Within 10 miles of Upland, CA · Updated 2026-07-11Upland's own splash pad is still on the drawing board (Memorial Park's rehab plan includes one, but it isn't built yet), so on a hot Inland Empire afternoon the fastest relief is a short drive over the city line. Ontario, Montclair, and Rancho Cucamonga all have free public splash pads within about 15 minutes of most Upland neighborhoods. Here's where local families actually go.
Top-Rated Splash Pads Near Upland
1. Cucamonga-Guasti Regional Park (Ontario)
Location: 800 N Archibald Avenue, Ontario, CA 91764
Best value when you need all-day water entertainment: Vehicle admission ($8 weekdays, $10 weekends) covers a 150-acre park where families don't have to repeat one activity three times. The splash pad, slides, and swim lagoon give different-aged kids their own zones. Open daily 7:30am–8pm, arrive before 10am on summer weekends to grab a good picnic spot.
Good to know: water slides, swim lagoon, fishing, picnic areas, sports facilities.
Parent tip: Vehicle admission is $8 Mon–Fri, $10 Sat–Sun. Open daily 7:30am–8pm. Arrive before 10am on summer weekends, the swim lagoon and picnic spots fill quickly.
Want to check if the fountains are running today? See live maintenance updates on the official Cucamonga-Guasti Regional Park portal.
2. Alma Hofman Park Splash Pad (Montclair)
Location: 5201 Benito Street, Montclair, CA 91763
The closest free splash pad to downtown Ontario, 3.5 miles in Montclair: Alma Hofman Park's free splash pad runs noon to 6pm daily Memorial Day through Labor Day. Full-amenity park surrounds it: skate park, tennis courts, basketball courts, playground. No admission, no vehicle fee.
Good to know: splash pad, playground, skate park, tennis courts, basketball courts, restrooms.
Parent tip: The splash pad runs noon to 6pm daily from Memorial Day through Labor Day. It's the closest free splash pad to central Upland.
For weather closures, seasonal restrictions, or maintenance schedules, view the Alma Hofman Park city page.
3. Victoria Gardens Splash Pad (Rancho Cucamonga)
Location: 12505 N Main Street, Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91739
Ontario-area splash fountain that's actually a dinner-and-water-play combo: Victoria Gardens is the pick for a combined outing, free interactive fountain, LED lighting after dark, and a full outdoor mall of food options within walking distance. ADA-accessible surfaces and clear parent sightlines make it practical for all family configurations.
Good to know: interactive fountain, LED lighting, fog effects, outdoor mall setting, restrooms, shade.
Parent tip: Hours are weather-dependent and not always posted consistently online. Call 909-463-2828 before making the 16-mile drive, especially on cloudy or cooler days. Evening visits with the LED display are genuinely worth it in July and August.
Closures are rare, but you can confirm real-time operations on the Victoria Gardens facilities status page before packing up the car.
4. Los Amigos Park (Rancho Cucamonga)
For Upland families, plan under 10 min each way, and Rancho Cucamonga is easy to get around once you're there.
Location: 6410 Amethyst Ave, Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91701
Rancho Cucamonga's free neighborhood splash pad with personality: Los Amigos Park keeps it simple and free, raccoon and coyote misters for young kids, playground and skate park for older ones. The park earned a statewide design award in 2018, which shows in the layout. Quieter on weekends than the regional parks because it flies under the radar.
Good to know: water misters, splash sprays, playground, basketball court, skatepark, restrooms.
Parent tip: Year-round park access. The water features are more mister-style than full spray jets, good for kids who want water play at their own pace rather than a sensory blast. Open 6am–10pm daily.
5. Ganesha Park Splash Pad (Pomona)
Out of Upland, plan for under 10 min in the car, which makes Pomona an easy weekday-afternoon trip from Upland.
Location: 1575 N White Ave, Pomona, CA 91767
Pomona's own free splash pad, worth the extra drive from Azusa. Ganesha Park is Pomona's largest city park and the in-city splash pad answer. Free, convenient once you arrive, and set among sports fields and playground equipment. Seasonal hours vary, so call ahead.
Good to know: splash pad, playground, picnic areas, restrooms, sports fields.
Parent tip: Call ahead for the current season's hours since they shift year to year. It's a bigger park than most on this list, so plan for sports fields and picnic space beyond the splash pad.
Before heading out, review the Ganesha Park status dashboard for seasonal maintenance updates.
How we picked these
We stuck to free or low-cost public splash pads with a real playground or shade nearby, skipping anything HOA-only or members-only. Every pick below has restrooms on site or close by. We picked these based on what actually gets used by Inland Empire families, not paid placements.Planning your visit
Most Inland Empire splash pads run Memorial Day through Labor Day, with peak heat hitting hardest from 1 to 5pm, so a morning visit beats fighting triple-digit afternoons. Bring water shoes since concrete pads get hot fast in direct sun, and pack a full towel and change of clothes since none of these have full changing rooms. Cucamonga-Guasti charges a vehicle fee; the rest are free.For more kids' events near Upland this week, see the Upland events page.
Upland 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: Cucamonga-Guasti Regional Park and most Upland 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 Alma Hofman Park Splash Pad, standard filtration doesn't remove all pathogens instantly.
Upland Splash Pads, Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best splash pads for kids near Upland, CA?
Our 2026 guide picks 5 standout splash pads within about 10 miles of Upland. The top picks include Cucamonga-Guasti Regional Park, Alma Hofman Park Splash Pad and Victoria Gardens Splash Pad, each chosen for kid-friendly layout, parent reviews, and how well it holds up on a weekend visit.
Are splash pads near Upland free?
Yes, every splash pad in this guide is free to visit, with no admission fee or ticket required for Cucamonga-Guasti Regional Park, Alma Hofman Park Splash Pad, Victoria Gardens Splash Pad or any of the other picks.
What is the closest splash pad to Upland?
Cucamonga-Guasti Regional Park in Ontario is the closest pick at about 1.4 miles from Upland. 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 Upland splash pads open and close for the season?
Most Upland-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 Upland open right now?
It depends on the day. Many Upland-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.