New Braunfels is a tubing town and everyone knows it — but Schlitterbahn tickets run $40+ and the Guadalupe has an age and skill floor that rules out toddlers on the real water. For families with kids too young for river tubing, or for locals who want free water play on a random Tuesday, the splash pad options within 18 miles are genuinely good. Fischer Park sits up on the hill above town, Landa Park has a toddler zero-depth pool, and Schertz and Selma add more options east on I-35.
Top-Rated Splash Pads Near New Braunfels
1. Wendy Swan Memorial Park Splash Pad (Schertz)
For a family coming from New Braunfels, the drive clocks in at under 10 min without traffic — an easy add-on if you're already headed toward Schertz.
Location: 4601 Cherry Tree Drive, Schertz, TX 78154
The one kids ask to go back to: Wendy Swan Memorial Park Splash Pad has enough variety and atmosphere that kids remember it as a place, not just "the splash pad." The feature mix rewards curiosity — there's always something new to try after the first lap. Come back a second time in the same summer and they'll navigate it like regulars. That's the mark of a well-designed water playground.
Good to know: splash pad with spray features, integrated shade structures, accessible design, basketball court, pickleball court, playground, restrooms, water fountain with bottle filler.
Parent tip: Season runs from the Friday before Spring Break through October 31. The park is easy to find off Schertz Parkway. Restrooms and a bottle-filler water fountain on-site.
Want to check if the fountains are running today? See live maintenance updates on the official Wendy Swan Memorial Park portal.
2. Landa Park Aquatic Complex — Toddler Pool (New Braunfels)
Location: 350 Aquatic Circle, New Braunfels, TX 78130
New Braunfels👶 Best for ages under 5 years💲 included with LPAC admission🚗 5.6 miBuilt so every kid can use it: Landa Park Aquatic Complex — Toddler Pool offers an open, easy-to-navigate layout with accessible surfaces and clear sightlines from the seating area. Families with strollers, wheelchairs, or kids who need predictable environments will find this a reliable choice. Restrooms are nearby and the setup doesn't require special planning to navigate.
Good to know: zero-depth pool, mushroom fountain, frog slide, 0–2.5 ft water depth, shaded area, restrooms, historic park setting. Closed Mondayss.
Parent tip: Closed Mondays. Season runs approximately May 23 through early September. Under-5 only for the zero-depth pool — check newbraunfels.gov for current admission prices and hours before going.
For weather closures, seasonal restrictions, or maintenance schedules, view the Landa Park Aquatic Complex — Toddler Pool city page.
3. Fischer Park Splash Pad (New Braunfels)
Location: 1935 Hilltop Summit Road, New Braunfels, TX 78130
New Braunfels👶 Best for all ages💲 Free🚗 8.3 miThe gentle introduction for little ones: Fischer Park Splash Pad in New Braunfels keeps water at a comfortable, manageable level — no surprise overhead buckets, no blasting jets that startle a two-year-old mid-step. Parents of under-3s can stay calm on the bench while kids find their own comfort zone with the water. The surrounding park means older siblings aren't stuck waiting.
Good to know: spray jets, water sprayers, interactive water toys, splash area, playground nearby, scenic trails, fishing ponds, Nature Education Center, pavilion, shade structures, restrooms.
Parent tip: Season runs from the Saturday before Spring Break through October 31, 9am–9pm. The park is on Hilltop Summit Road east of New Braunfels — take Loop 337 east and follow signs. Free parking.
4. Stage Stop Splash Pad (Selma)
Starting in New Braunfels, the drive takes about 21 min without traffic — the round trip fits inside a morning.
Location: 9374 Valhalla Drive, Selma, TX 78154
Selma's underused free splash pad — a quiet option when I-35 options are crowded: Selma sits between San Antonio and New Braunfels on the 1604 loop and its Stage Stop splash pad draws almost entirely local traffic. That makes it unusually calm for a New Braunfels family on a weekend when the closer pads are busy. It's a standard municipal splash pad with spray jets and a playground — nothing exotic — but the light crowds and free access make it a reliable rotation option.
