Water Park Day Trips from Jacksonville

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Summer is almost here and BOY is it hot! Sure, we have our pools and the beaches to help us beat these hot summer days, but how about adding some extra fun in the water and sun!? Here are some water park day trips from Jacksonville to places with a few more thrills than just your ordinary pool, beach, or lake.

Before you set off on your water park day trip, there are a few things to remember to make your day a perfect success: Apply sunscreen before you go and reapply throughout the day. Consider packing a snack and drink to keep little ones from getting cranky!

Water Parks In & Around Jax

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Aquatica Water Park Orlando

Aquatica is Sea World’s water park, and I have to say, I think it is my favorite in terms of being most kid-friendly. The theming is not on par with Disney, but it’s extremely clean and has lots to offer with animal encounters and fun slides, a huge kid play area, a lazy river, and my favorite, Roa Rapids. The rapids are like a lazy river but with a little more action! They have great payment plans that make this very affordable, and if you like to go to Orlando at the drop of a hat, annual passes are the most bang for your buck!
Distance from Jacksonville: About 2 hours
Address:5800 Water Play Way, Orlando, FL 32821

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Buccaneer Bay at Weekie Wachee Springs State Park

Head to Weeki Wachee Springs to see the mermaids and cool off at Buccaneer Bay, Florida’s only spring-fed water park. Daily admission into Weeki Wachee State Park includes mermaid shows, reptile shows, riverboat rides, and Buccaneer Bay water park. Get there early as the park closes after max capacity is met!
Address: 6131 Commercial Way, Spring Hill, FL 34606
Distance from Jacksonville: About 3.5 hours

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Daytona Lagoon

Daytona Lagoon is a great day trip because it is only a short drive down 95 from Jax. The park features a full day of fun for the entire family – whether you zap your friends in Lazer Tag, challenge your skills in our MEGA Arcade, take a thrilling plunge down the waterslides, or relax and float around the lazy river. There is something fun for everyone!
Address: 601 Earl Street, Daytona Beach, FL 32118
Distance from Jacksonville: About 1.5 hours

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Discovery Cove

If you are looking for a relaxing day in the sun (or in the shade of a cabana), flowing along a lazy winding river without a care in the world, with maybe an animal encounter or two thrown in, Discovery Cove could be the answer to all your vacation wishes. You can enjoy Discovery Cove as a day trip or make it into a package and enjoy Sea World, Busch Gardens, and/or Aquatica! Check out this full review from Nicki!
Address: 6000 Discovery Cove Way, Orlando, FL 32821
Distance from Jacksonville: About 2.5 hours

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Island H2O Water Park

From exhilarating drop slides to relaxing wave pools, Island H2O Water Park offers over 20 unique experiences at Orlando’s most immersive and technologically-advanced water park.
Address: 3230 Inspiration Drive, Kissimmee, FL 34747
Distance from Jacksonville: About 2.5 hours

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LEGOLAND Florida Water Park

Don’t forget about LEGOLAND®! Aside from the awesome theme park and two hotels, the Legoland water park is worth the drive through Orlando. Prepare to slide, splash and build your way to fun at LEGOLAND® Water Park. From the LEGO® wave pool to the Build-A-Raft lazy river, tube slides, body slides, and interactive water-play structures -Joker Soaker and DUPLO®Safari – your kids will soak up tons of fun! We also love the Cabanas! A Cabana rental includes your own private space, two souvenir towels, a personal locker, use of a mini-fridge stocked with ten bottles of water, two beach recliners, two chairs, and your very own cabana host. 12 Tips Before you Go to LEGOLAND!
Address: One LEGOLAND Way, Winter Haven, FL 33884
Distance from Jacksonville: About 3 hours

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Nona Adventure Park

Nona Adventure Park is a water-based family entertainment center in Lake Nona, Orlando. The inflatable aqua park/obstacle course, Nona Wake cable park and 60’ climbing tower/ropes course/rock walls provide the ultimate outdoor adventure! It’s a great place to spend quality time with your family and friends as there’s something for everyone – fun, adventure, and fitness.
Address: 14086 Centerline Dr, Orlando, FL 32827
Distance from Jax: About 3 hours

