A Local Guide to Splash Pads & Swimming Spots in Bryan, TX
Ways to Cool Off This Summer
Looking for the best places to swim and cool down in Bryan, Texas? Here's where to go to beat the heat.
Day passes to The Stella Hotel's pool or Great Escapes amenities make it easy to cool off with a splash. Bryan also has top-tier public pools like the Bryan Aquatic Center and Sadie Thomas Pool, alongside popular, completely free splash pads at Tanglewood Park and Tiffany Park.
Keep reading to find all of the best places to cool down at a swimming pool or splash pad this summer.
The Best Places to Swim in Bryan, TX
The Stella Hotel Pool
Address: 4100 Lake Atlas Drive
Access: Open to all hotel guests; public day passes available via ResortPass starting at $25
Hours: Daily from 9AM - 9PM
Best For: A resort-style pool experience with an outdoor bar and cabanas available for rent
The Stella Hotel has two outdoor pools that are perfect for a relaxing summer day. Unwind on one of their many lounge chairs or rent a cabana for a shady retreat. The Watershed Pool Bar at The Stella also has craft cocktails and delicious dishes from Campfire Restaurant to take your pool day to the next level.
Want to take a look? Check out The Stella Hotel's virtual pool tour.
- Food & Drink: The Watershed Pool Bar is open Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, with a refreshing menu of cocktails and food from Campfire. Outside food and drink is not permitted.
- Cabana Rentals: Private poolside cabanas are ideal for a family vacation or a girls' getaway. Reserve one through ResortPass or directly through the hotel.
- Lawn & Games: Take a break from swimming and step into the "backyard" adjacent to the pool, where you'll find corn hole and a large lawn with comfy chairs.
Insider Tip: Outside food and drinks aren't allowed at The Stella Hotel Pool. Enjoy food and drinks from Watershed Pool Bar, or grab a quick bite to eat before or after your pool day at local Lake Walk restaurant like POV Coffeehouse or The Board Room.
Great Escapes RV Resorts
Address: 4600 Leonard Road
Access: Open to all overnight guests; public day passes available online starting at $25
Hours: Open hours vary based on season. Check their website for details.
Best For: Kids and young adults who want have fun in the pool or on the Wibit
Play all day at Great Escapes RV Resorts with two pools and a Wibit water obstacle course! There's cabins for overnight stays (along with RV sites), or you can get a day pass that'll give you access to the pools, Wibit, and other amenities like the sports court, sand volleyball court, and pickleball court.
- Wibit Obstacle Course: The Wibit is a massive, floating obstacle course where kids and adults can have fun on the lake all day!
- Food & Drink: There's onsite dining at the Ultimutt Cafe, where you can get breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks.
- Themed Weekends: Almost every weekend has something exciting happening at Great Escapes, from Splash Showdowns to Labor Day Luaus. Check out all of their themed weekends on their calendar.
- Wet N' Wild Hayrides: Great Escapes often has Wagon Hey Rides, but this summer, you can cool off during a hayride with water fights and splash-tastic fun.
Insider Tip: If you're getting a day pass, call ahead to make sure that it's a good day to visit. Day-Use Passes are not always available (especially during holiday weekends and special events), so it's important to double-check before making plans.
Lake Bryan
Address: 8200 Sandy Point Road
Access: Open year-round; $5 per person
Hours: 9AM-10PM from March to November, 9AM-8PM from December to February
Best For: A day by the lake playing outside, grilling, and swimming in the water
There are plenty of ways to unwind at Lake Bryan, an 829-acre lake just north of Historic Downtown Bryan. Bring your own boat to take out on the water, or explore the lake on a paddleboard or kayak. The lake is also stocked with fish, so bring your fishing poles and see what you can catch!
Lake Bryan has a large shoreline where family and friends can set up picnics, fly kites, play football, and swim along the shore. Swimming is allowed everywhere except the marked restricted areas, so there's a lot of options where everyone can enjoy the water. There's also a group pavilion that has a grill, making it a great spot for a lake day with family and friends.
- Boating & Fishing: The lake is stocked by Texas Parks & Wildlife, so it's great for fishing! You can bring your own boat, paddleboard, or kayak to take out on the water.
- Sand Volleyball Court: Lake Bryan has a sand volleyball court that's first-come, first-serve. It's right by the edge of the lake, making it easy to cool off in-between games.
- Food & Drink: Visitors can bring their own food and coolers to Lake Bryan. No glass containers are allowed. The group pavilion has a grill, but day-trippers might want to consider bringing their own portable grill since public grills are limited. Food is also available at Cadillac Ranch Bar & Grill, a restaurant at Lake Bryan.
- Hiking & Biking Trails: There are over 20 miles of hiking and biking trails at Lake Bryan, both close to the water and tucked away under shady trees. Visit Mountain Bike TX website for a full map.
Insider Tip: Day admission to Lake Bryan is waived if you dine at Cadillac Ranch Bar & Grill! Keep your receipt and show it when you leave the park for free admission.
Bryan Aquatic Center
Address: 3101 Oak Ridge Drive
Access: Open to residents and non-residents; $3 for Ages 4-11, $4 for ages 12+
Hours: Tuesday through Sunday, 1PM - 7PM
Best for: An affordable pool day with epic water slides
The Bryan Aquatic Center has an olympic-sized lap pool and a recreational pool. It's the only pool in town that has a diving board and two waterslides. There's also a beach entry area so you can ease your way into the pool or stay in the shallow water if you have younger kids.
