The beauty of indoor water parks is there’s a year-round pool destination you can always count on. If you’re looking for a family-pleasing getaway, hotels with a waterpark are an excellent combination. Here are a few indoor water parks near Omaha, including resorts and aquatic centers in Nebraska, Iowa and Missouri to add to your family travel wish list.
2023 Update: This post was first published in October 2020, and it has been updated in January 2023 for closures.
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Indoor Water Parks Near Omaha
Play in the water year-round at these indoor water resorts and water parks within five hours of Omaha.
Holiday Inn Omaha Downtown - Old Market
Where: 1420 Cuming St., Omaha
What to expect: While the size of the Holiday Bay is small compared to most others, it's still exciting for youngsters with its waterslide that can be seen outside the building. The waterpark covers 10,000 square feet with a play structure, three-story slide, plus a pool and oversized whirlpool.
And, bonus, kids eat for free when you stay at the Holiday Inn.
Tip: You can lock in the current list price on Booking.com without worry if you need to cancel.
Salvation Army Kroc Center
Where: 2825 Y St., Omaha
What to expect: This indoor aquatic center is great for local families looking for a fun way to burn some energy. There's a long slide plus a little toddler slide, lazy river, and a 1,877-gallon leisure pool.
Kings Pointe Waterpark Resort
Where: 1520 E. Lakeshore Drive, Storm Lake, Iowa
Distance from Omaha: 2 hours and 10 minutes
What to expect: The 20,000-square-foot indoor water park at this resort features a zero-depth entry pool, three water slides, a water playground, lily pad walk, and a lazy river.
Siouxnami Waterpark
Where: 770 Seventh St. NE, Sioux Center, Iowa
Distance from Omaha: 2 hours and 20 minutes
What to expect: This an a year-round activity center that happens to have a pretty sweet indoor aquatic center (which means, it's not a resort combo). There are indoor water slides, a lazy river, and a zero-depth entry pool.
Ramada Tropics Resort Waterpark
Where: 5000 Merle Hay Road, Des Moines, Iowa
Distance from Omaha: 2 hours and 30 minutes
What to expect: You'll find two long waterslides as well as a few short ones coming off of a nifty pirate ship in the middle of the pool. In all, the water park is 18,000 square feet.
Crowne Plaza - Kearney
Where: 707 W. Talmadge St., Kearney, Neb.
Distance from Omaha; 2 hours and 35 minutes
What to expect: Recently open, Crowne Plaza - Kearney has generated some excitement in town. The indoor pool and waterpark appeals to all ages, with several waterslides with varying degrees of speed and thrill.
For younger swimmers, a shallower poool and sprayground is separate from a deeper pool.
Holiday Inn Kearney
Where: 110 S. Second Ave., Kearney, Neb.
Distance from Omaha; 2 hours and 35 minutes
What to expect: Guests of the Holiday Inn in Kearney have access to the indoor pool, which has 30-foot waterslides and a zero-foot entry to a pool area for younger kids. There's also a hot tub.
Great Wolf Lodge Kansas City Water Park Resort and Hotel
Where: 10401 Cabela Drive, Kansas City, Kan.
Distance from Omaha: 2 hours and 40 minutes
What to expect: Every age will find something to enjoy at this indoor water park. For the big kids, there's thigns like the Triple Twist and the Howling Wolf toboggan run. For the littles, there's Whooping Hollow and Cub Paw Pool. Plus, everyone loves the lazy river.
You can purchase day passes to the indoor water park or the passes are included if you stay overnight.
Sleep Inn & Suites Indoor Waterpark
Where: 1840 N. Church Road, Liberty, Mo.
Distance from Omaha: 2 hours and 45 minutes
What to expect: This is a more budget-friendly option for families seeking a hotel/indoor water park combo. The Liberty Lagoon Indoor Water Park includes a kid's pool, a spray area with dumping bucket, family hot tub, and water slides.
Tip: Make a reservation through Booking.com to avoid fees for any possible cancellation.
Holiday Inn Express Sioux Falls - Brandon
Where: 1103 N. Splitrock Blvd., Brandon, S.D.
Distance from Omaha: 2 hours and 50 minutes
What to expect: An amped-up pool area to the hotel includes a tube water slide, kid's pool, and whirlpool.
Tip: I found that reservations made through Booking.com don't have a fee for cancellations.
Dakotah Lodge
Where: 3200 W. Russell St., Sioux Falls, S.D.
Distance from Omaha: 2 hours and 45 minutes
What to expect: This looks like a budget option for those seeking a hotel and a jazzed-up pool. It gets a low rating on Booking.com.
Midco® Aquatic Center
Where: 1601 S. Western Ave., Sioux Falls, S.D.
Distance from Omaha: 2 hours and 45 minutes
What to expect: Unlike most on this list, Midco is strictly an aquatic center and not a hotel/resort combo. Still, there are fun activities like a lily pad crossing, lazy river, and water slides.
Best Western Plus Ramkota Hotel
Where: 3200 W. Maple St., Sioux Falls, S.D.
Distance from Omaha: 2 hours and 45 minutes
What to expect: This looks like another inexpensive option for families on a budget. There are a few slides for younger kids, and a longer slide for big kids. There are a couple other water features for younger children, too.
Tip: If you make your reservation through Booking.com, you'll lock in the lowest price without a risk of cancellation fees.
The Waterfront at Bridges Bay Resort
Where: 630 Linden Drive, Arnolds Park, Iowa
Distance from Omaha: 3 hours and 15 minutes
What to expect: If you go to the Lake Okoboji in the summer, expect to spend time at the lake. In the winter? This is the place. The resort's indoor water park has a 500-gallon dump bucket.
Buckaneer Bay at Honey Creek Resort
Where: Honey Creek Resort, 12633 Resort Drive, Moravia, Iowa
Distance from Omaha: 3 hours and 20 minutes
What to expect: This indoor waterpark is especially appealing for younger kids. All ages, though, will enjoy the lazy river and two-story waterslide. And hot tub, don't forget the hot tub.
Splash Zone Waterpark
Where: 2500 Sixth St., Brookings, S.D.
Distance from Omaha: 3 hours and 25 minutes
What to expect: Splash Zone Waterpark, located inside the Brookings Inn includes a lazy river, zero depth play area, water slides, spray cannons and a dumping bucket.
Huck's Harbor Waterpark at FunCity
Where: 3001 Winegard Drive, Burlington, Iowa
How far from Omaha: 4 hours and 30 minutes
What to expect: FunCity is more than an indoor waterpark, though it does have the waterslides you'd expect at one. There's also indoor go-karts, laser tag, and an indoor SkyTrail obstacle course.
Grand Harbor Resort
Where: 350 Bell St., Dubuque, Iowa
Distance from Omaha: 5 hours
What to expect: This is a gigantic indoor waterpark. It's 25,000 square feet to be exact. You'll find slides, tube rides, waterspouts and a four-story Huck Finn treehouse that dumps 350 gallons of water.
My recommendations
I have not had a whole lot of luck with indoor water parks when we travel. I have visited all of the local indoor water parks, and honestly, I’d skip the hotel versions and go straight to the Kroc Center.
For our travels thus far, I haven’t been too impressed with the hotels we’ve stayed at with indoor waterparks. It seems elusive to find a hotel and waterpark that meet my expectations. I have yet to stay at Great Wolf Lodge, which I’ve heard great things about, though.
Your turn: Let me know your favorites and recommendations!
Kendra
Wednesday 5th of October 2022
Several of these are listed as closed or your hyperlinks don't work
Kim
Wednesday 5th of October 2022
Thank you for the heads up. I've updated all the broken links. Sorry about that!