $1 water slides
White Rock Splash Park is the only splash pad in Sacramento with water slides. However, there is a height restriction for those water slides. I have a whole separate article on all the details you need to know about White Rock Splash Park.
This splash pad has a huge dump bucket and is great for older kids, since they will have fun on the water slides while families stick to a budget-friendly summer day. Younger kids who are not tall enough for the water slides can still play with other features, as it’s also a regular splash pad. So if you want water thrills without spending a fortune, White Rock Splash Park is a great option. Just know it can be busy on summer weekends.
đź“ŤWhite Rock Splash Park Address: 10488 White Rock Rd A, Rancho Cordova, CA 95670
Oasis Park Splash Pad — Elk Grove
Why families love it: Huge desert-themed splash pad with many unique water features
There are 12 splash pads in Elk Grove, so claiming the top spot says a lot. Oasis Park has a gigantic desert-themed splash pad with a camel that spits water, snake water cannons, palm tree dump buckets, and lots of other fun water sprayers for kids of all ages to interact with. I’ve seen babies sitting at small sprayers and older kids having a blast with the snake water cannons.
Oasis Park is a very large and fun splash pad, and isn’t just the best splash pad in Elk Grove, but due to its sheer scope, one of the best splash pads in Sacramento. It can get busy on hot summer weekends, but it is a spacious splash pad.
đź“ŤOasis Park Splash Pad Address: 8015 Poppy Ridge Rd, Elk Grove, CA 95757
Natalie’s Corner Splash Pad — Davis
Why families love it: Vibrant and colorful splash pad with a large, interactive water table, waterfalls, and water cannons
Natalie’s Corner is one of the newest splash pads near Sacramento, and it’s easily one of the best. It has some of the most modern water play features I’ve seen at any splash pad in the area. One of the highlights is a large water table that has a different interactive component on each side. Kids love this water table. There are fun water cannons, waterfalls to run through, and various dump buckets.
While most splash pads are on concrete, Natalie’s Corner has vibrant blue and green flooring that makes this one fun and inviting. It’s in Central Park in Davis, the same park where the popular Davis Farmers Market takes place every Saturday (and Wednesday evenings in the summer). Just know that the splash pad gets busy when the farmers’ market occurs.
đź“ŤNatalie’s Corner Splash Pad Address: 443 C St, Davis, CA 95616
Best Aquatic Centers in Sacramento for Families
We are lucky to have so many aquatic centers in the Sacramento area. Plus, they are an affordable way for families to cool off, as most have daily entrance fees under $10 (per person), making them a budget-friendly summer activity for kids. When kids have outgrown splash pads, aquatic centers level up the water fun with water slides and water playgrounds.
North Natomas Aquatics Complex — North Natomas
Why families love it: Large children’s water playground with multiple slides, and dueling water slides
The North Natomas Aquatic Complex might have the best water playground for kids in Sacramento. A huge play structure is in the middle of a zero-depth-entry splash pool, which has a tunnel water slide and two side-by-side water slides that younger kids can go on over and over again. There are also multiple water play features in the same wading pool as the water playground, which is perfect for kids who might be a little too shy for the slides.
While the children’s water playground is the main attraction for kids at the North Natomas Aquatic Center, the aquatic complex also has dueling 35-foot spiral water slides. There’s also a 25-yard recreation pool and a 50-meter competition pool with diving boards.
Tip: The North Natomas Aquatics Complex is next to North Natomas Regional Park. If you time it right on a summer Saturday, you could go to One Natomas Farmers Market, open seasonally on Saturdays from 8am to 12:30pm, then take the kids to play on the baseball-themed playground and sprayground at North Natomas Regional Park. Finish the afternoon at the adjacent North Natomas Aquatic Complex, which opens at 1pm on weekends.
đź“ŤNorth Natomas Aquatics Complex Address: 2601 New Market Dr., Sacramento, CA 95835
Wackford Aquatic Complex — Elk Grove
Why families love it: Splash playground, Adventure Bay, water slide, and inflatable water obstacle course
There are three swim centers in Elk Grove, but the Wackford Aquatic Complex takes the crown as being the best of the three. It has the most amenities, especially for kids. Adventure Bay is a shallow-water pool that starts with a beach-style entry and gradually deepens to 5 feet. In the shallow sections, there are several fun features in the water, like waterfalls and dump buckets.
Other attractions include Splash Island, a water playground in less than 2 feet of water, which is perfect for younger kids. Older kids will love the 160-foot twisting water slide known as “The Quacken” (minimum height requirement of 48″), and a 45-foot by 9-foot high inflatable obstacle course (called Double Trouble) in a deep-water pool.
