Looking for a waterpark hotel or resort near Des Moines? These 28 family hotels with indoor water parks are all within about 5 hours by car from downtown Des Moines, sorted closest first.
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Ramada by Wyndham Des Moines Tropics Resort & Conference Center
Des Moines, IA · 18,000 sq ft indoor
The only Des Moines hotel with an indoor water park: about 18,000 sq ft with two 160 ft slides, a 40 ft pirate ship play center and a zero-depth pool. Outside summer the park opens on weekends only.
Passes included5 min See details -
King's Pointe Resort
Storm Lake, IA · 20,000 sq ft indoor
A lakeside resort on Storm Lake with a roughly 20,000 sq ft indoor water park (three slides, a lazy river and a water playground) and a 50,000 sq ft outdoor park with five more slides in summer.
Lazy river3 slides2 hr See details -
Bridges Bay Resort
Arnolds Park, IA
A West Okoboji lakefront resort with hotel rooms and condo suites around the Boji Splash indoor water park, which has an all-ages tube slide, a lazy river and a 500-gallon dump bucket.
Passes includedLazy riverToddler area2 hr 40 min See details -
Best Western Rochester Hotel Mayo Clinic Area/St. Mary's
Rochester, MN
A 149-room hotel near Mayo Clinic's St. Mary's campus with a small indoor water park: a heated pool with a water slide, a kids' splash pad and a hot tub, open 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. year-round.
Toddler area3 hr 15 min See details -
AmericInn by Wyndham La Crosse Riverfront Conference Center
La Crosse, WI
A hotel on the Black River with Splash Bay Adventure, a small indoor water park with a water slide, a pool, a kids' pool and a hot tub. Rooms get up to five water park wristbands.
Passes included1 slides3 hr 40 min See details -
Deer Valley Lodge & Golf
Barneveld, WI · 12,000 sq ft indoor
A four-story golf lodge west of Madison with a 12,000 sq ft indoor water park that has two tower slides, a zero-depth kiddie pool and dump buckets. Water park passes are included with hotel stays.
Passes includedToddler area2 slides3 hr 55 min See details -
Holiday Inn & Suites Minneapolis-Lakeville
Lakeville, MN
A 131-room hotel south of the Twin Cities with a small indoor water park in its atrium: a two-story slide, a zero-depth kiddie pool, basketball hoops and a hot tub, free for guests. Some rooms open onto the pool.
Passes includedToddler area1 slides3 hr 55 min See details -
Treasure Island Resort & Casino
Welch, MN · 40,000 sq ft indoor
A casino resort near Red Wing with The Lagoon, a 40,000 sq ft indoor water park with two looping body slides, a 320-foot lazy river and a zero-depth toddler area with a toucan slide. A separate 21-and-over area has hot tubs and a swim-up bar.
Passes includedLazy riverToddler area2 slides4 hr See details -
AmericInn by Wyndham Shakopee Near Canterbury Park
Shakopee, MN
A 66-room hotel near Canterbury Park with the Splash Bay Adventure area: a 108-foot water slide, a heated indoor pool and a wading pool with a toddler slide. It is a small hotel pool with slides rather than a resort water park.
Toddler area1 slides4 hr 5 min See details -
Great Wolf Lodge Minnesota (Bloomington)
Bloomington, MN · 75,000 sq ft indoor
An all-suite lodge near Mall of America with a 75,000 sq ft indoor water park kept at 84°F, a wave pool, a lazy river and a multi-level water fort with a tipping bucket. It opened in 2017 in the former Water Park of America building.
Passes includedWave poolLazy river4 hr 10 min See details -
Cranberry Country Lodge
Tomah, WI · 12,000 sq ft indoor
A Tomah hotel with a 12,000 sq ft indoor aquatic center: a water slide, a kiddie pool with small slides, a big pool with water volleyball and basketball, and a large whirlpool.
Passes includedToddler area4 hr 15 min See details -
Three Bears Waterpark Resort
Warrens, WI · 60,000 sq ft indoor
A resort near Tomah with a 60,000 sq ft indoor water park kept at 84°F, with a wave pool, a lazy river and body and tube slides. A seasonal outdoor park adds two big slides in summer.
Passes includedWave poolLazy riverToddler area4 slides4 hr 20 min See details -
Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites Madison West
Madison, WI
A west Madison hotel with Crawdaddy Cove, billed as Madison's only indoor water park, with a 55-foot open body slide, a kids' pool with five mini slides and a shrimp boat play area. Each reservation comes with five water park passes.
