Posted on May 25th, 2022 by Kayla Simmons |
Looking for a place to splash, swim, or cool-off in Columbia, SC? Beat the heat this summer in “famously hot” Columbia, SC! With temperatures quickly approaching the mid-90’s and only getting hotter, it’s almost impossible to not be around water for much longer. Whether you’re looking for splash pads, public pools, lake and river access, or water parks we’ve got it all! Below you will find an extensive list of outdoor places in and around Columbia to cool off with your family this summer and the good news is, the majority of them are FREE!
Water safety is so important! Please always be cautious and aware of your children while in and around water. Some of the places listed may not have on-duty lifeguards. Swim at your own risk and be sure to always check for dangers, wear lifejackets when appropriate, and stay alert.
Here’s Where to Cool Off in Columbia: Splash pads and spray pools in Columbia, SC Public Pools in Columbia, SC Natural Swimming Spots in Columbia, SC: Lakes, rivers, and creeks Water Parks Near Columbia, SC
Heading towards Upstate, SC? We have another list of places to cool off, swim and splash near Greenville, SC.
There are several parks in Columbia that include not only play structures but water play areas as well. I can’t think of a better summer combo than that!
Address: 210 Corley St., Lexington, SC 29072 Hours: Open Memorial Day Weekend until Labor Day Weekend from 11 am – 8 pm Cost: Free Description: Features a small playground, restrooms, and spray pool.
Address: 2101 Walker Solomon Way, Columbia, SC Hours: Monday – Saturday from 12 pm – 8 pm Cost: Free Description: This park is complete with a spray pad, water fountain, playground, walking track, and gazebo.
Address: 1914 Wiley St., Columbia, SC 29205 Hours: Monday – Friday from 10 am – 12 pm and 4 pm – 6 pm Cost: Free Description: Along with a splash pad, at this park you will also find a basketball court, playground, and community center.
Address: 900 Abbeville St., Columbia, SC 29201 Hours: Daily from 6 am – 9 pm Cost: Free Description: Here you will find a large splash pad, beautiful butterfly garden, zipline, and two unique nature-themed playgrounds. Read all about Elmwood Roy Lynch Park in our review!
Address: 2500 Wheat St., Columbia, SC 29205 Hours: Monday – Friday from 10 am – 12 pm and 4 pm – 6 pm Cost: Free Description: This park offers not only a splash pad, but a fenced-in dog park, 2 jungle gyms, swings, and a decent amount of shade.
Address: 2915 Platt Springs Rd., Springdale, SC 29170 Hours: Monday – Friday from 10 am – 1 pm Cost: Free Description: Complete with restrooms, a splash pad, picnic area and basketball court.
Address: 800 Abelia Road, Columbia, SC 29205 Hours: Monday – Friday from 10 am – 12 pm and 4 pm – 6 pm Cost: Free Description: This park can be found within the Heathwood Neighborhood and features a picnic shelter, tennis courts, swings, seesaws, a jungle gym, restrooms, and water spray area.
Address: 950 Jackson Avenue, Columbia, SC Hours: Daily from 7 am – 9 pm Cost: Free Description: Hyatt Park was recently renovated and reopened in November 2021. Along with the splash pad, this park now offers a brand new playground, walking trails, sculpture garden, and boardwalk.
Address: 1600 Lorick Avenue, Columbia, SC 29203 Hours: Monday – Saturday from 10 am – 12 pm and 4 pm – 6 pm Cost: Free Description: Here you will find a splash pad, baseball and basketball courts and picnic shelters.
Address: 1521 Deans Lane, Columbia, SC 29205 Hours: Park open daily from 7 am – 9 pm, water spray area must be scheduled Cost: Free Description: The water spray area will only be turned on by request. To have water activated, please call the Park & Rec Department on weekdays between 8:30 am – 5 pm. You can schedule water activation for weekdays and/or weekend use. At Mays Park you will find a lot of shade, water spray area, playground, tennis courts, and picnic tables.
Address: 1500 Fairview Rd., Columbia, SC 29205 Hours: Monday – Friday from 10 am – 12 pm and 4 pm – 6 pm Cost: Free Description: This park offers a beautiful and shady landscape, a water spray area, swings, picnic tables, and playscape.