If you’ve heard Elk Grove has a lazy river, you’ve heard correctly. However, it’s not at the Wackford Aquatic Complex. Elk Grove’s lazy river is at the Elk Grove Aquatics Center at District 56. The Wackford Aquatic Complex is one of the best things to do in Elk Grove with kids.
đź“ŤWackford Aquatic Complex Address: 9014 Bruceville Rd., Elk Grove, CA 95758
Steve Miklos Aquatic Center — Folsom
Why families love it: Inflatable water obstacle course and water playground
The Steve Miklos Aquatic Center is one of the best things to do in Folsom for kids in the summer. It’s even one of the sites of Folsom’s free annual Family Movie Nights. Kids can splash and play at the aquatic center before a family-friendly water-themed movie. Folsom’s summer movie series is one of the best outdoor movies in Sacramento. Usually, you do have to pay to use the aquatic center, but it’s free on Folsom Family Movie Night.
A big highlight at Steve Miklos Aquatic Center is the giant inflatable obstacle course. Note that the obstacle course does require a $5 wristband. There’s also a two-story water slide, an interactive water playground, three pools, and diving boards.
đź“ŤSteve Miklos Aquatic Center Address: 1200 Riley St, Folsom, CA 95630
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Best Water Parks Near Sacramento for Kids
The Sacramento area has splash pads and aquatic centers galore, but water parks are few and far between. Luckily, there are many fantastic water parks, from inflatable aqua parks to water playgrounds within a two-hour drive or so. You can easily turn these spots into a day trip or expand the fun into a summer weekend adventure.
Sunsplash Water Park — Roseville
Why families love it: Exciting water slides for older kids and teens, and a water play area for younger children
Spending a day at Roseville Golfland Sunsplash Water Park should be at the top of your Sacramento summer bucket list. Sunsplash is the only traditional water slide park in the Sacramento area. Expect it to be busy on hot summer days. There are various exciting water slides ranging from group raft rides to a 6-lane high-speed water slide where you can race friends. Sunsplash also has a wave pool and a lazy river.
Many of the water slides do have height requirements, making Sunsplash Water Park an ideal summer outing for older kids and teens. That said, they have a children’s water play area called Adventure Island with many small water slides that splash into shallow water.
đź“ŤRoseville Golfland Sunsplash Address: 1893 Taylor Rd, Roseville, CA 95661
Splash-n-Dash Aqua Park — Lake McSwain, Snelling, CA (Mariposa County)
Why families love it: Over 200,000 square feet of attractions for all ages at the largest inflatable water park in North America
If you didn’t know, the largest inflatable water park in the country is only a three-hour drive from Sacramento. This Mariposa County water attraction is perfect to include for a summer trip to Yosemite National Park with kids. Splash-n-Dash is a huge inflatable water park that has giant water slides, a rock wall, and even a 150′ alligator. Older kids will love the thrilling jumps and challenges on Lake McSwain.
Younger kids can get into the inflatable lake action with Lil’ Splash, a 5,500-square foot mini obstacle course for children ages 7 and under. When kids want a break from jumping and climbing on the many inflatable attractions, they can participate in Splash Attack, California’s first extreme water tag. Splash Attack is included with a Splash-n-Dash Aqua Park ticket.
đź“ŤSplash-n-Dash Aqua Park Address: 9090 Lake McClure Rd. Snelling, CA 95369
Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park™: Tower Park — Lodi
Why families love it: Several attractions in one place, including a water playground, lazy river, mini golf, and more
Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park™: Tower Park is one of the best things to do in Lodi with kids. At less than a 45-minute drive, it’s easy to forget how close it is to Sacramento. While Jellystone Park is known for camping, they do offer day passes if you want to check out all the attractions and then drive home the same day. In the summer, families can stay cool on the water playground, lazy river, and heated swimming pools.
The water playground slides have height and weight restrictions: 36″ max height, 100 lbs max weight for the orange slide; and 42″ max height, 300 lbs max weight for the blue and green slides. In addition to water play, there are other activities such as mini golf, a jumping pillow, and many more.
đź“ŤYogi Bear’s Jellystone Park™: Tower Park Address: 14900 W Hwy 12, Lodi, CA 95242
Gilroy Gardens — Gilroy
Why families love it: A beautiful Northern California theme park with a seasonal water oasis
When you want a theme park that’s a bit more low-key than Disneyland, Gilroy Gardens is the perfect option. It’s an amusement park set in a botanical garden, featuring produce-themed rides with a whimsical flair. During the summer months, Gilroy Gardens has impressive water attractions, including water slides, shallow wading pools, splash pads, and a giant tipping bucket. Younger kids will have just as much fun at the water attractions as older kids will.
Something you might not know is that Gilroy Gardens is an add-on option on the GetOut Pass, which grants you access to tons of Sacramento and Bay Area kid-friendly attractions for just one price. It’s a great deal for families to explore many fun attractions at one affordable rate.
