15 Best Water Parks in Illinois

Written by Jan Meeuwesen
Updated on
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There’s no better way to cool off than to sink into the clear waters of an Illinois water park. Hours and hours of fun for water lovers of all ages can be found.

Whether you’re looking for action packed, heart pounding, hair raising thrills, rafting rides, relaxation on the lazy river, or a splashing good time for the kids, these waterparks have it all!

Here’s our pick of 15 Amazing Water Parks in Illinois:

1. Magic Waters, Cherry Valley

Magic Waters, Cherry ValleySource: magicwaterswaterpark
Magic Waters, Cherry Valley

Featuring a host of wild rides, thrilling slides, and a giant wave pool, Magic Waters will keep you cool and entertained for hours.

The website features all the rides at the park and has videos of each as well as a thrill rating system so you know what to expect ahead of time.

Plunge into the black tunnels of the abyss, drop over seventy five feet on the Double Dare Drop, speed down five stories of the Tropical Twisters, get ready to scream on the Typhoon Terror.

The Little Lagoon is a great place to cool down with the youngest water park lovers.

Tiki Island is a massive complex for kids of all ages.

You can’t miss the giant pineapple water bucket that dumps a thousand gallons of water from above! The park also features a lazy river and Tsunami Bay, Illinois’ largest wave pool.

2. Knight’s Action Park, Springfield

Knight’s Action Park, SpringfieldSource: knightsactionpark
Knight’s Action Park, Springfield

Splash Kingdom at Knight’s Action Park features seven swirling slides, a twenty thousand foot wave pool complete with a castle at one end, and a lazy river that winds throughout the park.

Choose one of three twisting, turning slides on the Bermuda or zip down the Royal, a huge slide that sends you shooting into a giant bowl.

Challenge the eighty degree angles of the Devil if you dare.

For smaller riders, Seal Bay comes complete with two large pools, seven mini slides, and sea creatures.

A special pool complete with jets just for adults to relax while they keep watch over the kids is set close by.

For dryer fun, the Action Park features batting cages, go-karts, arcade, Ferris wheel, a driving range and mini-golf!

3. CoCo Key Water Resort, Rockford

CoCo Key Water Resort, RockfordSource: rrstar
CoCo Key Water Resort, Rockford

Open year round, this sixty thousand square foot water park is sure to delight.

Stay at the Clock Tower Resort overnight or just come visit the water park for a day, either way in you’re in for loads of fun.

The park features thrilling body slides, a lazy river, kiddie areas, activity pool, and an indoor/outdoor spa.

Head over to the ten thousand square foot arcade after you’re done at the water park for even more fun!

4. Coral Cove Waterpark, Carol Stream

Coral Cove Waterpark, Carol StreamSource: yelp
Coral Cove Waterpark, Carol Stream

Take the plunge on summer fun at Coral Cover Waterpark.

Featuring two tall and thrilling waterslides, a huge pool complete with a wet climbing wall, diving board and dropslide, as well as a great kiddie area with a huge dumping water bucket, the park is great for all water lovers.

There’s also a large walk in swimming pool and a dry playground.

The park comes complete with concession and café!

5. Splash City Family Waterpark, Collinsville

Splash City Family Waterpark, CollinsvilleSource: splashcity
Splash City Family Waterpark, Collinsville

Home to seven slides, an amazing kiddie area and an aqua climbing wall, Splash City is a must visit.

Float solo or double down the figure eight shaped lazy river.

Take a dip in the leisure pool.

At the deepest end, it’s four feet but also features a zero depth end for tiny water lovers.

The pool features lily pads you can try hop skip and jumping across using the help of overhead ropes.

Monsoon Mountain, a massive water castle made just for kids, comes complete with five slides and a huge dumping bucket of water.

Head over to the Oasis for lap swimming or to challenge the twelve foot tall climbing wall, situated in the deep end of the pool.

