The Best Water Parks In Las Vegas (Top 5 -Must Visit!) - FeelingVegas (2024)

(This article may contain affiliate links, which means we might earn a small commission if you click and make a purchase. Thank you!)

Las Vegas in the summer…it’s hot…it’s dry, and it’s one of the most perfect spots in the country to visit a water park. However, before you visit, you’ll want to know which Las Vegas water parks are worth your time.

Las Vegas has a ton of amazing pools, and some even have a waterslide or two, but nothing holds a candle to a true Las Vegas water park. These are the five water parks in town I love the most.

Keep reading to find out why I believe these five water parks are the ones you’ll want to check out when you visit Las Vegas.

1. Cowabunga Bay (Top Las Vegas Water Park)

Cowabunga Bay is the best water park in Las Vegas. Only 20 minutes from the Las Vegas Strip, it’s the perfect place for a family daytime outing, a complete vacation, or even an entire summer (with a season pass).

Cowabunga Bay Attractions

The waterpark covers 25 acres and has over a dozen water slides, several separate water attractions, and a few places to grab a bite to eat. They even have a shopping and souvenir store.

Just some of the water slide rides you’ll find at Cowabunga Bay waterpark:

Beach Blanket Banzai – Four riders jump in a raft and race down over 600 feet of exciting twists, turns, and drops. A thrilling slide for the whole family!

Breaker 1-9 – Choose from one of four different slides as you race your way down these high-speed tubes!

Point Panic – Jump on an inner tube and take a thrilling run down this completely enclosed water slide in pitch-black darkness. You’ll never know when the next turn is coming!

Surfing USA – The starting line is over 50 feet high as you line up to race five other riders down the slopes side-by-side.

Wild Surf – This is the one you’re eyes will be glued to as you enter the parking lot! It’s the largest man-made wave in the world. Hop in a four-person raft and ride the wave.

Zuma Zooma – This is definitely one of the most fun and exhilarating rides you’ll find at this water theme park. You basically stand on a trap door that opens unexpectedly and drops you straight down.

There are also some slides for the younger children, plus an entire splash area called Cowabunga Kids Cove.

In addition to the water slides, you’ll find a lazy river as well as one of the biggest wave pools in Nevada.

Cowabunga Bay Park Ticket Prices

General admission at the waterpark for one day starts at around $45, with lower prices depending on the individual’s height and age. Parking is an additional cost and runs about $8. There’s also an option to store your belongings in a secure locker for an extra fee while you enjoy the theme park ($11 – $15 a day).

Note: You can get a reduced rate waterpark ticket if you plan in advance by choosing a specific day to visit.

Cowabunga Bay Water Park Season Pass & Cabanas

If you plan on visiting the water park more frequently, Cowabunga Bay also offers season passes.

A standard season pass is around $100 and will qualify the holder for admission and discounts within the park and includes free parking throughout the summer.

If you want a truly relaxing experience, you can rent a 10 x 10-foot cabana with lounge chairs, a ceiling fan, safe to secure your valuables, and an exclusive cabana pool for the day with a price of around $180 Mondays through Thursdays and about $200+ for weekends and holidays.

Cowabunga Bay Discount Tickets

You can sometimes find discount ticket prices for Cowabunga Bay here on groupon. While not always available, these discounted tickets can sometimes be available for up to as much as 50% off the standard ticket price at the waterpark.

Plan to Arrive Early at This Park

Some recurring criticisms with guests of the water park are the slow wait times for the water slides.

As much fun as I have here, I agree that you can spend a lot of time waiting in slow lines when it gets busy. My advice is to arrive as close to opening time as possible, and then you’ll have an hour or two to slide to your heart’s content before the lines start to get long.

Hotels Near Cowabunga Bay Water Park

If the waterpark is the main attraction of your Vegas, visit you’ll want to know which hotels are near Cowabunga Bay water park. Cowabunga Bay is partnered with several nearby hotels if you wish to stay closer to the park.

Sunset Station is the premier hotel of Henderson and Cowabunga Bay’s official hotel, it’s easy to see why. Sunset Station boasts a casino, bowling alley, movie theater, and restaurants and is only 2 minutes from the water park.

Green Valley Ranch is located just a few miles from both the Las Vegas Strip and Cowabunga Bay, Green Valley Ranch is a great option. Prices vary from very affordable to very luxurious.

Or you can see a complete list of hotels near Cowabunga Bay on Tripadvisor.

Cowabunga Bay Address, Website & Dates of Operation

Park opening and closing times change throughout the season and are based on the weather as well as the local school’s summer schedule but are clearly listed on their website for the season (see below).

• Website: Cowabunga Bay Water Park
• Address: 900 Galleria Dr, Henderson (google maps)
• Distance from the Strip: Approximately 10 miles to Mandalay Bay
• Hours of Operation: Check calendar for hours and dates

2. Cowabunga Canyon (Water Park Las Vegas)

Cowabunga Canyon (formerly Wet n’ Wild Las Vegas) is another one of the best waterparks in Las Vegas, Nevada, and it can be found on the west side of the valley. Located about the same distance from the Strip as Cowabunga Bay, it’s another great option for families and children who want to get the most out of their Vegas vacation.

