A perfect summer day usually includes lounging under the sun by the pool, but with this heat wave, you may not want to be outdoors. Luckily, that doesn’t mean you have to miss out on pool time. Start planning a trip to these nearby indoor water parks.
Cub Run Rec Center
12 minutes from Dulles
Escape the heat at Fairfax County’s indoor water park. The leisure pool is full of fun amenities, including a lazy river, a 30-foot and a 20-foot-tall slide, in-water playground, and water jets, cannons, and sprays to stay cool. The rec center also has a spa, which makes the perfect spot for parents to relax. 4630 Stonecroft Blvd., Chantilly
Freedom Aquatic & Fitness Center
30 minutes from Dulles
The largest indoor natatorium in Northern Virginia is the spot to be all summer long. A serpentine slide, swirling vortex, and tumble buckets are highlights in the leisure pool. The area is open during recreation swim hours. 9100 Freedom Center Blvd., Manassas
Warrenton Aquatic and Recreation Facility
44 minutes from Dulles
Take a trip to the Warrenton rec center for a quick cool off. Your littlest ones will stay busy in the shallow area with a playground equipped with slides, splash buckets, and other spray features. Older kids and adults will find themselves queuing up for the twisting slide or relaxing in the lazy river. 800 Waterloo Rd., Warrenton
Massanutten Resort
2 hours from Dulles
Kept at a constant 84 degrees, you’ll always feel refreshed after a trip to this indoor park. You can spend hours climbing the Massanutten Meltdown, aka the larger-than-life water playhouse, and probably be unable to try every feature. That’s not where the indoor park ends either. There’s a lazy river that encircles the playhouse, The Pipeline where guests can learn how to bodyboard, and the Frog Pond which will keep babies and toddlers entertained. 1822 Resort Dr., Massanutten
Great Wolf Lodge
2 hours, 36 minutes from Dulles
This indoor water park works for both a day trip and overnight stay. With 55,000 square feet to have fun, this play zone has everything you could dream of. For the thrill seekers, head down one of the tube slides, which range up to four stories tall. The kids are likely to spend the day exploring the water fort treehouse, wave pool, and basketball playground. The resort also has locations in Maryland (2 hours, 15 minutes from Dulles) and Pennsylvania (4 hours from Dulles). 549 E. Rochambeau Dr., Williamsburg
Kalahari Resort
4 hours from Dulles
As one of the largest indoor water parks in the U.S., you won’t regret the trip up North. With 220,000 square feet dedicated to water fun, you’ll have trouble trying every ride in one day. The Pennsylvania water park includes 15 different slides, a zero-entry play area, bodyboarding, a wave pool, a lazy river, and indoor and outdoor spas. Plus, guests 21 and older will appreciate the two swim-up bars that serve signature cocktails and refreshing beers. 250 Kalahari Blvd., Pocono Manor, Pennsylvania
Camelback Resort
4 hours from Dulles
This Poconos resort offers options to swim indoors and outdoors. The indoor Aquatopia water park features 10 tube and body slides, a wave pool, a warm spa lagoon, and a water play structure with 84 water features. The water park also has food and drink options, so there’s no need to leave during your visit. 193 Resort Dr., Tannersville
Feature image courtesy Massanutten Resort
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