Devon BrooksWhen the summer heat begins to settle in or you realize on a random Tuesday that it’s time again for a family outing, does the idea of going to a water park come to mind? If not, then it should be!
With exciting slides, wave pools, lazy rivers, and kid-friendly areas, you’d want to bring the family here to cool off and enjoy the summer or simply indulge your love for water attractions. No need to pack food, either, as most of these parks have nearby restaurants!
Now, these are the best water parks in and around Columbus that the kids (and kids at heart) surely can’t wait to step foot in. You might want to dig up your swimwear, replenish your sunscreen, and get your water shoes ready after reading this!
1. Scioto Mile Fountain
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Website: https://www.sciotomile.com/locations/scioto-mile-fountain/
Address: Bicentennial Park, 233 Civic Center Drive
Contact details: +1 614 645 3800
Operating hours: Monday to Sunday – 11 AM – 7 PM
Located at Bicentennial Park right in Columbus, the Scioto Mile Fountain is open daily, year-round—for free! Water and light shows are especially eye-catching at night, and nearby parking meters and garages make it easy to leave your car close while you explore.
Scioto Mile’s water features are interactive, meaning you and your kids can splash around as jets of water shoot 75 feet into the air. With 1,079 ground-level spray nozzles forming 24 hedgerows, it’s no surprise CNN named it one of the 15 best fountains in the world in 2014.
It may not have the usual slides or lazy rivers most water parks have, but its five stainless-steel halo structures with 1,100 fog nozzles more than make up for it. Add to that its underground reservoir, holding 110,000 gallons of water.
Pro tips:
To ensure a safe and enjoyable experience at the Scioto Mile Fountain, consider the following tips:
- Plan for breaks: The fountain pauses for 10 minutes at the end of each hour and resumes at the top of the next hour. Use this time to rest, hydrate, or visit the restroom.
- Prepare for sensory experiences: Be aware that the fountain features loud jets and accompanying music. This might be intense for those with sensory sensitivities.
- Establish a meeting point: In case anyone gets separated from the group, set a designated meeting spot. Or instruct children beforehand to find a security guard in a yellow polo for assistance.
2. Zoombezi Bay
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Website: https://www.zoombezibay.com/
Address: 4850 Powell Rd
Contact details: +1 614 645 3400
Operating hours: Saturday and Sunday – 11 AM – 6 PM
Distance from Columbus (by car): Around 28 minutes
Just a 24- to 28-minute drive from Columbus, 19 next-level water attractions await you at Zoombezi Bay. The Baboon Lagoon and Pelican Point are for your little ones, while bigger thrills like Python Plunge and Roaring Rapids Action River are sure to impress the grown-ups.
Adding more to the excitement are family-friendly events such as Summer Nights, where you get to watch a blockbuster movie from the pool. There’s also Oktoberfest that features pumpkin-flavored drinks and Bavarian-style food to celebrate the fall season.
As for Zoombezi’s amenities, you’ll find lounge chairs and inner tubes available on a first-come, first-served basis, along with restaurants, family restrooms, and a parking lot. Aquatic-rated wheelchairs, though limited, are also provided upon request.
Pro tips:
Like many water parks, Zoombezi Bay only opens for the summer season, usually around late May or early June, and closes in September. While planning your visit, here are a few things to keep in mind:
- Check their official website or Instagram page for exact opening and closing dates, as they can vary slightly each year. Here, you can view their schedule and pass prices, which are more affordable when purchased online.
- Download the park map to avoid getting lost or missing out on any water-filled adventure. Zoombezi Bay spans over 22 acres, and the map has everything clearly marked for you.
- Wear traditional swimwear and bring a beach towel, sunscreen, and sunglasses for lounging. Water shoes are optional, but not permitted on some attractions.
- Zoombezi Bay is located next to the Columbus Zoo, so feel free to pair it with your waterpark adventure. Just don’t forget to show your hand stamp or ticket receipt when re-entering the bay.
