The State of Michigan has over 62,700 scenic lakes. Still, visitors tend to flock to the dozens of water parks that can be found throughout the state for added thrill and excitement. During the summer, the parks offer a welcome reprieve from the heat. During Michigan's harsh winter, indoor water parks offer watery excitement at 84 degrees.
Michigan water parks are a huge thrill for the entire family. Many water parks in the state offer comfortable accommodations with dining and activities for adults, making them one of the most sought-after year-round destinations. For children, they are a special fun-filled, watery treat that allows unlimited splashing and challenging slides.
Both indoor and outdoor water parks have their advantages, especially during the seasons. Outdoor parks turn into a family adventure while escaping the summer heat. Although frequently smaller, indoor parks are the perfect antidote to the wintertime blues with fantastic restaurants and fun activities. Without further ado, let's look at the best Michigan waterparks.
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Wildwater Adventure is one of the family-friendly water parks in Michigan, boasting more than 60 rides, 7 roller coasters, and large water slides. Families will find 3 wave pools and a Half Pint Paradise for the younger set, which includes interactive fun with sea creatures and rides specifically designed for small half pints.
Camp Snoopy is a Peanuts-themed family area with kid-friendly roller coasters and includes a bus tour through the park chauffeured by Snoopy himself. The park’s wildest ride is the Wolverine Wildcat roller coaster. Dropping from a height of 85 feet invariably has passengers screaming like a Michigan Wildcat before encountering sharp turns at a speed of 55 miles per hour.
The minimum height requirement for the Wolverine Wildcat is 48 inches. Daily entrance passes to the park are $39.99, and two-day passes cost $64.99. A daily meal plan is available for $29.99, and single meal plans cost $15.99.
Address: 1198 W Riley-Thompson Rd., Muskegon
The Avalanche Bay Indoor Waterpark is one of the best hotels with water parks in Michigan with plenty to offer. Visitors have the option of using only the hotel or staying at the hotel with water park passes.
Avalanche Bay is considered one of the best waterparks in the US with incredible rides. Big Couloir has an incredible ride with the steepest fall anywhere, whooshing through a tight tunnel at 38 feet per second. Strong natural forces are at play here.
The Mat Racer is a downhill race that pits friends against each other. Who is the fastest? For something more relaxing, the Boyne River Lazy River ride allows a calm float on the river and through the entire park. Back on dry land, everyone will enjoy the Arcade with 50 great games. Play well and win prizes.
Is someone having a birthday? The $50 birthday package includes cake for 14 people, beverages, balloons, and decorations. The cost does not include the day pass. Day passes into the park begin at $40.00 for adults. For groups, the passes are discounted at $30.00 per individual. These are good from 11 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Address: 1 Boyne Mountain Rd, Boyne Falls
Also Read: Top Tourist Attractions in Michigan
Great Wolf Lodge Indoor Water Park is one of the unlimited fun indoor water parks in Michigan. The suites are large, family-sized, and comfortable. Most come with a private balcony or patio, and some even have a private whirlpool with a fireplace. It can’t be easy to leave this type of luxurious comfort – except if there is a water park waiting.
Dining is very family-friendly, with pizzas, burgers, salads, and pasta. The Bear Paw provides sweet treats, as does Dunkin’. Chill out with a cold one at Grizzly Rob’s Bar and revel in a view of the water park. There are fun activities involving interactive adventure games, arcade games, miniature bowling,
Indoor water fun includes a 4-story water treehouse with slides, tube riding down the lazy river, a twisted water slide, a 4-story descent through a tube, and Whooping Hollow and the Cub Paw Pool for little ones to splash around. Thunder Bay is an outdoor lagoon for water basketball and slides. For adults only, the Manitoba Tubs provide the ultimate relaxation.
Guest favorites, such as games at Northern Lights Arcade, MagiQuest, and more, are included in the Paw Pass. Special packages for children are $64.99 for the Pup Pass, which includes treats, souvenirs, and arcade games.
Address: 3575 N U.S. 31 S, Traverse City
One of the exciting water parks in Michigan, Soaring Eagle Waterpark and Hotel has 243 guest rooms, an attached RV park, and a 45,000-square-foot indoor waterpark. Guests can stay at the hotel, which includes a pool, hot tub, sauna, and room, without visiting the waterpark. The RV Park has water and sewer hookups, fire pits, and picnic tables. There are hiking trails, fishing, and a beachfront.
