Terrell Hills runs its own splash pad at Crestwood Park, and San Antonio's free citywide splash pad network puts several more options within a few miles. Here are 6 picks within 9 miles of Terrell Hills to beat the Texas heat.
Top-Rated Splash Pads Near Terrell Hills
1. Crestwood Park Splash Pad (Terrell Hills)
Location: 200 Arvin Dr, Terrell Hills, TX 78209
Terrell Hills👶 Best for all ages💲 Free🚗 0.6 miA rebuilt community playground with a splash pad in the middle of Terrell Hills: Crestwood Park's renovation added a splash pad to the neighborhood's main playground. It's free, walk-up, and the closest water play option for most Terrell Hills families. Weekday hours only.
Good to know: splash pad, playground, restrooms. Closed Saturdays & Sundays.
Parent tip: Call (210) 347-2311 to confirm current hours before you go, since the splash pad follows the park's weekday schedule rather than staying open every day.
Want to check if the fountains are running today? See live maintenance updates on the official Crestwood Park portal.
2. Lincoln Park Splash Pad (San Antonio)
Location: 2915 E Commerce St, San Antonio, TX 78202
Walk up, no reservation needed: The whole SA network operates on this model. Show up anytime between 9am and 9pm, March through October, pay nothing, and splash. Simple logistics beat complicated booking.
Good to know: splash pad, ground-level sprayers, playground, basketball courts, tennis courts.
Parent tip: The whole SA splash pad network operates on the same model, show up anytime between 9am and 9pm, March through October, pay nothing, and splash.
For weather closures, seasonal restrictions, or maintenance schedules, view the Lincoln Park city page.
3. Gustav's Geysers at The Pearl (San Antonio)
Location: 303 Pearl Parkway, San Antonio, TX 78215
Water play in the middle of a destination hub: The Pearl's Gustav's Geysers is a splash pad that's actually a whole outing by itself. Restaurants are steps away, there's greenspace for running, the weekend farmers market adds energy, and the geysers themselves are solid and free.
Good to know: water geysers, shade umbrellas, seating areas, nearby dining.
Parent tip: Go early on weekend mornings, before 10am, since The Pearl gets crowded by noon in summer. Street parking disappears fast; the Pearl parking garage off Grayson St is your best bet.
4. Yanaguana Garden at Hemisfair (San Antonio)
For a family coming from Terrell Hills, the drive clocks in at under 10 min without traffic, an easy add-on if you're already headed toward San Antonio.
Location: 434 S Alamo St, San Antonio, TX 78205
The best playground downtown San Antonio has to offer: Hemisfair's Yanaguana Garden playground stands out in a city full of parks, rope climbing towers, Boomerang net structures, playhouses, and a seasonal splash pad, with shade sails over the main play area. Free to visit, open until 11pm.
Good to know: splash pad, rope climbing towers, net play structure, shade sails, restrooms.
Parent tip: Open 6am to 11pm, which makes it viable for after-dinner visits once the heat breaks in the evening.
5. Elmendorf Lake Park Splash Pad (San Antonio)
Driving from Terrell Hills, under 10 min without traffic gets you there, easy to pair with a lunch stop in San Antonio.
Location: 3700 W Commerce St, San Antonio, TX 78207
$16M renovated park with a big splash pad and a stocked fishing lake, all free: Elmendorf Lake Park went through a major renovation that turned it into one of the better-equipped parks on the west side of San Antonio. The splash pad is large, playground surfaces are soft, shade canopies cover most play areas, and kids who want a break from the water can fish off the accessible pier or walk the trails around the lake.
Good to know: splash pad, fishing pier, trails, lake, shade canopies.
Parent tip: Arrive early on weekends since the lake draws its own crowd separate from the splash pad, and parking fills by mid-morning on hot days.
6. Voigt Park Sprayground (Hollywood Park)
Heading out of Terrell Hills, budget about 14 min on the road, short enough for a spur-of-the-moment weekday trip.
Location: 700 El Portal Dr, Hollywood Park, TX 78232
Shower facilities at a free pad, the rarity that makes Voigt Park stand out: Most free splash pads leave you dripping in the parking lot. Voigt Park in Hollywood Park has functioning shower facilities on-site, which changes the logistics of the whole visit. The sprayground features are low-to-the-ground and toddler-specific. Open Tuesday through Sunday year-round.
Good to know: two playground areas, shower facilities, full-size pool, shade. Closed Mondays.
Parent tip: Bring water shoes since the spray surface can get slippery for toddlers still learning to run. The showers mean you can rinse off properly before the drive home.
Closures are rare, but you can confirm real-time operations on the Voigt Park facilities status page before packing up the car.
How we picked these
We picked free or low-cost public splash pads and spray grounds with restrooms or shade nearby, skipping HOA-only and members-only pools. Picks are ranked by distance from Terrell Hills, water-feature variety, and how well they work for younger kids. This list is curated from our own research, not a paid placement.Planning your visit
San Antonio summers run hot from May through September, with plenty of days over 95 degrees. Most city splash pads operate March through October, 9am to 9pm, walk-up with no reservation needed. Crestwood Park's hours are more limited, so check current hours before you head out. Weekday mornings are the calmest window everywhere on this list.For more kids' events near Terrell Hills this week, see the Terrell Hills events page.
Terrell Hills 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: Crestwood Park Splash Pad and most Terrell Hills 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 Lincoln Park Splash Pad, standard filtration doesn't remove all pathogens instantly.
Terrell Hills Splash Pads, Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best splash pads for kids near Terrell Hills, TX?
Our 2026 guide picks 6 standout splash pads within about 10 miles of Terrell Hills. The top picks include Crestwood Park Splash Pad, Lincoln Park Splash Pad and Gustav's Geysers at The Pearl, each chosen for kid-friendly layout, parent reviews, and how well it holds up on a weekend visit.
Are splash pads near Terrell Hills free?
Yes, every splash pad in this guide is free to visit, with no admission fee or ticket required for Crestwood Park Splash Pad, Lincoln Park Splash Pad, Gustav's Geysers at The Pearl or any of the other picks.
What is the closest splash pad to Terrell Hills?
Crestwood Park Splash Pad is the closest pick at under a mile from Terrell Hills. 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 Terrell Hills splash pads open and close for the season?
Most Terrell Hills-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 Terrell Hills open right now?
It depends on the day. Many Terrell Hills-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.