Within 50 miles of Kermit, TX · Updated 2026-06-29Kermit is a small Winkler County town in the Permian Basin where West Texas summer heat is serious business. The nearest public splash pads are in Pecos (38 miles west) and Odessa (43 miles east), but that puts real water play within reach of a weekend drive. This guide covers the closest verified public pads so your family knows exactly where to go and what to expect when you get there.
Top-Rated Splash Pads Near Kermit
1. Saragosa Park Spray Pad (Pecos)
A longer haul from Kermit at 38.1 miles, so save this one for when you want a real change of scenery.
Location: 602 E. 5th Street, Pecos, TX 79772
Morning splash option in Pecos, 38 miles from Kermit: Saragosa Park at 602 E. 5th Street opens at 9am — the earliest spray pad in Pecos and the smart choice for avoiding peak afternoon heat. Free, Tuesday through Sunday from May 22 through September 27. Activate by pressing the center pole button.
Good to know: spray pad, restrooms, picnic area. Closed Mondays.
Parent tip: Saragosa Park opens at 9am, three hours earlier than Hero Plaza — the best window in Pecos for morning visits before the summer heat peaks. Button-activated features; press and hold the center pole to start the water. Closed Mondays.
Want to check if the fountains are running today? See live maintenance updates on the official Saragosa Park Spray Pad portal.
2. Hero Plaza Splash Pad (Pecos)
At 39.3 miles, one of the farther picks from Kermit, so pack snacks and make a proper outing of it.
Location: 3000 S. Moore Street, Pecos, TX 79772
The city's flagship free splash pad in Pecos: Hero Plaza runs four months of free water play from late May through late September. Noon to 8pm, Tuesday through Sunday. Combine with a morning stop at Saragosa Park if you want earlier access before Hero Plaza opens at noon.
Good to know: splash pad, spray features, restrooms. Closed Mondays.
Parent tip: Hero Plaza runs noon to 8pm Tuesday through Sunday. For an earlier start, Saragosa Park opens at 9am. Both Pecos pads are free and close on Mondays. The noon opening at Hero Plaza lets you time the drive from Kermit to arrive when it opens.
3. Odessa College Downtown Splash Pad (Odessa)
A proper outing from Kermit at 42 miles, but the scale here is hard to match closer to Kermit.
Location: 222 E 4th St., Odessa, TX 79761
Free Odessa splash with canopy shade and morning hours: The OC Downtown splash pad opens at 10am on weekdays, earlier than most Odessa options. Covered canopies provide genuine shade during afternoon peak heat. Free, restrooms on-site, convenient downtown parking.
Good to know: splash pad, covered canopies, restrooms, parking.
Parent tip: Weekday morning hours start at 10am at OC Downtown, earlier than most Odessa pads. The covered canopies make this the best shade option in Odessa for afternoon visits. Pair it with Jurassic Jungle at UTPB for a full Odessa water day.
For weather closures, seasonal restrictions, or maintenance schedules, view the Odessa College Downtown city page.
4. Jurassic Jungle Sprayground (Odessa)
Worth the 42.5-mile drive from Kermit, and Odessa has more than enough to justify the trip.
Location: 5700 E 42nd St, Odessa, TX 79762
Water slides and dinosaur theming at Odessa's free UTPB sprayground: Jurassic Jungle goes beyond standard spray pads with themed water slides, dump buckets, geysers, and six pavilions for shade. A playground adds variety for dry-time breaks. Free, daily 1pm to 7pm, 43 miles from Kermit.
Good to know: sprayground, dinosaur-themed, playground, pavilions, restrooms.
Parent tip: Jurassic Jungle opens at 1pm daily and is on the UTPB campus — public access, no college affiliation required. The six covered pavilions fill up on summer weekends, so arrive close to the 1pm opening for your best shade choice. Grilling facilities are available on-site.
5. Andrews Splash Park (Andrews)
about 68 min from Kermit each way, but Andrews rewards the drive if you plan a few hours.
Location: 100 NE 6th St., Andrews, TX 79714
Andrews Splash Park is a small-city water destination 45 miles from Kermit with more features than a standard spray pad: a toddler splash pool, a main splash and play area, a three-tube water slide, a diving board, a snack bar, and a covered picnic area with gas BBQ. Admission is $1 for ages 12 and under, $2 for adults. Open late May through early August, Tuesday through Saturday 1pm to 6pm and Sunday 1pm to 5pm.
Good to know: splash pad, toddler pool, playground, shade structures, snack bar, restrooms. Closed Mondays.
Parent tip: The toddler splash pool and multi-age zones make Andrews a better choice than a basic spray pad when you have mixed-age kids. The covered picnic area with gas BBQ grill means you can pack food and stay all afternoon. Call 432-523-4820 to confirm hours before the 45-mile drive.
Closures are rare, but you can confirm real-time operations on the Andrews facilities status page before packing up the car.
How we picked these
All picks are confirmed public splash pads or spray grounds, verified open for summer 2026. We prioritized distance from Kermit, free or low-cost access, restrooms, and shade. No private facilities. Sourced from city parks departments and Permian Basin water play community guides.Planning your visit
Pecos' splash pads open May 22 and run through September 27, Tuesday through Sunday. Hero Plaza is open noon to 8pm; Saragosa Park opens earlier at 9am. Odessa's spraygrounds open in late May and run daily through summer, typically 1pm to 7pm. Andrews Splash Park runs late May through early August, Tuesday through Sunday. West Texas sun is intense; bring sunscreen, water, and shoes with grip for wet surfaces.For more kids' events near Kermit this week, see the Kermit events page.
Kermit 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: Saragosa Park Spray Pad and most Kermit 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 Hero Plaza Splash Pad, standard filtration doesn't remove all pathogens instantly.
Kermit Splash Pads, Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best splash pads for kids near Kermit, TX?
Our 2026 guide picks 5 standout splash pads within about 50 miles of Kermit. The top picks include Saragosa Park Spray Pad, Hero Plaza Splash Pad and Odessa College Downtown Splash Pad, each chosen for kid-friendly layout, parent reviews, and how well it holds up on a weekend visit.
Which splash pads near Kermit are free?
4 of the 5 splash pads in this guide are free to visit, including Saragosa Park Spray Pad, Hero Plaza Splash Pad and Odessa College Downtown Splash Pad. The rest charge admission. Check the individual cards above for prices.
What is the closest splash pad to Kermit?
Saragosa Park Spray Pad in Pecos is the closest pick at about 38.1 miles from Kermit. 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 Kermit splash pads open and close for the season?
Most Kermit-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 Kermit open right now?
It depends on the day. Many Kermit-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.