This summer, Fun-Plex unveiled the newest additions to its waterpark: Two nearly-vertical drop waterslides. First off, nope. But secondly, it made me realized I hadn’t really investigated outdoor waterparks near Omaha in recent years. So, inspired the news from our closest big waterpark, I decided to gather a big list of aquatic centers and waterparks near Omaha for those looking for a cool adventure.
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Outdoor Waterparks Near Omaha
Given the popularity of my story about indoor waterparks, I think it’s overdue to tell you all about the outdoor waterparks near Omaha. Here are the oudoor waterparks withing 4 hours of Omaha.
Cost:
- $ – under $10 per person
- $$ – $10-$20 per person
- $$$ – $21-$30 per person
- $$$$ – More than $30 per person
Zorinsky Pool
Where: 3808 S. 156th St.
Distance from Omaha: Within city limits
What to expect: Zorinsky Pool is one of the Omaha public pools still open this late into summer. Which is a good thing, since it has a few exras that families love.
Enjoy two large waterslides, plus kids’ water structure with a huge dumping bucket and a little slide.
Cost: $
* Open daily through Aug. 7
Pirate Cove Water Park
Where: 915 N. 21st St., Council Bluffs, Iowa
Distance from Omaha: About 10 miles
What to expect: Another public pool with some extra perks, Pirate Cove is a pirate-themed pool with two slides, a pirate ship with a little slide, and a sand play area.
Cost: $
Fun-Plex
Where: 7003 Q St., Ralston, Neb.
Distance from Omaha: 15 minutes
What to expect: Fun-Plex has the metro’s largest waterpark, with several slides including two vertical drop waterslides that just opened in 2022. There’s also a wave pool, lazy river, a small pool for younger kids, and a large spray structure.
Cost: $$$$ (includes both waterpark and rides; it is cheaper to go after 4 p.m.)
Papio Bay Aquatic Center
Where: 815 E .Halleck St., Papillion, Neb.
Distance from Omaha: About 20 minutes
What to expect: Papillion’s Papio Bay is a small aquatic center, so less water park and more like a public pool with some frills. There are two water slides in the main pool and a children’s butterfly slide. There’s also a sand play area.
Cost: $
* Closes for the season Aug. 14, 2022
Platte River State Park
Where: 14421 346th St., Louisville, Neb.
Distance from Omaha: About 35 minutes
What to expect: Platte River’s water attraction is definitely more sprayground than waterpark as there is no actual pool. There are a few slides for small kids and a large water bucket for drenching a crowd.
It’s much more appealing for families with younger kids than those with only older kids.
Cost: $ (valid Nebraska State Park entry permit also required)
Mahoney State Park Aquatic Center
Where: 28500 W. Park Highway, Ashland, Neb.
Distance from Omaha: 30 miles from Omaha
What to expect: Mahoney is one of the Nebraska’s mast popular state parks, making its aquatic center one of the state’s busiest. And for good reason: There’s a wave pool, two large slides, a regular pool ,and a fun kid’s water area with a dump bucket.
Cost: $$ (valid Nebraska State Park enrty permit also required)
Splash Station
Where: 2809 Fremont Drive, Fremont, Neb.
Distance from Omaha: About 40 minutes
What to expect: Fremont’s Splash Station caters to the whole family with a combo lap pool and wave pool, two large waterslides, an interactive train slide for kids, and Hydro-Storm. Plus, there’s a splash pad and water walk.
Cost: $
Star City Shores Aquatic Center
Where: 4375 S. 33rd Court, Lincoln, Neb.
Distance from Omaha: 1 hour
What to expect: Star City Shores another great public pool with some added frills, including a zero entry pool, interactive water features, waterslides, climbing structures and a sand play area.
Cost: $
* Pool season ends Aug. 14
Pawnee Plunge Water Park
Where: 560 33rd Ave., Columbus, Neb.
Distance from Omaha: 1 hour and 35 minutes
What to expect: Pawnee Plunge is home to the state’s only FlowRider (a surf machine), but also has other big draws including four huge water slides (including a swirl bowl waterslide), a lazy river, climbing wall, interactive ship for kids, a spray area, and a regular swimming pool.
Cost: $
Ponca State Park
Where: 88090 Spur 26 E, Ponca, Neb.
Distance from Omaha: About 2 hours
What to expect: One of the newest aquatic centers to open at a Nebraska Statte Park, Ponca’s center has a heated, zero-depth entry pool, 172-foot long water slide, climbing wall, diving board, and spray features. There’s also pool basketball and volleyball.
