While a day at the beach is everyone’s idea of a good time, it can’t happen every day.
But you’re in luck — there are dozens of water parks in the area, all ready to show you a good time this summer.
Grab your towels and your SPF 100 sunscreen and let’s show summer 2024 how it’s done.
Here are some area water parks in the Chicago suburbs and northwest Indiana.
Aurora
Phillips Park Family Aquatic Center: 828 Montgomery Road, Aurora. 630-851-8686; phillipsparkaquatics.info. Open daily June 1 to Aug. 11; hours are 10:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays; 12:30-6 p.m. Fridays-Sundays. Open weekends only Aug. 17-Sept. 2; hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. July 4 and Sept. 2. Season pass holders admitted 30 minutes prior to opening each day, not including holidays. Admission: $8-$12- weekdays; $1 more on weekends and holidays. Children under 2 free. Season passes: $75-$95.
The aquatic center offers two drop-off slides into a plunge pool, an enclosed body flume slide and two winding body flume slides. Events include the World’s Large Swim Lesson June 21, Poolside Bingo Party June 29, Adult Float July 19, Christmas in July on July 25 and a Duck Derby Aug. 1.
Splash Country Water Park: 195 S. Barnes Road, Aurora. 630-906-7981; splashcountry.info. Open daily June 1 to Aug. 4; hours are 10:30 a.m.-7 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays and 10:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Fridays-Sundays. Open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. July 4. Season pass holders admitted 30 minutes prior to opening each day, not including holidays. $8-$12; $1 more on weekends and holidays. Children under 2 free. Season passes: $75-$95.
Special events this summer include a Lazy River 5K on June 30, where participants can walk or run with the lazy river’s current. Taylor Swift fans will want to mark their calendars for a Cruel Summer Pool Party July 13 and grownups take over the pool for an Adult Float Aug. 2.
Batavia
Harold Hall Quarry Beach: 400 S. Water St., Batavia. 630-406-5275 (summer only) or 630-879-5235; bataviaparks.org /harold-hall-quarry-beach. Open daily May 25 to Aug. 11; hours are 12-7 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and 12-6 p.m. Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays. Pass holders admitted at 11 a.m. daily. $10-$12. Season passes: $90-$120.
This hot spot boasts a sandy beach, water slide, inflatables and concession stand.
Bolingbrook
Pelican Harbor Indoor/Outdoor Aquatic Park: 200 S. Lindsey Lane, Bolingbrook. 630-739-1777; bolingbrookparks.org/facilities/pelican-harbor. Open daily May 25 to Aug. 18: 12-7 p.m. weekdays and 12-5:30 p.m. weekends through Aug. 18. $12-$18. Kids under 2 free. Memberships: $156-$204.
There are four water slides, a sprayground for young children, a lazy river and a diving well with drop slide and one-meter diving board.
Carpentersville
Dolphin Cove Family Aquatic Center: 300 N. Kennedy Drive, Carpentersville. 847-836-7946; dtpd.org/dolphin-cove-family-aquatic-center. Open daily May 25 to Aug. 11: hours are 10:30 a.m.-8 p.m. weekdays and 12:30-6 p.m. weekends through Aug. 11. Weekends only through Sept. 2. Open 10:30 a.m.-4 p.m. July 4. Daytime: $10-$13; Evening $5-$7; $1 less for kids ages 3-9 and seniors 62 and older. Free for 2 and under. Season passes: $81-$123 for individuals.
Amenities include geysers and slides, Rip Tide body slide, Typhoon tube slide, a beach area with jungle gym and a café.
Riders enjoy the Tsunami Surge at Hurricane Harbor Chicago in Gurnee. (Hurricane Harbor Chicago)
Gurnee
Hunt Club Park Aquatic Center: 900 N. Hunt Club Road, Gurnee. 847-599-3780; gurneeparkdistrict.com/aquatics/aquatic-center. Open daily June 1 to Sept. 2; hours are 12-7 p.m. Pass holders can enter one hour early. See website for end-of-season hours. $13. Season passes: $102-$112.
This park boasts seven waterslides, a cascading waterfall, interactive play area and café.
Hurricane Harbor: 1 Great America Parkway, Gurnee. 847-249-4636; sixflags.com/hurricaneharborchicago. Open daily May 25 to Sept. 2. Hours vary by day; see website. $30-$49.99. Parking $40-$50. Season passes: $59-$129.
The Dive Bomber is a maximum thrill ride that is not for the faint of heart. After you climb the 50-foot ramp to the top of the tower, a trap door opens up underneath your feet and sends you plummeting down the super-loop slide. Other thrill rides include the Tornado, the Mega Wedgie and the Tsunami Surge. Those rides join a wave pool, lazy river and kids’ areas.
Highland Park
Hidden Creek AquaPark: 1220 Fredrickson Place, Highland Park. 847-433-3170; pdhp.org/hidden-creek-aquatic-park-outdoor-pool. Open daily June 3 to Aug. 11; hours are 11 a.m.-8 p.m. weekdays and 10 a.m.-7 p.m. weekends. Open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. July 4. Pass holders admitted at 10 a.m. weekdays. Open 10 a.m.-7 p.m. weekends Aug. 12-Sept. 2. $12-$17. Free for kids 3 and under. Season passes: $144-$201 for individuals.
This pool offers water slides, a drop slide and a water playground.
Lisle
Sea Lion Aquatic Park: 1825 Short St., Lisle. 630-964-3410; lisleparkdistrict.org/sealionaquaticpark.html. Open daily June 1 to Aug. 11; hours are 11:30 a.m.-8 p.m. Passholders admitted at 11 a.m. $7-$13. Discount for admission after 6 p.m. Children under age 3 are free. Season passes: $142-$243.
