If you’re looking to get away without actually going away, Sahara Sam’s Water Park in West Berlin can transport your family to an island vacation where it’s always sunny. Spending a day at this tropical-themed indoor and outdoor water park feels like a beach vacation, especially riding the waves on “Flow Rider.” With the 70,000 square feet of indoor water park attractions under a retractable roof, including an expanded water playground and tree house for younger kids, you’ll have a ball splashing and sliding the day away—even if the weather is iffy. And during the summer, the outdoor beach club is like hanging out at an island resort. Ready to take the plunge? Read on for how to plan your day and escape to island time. (featured photo credit: NJ MOM)
Visit The Tropics All Year Round at Sahara Sam’s
Pick your slide and speed
The tropical decor will make you feel like you’ve landed on an island far away, with tiki touches throughout, including boulders and colorful toucan bird sculptures, giving the whole park an authentic escape-to-Hawaii feel (coconuts, anyone?) Get in vacay mode on the Tiki Tides, where you can meander and float down the stream on an innertube and take in the tropical sights. After, head to one of the many slides and rides for both older and younger kids. At Mount Kilimanjaro, the whole family can ride a tube for major sliding and splashing as the big tube “erupts” down the slide. Grab a tube with a kid (or go solo) down Snake Eyes or go tubeless down the body surfing, superfast 350-ft Riptide. Got a few speed demons in your mix? Challenge them to race in NJ’s only mat racer slides—Raging Rivers, five-story, side-by-side, head-first mat racing slides that offer the most thrilling glide guaranteed to appease any speed junkie.
Get ready to hang ten
The surf’s always up at Sahara Sam’s, thanks to the Flow Rider. With an endless wave, budding surfers can learn to body surf and ride the tide on their bellies for the ultimate indoor surfing experience. While the minimum age to catch the wave is 8 (and at least 42 inches tall), kids can build up their skills and confidence in the surf, priming them for the real deal when the weather gets hot. If you’re not up for a surf, plenty of relaxing spots are nearby to sit and watch your surfers in the tide. After everybody has had their thrills, head for a dip in The Hidden Oasis, a giant pool for all ages with ample space to scatter for a game of Marco Polo.
Have some pint-sized fun
Got little ones who want their own space? Nestled within the park, away from the bigger slides and tubes, is the Jungle Hideout, where littles can go wild in a treehouse village with colorful themes and climbing areas. Kids can unleash their imaginations and sense of adventure at this dynamic water playground — splash around in the fountains, slip and slide through the tunnels, and get doused by a giant dunking bucket. With lifeguards nearby and slides ranging from gentle to twisting, children can build confidence and independence going down with an adult or alone. For those not up to sliding, there’s a water table and a full splash zone for sensory fun.
Go outside at Sahara Sam’s Water Park
When the weather turns warm, there’s nothing better than splashing in the sunshine. The outdoor section of Sahara Sam’s is set up like a beach club, with plenty of lounge chairs and the Shipwrecked Tiki Bar in the center serving tropical adult beverages. Take a dip in the 12,000-square-foot wave pool (or watch your kids enjoy it from a Tiki-themed, shaded private cabana). For more serious swimmers, there’s an expansive leisure and lap pool to enjoy together or give the kids space to practice their backstroke. Littles have their own splash pad section — Little Kahuna Lagoon —with colorful fountains and coconuts that fill with water and dump out just when you need a cool-off.
Take a break and do island time at Sahara Sam’s Water Park
What’s an island vacay without a tropical (adult) beverage? Order a breezy cocktail from The Sand Bar and lunch for the kids at the Island Time Café near the water or The Chill Zone near the arcade. With fan favorites and Caribbean-themed options, you can find anything that suits your family’s taste. And the fun doesn’t stop out of the water—after drying off, head to the arcade with air hockey, pop-a-shot, video games, and boardwalk-style activities with a treasure trove of fun prizes. Want the ultimate island experience? Enhance your daycation with a VIP Cabana, with deck chairs, a table, and complimentary bottled water, and spread out in a private oasis.
What to know before you go
Sahara Sam’s indoor water park is open year-round, and the outdoor water park is open from Memorial Day to Labor Day. After Labor Day, the indoor park is open Friday-Sunday, with additional open dates during holiday breaks. The 2026 Season Pass is available for $59.99 and is valid through December 31, 2026. Want another way to save? Enroll in the membership program for $6.99 a month and enjoy unlimited access to the water park. The online one-day ticket is $29.99 ($39.99 at the park). Gift and Arcade cards are also available.
Lockers are available for rent, and family-changing stalls are located between restrooms. Parking is free, and waterproof items such as gear, water shoes, and phone cases can be purchased on-site if necessary. For kids who are sensitive to new environments, they have a park sensory guide to check out before your visit. Check out their new packages for birthday parties, corporate events, summer camp outings, and school trips.
For more information about Sahara Sam’s Water Park, check out their website, Facebook, and Instagram.
Sahara Sam’s Water Park
535 North Route 73
West Berlin, NJ 08091
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