The weather is heating up, and we’re all looking for a way to cool down.
Here’s a big list of swimming pools, splash pads, and swimming holes in Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, and the surrounding area.
In addition to the facilities on this list, area YMCAs offer swimming to members.
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Haw River Watershed and Jordan Lake
There are multiple places to swim throughout the Haw River Watershed and Jordan Lake. Haw River Assembly is monitoring the E. coli levels at each of each of these swim access points. The E. coli level signals the levels of pathogens in these waters.
Each Friday, they update the results on their website, as well as their social media accounts and newsletter. they also have an app that you can download.
They will be sampling and reporting on the water through September 10th, 2021. Read more about this process, and see the weekly results at hawriver.org/swim-guide/
Swimming Pools and Splash Pads in Raleigh
Raleigh Parks’ pools are opening for the 2021 summer. (Some are open now.) Get current information about Raleigh Parks’ aquatics program. Also, please read Raleigh Parks’ 2021 Aquatics Know Before You Go information.
2021 Admission Fees
All pools except Buffaloe Road Aquatic Center:
- Resident age 1-12: $2
- Resident age 13-54: $4
- Resident age 55+ $3
- Non-resident age 1-12: $3
- Non-resident age 13-54: $7
- Non-resident age 55+: $5
Buffaloe Road Aquatic Center:
- Resident age 1-12: $4
- Resident age 13-54: $8
- Resident age 55+ $6
- Non-resident age 1-12: $7
- Non-resident age 13-54: $15
- Non-resident age 55+: $11
15 admission punch passes, monthly passes and annual passes are also available.
Millbrook Exchange Pool
1905 Spring Forest Road, Raleigh
919-996-4130
Currently open with limited capacity
Optimist Pool
5902 Whittier Drive, Raleigh
919-996-2790
Currently open with limited capacity
Pullen Aquatic Center
410 Ashe Avenue, Raleigh
919-996-6197
Currently open with limited capacity
Biltmore Pool
701 Crown Crossing Lane, Raleigh
919-831-6736
Open for the season
This pool includes a baby pool, a lap and recreation main pool, and a 12-foot deep end.
Lake Johnson Pool
5863 Jaguar Park Drive, Raleigh
919-233-2111
Open for the season
This pool includes a large sprayground, baby pool, and a lap and recreation main pool.
Longview Pool
321 Bertie Drive, Raleigh
919-831-6343
Open for the season
This pool features a baby pool as well as a lap and recreation main pool.
Ridge Road Pool
1709 Ridge Road, Raleigh
919-420-2322
Open for the season
This pool features a baby pool, sprayground, a lap and recreation main pool, and a 12-foot deep end.
Buffaloe Road Aquatic Center
919-996-5600
5908 Buffaloe Road, Raleigh
Currently open with limited capacity
This aquatic center features:
- 3 story waterslide
- Lazy river
- Water vortex
- Water basketball & water volleyball
- 3 lap lanes (no back stroke flags)
- Zero-depth entry with tot-size play area including water tumble buckets, a water curtain, and tot-size slide
Swimming Pools and splash pads elsewhere in Wake County
Holding Park Aquatic Center
133 W. Owen Avenue, Wake Forest
919-435-9560
Holding Park Aquatic Center will open May 29th, 2021.
Resident admission: $1 for ages 2 and under, $4 for ages 3-13, $5 for ages 13-59, $4 for ages 60+
Non-Resident admission: $2 for ages 2 and under, $6 for ages 3-13, $7 for ages 13-59, $6 for ages 60+
Open Swim times are scheduled in three-hour blocks, with one hour in between to allow staff to clean and sanitize the facility, including deck chairs, door handles, hand rails and other high-touch areas.
A maximum of 120 patrons will be allowed inside the facility during each session.
Patrons must register and pay for each session at least two hours in advance. No walk-ins are allowed.
You’ll find a list of all the guidelines for 2021 here.