3. Big Splash
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Website: https://www.grovecityohio.gov/172/The-Big-Splash
Address: 2831 Southwest Blvd, Grove City
Contact details: +1 614 277 1818
Operating hours: Saturday – 11 AM – 7 PM
Distance from Columbus (by car): 14 to 17 minutes
Walking into Big Splash feels like stepping onto a beach, thanks to its large zero-depth entrance. The water gradually gets deeper as you go, so kids and those with mobility challenges can enjoy it without worrying about stairs or a sudden drop.
While they primarily serve Grove City and Jackson Township residents at $60 per person, nonresidents are also welcome for $120 per person. Driving from Columbus, you can expect to arrive within 14 to 17 minutes.
Operating seasonally from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day, their schedule aligns with the South-Western City School District’s summer break. Once open, you can try the climbing walls and two large body slides or relax in the green spaces and lounge chairs.
Pro tip:
To purchase a day pass for Big Splash, you’ll need to create an account here on the Grove City Parks and Recreation website. Prices range from $6 for ages 13 and younger to $10 for ages 14 and older.
More importantly, you must be a season pass holder (with a valid ID) to enter the water park. Buy the pass in advance online on this page—$60 for residents, $120 for nonresidents, and free for children younger than 36 months.
4. Reed Road Water Park
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Website: https://upperarlingtonoh.gov/city-facilities/reed-road-water-park/
Address: 2000 Hastings Ln, Upper Arlington
Contact details: +1 614 583 5462
Operating hours: Monday to Sunday – 11 AM – 8 PM
Distance from Columbus (by car): 12 minutes
Open during the summer season (May 24 to August 10), Reed Road Water Park lets you dive into the fun with its vortex, lazy river, lap lanes, and, of course, a diving area. Not to mention a separate toddler pool and a playful kids’ zone with dueling slides.
But if you’d rather drive 11 to 12 minutes from Columbus only to chill in Reed Road’s lounge chairs with large umbrellas, that’s fine, too! After all, from there, you can still watch over or hear your family splash around in the heated water outdoors.
Moreover, you can pack your own food and dine at the water park’s picnic tables. For snacks and beverages, there are concession stands serving hot dogs, chips, and ice-cream, as well as a vending machine with drinks.
Pro tip:
Visit the City of Upper Arlington’s official website for any updates or announcements to help plan your trip. Also, check out their aquatics programs—including swimming lessons and water fitness classes—by calling +1 614 583 5462 for schedule and registration details.
5. Groveport Aquatic Center
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Website: https://www.groveportrec.com/235/Aquatic-Center
Address: 7370 Groveport Rd
Contact details: +1 614 836 2255
Operating hours:
- Monday to Saturday – 12 PM – 7 PM
- Sunday – 1 PM – 7 PM
Distance from Columbus (by car): 18 to 21 minutes
Named ‘Best Outdoor Municipal Pool’ multiple times by Columbus Monthly Magazine, Groveport Aquatic Center offers a clean, well-maintained environment with lifeguards on duty. Only 18 to 21 minutes from Columbus by car, you’re in for some affordable family fun.
You can enter with a Season Day pass, which is more cost-effective if you see your family coming back for more over the summer. For occasional trips or one-day entry, though, a regular Day Pass will do just fine.
Among their many notable features are two giant water slides, an in-water playground with a kiddie slide, and a lazy river with inner tubes. You can also take a break at the shade umbrellas, lounge chairs, and vending machines for snacks and cold drinks.
Pro tip:
If you wish to visit via a Day Pass, getting a ‘Rec ID card’ first is a must. This is a one-time process and is issued by the Groveport Recreation Department at the Groveport Recreation Center.
To obtain one, you have to present a valid driver’s license or state-issued ID (if over 18) and submit a completed waiver signed by a parent or legal guardian (if under 18). A Day Pass costs $8 for Groveport residents and $14 for nonresidents.
For a more comprehensive view of their Season Pass and Day Pass rates, click here. As for some facility rules, know that water slide riders must be at least 48 inches tall, and guests on the lazy river must be at least 42 inches tall.
