You can generally expect hot and humid weather from late spring to early fall in Charlotte, and you’ll want to find ways to cool off — like swimming.
The good news is that there are several places to do just that around the city, whether you’re looking for a pool, lake or even a quarry.
Here’s a full list of where you can take a dip and swim around the Charlotte area:
Pools and water parks
Carolina Harbor Waterpark
Location: 14523 Carowinds Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28273
Hours: Vary depending on day
Cost: $39.99+
Ride rollercoasters and swim around Carowinds’ water park, Carolina Harbor. Opening Memorial Day weekend, the popular park features several water slides and wave pools, large play structures and a three-acre kids’ area. Plus, you can cool off on the longest mat-racing slide in the Southeast, Boogie Board Racer. Admission allows entry into the amusement park and water park.
Cordelia Pool
Location: Cordelia Park, 2100 N Davidson St, Charlotte, NC 28205
Hours: Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, 12-6 p.m.
Cost: $2
Cool off at Cordelia Pool, starting Memorial Day weekend. It’ll be open to swimmers every day except Tuesdays and Thursdays, plus you can sign up for free swim lessons every Saturday starting June 17.
Double Oaks Family Aquatic Center
Location: 2014 Statesville Ave, Charlotte, NC 28206
Hours: Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, 12-6 p.m.
Cost: $2
Located in North Charlotte, Double Oaks Family Aquatic Center features a 25-yard pool and a slide. Opening weekend kicks off ahead of Memorial Day on May 27. You can sign up for swim lessons all summer long, including The World’s Largest Swim Lesson event on June 22.
Eastway Regional Recreation Center
Location: 3150 Eastway Park Drive, Charlotte, NC 28213
Hours: Monday-Thursday: 5:30 a.m.-9:30 p.m.; Friday: 5:30 a.m.-8:30 p.m; Saturday: 8 a.m.-6:30 p.m.; Sunday: 1-6:30 p.m.
Cost: $8-$10 for county residents and $10-$15 for non-residents.
Relax and cool off at Eastway Regional Recreation Center. There’s a water slide along with a leisure pool and one for swimming laps.
Great Wolf Lodge
Location: 10175 Weddington Rd, Concord, NC 28027
Hours: Monday-Sunday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m.
Cost: $40+
Great Wolf Lodge in Concord is a popular indoor water park that you can enjoy for a day or over a longer stay. The family-friendly resort has 11 water slides, four pools, games and other attractions for kids of all ages.
Marion Diehl Recreation Center
Location: 2219 Tyvola Rd, Charlotte, NC 28210
Hours: Monday-Thursday: 9 a.m.-9 p.m.; Friday: 9 a.m.- 5 p.m.; Saturday: 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday: 1-5 p.m.
Cost: $8-$10 for county residents and $10-$15 for non-residents.
Check out the newly renovated pool at the Marion Diehl Recreation Center, that just reopened in March. The 40-year-old facility, which was temporarily closed since 2019, got upgrades to the 25-meter indoor pool that now has six lanes that can be used for recreation and fitness, including water aerobics classes, swim lessons and pool parties.
Mecklenburg County Aquatic Center
Location: 800 E M.L.K. Jr Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28202
Hours: Monday-Friday: 5:30 a.m.- 9:30 p.m.; Saturday: 7 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday: 1-6 p.m.
Cost: $8-$10 for county residents and $10-$15 for non-residents.
Break the heat at the Mecklenburg County Aquatic Center in uptown Charlotte. There is a 50-meter competition pool for competitive and independent swimming, a 25-yard therapeutic pool, fitness center and hot tub.
Northern Regional Recreation Center
Location: 18121 Old Statesville Rd, Cornelius, NC 28031
Hours: Monday-Thursday: 5:30 a.m.-9:30 p.m.; Friday: 5:30 a.m.-8:30 p.m.; Saturday: 8 a.m.-6:30 p.m.; Sunday: 1-6:30 p.m.