Cowabunga Canyon Theme Park Attractions

Sporting 8 water slides, a wave pool, a lazy river, and a kid’s area with child-friendly water slides, this is a great place for families with young children.

Some of the best water slides here include:

Boot, Scoot, & Boogie – Rides down this slide are like being in the belly of a snake with more twists and turns than just about any other water slide! A multi-person ride with speeds up to 18 mph.

Dust Bowl – Two riders slide down a fully enclosed tube before dropping into the huge bowl where they get splashed and spun around until they get flushed down a center tube to the splashdown area!

Texas Tornado – Four riders jump in a raft for the 360-foot plunge down through the twists and turns of the rattle. This one’ll shake you up!

Deuce’s Wild – Prepare yourself for a maximum adrenaline rush as you drop straight down the almost vertical tube at speeds that will have your heart in your throat!

Ricochet Racer – Up to 6 riders race down a 360-foot slide that gets things moving fast (over 20 feet every second).

Buckaroo Bay – Choose from 3 different slides as you ride through twists, turns, and enter tubes with different visual effects. Perfect for younger waterpark enthusiasts.

When all that fun has worked up an appetite, there are cafes and food carts scattered around the park. Add in the gift shop, and you’ve got everything you could need for a great time.

Cowabunga Canyon Ticket Prices

One-day water park admission for adults starts at $44.99 but drops down to below $30 after 4:00 pm. Children less than 2 years old get in free. They also have secure lockers for your valuables ranging from $9 – $12 for the day.

In addition to the general admission water park passes that can be used any day you want, there are also passes for specific days. This is where you’ll get discounted tickets by choosing a specific date you want to visit the park. These passes are priced the same for adults and children.

Cowabunga Canyon Season Pass

For people that want to visit throughout the summer, Cowabunga Canyon offers a season pass.

For about $99.99 you can get a season pass which allows for park entry from April to September. The pass is good for both Cowabunga Canyon and Cowabunga Bay.

The season pass will get you entry plus free parking, priority entry between 10:00 and 10:30 am, discounted friend passes, 15% off at all waterpark stores and cafes, occasional freebies, and the chance to win weekly and monthly prizes!

Cowabunga Canyon Las Vegas Discount Tickets

You can check for Cowabunga Canyon discount tickets here on Groupon. Again, these are not always available but are a good deal when they are. Otherwise, head to Cowabunga Canyon to get your tickets ahead of time.

Tips For Cowabunga Canyon Las Vegas, Nevada

The best tip I can give here is that, if it’s possible, plan your visit for a weekday as the weekends can get very busy. Also, arrive as close to opening time as possible to allow you to get off to a fast start before the water park fills up with kids.

Hotels Near Cowabunga Canyon Las Vegas

Hotel accommodations near Cowabunga Canyon include:

Holiday Inn Express & Suites Las Vegas SW Spring Valley. Only a few minutes from the water park and with great reviews, it’s a perfect option to consider.

Best Western Plus Las Vegas West, less than 7 miles from the park. It has great reviews and accommodations for everybody’s needs.

Hampton Inn & Suites Las Vegas-Red Rock/Summerlin is another great option for nearby hotels. Located only 5 miles away from the park, it’s a great, convenient hotel.

Cowabunga Address, Website & Dates of Operation

The water park dates and times of operation can vary from season to season. For the most up-to-date information, see the link below for the Cowabunga Canyon’s calendar.

• Website: Cowabunga Canyon
• Address: 7055 S Fort Apache Rd, Las Vegas (google maps)
• Distance from the Strip: Approximately 10 miles to Mandalay Bay
• Hours of Operation: Check calendar for hours and dates

3. Lake Las Vegas Water Sports (Aqua Park)

Lake Las Vegas Water Sports is an unusual water park on the edge of Lake Las Vegas that’s much different than the previous two waterparks we’ve talked about so far. This waterpark is made up completely of giant inflatables that float on the surface of the lake!

This inflatable aqua park sports an obstacle course, swings, trampolines, slides, and more. You can climb, jump, slide and swim, all without waiting in a bunch of long lines. This is truly fun for the whole family, but you must be at least 11 years of age, and you are required to wear a life jacket at all times, which they provide.

Attractions at Lake Las Vegas Water Sports

For the more adventurous guests, there’s also:

Cable Park – A cable pulls you from one side of the lake to the other for simulated waterskiing, wakeboarding, and tubing. There are even jumps included for the more advanced!

Water Jet Packs – You heard that right! Strap a water-powered Flyboard to your feet and shoot up to 50 feet in the air. You control the whole gizmo with the heel and toe pressure of your feet. Instruction provided. You won’t find this at a typical water park!

Electric E-Foil – You can even take a lesson on an electric E-Foil. If you don’t know what that is, it’s basically a large boogie board type of contraption that’s powered by a lithium battery. As your speed increases, the board lifts out of the water until you’re zooming a couple of feet above the water!

