The 20 best water rides at America’s theme parks

Rapids, flumes, chutes, and water coasters — ranked. Pack the ponchos (or don’t, and embrace it). Every entry lists its height requirement so you know before you queue whether the whole crew can soak together.

#RideParkHeight
1 Mystic River Falls Silver Dollar City 40"+
2 Timber Mountain Log Ride Knott's Berry Farm Any height
3 Krakatau Aqua Coaster Universal Volcano Bay 42"+
4 Tiana's Bayou Adventure Magic Kingdom 40"+
5 Jurassic World — The Ride Universal Studios Hollywood 42"+
6 Jurassic Park River Adventure Universal Islands of Adventure 42"+
7 Grizzly River Run Disney California Adventure 42"+
8 The Count's Splash Castle Sesame Place Philadelphia Any height
9 Tiana's Bayou Adventure Disneyland 40"+
10 Popeye & Bluto's Bilge-Rat Barges Universal Islands of Adventure 42"+
11 Ko'okiri Body Plunge Universal Volcano Bay 48"+
12 Summit Plummet Disney's Blizzard Beach 48"+
13 Venus Vortex Lake Compounce 42"+
14 Dudley Do-Right's Ripsaw Falls Universal Islands of Adventure 44"+
15 Infinity Falls SeaWorld Orlando 42"+
16 Elmo's Surf 'n' Slide Sesame Place Philadelphia Any height
17 El Aserradero Six Flags Over Texas Any height
18 Daredevil Falls Dollywood 42"+
19 Tidal Force Hersheypark 42"+
20 TeAwa The Fearless River Universal Volcano Bay 42"+

Rankings come from Rideable's ride-by-ride grades: every attraction is judged against the best of its own kind, with Florida parks graded first-hand and national parks by research consensus. Disagree? Tell us why.