The indoor park has several slides, a climbing wall, lazy river activities, and a private adult pool. The lake provides an abundance of activities, such as kayaking, fishing, and swimming. Dining is family-friendly, and the hotel also has a mini-market for snack items.
Soaring Eagles does wonderful birthday parties with private rooms and cake, with packages that include five hours in the waterpark, cupcakes, passes for 10 guests, and add-ons such as cabana rental; a pizza package also being available. Day passes for the waterpark as $33.00 per person. On weekends and holidays, the day passes are $44.00 per person.
Address: 5665 E. Pickard Rd. Mt. Pleasant
For one of the Michigan water parks with a fabulous dumping bucket, make TurtleCove Family Aquatic Center your choice. It has waterslides, a lap-lane pool, and a lazy river running through the property. Its most popular feature is a 300-gallon dumping bucket that periodically and unexpectedly (unless you pay attention) dumps water on the people below.
The Center is open from Memorial Day through Labor Day from 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. on weekdays and until 8:00 p.m. on weekends. It is frequently visited just before Labor Day as the fun of last resort before classes begin.
Guests can enjoy food and drinks at the Grille. The park provides easy access to the Huron River and hiking/biking trails. The entry fee is $35 for an annual car permit or $10.00 for the day. The price for adults is $10.00 and $8.00 for children.
Address: 40151 East Huron River Drive, Belleville, MI 48111
This is one of the top water parks in Michigan and shares the honor of being one of Michigan’s biggest waterparks with Avalanche Bay. The Zehnder’s Splash Village Hotel next to the waterpark has178 luxurious rooms and suites with refrigerators and coffee machines. Some suites and rooms have a view of the waterpark.
Families can revel in a six-story raft ride, a four-story tube slide, a pool with water geysers, a loop body slide, a dumping bucket, water basketball, and volleyball. Or they can just float on the lazy river or relax in the hot tub. There is also an outdoor pool, eateries, an arcade, and a tall tree with a fireplace established in its trunk.
For anyone with a desire for a bit of solitude, cabanas are available for rent from $125.00 to $235.00 during holidays. These cabanas have a refrigerator, phone, TV, and food and drink service. Who needs anything else?
The hours of operation can change, so it is a good idea to contact them before going. For guests of the hotel, entry to the waterpark is included. For non-guests, half-day passes can range from $33.00 to $47 and full-day passes are $40.00 to $55.00.
Address: 635 South Main Street, Frankenmuth
One of the best waterparks in Michigan is the Double JJ Resort Gold Rush Indoor Waterpark, which just happens to also be a ranch. Lucky guests get a two-for-one deal here. After enjoying the ranch activities such as horseback riding, they can visit 60,000 square feet of watery thrills, including West Michigan’s highest indoor waterslide, float down a lazy river, enjoy a wave pool, a children’s pool, and thrilling slides.
After the excitement, it is time to lay back in the hot tubs. The resort has ideal ranch-themed cabins, some of which include fireplaces and jacuzzis. There is also fine dining. A favorite is the Sundance Saloon Saturday special prime rib with sides for $36.00 and a glass of wine for $4.00. While still dry, guests can enjoy the resort’s 18-hole golf course with a convenient bar. Never a dull moment at the Gold Rush Waterpark.
Address: 5900 Water Road, Rothbury
The Blue Heron Bay Spray serves as the ideal family splash facility with kiddie rides and a fun 50-gallon dump bucket to cool everyone off. The two waterslides are kid-friendly for youngsters over 42 inches tall. Visitors can fuel up at the concession stand. There are also lockers, changing rooms, and restrooms. For a bit of shade, pavilions are available for rent.
Admission into the park is $10.00 for a car, and it is $5.00 to enter the splash pad. Guests can leave the splash area, explore the park, and return without paying again. Spray Park is open Memorial Day through Labor Day from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Address: 3200 Jennings Rd, Whitmore Lake
This outdoor playground is a convenient outdoor water park in Michigan with a large pool, a watery playground, and outdoor hot tubs. Lap swimming requires prior reservations. This is complimentary to hotel guests and $15.00 for others.
Entrance to the park is free to hotel guests; the cost for other visitors is $22.00 per day for anyone over the age of two. For tranquillity and privacy, cabanas that can fit six people, two loungers, chairs, and a table are available for $100.00 a day. The peace, comfort, and shade would make the cost worthwhile.