Address: 200 Wayne St., Columbia, SC 29201 Hours: Park open daily from 6 am – 10 pm, water spray area must be scheduled Cost: Free Description: The water spray area will only be turned on by request. To have water activated, please call the Park & Rec Department on weekdays between 8:30 am – 5 pm. You can schedule water activation for weekdays and/or weekend use. This park features a splash pad, street parking, a basketball court, playground, and a baseball field.
Address: 2300 Pinehurst Rd, Columbia, SC 29204 Hours: Monday – Saturday from 10 am – 12 pm and 4 pm – 6 pm Cost: Free Description: Complete with a spray pool, small play area, and community center with restrooms and a water fountain.
Address: 5605 Bush River Road, Columbia, SC 29212 Hours:
Cost: $5 parking fee plus $3/person wristband for the splash pad, but you can purchase a 15-visit splash pad pass for $40 Description: Here you will find a large splash pad with a variety of water spraying equipment to keep your kiddos busy for a while. After playing at the splash pad, head over to either of the two playgrounds within Saluda Shoals, go hiking, ride a bike, or even explore the Saluda River. There is so much fun to be had!
Address: 3500 Duncan St., Columbia, SC Hours: Monday – Friday from 10 am – 12 pm and 4 pm – 6 pm Cost: Free Description: Offers a spray pool, large playground, basketball court, picnic area, and a good amount of shade.
Address: 9564 Two Notch Rd, Columbia, SC 29223 Hours: 8 am – sunset Cost: Free with park admission Description: There are so many options for fun to be had at Sesqui! The splash pad is a good size and has several different spraying features that are sure to entertain your children for a while. You can also find a playground across the parking lot from the splash pad, kayak rentals, walking trails, camping, and more.
See why we love Sesqui in our Kidding Around Review of Sesquicentennial State Park.
Address: 1315 Liberty Hill Ave., Columbia, SC Hours: Park is open daily from 7 am – 9 pm, splash pad hours not specified Cost: Free Description: Offers a splash pad, basketball court, playground, picnic tables, and large field for open-ended fun.
Address: 1300 Botanical Parkway, West Columbia, SC 29169 Hours: Daily from 9 am – 5 pm, water features turn off 15 min before closing Cost: Included in annual zoo membership or admission to the zoo/botanical gardens – $18.99 for children, $21.99 for adults, 2 and under free Description: In the heat of the summer this is a popular place to be! This year, the splash pad has been upgraded with a soft, rubber surface. Within this 3-acre set-up, you will find playhouses, a treehouse, a large field with toys and games, a waterfall, and 2 splash pads.
Address: 804 Hendrix St., Lexington, SC 29072 Hours: Daily from 7 am – 9 pm Cost: Free Description: Here you will find a misting fountain, playground, rope climber, hopscotch court, and picnic area.
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Life is cool by the pool! Some of these pools offer swim lessons for an additional fee. You can call ahead to schedule or even ask once you’re there.
Address:1031 Main St., Eastover, SC 29044 Hours: Beginning June 8 open Wednesday – Saturday from 1 pm – 6 pm Cost: Free Description: Swim lessons are available here (for a fee) as well as a small playground.
Address: 6700 David St, Columbia, SC 29203 Hours: Tuesday – Friday open 1 pm – 6 pm, Saturday open 10 am – 6 pm, Sunday open 2 pm – 6 pm Cost: $3 for 12 and under, $4 for 13 and older, Option for season pass Description: At this multi-sport complex you will find an outdoor pool, several ball fields, tennis courts, walking trails, a playground, and more!
Address: 150 Hopkins Park Rd., Hopkins, SC 29044 Hours: Beginning June 8 open Wednesday – Saturday from 1 pm – 6 pm Cost: Free Description: This pool is set up like a lap pool, but offers unlimited family-friendly fun!
Address: 1650 Park Circle, Columbia, SC 29201 Hours: Open May 28 – September 5, Monday – Friday from 1 pm – 7 pm, Saturday from 10 am – 6 pm, Sunday from 2 pm – 6 pm Cost: $3 for 12 and under, $4 for ages 13 and up, Option for a season pass Description: The pool has recently been renovated and is a well-designed lap pool with removal starting blocks making public/family-swim easy!
