A full day at a water park can get expensive fast, especially when paying for more than one kid. The good news: several Indiana pools and water parks offer cheaper late-afternoon admission, and a few of the deals are worth planning around.
These twilight swim deals are useful when a family does not need five hours in the sun. Go later, spend less and still get enough time for slides, splash areas and lazy rivers before closing.
Related: Planning a bigger pool day? Start with our guide to the best Indiana water parks for families.
Editor’s note: Pool hours and admission rules can change because of weather, staffing, capacity, special events or back-to-school schedules. Always check the official pool page before heading out.
Jump to Section
- Indy Parks Pools, Indianapolis
- Forest Park Aquatic Center, Noblesville
- Seashore Waterpark, Lebanon
- Franklin Family Aquatic Center, Franklin
- Tropicanoe Cove, Lafayette
- Kokomo Beach Family Aquatic Center, Kokomo
- Before You Go
Indy Parks Pools, Indianapolis
Twilight deal: Free community swim from 4 to 6 p.m. every Tuesday and Thursday
For families staying close to Indianapolis, this is the best deal on the list because it is hard to beat free. Indy Parks lists no-cost community swim hours every Tuesday and Thursday from 4 to 6 p.m. at open city pools.
Regular Indy Parks pool pricing varies by location, with youth and senior admission generally listed between $3 and $5 and adult admission generally listed between $4 and $6. The free Tuesday and Thursday community swim window gives families a way to cool off without paying admission at all.
Indy Parks lists several outdoor and indoor pool options, including Broad Ripple Park, Brookside Park, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Park, Eagle Creek Beach, Ellenberger Park, Frederick Douglass Park, Garfield Park, Northwestway Park, Indy Island, Krannert Park, Rhodius Park, Riverside Park, Stanley Strader Park, Thatcher Park and Perry Park. Sahm Park, Gustafson Park and Willard Park pools are listed as closed for the summer season, so check the current pool list before choosing a location.
More info: Indy Parks Pools and Splash Pads
Forest Park Aquatic Center, Noblesville
Twilight deal: After 4 p.m., admission is $4 for Hamilton County residents with ID and $6 for nonresidents
Forest Park Aquatic Center in Noblesville drops its daily admission after 4 p.m., making it an easier after-camp or after-work swim. Regular daily admission is listed at $9 per person, so the late-day rate can make a noticeable difference for families.
The aquatic center, operated by the nonprofit Friends of Central Pool in partnership with Noblesville Parks and Recreation, includes a heated 50-meter Olympic-size pool with a slide, a diving well with springboards, a zero-entry leisure pool with kid-sized water features and a splash area, plus a sun deck and concession stand.
Related: Forest Park Aquatic Center also hosts Flix and Float movie nights during the summer.
Check the pool’s site or Facebook page for current hours before heading out. The pool sometimes closes early for weather or low attendance, and hours shorten once Noblesville schools go back in session.
Address: 1077 Cicero Road, Noblesville
More info: Forest Park Aquatic Center
Seashore Waterpark, Lebanon
Twilight deal: $4 for everyone from 4 p.m. to close
Seashore Waterpark in Lebanon has one of the simplest twilight deals: everyone gets in for $4 from 4 p.m. to close. That is a strong price for a water park with a wave pool, lazy river, slides and zero-entry play area.
Regular admission is based on age and residency. Lebanon residents are listed at $4 for ages 2-4, $6 for ages 5-17 and $8 for ages 18 and older. Nonresidents are listed at $5 for ages 2-4, $7 for ages 5-17 and $9 for ages 18 and older. The twilight rate makes the late-day visit especially useful for families with older kids or nonresidents.
Regular posted hours are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday. That means the best-value twilight window is usually earlier in the week, when the park is open until 7 p.m.
Address: 130 E. Ulen Drive, Lebanon
More info: Seashore Waterpark Admission Pricing and Hours
Franklin Family Aquatic Center, Franklin
Twilight deal: $2 from 4 to 6 p.m.