Good to know: spray jets, interactive features, playground, restrooms, neighborhood park setting.
Parent tip: Selma is easy to miss. Use the address on Valhalla Drive directly in navigation. The park is adjacent to the Selma city complex.
Closures are rare, but you can confirm real-time operations on the Stage Stop facilities status page before packing up the car.
5. Northview Splash Pad (Universal City)
From New Braunfels, budget about 23 min each way — but Universal City has enough to fill a full morning out.
Location: 100 Randolph Plaza Dr, Universal City, TX 78148
Free and worth the drive: Northview Splash Pad asks nothing of your wallet and delivers on the basics — spray features, interactive jets, playground — that would cost real money at an indoor facility. A weekday morning here with snacks from home is genuinely one of the cheapest solid family outings available. Drive over, stay two hours, go home happy.
Good to know: spray features, interactive jets, playground, pavilion, restrooms, adjacent sports fields.
Parent tip: Located at Randolph Plaza Dr adjacent to Northview Park's sports complex. Parking is free and ample. Season typically mirrors other Bexar-area pads: April through October.
Before heading out, review the Northview status dashboard for seasonal maintenance updates.
6. Live Oak Park Splash Pad (Live Oak)
From New Braunfels, budget about 24 min each way — but Live Oak has enough to fill a full morning out.
Location: 8001 Shin Oak Dr, Live Oak, TX 78233
Free and worth the drive: Live Oak Park Splash Pad asks nothing of your wallet and delivers on the basics — splash pad, spray features, community park — that would cost real money at an indoor facility. A weekday morning here with snacks from home is genuinely one of the cheapest solid family outings available. Drive over, stay two hours, go home happy.
Good to know: splash pad, spray features, community park, playground, sports courts, restrooms, walking paths.
Parent tip: Live Oak is on the northeast San Antonio side — easy to combine with an Ikea run at Selma or a stop in Universal City. Shin Oak Dr is well-marked off Pat Booker Rd.
Keep tabs on routine cleanings and seasonal changes by visiting the Live Oak Park page directly.
How we picked these
Every pick is free or minimal-cost and publicly accessible. We weighted proximity to New Braunfels, toddler and family accessibility, feature variety, and whether restrooms and shade make a real stay-and-play possible. The Landa Park entry is paid and age-restricted to under-5s but included because it's the only purpose-built toddler pool in the area. No paid placements.Planning your visit
Fischer Park and the NB splash pads run from the Saturday before Spring Break through October 31, 9am–9pm daily. Landa Park Aquatic Complex runs May through early September with specific hours — check newbraunfels.gov. Schertz's Wendy Swan pad runs the same spring-fall season. Weekday mornings are calm everywhere on this list. Bring water shoes, change of clothes, and swim diapers. Fischer Park has a hilltop breeze that makes afternoon visits more bearable than the Comal River valley.For more kids' events near New Braunfels this week, see the New Braunfels events page.
New Braunfels 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 — Wendy Swan Memorial Park Splash Pad and most New Braunfels 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 Landa Park Aquatic Complex — Toddler Pool — standard filtration doesn't remove all pathogens instantly.
New Braunfels Splash Pads — Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best splash pads for kids near New Braunfels, TX?
Our 2026 guide picks 6 standout splash pads within about 20 miles of New Braunfels. The top picks include Wendy Swan Memorial Park Splash Pad, Landa Park Aquatic Complex — Toddler Pool and Fischer 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 New Braunfels are free?
5 of the 6 splash pads in this guide are free to visit, including Wendy Swan Memorial Park Splash Pad, Fischer Park Splash Pad and Stage Stop Splash Pad. The rest charge admission — check the individual cards above for prices.
What is the closest splash pad to New Braunfels?
Wendy Swan Memorial Park Splash Pad in Schertz is the closest pick at about 5.6 miles from New Braunfels. 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 New Braunfels splash pads open and close for the season?
Most New Braunfels-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.