Skip the Chaos: This Kid-Friendly Waterpark Is a Hidden Gem in Illinois

Do you have younger children that love going to the waterpark, but super popular ones like Hurricane Harbor Rockford are a little too much for them? I think I found the perfect place to take them in St. Charles, Illinois.

Waterpark Fun in Illinois

My kids are big fans of waterparks, so we visit a variety of them several times each year. We've done most of the waterparks in the Wisconsin Dells, we've done Hurricane  Harbor. Basically, I've learned a few important things about waterparks throughout the years:

1. Get there early if you enjoy having a place to sit and leave your stuff.
2. Bring refillable water bottles with you because most waterparks have fountains where you can fill them for free.
3. If your kids are young or less adventurous, don't spend the money on the "fancy" waterparks with the big slides and rides. Save it for when they are older.

Now that we're on the subject of young waterpark lovers, if you're looking for a park with lots of water fun and less adrenaline, Otter Cove Aquatic Park in St. Charles, Illinois might be the perfect place for you to take the kids this summer!

Benefits of Otter Cove Aquatic Park

I think most parents would agree that taking young kids to a waterpark can be a little nerve-wracking.

READ MORE: At What Age Can Kids Stay Home Alone Legally in Illinois?

Between large crowds, deep water, and big waves, you are constantly worried about your kids' safety while swimming, but the attractions at Otter Cove Aquatic Park are far less worrisome.

Otter Cove Aquatic Park in St. Charles has a lot of cool attractions kids love, but they are more scaled down so even the littlest swimmers have a variety of things to do and enjoy.

Otter Cove Aquatic Park attractions include:

• Diving boards and a lap pool
• Drop slides
• Toddler pool
• Activity pool
• A sport spot to play water basketball
• Racer slides
• Turbo Freefall Slide
• Body slide and tube slide
• Lazy river
• A splash park with sand play area
• Sand volleyball, concessions, private cabanas and more!

Here's a sneak peek of what's new at Otter Cove Aquatic Park for the 2025 season:

Daily admission to Otter Cove Aquatic Park for non-residents is $18 a person and gives you access to all the fun features the park has to offer. Morning Splash Park access tickets are also sold for $7 a person. To find out more information about tickets, hours, and other options available, visit ottercove.org.