Whether you’re planning a birthday party or you just want something for your kids to have for years to come, we’ve compiled the ultimate list of the best inflatable water parks for your backyard below.
Also of Interest: Best Above Ground Pools
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7 Best Inflatable Water Parks: Your Buyer’s Guide
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Amazon Customer Reviews
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Price: $370.99 Shop at Amazon | Shop now Read our review |
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Amazon Customer Reviews
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Price: $551.79 Shop at Amazon | Shop now Read our review |
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Amazon Customer Reviews
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Price: $499.99 Shop at Amazon | Shop now Read our review |
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Amazon Customer Reviews
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Price: $405.21 Shop at Amazon | Shop now Read our review |
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Amazon Customer Reviews
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Price: $305.49 Shop at Amazon | Shop now Read our review |
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Amazon Customer Reviews
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Price: $579.99 Shop at Amazon | Shop now Read our review |
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Amazon Customer Reviews
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Price: $479.99 Shop at Amazon | Shop now Read our review |
Our Unbiased Reviews
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1. Banzai Slide n Soak Splash Park
Pros:- Comes with blower
- And repair patches
- Large
- Inflates in two minutes
Cons:- Not as large as other waterparks on this guide
- Takes a while to dry out after usage
- Not suitable for under fives
In all honesty, we’ve been less than impressed with the majority of Banzai products on Amazon. But the Slide n Soak Splash park is an exception, as it’s a well-made, quality backyard water park that your kids will absolutely love. It has a lagoon-style splash pool, waterslide, small climbing wall, and a unique shower that isn’t available on any of the other inflatables. What’s more, it also has a stream of water that blasts kids as they go down the slide. It measures 9.5′ x 15.3′ x 8′, and it’s recommended for 7 years and over (although younger ages will be fine with supervision).
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2. Little Tikes Rocky Mountain River Race Inflatable Slide Bouncer
Pros:- Absolutely massive
- Surprise water bucket is a lot of fun
- Little Tikes is a trustworthy brand
Cons:- Need a blower
- Not suitable for kids under five
- A (very) small number have issues with stitching coming undone
For the younger crowd, Little Tikes is one of the most well-known toy brands in existence, frequently making our list of the hottest toys every year. The company also has their hand in backyard water fun with a few great inflatable water parks that are well-made and relatively cheap. One of these is the Rocky Mountain River Race Inflatable Slide Bouncer, which has two slides, a rock climbing wall, and a splash pool.
What makes this one unique is that it has a random water dump bucket that pours water on those climbing the wall at any given time. This inflatable also has a raised rest area so that your kids can take a breather while keeping their feet in the water. The unit has a maximum occupancy of 4 kids and a maximum combined weight of 350 pounds.
It’s recommended for five years and older, and it comes in at under $400 typically on Amazon. It’s a pretty solid deal when you factor in how much use you’ll get out of it, and it’s one of the highest-rated inflatable water parks on Amazon, with a high 4.4 average rating from over 160 customers. (Measures 12′ x 12′ x 8.5′).
Buy Little Tikes Rocky Mountain River Race Inflatable Bouncer here.
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3. Blast Zone Hydro Rush
Pros:- Suitable for ages three and up
- The overhead sprayers are a great addition
- The commercial grade vinyl means it's built to last
- Comes with a blower
Cons:- Color scheme is a little garish
- Pricey (but this is offset by how long it lasts)
- Drying out takes a while
One of Blast Zone’s cheaper options is the Hydro Rush water park, which is recommended for ages 3 and up and can hold a maximum of 6 kids at once. What makes this inflatable water park so much fun is the water cannon that rests on its side, allowing kids to shoot their friends, brothers, or sisters with a blast of water. At the top of the slide, you’ll find two spouts of water that keep the slide (and your kids) wet. Like most Blast Zone products, it’s well made with quality construction. It measures 18′ x 11′ x 8′.
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4. Little Tikes Slam ‘n Curve
Pros:- More affordable
- Good size
- Little Tikes is a trustworthy brand
Cons:- Not as many features as other waterparks (but it does cost less)
- Climbing wall isn't suitable for younger kids
- Supports three kids
Little Tikes has another great cheap water park available called the Slam ‘n Curve. This one is really close in design to the Banzai Soak ‘n Splash, complete with a slide, splash pool, and climbing wall, except it also has a small basketball hoop. Throw in a bag of plastic balls, and your kids will be entertained for hours. It measures 14′ x 9′ x 7’, and it has a maximum number of kids of 3. Weight limit is a total of 350 pounds.