Dry off and head to the Sand Castle Cove, a giant sand area filled with all the tools of the trade for designing your own sand kingdom.

The park offers a wide variety of events and programming throughout the season.

Check the website for options and schedules.

6. Splash Country, Aurora

Splash Country, AuroraSource: jeffellismanagement
Splash Country, Aurora

For a beautiful and unique day of family fun, head out to Splash Country.

The exterior, which looks like a barn, complete with silo, flashy red paint, barn doors, and a gambrel roof, is a must see! The park has two great tube slides and boasts the second largest lazy river in Illinois at eleven hundred feet long.

Cool off with dumping buckets, jets and rapids.

The enclosed kiddie area is packed full of wet and wild fun including waterfalls and spray guns.

There are also two sand volleyball courts, a sand play area for the kids with seating and shade for the adults.

The park also offers lane swimming and a full concession.

As part of the Fox Valley Park District, there’s a host of other activities you can partake in for kids and adults alike including special programming, hiking, camping, and fishing.

Check the website for a list of all the programs and amenities this area offers!

7. Joliet Slash Station, Joliet

Joliet Slash Station, JolietSource: thetimesweekly
Joliet Slash Station, Joliet

Explore this rail road inspired water park for hours of fun.

The park features rides and attractions for people of all ages.

Tiny water goers can splash around in the two hundred and fifty gallon zero depth pool.

Shoot or race down one of the exciting tube or body slides.

Spend hours relaxing floating down the lazy river.

The park comes complete with a signature café.

8. White Water Canyon Water Park, Tinley Park

White Water Canyon Water Park, Tinley ParkSource: tinleyparkdistrict
White Water Canyon Water Park, Tinley Park

Stretching over five acres, White Water Canyon Park is perfect for a family outing.

The main pool comes complete with a three meter slide, diving board, kiddie play area and zero depth entry.

Grab a tube and journey down six hundred feet of gently flowing waters in the lazy river.

Take the adventure path for a wetter ride or journey down the relaxing channel with the sun on your back.

The park also boasts an interactive spray ground filled with great attractions like squirting flowers and cannons and a huge dumping bucket.

The park is also complete with a concession.

The water park is a part of the Tinley Park District which offers a host of other programs from music lessons to horseback riding and dog obedience!

9. KeyLime Cove Indoor Waterpark Resort, Gurnee

KeyLime Cove Indoor Waterpark Resort, GurneeSource: groupon
KeyLime Cove Indoor Waterpark Resort, Gurnee

Take your family and stay at the beautiful Island inspired hotel.

The rooms are creatively designed and decorated and admission to the water park is included in the price! Aside from the waterpark there’s a host of other activities to keep you on your toes.

Visit the RipTide Reef Arcade, artistic spots and pet palace.

There’s great food and dining options as well as a spa.

Cool off at the sixty five thousand square foot Lost Paradise waterpark.

From pulse pounding rides to the lazy river and kiddie areas, the waterpark is great destination with hours of fun for everyone.

10. Raging Waves Waterpark, Yorkville

Raging Waves Waterpark, YorkvilleSource: wanderbat
Raging Waves Waterpark, Yorkville

Toted the largest water park in Illinois, Raging Waves is sure to please.

Grab some friends and try the brand new Wonambi, a four person tube ride full of hair raising twists and turns.

You can’t miss the Boomerang, a giant funnel like tube ride that sends you shooting down forty feet before sloshing you back and around the walls of the funnel.

Raft down the six hundred foot Crocodile Mile or experience the twirling Three Sisters.

For heart racing thrills try the body slides.

The Tasmanian Twisters and PJ’s Plummet are sure to raise your blood pressure.

Kids will love the Kangaroo Falls, a four story water fort full of fun including slides, bridges, fountains, and a giant dumping bucket.

There’s also the Great Barrier Reef wave pool and the Kookaburra lazy river.

