If you’re looking for places to cool off in the summer, Cincinnati has plenty of options for a day out with families and friends.
I’m sharing more about the local lakes with beaches, non-swimming lakes, splash pads, fountains, kayaking, scenic boat tours and public pools near Cincinnati to help you beat the heat.
I’ve gathered all the information in a comprehensive list so that you can easily decide what you want to do and where to go based on your location, interests, and budget.
This article contains affiliate links.
Challenge Yourself on An Inflatable Obstacle Course
An inflatable obstacle course is a great challenge for adults and kids with lots of laughs and wipeouts guaranteed.
Land of Illusion Aqua Adventures Waterpark-
8762 Thomas Rd, Middletown, OH
The Land of Illusion Aqua Adventures Waterpark has the following:
- Toddler Splash Zone – Waterslides and play area for ages 3-5
- Mini Floating Obstacle Course – Area for ages 5-8
- Paddle Bay – Area for stand-up paddle boarding and Corcl boats
- Game Works – Sand volleyball, ping pong, cornhole – *paddleboards and mini golf are an additional fee
- Sandy Cove and Aqua Lounge – Cafe and bar
- Water Slide Thrills – The largest inflatable slide in the US (43 ft tall) & 25-foot slide that goes directly into the lake
- Wibit Adventure Zone – Inflatable obstacle course
- Beach
Get tips before your visit to Aqua Adventures here.
Kirkwood Adventure Park
5719 OH-73, Wilmington, OH
Kirkwood Adventure Park has the following:
- Lakeside Beach
- Splash Blast Lake Obstacle Course
- Timberline Canopy Trail – elevated trail through the trees
- Alien Invasion Gel Soft – soft shell gel blasting game
- Eaglewood Mini Golf
- Dutch Valley Tubing – 350 ft downhill tubing
- In-the-Zone Sports Area – basketball
- Gopher’s Ground Games – lawn games
- Zebby’s Splash Pad (Area for 5 years of age and under)
- Summer Fishing
Get tips before you visit Kirkwood Adventure Park here.
Wake Nation Cincinnati
201 Joe Nuxhall Way, Fairfield, OH
Wake Nation Cincinnati has the following:
- Cable Park – Wakeboarders are pulled by a cable system around the lake instead of a boat
- Aqua Park – Inflatable obstacle course/ floating playground for ages 6 and up
- Launch Slide – 3 giant ski slides that are recommended for ages 10 and up)
Go to a Local Lake Near Cincinnati
There are several local lakes within an hour of downtown Cincinnati if you want a lake day that has a beach.
Local Lakes Around Cincinnati with a Beach
You can check out my comprehensive list of lakes within 3 hours or less of Cincinnati here.
I’m sharing the addresses for the closest lakes to Cincinnati with public beaches.
- Acton Lake at Houston Woods – 6301 Park Office Rd., College Corner, OH
- Brookville Lake – 14108 State Rte 101, Brookville, IN
- Cowan Lake – Unnamed Road, Wilmington, OH
- East Fork Lake – Park Rd 2, Bethel, Ohio
- Caesar’s Creek – 8570 OH-73, Waynesville, OH
Non-Swimming Lakes for Recreation
- Miami Whitewater Forest Harbor – 9001 Mt Hope Rd, Harrison, OH
- AJ Jolly Park – 1501 Race Track Rd, Alexandria, KY
- Sharon Woods Harbor – 4631 East Kemper Road, Sharonville, Ohio
- Lake Isabella Harbor – 10174 Loveland–Madeira Road, Loveland, OH
- Winton Woods Harbor – 801 Lakeview Drive, Cincinnati, OH
Waterparks and Public Pools Near Cincinnati
These are great options for swimming, water activities, and slides.
Soak City at Kings Island Amusement Park
6300 Kings Island Dr, Mason, OH
You take advantage of two parks for the price of one.
Admission to Kings Island includes Soak City Waterpark with more than 50 water activities, including 36 water slides!
Soak City Waterpark has two wave pools, a lazy river, and age-appropriate sections that appeal to the whole family from toddlers to teens.
Great Wolf Lodge
You can enjoy an indoor waterpark and an outdoor pool at Great Wolf Lodge. You can book a waterpark day pass in advance if you’re not an overnight guest.
Read my tips for visiting Great Wolf Lodge here.
Book a Stay at Great Wolf Lodge
Florence Family Aquatic Center
8200 Ewing Blvd, Florence, KY
The Florence Family Aquatic Center has a swimming pool, water slides, lazy river, and more.
Pat O’Neill Memorial Pool
305 W. Tate Street, Lawrenceburg, IN
Swimming pool and a splash park in downtown Lawrenceburg.
Ziegler Pool at Ziegler Park
216 Woodward St, Cincinnati, OH
A swimming pool with a climbing wall, diving boards, zero depth entry shallow area and more.
Reservations are required for non-passholders for Friday-Sunday plus holidays and can be made up to 2 weeks in advance. The weekend sessions are 2 hours and 45 minutes long.
There is a free Splash Pad at Ziegler Park outside of the pool area.
Cincinnati Recreation Center Pools
Find the 2024 CRC pool info, rules, and regulations here.
