It’s summertime in Texas, and you know what that means: It’s hot, hot, HOT! Growing up, one of my favorite summer pastimes was escaping to one of the refreshing, water-based attractions in the Dallas-Fort Worth area to cool off. It didn’t matter if it was a lake, a pool, a waterpark, or even a backyard sprinkler—if it involved cold water and swimsuits, I was in!
Now that I’m a mom of three young kids, you can bet this tradition has carried on. Except now, there are many more water-based attractions in the Dallas-Fort Worth area to splash around in and actually enjoy the 100-degree weather. You don’t have to plan a full-fledged Texas beach vacation to feel like you’ve escaped to paradise; instead, you can find enough fun right here at home.
From splash pads to water parks, local pools to human-made beaches, there is something for everyone—and every age group—to soak up the summer. The only way to make the Texas heat somewhat bearable is to spend as much time in the water as possible. Here are a few places to get you started.
Splash pads and spray grounds
Splash Factory
Location: 601 East Grand Prairie Road, Grand Prairie
Hours: Open daily
Admission: $2 per person
Want the convenience of a splash pad with the extra amenities of a water park? Take your kids to Splash Factory, an interactive splash pad with a water wall, ground sprays, spray cannons, and play structures to explore.
Perks include restrooms, plenty of shady areas, and water fountains, so you’ll be able to stay for as long as your kids want. One local on Yelp praised this spray ground, writing, “We got absolutely soaked and the kids had a blast.”
Oak Hills Splash Park
Location: 1225 Royal Palm Lane, Carrollton
Hours: Open daily through September 30
Admission: Free
If your kids get bored easily by traditional splash pads with just a few sprayers, take them to the Oak Hills Splash Park instead. In addition to playing in the water, kids can zip down the two slides while getting sprayed or bring their floating toys to the unique water channel area, which resembles a built-in water table.
The spray ground is located near a playground, basketball court, and a sand volleyball court, so kids can find even more ways to keep themselves entertained. Restrooms are also available on site for added convenience. “One of the best Splash Parks in the area!” one happy parent wrote on Yelp, adding that they “like this park because it offers a variety of fun.”
Windhaven Meadows Park
Location: 5400 Windhaven Parkway, Plano
Hours: Open daily through October 25
Admission: Free
Everyone knows summer weather lasts well into September and October, which is why the splash pad at Windhaven Meadows Park is open for so long. There are 1,800 square feet of water features spread out over three sections.
When not playing in the water, kids can relax in the shade of the trees or shade structures to recharge and use the restrooms. It’s right by Liberty Playground, a 20,000-square-foot accessible playground, making this spray ground even more fun.
Public pools
Marine Park Pool & Aquatic Center
Location: 303 North West 20th Street, Fort Worth
Hours: Tuesday-Sunday through August 9; additional weekend hours through Labor Day
Admission: $6 adults; $5 children ages 17 and under
At the Marine Park Pool & Aquatic Center, you can swim in the beach entry pool or play on an interactive water playground, complete with water cannons and a tipping bucket. There is also a water slide, plus lots of seating and shade.
One of the coolest parts is the Spanish-style bathhouse, including restrooms, changing areas, lockers, and vending machines. This area provides both privacy and an out-of-the-sun spot to refresh and refuel before going swimming again.
The Texas Pool
Location: 901 Springbrook Drive, Plano
Hours: Open Tuesday-Sunday through August 9; additional weekend hours through Labor Day
Admission: $10 per person; infants under 2 swim free
The Texas Pool is one of the most uniquely-shaped pools you’ll swim in—it looks exactly like the Lone Star State, and it’s also listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Of course, this makes it a truly legendary place to go this summer.
Jump, slide, or dive into the refreshing saltwater pool; little ones will love the shallow wading area located in “South Texas,” while adults can get competitive playing water volleyball with a net set up between “Houston” and “DFW.”
Tons of events take place at The Texas Pool throughout the summer, including mermaid swims, a Christmas in July party, yoga by the pool, and more. Locals love it here. “This is truly a gem in the neighborhood and has always been the highlight of our summers together as a family,” one person wrote on Yelp.