The park also features a giant sand area for castle builders young and old alike, and for the racer enthusiasts, a pedal tractor race.

Both are included in the admission to the park!

11. Forest Park Aquatic Center, Forest Park

Forest Park Aquatic Center, Forest ParkSource: ripfest
Forest Park Aquatic Center, Forest Park

Fun for the whole family, Forest Park has something for everyone.

Featuring a zero-depth pool suitable for even the youngest water babies and a play area and spray park for kids of all ages, it’s a can’t miss.

Zoom down the water slides which shoot you into the large pool from high above! There’s also dedicated lap swimming lanes and a sand play area.

The park is complete with a concession.

The pool also features special events and offers swimming lessons.

Check the website for scheduling.

12. Paradise Bay Water Park, Lombard

Paradise Bay Water Park, LombardSource: suepearce
Paradise Bay Water Park, Lombard

Part of the Lombard Park District, Paradise Bay Water Park offers a host of attractions for all ages.

Hurricane Cove and Turtle Cove bother offer zero depth entry zones, as well as fountains and spouts.

Hurricane Cove features a whirlpool and Turtle Cove boasts an exciting island and waterslide for smaller park goers.

The Sidewinder, Wipeout and Pipeline slides are sure to make for hours of thrills and adventurous twists and turns.

The Splashdown offers three meter and one meter diving boards.

Dolphin Cove can be used for lap swimming, water basketball or water volleyball.

The Alligator Crossing Walk can’t be missed.

Dodge from the back of one alligator to another with the aid of overhead ropes.

The park also offers a concession and a host of other activities and programs throughout the season!

13. Raging Rivers WaterPark, Grafton

Raging Rivers WaterPark, GraftonSource: wanderbat
Raging Rivers WaterPark, Grafton

Overlooking the Mississippi, Raging Rivers is a beautiful waterpark.

Cool down in the lazy river or the wave pool.

Visit the kiddie area complete with a giant dumping water bucket or challenge the thrills, twists, turns, bowls, and drops of the wild slides.

There are some great dining options at the park as well as a gift shop to visit before you leave.

14. Atcher Island, Schaumburg

Atcher Island, SchaumburgSource: williams-architects
Atcher Island, Schaumburg

Part of the Schaumburg Park District, his tropical themed park offers hours of laughter and adventure for the whole family.

Fly down the body and tube slides and experience the unique bowl slide.

The park also features a beautiful wading pool for those young and young at heart, and a sprayground.

If you came hungry or worked up an appetite, there’s a concession in the park.

15. Mystic Waters Family Aquatic Center, Des Plaines

Mystic Waters Family Aquatic Center, Des PlainesSource: geocities
Mystic Waters Family Aquatic Center, Des Plaines

Mystic Waters comes complete with two slides for over six hundred feet of fun, platform and diving boards, a five hundred and fifty foot lazy river,  leisure pool with zero depth entry, and a great kiddie area that boasts a jungle gym, spray fountains, small slides, and a sand area.

The park’s admission rates are budget friendly for families.

If you’re looking for somewhere to hold a birthday party, bring a large group or reunion, the park does offer group reservations!



15 Best Water Parks in Illinois:

  • Magic Waters, Cherry Valley
  • Knight’s Action Park, Springfield
  • CoCo Key Water Resort, Rockford
  • Coral Cove Waterpark, Carol Stream
  • Splash City Family Waterpark, Collinsville
  • Splash Country, Aurora
  • Joliet Slash Station, Joliet
  • White Water Canyon Water Park, Tinley Park
  • KeyLime Cove Indoor Waterpark Resort, Gurnee
  • Raging Waves Waterpark, Yorkville
  • Forest Park Aquatic Center, Forest Park
  • Paradise Bay Water Park, Lombard
  • Raging Rivers WaterPark, Grafton
  • Atcher Island, Schaumburg
  • Mystic Waters Family Aquatic Center, Des Plaines