Hondo is one of the smaller cities in the Texas Hill Country corridor on US-90, and it doesn't have a dedicated splash pad in town — but the city pool on Avenue U is open all summer with a diving board and slide. The nearest public splash pad is 19 miles east in Castroville at Lions Park. From there, San Antonio's extensive free splash pad network opens up further east. This list covers everything worth knowing about within a reasonable drive.
Top-Rated Splash Pads Near Hondo
1. Hondo City Swimming Pool (Hondo)
Location: 2400 Avenue U, Hondo, TX 78861
Hondo👶 Best for all ages💲 $🚗 0.9 miHondo's city pool with a diving board, slide, and concession stand: The municipal pool at 2400 Avenue U serves Hondo families from June through August. At $3 per person, it's the most affordable in-town water option. Diving board, water slide, handicap lift, and a concession stand on-site. Call 830-741-5077 for hours.
Good to know: diving board, water slide, restrooms, changing rooms, concession stand, handicap lift.
Parent tip: The concession stand is a nice touch — kids can get a snack without packing a full cooler. Sensory-friendly swim sessions are available and worth requesting when you call for the schedule if you have a child with sensory considerations.
Want to check if the fountains are running today? See live maintenance updates on the official Hondo City Swimming Pool portal.
2. Castroville Lions Park Splash Pad (Castroville)
about 29 min from Hondo each way, but Castroville rewards the drive if you plan a few hours.
Location: 1101 Houston St, Castroville, TX 78009
Castroville's Lions Park has the nearest dedicated public splash pad to Hondo — 19 miles east on US-90 at 1101 Houston Street. The two-block park was donated by the Castroville Lions Club in 1957 and now includes a free splash pad open daily from 9am to noon and 4pm to 8pm alongside sports fields and a pavilion.
Good to know: splash pad, sports fields, pavilion, restrooms.
Parent tip: The 4–8pm window is genuinely good in summer — the worst heat is done and you get evening light for the drive back. Castroville is an easy 25-minute trip east on US-90 and there's a Dollar General and a few restaurants if you want to make it a half-day.
For weather closures, seasonal restrictions, or maintenance schedules, view the Castroville Lions Park city page.
3. Castroville Regional Park — Medina River (Castroville)
Not a quick stop from Hondo at 19.3 miles, so it's best combined with other Castroville stops to make the drive worthwhile.
Location: 816 Alsace St, Castroville, TX 78009
Swimming holes, rope swings, and cypress trees — Castroville Regional Park's Medina River section: Families who want natural river water rather than a splash pad find it here. Multiple swimming holes and rope swings along the Medina River, shaded by old cypress trees. Free and 19 miles east of Hondo.
Good to know: Medina River swimming, rope swings, seasonal pool, cypress tree shade, picnic areas.
Parent tip: Combine with Lions Park splash pad a mile away — do the splash pad for the little kids in the morning, then walk the Medina River trails and river access for the older ones in the afternoon. Both are free and a mile apart in Castroville.
4. Pearsall Park Splash Pad (San Antonio)
At 38 miles, one of the farther picks from Hondo, so pack snacks and make a proper outing of it.
Location: 4700 Old Pearsall Rd, San Antonio, TX 78242
Large playground plus San Antonio's biggest splash pad — Pearsall Park, 38 miles east: When the drive east on US-90 takes you into San Antonio, Pearsall Park on the southwest side is the right first stop. Largest public splash pad in the city, free, open all day 9am–9pm March through October. Adjacent to the city's largest playground.
Good to know: large playground, restrooms, pavilion, sports courts.
Parent tip: The southwest SA location makes this the closest major splash pad to Hondo coming into the city on US-90. Weekday mornings before 11am are quiet. Pack food because there's no concession stand and the nearest drive-through is a few minutes away.
Closures are rare, but you can confirm real-time operations on the Pearsall Park facilities status page before packing up the car.
5. Elmendorf Lake Park Splash Pad (San Antonio)
From Hondo, budget about 63 min each way, but San Antonio has enough to fill a full morning out.
Location: 3700 W. Commerce St, San Antonio, TX 78207
Fishing pier, covered playground, and free splash pad — Elmendorf Lake Park: 42 miles east in central-west San Antonio, this park gives fishing kids and splash pad kids both something to do. Covered playground means you stay in shade. Free, open 9am to 9pm daily March through October.
Good to know: splash pad, covered playground, lake, fishing pier, walking paths, restrooms.
Parent tip: The covered playground is the main reason to pick Elmendorf over other SA pads when you have younger kids — shade is built in and it's notably less crowded than the larger destination parks on weekday mornings.
How we picked these
Hondo has a city pool but no dedicated splash pad as of 2026. Every pick here is free or very low-cost and publicly accessible. We sorted by proximity to Hondo. The city pool is included because it's the best in-town water play. No paid placements.Planning your visit
Hondo City Swimming Pool is open June through August — call 830-741-5077 to confirm 2026 hours before making the trip, as it varies year to year. Castroville Lions Park splash pad runs daily 9am to noon and 4pm to 8pm. Pearsall Park in San Antonio runs 9am to 9pm daily March through October. Pack sunscreen, water shoes, a towel, and a change of clothes for all locations.For more kids' events near Hondo this week, see the Hondo events page.
Hondo 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: Hondo City Swimming Pool and most Hondo 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 Castroville Lions Park Splash Pad, standard filtration doesn't remove all pathogens instantly.
Hondo Splash Pads, Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best splash pads for kids near Hondo, TX?
Our 2026 guide picks 5 standout splash pads within about 45 miles of Hondo. The top picks include Hondo City Swimming Pool, Castroville Lions Park Splash Pad and Castroville Regional Park — Medina River, each chosen for kid-friendly layout, parent reviews, and how well it holds up on a weekend visit.
Which splash pads near Hondo are free?
4 of the 5 splash pads in this guide are free to visit, including Castroville Lions Park Splash Pad, Castroville Regional Park — Medina River and Pearsall Park Splash Pad. The rest charge admission. Check the individual cards above for prices.
What is the closest splash pad to Hondo?
Hondo City Swimming Pool is the closest pick at under a mile from Hondo. 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 Hondo splash pads open and close for the season?
Most Hondo-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 Hondo open right now?
It depends on the day. Many Hondo-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.