Top 12 Water Parks to Explore in Tennessee

For an unforgettable getaway for yourself or your family, consider Tennessee. The serene, clear waters of pristine lakes alongside picturesque countryside scenery, along with thrilling water attractions, await visitors. Regardless of the season, you will discover a water park that suits your preferences. Some facilities operate seasonally, allowing you to embrace the warmth while enjoying refreshing rides and clear waters, while others are indoor facilities consistently maintain a comfortable climate year-round, ensuring an enjoyable day for all ages.

1. Dollywood’s Splash Country, Great Smoky Mountains

Featuring exhilarating rides andSlides, coupled with refreshing waters and extensive areas for children, Dollywood’s Splash Country is an exceptional destination. For thrill-seekers, the Fire Tower Falls is the park’s tallest and fastest slide, offering high-speed vertical drops. The Butterfly presents an intense experience that is sure to accelerate your heart rate. The Mountain Scream allows you to choose from four massive twisting slides. Speed down the SwiftWater run, where you will be launched into a giant bowl before plummeting into the waters below. Families can appreciate the RiverRush water coaster and the engaging white-water raft rides available at the Raging River Rapids and Big Bear Plunge. Additional offerings include mat racers, a generous children’s area replete with play structures and a large dumping bucket, a 1,500-foot lazy river, a specialized area for toddlers, an activity pool, and a vast wave pool. When the time comes to dry off, a myriad of outdoor activities beckon you at the theme park. The resort also provides excellent accommodations, making it an ideal vacation spot.

2. Nashville Shores Lakeside Resort, Hermitage

Located on the shores of the picturesque Percy Priest Lake, Nashville Shores provides stunning scenery and aquatic fun for families. With over one million gallons of water, the water park serves as an ideal spot for experiencing joy. Remain cool in the substantial waves of the expansive wave pool or leisurely drift down the serpentine lazy river. For those seeking adrenaline, eight thrilling slides are ready to provide excitement throughout the day. Visit Kowabunga Beach, a sprawling water treehouse and playground designed specifically for children. An array of dryland activities awaits at Treetop Adventure Park, where you can elevate your experience with ziplines. The resort features camping sites and cabin rentals available to enhance your holiday experience!

3. Wetlands Water Park, Jonesborough

Prepare to enjoy the cool, clear waters of Wetlands Water Park. For those seeking excitement, the park features three enticing slides: a hundred-foot flume, an eighty-foot enclosed flume, and a thrilling two hundred-foot flume. Younger guests can enjoy the children’s otter slide, a zero-depth entry pool, and an exciting rain tree. If relaxation is your goal, grab a tube and float down the lazy river. The park is equipped with a café and includes a sand volleyball court for extra dryland fun.

4. Wildwater Rafting – Pigeon River, Hartford

While not a traditional water park and certainly not for the faint-hearted, Wildwater Rafting offers an experience that is indispensable when visiting Tennessee. Designed for ages five and up, Wildwater promises an unforgettable adventure as you navigate breathtaking rapids and appreciate the grandeur of nature. Beyond rafting, the facility boasts picnic spots complete with shelters. Engage in volleyball, hiking, climbing, or ziplining, providing diverse and thrilling dryland adventures.

5. Kingsport Aquatic Center, Kingsport

For year-round enjoyment, the Kingsport Aquatic Center is an excellent choice. The facility features an outdoor water park alongside crystal-clear indoor pools. Operating seasonally, the outdoor park offers a delightful experience packed with fun, sun, and relaxation, complete with two expansive slides and a nine-hundred-foot lazy river. Indoor offerings include three heated pools, including an Olympic-sized pool suitable for recreational swimming and fitness classes. Do not miss the Aqua Run Inflatable course!

6. Cumberland Park, Nashville

Nestled along the beautiful Nashville riverfront, the modern Cumberland Park spans six and a half acres and features a captivating water splash area with unique play structures and spraying features, an outdoor amphitheater accommodating up to twelve hundred guests, and a substantial climbing wall. Additionally, The Hollow, an imaginative wave-shaped playground, offers various activities, sand, mazes, seesaws, and an interactive splash pad. Be sure not to overlook the Explorer Trail, a scenic path of crushed stone that showcases the park’s picturesque landscapes, designed to attract butterflies, so maintain a keen lookout.

7. Kirkpatrick Sprayground, Nashville

Operative seasonally, the Kirkpatrick Sprayground promises enjoyment for individuals of all ages. Experience the joy of interactive water features, including spraying jets that ensure a day filled with cooling fun.

8. Westgate Smoky Mountain Resort & Spa, Gatlinburg

For uninterrupted enjoyment regardless of the weather, explore Wild Bear Falls, a vast sixty-thousand-square-foot indoor water park. Drift down the winding lazy river or relax poolside. Experience the thrill of descending massive slides, splash about in the pool, or take advantage of the extensive children’s area featuring an engaging treehouse activity structure. A conveniently located café is available for your dining needs. The resort also offers splendid accommodations along with a spa and fitness center for those who wish to unwind away from the water park.

9. Wave Country- Wave Pool, Nashville

For a day filled with exhilarating splashes, visit Wave Country. The park offers everything you need to stay cool and create lasting memories. The wave pool combines interesting swells with tranquil intervals. For excitement, swirl down one of the park’s five thrilling slides: three flume slides and two speed slides. Young guests can enjoy a dedicated kiddie pool, along with a substantial playground that features interactive water elements. While coolers are permitted, glass containers and alcohol are not allowed, although concessions are available. Additionally, you may bring your own folding chairs or pop-up tents for shade or relaxation in the sun.

10. Patterson Park Indoor Pool, Murfreesboro

Patterson Park Indoor Pool offers an array of activities and slides, ensuring enjoyment for all family members. Experience hours of excitement zooming down the triple-loop water slide. For those interested in swimming, a four-lane lap swimming area is available. The interactive Water Play System is a favorite among children, and even the youngest water enthusiasts will find delight in the zero-depth entry pool. Fitness classes, as well as lap and recreational swims, are also offered at this facility.

11. Collierville Water- Spray Parks, Collierville

Immerse yourself in the wonder of 135 acres filled with playgrounds, lakes, spray parks, and sports fields. Enjoy the picturesque scenery of the park and lakes or cool off at the Water Spray area. All ages will find enjoyment in the extensive offerings of this water park. Stimulating features, including poles and arches, guarantee hours of exciting water play. Enjoy the thrill of running through giant sprinklers while getting drenched in fun. This area is designed for children but is equally enjoyable for adults. Best of all, access to the park is free.

12. Mud Island River Park, Memphis

While not a water park in the conventional sense, Mud Island River Park celebrates water in an engaging manner. Experience the grandeur of the Mississippi River through the features offered at the Mud Island River Park. The park includes a five-block-long Riverwalk model that displays a miniature version of the Mississippi River. Additionally, the Mississippi River Museum exhibits full-size paddle boat models. An amphitheater within the park hosts concerts and performances throughout the year. If you’d like to venture onto the water, canoe or kayak rentals are available, and bike rentals provide a dryland adventure opportunity.