This park has drop slides, flume slides, a hot tub, splash ground, vortex pool and a sandy area.
Mundelein
Barefoot Bay Aquatic Center: 1461 N. Midlothian Road, Mundelein. 847-566-8661; mundeleinparks.org/facilities-parks/barefoot-bay-aquatic-center. Open daily starting June 1; hours are 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Pass holders allowed in at 10:30 a.m. Check the website for end-of-season hours. $13-$20. Season passes: $115-$160 for individuals.
Amenities include a 12-foot diving well, lazy river, tube slides and an AquaClimb water wall. An adults-only Margaritaville Night is July 20, where those 21-and-over can enjoy adult beverages and no children.
Naperville
Centennial Beach: 500 W. Jackson Ave., Naperville. 630-848-5092; centennialbeach.org. Open daily to Aug. 14; hours are 11:30 a.m.-8 p.m. Mondays-Fridays, 11:30 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturdays and 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sundays; 11 a.m.-6 p.m. July 4. Pass holders admitted at 11 a.m. weekdays. End-of-season hours vary; see website. Beach closes Sept. 2. $8-$16. Discount after 5 p.m. Season passes: $56-$91 for adults.
Centennial Beach is Naperville staple, being housed in a former double quarry alongside the DuPage River. It has a water slide, diving boards, deep water area, floating rafts and a sandy beach near the shallow end.
Centennial Beach in Naperville is a popular summertime destination. (Naperville Park District)
Orland Park
Centennial Park Aquatic Center: 15600 West. Ave., Orland Park. 708-403-6100; orlandpark.org/Home/Components/FacilityDirectory/FacilityDirectory/80/. Open May 25 to Sept. 2; 11 a.m.-7 p.m. weekdays and 12-7 p.m. weekends. Dates vary; see website. Passholders admitted at 11 a.m. weekends. See website for end-of-season hours through Sept. 2. $9-$26. Evening rates available. Call for season pass rates.
This park has two body speed slides, a 328-foot tube slide, a 200-foot flume slide, a platform jump and drop slide surrounded by a lazy river.
Park Forest
Park Forest Aqua Center: 30 N. Orchard Drive, Park Forest. 708-503-7729; pfaquacenter.com. Open daily June 8 to Aug. 18; hours are 11:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays, 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Fridays-Sundays. $12. Call for season pass rates.
There is a 160-foot-tall water slide, two drop slides and a 15-foot-high aquatic climbing wall.
St. Charles
Otter Cove Aquatic Park: 3615 Campton Hills Road, St. Charles. 630-513-4377; ottercove.org. Open daily May 25 to Aug. 15; hours are 11:30 a.m.-7 p.m.. $12-$16. Twilight swim $7.
This park features two drop slides and two one-meter diving boards, a three-person racer slide and turbo free-fall slide, a lazy river, splash park, toddler pool and more.
Tinley Park
White Water Canyon Water Park: 8221 W. 171st St., Tinley Park. 708-342-4200; tinleyparkdistrict.org/white-water-canyon-water-park. Open daily June 1 to Aug. 11; hours are 12-8 p.m.; 10 a.m.-6 p.m. July 4. End-of-season hours vary; see website. Last day Sept. 2. Pass holders may enter at 11:30 a.m. $10-$20. $5 after 5 p.m. Season passes: $93-$186 for adults.
The park includes an interactive children’s play area, a 1-meter diving board and a 3-meter drop slide as well as a 600-foot lazy river.
Woodridge
Cypress Cove Family Aquatic Park: 8301 S. James Ave., Woodridge. 630-353-3350; cypresscove.org. Open June 1 to Sept. 2; hours are 12-8 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays and 12-5 p.m. weekends. $11.50-$19.50. Season passes: $186-$226 for adults.
For parents looking for something to do with their kids this summer, the Bullfrog Bayou sprayground is open from 9-11 a.m. (before the rest of the park) for young children. There’s also a lazy river, water slides, snack shack and sandy play area.
Yorkville
Raging Waves Waterpark: 4000 N. Bridge St, Yorkville. 630-882-6575; ragingwaves.com. Open daily June 1 to Aug. 10; hours are 10 a.m.-6 p.m. daily most days. End-of-season hours vary; see website. Park closes Sept. 8. $44.99-$59.99. Parking $20-$30. Season passes: $69.
This park is spread over 58 acres and boasts more than 30 waterslides, a quarter-mile-long lazy river, a giant wave pool, areas for toddlers and small children, 43 private cabanas and restaurants.
Indiana
Merrillville
Deep River Waterpark: 9001 E. Lincoln Highway, Merrillville, Indiana. 219-947-7850; deepriverwaterpark.com. Open June 7 to Aug. 11; hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Open weekends through Sept. 2. $39.95-$41.95. Season passes: $119 for adults.
Attractions include the Dragon speed slides, the Storm tube slides, the Kraken multi-lane racing slide, the 800-foot-long Bayou River and MidAmerica lazy rivers, the Double Dueling Cannon Bowl, Paddles PlayZone for tots, Mayor Byrdovich’s Courthouse interactive aqua play area and the Rip Tide wave pool.
Special events include INFEAT Night June 30 for people with disabilities and their friends and families, Special Olympics Night July 13 and YMCA Night July 27.
WhoaZone at Whihala Beach: 1561 Park Road, Whiting, Indiana. 866-946-2966; whoazonewhihala.com. Open daily June 15-Aug. 18; hours are 11 a.m.-6 p.m. $23 for one hour; $10 for an additional hour; $55 for all-day splash.
WhoaZone is a floating obstacle course in Lake Michigan. Shaded seats are available for rental. Snacks and aqua socks are available for purchase.
Annie Alleman is a freelance reporter for the Beacon-News.;