Passes includedToddler area4 hr 20 min See details -
Wilderness Hotel & Golf Resort
Wisconsin Dells, WI · 205,000 sq ft indoor
Billed as America's largest waterpark resort. The main hotel holds three indoor water parks, including the Wild WaterDome with America's largest indoor wave pool, and every registered guest gets in.
Passes includedWave poolLazy riverToddler area54 slides4 hr 25 min See details -
Kalahari Resorts & Conventions Wisconsin Dells
Wisconsin Dells, WI · 125,000 sq ft indoor
The biggest indoor water park in Wisconsin, with a FlowRider surf machine, a wave pool, a lazy river and a separate outdoor park for summer.
Passes includedWave poolLazy riverToddler areaFlowRider54 slides4 hr 25 min See details -
Great Wolf Lodge Wisconsin Dells
Baraboo, WI · 76,000 sq ft indoor
An all-suite lodge with a 76,000 sq ft indoor water park kept at 84°F, a four-story water fort, a wave pool and a lazy river, plus MagiQuest for dry days.
Passes includedWave poolLazy river4 hr 25 min See details -
Wilderness on the Lake
Lake Delton, WI · 35,000 sq ft indoor
A condo resort on the shore of Lake Delton with Cubby's Cove, a 35,000 sq ft indoor water park built for kids 11 and under, plus an outdoor infinity pool over the lake. Guests also get into all the main Wilderness Resort water parks by free shuttle.
Passes includedToddler area4 slidesKitchen in every unit4 hr 25 min See details -
Atlantis Waterpark Hotel
Wisconsin Dells, WI
A smaller water park hotel built for younger kids, with two indoor pools, toddler slides, water basketball and spray features.
Toddler area4 hr 25 min See details -
Glacier Canyon Lodge at the Wilderness
Wisconsin Dells, WI
The condo side of the Wilderness Resort. Every unit has a full kitchen, and stays include all of the resort's water parks, reached from the lodge by an indoor skywalk.
Passes includedWave poolLazy riverToddler area54 slidesKitchen in every unit4 hr 25 min See details -
Grand Marquis Waterpark Hotel & Suites
Wisconsin Dells, WI
A 1994 family hotel with the Blue Dolphin Lagoon indoor water park, where a triple-chute dolphin slide joins several kid-size slides, plus a summer outdoor pool with three more slides. About 10 slides in all.
Passes includedToddler area10 slides4 hr 25 min See details -
Meadowbrook Resort
Wisconsin Dells, WI
A log-built Northwoods resort with the Timber Camp Water Adventure Playland, an indoor and outdoor water play area for kids 10 and under with small slides, a beaver dam water feature and spray toys.
Passes includedToddler area4 hr 25 min See details -
Mt. Olympus Water & Theme Park Resort (Hotel Rome)
Wisconsin Dells, WI
A resort where the stay includes the water and theme parks every day, plus a bonus day at checkout. Hotel Rome connects straight to the indoor water park, home of Medusa's Slidewheel.
Passes includedLazy riverToddler area4 hr 25 min See details -
Wingate by Wyndham Wisconsin Dells Waterpark
Wisconsin Dells, WI
A smaller hotel with the Hawaiian Village indoor water park for young children, with slides, geysers and zero-depth entries, plus the Hawaiian Island outdoor water park in summer. Free breakfast, and Noah's Ark passes in summer.
Passes includedToddler area4 hr 25 min See details -
Holiday Inn & Suites Maple Grove NW Minneapolis-Arbor Lakes
Maple Grove, MN · 25,000 sq ft indoor
A hotel by The Fountains at Arbor Lakes with the Venetian Indoor Waterpark: 25,000 sq ft, two four-story slides and a zero-entry toddler pool. Every room comes with five wristbands, but the big slides only run on weekends and school breaks.
Passes includedToddler area2 slides4 hr 30 min See details -
Chula Vista Resort
Wisconsin Dells, WI
A big resort above the Wisconsin River with the Lost Rios indoor water park: an action river, mat racers, a 500-gallon tipping bucket and a baby-slide play area.
Lazy riverToddler area4 hr 30 min See details -
Metropolis Resort
Eau Claire, WI
The resort with Chaos Water Park inside: multi-story slides, a lazy river and a play structure with a dump bucket. Admission comes with every reservation.
