Here are the best water parks in Indianapolis and around Indiana
Knowing which water and splash parks are open in Indianapolis can be challenging. Lifeguard shortages have closed some Indianapolis pools. But there are several open, and almost all the neat little splash pads—where small kids can run around in fountains—are open in smaller pocket parks across Indy.
There are also larger aquatic center facilities like Holiday World that are a lot of fun in the summer.
Indy Parks indoor water park and aquatic centers
Indy Parks has six indoor pools and about fifteen outdoor pools or swimming options, such as Eagle Creek Park's beachhead. Pools are usually open Wednesday-Sunday, 11 am-2 pm and 3-6 pm (they close an hour for cleaning and maintenance). Almost all Indy Parks water parks are open from Memorial Day to Labor Day weekend.
As of July 2022, the pools noted below are open. The rest are either closed because of maintenance or staffing.
Indoor pools
Forest Manor Middle School - Open this summer
Indy Island at Raymond Park
Krannert Park Aquatic Center
LaShonna Bates Aquatic Center
Thatcher Park - Open this summer
Washington Community School Pool - Open this summer
Outdoor pools
Bethel Park - Open this summer
Broad Ripple Park - Open this summer
Brookside Park
Douglass Park - Open this summer
Dr. MLK Jr. Park
Eagle Creek Park beach
Ellenberger Park - Open this summer
Garfield Park - Open this summer
Gustafson Park
Northwestway Park - Open this summer
Perry Park - Open this summer
Rhodius Park
Riverside Park - Open this summer
Sahm Park
Wes Montgomery Park
Willard Park - Open this summer
Indy Parks also maintains a list of over 20 splash pads, including Dan Wakefield Park at 6051 N. Broadway, Holliday Park at 6363 Spring Mill Dr., and Municipal Gardens at 1831 N. Lafayette Road. For a complete list, visit Indy Park's website. Most splash pads are open every day from 8:00 am-8:00 pm.
My go-to favorite in the neighborhood is Broad Ripple Park
1550 Broad Ripple Ave.
Broad Ripple Park—which is undergoing some nice upgrades—features a family center, outdoor pool, a playground, shelters, basketball courts, tennis courts, a dog park, and some wooded areas worth exploring as a neat nature hike. Free parking is available around the park.
Northwestway Park is well worth a visit
5253 West 62nd Street
There's a 135,000-gallon aquatic center in Pike Township with a water slide, a splash pad, playground, picnic tables and shelters, and lots of trails to explore on over a hundred acres. There are also soccer, disc golf, and basketball courts. Unlike many pools and aquatic centers, there's free parking here, too.
Irsay and Jordan YMCA pools
The YMCA operates two big lap pools and kiddie pool centers worth your time. The Irsay Family YMCA Downtown has a kiddie pool with a big bucket that drops gallons of water on unsuspecting waders. Their lap pool is a great way to exercise indoors, but requires a reservation and is best for teens and adults. There's also a zero-depth activity pool for lessons that gets deeper and doubles as a leisure pool for beginners and young kids. A nearby sauna and hot tub are relaxing for adults, too.
The Jordan YMCA at 8400 Westfield Blvd. has an indoor pool, an outdoor pool with a splash pad, a zero-depth entry outdoor baby pool, and the usual collection of fitness machines and free weights you'd expect at a YMCA.
More water parks in Indiana worth the drive
In order of relative distance to Indianapolis, there are many other great water parks well worth checking out.
The Waterpark in Carmel
1235 Central Park Drive East, Carmel
Perhaps one of the most impressive for a public park, Carmel's Waterpark features a lazy river, a kiddie pool, and adventure slides. Admission is $15 ($13 for Carmel residents). Located near the Monon Community Center, there is a to do around the park, including a skatepark and biking on the Monon.
Make a day of it by biking up the Monon to get there.
Murphy Aquatic Park in Avon
753 South County Road 625 E, Avon
Murphy Aquatic Park should get more credit for being such a wonderfully accessible pool. Thanks to an anonymous donor, there are wheelchairs and other accessibility features throughout the park. You'll also find a zero-depth entry pool, water basketball, a concession stand on site, cabanas, and a wave pool.
Check their website for details on sensory-friendly swim hours on Tuesday mornings.
Splash Island in Plainfield
651 Vestal Road, Plainfield
Complete with a water basketball court, children's play area, a winding river, and a surprisingly challenging wave pool. Splash Island is a fun Indy-area water park you should visit at least once this summer.
More on area recreation and hours at https://www.splashislandplainfield.com.
Seashore Waterpark in Lebanon
Seashore in Lebanon has a lot for young kids. There's a water slide, zero entry pool, wave pools, plunge slides, and a water play structure (it can't be called a playground if it's on water, can it?)
More on pool passes at https://www.seashorewaterpark.org
Freedom Springs in Greenwood
Open every day of the week, there's a 25-meter lap pool, drop slide, a popular "Lily pad crossing", and a play area for infants and toddlers. You can also get swimming lessons, water aerobics, and other classes for the kids or the whole family. Concessions are available on-site, too.
Adults should check out their adult-only nights. The season ends with a Puppy POOLoza where your dog can jump in and splash around before they drain the pool for the winter.
More at Greenwood's city website
Splash House in Marion
Ninety minutes north on I-69 and you're in Grant County, where for $8 an adult can get access to a surprisingly huge public water park.
Wave slides, a concession stand, a kid's play zone, a lazy river, waterslides, and 30,000 square feet of deck space are a little like being at the ocean. Or at least as close to the ocean as Hoosiers sometimes get. Truly one of the most incredible water parks in Indiana.
More on Splash House at Grant County's tourism website.
The biggest and best water parks in Indiana
There are two Indiana institutions and one that doesn't get nearly enough credit.
Indiana Beach
Parents of a particular generation will immediately hear, "There's more than corn in Indiana" in the back of their heads. Indiana Beach has been around since 1926 and has been many things to many people, but it's always been home to a neat collection of coasters, rides, and aquatic fun.
The Big Flush coaster, lazy river, and huge pool are the cornerstones of this water park. Games and land-based rides are available, too.
More at https://indianabeach.com
Holiday World and Splashin Safari
Billed as America's first theme park, Holiday World and Splashin Safari in Santa Claus is a three-hour drive from Indy. You even cross the central timezone to get there, but it's a lot of fun. There you’ll find some of the wildest water slides, amazing wooden (and steel) roller coasters, a deep river waterpark, and shockingly tall diving boards. For most native Hoosiers, a trip to Holiday World is a core memory. Big Splash Adventure and other park features are great for kids and teens. Plus, free sunscreen and free soft drinks!
More at https://www.holidayworld.com
The beach at Indiana Dunes National Park
Indiana Dunes consists of fifteen miles of shoreline along south Lake Michigan, plus thousands more acres inland. Indiana Dunes was declared a National Park, complete with service from the U.S. National Park Service, in 2019.
There are fifty miles of trails and educational opportunities to learn about wetlands and marshes around the park. As water fun goes, nature has provided us with the ultimate water park.
But the real beauty of Indiana Dunes is the rolling dunes it gets its name for. At one point, the highest point in Indiana was a large dune known locally as the "Hoosier Slide" because it was so fun to sled down in the winter (not to mention dangerous).
Indiana residents should check the nation’s 62nd National Park out along with the camping, hiking, and salt-free sunbathing and swimming it has to offer.