- Olympic-Sized Lap Pool: Race your friends in the lap pool, where there are multiple lanes for timed competitions or practice laps.
- Zero-Depth Beach Entry: This gradually sloping entrance mimics the shoreline of a beach, making it easy to walk into the water at your own pace without taking a plunge. It's also a great area to relax if you want to sit in the water but don't want to fully get into the pool.
- Double Waterslide: The 175-foot long water slides are a fun way to splash into the pool! All riders must be at least 4 feet tall. These waterslides aren't enclosed and have several fun twists and turns on the way down.
- Dive-In Movie: Don't miss the annual Dive-In Movie Night! This year they're showing "Luca" on July 17th.
Insider Tip: The lap pool is heated, so you can swim year-round! New hours are updated each season on the City of Bryan's website.
Sadie Thomas Pool
Address: 129 Moss St.
Access: Open to residents and non-residents; $2 for Ages 4-11, $3 for ages 12+
Hours: Monday through Friday from 12PM-5PM, Saturday through Sunday from 1PM-7PM
Best for: Families who also want to go to the playground before or after the pool
Sadie Thomas Pool is a great option for anyone looking for a smaller, more shallow pool. It has a zero-depth entry so you can ease into the water and is only five feet deep. There are also fun water features around the pool for splashing, playing, and cooling off.
- Water Features: Kids are sure to love the water fountains and other water features around the pool, including a tall umbrella-shaped structure that rains down water.
- Beach Entry: There's a sloped entry into the pool, which is great for smaller children who want to enjoy being in the water without getting in the deeper areas of the pool.
- Nearby Playground: This is right next to Sadie Thomas Memorial Park, which has large grassy areas to play in, a covered basketball court, and a playground with swings and slides.
Insider Tip: It's right next to a large field, so bring a football, frisbee, or kite to play with before or after your pool day!
Know Before You Go: The City of Bryan Pools (Bryan Aquatic Center and Sadie Thomas Pool) have a "Note & Float" policy for non-swimmers. All children under 12 must take the Note & Float swim test before entering the pool. If a child is not able to swim, they must wear a U.S. Coast Guard Approved life jacket in the water (not provided by the public pools.)
If you're visiting any pool with a non-swimmer, please bring a life jacket to ensure their safety. More details can be found on the City of Bryan's website.
Many of Bryan's hotels have pools that are open year-round! Plan a weekend getaway to Aggieland and enjoy Southern hospitality with pool time, anytime.
Free Splashpads in Aggieland
Tanglewood Park
Access: Free
Hours: Open daily, 9AM - 8PM
Best for: A full day of fun at the splash pad and the park
Cool off at the Tanglewood Park splash pad, where kids can run through spraying water features or stand under a tipping water bucket that will douse them when they least expect it! Get lunch to-go from a local restaurant and unwind at one of the picnic tables around the park, or dry off and climb on Tanglewood's two playgrounds. There's also a nice walking trail around the park if you want to take a stroll before or after cooling off at the splash pad.
- How to Activate the Water: Place your wet hand over the black, dome-shaped motion sensor located near the pavilion.
- Picnic Perfect: Tanglewood Park has a lot of picnic tables, two pavilion spaces, and several barbecue grills throughout the park. Bring something to grill or get something on the go from a local restaurant for a fun picnic before or after the splash pad!
- Beyond the Splashpad: There are two playgrounds at Tanglewood Park with fun climbing equipment and swings. It's also home to beach volleyball courts, tennis courts, and 0.7-mile walking trail. Public restrooms are available at the park.
Local Tip: Pack water shoes for the kids! City splash pad rules prohibit bare feet on the wet concrete to prevent slipping. If you plan to play on the playground, also pack a change of clothes for the kiddos to change into after having fun on the splash pad.
Tiffany Park
Access: Free
Hours: Daily, 4PM-8PM
Best for: Kids who love fountains and surprise splashes
You never know when the water-dumping buckets at Tiffany Park splash pad are going to tip! There are three buckets in the center of the splash pad, surrounded by multiple fountains that spray water from the ground sporadically. When you're done splashing around, Tiffany Park also has two playgrounds, a basketball court, baseball fields, soccer fields, and a lot of green space to run and play.
- How to Activate the Water: Push the button located between the splash pad and the pavilion.
- Covered Pavilion & Picnic Tables: There's a large covered pavilion and plenty of picnic tables where you can bring to-go food from a local restaurant to enjoy at Tiffany Park.
- Fun for All Ages: If you have older kids, they can play on the basketball court or grassy fields while younger kiddos enjoy the splash pad.
Insider Tip: Tiffany Park is popular for youth sports leagues in the evenings, so if you want closer parking to the splash pad it's best to go earlier in the day.
Quick Local Water Safety + Things to Know
Before packing up your swim bags, keep these official City of Bryan aquatic guidelines in mind:
- Supervision: Children aged 14 and under must be accompanied by an adult. Toddlers aged 6 and under must stay within arm’s reach of a parent in the water.
- Dress Code: Proper swimsuits are required at all public pools. Athletic shorts, gym trunks, and denim cut-offs are strictly prohibited in the water.
- Weather Policy: Both public pools and splash pads will be cleared immediately at the first sign of thunder or lightning.
Have fun and stay cool!
Want more outdoor adventures? Pack up your paddleboards, dust off your boat, and head to Lake Bryan for a day on the lake! Check out our page about Lake Bryan for everything you need to know to plan a legendary lakeside weekend.