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Ragans Family Campground

Enjoy the 60-foot water slide and zero-entry swimming pool; Ragans Water Zone has something for everyone! The Tornado Water Slide Ride is an excellent adventure for thrill seekers, big and small. Take in the views of the park as you climb to the top of the 60-foot water slide and make a SPLASH into th 1/4 of a mile-long Lazy River. The Splash Pad will bring hours of fun to the little ones! Filled with fountains of all shapes and sizes, many water dump stations, and an exciting pirate ship.
Address: 1051 SW Old St. Augustine Road, Madison, FL 32340
Distance from Jax: About 1.5 hours

Water Parks and Splash Pads in Jacksonville

Shipwreck Island at Adventure Landing

Don’t forget about the LOCAL option! Adventure Landing is still standing and preparing for this season’s water park fun! The water park Opens on March 11th for Spring Break! Adventure Landing is a staple for our kids during the summer. We love the Shipwreck Island Play Village and toddler days!
Address: 1944 Beach Blvd, Jacksonville Beach, FL 32250
Distance from Jax: Right around the corner!

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Splash Island Waterpark Wild Adventures

Wild Adventures, located 5 miles south of Valdosta, GA, is a zoological theme park with rides and attractions, including eight roller coasters, animals, shows, and Splash Island Water Park. The water park features water slides, a lazy river, Sea Turtle Cove for the little ones, and more. This is a fun spot to take the kids, offering more than just the water park!
Address: 3766 Old Clyattville Rd, Valdosta, GA 31601
Distance from Jax: About 2 hours

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St. Marys Aquatic Center

I love this hidden gem of a water park in St. Marys, Georgia. Perfect for younger kids, this place has a great zero-entry play structure, a lazy river, and a water slide. Also, I love their year-end tradition of having dogs come and play in the splash area each closing day of the year! The schedule and prices for the season can be found here.
Address: 301 Herb Bauer Drive, St Marys, GA 31558
Distance from Jax: About 1 hour

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Summer Waves Water Park

Opening again in May 2023! Located on gorgeous Jekyll Island, Summer Waves Water Park is a water park with a view! Surrounded by beautiful southern marshland, Summer Waves offers fun for everyone in the fam. Lazy River, thrilling slides, and a kiddie pool area. Read more about a day trip to Jekyll Island with kids here.
Address: 210 S Riverview Dr, Jekyll Island, GA 31527
Distance from Jax: About 1.5 hours

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Typhoon Lagoon Water Park

Typhoon Lagoon is Disney’s tropically-themed water park. If you want to feel like you are on a deserted island (well… a deserted island with a bazillion other people), this is the water park for you. The theming is excellent. The bars are abundant. There is a wonderful play area for toddlers with slides and waterfalls. The lazy river does not disappoint. Also, I love the shark reef, where you can snorkel above fish and sharks.
Address: 1145 E Buena Vista Dr, Orlando, FL 32830
Distance from Jax: About 2.5 hours

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Universal’s Volcano Bay

With 18 incredible attractions, you’ll be able to experience daring water adventures and moments of peaceful relaxation—all without having to worry about waiting in line or carrying around rafts. You’ll be granted the powers of the TapuTapu™ wearable. With just a wave of your wrist, you can hold your place in the ride lines and reveal wondrous surprises throughout the park. This means more time to careen down slides, brave whitewater torrents, drift down a winding river or relax in your own waterside cabana.
Address: 6000 Universal Blvd, Orlando, FL 32819
Distance from Jax: About 2.5 hours

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Wekiva Falls Water Park

Wekiva Falls is a premiere RV Resort and Campgrounds destination ideally located in beautiful Sorrento, Florida, between Daytona Beach and Orlando. The Wekiva Falls Water Park swimming lagoon is fed by a large sulfur spring. The Lagoon is so impressive that it acts as a water attraction all on its own. The natural sulfur spring is warm and features two water slides. Stop by the marina for canoe and kayak rentals. Guests can purchase a day pass to visit.
Address: 30700 Wekiva River Road, Sorrento, FL 32776
Distance from Jax: About 2 hours

Kacey Roache
Kacey Roache is a Jacksonville native who lives in Ponte Vedra with her husband, TJ, and her three kids, Lucy, Lucas and Lola. Kacey graduated from Florida State University (Go Noles!) with a degree in interior design. She is passionate about the arts and arts education and has served on the board of Art with a Heart in Healthcare, Ponte Vedra Public Education Foundation for the Arts, Christ Church Creative Academy as well as the PTOs at her kids' school. In her spare time you might find her channeling her inner Serena Williams on the tennis court, performing in community theater, or enjoying the beach with her friends and family. Follow her family's chaos on Instagram: @kaceyroachepvb

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