15 Best Outdoor Waterparks in Minnesota for Summer Fun (2023)
Are you ready to have some fun this summer by visiting the best outdoor waterparks in Minnesota?
From thrilling water slides to lazy rivers, these waterparks are the perfect destination to beat the heat and make a splash with friends and family.
Whether you’re a thrill-seeker who loves waterslides, or a sun-seeker in search of a relaxing day by the pool, Minnesota’s waterparks have something for everyone.
All of them are outdoors, so you can soak up the warm summer sun as you have a blast playing on all of the slides and in the activity pools!
Even though I’m not a kid anymore, I love waterparks and always get such a thrill going some slides, and love floating down the lazy river.
If you’re anything like me, grab your sunscreen, throw on your swimsuit, and get ready to visit some of these great waterparks for a fun-filled summer.
Outdoor Waterparks in Minnesota
If you’re looking for the best places to get out and splash around or cool off this summer, look no further! Here are the best places to go!
1. Soak City- Shakopee
Open Season: May-August
Admission: $34.99/person (includes access to Valleyfair)
Directions
If you’re on the hunt for a day filled with fun out in the sun, look no further than Soak City in Shakopee, as you’ll get a two-for-one! (Totally didn’t mean to make that rhyme!)
Located within the Valleyfair amusement park, this water park offers a wide range of attractions that bring fun to visitors of all ages.
Spend part of the day out in the Valleyfair theme park, riding roller coasters, eating fair food, and playing fun carnival games.
Then, head into Soak City for some wet and wild fun!
You’ll find everything from the Breakers Bay Wave Pool to the Breakers Pipeline waterslide. Little ones can hang out at the Splash Station, and those who want to relax can float down Ripple Rapids.
Grab a bite to eat at one of the many dining options scattered around the park, and of course, you couldn’t have a pool day without an ice cream cone!
There are also cabanas available to rent, so you can take your relaxation to the next level, while you enjoy the day at Soak City.
2. Kamp Dels – Waterville
Open Season: Memorial Day-Labor Day
Admission: $18/person
Directions
If your family loves to camp, but you’re also looking for somewhere to let the kids splash around, plan a visit to Kamp Dels in Waterville!
This epic Minnesota campground features more than just your typical campsites, but also has an awesome outdoor waterpark to enjoy!
From winding waterslides to a climbing wall where you drop into the pool, to a kiddie area with dump buckets, Kamp Dels is calling your name!
There are also water basketball hoops, a volleyball net, and over 38,000 square feet of the pool to explore!
While you might spend most of your time at the pool, you can also check out the water toys on Lake Sakatah, visit with farm animals at the petting zoo, or play a quick round of mini golf.
And whether you bring your own camper or tent or you can rent a cabin, you’ll have an entire weekend packed with summer fun!
3. Bunker Beach – Coon Rapids
Open Season: June-August
Admission: $19/person
Directions
Just a short 30-minute drive from Minneapolis will bring you to the largest outdoor waterpark in Minnesota!
Splash around in their main pool, or float down the lazy river as you relax on an intertube.
You’ll feel like you’re in the ocean as you catch the waves at the wave pool, and kids will love the Adventure Pool, which has a max depth of 2 feet and perfect slides for the littles.
Older kids and adults will have a blast flying down the winding slides and plunge pool, as well as Splash Cove, which has two tube slides.
If you’re in need of a relaxing day in the sun, the lounge chairs that surround the pools will be perfect for that! And when hunger calls, grab a bite to eat at the concessions.
4. Wild Mountain Waterpark – Taylors Falls
Open Season: May-September
Admission: $39/person (includes access to all attractions)
Directions
Wild Mountain Waterpark isn’t just for fun in the summer, but you’ll find it here year-round, with its great ski resort and epic hiking trails!
But when the sun is out, it’s time to play at the waterpark!
Avalanche Alley within Wild Mountain is home to four fun waterslides, three of which are tube slides, and one of which is a body slide.
You can also enjoy the lazy river, 350-gallon dumping bucket, and more wet-and-wild fun to be had!
If you’re ready to take a break from the water for a bit, take a thrilling ride down the alpine slide, or zip around the Go-Kart course at the Tall Timbers Raceway.
Taylors Falls is also home to a beautiful state park, where you can find great hiking, views, and rides on the river boat along the St. Croix River.
5. North Commons Waterpark – Minneapolis
Open Season: May-August
Admission: $5/adults; Free under 18
Directions
If you’re looking for an inexpensive place to bring the kiddos to splash around this summer, plan a visit to North Commons Waterpark in Minneapolis.
Located within North Commons Park, this waterpark gives the perfect opportunity for time spent outside!
