Review: Splash Zone Waterpark in Charleston, SC
There are only a handful of waterparks in Charleston, South Carolina, and Splash Zone is the best option for those with preteens or younger kids. It’s a great in-between park, not too busy and not too boring.
Come take a dip, enjoy a slide, or float around the lazy river (our favorite) and enjoy the chance to skip the beach and cool off.
Let’s look at the pools, the food, and the amenities and decide if Splash Zone Waterpark is the right Charleston waterpark for you!
Splash Zone Quick Info
- Location: James Island County Park, near West Ashley and Folly Beach
- Cost:
- $16 per adult (anyone over 48” tall)
- $14 per kid (under 48” tall)
- $12 per senior (age 60+)
- Free for kids age 2 and under
- Additional $2 per person County Park entry fee, paid at park gate
- Season: mid-May to first weekend in August
- Fun Stuff: 1 tube slide, 1 lazy river, 1 zero-entry pool, & 1 kids’ treehouse
- Amenities: changing rooms, showers, locker rentals, lounge chairs
- Food: standard theme park-type food
- Who’s it good for?: Kids up to preteens and relaxed adults
Park Overview
Splash Zone is the best “in-between” waterpark option in Charleston. It’s not too overwhelming or too boring; it’s somewhere in the middle out of the four waterparks in the area.
It’s got something fun for several different age groups, except maybe adventurous teens or adults looking for big slides.
The waterpark is essentially only open for two months in the summer, June and July. It’s clearly geared towards school-aged kids, and you’ll see kids’ camp groups here often.
Good to Know: The only waterpark in Charleston open in August is Whirlin Waters at Wannamaker County Park in the Summerville/North Charleston area.
Even with the school groups, there are plenty of lounge chairs and shade to go around. You may have to wait longer than normal for a tube to float the lazy river, though.
Lockers are available for a small fee, and free changing rooms and showers make it easy to clean up and go explore the rest of James Island County Park when you’re done with the waterpark.
Recommendations
- For most of the family. This is a fun-but-not-overwhelming waterpark.
- Solo adults won’t feel out of place here.
- Teens and adventurous adults may get bored with the lack of slides.
Slides & Areas
Main Pool
The zero-entry main pool is perfect for leisure swimmers, maxing out at about 5ft deep.
The zero-entry end is shaded by 3 enormous umbrella sunshades. It’s a good place for little ones to sit and splash, as well as adults that just want to sit in the water in the shade.
The deeper end of the pool is great for those that like to dive for things or do flips and tricks in the water. It’s not deep enough to jump in and dive, but bring your googles and dive toys, and have a ball!
Open & Tube Slides
Two 200ft long slides, one open and one tube, offer a bit of adventure for Splash Zone. These are good for older kids that have perhaps outgrown the treehouse or just want a bigger thrill.
Both have height restrictions, though. You have to be at least 42” to ride, and if you’re less than 48” tall you have to ride with a partner who is over 48”.
You’ll see the occasional solo adult taking advantage of these slides, but usually, if there’s an adult in this line, it’s to ride with a 42”-48” tall kid.
The Jungle Treehouse
The loudest, arguably most fun section of the park is the Jungle Treehouse. Kids love it here. You’re guaranteed to get soaked!
There are a few small slides that you access by climbing through the treehouse, but watch out! Buckets and jets abound, and there are 2 giant buckets at the top that periodically fill and dump over the entire treehouse.
Lazy River
My personal favorite part of Splash Zone is the lazy river. I think it’s actually better than the lazy river at Whirlin Waters. It’s not very long, but it has a waterfall section!
You can bypass the waterfall section if you don’t want to get wet while you float, but I personally appreciate the option to cool off as I float!
It gets hot here, and the sudden downpour as you pass under the waterfall is incredibly refreshing.
Kids love the lazy river, too, though, so you may have to wait a few minutes for a tube to become available on days when kids’ camps are visiting.
The Food
The Canopy Canteen, Splash Zone’s concession stand, is tucked into the shade at the front end of the park, near the parking lot and the entrance. It serves the same theme park foods as all the Charleston area waterparks: burgers, hotdogs, chicken tenders, fries, and frozen lemonade.
