Splash Pads And Pools Across Northwest Arkansas

If you are looking to get outside but the summer heat in Arkansas has you hesitant, this blog post is for you. Splash pads and public pools across Northwest Arkansas can help you and your family cool down and beat the heat and we have a full list for you in one easy-to-read guide. From Fayetteville to Bentonville and everything in between this is your guide to water fun across Northwest Arkansas. 

Fayetteville

Wilson Park Pool (3 minutes from campus) (Admission is $4 for adults and $3 for youth): Wilson Park Pool opened over Memorial Day Weekend and will stay open through Labor Day. The pool is open Monday through Friday from 1:00PM-4:00PM and 1:00PM-6:00PM on Saturdays and Sundays. After swimming we recommend exploring the park as well as the beautiful natural gardens, and walking trails. 

Walker Park Splash Pad (5 minutes from campus) (Admission is free): The Walker Park Splash Pad opens the second Saturday of May and will stay open until the third Sunday in September. The splash pad is open from 9:00AM to 8:00PM every day. Walker Park also offers plenty of other activities including disc golf, multi-use trails, a skatepark, and sports complexes. 

Image courtesy of Fayetteville Parks & Rec

Springdale

Springdale Aquatic Center (15 minutes from campus) (Admission is $4 per person): The Springdale Aquatic Center is an outdoor public pool with a large main pool, water slides, and poolside chairs. The aquatic center is open daily from 12:00PM to 5:45PM including holidays starting the last Saturday of May.  

Jones Center Pool (20 minutes from campus) (Admission for non-members is $4 per person): The Jones Center is an indoor facility with multiple amenities including an ice skating rink, meeting space, two swimming pools, and a waterslide. This is a great pool if it is a stormy day or wintertime. The pools are open for the public from Tuesday through Saturday from 12:00PM to 6:00PM and Sunday from 1:30PM to 5:00PM. The pools are closed to the public on Mondays for swim meets and lessons.

C.L "Charlie" and Willie George Park (20 minutes from campus) (Admission is free): C.L "Charlie" and Willie George Park is another great public splash pad in Northwest Arkansas. This splash pad does get pretty busy on weekends but is still a great way to beat the summer heat and play in the water. The splash pad at the park is open from 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM every day except Wednesday the splash pad is open from 11:00AM to 9:00PM. The splash pad turns on in mid-May and is open through Labor Day Weekend. 

Shaw Family Park (20 minutes from campus) (Admission is free): Another great splash pad in Springdale is the Shaw Family Park. The Shaw Family Park shares the same hours as "Charlie" and Willie George Park. 

Splash-Pad photos by Michael Gjellum. Pool photos courtesy of Springdale Aquatic Center and Jones Center

Rogers

Rogers Aquatic Center (25 minutes from campus) (Admission pricing available here): The Rogers Aquatic Center is the largest waterpark in Northwest Arkansas and has several pools, a splash pad, a lazy river that spans 500 feet, and water slides. Outside of the water activities, there are also concession stands, and sports areas like a basketball court. They are open Monday through Thursday from 11:00 AM to 6:00PM, Friday and Saturdays from 11:00AM to 7:00PM, and Sundays from 12:00PM to 6:00 PM. They open for the season on the last Saturday of May through Labor Day. 

Railyard Splash Pad (25-30 minutes from campus) (Admission is free): The Railyard Park is probably better known as a bike park, but they added a splash pad in the Summer of 2021. This is a great place to visit if you live near Rogers or are visiting downtown Rogers this Summer. 

Mt. Hebron Park (20-30 minutes from campus) (Admission is free): Another brand new park in Northwest Arkansas is Mt. Hebron Park in Rogers. The park has a splash pad with a variety of features.  The park also has a large playground, pavilions, restrooms, and multi-purpose courts for tennis and pickleball, as well as a dog park so you can still bring your pet with you! 

Splash-Pad photos by Michael Gjellum. Pool photo courtesy of Visit Rogers

Bentonville

Melvin Ford Aquatic Center (30-35 minutes from campus) (Admission is $2 for youth and $3 for adults): The Melvin Ford Aquatic Center is a Bentonville favorite for cooling off and taking the family swimming during the summer. Melvin Ford has a 50-meter pool that ranges in depth from 3 all the way to 8 feet deep. The pool has open swim hours for recreational use, as well as lap swimming only. It also has an area for younger kids with a fountain and a shallow pool. Their hours for open swimming are Sunday through Thursday from 12:00PM to 5:00PM, and Friday and Saturday from 12:00PM to 7:00PM. Melvin Ford is a part of Memorial Park so there are even more activities close by including tennis, basketball, and volleyball courts, and a playground. This makes Melvin Ford Aquatic Center a great place for a summer adventure. 

Bentonville Community Center (30 minutes from campus) (Admission is $10 for adults and $7 for youth): Located off of Regional Airport Boulevard and I Street in Bentonville, the Community Center is in a great spot for people in Bentonville and surrounding towns to enjoy some swimming. The Community Center pool is an indoor pool so you don't have to worry about the weather canceling your swimming plans!  The Community Center has a lot of water activities including a lazy river, lap swim lanes, an open leisure pool, and water slides. They are open Monday through Friday from 1:00PM to 6:30PM, Saturdays from 12:00PM-6:30PM, and Sundays from 12:00PM to 5:30PM. 

Lawrence Plaza Splash Pad (30-35 minutes from campus) (Admission is free): The Lawrence Plaza Splash Pad is one of the smaller ones on the list but its proximity to Downtown Bentonville still makes for a great day trip. The fountains open the second Saturday of May and stay open through Labor Day. They are open from 9:00AM to 10:00PM every day of the week. In the wintertime, the splash pad also converts to an ice rink making this a great dual-purpose park!

Creekside Park (30 minutes from campus) (Admission is free): Creekside is a brand new park and splash pad that opened in mid-June of this year. Creekside has a splash pad mixed with a playground with slides making this one of the more unique splash pads in Northwest Arkansas. The park is also home to a cricket field, illuminated dog parks, and pickleball courts. There are also restrooms and pavilions with picnic tables at the park for public use. 

Photos of Creekside by Michael Gjellum. Photos of pools courtesy of The City of Bentnonville 

Siloam Springs

Siloam Springs Aquatic Center (45 minutes from campus) (Admission is $5): If you're looking to visit Siloam Springs then be sure to add the pools at the Siloam Springs Aquatic Center to your itinerary. The aquatic center has several pools, one is more shallow and calm for younger kids while the main pool has lanes where you can practice laps or just hang out and swim. The Aquatic Center also has two water slides and a water mushroom making it a great value compared to larger waterparks. They are open on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, & Sunday from 1:00PM to 6:00PM. Then Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday from 1:00PM to 8:00PM. The pool, like others, opens in mid to late May and will stay open through Labor Day. 

Image courtesy of Siloam Springs Parks & Rec