It features a wading pool, a few small slides, and a nice area for kids to play and splash around.
The main pool area has dumping buckets, small slides, and water features, and is shallow enough for even the little ones to play!
Plus, the cost to visit is very affordable, so you don’t have to worry about putting out too much money to spend the day at North Commons Waterpark!
6. Sand Venture Aquatic Park – Shakopee
Open Season: June-August
Admission: $7/over 48″; $5/under 48″
Directions
This unique pool really brings together the love that Minnesota has for its lakes, along with the fun and adventure of an outdoor waterpark!
With a dang beach that leads into the sand-bottomed pool, you can experience what it’s like to swim in the lakes without having to worry about rocks or fish.
Along with the large activity pool, you’ll also find a 300-foot waterslide to fly down, two more drop slides, and a diving board.
Everyone from young to old will love spending the day here, whether it be for relaxing or adventure in the water!
And because there’s a sandy beach right near the pool, kiddos can have fun building sand castles and acting like they’re on the beach!
Found right in Shakopee, planning a visit to Sand Venture Aquatic Park is a perfect way to spend your summer day!
7. Cascade Bay – Eagan
Open Season: June-August
Admission: $13/over 42″; $11/under 42″
Directions
If you’re looking for a water park that’s both fun and relaxing, Cascade Bay in Eagan, MN is the perfect destination!
With its laid-back atmosphere, this water park is the ultimate oasis for those looking to escape the hustle and bustle of city life, without having to drive too far!
Cascade Bay is located in Eagan, which is just a 25-minute drive south of Minneapolis!
It features a giant leisure pool which is great for just wading around in, as well as a large lazy river that winds its way through the entire park.
If you’re looking for a thrill, check out the 7 different waterslides, including body and tube slides, so there’s something for everyone!
Kiddos will love playing in the zero-depth entry pool, and digging in Sandpiper Beach, which gives them the chance to pretend they’re at the beach in the sandpit.
And when you need a break from all the action, you can kick back in one of Cascade Bay’s many lounge chairs and enjoy the beautiful summer sunshine!
8. Waseca Waterpark – Waseca
Open Season: June-August
Admission: $6/person
Directions
Just an hour west of Rochester in Waseca, you’ll find the Waseca Waterpark, which is perfect for a summer day of fun!
Enjoy splashing around in the zero-depth entry pool, or head on over to the deep end, where you’ll find a diving board to jump into the water from!
Have a thrilling ride down the two different waterslides, one of which is a body slide and the other a tube slide.
Kiddos will have fun wandering around underneath the sprays and large, colorful umbrellas that are scattered around the pool area.
There are also two large grassy areas, which are perfect for laying out your towel and soaking up some of that warm sun before it’s gone!
9. Battle Creek Waterworks – Battle Creek
Open Season: June-August
Admission: $7/person
Directions
Beat the summer heat with a day spent at Battle Creek Waterpark, another great outdoor waterpark in Minnesota!
It’s located in Battle Creek, which is just a short 20-minute drive from Minneapolis and St. Paul.
While adults are definitely welcome here too, this small waterpark is best for kiddos, as the structures are all a bit smaller!
Little ones will love splashing around in the zero-depth entry pool, which has shallow water and tons of spraying features.
There are also small slides for kids to go down, and water dumping on them from above.
Older kids and adults will enjoy the three-story waterslide, as well as the relaxing chairs and sunbathing deck to soak up that warm summer sun!
And kids can pretend that they’re at the real beach with the nice sand play area!
10. River Springs Waterpark – Owatonna
Open Season: June-August
Admission: $7.50/over 48″; $5.50 under 48′
Directions
A day spent at River Springs Waterpark in Owatonna is a day well spent!
With its thrilling water slides, lazy river, and climbing wall, you can let all of the stresses of everyday life slip away and feel like a kid again.
Wade around in the large activity pool, or take a ride down the thrilling waterslides, whether it be on a tube or on the body slide.
Something unique found here is the climbing wall, which you can try your best to scale, and then drop back into the cool water.
The lily pad walk allows you to walk across the water, and the lazy river is perfect for relaxing in and soaking up the sun.
If you’re ready to relax for a while, hangout on the lounge chairs that surround the entire pool area.
11. Hastings Family Aquatic Center – Hastings
Open Season: June-August
Admission: $9/over 42″; $7/under 42″
Directions
This Minnesota waterpark has everything that you could hope for to spend an entire day out in the sun, splashing around!
With a large slide for the big kids, a small play area for the little ones, and a wading pool for people of all ages to enjoy, you simply couldn’t ask for more!
The Hastings Family Aquatic Center is great, whether you’re hoping to sit back and watch the kids splash and play while you soak up the sun, or you want to get in on the fun too!