Passes includedLazy river4 hr 35 min See details -
Wyndham Garden Otsego-Minneapolis & Wild Woods Waterpark
Otsego, MN · 30,000 sq ft indoor
A hotel off I-94 northwest of Minneapolis with the Wild Woods Waterpark: 30,000 sq ft, three four-story slides, a lazy river and a vortex pool. Rooms include 4 passes and family suites 6, and the park runs on a set monthly schedule, mostly weekends.
Passes includedLazy river3 slides4 hr 45 min See details -
AmericInn by Wyndham Chippewa Falls
Chippewa Falls, WI
A small hotel near Lake Wissota with Splash Bay Adventure, an indoor water area with a waterslide, a kiddie slide and a wading pool next to the main pool and hot tub. Breakfast is free.
Passes includedToddler area2 slides4 hr 45 min See details
No hotels match all of those filters.
Compare the water parks
Facts from each hotel's own pages| Hotel | From Des Moines | Water park | Slides | Wave pool | Lazy river | Toddler area | Passes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ramada TropicsDes Moines | 5 min | 18,000 sq ft | — | — | — | — | Included |
| King's PointeStorm Lake | 2 hr | 20,000 sq ft | 3 | — | Yes | — | Extra cost |
| Bridges BayArnolds Park | 2 hr 40 min | — | — | — | Yes | Yes | Included, set by room |
| Best Western RochesterRochester | 3 hr 15 min | — | — | No | No | Yes | — |
| AmericInn La Crosse RiverfrontLa Crosse | 3 hr 40 min | — | 1 | — | — | — | Included, set by room |
| Deer Valley LodgeBarneveld | 3 hr 55 min | 12,000 sq ft | 2 | — | — | Yes | Included |
| Holiday Inn LakevilleLakeville | 3 hr 55 min | — | 1 | No | No | Yes | Included |
| Treasure IslandWelch | 4 hr | 40,000 sq ft | 2 | No | Yes | Yes | Included, set by room |
| AmericInn ShakopeeShakopee | 4 hr 5 min | — | 1 | No | No | Yes | — |
| Great Wolf BloomingtonBloomington | 4 hr 10 min | 75,000 sq ft | — | Yes | Yes | — | Included |
| Cranberry Country LodgeTomah | 4 hr 15 min | 12,000 sq ft | — | — | — | Yes | Included, set by room |
| Three Bears ResortWarrens | 4 hr 20 min | 60,000 sq ft | 4 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Included, set by room |
| Holiday Inn Madison WestMadison | 4 hr 20 min | — | — | — | — | Yes | Included, set by room |
| Wilderness ResortWisconsin Dells | 4 hr 25 min | 205,000 sq ft | 54 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Included |
| KalahariWisconsin Dells | 4 hr 25 min | 125,000 sq ft | 54 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Included |
| Great Wolf LodgeBaraboo | 4 hr 25 min | 76,000 sq ft | — | Yes | Yes | — | Included |
| Wilderness on the LakeLake Delton | 4 hr 25 min | 35,000 sq ft | 4 | — | — | Yes | Included |
| AtlantisWisconsin Dells | 4 hr 25 min | — | — | — | — | Yes | — |
| Glacier Canyon LodgeWisconsin Dells | 4 hr 25 min | See notes | 54 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Included |
| Grand MarquisWisconsin Dells | 4 hr 25 min | — | 10 | — | — | Yes | Included |
| MeadowbrookWisconsin Dells | 4 hr 25 min | — | — | — | — | Yes | Included |
| Mt. OlympusWisconsin Dells | 4 hr 25 min | — | — | — | Yes | Yes | Included |
| Wingate DellsWisconsin Dells | 4 hr 25 min | — | — | — | — | Yes | Included |
| Holiday Inn Maple GroveMaple Grove | 4 hr 30 min | 25,000 sq ft | 2 | No | No | Yes | Included |
| Chula VistaWisconsin Dells | 4 hr 30 min | See notes | — | — | Yes | Yes | — |
| Metropolis ResortEau Claire | 4 hr 35 min | — | — | — | Yes | — | Included |
| Wyndham Garden OtsegoOtsego | 4 hr 45 min | 30,000 sq ft | 3 | — | Yes | — | Included, set by room |
| AmericInn Chippewa FallsChippewa Falls | 4 hr 45 min | — | 2 | — | — | Yes | Included |
A blue tick means yes. "—" means the hotel doesn't publish it. Drive times are estimates from downtown without traffic.
