The Wave Waterpark

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Location: Vista (43 Miles / 45 Minutes North of Downtown San Diego); Near a Sprinter Train Station.

Open Daily: First Weekend in June – Middle of August; Generally 10AM – 4PM (Check schedule for specific hours and additional dates in May & September.)

Cost: Several options starting at $16 ($12 for Kids under 42″ and $11 for Seniors 60+). Parking is Free.

Features: Five Water Slides; a Competitive Pool for Swimming; Simulated Wave Maker; Early Morning Lap Swims.

The Wave Waterpark Highlights: The Wave Waterpark is a community oriented park but offers plenty of thrills including a three story vertical drop on ‘Slam Dunk’. There is also a large competitive pool for lap swimming and splashing around. A popular attraction is the Flow Rider, which creates perfect waves for those who want to show off their body surfing skills.

Best Times To Visit The Wave Waterpark:

  • The Wave Waterpark is only open during the summer. The mornings in June may be a little cooler since San Diego often has morning cloud cover. It usually burns off and results in a warm sunny afternoon. Read our description about San Diego weather for more details. So, if you prefer cloud cover, despite the cooler temperatures, and smaller crowds, it is best to visit when the park first opens during early summer days.
  • The Competitive Pool offers Lap Swimming during early morning hours a few days a week. Check the web site for more details.

What to Expect

  • Since you will get wet, lockers are available to store your change of clothes. Locker rentals are $3 and require an additional $2 deposit.
  • Wave Waterpark Map – Take a look at this printable water park map to get a good feel for what to expect.
  • 42″ is a common cut-off point. Most rides require guests to be at least 42″ tall. Rippity’s Rainforest is for kids 3 – 12 years old and the Crazy River is also a good choice for kids of all ages.
  • Life jackets are provided for free. You can not bring your own floating devices except for U.S. Coastguard approved life jackets.
  • Inner tubes are available for free at each ride for use on that ride only. You can rent an inner tube to keep with you for the day.
  • There are concessions available at the park. No drinks or food are allowed to be brought into the Park.
  • Cabanas can be rented. This is a great way to have a place to meet up with family and friends who will likely be enjoying different rides.
  • There are chairs and umbrellas throughout The Wave Waterpark available on a first come, first serve basis. You can bring your own chairs and umbrellas as well.
  • No Smoking is allowed anywhere at the Wave Water Park.

Day Camps – The Wave Waterpark offers several week-long Day Camps centered around different themes, including Super Heroes and Movie Stars. Drop off your kids (ages 7 – 15) for the day and give yourself some free time.

Birthday Parties -Make your child’s visit all the more memorable by celebrating their birthday with a party of 10 or more. See the web site for more details.

Group Parties – Have fun with a group of friends or coworkers. The Wave Water Park hosts groups of 15 to 1,200.

Admission Prices:

  • Parking is Free
  • Standard Fee is $16; $12 for Kids under 42″ tall and $11 for Seniors 60 and over.
  • Season Passes are available and are worth it if you plan to go at least five times during the summer. The Season Passes also include discounts to other local attractions.
  • Entertainment Books offer 2 for 1 discounts.
  • Users who buy a day pass on the Breeze Buses or Sprinter Trains can use those passes for a discount. See the transit web site for more information.
  • Locker Rentals cost $4 with an additional $1 deposit.

Hours – Only open daily during the Summer from the first weekend in June until the middle of August. Hours are generally 10AM – 4PM weekdays and 12PM – 6PM weekends. The park is also open for Memorial Day Weekend and during the later half of August and September with more restrictive hours. Check the schedule for specific dates and hours. Also note, the Park may close if there is bad weather or other reasons. Fortunately, there is very little bad weather in San Diego.

Directions from Google Maps to 101 Wave Drive in Vista, CA 92083 (Google Maps labels Wave Drive as Rec Drive.)

Traffic – The location is just off highway SR-78 in Vista, six miles from the I-5 and ten miles from the I-15. Traffic heading eastbound on SR-78 is heavy during the late afternoon hours. You may also encounter occasional pockets of slower traffic heading southbound on highway I-5 during the evening rush hour. (Learn how to get the latest traffic updates.)

Train Transit – The Vista Transit Center web site for the Sprinter Train is 100 yards north of The Wave Waterpark. (See San Diego Transit Information for more details on the Sprinter.)

Find More Attractions with Similar Themes or Location: Amusement Parks, Kids Attractions & Activities, North County Coastal, North County Inland, Watch Movies |

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