A log water crossing and rock wall also add to the fun that will be had here!
There are also many umbrellas scattered around the park area, so you can sit at the table and take a break from the fun if needed.
12. Como Regional Park Pool – St. Paul
Open Season: June-Labor Day
Admission: $7/person
Directions
If you’re looking for a way to spend the day, or perhaps even the entire weekend in the Twin Cities, then visit the Como area in St. Paul
With the Como Regional Park Pool, Como Zoo, and Como Town Amusement Park all in one place, it’s a dream come true!
Spend time at the Como Regional Park Pool, splashing around and enjoying the large lazy river, diving boards, climbing walls, and more.
There’s also an aquatic zip line, which is pretty unique from all of these other great waterparks!
A few waterslides make it easy for thrill-seekers to have a great day here, and for those who just want to swim, can hang out in the large pool area.
A basketball hoop can help involve everyone and get a game of water basketball going!
Relax under the sun shelters and umbrellas when you’re ready for a break, and just enjoy the warm, Minnesota summer sun.
13. Andrews Park Splash Pad – Champlin
Open Season: Memorial Day-Labor Day
Admission: Free
Directions
While not technically a waterpark, the Andrews Park Splash Pad makes for a great little spot to bring the kiddos to cool down in the summer.
It’s free of charge, so no need to spend any money to have a little fun in the summer!
There are multiple spray features that will help cool little ones off and give them a fun place to run around and get out some energy!
You’ll even find a few picnic tables with shade nearby so you can pack a lunch and enjoy the day spent out in the sun.
14. Glencoe Aquatic Center – Glencoe
Open Season: June-August
Admission: $6/person
Directions
Just an hour west of Minneapolis is the Glencoe Aquatic Center, which is a nice place to escape the crowds of other Minneapolis waterparks!
It’s found within Oak Leaf Park, and features some of the top attractions that you’d want to have in a waterpark.
From the 150-foot flume slide to the diving board and the zero-depth entry pool, people of all ages will have a blast at the Glencoe Aquatic Center!
You’ll also find a small kids area with spray features and a dumping bucket so even the little ones can have fun!
There are lounge chairs located around the pool area, so when you’re ready for a break, you can sit back and relax.
15. Jim Lupient Waterpark – Minneapolis
Open Season: May-August
Admission: $5 over 42″; $3 under 42″
Directions
Another great outdoor waterpark in Minneapolis is the Jim Lupient Waterpark, which is run by the Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Board.
It’s a smaller park, but costs just a few dollars per person to visit, so it’s well worth it if you’re looking for an affordable place to visit!
You’ll get to have fun on 3 different waterslides, one of which is a tube slide, as well as other great features in the pools!
Little ones will love the zero-depth entry pool with interactive spray toys like a dump bucket and fun fish-themed structures.
One of the top hits at the park is the climbing ropes, where you can nearly walk on water as you climb across the ropes course!
Jim Lupient Waterpark also features swim lessons, so if your kids are just getting into the water, this is a nice place for them to learn!
FAQs
Bunker Beach is the largest outdoor waterpark in the state, and Great Wolf Lodge is the largest indoor waterpark in the state.
Noah’s Ark is the largest outdoor waterpark in America. This park is located in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin, which is actually just 3 hours from Minneapolis!
Yes, Minnesota has plenty of waterparks, whether you’re looking for an outdoor or indoor one, there are many to explore. A few of the best are Bunker Beach, Great Wolf Lodge, and Soak City.
In Minnesota, the most popular waterpark is Bunker Beach in Coon Rapids. Around the U.S., Disney World has two waterparks (Typhoon Lagoon & Blizzard Beach) that are very popular. Wisconsin Dells also has multiple parks (Noah’s Ark, Kalahari, Mt. Olympus, etc.) that visitors love!
Perhaps some of the best outdoor waterparks in the US are found in Florida. From Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach, to Universal Studio’s Volcano Bay, Florida has lots of great waterparks to enjoy.
Along with outdoor parks, there are also great indoor waterparks. Some of the best include Great Wolf Lodge, Paul Bunyan Water Park, Three Bears Lodge Waterpark, and the Venetian Waterpark at the Holiday Inn (one of the best Twin Cities hotels with waterslides!).
Wrap-Up: Outdoor Waterparks in Minnesota
Whether you’re looking for a fun family outing or a day of thrills with friends, these waterparks have it all.
From towering slides and wave pools to lazy rivers and kiddie areas, there’s something for everyone of all ages.
So get outside, slather on that sunscreen, and enjoy all of these epic outdoor waterparks in Minnesota this summer!