6. Dublin Community Pool
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Website: https://dublinohiousa.gov/recreation-services/aquatics/outdoor-pools/
Address: 5660 Dublinshire Dr
Contact details: +1 614 792 7946
Operating hours: Monday to Saturday – 10 AM – 8 PM; 4 PM – 8 PM
Distance from Columbus (by car): 25 to 32 minutes
The Dublin Community Recreation Center (DCRC) has a community pool that easily qualifies as a water park. Open from May to September, this outdoor facility can be reached by car from Columbus in 25 to 32 minutes.
Once there, you’ll be greeted by an eight-lane lap pool with diving platforms and a 10-foot climbing wall, a leisure pool with a slide tower, and a wading pool with spray features. Shade is available under the canopies, and you can grab a bite at the concession stands.
Lifeguards are on duty to ensure safety while keeping the fun under control. You can enter with a Season Pass or Daily Pass, which is exclusive to Dublin residents, but if you have a friend living in Dublin who’s planning to go, you and your family can tag along!
Pro tips:
Check the weather conditions before purchasing a daily pass, as no refunds or rain checks will be provided for daily pass holders. Here are some other important rules to remember before you go:
- Pool information: The last 15 minutes of every hour is an adult swim or safety break. Everyone must clear the pool, except for children two years of age and under, who may remain with a parent or guardian.
- Large slide rules: Height requirements for the large slides depend on the rider’s swimming ability and the depth of the water at the end of each slide. As a result, swim tests are required for riders 0-6 inches taller than the water’s depth.
- Lap lane information: Two lanes are available for lap swimming during regularly scheduled operating hours starting at noon. On Wednesday evenings, the lap lane area closes at 4:00 PM to give way for swim meets.
7. Hilliard Family Aquatic Center
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Website: https://hilliardohio.gov/pools-passes/
Address: 3850 Veterans Memorial Dr, Hilliard
Contact details: +1 614 876 4296
Operating hours:
- Monday to Saturday – 12 PM – 8 PM
- Sunday – 12 PM – 7 PM
Distance from Columbus (by car): 21 minutes
At Hilliard Family Aquatic Center, safety and having the required number of lifeguards are top priorities. So, don’t be surprised if one or more pools and certain amenities are closed due to staffing shortages or bad weather.
When all is well, though, your family-friendly aquatic fun includes two 30-foot water slides, a leisure pool with a 450-gallon dumping bucket, and a 25-yard competition pool. Of course, you can’t miss the 500-foot lazy river or the 30-foot-high tower with body and raft slides.
These attractions give you a water park-like experience from late May through mid-August. Coming from Columbus, you’d only have to drive for 21 minutes to get here—and admission is via pool membership or a daily pass.
Pro tip:
If you’re considering a daily pass, you must register for a RecTrac account here to obtain visitor pass key fobs, which you’ll present at the gate before entering the facilities. For a pool membership, you can sign up by clicking ‘Become a member’ in the same link.
8. Highlands Park Aquatic Center
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Website: https://parks.westerville.org/facilities/highland-park-aquatic-center
Address: 245 S Spring Rd, Westerville
Contact details: +1 614 901 7665
Operating hours:
- Monday to Friday – 12 PM – 7 PM
- Saturday and Sunday – 12 PM – 6:30 PM
Distance from Columbus (by car): Around 25 minutes
Standing close to wetlands and green spaces, the Highlands Park Aquatic Center (HPAC) emits a natural, organic atmosphere. So, expect the water attractions to have elements of wood, stone, and natural water designs.
There’s enough here to keep your family, especially the kids, busy and entertained for an entire day or the whole summer. Starting from the lazy river and spray playground to the speed and body slide tower and the zero-entry toddler pool with a simulated rock slide.
But before that, it’s a 23 to 25-minute road trip first with the family.
If you’d like a season pass for unlimited access to all the attractions throughout the summer, it’s $260 for a family of two, $325 for three, $375 for four, $405 for five. And if you have a family guest, that’s $260.
Pro tip:
Purchase your $20 daily admission ticket three days in advance. This will prioritize you, alongside season pass holders, in case the center experiences larger-than-normal crowds and temporarily suspends daily admission sales.