Address: 254 Hunters Blind Dr., Columbia, SC 29212 Hours:
Cost: Must become a pool member, but not required to live in the neighborhood, Full facility memberships are $555 Description: Once a member, you will have access to this olympic sized swimming pool that features 2 diving boards and ranges from 3 ft – 12 ft deep. Your membership will also include access to the tennis courts, gas grills and picnic tables, and the clubhouse.
Address: 920 Beatty Rd., Columbia, SC 29210 Hours: Beginning June 7 open Tuesday – Saturday from 1 pm – 6 pm Cost: Free Description: Here you will find a pool, playground, tennis courts, and soccer and baseball fields.
Address: 3900 Covenant Rd., Columbia, SC 29204 Hours: Beginning June 7 open Tuesday – Saturday from 1 pm – 6 pm Cost: Free Description: This is a large recreational facility that offers a swimming pool, newly renovated pool house, playground, tennis courts, baseball and softball field, covered picnic shelters, and indoor gym.
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Take advantage of all the natural bodies of water surrounding Columbia!
Address: 3677 State Park Rd., Prosperity, SC 29127 Hours: Daily from dawn to dusk Cost: Kids age 5 and under are free, $1/person from ages 6-15, $3/adult age 15 and older Description: While there are no dedicated swim areas at Dreher Island, you are allowed to swim anywhere along the lake shoreline except at bridges and boat ramps. In addition to swimming, you can also kayak, camp, golf, boat, hike, and more at this state park.
Address: 1104 North Lake Dr., Lexington, SC 29072 Hours: 7 am – sunset Cost: Free Description: Calling all nature lovers! This trail is for you! With a creek running throughout the majority of the shady trail it is the perfect place to escape city life and dip your toes in the water. This activity would be best suited for older children and adults. The trail is not stroller friendly and has no restrooms or water fountains.
Address: 964 Axtell Dr., Cayce, SC 29033 Hours: Daily from 8 am – 8 pm Cost: Free Description: Here you will find a stream running through the park to splash around in and keep cool, as well as a playground, picnic tables, and a hiking trail.
Address: 1832-1834 N Lake Dr, Lexington, SC 29072 Hours: Open April – September Weekdays from 11 am – 8 pm and Weekends from 10 am – 8 pm Cost: Parking is $5/car, CASH ONLY Description: This public park offers countless picnic tables and shelters, public grills, a beach, roped-off swimming area, and on-site security. You can also walk the Lake Murray Dam from here!
Address: 881 State Park Rd., Winnsboro, SC 29180 Hours: Daily from sunrise to sunset Cost: Kids age 5 and under are free, $1/person ages 6-15, $3/adult age 15 and older Description: This state park features a swim at your own risk swimming area with a beach, a newly opened modern playground, nature trails, biking, bird watching, paddling, boating, fishing, geocaching, and more!
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Unfortunately, there are no public water parks in Columbia, however, here are a few we found within a 45 min – 1.5 hour car ride:
Address: 14523 Carowinds Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28273 Hours:
Cost: Under 3 is free, 3 years and older tickets starting from $45/person to include both Carowinds and Carolina Harbor, military and senior citizens can get discount with valid ID, Option for season passes Description: This is a huge waterpark with so many options for staying cool! Here you will find a 3-acre kids area, several water slides, a wave pool, large play structures, and the southeast’s longest mat-racing slide! The amusement park side of Carowinds is also included in tickets. This place is sure to create lasting summer memories for you and your family! Carolina Harbor at Carowinds
Address: 1109 14th St., Hartsville, SC 29550 Hours:
Cost: $3.50 for 2 and younger, $16.99 under 48” tall AND seniors, military, first responders with valid ID, $18.99 above 48” tall, Option for season passes Description: This awesome water park features a lazy river, wave pool, splash pad, several slides, and more! Neptune Island Waterpark
Address: 2550 St. Matthews Rd NE, Orangeburg, SC 29118 Hours:
Cost: Free for Columbia and Orangeburg County YMCA members, $4 under 47” tall, $8 above 48” tall Description: The aquatic center is located at the Orangeburg YMCA and features a lazy river, water slides, a pool, children’s play center, and a toddler pool. Orangeburg County Aquatic Park
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Enjoy your summer and don’t forget the sunscreen!
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