Water Parks
Hawaiian Waters The Colony
Location: 4400 Paige Road, The Colony
Hours: Open daily through August 9; additional weekend hours through September 20
Admission: $34.99 per person; $24.99 for kids under 48 inches; children 2 and under are free
You will never get bored after visiting Hawaiian Waters (formerly Hawaiian Falls). Some of the best attractions include the Bonsai Pipeline, a fast-paced water slide on a two-person tube; the Hawaiian Halfpipe, which features a 40-foot drop on an inner tube; and the Pineapple Plunge body slide, which feels like free fall.
Younger kids will love the interactive Keiki Kove, full of slides for younger kids, water buckets, geysers, and dumping buckets. There is also a wave pool, a lazy river, a water basketball area, and more attractions that the whole family will enjoy. Special events like foam parties, adults-only nights, and dog-friendly days happen throughout the summer, so you’ll want to come back again and again.
Surf & Swim
Location: 440 West Oates Road, Garland
Hours: Open daily through August 9; additional weekend hours through September 7
Admission: $17 for non-residents ages 13 and up; $14 for kids ages 2-12; kids under 2 are free
Surf & Swim in Garland officially re-opened in 2026 after a complete re-imagining, and oh boy, is it cool now. There are three incredible water slides, a place to practice surfing on generated waves, a relaxing lazy river, and more exciting attractions—older kids will go wild for the spinning vortex ride, and younger ones will love the water play structure and dedicated small pool.
Bahama Beach Waterpark
Location: 1895 Campfire Circle, Dallas
Hours: Open Tuesday-Sunday through August 16; additional weekend hours through Labor Day
Admission: $18 per person; $13 for kids under 48 inches; age 2 and under are free
Live up the island paradise life at Bahama Beach Waterpark, where there is something for every age group. It’s packed with 45-foot waterslides, two zero-depth beach-entry pools, a lazy river, a rushing boomerang-style slide, an exciting interactive water rain fortress, and a dedicated splash pad for toddlers, among other attractions.
You could also spend the majority of your day relaxing in the Lagoon, with waterfalls, shade, seating, and a depth of no more than 3 feet. Sounds perfect, doesn’t it?
Frog Pond Water Park
Location: 14032 Heartside Place, Farmers Branch
Hours: Open daily through August 9; additional weekend hours through Labor Day
Admission: $10 for non-residents; free for kids ages 2 and under
Frog Pond Water Park is ideal for families with younger kids, especially because the four water slides in the activity pool are open to kids who are at least 36 inches tall, so they never have to feel like they are missing out. Plus, families can ride on provided inner tubes along the lazy river, swim in the lagoon pool, and check out the 30-foot slide tower (must be 40 inches).
One local on Yelp praised this water park, writing, “Great for kids of all ages but primarily under 9. Felt the atmosphere was safe and fun.”
Human-made beaches
Burgers Lake
Location: 1200 Meandering Road, Fort Worth
Hours: Open daily through August 9; additional weekend hours through Labor Day
Admission: Starting at $20
Instead of driving down to Galveston for a beach vacation, head to Burgers Lake instead. This refreshing area features sandy beaches by the spring-fed water, diving boards, slides, a 25-foot trapeze, and other activities that will make lake swimming your favorite way to spend a summer afternoon.
There are charcoal grills for cooking your own food, plus a snack bar with delicious treats if you don’t feel like making anything yourself. A kids’ splash pad makes it fun for younger kids as well!. This is the oldest waterpark in Texas, with attractions dating back to 1929, and it’s still a fan-favorite today.
The Beach at Little Elm Park
Location: 701 West Eldorado Parkway, Little Elm
Hours: Open daily through Labor Day
Admission: $10 per vehicle on weekends
Sun, sand, and swimming are what you’ll get at Little Elm Beach, a low-key beach inside Little Elm Park. Challenge friends to beach volleyball, or rent an excursion to go waterskiing, tubing, wakeboarding, and boating on Lake Lewisville. You can swim with the kids or spend hours crafting sandcastles.
It’s everything you like about a beach vacay—just much closer to home.
This article first appeared on Good Info News Wire and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.
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