10 Best Beach Water Parks for Families

Ocean Breeze Waterpark, open from the end of May through the beginning of September, features more than 30 rides and slides and is less than a 10-minute drive to the beach. Families will love the free essentials that are truly a must for any day spent at a beach water park: free parking, free sunscreen and free inner tubes. There are a million-gallon wave pool, a water playground and numerous slides to enjoy. Teens will love the thrill of the Hurricane slide and younger kids will enjoy Hook's Lagoon. Lockers and cabanas are available to rent, and there are several concession options serving sandwiches, pizza, ice cream and more.

Recommended Hotel: Ocean Beach Club Resort

Situated less than a block from the beach, this amusement park also features a water park. There are tunnel slides, speed slides, tube water flume slides, a lazy river and a cool children's area at this beach water park. The kiddie pool children's area is great for young kids. If you purchase tickets for both the amusement park and water park, you can visit the parks on different days; you don't have to visit both on the same day.

Recommended Hotel: Sandy Beach Resort

Located less than a block from the beach, this beach water park has been entertaining families for more than 30 years. The Tadpole Hole is the ideal spot for the younger kids with shallow pools and tipping buckets of water. The Free Fall slide and White Knuckle River are more for the teens who are seeking a bigger splash zone. And for the adults who may just be looking to float around, there's the lazy river.

Recommended Hotel: Edgewater Beach and Golf Resort

Jungle Jim's not only offers multiple waterslides, a lazy river, a children's splash area and a wave pool, but it also features bumper boats, mini-golf and batting cages (separate admission fees). So if you're looking for dry fun along with your beach water park, this is your spot. Kids will love to stand under the giant bucket drop in anticipation of hundreds of gallons of water being dumped and showered down. Concessions can be found at the onsite cafe and this is a great spot to celebrate a summer birthday party, too.

Recommended Hotel: Avenue Inn & Spa

Located about 15 minutes from the beach, this beach water park is situated on the east coast of Florida. More than 35 slides fill the 30-acre splash park. Big Thunder will definitely leave your teens roaring down the multi-person raft funnel slide. Or try Riptide Raftin, which features 500 feet of twists through the water. If you like the slides sans the raft, plunge down Body Blasters, which has you curving and dropping through the enclosed slide. And for those looking for less thrills and more chills, there is Barefootin' Bay, which features water sprayers, slides and a giant tipping water bucket. Lockers are available to rent and life jackets are available to use at no charge.

Recommended Hotel: Hilton Singer Island Oceanfront/Palm Beaches

With free inner tubes and free parking, this thrilling beach water park along the Gulf Coast offers a lot of exciting rides. There are tube and body slides; a boogie board wave pool; funnel, tunnel and racing slides; and even zip lining. There are slides and attractions for younger children, such as water playgrounds, sprayers and mini slides, in each section of the park. The zero-entry Treasure Island Kids Pool is perfect for younger kids while teens enjoy the thrills. Life jackets are available on a first-come, first-served basis, but at no additional charge.

Recommended Hotel: Holiday Inn Club Vacations Galveston Beach Resort

Located just a few blocks from the beach, this water park offers more than water rides. Along with the tube slides, fast body slides, a wave pool, lazy river and racing mat slides, there are bumper boats, go karts, mini golf and even old school kiddie carnival rides for ages 3 and up. Plus, children ages 1 and 2 are free. Lockers are available to rent and life vests are available at no additional charge. Changing rooms and showers can be found here as well.

Recommended Hotel: Compass Cove Oceanfront Resort

There's nothing like a visit to Thundering Surf Waterpark on Long Beach Island, New Jersey! Families of all ages will love the eight waterslides, giant tipping bucket, the lazy river, the boogie board wave pool and Cowabunga Beach for toddlers. Swim diapers are required and life vests are provided at no additional charge. Lockers are available to rent. Sandwiches, burgers and snacks are available at the beach grill, too.

Recommended Hotel: Sea Spray Motel

Located less than 30 minutes from Pismo Beach, this family-friendly water park is situated in a campground that overlooks Lopez Lake. Families will love the giant Stampede ride, where they will slide down the half pipe in an inner tube all the way up to the other side and back again. The two curving waterslides are exciting for teens, and younger kids will enjoy the kiddie pool, where there are waterfall trees and mini slides. After a day in the water, families can dry off and try the go karts and mountain bikes. Lockers, life jackets and changing areas are all available here.

Recommended Hotel: Pismo Lighthouse Suites

Nobody does a beach water park like Morey's Piers in Wildwood, New Jersey! The Ocean Oasis Water Park and Beach Club is like a tropical island oasis situated at the Jersey Shore. For big screams, there's the Cliff Dive slide that drops those who dare to ride, five stories in three seconds. But for the younger swimmers, there's Bonsai Beach, which offers water jets and climbing ropes. Then the whole family can race together down the six-lane WipeOut slide. Families can rent a private cabana with a fire pit and towel service, and the onsite restaurant offers a full menu, live music, cocktails, and ocean views. Restrooms and baby changing stations can be found throughout the pier and lockers are available to rent, too.

Recommended Hotel: Blue Palms Resort & Boardwalk Bungalows