There’s nothing that says summer more than spending the day in the water. Whether you’re on a float trip, want to cool off in a creek after a long hike or just need to spend the afternoon at the local splash pad, those peak, hot days of summer demand cooling off in the water. Sure, you could hide away all day in your climate-controlled house, but that’s what winter is for. Summer is for getting outside, and if you have to get outside, might as well give yourself a chance to cool off. Here are our favorite aquatic places in the area to take a dip.
Splash Pads & Water Parks
1009 2nd Street, Platte City
Brand new as of last year, this Platte City park has both a splash pad, playground, and a creek that your kids will love to play in.
4545 Worlds of Fun Avenue, Kansas City
Is it truly a Kansas City summer without a trip to Oceans of Fun? Don’t forget — kids 5 and under are free! The season pass is definitely a good bang for your buck if you go more than once to either park.
Tiffany Springs Aquatic Center
9400 N Congress Avenue, Kansas City
Whether you’re team lazy river or water slide, there’s something for everyone! They also have toddler times during weekday mornings for little ones for just $5.
7011 N Holmes Street, Gladstone
This zero-entry pool is perfect for little ones but has a water slide and water buckets to entertain older kids, too.
970 S 291 Highway, Liberty
This brand-new renovation features a standard playground and also a splash pad with a big ol’ bucket your kids will love to stand under.
401 N Grover Street, Liberty
This is a smaller splash pad in Liberty that is better for toddlers but has plenty of shade to keep you cooler for longer play.
701 E 21st Avenue, North Kansas City
This playground/splash pad combo has plenty of shade and is also fenced in, so you can stress a bit less with littles running around.
106 S Jefferson Street, Kearney
This new splash pad in Kearney has a similar design to Liberty’s City Park and also will keep your kids entertained – and soaked — for a while!
Smithville Splash Pad & Playground
19535 Corbyn Lane, Smithville
This small splash pad is fenced in and great for locals looking for some quick entertainment during long summer days.
7210 NW 86th Terrace, Kansas City, MO
This astro turf park and splash pad in the middle of Zona Rosa is a great stop between errands — as long as you brought your kids a change of clothes! The park is small but will keep your kids entertained for a while, and they have Friday morning coffee meet-ups for families during the summer, too.
5940 NW Waukomis Drive, Kansas City
This zero-entry pool is small but inexpensive, with just a $4 entry (kids 2 and under are free).
1101 NE 47th Street, Kansas City
This 50-meter lap pool is also a $4 entry, and you can even rent it out for birthday parties!
4498 NW High Drive, Riverside
This zero-entry pool is $3 to enter and your older kids can practice their jumps on the diving board.
Excelsior Springs Community Center
500 Tiger Drive, Excelsior Springs
This community center has an indoor pool and recently, an outdoor pool, so you can swim all year round.
Creeks & Lakes
6060 NW Waukomis Drive, Kansas City
Whether you want to cool down after a bike ride or just take your kids to splash around, the entrance to the creek is just a short walk from the parking lot, and the shallow waters and wildlife will keep them entertained for the afternoon.
26600 Park Road North, Lawson
While a bit of a drive, Watkins Mill is a great camping spot. Kids can play in a creek with access a short walk from the parking lot, or you can take them to swim in the lake with its sandy beach. You can also boat and fish.
Martha Lafite Thompson Nature Sanctuary
407 N La Frenz Road, Liberty
Your kids will love exploring wildlife at this nature sanctuary in Liberty. While it’s a bit of a walk to the creek, your kids will easily want to spend the afternoon looking for frogs and bugs in the water under the old train bridge.
16610 NW 130th Street, Platte City
This paved path in Platte City is perfect for biking, and not far into the trail is a creek with waterfalls that is a great spot for tired little travelers to play.
17201 Paradesian, Smithville
While a great place to boat and fish, you can also take your kids to the sand beach to splash around.
221 S Beaver Shelter Lane, Olathe, KS
While not in the Northland, Lake Olathe is worth a trip. It has a waterfall, pond and creek for kids to play in, as well as a splash pad and sand pit. Plus, older kids will love the actual lake, with its inflatable obstacle course. There’s great boating, fishing and biking in this large park, too.
100 E 12 Street, Parkville
This path is great to introduce kids to hiking and while it’s not my favorite creek for little ones, the waterfall is an impressive spot to stop and have a picnic.
900 Ida Street, Lansing, KS
This trail in Lansing is paved and great for biking, and it has a fun creek to play in under a bridge filled with tadpoles, frogs, and crawdads.