Cost: $8-$10 for county residents and $10-$15 for non-residents.
Northern Regional Recreation Center offers a lot of options for swimmers. The Lake Norman area rec center has a swimming pool for leisure, water aerobics, lap swimming and more, along with a water slide that’s open to the public.
Ray’s Splash Planet
Location: 215 N Sycamore St, Charlotte, NC 28202
Hours: Monday: 4-7:30 p.m.; Tuesday: 10 a.m.-2 p.m.; Wednesday: 4-7:30 p.m.; Thursday: 10 a.m.-2 p.m.; Friday: 4 p.m.-7:30 p.m.; Saturday: 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sunday: 1-6 p.m.
Cost: $8-$10 for county residents and $10-$15 for non-residents.
Splash and swim at the popular indoor water park, Ray’s Splash Planet. Located at Irwin Creek Academic Center in uptown, the facility has several slides, pools, a lazy river and lanes for water sports.
Lakes and public beaches:
Cane Creek Park
Location: 5213 Harkey Rd, Waxhaw, NC 28173
Hours: 7 a.m.-7 p.m.; Summer season hours are 11 a.m.-6:30 p.m.
Cost: Free
Cane Creek Park offers a lot of activities to enjoy year-round, especially during the summer. At the family-friendly park, you can swim, fish, canoe, kayak and spend time on a paddle boat.
Lake Norman State Park
Location: 759 State Park Road, Troutman, NC 28166
Hours: 7 a.m.-9 p.m. (May-August)
Cost: $3+
Located about 40 miles outside of Charlotte lies Lake Norman State Park, the largest man-made lake in the state. Spend time swimming or paddling at the public beach access. Swim passes are required for visitors.
Ebenezer Park
Location: 4490 Boatshore Road, Rock Hill, SC 29732
Hours: 7 a.m.-9 p.m.
Cost: $1+
Ebenezer Park is a 26 acre park located on the shores of Lake Wylie, which borders both North and South Carolina. The swimming area at the is open year-round, and during the summer season (Memorial Day to Labor Day) pets may enter the water outside of the swimming area during certain days.
The Quarry at Carrigan Farms
Location: 1213 Oak Ridge Farm Hwy, Mooresville NC 28115
Hours: 10 a.m.-3 p.m.; 3:45-sunset
Cost: $20
Whether you’re looking for a relaxing day in the water or an adventurous summer excursion, the Quarry at Carrigan Farms will be open for swimmers of all ages to dive or rope swing in starting May 20. Guests will also be able to catch and release fish in the ponds with their own gear during open swim season.
Ramsey Creek Beach
Location: 18441 Nantz Rd, Cornelius, NC 28031
Hours: Wednesday-Sunday, 12-6 p.m.
Cost: Varies. Entry fees range from $0-$15
Enjoy a day in the sand at Ramsey Creek Beach in Lake Norman. The 46-acre waterfront beach has a swimming area, boat launching and docks, a playground, picnic area, trails, fishing pier, dog park and volleyball court.
Spraygrounds:
There are several spraygrounds around Charlotte that you can run through, jump in or splash in that will be open 10 a.m.-8 p.m. daily from Memorial Day through Labor Day.
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Clarks Creek Park, 5435 Hucks Rd, Charlotte, NC 28269
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Cordelia Park, 600 E 24th St, Charlotte, NC 28205
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Elizabeth Park, 101 N Kings Dr, Charlotte, NC 28204
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Latta Park, 601 E Park Ave, Charlotte, NC 28203
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Nevin Community Park, 6000 Statesville Rd, Charlotte, NC 28269
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Romare Bearden Park, 300 S Church St, Charlotte, NC 28202
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West Charlotte Recreation Center, 2401 Kendall Dr, Charlotte, NC 28216
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Veterans Memorial Park, 2136 Central Ave, Charlotte, NC 28205
Originally published