South Florida Water Parks & Aquatic Centers: Family Guide to Broward and Palm Beach

Updated September 2026. Several county water parks have closed for the 2026 season, but some venues may still have fall dates. Prices below are 2026 rates; check current calendars before visiting.

Summer in South Florida means water, and one of the things families love about living here is having a water park or aquatic center 15 minutes from home. Broward and Palm Beach counties have everything from big slide parks to small city pools with lazy rivers. Here's a guide to the best ones, what they cost, when they're open, and which neighborhoods are nearby.

Quick Guide: When Water Parks Are Open

• Broward County water parks (Paradise Cove, Castaway Island, Splash Adventure) ran weekends only from mid-August and closed for the season on September 27, 2026. In 2026 they opened for spring break on March 13.
• Rapids Water Park opened March 14 for the 2026 season. Check its live calendar for fall operating dates; do not assume it has closed.
• City and county water parks vary by season. Coconut Cove and Calypso Bay in Palm Beach County say their regular 2026 seasons have ended; check each venue for events and next season's dates.
• Want to swim this fall? Lake Lytal Family Aquatic Center in West Palm Beach lists September open-swim hours Tuesday through Saturday. Slides are closed in September; the schedule changes monthly.

Broward County

Paradise Cove at C.B. Smith Park (Pembroke Pines)

900 N. Flamingo Rd. Broward's biggest county water park, with tall slides, water playgrounds and a 410-foot lazy river. $15 per person in 2026.

Living nearby: Pembroke Pines, Miramar and Cooper City.

Splash Adventure at Quiet Waters Park (Deerfield Beach)

401 S. Powerline Rd. A smaller water playground that's great for younger kids, inside a park with cable wakeboarding, trails and camping. $6 per person in 2026.

Living nearby: Deerfield Beach, Coconut Creek and Pompano Beach.

Castaway Island at T.Y. Park (Hollywood)

3300 N. Park Rd. Separate water play areas for little kids and older kids, surrounded by shaded lakeside paths. $10 per person in 2026.

Living nearby: Hollywood, Dania Beach and Hallandale Beach.

Calypso Cove (Margate)

6200 Royal Palm Blvd. A Caribbean-themed city aquatic center with a lazy river and interactive water playground, plus free shade umbrellas and lounge chairs. In 2026 it was $6 for Margate residents and $12 for non-residents (ages 5 and up).

Living nearby: Margate, Coconut Creek and Coral Springs.

Cypress Water Park (Coral Springs)

1300 Coral Springs Dr. A manageable-size city water park with slides and a kids' water playground. It's seasonal, with weekend-only hours in spring.

Living nearby: Coral Springs and Parkland.

City Pools: Caporella (Tamarac) and Pine Island (Davie)

Not full water parks, but both city aquatic centers offer family swim and swim lessons. Check each city's site for current hours.

Palm Beach County

Rapids Water Park (Riviera Beach)

6566 N. Military Trail. Rapids calls itself South Florida's largest water park, with dozens of slides, a wave pool and a lazy river. 2026 day tickets started at $44.99, with prices varying by date. It's a full-day trip.

Living nearby: Palm Beach Gardens, North Palm Beach and Riviera Beach.

Coconut Cove Waterpark (Boca Raton)

20130 Regional Park Dr. A 986-foot river ride, lily pad walk and water playground in Burt Aaronson South County Regional Park. 2026 admission was $18 for ages 12 and up and $14 for kids 2 to 11.

Living nearby: West Boca Raton, known for its newer master-planned communities.

Calypso Bay Waterpark (Royal Palm Beach)

151 Lamstein Lane. A river ride, slides and splash playground at Seminole Palms Park. Its regular 2026 season is over. Check the venue for special events and next season's dates.

Living nearby: Royal Palm Beach, Wellington and Westlake.

Lake Lytal Family Aquatic Center (West Palm Beach)

3645 Gun Club Rd. A county aquatic center with a competition pool, slides and a kids' water playground. Daily admission is $4.90 for adults and $4.31 for kids 3 to 12. In September, open swim is listed Tuesday through Friday, 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m., and Saturday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. The slides are closed in September. Check the monthly calendar before visiting; hours vary with staffing, weather and events.

Living nearby: Suburban West Palm Beach and Greenacres.

Safari Splash at Lion Country Safari (Loxahatchee)

2003 Lion Country Safari Rd. A splash area that's included with admission. See giraffes and rhinos in the morning, then cool off in the afternoon.

Free Option: Splash Pads

Many cities have free splash pads, like Liberty Park in Parkland, Firefighters Park in Davie, Charnow Park on Hollywood Beach, Veterans Park in Royal Palm Beach and the play area at Sugar Sand Park in Boca. Most run spring through early fall, so check your city's parks page before you go.

Why This Matters When You Buy a Home

A water park or pool nearby won't make or break a home purchase, but it's a big part of everyday life for families here. Your kids will be at these places every summer weekend. If you're comparing neighborhoods, look at what's within a 15-minute drive. It says a lot about how your family will actually spend its time.

Looking for a Family-Friendly Neighborhood?

I'd love to help you find a home in Broward or Palm Beach County that fits your family. Call or text me at (561) 289-9305 or email chris@homesbycusi.com.

Sources: Broward County Parks and Recreation water parks page (broward.org); FTL Review (August 11, 2026); Rapids Water Park (rapidswaterpark.com); Coconut Cove Waterpark (coconutcove-waterpark.com); Calypso Bay Waterpark (calypsobaywaterpark.com); City of Margate (margatefl.com); City of Coral Springs (coralsprings.gov); Palm Beach County Parks and Recreation, Lake Lytal (discover.pbc.gov); The Friendly Scoop, "The Ultimate Guide to Water Parks & Family Aquatic Centers in South Florida (2026)" (thefriendlyscoop.com/news/water-parks-family-aquatic-centers-south-florida-2026).