Indoor Water Parks Near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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Unlike its Midwestern neighbors, Pennsylvania has only a few indoor water parks, which are spread around the state. There are a handful in Western Pennsylvania, but only outdoor water parks in the southeastern part of the state. Luckily, close to Philadelphia in nearby New Jersey, families can enjoy two of the largest indoor water parks in the eastern U.S. - Sahara Sam's is a 58,000 square foot, year-round water park in West Berlin, NJ, 21 miles from Philadelphia. There are 11 rides, slides and water features. Visitors can slide, surf or ride the rapids. The water park has a retractible roof that's opened in warmer weather. The Cyclone Flow Rider, a featured attraction, creates surfing or boogie board conditions. It is the only ride of its kind in New Jersey and one of only 100 in the world. During the autumn and winter, Sahara Sam's opens in mid-afternoon and remains open until 7:00 or 8:30 in the evening.
Sahara Sam's
535 N. Route 73
West Berlin, NJ 08091
856-767-7580
saharasams.com - CoCo Key Water Resort is a tropical-themed water park about 18 miles from Philadelphia in Mt. Laurel, New Jersey. The 55,000-square-foot, indoor water park, open every day, features thrill rides with names like Shark Slam, Gator Gush, Barracuda Blast and Pelican Plunge. Water cannons and bucket dumps release hundreds of gallons of water every few minutes, while gentler slides and interactive adventures for younger children have zero-depth entry areas. Reservations are required and day passes are issued based on the park's capacity.
CoCo Key Water Resort at the Mt. Laurel Marriott
915 Route 73
Mt. Laurel, NJ 08054
866-754-6964
cocokeywaterresort.com - Pocono Great Wolf Lodge near Scotrun, Pennsylviania is 103 miles north of Philadelphia. It's an accommodations-based attraction with park passes only issued to overnight guests, which makes the two-hour drive from the city seem less daunting. The Double Barrel Drop is this park's featured thrill ride. It's the only slide of its kind in the world and starts with a six-story drop into a funnel vortex. The ride continues with a sharp hairpin turn into a second vortex and splash down. Rides are graded as to their suitability for toddlers, young children, "tweens," teens, adults or the entire family. Height restrictions apply to some.
Pocono Great Wolf Lodge
100 Scotrun Ave.
Scotrun, PA 18355
800-768-9653
greatwolf.com
