The 35-acre water park next to Dollywood in Pigeon Forge is one of the best ways to cool off before the heat officially gives up. It runs on a Smoky Mountain story — Dolly’s childhood swimming in mountain rivers — and the ride lineup fits a wide range of ages: the RiverRush water coaster and Big Bear Plunge for the big kids, a wave pool, lazy rivers, and dedicated splash zones for little ones. The park’s lifeguard team has earned a Platinum award in the East Tennessee region, which is a nice detail to know when you’re watching toddlers from a float.

The 2026 season runs roughly May through September, with most days open 10am-7pm, but hours shift day to day — check the calendar before you drive. Dollywood has been running an end-of-season sale: 1-day pick-a-day tickets for $29.99, so if you’ve been meaning to go, this is probably the cheapest it’ll be all year. About 55-60 minutes from Maryville.