The Best Water Parks in New York State

One of the country's most acclaimed and largest water parks, Splish Splash offers all kinds of ways to get wet. Highlights include the bowl ride, Dragon's Den, as well as speed slides, and a funnel ride.

In addition to the indoor water park, Six Flags Great Escape Lodge (see above), The Great Escape also offers a large outdoor water park that is included in admission to the amusement park. Features include Capt'n Hook's Adventure River, the huge Black Cobra enclosed tube slides, and the Lumberjack Splash Wave Pool. Because Darien Lake and The Great Escape are Six Flags properties, their water parks are both branded “Hurricane Harbor.”

This large water park is included in admission to Six Flags Darien Lake amusement park. Highlights include Brain Drain, a 300-foot-long water slide that sends passenger into a 360-degree sideways loop, the Big Kahuna family raft ride, and Tornado, a funnel ride.

Enchanted Forest Water Safari is a large seasonal, outdoor water park that includes the Cascade Falls family raft ride, the Killermanjaro speed slide, and the Tidal Wave Pool. The park also offers "dry" amusement rides including a Ferris wheel, bumper cars, and a Tilt-A-Whirl. "Enchanted" attractions include Storybook Lane and other activities for young children.

Roseland is a good-sized water park. Highlights include The Cliff, a 65-foot-tall speed slide, and Mammoth, a family raft ride. Other attractions include beach volleyball, boat rentals, and the Water War Zone water ballon fight.

SplashDown Beach is a good-sized standalone water park. Highlights include Arctic Mammoth, a family raft ride, the Humunga Half-Pipe, and the large Monster Wave Pool.

This medium-sized, seasonal water park is included in admission to Seabreeze amusement park. Highlights include the Helix bowl ride and Hydro Racer, a mat racing water slide.

Located near Niagara Falls and Buffalo, the medium-sized, outdoor water park is included in admission to Martin's Fantasy Island amusement park. Highlights include The Cannon Bowl bowl ride and Dragster Drench, a multi-lane mat racing slide.

Billed as the largest indoor water park in New York, The Kartrite offers plenty of attractions, including Nor’easter, a raft ride that soars up a half-funnel, a FlowRider surfing ride, the Empire Bay lazy river, and Kartrite Island, a huge interactive water play center with a dump bucket. The Kartrite resort also includes a spa, restaurants, function rooms, and a hotel featuring suites.

Located next to The Great Escape amusement park (which is open during the warmer months), the indoor Six Flags Great Escape Lodge remains open year round. It is comparatively small for an indoor park. But it offers a surprising number of attractions including a FlowRider wave simulator for body surfing and  Avalanche, a family raft ride.

The medium-sized water park is part of Hope Lake Lodge Resort and Greek Peak. Highlights include water slides, an indoor/outdoor whirlpool spa, and an interactive play structure with a tipping bucket. In the winter, Greek Peak also offers downhill and cross-country skiing as well as snow tubing and snow boarding.

A medium-sized park, Thunder Island’s attractions include tube slides, kiddie slides, and a mini lazy river. The water park is part of a family entertainment center, which also offers go-karts, mini-golf, zip-lining, and an arcade.