The Best Hotels With a Water Park to Book in Tennessee

This Smoky Mountain resort in Tennessee will have adrenaline-seekers whooping with glee at the indoor and outdoor water parks with pools and slides. There’s a heap of entertainment out of the water, too, from a video game arcade to miniature golf and laser tag. A 10mi (16km) drive from Dollywood theme park, relaxed one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments come with kitchens, balconies and those all-important whirlpool tubs, for those who prefer their soaking a bit more sedate.

Who wants to use the steps when you can enter the large turquoise outdoor pool via a 75ft (23m) water slide? Set alongside the Little Pigeon River in downtown Pigeon Forge, this hotel is all about frolicking in the water, with a light-filled indoor pool area and a forest-themed mural by the mosaic-tiled hot tub. All that splashing makes you hungry, so tuck into the Southern hot biscuits and gravy before starting your day. The rustic-chic rooms and suites feature metal beds and wooden floors. Some have river views, and others have jetted tubs.

Splash the day away at Music Road Resort in Tennessee, where the hotel and inn have water parks, heated indoor pools and hot tubs. The two outdoor water parks feature curving water slides, lazy rivers, a water umbrella and a pool for children. The hotel and inn have game rooms, too, so after a day in the water, you can dry off inside with arcade games, claw machines, pool and air hockey.

Entertain kids with ease with the indoor and outdoor water parks at the Resort at Governor’s Crossing, offering activities the whole family can enjoy. The indoor water park features a toddler splash pad, water slides, a pool, swim jets for exercise, a 20-person hot tub, a sauna and water basketball. The outdoor water park takes things further with a lumberjack log roll, a lazy river, a water slide, a kiddie pool with water features, a large swimming pool and Adventure Springs, a water play park with a dump bucket, slides, blaster guns and interactive elements. For some dry fun, head to the game rooms for pinball and air hockey.

The seasonal Dollywood’s Splash Country is big fun for thrillseekers. Little Creek Falls is perfect for younger children, and larger attractions, such as Fire Creek Falls, are great for older kids and adults, with twin water slides dropping riders into a free fall from high in the air. Big Bear Plunge is a rafting ride through dark caverns and bends, while Slick Rock Racer provides multiple lanes for water-slide racing. Other attractions include the bucket dump tower, lazy river and water coaster. Get some much-needed rest at Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa right up the street. And if you’d rather stay at the resort, it has indoor and outdoor water fun, too.

Stretching across 4 acres (2ha) of indoor and outdoor attractions, SoundWaves at the Gaylord Opryland will keep you entertained for the duration of your stay. Inside, don’t miss the Rapid Remix, a mega raft that sits four to five people and takes you through vortex loops with LED lights and music speakers. Outside, the Bass Drop is a high-speed, open-flume body ride that free falls for six stories into the water. Other water adventures include a wave pool, an adults-only pool, racing lane water slides, a lazy river, a splash pad and much more.

Not far from Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Smoky Mountain Resort is a great choice for those traveling with kids. The Splash Hollow indoor water park offers slides, sprayers and all manner of fun, and the Mountaineer Center is an added perk where kids can use Xbox consoles and iPads for free. The resort also offers special activities, such as crafts and tours of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. An indoor pool and an outdoor hot tub offer added fun for all.