đź“ŤGilroy Gardens Address: 3050 Hecker Pass Hwy, Gilroy, CA 95020
Best Wading Pools in Sacramento for Kids
When you want to get younger kids more comfortable in the water before hitting the pools, wading pools are the perfect option. And several wading pools in Sacramento for younger kids are free! The water is very shallow. Wading pools also typically have a mushroom spray fountain feature. Because they are technically still pools, lifeguards are also on duty.
In the City of Sacramento, children over age 7 or taller than 48 inches are not allowed in the wading pools, as they are for younger children.
Land Park Wading Pool — Sacramento
Why families love it: Free wading pool next to a shaded playground in the same park as Fairytale Town and the Sacramento Zoo
The Land Park wading pool is one of the four free wading pools in Sacramento, making it one of the best free things to do in Sacramento with kids in the summer. It’s a shallow wading pool for little kids and has a mushroom fountain. This wading pool is adjacent to the Land Park playground, which happens to be fully gated and shaded. It’s one of the best shaded playgrounds in Sacramento. Restrooms are also next to the wading pool.
From Fairytale Town to the Sacramento Zoo and Funderland Amusement Park, there are so many fun things to do in William Land Regional Park for kids. The wading pool adds another fun element in this popular Sacramento park for families in the summertime.
đź“ŤLand Park Wading Pool Address: 13th Street and 13th Avenue, Sacramento, CA 95822
Bertha Henschel Park Wading Pool — East Sacramento
Why families love it: Relaxing free wading pool in East Sacramento for younger kids
Many people haven’t heard about the Bertha Henschel Park Wading Pool, but now you know that it’s a hidden gem in the summertime. Younger kids will love testing the waters and splashing around in the shallow wading pool and mushroom fountain.
For the ultimate summer day in East Sacramento, you could easily go to McKinley Park in the morning to let kids play at one of the best playgrounds in Sacramento, pick up some sandwiches from Corti Bros, and then spend the afternoon splashing around in the free Bertha Henschel wading pool. There’s also a playground at the park. Check out what to expect at Bertha Henschel Wading Pool in my Instagram Reel.
đź“ŤBertha Henschel Wading Pool Address: 160 45th St, Sacramento, CA 95819
Oki Park Wading Pool — Sacramento
Why families love it: Shaded, dinosaur-themed playground next to a wading pool
A dinosaur playground next to a wading pool?! Oki Park might be the ultimate summer spot for kids in Sacramento. Plus, the playground is well shaded. While there is a wading pool at Oki Park, it’s not one of the free wading pools in Sacramento. In addition to a wading pool, there is a 25-yard recreational lap pool, as well.
đź“ŤOki Park Wading Pool Address: 2715 Wissemann Dr, Sacramento, CA 95826
Best Lakes & Swimming Beaches
Folsom Lake
Why families love it: A favorite Sacramento area lake with family-friendly amenities, water rental equipment, including water trampolines, and a snack bar
Going to Folsom Lake is one of the best things to do in Sacramento with kids in the summer. If you’re not sure exactly where to go, Granite Bay Beach at Folsom Lake is a great spot. In addition to a beach and buoyed swim area, Anchored Eats (a snack bar and rental shop) is open seasonally at Granite Bay beach at Folsom Lake. Families can rent water vessels from kayaks to a water trampoline. The trampolines are a big hit with kids! The cafe also offers food items, including sweets like snow cones and ice cream cups.
If you plan to paddle on Folsom Lake and don’t want to jump into the actual lake itself, Black Miners Bar is a great spot for kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding. Water vessels for Black Miners Bar are available for rent at Lake Natoma Paddle Rentals.
đź“ŤAnchored Eats Address: 8099 Douglas Blvd, Granite Bay, CA 95746
đź“ŤLake Natoma Paddle Rentals Address: 9600 Greenback Ln, Orangevale, CA 95662
Lodi Lake
Why families love it: Underrated family-friendly lake near Sacramento with a playground, wading pool, water rentals, and a nature trail
Folsom Lake might get all the glory in Sacramento, but don’t sleep on Lodi Lake. It’s a very underrated lake that makes a quick day trip from Sacramento and is very family-friendly! While there’s Lodi Lake Beach to splash around in, there’s also a wading pool for younger kids on the beach. Kids who are still getting comfortable with water can play in the sand, but then hang out in the wading pool until they’re ready to test the lake waters.
In addition to Lodi Lake Beach and the wading pool, boat rentals are also available at the Lodi Lake Boathouse. They have everything from kayaks to stand-up paddleboards, and even pedal boats, which are particularly ideal for families.
