Omni Rancho Las Palmas Resort & Spa

If you’ve spent any time in the Coachella Valley when the weather warms up, you already know the heat is no joke. By midday, the sun is beaming down, and the only sensible option is finding a cold body of water as fast as possible. The good news is that Greater Palm Springs goes way beyond standard hotel pools. Whether you’re traveling with kids who need to burn off energy on giant slides, looking to catch an actual wave in the middle of the desert, or just wanting to kick back with a drink and float down a lazy river, the valley has plenty of awesome spots to dive into. Here is a down-to-earth breakdown of 8 amazing water parks to visit on vacation in the Coachella Valley, which also include surf clubs and splash-worthy resorts around the area. This article is complete with insider tips and quick answers to the questions you’ll likely have before booking. Splashtopia If you’re vacationing with kids, Splashtopia at the Omni Rancho Las Palmas Resort in Rancho Mirage is pretty much paradise. It’s custom-built for families who want a full water park experience without having to leave their resort grounds. Between the two 100-foot waterslides, a sprawling play zone with water cannons, and a sandy beach entry where little ones can build sandcastles, it easily keeps everyone entertained for hours. If you’re looking for relaxation, you can grab a tube and drift along the 425-foot lazy river while taking in views of the surrounding mountains and palm trees. Pro Tip Splashtopia is strictly for resort guests and day-pass holders, so seating around the lazy river fills up fast on hot weekends. Head down right when it opens in the morning to snag prime lounge chairs in the shade near the main pool entry. FAQ Do you need to stay at the Omni Rancho Las Palmas to access Splashtopia? Not necessarily! While it’s primarily an amenity for overnight resort guests, day passes are often available for purchase via ResortPass depending on seasonal occupancy. HyTides Located at the Grand Hyatt Indian Wells Resort & Villas, HyTides Plunge is currently the largest resort water feature in the entire Coachella Valley. It’s got a energetic, upscale feel that caters really well to slightly older kids and teens alongside younger ones. The headliner here is a pair of 30-foot-tall, 220-foot-long dueling speed slides where riders can race each other down to the splash pool below. Once the adrenaline wears off, you can grab an inner tube and float the 450-foot lazy river, while toddlers stick to the dedicated “Lil Vista” slide and interactive splash pad. Pro Tip Height restrictions are enforced pretty strictly here—riders need to be at least 48 inches tall for the main dueling slides and 42 inches for the Lil Vista slide. Measure your kiddos before you promise them a trip down the big slides so there are no tearful surprises at the tower entrance! FAQ Can non-hotel guests visit HyTides? Yes! While access is included for overnight resort guests, non-guests can purchase day passes or rent daybeds/cabanas via ResortPass depending on seasonal availability. Palm Springs Surf Club Sitting on the site of the former Wet ‘n’ Wild in Palm Springs, the Palm Springs Surf Club completely reimagined what a desert water park can be. It’s equal parts high-tech surf break and upscale, trendy beach club. At the center of it all is a state-of-the-art wave lagoon engineered to pump out perfectly shaped ocean waves for everyone from beginner longboarders to seasoned pros. If you aren’t looking to catch a wave, there’s still plenty to do: you can float down the lazy river, take a spin down their speed slides, or chill in a lounge chair with a craft cocktail while watching the surfers do their thing. Pro Tip Surf sessions at the wave pool are booked separately from standard park entry passes and fill up quickly. If you actually want to get in the water and surf, book your wave slot online weeks in advance—don’t count on showing up and grabbing a spot at the gate! FAQ Do you have to be an experienced surfer to visit? Not at all! You don’t even have to get in the wave lagoon. The park offers general admission tickets for access to the lazy river, slides, splash pads, and lounge area, plus beginner-friendly surf lessons if you want to try it out for the first time. DSRT Surf Located adjacent to the Desert Willow Golf Resort in Palm Desert, DSRT Surf is the newest heavy hitter in the Coachella Valley’s surf park lineup. Tucked right between two championship golf courses, this 5.5-acre lagoon uses Wavegarden Cove technology to generate up to 1,000 ocean-quality waves per hour. The massive footprint allows multiple wave zones to run at the same time—meaning advanced surfers can carve up steep barrels on the outer reef while beginners practice popping up on soft, rolling whitewash in the shallow bays. Aside from the main surf lagoon, the resort layout includes a leisure pool, pickleball courts, and a three-pool viewing deck complete with cabanas, a full bar, and a restaurant. Pro Tip If you’re traveling with family members who aren’t interested in riding waves, look into grabbing a spectator pass or cabana rental on the viewing deck. They’ll get full access to the leisure pool, food, and drinks while maintaining front-row seats to watch all the action in the lagoon. FAQ How does a massive surf pool work in a desert environment without wasting water? DSRT Surf utilizes a “Turf for Surf” sustainability model. The development offset its water usage by converting tens of acres of nearby golf course turf into drought-tolerant landscaping, saving more water annually than the surf lagoon actually consumes. Palm Desert Aquatic Center If you want a fun, water-filled day with the family without paying high resort fees, the Palm Desert Aquatic Center is an absolute gem. Spanning nearly eight acres right in Civic Center Park, this modern, spotlessly clean facility