Franklin Family Aquatic Center has one of the cheapest twilight swims in Central Indiana. The city lists twilight admission at $2 from 4 to 6 p.m., which keeps the outing in the same price range as many cheap things to do with kids around Indianapolis.
The aquatic center includes an Olympic-sized pool, diving well, 190-foot water slide, zero-depth pool with a play structure, concessions and sun decks. Regular daily admission is listed at $2 for infants ages 0-2, $6 for youth ages 3-17, $7 for adults ages 18-64 and $5 for seniors, military and groups of 20 or more.
The posted hours are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., so this is a shorter twilight window. It works best when you want a low-cost swim without committing to the full afternoon.
Address: 396 Branigin Blvd., Franklin
More info: Franklin Family Aquatic Center
Tropicanoe Cove, Lafayette
Twilight deal: There are two different after-4 p.m. discounts, and the first-Wednesday deal is the better one.
Tropicanoe Cove in Lafayette has the most confusing twilight pricing on this list, but it is not bad once it is broken down.
Monday through Thursday after 4 p.m.
Admission drops to $8 for guests over 48 inches tall and $7 for guests under 48 inches tall. Regular admission is $12 for guests over 48 inches and $8 for guests under 48 inches, so this is the standard late-day discount.
First Wednesday Family Nights after 4 p.m.
On the first Wednesday of each month during the season, the price drops again. Family Night admission is $6 for guests over 48 inches tall and $5 for guests under 48 inches tall after 4 p.m.
That first-Wednesday evening is the deal to watch if Lafayette is already on the summer list. A family with two adults and two kids over 48 inches would pay $48 at the regular rate, $32 with the regular Monday-Thursday twilight rate and $24 on a first-Wednesday Family Night. That is the difference between a “maybe” and a “fine, everyone get in the car.”
Tropicanoe Cove is located inside Columbian Park and includes the Riptide Racer, Tiki Twist, Banana Peel tube slide and Cattail Crik lazy river. Regular hours are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday. Back-to-school weekend-only hours begin Aug. 6.
Address: 1915 Scott St., Lafayette
More info: Tropicanoe Cove
Kokomo Beach Family Aquatic Center, Kokomo
Twilight deal: $1 off admission after 4 p.m.
Kokomo Beach Family Aquatic Center is already one of the lower-cost water park-style pools in Indiana, and late-day visitors can save a little more. Published Kokomo Beach admission information lists all admissions as $1 off after 4 p.m.
The facility includes a zero-depth leisure pool, lap pool, lazy river, splash pad, kiddie splash zone and slide tower with tube and body slides. Regular published admission is $6 for adults ages 12 and older, $5 for youth ages 2-11, $5 for seniors ages 55 and older and free for ages 23 months and younger.
Kokomo Beach is listed as open daily during the main summer season, with weekends-only dates before and after. Regular hours are listed as 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday, so the late-day discount is more of a small savings than a long evening swim.
Address: 802 W. Park Ave., Kokomo
More info: Kokomo Beach Family Aquatic Center
Before You Go
Twilight rates are great, but they come with one obvious catch: less swim time. Before loading everyone into the car, check the day’s hours, weather status and any capacity updates.
- Watch the closing time. A 4 p.m. discount is much better at a pool open until 7 or 8 p.m. than one that closes at 6 p.m.
- Check the fine print. Some twilight rates only apply on certain days, and Tropicanoe Cove has a separate first-Wednesday Family Night price.
- Check weather before paying. Most pools clear the water for thunder or lightning, and refunds are not always offered.
- Look at height rules before promising slides. Some slides have minimum height requirements.
- Bring less stuff. A two-hour twilight swim is easier when nobody is hauling the whole pool-day setup like you are moving into a cabana permanently.
Looking for more ways to cool off this summer? Check out our guides to Indiana water parks, Indianapolis splash pads and free things to do in Indianapolis.