This pool features a six lane, 25-yard lap pool, two water slides with a plunge pool, and a children’s pool with water play.
Taylor Street Park Sprayground
416 North Taylor Street, Wake Forest
919-435-9562
Open now. Follow above link for schedule
Admission: Free for residents and non-residents
This sprayground includes 30 different water features, including a bucket trio and water arch.
Falls Lake State Recreation Area
13304 Creedmoor Road, Wake Forest
There are several swim beaches in the recreation area as well as a number of boat ramps, some reserved for paddlers and non-gasoline powered boats. The Beaverdam access offers a separate and quiet lake impoundment perfect for paddling, fishing, and swimming.
Triangle Aquatic Center
275 Convention Drive, Cary
Open now. Follow above link for schedule and protocols.
Admission: $3.25 for ages 2-17, $5.50 for ages 18-59, $3 for ages 60+
You need to sign up to swim. Recreational swim sessions are 50 minutes. Walk-ins are not available. More information here.
This center features year-round aquatic facilities with swim programs for all ages, private lessons, fitness programs, a year-round swim team, and American Red Cross certification courses.
Jack Smith Park Sprayground
9725 Penny Road, Cary
Admission: Free for residents and non-residents
Temporarily closed.
This splash pad offers seven water features and is designed for ages 12 and under.
Waverly Place Splash Pad
302 Colonades Way, Cary
Admission: Free for residents and non-residents
The splashpad will not be open for the 2021 season.
Knightdale Community Pool
202 Milburnie Road, Knightdale
Opens Friday, May 28th, 2021.
Admission: Free for ages under 1, $2 for ages 1-5, $4 for ages 6-12, $5 for ages 13+ for residents. ($1 more for non-residents)
Late admission: $3 for ages 6 and older, from 5 p.m. to close
Summer passes are also available for residents and non-residents.
This is an outdoor, seasonal pool.
Fuquay-Varina Splash Pad
900 South Main Street, Fuquay-Varina
Open daily from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Resident admission: Free, but must have a Resident Splash Pad card that can be picked up at the community center. Please bring proof of residency when picking up your card, A new card must be issued each year.
Non-Resident admission: $2 per person. Free for children under 2. One parent will be admitted without charge.
A 6,000 square foot pentagon shaped pad with multiple jets of water and more than 35 water features. All children under the age of 13 must have adult supervision.
Jordan Lake State Recreation Area
280 State Park Road, Apex
Admission: $7 per car per day, $5 for ages 62+
Individual and friends and family annual passes are available.
Parker’s Creek, Seaforth, and Ebenezer Church feature sandy swimming beaches. The Poplar Point, Crosswinds, and Vista Point campgrounds all feature sandy swimming beaches that are open for campers only.
Swimming Pools and Splash Pads in Orange County
A.D. Clark Outdoor Pool
Hargraves Center, 216 North Roberson Street, Chapel Hill
Now open for the season
This 25-meter pool offers zero depth entry, 4 lap lanes, locker rooms, showers, and a family changing area. Drop-in visits are available, starting July 12th, with a limit of 45 swimmers at any one time. It is free to swim at the outdoor pool.
Homestead Aquatic Center
300 Aquatic Drive, Chapel Hill
Resident admission: $2 for ages 8 and under, $3 for ages 9-18, $5 for ages 19+
Non-Resident admission: $3 for ages 8 and under, $5 for ages 9-18, $9 for ages 19+
20-visit passes, 6 month passes, and annual passes are also available.
As of July 12th, Homestead Aquatic Center is offering both reservable times and drop-in visits.
Open now.
This center includes a 10 lane 25-yard lap pool, a recreation warm water pool with ramp access, accessible locker rooms, family changing areas, and a meeting room.
Chapel Hill Community Center Indoor Pool
120 South Estes Drive, Chapel Hill
Resident admission: $2 for ages 8 and under, $3 for ages 9-18, $5 for ages 19+
Non-Resident admission: $3 for ages 8 and under, $5 for ages 9-18, $9 for ages 19+
20-visit passes, 6 month passes, and annual passes are also available.
