With water for playing and room to run, these splash pads in Las Vegas and Henderson will help kids beat the heat.
When the mercury in Las Vegas soars into the triple digits, it can be hard to stay cool.
Fortunately, summer is splash-pad season in the Las Vegas Valley. These colorful and completely free mini water parks offer tons of interactive fun, letting kids of all ages burn off extra energy while cooling off.
While it’s dangerous to stay outside for long in record Nevada temperatures—typically early mornings and late evenings are safest—these Las Vegas and Henderson splash pads, found at public parks and outdoor shopping malls, will help you beat the heat.
Centennial Hills Park
Where: 7101 N. Buffalo Dr.
Hours: 7 a.m.-11 p.m.
At 120 acres, Centennial Hills Park is a massive regional park with a lot of history, built around Tule Springs Wash. Along with a splash pad for water play, the park entertains little kids with a garden-themed playground, known as the butterfly playground, and older kids with a playground, known as the dinosaur playground. The park also has picnic areas, BBQ grills, sports courts and fields, an amphitheater, a dog park, and plenty of open space. You can learn about the area’s history from interpretive signage along the prehistoric-themed walking path.
Parents write on Yelp that this park is great for kids who want to play in the water and have room to run around. They like that there is plenty of shade to protect kids from the sun and that the bathrooms are nearby.
Aliante Nature Discovery Park
Where: 2627 Nature Park Dr.
Hours: 5:30 a.m.-11 p.m.
With its large, human-made lake and waterfall, Aliante Nature Discovery Park in North Las Vegas is a watery escape from the desert. Along with a splash pad, the park has a multi-story playground, a dinosaur-themed nature discovery area, walking paths, sports courts, soccer fields, horseshoe pits, BBQ grills, picnic sites, and an amphitheater.
Parents write on Yelp that they appreciate that there is lots to do at the park, noting that the splash pad is a blast. They also think it’s cool to see ducks, geese, and turtles hanging out in the pond.
Trigono Hills
Where: 3805 Cliff Shadows Pkwy.
Hours: 7 a.m.-11 p.m.
Trigono Hills is a triangular park at the foot of the mountains, featuring an interpretive garden and lighted walking paths connecting to Red Rock Canyon’s network of trails. The 7.3-acre park also has a splash pad, a shaded playground for kids ages 2-5, a play zone for kids ages 5-12, a picnic area, grassy play areas, and restrooms.
Parents write on Yelp that this park is safe and family-friendly, with activities for all ages. They like that the splash pad is situated between the play areas, making it easy to keep an eye on their kids.
South Tower Park
Where: 1022 Park Vista Dr.
Hours: Open daily until 10:30 pm
Situated in Vistas Village in Summerlin West, the 7-acre South Tower Park features a spacious splash pad with nearby restrooms. Though the splash pad itself is unshaded, it sits between two shaded playgrounds, one for toddlers and one for bigger kids.
Parents write on Yelp that they appreciate this setup because it makes it easy to keep an eye on their children, no matter where they play. The park also has swings, a picnic and barbecue area, and open grassy fields.
Paseos Park
Where: 12122 Desert Moon Rd.
Hours: Open daily until 10:30 p.m.
Located in Summerlin’s Paseos Village, this 12-acre park features a large, interactive splash pad. It also has playgrounds, picnic areas, restrooms, soccer and baseball fields, basketball and volleyball courts, and open turf.
Parents write on Yelp that they appreciate the park’s shaded areas, like covered picnic tables and trees. They say the park is clean and well-maintained, with play areas catering to different ages.
Cougar Creek
Where: 6635 W Cougar Ave.
Hours: 7 a.m.-10 p.m.
A neighborhood park with a splash pad, Cougar Creek Park in Southwest Las Vegas, has a playground with traditional and non-traditional play structures, including a zip line. It also has a pickleball court, picnic facilities, a meandering walking path, an open grassy field, and restroom facilities.
Parents write on Yelp that the splash pad is particularly fun for kids because it isn’t flat like regular splash pads, allowing them to engage in creative water play and redirect the water flow.
Town Square
Where: Town Square, 6505 S. Las Vegas Blvd.
Hours: Monday-Thursday, 10 a.m.-8:30 p.m.; Friday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-9:30 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m.-7:30 p.m.
A playground with a splash pad for children ages 10 and under, the Children’s Park at Town Square, south of the Las Vegas Strip, is a convenient place for families to take a break from shopping, watching a film, or dining at the outdoor mall. Located adjacent to Town Square Park, near restrooms and a variety of food kiosks serving ice cream, funnel cakes, and more, the fenced-in park also features a tree house, maze, climbing cube, slides, and a trampoline.
Parents write on Yelp that the splash pad is small, but it provides a big relief from the summer heat. Though it can get busy, they like that the park is clean and there are shaded areas.
Reunion Trails
Where: 44 Chapata Dr., Henderson
Hours: 6 a.m.-10 p.m.
Boasting the largest splash pad in Nevada, Reunion Trails Park is also notable for its electronic playground games and nighttime light displays. The park also has a basketball court, picnic tables, restrooms, a large grassy field, and a walking track that connects to the Amargosa Trail and a large network of paths in the Las Vegas Valley.
Parents write on Yelp that the splash pad is like a mini water park with multiple water features, climbing areas, and giant flower sculptures. They also say the park is clean and family-friendly with separate play areas for kids of all ages.
Mission Hills
Where: 551 E. Mission Dr., Henderson
Hours: 6 a.m.-10 p.m.
The 22-acre Mission Hills Park has a large splash pad with water features for all ages, conveniently located next to restrooms and changing stalls. The park also has a variety of sports fields and courts, BBQs, sheltered picnic tables, playgrounds, open grassy fields, and walking trails. There aren’t any swings, but there are two slides built into the side of a hill.
According to parents on Yelp, the splash pad is big and spread out, giving kids lots of space to play with the water features. They like that there are lots of shady, covered areas, and they also note that there’s a permanent parking spot for a shaved ice truck in the summer.
More splash pads
To find a complete list of splash pads in your neighborhood, check out:
- City of Las Vegas splash pads
- City of Henderson splash pads
- Vegas Family Guide map of all Las Vegas splash pads