Unlike the other parks on this list, this park focuses a lot on water sports and offers rentals for:

• Kayaks
• Paddleboards
• Pedal Boats
• and more

There are even rentals of electric boats for cruising the lake and a giant yacht you can rent for special events and occasions like weddings, bachelor & bachelorette parties, sporting event viewing parties, birthdays, you name it.

On top of all that, they host what they call the Neon Paddle once every two weeks at night, where paddleboards and canoes are all lit up in neon lights and fill the lake after dark.

Lake Las Vegas Water Sports Prices

Most activity pricing is done in 1 to 2-hour intervals, and many activities start at less than $30.

• Aqua Park: $27 for 45 min | $37 for 90 minutes
• Kayak Rentals: $28 for 2 hours (single seat kayak) | $55 for 2 hours (tandem-seat kayak)
• Paddleboards: $28 for 2 hours
• Electric Boat: $149+ for 2 hour
• Cable Park: $15+ for 20 minutes
• Flyboard Experience: $79+ for 25 minutes
• Yacht Rental: Inquire about pricing

Season passes are available for certain activities such as kayak/paddle boarding, which starts at around $199, about $150 for the aqua park all season, and the electric boat rental at just about $1,700. Each membership comes with a discount for special events and all gear required for the activity.

Hotels at Lake Las Vegas

After enjoying a fun day at Lake Las Vegas Water Sports, you won’t have to look far for a place to relax. With a small grocery store and several excellent restaurants within walking distance, you have everything you could need right there. If you’d like to stay for longer, there are some excellent hotels nearby as well.

Hilton Lake Las Vegas & Spa is located less than a mile from the park. A gorgeous property located right on the lake, it’s an excellent 4-star hotel.

The Westin Lake Las Vegas Resort & Spa is another great choice. Located on the opposite side of the small lake, it’s got the convenience you need and the four-star resort rating you want.

A little further away from the others but just as good is Best Western Plus Henderson Hotel. Super friendly staff, great breakfasts, and they allow dogs. An excellent choice for anyone’s vacation.

Lake Las Vegas Water Sports Address, Website & Dates of Operation

Las Vegas Water Sports operates year-round, but many of the activities are seasonal. Check the calendar link below for dates and hours of operation.

• Website: Lake Las Vegas Water Sports
• Address: 20 Costa Di Lago, Henderson (google maps)
• Distance from the Strip: Approximately 23 miles to Mandalay Bay
• Hours of Operation: Check calendar for availability

4. Mandalay Bay Beach

There is another spot in Las Vegas that is worth mentioning if you love a good water park. It’s called Mandalay Bay Beach. While this isn’t a classic “water park” with water slides, there are still plenty of fun water activities to be had here.

Mandalay Bay Beach is an aqua playground full of pools and sandy beaches. Highlights of this 11-acre park are the lazy river and the 1.6 million gallon wave pool! It’s also the only place in Las Vegas where you can stick your toes in the sand (yes, actual sand!)

Mandalay Bay Beach is found at the Mandalay Resort and Casino, and the entire water park pool deck is available to guests staying at the hotel at no additional cost (it’s covered in the hotel’s resort fee). Non-guests of the hotel can enjoy the pool deck as well by renting a lounge chair, daybed, or cabana, but guests of the hotel always have first dibs.

• Website: Mandalay Bay Beach
• Address: 3950 S Las Vegas Blvd (google maps)
• Distance from the Strip: Located on the Las Vegas Strip
• Rentals: Lounge chairs, daybeds, and cabanas

RECOMMENDED: 9 Best Las Vegas Hotels with Waterslides (Waterparks!)

5. The Tank at Golden Nugget

While The Tank at the Golden Nugget Casino just has a single water slide, it’s simply one of the best waterslides in Las Vegas and shouldn’t be missed if you’re a true fan of waterparks!

The Tank is a $30 million dollar pool complex that incorporates all the features of a really nice Las Vegas resort pool, including lounge chairs, private cabanas, fully stocked bars, and food, all set in a beautiful luxury environment. The Tank, however, has one thing that the other resort pools don’t, a 200,000-gallon aquarium in the middle of the pool filled with live sharks!

You can swim right up to the side of the tank and watch the sharks swim from very close-up, and if that’s not cool enough, you can jump on a clear tubed waterslide that goes right down through the middle of the tank! Riding a water slide through the center of a shark tank is something you absolutely have to check off on your waterpark “bucket list.”

If you’re not a current guest of the hotel, it’ll cost you around $25 to get in for the day.

• Website: The Tank
• Address: 129 E Fremont St, Las Vegas (google maps)
• Distance from the Strip: About 3 miles from The Strat on the northern end of the Strip

Final Thoughts About Best Las Vegas Water Parks

Overall, Las Vegas has a lot to offer to anyone looking to have an adventure, and each of these water parks in Las Vegas will guarantee you a thrilling time.

Which one of them is the best waterpark in Las Vegas depends on who you ask. Some people want more thrills and slides, others want more pools, and some just want to go for a relaxing kayak ride. Regardless of your waterpark preferences, one of these water parks in Las Vegas, Nevada, is sure to fit the bill.