Inexpensive Water Parks in Northern Virginia

Northern Virginian summers are known to be sweltering, but we're fortunate enough to have a number of inexpensive water parks in which to cool off. Check out some of the affordable Northern Virginia water park options outlined in this article. Keep in mind that you can often save on admission by going in the late afternoon and/or on weekdays, and remember to pack a picnic lunch to avoid high snack bar prices. Even if you aren't permitted to bring in outside food, there is usually a picnic area outside the park.

Another ways to save money at these parks is to have your children complete the Fairfax County Library Summer Reading Programearly in the summer. As a reward for completing the program, they'll earn a coupon book that includes discounted or free admissions to some of these water parks. You might also want to sign up for Certifikid, which intermittently offers great deals on kid-related fun, including water parks.

NVRPA WATER PARKS

There are five Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority (NVRPA) water parks throughout the Northern Virginia area. These small, inexpensive parks offer swimming pools, water slides, and other water fun. They are a great way for a family on a budget to enjoy a water park experience. Each of these water parks is situated in a larger regional park. Many of these regional parks have additional features such as miniature golf and offer discounts in combination with water park admission.

(1) Atlantis Water Park is located in Bull Run Park at 7700 Bull Run Drive in Centreville, Virginia and is open daily in the summer from 11 AM to 7 PM. This ocean-themed water park has something for all ages. It contains a separate, one-foot pool for children six and under with a small octopus slide. For older non-swimmers, there's a 2-foot pool with a small pirate side. This is connected to, but roped off from, the larger pool, so your taller non-swimmers can enjoy a deeper area to splash around in. For your swimmers, the larger pool consists of a 3-foot area (with more small slides), and a 4-12 foot area with two large slides: one open and one covered. There's also a "splash pad" where kids can stand beneath a 600 gallon bucket, play with water cannons and squirters, and go down wet slides that land on soft foam. Finally, there's an artificial beach area where the little ones can enjoy digging in the sand. Admission is $8.00 for individuals over 48 inches, $6.50 for individuals under 48 inches, and free for children two and under.

(2) Pirates Cove Water Park can be found at 47002 Fairway Dr. within Pohick Bay Regional Park in Sterling, Virginia. It's open daily in summer from 11-7 and offers water cannons, water slides, and a swimming pool as well as a beach area where the little ones can dig for buried treasure. Admission is $7 for ages 12 and up, $6 for ages 2 to 11, and kids under 2 are free. On weekdays, after 4 PM, admission is just $4 per person.

(3) Ocean Dunes Water Park at Upton Hill is on 6060 Wilson Boulevard in Arlington, Virginia. Admission is $8 for those over 42 inches and $6.75 for those under 42 inches. Children under age two are free. Upton Hill Regional Park also has miniature golf and batting cages for additional fees.

(4) Volcano Island Water Park is housed in Algonkian Regional Park at 47001 Fairway Drive in Sterling, Virginia. Admission is $8.00 for individuals over 48 inches and $6.75 for individuals less than 48 inches. Children under 2 are free, and admission is just $5 after 4 PM on weekdays. This Polynesian themed park is cutely decorated and boasts waterslides, a sand play area, a dumping bucket, pools, and a snack bar.

(5) The largest and most expensive of the five NVRPA parks, Great Waves at Cameron Run is located at 4001 Eisenhower Avenue in Alexandria, Virginia. It costs $14.75 for adults and $11.75 for children. So if you opt for an NVRPA water pass, you'll definitely want to get your money's worth by visiting Great Waves. The park has a wave pool, four-story water slides, speed slides, a splash pad, a toddler pool, a lagoon, and a swimming pool. It's open from 11 AM to 7 PM. Admission is only $8 after 4 PM on weekdays.

Money Saving Tip: If you plan to visit any combination of NVRPA water parks more than ten times this summer, or if you plan to visit Great Waves at least six times, purchase a "Bounce Pass." These passes give you unlimited admission to all five of the NVRPA water parks all summer long. The cost is $85 for the first person and $60 for each additional family member in jurisdiction. Passes are $10 more if you are out of jurisdiction. Visit the NVRPA website for details.

SIGNAL BAY WATER PARK AT SIGNAL HILL

The City of Manassas boasts its own park, Signal Bay, at 9300 Signal View Drive.Signal Bay is the ideal water park for toddlers and non-swimmers because of its 0-depth entry, shallow water, and fun, decorative, small slides. Older, taller (over 43 inches) patrons can enjoy the lazy river, the lily pad crossing, and the rope crossing.

