Within 15 miles of Highland, CA · Updated 2026-07-05Highland doesn't run its own splash pad, so summer here means a short drive to a neighboring city's water play area. We checked every option within about 10 miles and picked the ones actually worth the trip, starting with the closest.
Top-Rated Splash Pads Near Highland
1. Israel Beal Park Splash Pad (Redlands)
For a family coming from Highland, the drive clocks in at under 10 min without traffic, an easy add-on if you're already headed toward Redlands.
Location: Colorado Street & River View Drive, Redlands, CA 92374
Good for parents chasing little ones. Israel Beal Park's splash pad in Redlands is enclosed, so you're not sprinting across a lot mid-visit. It's the closest option on this list to Highland proper.
Good to know: splash pad, playground, picnic areas, basketball courts, trails. Closed Sundays.
Parent tip: This is closed Sundays, so plan your Redlands trip for another day of the week.
Want to check if the fountains are running today? See live maintenance updates on the official Israel Beal Park portal.
2. Bethune Park Splash Pad (Redlands)
If you're based in Highland, it's under 10 min without traffic, worth combining with other Redlands stops.
Location: 16745 Kitching Street, Redlands, CA 92374
A backup from Highland if Israel Beal is crowded. Bethune Park's water play sticks to weekends by default but opens midweek on the hottest days.
Good to know: splash pad, water play. Closed Mondays & Tuesdays & Wednesdays & Thursdays.
Parent tip: Check the forecast before driving out on a weekday; this one's mostly a weekend splash pad.
3. Veterans Park Splash Pad (Colton)
If you're based in Highland, it's about 12 min without traffic, worth combining with other Colton stops.
Location: 290 East O Street, Colton, CA 92324
A weekend destination from Highland, not a quick stop. The combination of a splash pad, sports courts, and picnic areas makes Veterans Park worth the drive on a Saturday or Sunday.
Good to know: splash pad, playground, basketball courts, tennis courts, baseball diamonds, picnic areas. Closed Mondays & Tuesdays & Wednesdays & Thursdays & Fridays.
Parent tip: This one's a longer drive from Highland, so save it for a weekend when you can make a full afternoon of it.
For weather closures, seasonal restrictions, or maintenance schedules, view the Veterans Park city page.
4. 7th Street Park Splash Pad (Yucaipa)
Leaving Highland, you're looking at about 14 min without traffic, close enough that the kids won't gripe about the car ride.
Location: 12385 7th Street, Yucaipa, CA 92399
A free splash pad backed by a full rec complex in Yucaipa: 7th Street Park runs its water daily from 6am to 8pm, and it shares a lot with a pool, skate park, and rock climbing wall. Good for mixed-age sibling groups.
Good to know: splash pad, swimming pool, rock climbing wall, basketball courts, pickleball courts, skate park.
Parent tip: Early hours here beat the heat; the splash pad opens at 6am if your family's up for it.
Closures are rare, but you can confirm real-time operations on the 7th Street Park facilities status page before packing up the car.
5. Riverside Splash Pad - Sycamore Highlands Park (Riverside)
Out of Highland, plan for about 15 min in the car, which makes Riverside an easy weekday-afternoon trip from Highland.
Location: 5777 Fair Isle Drive, Riverside, CA 92509
Consistent hours beat convenience with this one. Sycamore Highlands Park keeps water running seven days a week from late May through early September.
Good to know: splash pad, playground, picnic areas.
Parent tip: Riverside's splash pads all open the same week in late May, worth checking the city aquatics page for the exact date.
Before heading out, review the Riverside - Sycamore Highlands Park status dashboard for seasonal maintenance updates.
6. Yucaipa Regional Park Water Slides (Yucaipa)
Out of Highland, plan for about 17 min in the car, which makes Yucaipa an easy weekday-afternoon trip from Highland.
Location: 33900 Oak Glen Road, Yucaipa, CA 92399
A paid park that earns its entrance fee. The water slides need a 48-inch height minimum, but the beach, pool, and pedal boats keep smaller kids busy too.
Good to know: water slides, sandy beach, swimming pool, fishing, pedal boats, picnic areas. Closed Christmas Days.
Parent tip: Vehicle entry runs $15 on weekdays and $20 on weekends and holidays, so a weekday trip saves a few bucks.
How we picked these
We only included splash pads that are free or a small posted fee and open to the public, no HOA gates or resident-only pools. We checked for shade, restrooms, and real operating hours instead of trusting a park's homepage photo. Everything here comes from official city parks pages, not paid placements.
Planning your visit
Most of these splash pads run Memorial Day through Labor Day, and several only turn the water on for weekends. Go early on a weekday if you can, especially since none of these are technically in Highland and you'll want to beat traffic on the way there. Bring water shoes and double check hours before you drive, since a few switch to weekday operation only on the hottest days.
For more kids' events near Highland this week, see the Highland events page.
Highland 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: Israel Beal Park Splash Pad and most Highland 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 Bethune Park Splash Pad, standard filtration doesn't remove all pathogens instantly.
Highland Splash Pads, Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best splash pads for kids near Highland, CA?
Our 2026 guide picks 6 standout splash pads within about 15 miles of Highland. The top picks include Israel Beal Park Splash Pad, Bethune 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.
Which splash pads near Highland are free?
5 of the 6 splash pads in this guide are free to visit, including Israel Beal Park Splash Pad, Bethune Park Splash Pad and Veterans Park Splash Pad. The rest charge admission. Check the individual cards above for prices.
What is the closest splash pad to Highland?
Israel Beal Park Splash Pad in Redlands is the closest pick at about 5.1 miles from Highland. 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 Highland splash pads open and close for the season?
Most Highland-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 Highland open right now?
It depends on the day. Many Highland-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.