Beat the heat at a waterpark! 9 places in Tennessee to find cool summer fun

Temperatures are scorching this summer thanks heat waves, humidity and heat indexes. Splashing and relaxing at a water park is a fun way to beat the heat.

Luckily, Tennessee has several water parks around the state, including two that were named among the best in the country this year by USA TODAY’s 10Best awards. East Tennessee is home to Dollywood’s Splash Country and many other water parks, but some can be found in Middle Tennessee, too, such as Nashville Shores Lakeside Resort.

Here’s a roundup of nine popular water parks in Tennessee. Now imagine yourself enjoying the refreshing cool water as the sun continues to beam this summer.

• Boro Beach features two giant water slides, a splash pad, a climbing wall and a floating bridge.
• Admission: $5+
• Address: 2310 Memorial Blvd., Murfreesboro, Tennessee

• Splash Country landed at No. 10 on the 2024 10Best water parks list. It features 16 water rides, including Big Bear Plunge, Mountain Scream, Raging River Rapids and Fire Tower Falls.
• Admission: $54.95+
• Address: 2700 Dollywood Parks Blvd., Pigeon Forge, Tennessee

• This is “Nashville’s biggest water park,” with more than 1 million gallons of summer fun. Nashville Shores has 10 thrilling water slides, water treehouse and playground, and a lazy river and beach for summer leisure.
• Admission: $39.99+
• Address: 4001 Bell Road, Nashville, Tennessee

• The 50-acre water park was ranked No. 8 on the 2024 10Best water parks list. It has water coasters, including The Edge, a dueling coaster that opened in 2023, water slides, an adventure river and a wave pool.
• Admission: $41.99+
• Address: 175 Gists Creek Road, Sevierville

• SoundWaves is a four-acre, three-level upscale indoor/outdoor aquatic experience at Gaylord Opryland Resort, featuring thrilling water rides and relaxing water attractions for the entire family. The outdoor area has a 45-foot slide tower. There also is a wave pool, adults-only pool, bars, private cabanas and food trucks.
• Visit soundwavesgo.com for packages and day pass information.
• Address: 2800 Opryland Drive, Nashville, Tennessee

• Nashville’s Wave Country is an outdoor water park with three water flumes, two speed slides, and a kiddie pool with water-dropping features and a playground.
• Admission: $10+
• Address: 2320 Two Rivers Parkway, Nashville, Tennessee

• Wetlands has several water slides, including 80- to 200-foot flume slides. There also is a lazy river, zero-depth wading area and a children’s area.
• Admission: $10+
• Address: 1523 Persimmon Ridge Road, Jonesborough, Tennessee

• Wild Bear Falls is an indoor water park with a retractable roof. You can float along the lazy river, glide down a giant water slide or explore the interactive treehouse. The water park is accessible even without booking a room at the adjoining Westgate Smoky Mountain Resort.
• Tickets: $35 for ages 14 and older, $17.50 for ages 4-13 and free for children 3 and younger
• Hours: 11 a.m.-7 p.m.
• Location: 915 Westgate Resorts Road, Gatlinburg

• There are two outdoor water parks at Wilderness at the Smokies. Lake Wilderness has the new Treehouse Springs and tall thrill slides, The Wall, Wild Vortex and Cyclone Racer. And Salamander Springs features 150-foot-long body and tube slides and a multi-level play and spray structure.
• Wild WaterDome, the indoor water park at Wilderness, features Ridge Runner, a three-story water coaster.
• Check wildernessatthesmokies.com for day passes and booking options.
• Address: 1424 Old Knoxville Highway, Sevierville, Tennessee.

There are no major water parks in West Tennessee, but Shelby Farms Park, Kroc Center, Eiffel Tower Spray Park and Suggs Park, all near the Memphis area, have water attractions worth checking out according to tnvacation.com.

Devarrick Turner is a trending news reporter. Email devarrick.turner@knoxnews.com. On X, formerly known as Twitter @dturner1208. 

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