- Bond Hill Pool- 1580 Yarmouth Ave., Cincinnati, Ohio
- Bush Pool – 2640 Kemper Lane, Cincinnati, Ohio
- Camp Washington Pool – 1201 Stock Ave., Cincinnati, Ohio
- Dempsey Pool – 933 Hawthorne Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio
- Dickman Pool- 6720 Home City Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio
- Dunham: Otto Armleder Regional Aquatic Center – 4356 Dunham Lane, Cincinnati, Ohio
- Evanston Pool – 3204 Woodburn Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio
- Filson Pool – 461 Ringgold Street, Cincinnati, Ohio
- Hanna: Otto Armleder Memorial Aquatic Center – 226 Stark Street, Cincinnati, Ohio
- Hartwell Pool – 8275 Vine Street, Cincinnati, Ohio
- Hirsch: Otto Armleder Memorial Family Aquatic Center – 3630 Reading Rd, Cincinnati, Ohio
- LeBlond Pool – 2335 Riverside Drive (formerly Eastern Ave.) Cincinnati, Ohio
- Lincoln Pool – 1027 Linn Street, Cincinnati, Ohio
- Madisonville Pool – 5312 Stewart Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio
- McKie Pool – 1655 Chase Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio
- Millvale Pool – 3303 Beekman Street, Cincinnati, Ohio
- Mt. Adams Pool – 966 Mt. Adams Drive, Cincinnati, Ohio
- Mt. Auburn (Indoor Pool) – 2034 Young Street, Cincinnati, Ohio
- Mt. Washington Pool – 1715 Beacon Street, Cincinnati, Ohio
- Oakley Pool- 3900 Paxton Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio
- Pleasant Ridge Pool- 5915 Ridge Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio
- Ryan Pool – 2856 Fischer Place, Cincinnati, Ohio
- Spring Grove Village Pool – 634 Hand Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio
- Winton Hills Pool – 5170 Winneste Ave., Cincinnati, Ohio
You can learn more about the hours, fees, and facilities for your pool of choice here.
Where to Visit Local Spray Pads, Spraygrounds, and Fountains in Cincinnati
There are several places around Cincinnati where your kids can cool off by running through the fountains or visiting a local sprayground/ splash pad.
Most of these options are free but you may need to pay for parking.
Fountains at Smale Riverfront Park
100 W Mehring Way, Cincinnati, OH
There are fountains for kids to run through in several sections of Smale Riverfront Park.
Main Street Fountain is near Carol Ann’s Carousel and there are additional fountains in Smale Park by the swings across the street from Christian Moerlein Lager House.
Read my tips for visiting Smale Riverfront Park with kids.
Sawyer Point & Yeatman’s Cove Sprayground AKA Otto Armleder Memorial Sprayground
705 E Pete Rose Way, Cincinnati, OH
Fountains at Washington Park
1230 Elm St, Cincinnati, OH
Wet Playgrounds
Winton Woods: Parky’s Ark (on Lakeshore Drive near the harbor snack bar)
801 Lakeview Drive, Cincinnati, OH 45231
Woodland Mound: Parky’s Wetland Adventure
8250 Old Kellogg Road, Cincinnati, Ohio 45255
City Center Park (Wilder Splash Pad)
520 Licking Park, Wilder, KY
Liberty Center Splash Pad
7100 Foundry Row, Liberty Township, OH
Gorman Park Splash Pad
12153 Centerdale Rd, Cincinnati, OH
Summit Park Water Corridor
4335 Glendale Milford Rd, Blue Ash, OH
City of Cincinnati Spraygrounds
- Caldwell Sprayground -316 W. North Bend Rd, Cincinnati, Ohio
- College Hill Sprayground – 5660 Belmont Ave., Cincinnati, Ohio
- Dyer Sprayground – 2110 Freeman Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio
- McKie Sprayground – 1655 Chase Avenue, Cincinnati, OH
- North Fairmont Sprayground- 1702 Denham Street, Cincinnati, Ohio
- Oakley Sprayground- 3900 Paxton Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio
- Oyler Sprayground – 2125 Staebler Street, Cincinnati, Ohio
- Pleasant Ridge Sprayground -5915 Ridge Ave., Cincinnati, OH
- South Fairmount – 1685 Queen City Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio
Go Kayaking, Canoeing, or Rafting Near Cincinnati
Two main rivers in the area are very popular for renting canoes, kayaks, or rafts.
Little Miami Scenic River
- Scenic River Canoe Excursions – 4595 Round Bottom Rd, Cincinnati, OH
- Loveland Paddlesports – 174 S Karl Brown Way, Loveland, OH
- Morgan’s Canoe & Outdoor Adventures (Fort Ancient) -5701 State Route 350. Lebanon, OH
- Fifty West Canoe and Kayak – 7639 Wooster Pike, Cincinnati, OH
- Little Miami Canoe Rental – 219 Mill (S.R. 123) Morrow, OH
- Rivers Edge Canoe and Kayak Outfitters – 3928 US-42, Waynesville, OH
Whitewater River
- Morgan’s Canoe & Outdoor Adventures -7040 Whitewater River Lane, Brookville, IN
- Green Acres Kayak Rental – 10465 Suspension Bridge Rd, Harrison, OH
- Whitewater Canoe Rental – 1154 Main St., Brookville, IN
Enjoy a Scenic Boat Ride
If you prefer a sightseeing cruise there are several local companies on the Ohio River.
BB Riverboats
101 Riverboat Row, Newport, KY
Book one of the following cruises with BB Riverboats below:
- Ohio River Cruise with Buffet Dinner
- Sunset Sightseeing Cruise
- Riverboat Cruise with Lunch and Entertainment
- Historic Sightseeing Cruise
Cincinnati Powerboats Rentals and Classy Venture Riverboat Charters
4853 Kellogg Ave, Cincinnati, OH
You can rent a book or book a private charter.
Read more about my previous experience with a charter from Classy Venture.
Cincinnati Party Boats
Rivertown Marina – 4601 Kellogg Ave, Cincinnati, OH
Cincinnati Party Boats have a 14-passenger Cincinnati Cycleboat (pedaling optional) and a 16-passenger Tiki Boat for ages 18+.
Guests can bring their own food and drinks to enjoy during their cruise.
