Looking for a fun-filled family getaway? These indoor water parks with hotels in Illinois mean fun is always on your doorstep.
Choosing an Illinois water park hotel for your next vacation gives you one convenient location for both entertainment and relaxation, so it’s a perfect choice for a family getaway. Plus, indoor water parks mean weather won’t interfere with your plans, allowing for fun all year around. Make the most of your vacation time at one of these water park hotels.
Great Wolf Lodge, Gurnee
45 minutes from downtown Chicago
When you visit Great Wolf Lodge in Gurnee, you’ll find an expansive indoor water park perfect for the whole family. At 84 degrees all year-round, you can enjoy it any time of year, whenever you're ready for a vacation.
Thrill-seekers will enjoy exciting water slides like the Coyote Cannon, which sends you plummeting 40 feet into a swirling water vortex. Or if you're looking for a more relaxed experience, the Crooked Creek lazy river is a great way to unwind.
When you're done with your pool fun, you can head back to your cozy lodge accommodation. The standard and premium suites both offer a comfortable, spacious stay, but for a truly memorable experience, try the themed wolf den or cabin suites.
The resort also has a variety of dry-land attractions, such as MagiQuest, mini-golf, a ropes course, and a climbing wall, meaning there’s always something to keep every member of the family happy.
Other attractions near Great Wolf Lodge
Gurnee Mills
Add some retail therapy to your vacation by browsing the 200+ manufacturer and retail outlets at Gurnee Mills. There's also ice skating, laser tag, movies, and arcade games to keep the good times rolling.
Gurnee Mills
Lake County Libation Trail
Once you've dried off, it's time to wet your whistle! The Lake County Libation Trail offers the grown-ups in your party a fine range of local beer, wine, and distilled beverages.
Lake County Libation Trail
Six Flags Great America & Hurricane Harbor
You'll love the roller coasters, live shows, rides, and excitement of Six Flags Great America. Plus, if you want to add some variety to your vacation aqua adventures, Hurricane Harbor gives you another great water park option.
Six Flags Great America & Hurricane HarborGrand Bear Resort, Utica
90 minutes from downtown Chicago
Where can you mix outdoor adventure and indoor aquatic fun? Utica's Grand Bear Resort. It's just steps away from Starved Rock and Mathiessen State Parks, and has one of Illinois' best indoor water parks.
The slide tower, lazy river, whirlpool, and wave pool alone would make it a hit, but combine that with the hiking trails, scenic views, and waterfalls of Starved Rock and Mathiessen, and you've got a vacation the family will remember for life.
Your accommodation options include cozy cabins, spacious suites, and vacation villas, all set in a beautiful wooded area and equipped with amenities like fireplaces, kitchens, and private balconies.
If the weather doesn’t suit outdoor exploration, or you want a change of pace, the resort also includes an arcade, mini-golf, and an array of dining options.
Other attractions near Grand Bear Resort
Starved Rock State Park
Just a stone's throw away from Grand Bear is the natural wonderland of Starved Rock State Park. Hike through canyons, marvel at waterfalls, and take in the stunning Illinois River views.
Starved Rock State Park
Illinois Sparkling Co. - August Hill Winery
Utica is home to beautiful views and exciting adventure. It's also home to exceptional sparkling wine. The Illinois Sparkling Co., a long-time Illinois Made maker, harnesses the local climate and soil to produce wines you'll love to sip and savor.
Illinois Made Sparkling Wine
Matthiessen State Park
Matthiessen State Park offers a quieter experience than Starved Rock, while still being every bit as stunning. It's known for its lush canyons and prairie landscapes, with unique rock formations and cascading waterfalls.
Matthiessen State ParkHoliday Inn Club Vacations Fox River Resort, Sheridan
80 minutes from downtown Chicago
At the Holiday Inn Club Vacations Fox River Resort in Sheridan, high seas adventure comes to the safe confines of an indoor water park.
The pirate-themed Pirate's Cay Indoor Water Park has a lazy river, tube slides, body slides, and the Parrot's Perch pirate ship playscape. Palm trees and dump buckets complete the fun vibe.
At Fox River Resort you can stay in well-appointed two-bedroom villas or studios, with everything you'd expect from resort accommodation. There's also indoor and outdoor pools separate to the water park, a mini-golf course, an arcade, and even a movie theater.
Did we mention the lake? That's right: there's a seven acre lake on the property with fishing and boat hire.
Other attractions near Holiday Inn Club Vacations Fox River Resort
Silver Springs State Fish and Wildlife Area
If the hotel lake isn't enough outdoor charm for you, the Silver Springs State Fish and Wildlife Area should do the trick. Enjoy peaceful fishing in spring-fed lakes, explore scenic hiking trails, or relax with a family picnic.
Silver Springs State Fish and Wildlife Area
Farnsworth House
Take a short drive north, and you'll find yourself at one of the world's finest examples of minimalist modern design. Mies van der Rohe's Farnsworth House is a striking glass and steel structure set in a serene landscape.
Farnsworth House
Raging Waves Waterpark
Maximize your water park fun by pairing your Fox River vacation with a trip to Raging Waves. It's Illinois' largest outdoor water park, with exhilarating slides, a lazy river, and a giant wave pool.
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