The best time to visit an indoor waterpark

Indoor waterparks run all year, but they are not equally pleasant all year. Crowds follow school calendars more than weather.

Usually busiest

• Saturdays, and Friday and Sunday during the school year.
• Winter break, especially the days between Christmas and New Year.
• Presidents Day weekend, spring break weeks and long weekends.
• Summer, when families add a waterpark resort to a road trip.

Usually quieter

• Monday through Thursday during the school year.
• Early in the week of a long weekend, after the crowd leaves.
• The weeks after school starts in late August and September, and early December before the holidays.

Before you pick dates

• Check the resort's own calendar for waterpark hours. Many open later and close earlier on weekdays in the school year.
• Ask about maintenance closures. Resorts sometimes close slides or whole sections for a few days, often in quieter months.
• Check-in times are often in the afternoon, but many resorts let guests into the waterpark earlier on arrival day. Ask.

Every resort on this site links to its own website, which is the only reliable source for hours on your dates.