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5. Bounceland Jump and Splash
Pros:- Comes witha
- Comes with a blower
- Doubles as a bounce house
- Basketball hoop connects via velcro for added safety
- Suitable for ages three and up
Cons:- Not as large as some others on this guide
- Area at the base of the slide could be larger
- Doesn't feature a climbing wall
The Bounceland Jump and Splash is impressive for what you’re paying for it. It measures at 11.5′ x 9′ x 6′, and it has a bounce house, splash pool, small climbing wall, and a slide. At the top of the slide, there’s a stream of water that splashes down upon those going down the slide. It also comes with the blower. It has a weight limit of 300 pounds.
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6. Pirate Blaster
Pros:- Huge
- Features a host of fun activities
- Enough space for up to five kids
- Blower included
- Easy to store once deflated
- Inflate in two minutes
Cons:- May be too large for some yards
- Seriously, measure the space you're going to put this before you buy
- Somewhat generic color scheme
There’s no denying that kids LOVE to pretend to be pirates, using sticks as swords and using the pirate slang found frequently in today’s pop culture. The Pirate Blaster by Blast Zone is an impressive inflatable water park that has a lot to keep your kids occupied all summer. First, it holds up to five kids, and it fully inflates in less than two minutes — meaning they’ll be swashbuckling in no-time. The Pirate Blaster has a water slide, a splash pool, a climbing wall, a bouncer, a crawl tunnel that leads into the bouncer, and two water cannons that allow them to shoot their friends with blasts of water. At the top of the water slide, you’ll find a spout of water that shoots onto the slide, keeping it wet for your kids to slide on.
The water park also has a great look to it, not looking cheap or cheesy like many of these inflatables tend to do. Instead, it has a cool orange and blue colorway that’ll look great in your yard. PIt measures 20′ x 13′ x 8′, so make sure you have the yard space for this one. It’s recommended for ages 3 and up.
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7. Deluxe Inflatable Water Slide Park
Pros:- Great verticality
- Climbing wall is a fun challenge
- Slides have a good steepness to them
- Durable
- Safety nets in the upper area
- Affordable given the size
Cons:- Not ideal for younger kids
- Due to the size, drying out takes longer
- A pink version would be great
You don’t always need to be put off by the lesser-known brands. Find the right brands and they offer up the same brilliance as the big dogs.
While many won’t have heard of Sunny & Fun, the Deluxe Inflatable Water Slide Park is the real deal.
Coming in at a whopping 13.1 x 11.2 x 7.9 feet, this waterpark packs in a large-scale climbing area with two long slides. There’s even a water cannon thrown in for good measure. It’s also made from the industry-loved heavy-duty nylon, meaning it won’t rip or tear without some serious effort.
You also get a blower included, which is great for those worried about having to spend more on after-sale products.
Why You Should Buy A Water Park
Packing all of the kids up with their swimsuits, floaties, snacks, sunscreen, and everything else is a chore — there's no denying that. But if you want to take them to the community pool, the beach, or the lake, you likely have to do that every time you want to go. Luckily, there are other options for giving your kids some wet fun in the sun: inflatable water parks for your own backyard.
There are quite a number of great ways to get your kids wet during the hot summer months. You could always get a pool, but those are pretty boring in comparison to some of the ridiculously cool inflatable water parks you can buy right on Amazon and other retailers.
A Note About Rips and Tears
There is a minority of people who report problems with rips and tears. If you're looking to avoid causing any problems to your kids' new favorite toy, read to find out how.
Do you live in a horrifyingly hot state? If so, you don't leave the water park set up for too long after the kids are done playing. While every item we've covered is as durable as possible, there's only so much protection against the sun's rays you can get.
You also want to keep an eye on the maximum load. Most water parks can hold up to 350 pounds. If you exceed that, you risk damaging it.
One final point: Check the ground you're placing the water park on to make sure it's free of any debris. Not just obvious things like discarded food wrappers, but also keep an eye out for any loose, sharp stones that could end up pressed up against the water park for prolonged periods of time.
Most water parks should be able to withstand a certain amount of punishment, but if you're planning on using it year in, year out, there's nothing wrong with being extra careful.
How to Dry A Water Park Out After Usage
Keeping your water park in the best condition is key to its longevity.
When drying, the best thing to do is deflate the water park and let the sun dry it naturally. This, however, won't get it 100 percent dry, and if it's not 100 percent dry, you risk mold.
How do you get it completely dry? This is a simple life-lack that will save you a ton of time. Once the sun has done what it can, inflate it once more and use the blower to dry it while also running a towel around all the hard to reach corners or grooves.
When it's completely bone dry, that's when you can deflate it once more and pack it away until you need it again.