12 Best Water Parks in Tennessee

Written by Veronique Raes
Updated on
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For a memorable getaway for yourself or the whole family, look no further than Tennessee. The cool, clear waters of pristine lakes, beautiful countryside scenery as well as high thrills and wet spills await. Whether it’s summer or winter, you can be sure to find a waterpark that’s just right for you. Some are open seasonally so you can take advantage of the heat to enjoy cooling down on great rides and clear waters, while others are indoor and are always just the right temperature for a fun filled day that’s sure to have people of all ages coming back time and again.

1. Dollywood’s Splash Country, Great Smoky Mountains

Dollywood’s Splash Country, Great Smoky MountainsSource: dollywood / facebook
Dollywood’s Splash Country, Great Smoky Mountains

With huge, thrilling rides and slides as well as cool waters and great kiddie areas, Dollywood’s Splash Country is the place to be. For adrenaline junkies there’s the Fire Tower Falls, the park’s tallest and fastest slide featuring high speed, vertical drops. The Butterfly is anything but meek- these extreme slides are sure to get your heart pounding. Visit the Mountain Scream and take your pick from one of four huge twisting, turning, drop slides. Zoom down the SwiftWater run where you’ll be catapulted into a giant bowl before hitting the waters below. Families will love the RiverRush water coaster, and the white water raft rides on the Raging River Rapids and the Big Bear Plunge. The park also has mat racers, a huge kiddie area complete with play structure and huge dumping bucket, a fifteen hundred foot long lazy river, tots area, activity pool and a giant wave pool. When you’re ready to dry off, tons of dry land fun await at the theme park. The resort offers great accommodations so be sure to make it a vacation destination.

2.Nashville Shores Lakeside Resort, Hermitage

Nashville Shores Lakeside Resort, HermitageSource: Nashville shores / facebook
Nashville Shores Lakeside Resort, Hermitage

Situated on the shores of the beautiful Percy Priest Lake, Nashville Shores offers breathing scenery and water filled fun for the whole family. Over one million gallons of water makes the water park a perfect place to get soaked. Keep cool in the majestic waves of the large wave pool or relax down the long, winding lazy river. If adrenaline is what you’re after, the eight heart pounding slides will leave you smiling all day long. Visit the Kowabunga Beach, the massive water treehouse and playground made just for kids. Tons of dryland fun await at Treetop Adventure Park, where you can take to the sky on the exciting zip lines. The resort has camping sites and cabin rentals available, perfect for your vacation!

3. Wetlands Water Park, Jonesborough

Wetlands Water Park, JonesboroughSource: The Wetlands Water Park / Facebook
Wetlands Water Park, Jonesborough

Grab your bathing suit and come check out the cool, clear waters of Wetlands Water Park. For adventure seekers, the park has three exciting slides; one, one hundred foot flume, an eighty foot enclosed flume and a giant two hundred foot flume. For smaller riders there’s the children’s otter slide and zero depth entry pool as well an exciting rain tree. If you’re in the mood to soak up the rays and kick back, grab a tube and drift down the lay river.  The park comes complete with a café and also has a sand volleyball court for more dryland fun.

4. Wildwater Rafting – Pigeon River, Hartford

Wildwater Rafting - Pigeon River, HartfordSource: Wildwater Ltd / facebook
Wildwater Rafting – Pigeon River, Hartford

While it’s really not a waterpark, and definitely not for the faint of heart, if you’re in Tennessee, you should give Wildwater Rafting a go. For ages five on up, Wildwater is an experience not to be missed. Soar down the heart racing, beautiful rapids and enjoy the splendor and majesty of nature. There’s more than just rafting in store at the park. Pack a picnic and visit one of the great picnic shelters. There’s volleyball, a climbing wall and zip lines for tons of exciting dry land adventures.

5. Kingsport Aquatic Center, Kingsport

Kingsport Aquatic Center, KingsportSource: Kingsport Aquatic Center / facebook
Kingsport Aquatic Center, Kingsport

For year round fun, visit Kingsport Aquatic Center. The Center is home to an outdoor waterpark as well as crystal clear indoor pools. Open seasonally, the outdoor park offers everything for a day filled with fun, sun and relaxation including two huge slides and a nine hundred foot long lazy river. Indoor, the center features three heated pools including an Olympic sized pool for recreational swimming and fitness classes. Don’t miss the Aqua Run Inflatable course!