Reservations required, limited to one reservation per household per week.
Open now.
This center offers a 6 lane 25-meter indoor pool with zero depth ramp entry, locker rooms, showers, and a family changing area.
Orange County Sportsplex
101 Meadowlands Drive, Hillsborough
Admission: $5 for ages 12 and under, $6 for ages 13 – 54, $4 for ages 55+
You’ll need to register for your session in advance.
This sportsplex offers a six foot deep competition lap swimming pool, a recreation pool featuring handicap ramp access, and a gated baby pool.
Swimming in Durham
Durham Parks & Recreation operates two indoor pools, three outdoor pools, and four spraygrounds. We don’t have information yet on the opening date for the outdoor pools, but will update when we do,
Edison Johnson Aquatic Center
500 W. Murray Avenue, Durham
Admission: City residents: Age 0-18: Free; Age 19+: $4; Age 55+: $3. Non-residents: Age 0-18: $5; Age 19+: $9; Age 55+: $8
Reservations are required.
8-lane indoor pool. The pool has an aquatic lift to assist patrons who may not have the ability to access the pool via vertical ladders or stair systems. Edison Johnson Aquatic Center also has a ramp entrance and water chair. Outside this facility is a sprayground, which should open in late May, and is free to use.
Campus Hills Pool
2000 South Alston Avenue, Durham
Admission: City residents: Age 0-18: Free; Age 19+: $4; Age 55+: $3. Non-residents: Age 0-18: $5; Age 19+: $9; Age 55+: $8
Reservations are required.
8-lane indoor pool. The pool has an aquatic lift to assist patrons who may not have the ability to access the pool via vertical ladders or stair systems.
Hillside Pool and Sprayground
1221 Sawyer Street, Durham
Admission: City of Durham residents: Age 0-18: Free, Age 19+: $3; Age 55+: $2. Non-resident: Age 0-18: $5; Age 19+: $8; Age 55+: $7.
Free on Wednesdays.
Check back soon for 2021 schedule.
Outdoor pool and sprayground. The sprayground is open only when the pool is open.
Forest Hills Pool
1639 University Drive, Durham
Admission: City of Durham residents: Age 0-18: Free, Age 19+: $3; Age 55+: $2. Non-resident: Age 0-18: $5; Age 19+: $8; Age 55+: $7.
Free on Tuesdays.
Forest Hills Pool has opened for the season
Outdoor pool and sprayground. The sprayground is open only when the pool is open.
Long Meadow Pool
917 Liberty Street, Durham
Admission: City of Durham residents: Age 0-18: Free, Age 19+: $3; Age 55+: $2. Non-resident: Age 0-18: $5; Age 19+: $8; Age 55+: $7.
Free on Mondays.
Long Meadow Pool has opened for the season.
Seasonal, outdoor pool.
East End Park Sprayground
1200 N. Alston Avenue, Durham
Open from the end of May through the end of September
Free to use
Sennett’s Hole
5101 North Roxboro Road, Durham
Admission: Free for residents and non-residents
Find driving and hiking directions here.
This swimming hole is on the Eno River. Once you park in West Point on the Eno Park, you’ll need to hike an approximately 1.75 mile round trip.
Swimming Pool in Chatham County
Bray Park Aquatic Facility
700 Alston Bridge Road, Siler City
Admission: Free for ages under 2, $5 for ages 3+. Age 50+: $2.50.
There are also individual, couple, and family season passes available.
Open now
This facility offers open swim, swimming lessons, and more.
- Subscribing to Triangle on the Cheap's email list
- Triangle on the Cheap event calendar
- Best food and drink deals in the Triangle
- Comparison of three top meal kit delivery services
- Triangle on the Cheap Deals
- Free and cheap things to do this week
- Farmers Markets in the Triangle
- Cheapest gas in the Triangle
