Have the VERY BEST TIME at Splashway Waterpark & Campgrounds. Stay in the Splashway cabins, play at the waterpark all day and enjoy camp activities all night. (And find the Splashway Campground map HERE!)
As I sat by the pedal carts and watched families cooking dinner on campfires and kids riding bikes around the cabins, RVs and playgrounds… I thought I might just be in a feel-good All-American movie.
Behind me, the big waterpark had just closed for the day and in front of me were my kids on pedal carts, riding around the campground. The sun was going down and we were busy riding the bikes, playing mini golf, competing at laser tag, jumping on the giant pads and kayaking before making our own campfire.
Visiting Splashway Waterpark and Campground is always a highlight of our summer. We drive just an hour past Katy… but get away from it all. We spend a few days swimming, playing, cooking and eating together… without all the distractions at home.
We like one day visits to the waterpark, but we love these three day trips to the campground. Splashway invited us out again this year, and every day was like the 4th of July block party from The Sandlot… but every night of the summer (and without the Benny outrunning Hercules).
Jump to:
My kids got to go camping and stay in the Splashway cabins, I got to have all the amenities of home AND we got to visit a big waterpark!
As far as camping goes, I like the bonfires and outdoor activities but I prefer to stay somewhere with running water, air conditioning and a bed!
Well, at Splashway Waterpark & Campground, we had an air conditioned Splashway cabin with a full kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, loft and screened in porch! Here the kids could play at the playground right outside our door, roast marshmallows over the fire and run wild... and then come inside for showers, bathrooms and air conditioning.
You can find the Splashway Campground map HERE.
About the Campground
We arrived at Splashway on a weekday afternoon. After the temperature dropped, families came out to their decks for dinner and to the common areas for games, bikes, playing on the playground, giant chess games and the outdoor movie.
Then we made our fire, cooked our foil dinners, hot dogs and s'mores and ran wild through the campground. Later, the kids all climbed up to the loft (with 4 mattresses) and dreamed about the next day at the waterpark.
About the Waterpark
The next morning we arrived before opening, found our table and the kids were off! (You can usually enter the waterpark about 15 minutes before opening, but cannot enter the water until the announcement is made.) The big kids went on the huge slides and my youngest and I waved at them from the little kid areas.
The waterpark is not as huge at Wet'n'Wild or Schlitterbahn, but it is plenty big with lots to do... making it much easier to handle.
AND the thing that most impressed me was how friendly and polite the customers were. Any time a kid bumped in to my little kids, the parents jumped in and apologized and made things right. I think it was helped that the staff was very helpful, the music was all family friendly and there were frequent announcements connecting up lost parents and also reminding people to check in with their groups. This is the best experience we've ever had at a big waterpark.
In the end, the kids had so much fun that I had to peel them away after seven hours of swimming each day.
Tips for visiting the Splashway Waterpark
- All the slides, except 1, are for kids 42" and above. (The other is for 48" and above.)
- A few of the slides require 2 or 4 riders. It's a little tricky if you just have one kid that wants to ride.
- Parking is FREE!
- Life Jackets and Tubes are free to use.
- You can bring in COOLERS! Food is also for sale, but bringing in our own lunch saved us at least $10 each. (Bring a cooler on wheels to get it across the park.)
- There are free grills to cook your own lunch. (First come first served.)
- Arrive before opening… and do your favorite rides first. You can usually enter about 15 minutes early, grab a table and line up for your favorite slide.
- There a picnic tables all over the park and people just claim tables with their coolers… and come back when they are hungry.
- One year we went on a weekday with a buy one get one free promotion going on. There were crowds... but still not as big as the other Houston waterparks.
- Consider wearing water shoes. The sidewalks are hot!
- Lifeguards are everywhere. But, of course, you have to watch your kids!
- Have a meet up spot planned in advance… just in case you get separated!
- This is a lot of walking and climbing! The stairs and ramps to the top of the slides can take you several stories in the air.
- Life vests are available for free, all over the park. You can also bring in your own devices. My youngest wore his Puddle Jumper, even though she can swim. (It made his mom feel better.)
- Strollers are allowed in the park.
Tips for renting the Splashway cabins at Splashway Campground
- The Splashway cabins come with 3 queen beds and 2 full beds. The mattresses and pillows are covered in a slick cleanable cover and linens are provided. (You used to bring your own, but now they are provided!)
- Splashway Waterpark & Campground also has spaces for tents and RVs. They have cabins that sleep 12 and smaller cottages.
- You need to bring soap and shampoo.
- The kitchen is fully stocked with pots and plates and silverware... but you need to wash and return everything you use!
- The campgrounds have lots of things to do and boats to rent. If you have room in your car, bring bikes and balls so you have even more to do!
- This campground is nothing like Lake Houston Wilderness Park. If you want wilderness, this is not it. If you want fun, we found it here!
- Find the Splashway Campground map HERE.
- Staying for one day at the waterpark is great... but getting a cabin for two nights and visiting the waterpark for three days is awesome. It lets you run back and forth and take your time enjoying all there is to do at the campground.
- Do not expect to get lots of groceries in Sheridan. There is a camp store, but the closes real grocery store is probably 20 minutes away.
- If you plan to go in the winter, ready THIS post!
- If you need a list of things to bring, here's what we packed. (But remember, I'm not a real camping pro!)
- Maybe the most essential:
- Bug Spray
- Sun Screen
- Water
- For the Splashway cabin:
- Shampoo and Soap
- For the Fire:
- Firewood (also available at the entrance of the park)
- Charcoal
- Lighter/Matches
- Lighter Fluid
- Leather Gloves
- Stick for roasting marshmallows
- Groceries:
- Bread
- Cheese and Turkey
- Peanut Butter
- Marshmallows
- Graham Crackers
- Chocolate
- Water
- Snacks (Granola Bars, Trail Mix)
- Watermelon, Fruit, Veggies
- Supplies for Foil Dinners
- Foil
- Tongs (for taking them off the fire)
- Vegetables
- Hot Dogs
- Butter
- Salt
- Cooking Supplies:
- Knife
- Veggie Peeler
- Cutting Board
- Paper Towels
- Paper Plates
- Sporks
- Cups/Water Bottles
- Plastic Bags (for storing food)
- Cooler
- More supplies:
- Flash Lights
- Duct Tape
- Pocket Knife
- Hand Sanitizer
- Trash Bags
- Deck of Cards
- Phone/Charger
- For the waterpark:
- Flip Flops/water shoes
- Swim Suits
- Towels
- Cooler with water, snacks
- Maybe the most essential:
On my last trip, I had kids age 4 to 16 with me… and we all had fun… and it's not easy to please everyone from preK through high school, at the same time. But Splashway did it!
Take a look at more pictures below... and decide if Splashway Waterpark & Campground is right for you!
Looking for the Splashway Campground map? Find it HERE!
Splashway Waterpark Map
Click address for the map: 5211 Main Street, Sheridan, Texas 77475 (For the winter glamping post, go HERE!)
Mary Tibbs says
Do you have Tent Camping? and what is the cost? Or can you send me a brochure.
3510 Tanglebriar Dr.
.Pasadena, Tx 77503
Jill Jarvis says
Mary -
They do have tent sites that start at $40. Splashway can give you more information at 979-234-7718!
https://splashwaywaterpark.com/campground/sites/
Jill
Kristen Boethel says
Splashway is the best!