Get cool in Georgia this summer
- Cheré Dastugue Coen
- Jul 16
- 4 min read
Updated: Jul 28
The Peach State offers plenty of water and amusement parks.
It’s summer in Georgia and the living is…hot! It’s a time when thoughts turn to ways to cool down from the sometimes oppressive heat and humidity.
Here’s the good news. There are numerous water parks and amusement parks located throughout the state. It's especially exciting for those who love an adrenaline rush for many have new and heart-stomping rollercoasters..
So, whether you want to plunge down cool water slides, relax on a lazy river or wave pool or fly through the air on exhilarating coasters, we have you covered.
Six Flags and Hurricane Harbor, Austell
Six Flags Over Georgia offers 290 acres of amusement rides and the Hurricane Harbor water slides, the second of its chain to open in the United States. New this year is the Georgia Gold Rusher, the first of its kind free-spinning gondola riding experience with twists, turns, and exciting water features. Summerbration with exclusive, limited-time entertainment, festive decor and special events continues through July 29, 2025.
Six Flags White Water, Marietta
Six Flags White Water includes the Python Plunge, a two-person water slide featuring multiple discs and drops through the park’s natural landscape and Caribbean Cove children’s AquaPlay feature. And that’s one of the many watery rides in its 69 acres.
Wild Adventures Amusement Park and Water Park, Valdosta
Oasis Outpost adds three acres to the Valdosta Wild Adventures Park with several attractions, such the Trail Trackers adventure ride, where kids can drive into animal habitats to observe their behaviors or the Misty Springs Soak Station with misting posts and splash pads. There’s also animals to visit: caracals, African crested porcupines, prairie dogs, tamanduas and spider monkeys. Until Dec. 31, 2025, everyone pays less than a kid! Whether you're 5 or 60, visitors will get one-day admission for just $39.
What's new in 2025: Dive into the new Water’s Edge Expansion, featuring three family-friendly rides: Boat Parade, Wing Swinger, and the towering Horizon Wheel. Animal lovers can explore a vibrant new macaw aviary and reptile house filled with exotic species. Guests can unwind along the expanded lakeside boardwalk and visit the new Quiet Room, designed to offer a calming environment for visitors with sensory sensitivities. The Safari Campground, now in its first full year, offers an immersive overnight experience steps away from park gates, nestled among animal habitats.
Fun Spot America Atlanta
Fayetteville’s Fun Spot amusement park celebrated 25 years in 2024 and unveiled its new roller coaster, ArieForce One, where visitors soar up a 154-foot hill (great view of Atlanta!) and then plunge down a steep 83-degree first drop and the largest Zero-G stall in the country. The coaster travels 3,400 feet and reaches speeds of 64 miles per hour! There’s also a four-story go-kart track, Ferris Wheel, kiddie rides, battling cages and more.
Summer Waves Jekyll Island
We love Jekyll Island for the beach, the ocean waves and exploring Driftwood Beach, among so much more, but when the temperatures rise Summer Waves is the place to be. Take the Pirate’s Passage and slide down five stories, twirl through the circular Nature’s Revenge or ride the waves at the Frantic Atlanta wave pool, where some breakers reach two feet high. Summer Waves is located on the southern portion of the barrier island, not far from the Jekyll Island Beach Village.
Georgia Mountain Coaster, Helen
At first glance, the Georgia Mountain Coaster looks tame, but climb aboard and head uphill through the mountainside around Helen and you’ll soon find yourself flying around corners as you descend. Ages three and up may ride the coaster but the cart driver must be 54 inches tall. Once you pick up speed — and they encourage you to go fast, up to 28-plus miles per hour — you’ll understand how fun this coaster is. The coaster is open year-round.
Margaritaville at Lanier Islands Water Park
Exciting renovations were made over the winter in 2024 at Margaritaville’s water park at Lake Lanier and it's now better than ever. The wave pool has been updated and the deep end made shallower to increase the swimming area and Fin Dunker Bucket has returned. Don't miss the Parrot Mountain summer tubing slide. Old favorites remain — foam parties, Raging River, Intimidator and Triple Threat water slides, to name a few.
SPLASH in the Boro, Statesboro
SPLASH water park and aquatic center not only offers a wave pool, lazy river and adrenaline-pumping slides but adult and children swimming lessons as well. Visitors may even enjoy a relaxing day with a cool drink under a rented cabana or at the family pavilion. But if you really need to get the heart pumping, try the Flow Rider, the only one of its kind in Georgia where visitors may try their hand at surfing.
Funopolis Family Fun Center, Commerce
Stay inside and play arcade games, climb the rock wall or try to unravel the escape room (hey, it’s air conditioned), but if you want to get wet move outside to the bumper boats, Water Wars and the Down Pour Derby, where you pelt your opponent with water balloons or a filled bucket in a protected cage. Carnival rides and go-karts are other outdoors attractions at Funopolis.
Malibu Norcross
Malibu Norcross has something for everyone from kid-friendly fun such as two 18-hole miniature golf courses, batting cages, arcade and go karts to cooling off with bumper boats and the super-sized Buccaneer Cove with its water slides, splash bucket, shooting water cannon and more. The water fun is available for all ages but those under 36 inches must use the kiddie features.
Weird, Wacky & Wild South is written by travel writer Cheré Coen who loves water rides and roller coasters. Well, some roller coasters.
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