Redlands summers push past 100 degrees by June, and a backyard sprinkler only holds a toddler's attention for so long. We mapped out the splash pads worth the drive, starting with the two right in town and stretching out to nearby cities when Redlands itself came up short on options.
Top-Rated Splash Pads Near Redlands
1. Israel Beal Park Splash Pad (Redlands)
Location: Colorado Street & River View Drive, Redlands, CA 92374
Redlands👶 Best for all ages💲 Free🚗 1.1 mi
The fenced-in splash pad in Redlands parents trust most: Israel Beal Park's splash pad sits inside its own gate, so you're not chasing a toddler across an open parking lot while you set up towels. The park backs up to the Santa Ana River and has almost 8 acres of room to spread out once the kids dry off.
Good to know: splash pad, playground, picnic areas, basketball courts, trails. Closed Sundays.
Parent tip: Go before 4pm on weekdays if you want the shade structures to yourself; this park gets busy the second school lets out.
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)
Location: 16745 Kitching Street, Redlands, CA 92374
Redlands👶 Best for all ages💲 Free🚗 1.5 mi
Weekend splash pad worth planning around in Redlands: Bethune Park only runs its water Friday through Sunday, but it stretches those hours out to 10am to 5pm, which is a solid window for a whole morning outing. On a scorcher over 95 degrees the city opens it on weekdays too.
Good to know: splash pad, water play. Closed Mondays & Tuesdays & Wednesdays & Thursdays.
Parent tip: Double check the temperature forecast; this one only fires up midweek when it's genuinely hot out.
3. Stewart Park Splash Pad (Beaumont)
Leaving Redlands, you're looking at about 10 min without traffic, close enough that the kids won't gripe about the car ride.
Location: 985 Orange Avenue, Beaumont, CA 92223
Worth the drive from Redlands any month of the year. Most splash pads in the area close up by Labor Day, but Stewart Park in Beaumont keeps running. It's part of a bigger Phase I renovation that added walking trails and picnic pavilions too.
Good to know: splash pad, walking trails, picnic pavilions, playground, shade structures, restrooms.
Parent tip: Worth the drive from Redlands on a cooler month when your own city's splash pads are still shut down for the season.
For weather closures, seasonal restrictions, or maintenance schedules, view the Stewart Park city page.
4. Veterans Park Splash Pad (Colton)
If you're based in Redlands, it's about 11 min without traffic, worth combining with other Colton stops.
Location: 290 East O Street, Colton, CA 92324
Best splash pad in Colton for a full day out: Veterans Park packs basketball courts, tennis courts, and baseball diamonds around the splash pad, so older siblings have somewhere to burn energy while the little ones cool off. The water only runs on weekends, but the hours stretch from 11am to 6pm.
Good to know: splash pad, playground, basketball courts, tennis courts, baseball diamonds, picnic areas. Closed Mondays & Tuesdays & Wednesdays & Thursdays & Fridays.
Parent tip: This is a weekend-only splash pad, so don't plan a Tuesday trip here expecting the water to be on.
Closures are rare, but you can confirm real-time operations on the Veterans Park facilities status page before packing up the car.
5. Riverside Splash Pad - Sycamore Highlands Park (Riverside)
If you're based in Redlands, it's about 10 min without traffic, worth combining with other Riverside stops.
Location: 5777 Fair Isle Drive, Riverside, CA 92509
Long daily hours make this Riverside pick easy to plan around: Sycamore Highlands Park runs its splash pad daily from 9am to 6pm all summer, no weekend-only restrictions to remember. Riverside actually runs several splash pads across the city, so if this one's packed there are backups nearby.
Good to know: splash pad, playground, picnic areas.
Parent tip: Riverside's splash pads all open the same week in late May, so check the city aquatics page for the exact start date each year.
Before heading out, review the Riverside - Sycamore Highlands Park status dashboard for seasonal maintenance updates.
6. 7th Street Park Splash Pad (Yucaipa)
From Redlands, it runs about 12 min door-to-door, and Yucaipa's roads are simple to follow from the highway.
Location: 12385 7th Street, Yucaipa, CA 92399
One stop, three activities in Yucaipa. 7th Street Park's splash pad, pool, and skate park all share the same lot, open daily from 6am to 8pm. It solves the problem of kids wanting different things on the same afternoon.
Good to know: splash pad, swimming pool, rock climbing wall, basketball courts, pickleball courts, skate park.
Parent tip: This park stays open early, so it's a solid option if you want to beat the heat before 9am.
Keep tabs on routine cleanings and seasonal changes by visiting the 7th Street Park page directly.
How we picked these
We only listed splash pads that are free and open to the public, no HOA gates or resident-only pools. We checked for shade, nearby restrooms, and whether the water actually runs on a real schedule (some of these only turn on weekends). Everything here came from city parks department pages and on-the-ground notes, not paid placements.
Planning your visit
Most Inland Empire splash pads run Memorial Day through Labor Day, and a few only switch on when it's over 95 degrees. Weekday mornings before 11am are your best bet if you want to skip the crowd and the worst of the heat. Bring water shoes since the concrete gets hot fast, and check each park's specific days since several only run water on weekends.
For more kids' events near Redlands this week, see the Redlands events page.
Redlands 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 Redlands 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.
Redlands Splash Pads, Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best splash pads for kids near Redlands, CA?
Our 2026 guide picks 6 standout splash pads within about 10 miles of Redlands. The top picks include Israel Beal Park Splash Pad, Bethune Park Splash Pad and Stewart 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 Redlands free?
Yes, every splash pad in this guide is free to visit, with no admission fee or ticket required for Israel Beal Park Splash Pad, Bethune Park Splash Pad, Stewart Park Splash Pad or any of the other picks.
What is the closest splash pad to Redlands?
Israel Beal Park Splash Pad is the closest pick at about 1.1 miles from Redlands. 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 Redlands splash pads open and close for the season?
Most Redlands-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 Redlands open right now?
It depends on the day. Many Redlands-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.