* It’s open daily through mid-August and then is open on weekends only from the middle of August until Labor Day.
AquaVenture
Where: 715 S. First St., Norfolk, Neb.
Distance from Omaha: About 2 hours
What to expect: The water park has several draws including a wave pool, water slides, and zero-depth entry to the pool. Kids will also like the play station, water cannon, and water walk. There’s also a regular pool with diving boards.
Cost: $
Island Oasis Water Park
Where: 321 E. Fonner Park Road, Grand Island, Neb.
Distance from Omaha: About 2 hours and 15 minutes
What to expect: This water park has a huge, 350,000 gallon wave pool plus a lazy river. There are six water slides, including two that are six stories tall.
There’s a children’s area that’s zero-depth entry with spray fountains and a small slide. Additional features include a sand play area, lily pad crossing, and a log walk.
Cost: $
Adventure Bay
Where: 3200 Adventureland Drive, Altoona, Iowa
Distance from Omaha: About 2 hours and 10 minutes
What to expect: The Iowa water park has two claims to fame: It has Iowa’s largest wave pool and Iowa’s longest lazy river. There’s a lot to do at this water park besides those two, though, including several water slides, a splash pad and kid’s play area, and more.
Cost: $$$$ (includes admission to Adventureland)
Siouxnami Waterpark
Where: 770 Seventh St. NE, Sioux Center, Iowa
Distance from Omaha: 2 hours and 20 minutes
What to expect: This an a year-round activity center that happens to have a pretty sweet indoor and outdoor aquatic center. Outside, the pool has a climbing wall and the Iowa’s only aqua zipline. There are also three water slides and a lazy river.
Cost: $
King’s Pointe Waterpark Resort
Where: 1520 East Lakeshore Drive, Storm Lake, Iowa
Distance from Omaha: 2 hours and 20 minutes
What to expect: King’s Pointe Resort has two waterparks (one is indoors), featuring five slides and a lazy river. As a bonus, King’s Pointe is located next to a swimming beach on the lake.
Cost: $$
Aquacourt Water Park
Where: 2200 W. Third St., Hastings, Neb.
Distance from Omaha: About 2 hours and 25 minutes
What to expect: Aquacourt Water Park is a public pool with extra attractions like a couple slides, a wave pool and a lazy river. There’s also a splash spray ground for little kids, zero-depth entry pool, and log rolling.
Cost: $
* Water park may close as early as Aug. 7 due to staff shortages, according to the city.
Oceans of Fun
Where: 4545 Worlds of Fun Ave., Kansas City, Mo.
Distance from Omaha: 2 hours and 50 minutes
What to expect: When the tropical-themed water park in Missouri opened in 1982, it was the largest in the world. It’s still pretty impressive with more than a dozen of water slides (many at the thrill-ride level); a huge wave pool; Coconut Cove, Splash Island and Paradise Falls for kids; and a great lazy river.
Cost: $$$$ (includes admission to Worlds of Fun as well)
Marshalltown Aquatic Center
Where: Marshalltown, Iowa
Distance from Omaha: About 2 hours and 50 minutes
What to expect: Marshalltown Aquatic Center has water slides, a lazy river, and a separate zero-depth entry pool.
Cost: $
* Closes on Aug. 21
The Waterfront at Bridges Bay Resort
Where: 630 Linden Drive, Arnolds Park, Iowa
Distance from Omaha: 3 hours and 15 minutes
What to expect: If you go to the Lake Okoboji in the summer, expect to spend time at the lake. But if you’re staying at Bridges Bay Resort, your kids will also want to hang out at the water park. There are three slides and a swim-up bar.
The resort’s indoor water park, Boji Splash, is the big draw, though, and has spray ground, pool, whirlpool, and a 500-gallon dump bucket.
Cost: $$$
Beach Ottumwa
Where: 101 Church St., Ottumwa, Iowa
Distance from Omaha: About 3 hours and 25 minutes
What to expect: This Ottumwa water park has three slides, a 300,000-gallon wave pool, and a children’s play area with slides and interactive water features. You an also head indoors where there’s a pool and another slide.
Cost: $
Lost Island Water Park
Where: 2225 E. Shaulis Road, Waterloo, iowa
Distance from Omaha: About 4 hours
What to expect: You can spend an entire day at Lost Island with its 11 large waterslides, four kids areas, a wave pool, and a large, tropical lazy river.
Cost: $$$$ (buy online to get the best price)
Other places to cool off near Omaha
Besides waterparks, here are a few other places to cool off this summer:
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