6. Cumberland Park, Nashville

Cumberland Park, NashvilleSource: 4kclips / shutterstock
Cumberland Park, Nashville

Situated along the beautiful Nashville riverfront area is the exciting, new Cumberland Park. The six and a half acre park includes a water splash area with unique play structures and squirting features, an outdoor amphitheater which can fit up to twelve hundred people, and a huge climbing wall. There’s also The Hollow, a unique wave shaped playground with activities, sand, mazes, see saws and an interactive splashpad. Don’t miss the Explorer Trail, a beautiful path made of crushed stone that lets you take in all the beautiful scenery the park has to offer. It was designed to attract butterflies so be sure to keep your eyes peeled.

7. Kirkpatrick Sprayground, Nashville

Kirkpatrick Sprayground, NashvilleSource: mujijoa79 / Shutterstock
Kirkpatrick Sprayground, Nashville

Open seasonally, the Kirkpatrick Sprayground is sure to delight people of all ages. Get wet and have a blast in the interactive water features, the spraying features, and jets. Suitable for even the smallest water lovers, the Sprayground will keep you cooled down and having fun all day.

8. Westgate Smoky Mountain Resort & Spa, Gatlinburg

Westgate Smoky Mountain Resort & Spa, GatlinburgSource: Westgate Smoky Mountain Resort & Water Park / facebook
Westgate Smoky Mountain Resort & Spa, Gatlinburg

For tons of all day fun where the weather is always just right, visit Wild Bear Falls sixty thousand square foot indoor water park. Relax in the rambling lazy river or just lounge by the pool. Rocket down the giant slides, splash in the cool waters of the pool or visit the huge kiddie area that features an awesome treehouse activity structure. There’s also a great café, perfect for when you get hungry. The resort offers beautiful accommodations and a great spa and fitness center if the waterpark isn’t your thing.

9. Wave Country- Wave Pool, Nashville

Wave Country- Wave Pool, NashvilleSource: Wave Country / Facebook
Wave Country- Wave Pool, Nashville

For a day filled with wild splashes, visit Wave Country. The park has everything you could want to cool down and make memories. The wave pool features awesome swells and calm periods alike. For action and adventure, swirl down one of the park’s five thrilling slides. There are three flume slides and two speed slides. Just for the kids, there’s a kiddie pool and a huge playground with interactive water features. The park does allow coolers, just no glass containers or alcohol, but there is also a concession. You are also allowed to bring your own chairs or a pop up tent if you want to soak up the sun or sit in the shade.

10. Patterson Park Indoor Pool, Murfreesboro

Patterson Park Indoor Pool, MurfreesboroSource: Patterson Park Community Center - Murfreesboro / facebook
Patterson Park Indoor Pool, Murfreesboro

With a host of activities and slides, the whole family will love Patterson Park Indoor Pool. Spend hours whooshing and zooming down the triple loop water slide. If you came to swim, there’ a four lane lap swimming area. Children of all ages will love the interactive Water Play System and for even the youngest water lovers there’s a zero-depth entry pool. The pool offers fitness classes as well as lap and recreational swims.

11. Collierville Water- Spray Parks, Collierville

Collierville Water- Spray Parks, ColliervilleSource: accesscollierville
Collierville Water- Spray Parks, Collierville

Prepare for the majesty of one hundred and thirty-five acres of playgrounds, lakes, spray parks, and ballfields. Enjoy the scenic park and lakes or cool off at the Water Spray area. People of all ages will enjoy all the waterpark has to offer. Poles, arches and other interactive and wet and wild features will make for hours of wet fun. Run through giant sprinklers and have a blast getting soaked. The area is made just for kids but adults will love it as well. Best of all, it’s free.

12. Mud Island River Park, Memphis

Mud Island River Park, MemphisSource: Memphis River Parks Partnership / Shutterstock
Mud Island River Park, Memphis

While it’s not a water park, Mud Island River Park is all about water. Experience all the majesty of the Mississippi River at the Mud Island River Park. The park is complete with a five block long Riverwalk model so you can see the Mississippi River in miniature form. Don’t miss the Mississippi River Museum where you can see two full size paddle boat models. There’s an amphitheatre in the park which hosts concerts and shows throughout the year. If you want to head out on the water, the park offers canoe or kayak rentals. If dryland adventure is more your thing, there are bike rentals as well.



12 Best Water Parks in Tennessee:

  • Dollywood’s Splash Country, Great Smoky Mountains
  • 2.Nashville Shores Lakeside Resort, Hermitage
  • Wetlands Water Park, Jonesborough
  • Wildwater Rafting - Pigeon River, Hartford
  • Kingsport Aquatic Center, Kingsport
  • Cumberland Park, Nashville
  • Kirkpatrick Sprayground, Nashville
  • Westgate Smoky Mountain Resort & Spa, Gatlinburg
  • Wave Country- Wave Pool, Nashville
  • Patterson Park Indoor Pool, Murfreesboro
  • Collierville Water- Spray Parks, Collierville
  • Mud Island River Park, Memphis