Food prices are reasonable. You’re looking at $3 for a bottle of water but only $7 for a cheeseburger.
Healthier options are available if you’re looking for a simple salad or a wrap. If you’ve got little ones, they also carry Uncrustables and Capri Suns.
There’s another snack kiosk and drink station near the slides called Bullfrog Bites, for when you don’t want to stand in the long lunch lines at the main kitchen.
Good to Know: Outside food and drinks, besides water, are prohibited inside the waterpark. You can’t bring coolers inside, either.
However, you could leave a cooler in your car and go out to the parking lot to eat, if you’re willing to get everyone dried off and back into shoes.
You won’t be the only ones. Plenty of people do that. Just get your hand stamped for same-day re-entry.
The Amenities
Splash Zone includes the following amenities:
- Free Lounge Chairs & Sunshades
- Paid Locker Rentals
- Free Changing Rooms & Showers
Chairs are free at Splash Zone, no rental required. Find a free one, put down your towel, bag, and shoes, and go enjoy the park.
The live oak trees provide a lot of shade, but there are also a few sunshades in the middle, too. If you’re here for several hours, your stuff will end up in the sun eventually.
Get here early if you want to pick a good spot! Chairs under sunshades go fast and stay occupied most of the day.
Rent lockers from the small shop hut near the entrance and restrooms. The lockers are on the walls by the restrooms.
Locker keys come on a flexible wristlet strap so you won’t lose it while you’re enjoying the park. They charge $10 total but you get $5 back when you return the key.
Good to Know: There aren’t many benches near the lockers. You’ll have to grab your stuff, go find a bench, and then come back.
Changing rooms and showers are underrated amenities, in my opinion. It’s so nice to change into dry clothes without having to go home first. You can just continue on with your day.
Go explore the rest of James Island County Park or enjoy dinner on the way home.
The Price
As far as waterpark entry fees go, Splash Zone’s fee isn’t bad.
You could get a family of four in for $64. That’s less than the price of a fast food dinner for the same family, and you get a full day at the waterpark.
Having to pay for entry to the county park first and then pay again for entry to the waterpark is annoying, but we understand why they do it that way.
You have to drive into the park to get to the waterpark. We’d rather they just charge us for the waterpark at the entry gate, but James Island County Park gets busy and they don’t want to back up traffic onto the main road.
If you have a Charleston County Parks Gold Pass you won’t have to pay the $2 park entry fee, just the waterpark entry fees.
If you get a Charleston County Parks Splash Pass season pass, it covers both your park entry fee and your waterpark entry fee.
The Gist:
A Basic Splash Pass will break even after 4 visits to just Splash Zone. A Super Splash Pass will break even after 6 visits from just Splash Zone. There’s more nuance to the breakeven point as both passes get you into other water parks.
Here’s our full analysis and cost breakdown of the Splash Pass options.
There’s also a standard raincheck policy in case of severe weather. Keep your receipt, and you can come back another day in the same summer season.
Is Splash Zone Worth It?
Yes, Splash Zone is ideal for families that want fun but not too much overwhelm.
Most age groups will find a fun section at this park, except maybe teens, and solo adults won’t feel out of place sunbathing or floating down the lazy river.
The price is manageable, and you can spend most of the day here to make sure you get your money’s worth.
Other Water Parks in the Charleston Area
If you’re craving more adventure, like lots of slides, bigger slides, and/or a wave pool, then Whirlin’ Waters is for you. It’s the best waterpark in Charleston, in our opinion.
Splash Island is the smallest, least overwhelming water park in Charleston. It’s ideal for toddlers and young kids, but there’s nothing for teens or adventurous older kids here.
Prefer lakes over pools? Charleston Aqua Park is a better fit for you.
Safe travels, adventurer!
Rachel Means is the founder and author of Adventures in the Carolinas. She’s lived in the Carolinas for over a decade and has been creating useful travel guides and tips for almost 5 years. She enjoys sharing fun things to do across the region, not just the big touristy areas. There are plenty of adventures to be had in the Carolinas!
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