Does Dollywood Have a Water Park? Your Guide to Dollywood's Splash Country

Does Dollywood have a water park? Yes. It's called Dollywood's Splash Country, a separate 35-acre water park right next to the Dollywood theme park in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, now in its 26th season. Known as the Smokies' friendliest and safest water park, it offers dozens of slides, rides and shaded spots to relax, making it one of the best family-friendly things to do in Pigeon Forge on a warm day.

Below you'll find everything you need to know before you go: whether Splash Country is included with a Dollywood ticket, how tickets work, the best rides, the 2026 season dates, what's new this year and a few tips to make your day easier.

Dollywood's Splash Country at a Glance

• What it is: A separate 35-acre water park next to Dollywood, now in its 26th season
• Location: Pigeon Forge, TN, in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains
• Admission: Its own ticket, separate from the Dollywood theme park
• Included with: two-park tickets, the Summer Splash Pass and Two-Park season passes
• Signature rides: RiverRush, TailSpin Racer, Fire Tower Falls, Big Bear Plunge, plus the Mountain Waves wave pool and Downbound Float Trip lazy river
• 2026 season: Open from mid-May through mid-September, with the final weekend on September 19 and 20, 2026
• New for 2026: Cashless payments, upgraded shaded canopies and fresh food and drinks
  
  

Does Dollywood Have a Water Park?

Yes. Dollywood's Splash Country is Dollywood's own water park, a 35-acre park set right beside the Dollywood theme park in Pigeon Forge. It has been cooling off Smoky Mountain summers for 26 seasons and offers everything from high-speed slides to a relaxing lazy river, all with more shade than most water parks.

Because it sits next door to the theme park and shares the Dollywood name, many guests assume it is one and the same. It is actually its own gated park with its own entrance, which is good to know when you are planning tickets.

Is Splash Country Included With a Dollywood Ticket, or Is It Separate?

Splash Country is a separate water park with its own admission, so a single Dollywood theme park ticket does not include it. The two parks are gated separately. The easiest way to enjoy both is a two-park ticket, available for one or more days, or the Summer Splash Pass, each of which includes Splash Country. If you visit often, a Two-Park season pass includes it too.

If you only want the water park for the day, you can buy a Splash Country ticket on its own. If you want both parks on the same trip, a multi-day or two-park ticket is usually the best value, and a resort package can bundle in lodging.

How Much Are Splash Country Tickets?

Splash Country sells its own daily tickets, available for one or two days, along with family ticket bundles. Prices change through the season and with current promotions, so the most reliable place to check is the Dollywood tickets page. If you plan to visit more than once or want both parks, compare the daily ticket cost against a multi-day or two-park ticket before you buy. For a full rundown of your options, start with plan your visit.

Staying nearby? Dollywood's DreamMore Resort and Spa and Dollywood's HeartSong Lodge & Resort offer Stay and Splash packages that bundle lodging with water park access, and you can manage your tickets or passes anytime in your My Dollywood Account.

When Is Splash Country Open in 2026?

Dollywood's Splash Country operates seasonally, from mid-May through mid-September, with its final weekend of the year on September 19 and 20, 2026. Daily operation runs through early August, then the park moves to an abbreviated weekend and select-day schedule as fall approaches. Because hours shift through the season, always confirm the day you plan to visit on the Dollywood hours and calendar page.

What Are the Best Rides at Splash Country?

Splash Country has dozens of slides and attractions for every comfort level. Thrill-seekers gravitate to RiverRush, the park's water coaster, plus TailSpin Racer, Fire Tower Falls and Big Bear Plunge. For a calmer pace, families love the Mountain Waves wave pool and the Downbound Float Trip lazy river.

With 35 acres to explore and generous shade throughout, it is easy to build a day that mixes big thrills with plenty of downtime, which is part of why it is such a good pick for families with a range of ages. To spend more time in the water and less in line, look into the TimeSaver H2O pass.

What's New at Splash Country in 2026?

A few upgrades make a day at Splash Country smoother in 2026. The park is now fully cashless, accepting cards, Apple Pay and Google Pay, with free Cash to Card kiosks on site if you bring cash. Every shaded canopy has been refreshed with fans, device charging and mobile order delivery, so you can order food without leaving your spot.

New menu items make a splash too, from Firecracker Street Corn and Loaded BBQ Fries to the Rocky Paw Bear Paw and colorful drinks like Ube Lemonade, Neon Pink Lemonade and Blue Raspberry Boba.

"Guest experience is at the heart of everything we do at Dollywood's Splash Country,” said Jordan Leach, Operations Director. “By transitioning to cashless payments only, Splash Country will provide a faster, safer and more guest-friendly experience."

Is Splash Country Good for Families?

Yes. Splash Country is known as the Smokies' friendliest and safest water park, with attractions for every age and a strong focus on water safety, backed by guest services and accessibility support throughout the park. In 2026, the park hosted the World's Largest Swimming Lesson and drew the largest crowd in the world for the event, with more than 1,400 participants learning water safety skills.

"We take water safety seriously at Splash Country," said Lauren Lowery, Senior Operations Manager. "Our lifeguards go through extensive training and licensures to ensure that our guests will be well taken care of at all times, but we want to help our guests know how to be safe at our water park and beyond."

Tips for Your Day at Splash Country

• Reserve a spot to relax: waterside Retreats and shaded Canopies (now with fans, charging and mobile order) are a comfortable home base for the day.
• Go cashless-ready: bring a card or use a free Cash to Card kiosk, since the park no longer accepts cash.
• Pack light, buy on-site: forgot a towel or sunscreen? Both are sold at the Riverside Trading Post, so you do not have to cut your day short.
• Beat the lines: the TimeSaver H2O pass can mean more time in the water on a busy day.
• Plan around the season: daily operation winds down in August, so check the calendar before a late-season visit.
• Make it a two-park trip: if you want Dollywood and Splash Country, price out a multi-day or two-park ticket first.