Admission is $6 for adults and $5.50 for kids. Infants under one are free. The park is open from 11:30 AM to 7:30 PM. There is a small picnic area, and a snack bar is also available. A playground is located just outside the water park, which you can visit before or after entering.

Money Saving Tip: The park has a snack bar, but to save money, you can also pack a picnic lunch. There's no eating on deck, but you can eat at the seating by the snack shop or go out of the water park to picnic in one of the pavilions by the playground. Be sure to get a stamp for re-entry if you leave.

CUB RUN LEISURE POOL

Housed in the Cub Run Rec Center on 4630 Stonecroft Blvd. in Chantilly, this leisure pool is open weekdays from 9 AM to 9 PM and weekends from noon to 8 PM. However, the play features -- which are why you'll be bringing your children -- are only on during certain hours of the day during weekdays, so if you plan to visit Monday through Friday, be sure to check the website for a current schedule. Because it is indoor, this water-park-like leisure pool is a great option for rainy days.

The pool includes a 30-ft high slide that exits and re-enters the building enclosed in a tube, a 20-foot-high open slide, a shallow water area with a playground, a small lazy river you can swim in, and a "vortex" that pulls you in a circle. For the supervising adults, there's a hot tub from which you can see the entire leisure pool. Children's lifejackets are available at no charge. Next to the leisure pool, and included with your admission, is a lap swimming pool, though it may be closed for swim meets. Call ahead to see.

Admission to the rec center is $6.85 for Fairfax County residents and $9.15 for non-county residents. Children under 5 years old are free with a paying adult. You can also pay a $2 chaperone fee (with a paying child) if you only plan to watch your kids from the deck.

THE WATER MINE

Located at Lake Fairfax Park on 1400 Lake Fairfax Drive in Reston, the Water Mine Family Swimmin' Hole is open 10 AM to 8 PM daily in the summer. The park is sometimes open only to pass holders from 5 PM to 8 PM, so check the schedule online prior to visiting. Admission is $13.50 for those over 48" tall, $11.25 under 48", and those under 2 years old are free.

The water park is surrounded by a lazy river with a 2.5-mile-per-hour current. The theme is the Old West, and you'll find wagons, rattlesnakes, mine shafts, and tunnels. The park boasts floatables, showers, water slides, flumes, and sprays. This park is most suited for elementary-aged children, but if you need to bring a toddler with your older kids, he or she can hang out with a parent at "Tenderfoot Pond" and enjoy miniature slides and bubblers. For the teenagers, there's water volley ball and the lazy river.

Money Saving Tip: Visit after 5 PM Monday -- Friday and admission is only $8.25. Admission to the water park also includes unlimited rides on the Lake Fairfax carousel and tour boat, so make it a full day. If your family plans on visiting the water park five or more times in the summer, buy a season pass. Pass holders also get exclusive use of the park from 5 -- 8 PM on certain select days throughout the summer.

SPLASHDOWN WATER PARK

SplashDown Water Park can be found at 7500 Ben Lomond Park Drive in Fairfax. It features a 770-foot lazy river, two 4-story water slides, a 25-meter lap pool, tropical twister waterslides, a lily pad and log walk, two super fast canon ball slides, and an activity pool. For the young non-swimmers, there's an interactive children's area with four small slides and fountains, as well as the Big Khanua beach where they can dig in the sand. Umbrellas and pavilions are scattered throughout the park. Food is available at two snack bars.

During the summer, the park is typically open from 11 AM to 7 PM, although it sometimes has lengthened or shortened hours. Check the schedule online prior to visiting. Admission is $14.95 for those over 48" and $10.95 for those under 48". Children 2 and under are free.

Money Saving Tip: Enter after 3 PM Monday -- Friday and pay only $9 per person. Military personnel can save $2 per person for the whole family anytime by showing a Military I.D.

OTHER COOL LOCAL OPTIONS

Perhaps you prefer to cool off at the beach instead of at a water park. In that case, check out my Guide to Beaches Within Two Hours of Washington, D.C. Additionally, be sure to read the "Top 5 Ways to Beat the Northern Virginia Heat This Summer." Finally, if you want the information in these articles and much more at your fingertips on your e-reader or computer, be sure to download the 2011 D.C.-Area Guide to Surviving Summer with Kids. It contains information on well over 100 inexpensive indoor and outdoor attractions, activities, and day trips in Northern Virginia, D.C., and Maryland.