Quick picks
Indoor water parks near Des Moines
The closest is Ramada by Wyndham Des Moines Tropics Resort & Conference Center in Des Moines, about 5 min away. 11 are in the Wisconsin Dells area, the biggest cluster of water park resorts in the country.
23 include water park passes with the room, 6 have a wave pool and 21 have a dedicated toddler area. Drive times are estimates without traffic, stops or weather.
Where they are
How to choose
Check the passes
Some hotels include water park access for every guest. Others cap passes by room type.
Measure the kids
Big slides often need riders to be 42" or 48" tall. Each hotel page lists the rules we found.
Toddlers need their own zone
A shallow splash area matters more than the size of the park.
Hours change by season
Weekday winter hours can be shorter than summer weekends.
Think about meals
Suites with a kitchen or kitchenette save money on longer stays.
Parents ask
What is the closest indoor water park hotel to Des Moines?
Ramada by Wyndham Des Moines Tropics Resort & Conference Center in Des Moines is the closest on our list, about 5 min (7 miles) by car from downtown Des Moines. Drive times are estimates without traffic.
What is the biggest indoor water park hotel near Des Moines?
Wilderness Hotel & Golf Resort has the most indoor water park space here, at 205,000 sq ft across 3 indoor parks. Next is Kalahari at 125,000 sq ft.
Which water park hotels near Des Moines include water park passes with the room?
Ramada Tropics, Bridges Bay, AmericInn La Crosse Riverfront, Deer Valley Lodge, Holiday Inn Lakeville, Treasure Island, Great Wolf Bloomington, Cranberry Country Lodge, Three Bears Resort, Holiday Inn Madison West, Wilderness Resort, Kalahari, Great Wolf Lodge, Wilderness on the Lake, Glacier Canyon Lodge, Grand Marquis, Meadowbrook, Mt. Olympus, Wingate Dells, Holiday Inn Maple Grove, Metropolis Resort, Wyndham Garden Otsego and AmericInn Chippewa Falls include water park access with a stay. At Bridges Bay, AmericInn La Crosse Riverfront, Treasure Island, Cranberry Country Lodge, Three Bears Resort, Holiday Inn Madison West and Wyndham Garden Otsego the number of passes depends on the room. For the others, the hotel does not publish whether passes are included, so check when you book.
Which water park hotels near Des Moines have a wave pool?
Great Wolf Bloomington, Three Bears Resort, Wilderness Resort, Kalahari, Great Wolf Lodge and Glacier Canyon Lodge have a wave pool. The Wilderness Resort's Great Wave is billed as America's largest indoor wave pool.
Which water park hotels near Des Moines are best for toddlers?
Bridges Bay, Best Western Rochester, Deer Valley Lodge, Holiday Inn Lakeville, Treasure Island, AmericInn Shakopee, Cranberry Country Lodge, Three Bears Resort, Holiday Inn Madison West, Wilderness Resort, Kalahari, Wilderness on the Lake, Atlantis, Glacier Canyon Lodge, Grand Marquis, Meadowbrook, Mt. Olympus, Wingate Dells, Holiday Inn Maple Grove, Chula Vista and AmericInn Chippewa Falls have a dedicated toddler or little-kids area with shallow water and small slides.
Which water park hotels near Des Moines have a lazy river?
King's Pointe, Bridges Bay, Treasure Island, Great Wolf Bloomington, Three Bears Resort, Wilderness Resort, Kalahari, Great Wolf Lodge, Glacier Canyon Lodge, Mt. Olympus, Chula Vista, Metropolis Resort and Wyndham Garden Otsego have a lazy river or action river.
Are there height requirements on the water slides?
Yes, on the bigger rides. Published minimums on this page run from 42" to 48". For example, Looping body slides (2) at Treasure Island needs riders to be at least 48". Toddler areas usually have no minimum.
Are indoor water parks open all year?
Indoor water parks are built for year-round use, which is why they are popular in Midwest winters. Hours change by season and day of the week, and parks can close for private events, so check the hotel's calendar before you go.
Can you use a hotel water park without staying overnight?
Some hotels sell day passes: King's Pointe, Deer Valley Lodge, Treasure Island, Great Wolf Bloomington, Three Bears Resort, Holiday Inn Madison West, Great Wolf Lodge and Wyndham Garden Otsego offers them. Most others on this page do not publish a day-pass option, and many limit their parks to overnight guests.
Related searches
Water park hotels within 5 hours of Des Moines. Facts come from each hotel's website, fact sheet or tourism listing, checked October 2026. How we collect our data.