Address: WinterGreen Dr, Thompsonville
The Splash ‘n’ Blast outdoor water park in Michigan is where to spend the ideal summer day. The largest waterpark close to Ann Arbor has a lake, wildlife, hiking, picnicking, and many water sports opportunities. Getting drenched at the Splash ‘n’ Blast is a part of the package with a scary, tall, twisted slide tower, a dark, enclosed slide (talk about scary), and a spray area that blasts water from cannons.
During the summer, the Metropark Splash area is open from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. every day, and the fee is $10.00 per car. For guests who expect to visit frequently, an annual admission card for $30.00 is recommended. The park is open from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. from Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day.
Address: 2240 Buno Road, Kensington Metropark, Milford
Waterparks in Michigan aren’t all alike. Action Wake Park is the state’s only full-size cable park. A cable park is a ski resort turned into a waterpark. Action Wake Park provides lessons in waterboarding and other water sports by using overhead cables for water skiing instead of the usual motorboat. Different and intriguing.
The park has different hours and is closed on Sundays. Their birthday parties for up to 10 people are very popular as they include invitations, a trained host, shaded picnic tables, and a t-shirt. The fee for guests is $10.00, and pizza, drinks, and snacks are $6.00 per guest. Party times on weekdays are every half hour from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30m p.m. and from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. on Saturdays. Parties last for 45 minutes.
Address: 3320 Hudson Trails Dr., Hudsonville
Among the fabulous waterparks in Michigan, Wayne County Family Aquatic Center is a landscaped Detroit park with many attractions for all. The waterpark can hold over 2,000 people eager to escape the city’s summer heat. The 5-foot-deep Way Cool Wave Pool has large waves – just like the ocean.
Two-feet-deep Splish Splash Land sprays kids with more than 100 spraying fountains. The fun continues on two 23-foot waterslides and a tube slide with a speed of 15 miles per hour. The aquatic center holds half-hour swimming lessons on Wednesdays through Saturdays between 10:15 a.m. and 10:45 a.m. This includes a free lunch on Wednesdays. Private swim lessons are available, as well.
The center has birthday packages ranging from $150.00 to $210.00. The center will reopen for the season on June 21, 2023, from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. The pool closes at 6:30 p.m. The entrance fee for Wayne County residents is $7.00 for adults, $5.00 for children 3 to 12, and $2.00 for infants. A season pass is $70.00.
Address: 12600 Chandler Park Dr., Detroit
Also Read: Top Tourist Attractions in Detroit
Avalanche Bay is one of the best waterparks in Michigan and in the country, with thrilling rides. Its indoor activities assure year-round excitement and non-stop fun. Guests of the attached hotel have free access to the park, while visitors can obtain a day pass for admittance. In addition, Avalanche Bay has some incredible children's birthday party packages.
Zehnder's Splash Village, Frankenmuth, has a 50,000 square feet indoor waterpark and a 178-room hotel which has been awarded the 2000 James Beard America's Classics Winner. Park activities include a huge tube slide, a six-story raft ride for the entire family, a geyser pool, a dumping bucket, and a lazy river. A hot tub offers pure relaxation. Luxurious cabanas with food service, TV, and refrigerator are available for rent.
There are many wonderful indoor waterparks in Michigan, but perhaps Soaring Eagle Waterpark and Hotel inches out some of the others with its 45,000 feet of water fun and convenient RV park and a nearby lake. The park has a separate adult pool, a choice of challenging slides, a climbing wall, and a lazy river.
The best outdoor water park in Michigan may be Splash 'n' Blast in Kensington Metropark, Milford. It is close to Ann Arbor and has a lake for hiking, water sports, and picnicking. There is a lot to do here. The water park offers incredibly tall, heart-pounding slides and a delightful spray area.
For anyone wishing to add an extra dimension to summertime, refreshing waterparks are the answer. With pools, fabulous slides, cabanas, and games, they keep both adults and kids occupied and cool for hours. For children, waterparks provide new ways to develop motor skills and how to interact socially with others.
Fortunately, there is an abundance of water parks in Michigan for the entire family. Some are stand-alone, while others are part of a great hotel resort. Either way, when it comes to water sports, waterparks are both safe and convenient – safer, for example, than a day at the beach.