Within 40 miles of Meridian, TX · Updated 2026-06-29Meridian is a small Bosque County seat with no in-city splash pad of its own. But four directions offer options within 40 miles: Cleburne, Granbury, Waco, and Stephenville each have free or low-cost water play. Pick the right day and direction and you've got a full summer rotation from one small town.
Top-Rated Splash Pads Near Meridian
1. Splash Station (Cleburne)
33.4 miles from Meridian, and the drive is simple; Cleburne is well-signed from the highway.
Location: 1010 Hillsboro Street, Cleburne, TX 76033
Multi-feature water facility in Cleburne for families seeking variety: Splash Station at Hulen Park charges $6 per person for a zero-entry pool, two slides, a lazy river, and a splash pad—the most complete paid option outside Splashville. The facility operates seasonally (Memorial Day–Labor Day) noon–7 p.m. Monday–Saturday. At 48 miles from Stephenville, the cost and drive are worthwhile when families want a full afternoon of water features.
Good to know: splash pad, leisure pool, zero-depth entry, water slides, lazy river, play structure. Closed Sundays.
Parent tip: Splash Station is closed Sundays — plan your Cleburne trip for Monday through Saturday during the Memorial Day to Labor Day season.
Want to check if the fountains are running today? See live maintenance updates on the official Splash Station portal.
2. City Beach Splash Park (Granbury)
A committed about 55 min drive from Meridian, so treat it as a half-day destination, not a quick stop.
Location: 505 E Pearl Street, Granbury, TX 76048
Closed Mondays for maintenance, but open 8 am–8 pm the rest of the week year-round: The schedule (closed Mondays, open otherwise) shows someone's maintaining the property. Lake Granbury setting, splash park, kayak rentals, and historic downtown create a real destination day. Life jacket loaner station removes friction. The Tiki Hut provides food. Eight am to 8 pm hours work for morning visits or sunset outings.
Good to know: splash park, kayak rentals, paddle board rentals, tube rentals, bicycle rentals, picnic pavilions.
Parent tip: Access is limited on July 4th for safety reasons. The Tiki Hut handles food and drink on site. Closed Mondays for maintenance — plan around that.
For weather closures, seasonal restrictions, or maintenance schedules, view the City Beach city page.
3. Mountainview Park Splash Pad (Waco)
35.2 miles from Meridian, and the drive is simple; Waco is well-signed from the highway.
Location: 2325 Mountainview Dr, Waco, TX 76710
Northwest Waco's splash pad near Lake Waco — playground, trails, and cooler breezes: Mountainview Park sits toward the Lake Waco area in northwest Waco, which gives it two advantages: scenic lake views and slightly cooler air than the downtown parks on the hottest days. The splash pad is paired with a well-regarded playground, picnic areas, and walking trails. Open May through September, 11am–7pm daily, free.
Good to know: splash pad, playground, picnic areas, walking trails, parking, lake waco views.
Parent tip: Mountainview runs shorter hours than the other city pads (11am–7pm vs. 8am–10pm) and is seasonal May–September only. Plan accordingly — it's worth the shorter window for the cooler northwest location on peak heat days.
Closures are rare, but you can confirm real-time operations on the Mountainview Park facilities status page before packing up the car.
4. Cameron Park Splash Pad (Waco)
A genuine about 57 min drive each way from Meridian, worth it if the kids need serious space to roam.
Location: 2601 Sturgis Rd, Waco, TX 76706
Waco's landmark park — splash pad with Brazos River views and 400 acres to explore: Cameron Park is Waco's largest and most famous city park, stretching 400 acres along the Brazos River bluffs. The splash pad comes with scenic overlooks, playground equipment, shaded picnic tables, and restrooms. If the kids cycle through the water fast, the surrounding park has trails, overlooks, and the Cameron Park Zoo nearby for a full day out. Free, 8am–10pm daily.
Good to know: splash pad, playground, picnic tables, restrooms, shade, scenic views.
Parent tip: Cameron Park gets busy on summer weekends, especially near the zoo entrance. The splash pad area is set apart from the main zoo traffic — park along Sturgis Road and you'll often find a quieter crowd at the water.
5. Kendrick Park Splash Pad (Waco)
A longer haul from Meridian at 39.1 miles, so save this one for when you want a real change of scenery.
Location: 4011 Bagby Ave, Waco, TX 76711
Closest splash pad to downtown Waco — modern playground, shady pavilion, and free parking: Kendrick Park sits less than a mile from the heart of Waco and checks all the practical boxes: a modern playground alongside the splash pad, a shady pavilion for parents, picnic tables, basketball courts, and fitness equipment. Free parking on-site. Open daily 8am–10pm during the season, no admission. A solid neighborhood option when you don't want to drive anywhere.
Good to know: splash pad, playground, pavilion, picnic tables, shade, basketball courts.
Parent tip: The pavilion fills on weekend mornings when families plan longer stays — get there before 9am if you want shade seating without competition.
6. Splashville Water Park (Stephenville)
At 39 miles, one of the farther picks from Meridian, so pack snacks and make a proper outing of it.
Location: 1477 W South Loop, Stephenville, TX 76401
Water slides and a splash pad — Splashville is 49 miles east in Stephenville — Splashville adds water slides to the splash pad experience for $5 per swimmer. Zero-entry area, water cannons, tipping buckets, and mushroom waterfalls. Open Tuesday–Saturday noon–6 p.m. Kids under 2 free.
Good to know: splash pad, zero-entry pool, water slides, tipping buckets, water cannons. Closed Sundays & Mondays.
Parent tip:
Before heading out, review the Splashville Water Park status dashboard for seasonal maintenance updates.
How we picked these
We searched Meridian and Bosque County parks pages and found no in-city splash pad. The picks below spread coverage across all four directions from Meridian, prioritizing photo-verified venues and distinguishing free from paid options.Planning your visit
Splash Station in Cleburne is paid but closed Sundays. Granbury City Beach is free. Waco pads run 8am to 10pm daily, free. Stephenville's Splashville charges a small admission. Drive times from Meridian range from 30 to 40 minutes. Weekday mornings avoid the biggest crowds.For more kids' events near Meridian this week, see the Meridian events page.
Meridian 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: Splash Station and most Meridian 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 City Beach Splash Park, standard filtration doesn't remove all pathogens instantly.
Meridian Splash Pads, Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best splash pads for kids near Meridian, TX?
Our 2026 guide picks 6 standout splash pads within about 40 miles of Meridian. The top picks include Splash Station, City Beach Splash Park and Mountainview Park Splash Pad, each chosen for kid-friendly layout, parent reviews, and how well it holds up on a weekend visit.
Which splash pads near Meridian are free?
4 of the 6 splash pads in this guide are free to visit, including City Beach Splash Park, Mountainview Park Splash Pad and Cameron Park Splash Pad. The rest charge admission. Check the individual cards above for prices.
What is the closest splash pad to Meridian?
Splash Station in Cleburne is the closest pick at about 33.4 miles from Meridian. 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 Meridian splash pads open and close for the season?
Most Meridian-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 Meridian open right now?
It depends on the day. Many Meridian-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.