Other lesser-known family-friendly amenities at Lodi Lake include a playground and the Lodi Lake Nature Trail, which is a hidden gem. The Lodi Lake Nature Trail is easily one of the best family-friendly nature trails in the Sacramento area. It’s a wide, easy flat path through redwood trees and oak trees on the Lodi Lake Wilderness Trail, making it one of the top things to do in Lodi with kids.
đź“ŤLodi Lake Beach Address: 1101 W. Turner Road, Lodi, CA 95242
Best Recreation Pools for Sacramento Families
Johnson Pool — Roseville
Why families love it: Free swimming in 2026 at a pool with water slides for younger kids and older kids
While there are many pools around the Sacramento area for recreational swimming, the Johnson Pool stands out as the best. In 2026, the pool will have free recreational swimming for everyone, making it one of the best free summer activities in Sacramento for kids. The Johnson Pool is a single large pool that starts at zero depth and deepens the further you go.
Plus, the Johnson Pool has a water slide! Older kids can plunge into the pool’s deep end. There’s also a small train water slide at the pool entry. Kids will slide into less than a foot of water. You can’t go wrong with a swimming pool that has two water slides for different age ranges, for free all summer.
đź“ŤJohnson Pool Address: 100 D St, Roseville, CA 95661
Worth the Day Trip: Children’s Museums With Water Play
While there are many fun museums in Sacramento for kids, none have any dedicated water play areas. These nearby children’s museums make for fun day trips from Sacramento and include engaging water play areas. Trust me that the water play areas at these museums will be the favorite part of your children’s experience when visiting.
Children’s Museum of Sonoma County — Santa Rosa
Why families love it: Amazing and expansive children’s museum in Sonoma County with tons of engaging exhibits and water play
The Children’s Museum of Sonoma County has a fantastic, expansive outdoor area, and it should definitely be at the top of your list when visiting Santa Rosa or Sonoma County with kids. One of the highlights is Mechanical Waterways, a large water table where kids can test scientific concepts by placing plastic balls into a container and watching the water carry them along different pathways and through obstacles.
The Little Russian River is next to the Mechanical Waterways exhibit. Here, kids can splash in the river (or throw rocks in it like mine) while trying to catch and release life-like simulated salmon fish. The Children’s Museum of Sonoma County is an attraction available through the Discover & Go Program with your Sacramento Public Library card.
đź“ŤChildren’s Museum of Sonoma County Address: 1835 W Steele Ln, Santa Rosa, CA 95403
Modesto Children’s Museum — Modesto
Why families love it: Underrated children’s museum in downtown Modesto with modern and engaging features for kids
The Modesto Children’s Museum is an underrated children’s museum near Sacramento. It’s very modern and spacious, with a huge two-story slide in the middle of the museum. It also has an indoor water lab, which is a bit hidden in the museum, but you’ll find it around the corner of the performance stage. The Water Lab exhibit lets kids splash and play inside the museum, which is perfect when it’s too hot outside.
Similar to the Mechanical Waterways exhibit at the Children’s Museum of Sonoma County, kids will get to experiment with water wheels, water flow, and more, except this one is indoors versus outdoors. Check out what to expect at the Modesto Children’s Museum in my Instagram Reel.
đź“ŤModesto Children’s Museum Address: 928 11th Street, Modesto, CA 95354
Bay Area Discovery Museum — Sausalito (Marin County)
Why families love it: One of the best children’s museum in California that overlooks the Golden Gate Bridge and has a wide variety of unique exhibits for kids of all ages
Just over the Golden Gate Bridge in Marin County is one of the best children’s museums in California. It’s an easy day trip from Sacramento, and the perfect spot to escape with kids when it’s too hot. When temperatures are triple digits in Sacramento, you’ll need a jacket for the cool bay breeze at the Bay Area Discovery Museum. Our family loves this museum as it’s packed with engaging exhibits. You’ll need several hours here to explore everything.
Behind the Tot Land exhibit is an outdoor water play area where kids can splash around with rubber frogs and sea creatures in a big, natural-looking water table that begins with a waterfall. Smocks are available for kids to protect them from getting soaked while playing. There are similar natural water play tables in the Lookout Cove area, which has a big boat kids can climb aboard on while overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge. It’s a spectacular children’s museum with unbeatable views and perfect cool weather.
đź“ŤBay Area Discovery Museum Address: 557 McReynolds Rd, Sausalito, CA 94965
Children’s Discovery Museum of San Jose — San Jose
Otherwise known as the “Purple Museum”, this children’s museum in San Jose has an indoor WaterWays exhibit. It’s similar to the indoor one at the Modesto Children’s Museum, but a little bigger. Kids can toss balls into the water exhibit to see how water pressure, gravity, and flow carry the balls through different pathways.
đź“ŤChildren’s Discovery Museum of San Jose Address: 180 Woz Way, San Jose, CA 95110
Top photo courtesy of Gilroy Gardens
