Fort Stockton summers are intense — Pecos County regularly hits 100°F and above. The city's Comanche Springs Pool on West Spring Street is the go-to in-town water spot and has been a local institution for generations. For families wanting a dedicated spray pad experience, Pecos has two spray pads about 60 miles east, and Midland's several splash pad options are about 80 miles away via I-20. Here are the best water play options near Fort Stockton for summer 2026.

Top-Rated Splash Pads Near Fort Stockton

1. Comanche Springs Swimming Pool (Fort Stockton)

Location: 200 W Spring St, Fort Stockton, TX 79735

Fort Stockton👶 Best for all ages💲 $🚗 0.2 mi

Comanche Springs Pool: six days a week, right in Fort Stockton: Open Tuesday through Sunday noon to 8 p.m. from May through Labor Day, Comanche Springs Pool is the practical in-town answer when you need water play without a multi-hour drive. The historic outdoor pool hosts Fort Stockton's Water Carnival in July — one of the community's biggest summer events.

Good to know: outdoor pool, historic site, pavilion rentals, seasonal, family swimming. Closed Mondays.

Parent tip: Fort Stockton's Water Carnival takes place at Comanche Springs Pool on the third weekend of July — an annual community tradition with events, food, and swimming. Plan around it or plan for it.

Want to check if the fountains are running today? See live maintenance updates on the official Comanche Springs Swimming Pool portal.

2. Pecos Hero Plaza Splash Pad (Pecos)

From Fort Stockton, budget about 59 min each way, but Pecos has enough to fill a full morning out.

Location: 3000 S. Moore Street, Pecos, TX 79772

Pecos👶 Best for all ages💲 Free🚗 39 mi

Pecos opened its Hero Plaza splash pad for 2026, running Tuesday through Sunday noon to 8 p.m. from May 22 through September 27. The facility at 3000 S. Moore Street is the city's dedicated splash pad — free, public, and family-friendly. At about 39 miles east of Fort Stockton on I-20, it's the closest true splash pad to Pecos County families.

Good to know: splash pad, spray features, free admission, seasonal. Closed Mondays.

Parent tip: Pecos also has a second spray pad at Saragosa Park (602 E. 5th Street) that runs 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. — earlier hours than Hero Plaza. If you want morning water play, Saragosa Park is the option.

For weather closures, seasonal restrictions, or maintenance schedules, view the Pecos Hero Plaza city page.

3. Saragosa Park Spray Pad (Pecos)

At 39.5 miles, one of the farther picks from Fort Stockton, so pack snacks and make a proper outing of it.

Location: 602 E. 5th Street, Pecos, TX 79772

Pecos👶 Best for all ages💲 Free🚗 39.5 mi

Pecos spray pad open from 9 a.m. at Saragosa Park: Saragosa Park's spray pad at 602 E. 5th Street opens at 9 a.m. — three hours before Hero Plaza — and runs to 9 p.m. Press-and-hold button to activate. Free, open Tuesday–Sunday May 22 through September 27. Good for early risers making the 39-mile drive from Fort Stockton.

Good to know: spray pad, water features, free admission, long hours. Closed Mondays.

Parent tip: Saragosa Park's spray pad starts at 9 a.m. — a full three hours before Hero Plaza opens. Morning visits mean fewer crowds and cooler air before the Pecos heat peaks. Combine both Pecos locations into one trip from Fort Stockton.

4. Centennial Park Splash Pad (Midland)

At 79 miles, one of the farther picks from Fort Stockton, so pack snacks and make a proper outing of it.

Location: Centennial Park, Downtown Midland, TX 79701

Midland👶 Best for all ages💲 Free🚗 79 mi

Downtown Midland's free splash pad, open from April through October: Centennial Park's interactive water feature functions as a splash pad 7 a.m. to sunset, April through October. It's free, centrally located, and easy to combine with other Midland stops. Seventy-nine miles from Fort Stockton via I-20.

Good to know: splash pad, downtown park, free admission, long season.

Parent tip: The Centennial Park splash pad doubles as a fountain at night. If you're in Midland for an afternoon and evening, the kids can use it in daylight and it transforms into a fountain display after sunset — worth staying for.

Closures are rare, but you can confirm real-time operations on the Centennial Park facilities status page before packing up the car.

5. XTO Dennis the Menace Splash Pad (Midland)

Worth the 79.5-mile drive from Fort Stockton, and Midland has more than enough to justify the trip.

Location: 201 Baldwin St, Midland, TX 79701

Midland👶 Best for all ages💲 $🚗 79.5 mi

Midland's beloved Dennis the Menace park adds a splash pad for 2026: XTO Splash Pad at Dennis the Menace Park gives kids both the classic playground and spray water features. $5 per person, children under 2 free. Eighty miles east of Fort Stockton on I-20 — pair it with Centennial Park for a two-location Midland day.

Good to know: splash pad, spray features, playground, park setting, seasonal.

Parent tip: At $5 per person, Dennis the Menace is the only paid option on this list outside Fort Stockton proper. Children 2 and under are free. Go with a group of mixed ages — the playground and splash pad cover everyone.

See upcoming kids events in Fort Stockton →

How we picked these

Fort Stockton has no dedicated public splash pad, so we included Comanche Springs Pool as the in-town anchor and looked east to Pecos and Midland for spray pad options. Picks were chosen for confirmed operation in 2026, practical driving distance, and suitability for families with kids.

Planning your visit

Comanche Springs Pool runs Tuesday through Sunday, noon to 8 p.m. (closed Mondays). Pecos spray pads opened May 22, 2026, and run through September 27, Tuesday through Sunday noon to 8 p.m. Midland splash pads vary by location — Centennial Park runs April through October, 7 a.m. to sunset. Pack sunscreen, water shoes, and patience for the drive; there are no closer spray pad options.

For more kids' events near Fort Stockton this week, see the Fort Stockton events page.

Fort Stockton 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: Comanche Springs Swimming Pool and most Fort Stockton 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 Pecos Hero Plaza Splash Pad, standard filtration doesn't remove all pathogens instantly.

Fort Stockton Splash Pads, Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best splash pads for kids near Fort Stockton, TX?

Our 2026 guide picks 5 standout splash pads within about 80 miles of Fort Stockton. The top picks include Comanche Springs Swimming Pool, Pecos Hero Plaza Splash Pad and Saragosa Park Spray Pad, each chosen for kid-friendly layout, parent reviews, and how well it holds up on a weekend visit.

Which splash pads near Fort Stockton are free?

3 of the 5 splash pads in this guide are free to visit, including Pecos Hero Plaza Splash Pad, Saragosa Park Spray Pad and Centennial Park Splash Pad. The rest charge admission. Check the individual cards above for prices.

What is the closest splash pad to Fort Stockton?

Comanche Springs Swimming Pool is the closest pick at under a mile from Fort Stockton. 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 Fort Stockton splash pads open and close for the season?

Most Fort Stockton-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 Fort Stockton open right now?

It depends on the day. Many Fort Stockton-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.