Beat the Heat in NWA This Summer!
June is heating us all up right along with it! Northwest Arkansas may not be close to any oceans to help us cool down with a splash, but there are plenty of places nearby to cool down and have fun with the family. Whether you prefer waterparks or a more natural setting, read on to find inspiration for your family’s perfect day out on the water.
If you’re looking for water slides, lazy rivers, and all the excitement that comes with a waterpark then you are in luck. There are several water and aquatic parks within driving distance from NWA!
Rogers, Prairie Grove, and Siloam Springs Aquatic Centers feature lap pools, waterslides, and diving boards. Rogers Park takes things up another notch with a lazy river and a splash park! Admission to the Rogers Park is admittedly higher, but at $12 for a resident and $15 for non-residents (compared to $5 at PG and SS), these are still family-friendly prices close to home that are hard to beat for a day of splashing fun!
Magic Springs & Crystal Falls in Hot Springs, Arkansas, has epic rides, shows, and (most importantly) a water park. The park has multiple areas to get wet! The water park features Rapid Falls Raceway water racing slide, the High Sierra Slide Tower, Kodiak Canyon Adventure River tube float, and a surf simulator ride! The Seven Falls area has tubing and body slides, and Grizzly Creek Splash Zone has a log flume challenge. If you have little ones, Bear Cub Bend is perfect for them. There is also a wave pool and a wading pool - not to mention, the mystical Magic Spring. So, you should easily keep busy for the whole day!
You’ll find Splash Country Indoors and Splash Country Outdoors at the Grand Country Inn in Branson Missouri. The park has something for everyone - a lazy river, dump bucket, two giant tube slides, water rides & games, and a lounging area with a concession stand. Inside there is even a three-level tree house with water games, a toddler pool, a basketball pool, a lazy river, and two massaging jet spas.
Another Branson treat is Silver Dollar City’s, White Water Waterpark. There you will find speed slides and plunging water slides, and a wave pool, plus calmer raft rides and a lazy river that takes you through a Polynesian landscape. Coconut Cove was made for the little ones, and the interactive RainTree Island has geysers and aqua-shooters to keep everyone laughing all day. White Water was recently voted one of America’s best outdoor water parks, so you better check it out and see what all the hype is about - oh, and don’t forget to rent your own private Cabana to laze the day away!
Castle Rock Resort and Waterpark in Branson is an indoors resort, which means you can have a waterpark vacation any time of year you’d like! The park offers water slides, dump buckets, and a lazy river. There is also a pool and play area for little ones, and a standard lap pool.
If you'd rather have a more natural water inspired day, don’t worry! There are endless lakes, rivers, waterfalls, state parks, and even resorts to choose from!
Siloam Springs Kayak Park is a treasure of NWA. The park has engineered rapids that make for a fun kayak, canoe, or tubing run. You can work on your paddling skills or splash around in one of the many swimming holes on the banks of the river.
State Parks - Lake Ponder, DeGray Lake Resort, and Lake Ouachita are just a few of the beautiful Arkansas State Parks that offer water access. Each one has camping or lodging on site or nearby that you can use for a longer stay, or just make it a day trip. Lake Ponder is a natural lake that has been enhanced - there are slides and snorkeling for added fun. Degray Lake is an island resort with guided kayaking tours, stand up paddle boarding, fishing, jet skiing, and sunset cruises. The resort setting means there is something for everyone at Degray Lake. Lake Ouachita is Arkansas’ Largest Lake and has everything from overnight to day use areas. You can even scuba dive here in the clean beautiful waters! Check out the Charlton Rec Ara and the spring-fed Walnut Creek too!
Norfork Lake is the only lake in the Ozark Mountains with white, sandy beaches! Which means you can live that beach bum life without leaving Arkansas! This lake is a dream come true for water and nature lovers alike. The lake has a 42 mile length of pristine blue water and somewhere around 550 miles of un-commercialized, natural shoreline.
Falling Water Falls feeds a swimming hole at its base that creates the perfect spot for a refreshing swim. It’s also perfect for the whole family because the swimming hole is just right off the road. There is no need to hike, you can just pull up in your car and enjoy all this beautiful spot has to offer.
Buffalo National River or technically the park surrounding the Buffalo River is also a state park, but the river is nationally protected. There are swimming holes all around this beautiful river. One pristine spot is Woolum. You won’t be able to get enough of its crystal-clear water and the surrounding bluffs. The Buffalo River is also a super fun location for kayaking and canoeing trips.
Tubing - If tubing is more up your alley, you should definitely check out these rivers. The Kings River offers beautiful scenery and clear waters. The Caddo River has a stretch that is mostly calm, but also has a few small rapids - just to keep things interesting. Spring River is fed by Mammoth Springs which means this water is super cold. It’s a good choice for a particularly hot summers day.
And there you have it folks, definitely not an exhaustive list of water related fun to be had in NWA, but it’s certainly enough to keep you busy for this summer! We hope you stay cool, and if one of your trips has you falling in love with a new area of Arkansas, make sure to think of us for your move.
