Thomas A. Soetaert Aquatic Center is one of Shawnee’s main summer water destinations, offering a mix of recreation and play features for a wide range of ages, including a 50-meter competition pool, diving boards, two body slides, a lazy river and a fully enclosed baby pool area with a water playground. It also has family-friendly extras such as interactive aquatic features, family changing rooms and seasonal events, making it a strong option for both active swimmers and families looking for a full day at the pool.

Summit Waves is Lee’s Summit’s outdoor water park, offering a mix of bigger attractions and family features including a 904-foot action river, an 8,000-square-foot wave pool, body and tube slides, a lap pool with diving boards and a water playground for younger kids. It is a popular summer destination for families who want a full water park experience without leaving the metro.

Splash Cove at the Jim Allen Aquatic Center is a family-friendly outdoor pool in Shawnee that is especially popular with younger children thanks to features like a mini wave pool, full body slide and interactive water playground. It is a fun seasonal option for families looking for a smaller-scale water outing close to home.

Sar-Ko-Par Aquatic Center is Lenexa’s flagship outdoor pool, giving families a summer spot to cool off with water slides, play features and open swim in a park setting. Zero-depth entry pool, climbable play feature with dump bucket, lazy river, eight- lane 25-meter competition pool, deep water alcove, two aquaclimb climbing walls, waterslide complex and more. It opens for the season in late May. 

With waves ranging from mild to wild, Oceans of Fun offers 60 acres of summer fun for the whole family! Enjoy the wave pool, lazy river, extreme water slides or the kid-friendly Splash Island. These splash-tastic attractions are open seasonally and are included with Worlds of Fun admission. 

Oceans of Fun is one of Kansas City’s signature summer attractions, offering a large outdoor water park with towering slides, a wave pool, a lazy river and kid-friendly play areas for a wide range of ages. Official park materials describe it as more than 60 acres of family water fun, and admission is included with Worlds of Fun, making it a popular warm-weather destination for families looking to spend a full day riding, swimming and splashing. Enjoy the wave pool, lazy river, extreme water slides or the kid-friendly Splash Island. These splash-tastic attractions are open seasonally and are included with Worlds of Fun admission.

Blue Surf Bay is a newer water park in Blue Springs that offers a mix of big attractions and family-friendly features, including wave ball pool, lazy river, slides, zero- depth pool, surf simulator and lifestyle wellness pools.