Cerritos doesn't have a single flagship splash pad, it has three, spread across the city's own parks and even outside the library. That means most families here never really need to leave town for water play, though a few nearby cities have picks worth the short drive when you want a change of scenery. Here's where to send the kids this summer.
Top-Rated Splash Pads Near Cerritos
1. Cerritos Park East Splash Pad (Cerritos)
Location: 13234 E 166th St, Cerritos, CA 90703
Cerritos👶 Best for all ages💲 Free🚗 0.9 miA spray pool that shares space with real sports facilities. Baseball diamonds, tennis courts, and basketball courts all sit within walking distance of the splash pad at Cerritos Park East, which makes this the pick for families juggling kids at different ages.
Good to know: splash pad, spray pool, baseball diamonds, basketball courts, tennis courts, picnic shelters.
Parent tip: Summer hours run 1pm to 4pm daily, with the park open later on weekends, so plan around the afternoon window.
Want to check if the fountains are running today? See live maintenance updates on the official Cerritos Park East portal.
2. Liberty Park Splash Pad (Cerritos)
Location: 19211 Studebaker Rd, Cerritos, CA 90703
Cerritos👶 Best for all ages💲 Free🚗 1.8 miA water play area surrounded by an unusually full list of things to do. Liberty Park adds a 330-yard night-lighted jogging track, disc golf, pickleball, and tennis to its splash pad, which makes it one of the more useful all-ages parks in Cerritos. Summer hours typically run early afternoon.
Good to know: water play area, jogging track, disc golf, pickleball courts, tennis courts, playgrounds.
Parent tip: The night-lighted jogging track around the park is worth a lap for parents while the kids play, especially on an evening visit.
3. Veterans Park Splash Pad (Cypress)
Location: 5700 Orange Ave, Cypress, CA 90630
Open lawn around the splash pad gives toddlers room to wander. Veterans Park's layout includes open grass for blankets next to the concrete splash zone, good for a slower-paced visit after the splashing winds down.
Good to know: splash pad, playground, basketball courts, open lawn, shade, picnic area.
Parent tip: Eight picnic tables and a covered pavilion make this an easy one to combine with a packed lunch instead of a quick splash and go.
For weather closures, seasonal restrictions, or maintenance schedules, view the Veterans Park city page.
4. Amelia Mayberry Park Splash Pad (Whittier)
For Cerritos families, plan under 10 min each way, and Whittier is easy to get around once you're there.
Location: 8735 Lakeview Ave, Whittier, CA 90605
Worth the short drive from Cerritos for the walled design alone. The containment wall around Amelia Mayberry Park's splash pad is a small detail that makes a real difference for parents of younger toddlers who tend to wander.
Good to know: colorful splash pad, partial shade, containment wall, playground, pavilion, picnic area.
Parent tip: The containment wall around the pad keeps toddlers from wandering off mid-splash, worth knowing if you've got a younger kid.
Closures are rare, but you can confirm real-time operations on the Amelia Mayberry Park facilities status page before packing up the car.
5. Stanton Central Park Splash Pad (Stanton)
Heading out of Cerritos, budget under 10 min on the road, short enough for a spur-of-the-moment weekday trip.
Location: 10660 Western Ave, Stanton, CA 90680
A railroad-themed splash pad built around a water tower and train car fountain. Stanton Central Park leans into a train theme that's rare among splash pads, with water cannons and themed structures instead of generic spray jets. A skate park sits nearby for older siblings, and it's open daily through the summer.
Good to know: water tower, train car fountain, water cannons, skate park, shade.
Parent tip: It's a bit of a longer drive from Cerritos, but the train theme is worth it if your kids are into anything with wheels and tracks.
Before heading out, review the Stanton Central Park status dashboard for seasonal maintenance updates.
6. Valencia Park Splash Pad (Fullerton)
Out of Cerritos, plan for under 10 min in the car, which makes Fullerton an easy weekday-afternoon trip from Cerritos.
Location: 1710 W Valencia Dr, Fullerton, CA 92833
The farthest pick on this list, but worth it for a change of scenery. Valencia Park's combination of shade, a wading pool, and a splash pad makes it a solid choice when you want something different from the closer Cerritos options.
Good to know: splash pad, wading pool, playground, shade, restrooms, parking.
Parent tip: The wading pool is a gentler option than the splash pad if you've got a toddler who isn't ready for jets yet.
Keep tabs on routine cleanings and seasonal changes by visiting the Valencia Park page directly.
How we picked these
We started with Cerritos's own three splash pads, then looked just outside city limits toward Bellflower, Whittier, and Santa Fe Springs for a couple more worth the drive. Everything on this list is free or low-cost and public, and we checked for shade, restrooms, and nearby play equipment before ranking. Most of this list is walkable or a five-minute drive for Cerritos families.
Planning your visit
Cerritos's splash pads generally run afternoon hours in the summer months, often 1pm to 4pm, and some extend into evenings on weekends once school lets out. Hours can shift for maintenance or weather, so it's worth a quick check of the park's page before you drive over. Water shoes help since a couple of these pads sit directly on concrete, and the library's splash pad in particular isn't fully padded underfoot.
For more kids' events near Cerritos this week, see the Cerritos events page.
Cerritos Splash Pad Checklist
- Two towels and a dry change of clothes per kid: wet swimsuits on a hot car seat are miserable.
- Water shoes: rubber soles grip wet concrete; bare feet burn on pavement between jets.
- SPF 50+ sunscreen, applied 15 min before arrival: Cerritos Park East Splash Pad and most Cerritos splash pads have minimal shade, so a portable canopy extends your session past midday.
- Your own water bottle: splash pad water recirculates through a filtration and chlorination system and is not safe to drink, even when it runs clear.
Swim Diapers and Water Hygiene
- Swim diapers only for children not yet potty trained, regular diapers absorb recirculating water, swell, and can contaminate the shared system. Most municipal splash pads require them.
- Don't swallow the water: it's treated recreational water, not drinking water. Repeated swallowing can cause gastrointestinal illness.
- Rinse off after with soap and water. Keep kids with open wounds or a recent stomach illness out of places like Liberty Park Splash Pad, standard filtration doesn't remove all pathogens instantly.
Cerritos Splash Pads, Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best splash pads for kids near Cerritos, CA?
Our 2026 guide picks 6 standout splash pads within about 10 miles of Cerritos. The top picks include Cerritos Park East Splash Pad, Liberty Park Splash Pad and Veterans Park Splash Pad, each chosen for kid-friendly layout, parent reviews, and how well it holds up on a weekend visit.
Are splash pads near Cerritos free?
Yes, every splash pad in this guide is free to visit, with no admission fee or ticket required for Cerritos Park East Splash Pad, Liberty Park Splash Pad, Veterans Park Splash Pad or any of the other picks.
What is the closest splash pad to Cerritos?
Cerritos Park East Splash Pad is the closest pick at under a mile from Cerritos. It's the easiest one to fit into a weekday afternoon, short drive, low commitment, easy to leave early if the kids melt down.
When do Cerritos splash pads open and close for the season?
Most Cerritos-area splash pads open Memorial Day weekend (late May) and run through Labor Day or mid-September, depending on weather and maintenance. Hours typically run 10 a.m.–8 p.m. daily, check each splash pad's official page (linked in the cards above) before driving out, since closures for cleaning and weather are common.
Are the splash pads near Cerritos open right now?
It depends on the day. Many Cerritos-area pads run on heat-activated sensors or set seasonal hours (often 10 a.m.–8 p.m.), and some close one weekday for cleaning or shut off in bad weather. Before you load up the car, check the official page linked on each card above, it carries the current day's hours and status.