While beaches are often the go-to summer retreat for Southern Californians, they may not always be convenient.
The weather can change from warm to chilly, the sand can follow you all the way home, and if you get there too late, you may be out of luck on parking and finding a decent place to set up on the shore.
Luckily, Southern California has its fair share of water parks where friends and family can find an alternative option to cool off. Water parks may not be as affordable as the beach, but several of them do offer specialty deals after dark, group rates and other discounts that may be worth it if you’re looking for more than the average beach outing.
Plus, if the waves are your favorite part, water parks offer wave pools, along with other attractions like thrilling waterslides, raft rides, lazy rivers and more.
Move over beaches, 2025 is a water park summer.
Here are six water parks in Southern California to check out before the summer ends. Be sure to check each water park’s official website for the most up-to-date information and pricing.
Raging Waters Los Angeles
10 a.m.-6 p.m. 111 Raging Waters Drive, San Dimas. (909) 802-2200. ragingwaters.com.
Raging Waters Los Angeles has 50 water attractions, including speed slides, the Aqua Rocket, California’s only hydromagnetic water coaster, and the new Bombs Away attraction that sends guests flying straight down at 26-feet per second. The all-ages park also features tube and body slides with varying thrill levels, ranging from mild to wild, a 30,000-square-foot water playground, a one-million-gallon wave pool, and a lazy river. While the park doesn’t have an age requirement, many of the rides do have manufacturer height and weight requirements. Raging Waters also offers cabanas for rent and several dining options, including Señor Solis, a Mexican food restaurant that opened earlier this year.
Knott’s Soak City
10 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday through Wednesday and 10 a.m.- 5:30 p.m. Thursday through Sunday. 8200 Beach Blvd., Buena Park. (714) 220-5200. knotts.com.
While Knott’s Berry Farm offers roller coasters and fun times year-round, it also opens its sister water park, Knott’s Soak City, right next door from mid-May through early September. Soak City boasts 23 speed, tube and body slides, including Shore Break featuring six different waterslide experiences and a thrilling family raft ride, The Wedge; the 750,000-gallon Tidal Wave Bay wave pool; a one‑third‑mile lazy Sunset River; and the three‑story Beach House, featuring 200 water guns, nozzles, sprayers and other interactive and family friendly surprises. The water park also offers various cabana options for rent, perfect for those who plan to stay the day and want some time to cool off in the shade after a swim. The 15-acre water adventure park is separately gated and requires a separate admission from Knott’s Berry Farm.
Six Flags Hurricane Harbor
10:30 a.m.-7 p.m. daily. 26101 Magic Mountain Parkway, Valencia. (661) 255-4100. sixflags.com.
For those looking to cool off north of Los Angeles, Hurricane Harbor, adjacent to Six Flags Magic Mountain, offers something for everyone, including water slides, relaxing lazy rivers, and kid-friendly play areas for the little fish. Some of the largest thrill rides at Hurricane Harbor include the 75-foot-high Black Snake Summit, the tallest enclosed water slides in Southern California, which rapidly whip riders around its 500-foot curves and turns. The park also features the iconic Tornado, which shoots out from a raft that seats four from a height of 75 feet down a 132-foot tunnel and a 60-foot-wide funnel that swirls through 5,000 gallons of water, providing a fast and intense ride. Cabanas are also available for rent, and several dining options offer chicken tenders, pizza, burgers, and more.
Wild Rivers Waterpark
10:30 a.m.- 7 p.m. daily. 10000 Great Park Blvd., Irvine. (949) 749-1900. wildrivers.com.
Located in the heart of Irvine at the Great Park, Wild Rivers offers over 20 acres of thrilling water attractions, including the Bora Bora Boomerang, Samoan Serpent, Tiki’s Revenge and more. Some of the park’s core features include four innovative six-person family raft rides, an array of open and enclosed body slides, mat races, bowls, a water coaster, a relaxing lazy river and a wave pool. Wild Rivers also features a play area for younger kids, including kiddie slides and a massive 30-foot play structure with a 500-gallon tipping bucket. Cabanas and dining options include Pacific Grille for casual bites, Mustang Bar and Grill for fresh meals and signature cocktails and Island Sweets for dessert. This park is a great starting point for those who are new to water parks. Wild Rivers is currently running a promotion with admission half off after 3 p.m. and half off parking after 4 p.m.
Castle Park’s Buccaneer Cove
Noon-7 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, noon-10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, noon-9 p.m. Sunday. 3500 Polk St., Riverside. (951) 785-3000. castlepark.com.
Buccaneer Cove, Castle Park’s water playground, features four levels of family fun in the water, including dozens of interactive water elements. The water section at the park features five colorful water slides, aqua domes, spray cannons, loops and cylinder spray fountains. If you’re a parent or chaperone not in the mood to get wet, lounge chairs and seating are available, along with cabanas that can be rented out. Unlike other theme parks, the water park is housed inside Castle Park and does not require a separate admission. Buccaneer Cove is open now through Sept. 14, but only on select dates throughout the week. More information about the water park hours can be found on its website.
DryTown Water Park
11 a.m.- 6 p.m. Daily. 3850-B E Avenue S, Palmdale. (661) 267-6161. drytownwaterpark.com.
DryTown Water Park is the Antelope Valley’s only water park, nestled on six acres in Palmdale. The water park stands out from others due to its charming Old West mining town theme and its location in a desert city where temperatures are reliably warm throughout the summer. The park features a 925-foot lazy river, a 35-foot waterslide tower with three slides, a splashdown pool, and Dusty’s Mineshaft Racer, a four-lane mat racer slide tower for a competitive race to the bottom. DryTown also offers Little Miner’s Camp, a 6,000-square-foot children’s water playground filled with sprayers and mini slides. The park will have select nights for a special ticketed event dubbed Glow Nights, where guests can ride favorites such as Devil’s Punchbowl, Rattler’s Revenge, the Wildcatter or slide down the Big Rock River with light-up LUMA tubes from 7-10 p.m. Cabanas, group tickets and private park rentals are available upon inquiry.
