The weather is heating up, and everyone is looking for a way to cool down. We’ve gathered the latest information about places to swim and splash in the Charlotte area summer of 2022.
We’re focusing on pools and spraygrounds in Charlotte, as well as some other unique outdoor swimming areas that are worth the drive. You might want to also look into the pools and spraygrounds in neighboring towns and cities.
Free swimming lessons in Charlotte
To sign up for FREE Swim lessons through the Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation Department at the outdoor pools, please go to Cordelia Pool or Double Oaks Family Aquatic Center at 9:30 a.m. on Saturdays (starting June 11th, 2022) to sign up for weekday morning classes for the following week. Registration will take place every Saturday at 9:30 a.m. for the upcoming week throughout the summer. Registration is in-person only and swim lesson slots are filled on a first come first served basis.
Double Oaks Family Aquatic Center
Double Oaks Family Aquatic Center is an outdoor pool at 2014 Statesville Avenue, Charlotte. It will be open on weekends starting Memorial Day Weekend and then also weekdays the week of June 13th, once Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools is out for the summer.
At that time, it will be open Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, from 12 to 6 p.m.
The cost is $2 per person.
Cordelia Pool
Cordelia Pool is an outdoor pool at 2100 N. Davidson Street. Please check back soon for details on the opening date, as well as the hours. It will be open on weekends starting Memorial Day Weekend and then also weekdays the week of June 13th, once Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools is out for the summer.
At that time, it will be open Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, from 12 to 6 p.m.
The cost is $2 per person.
Mecklenburg County Aquatic Center
Mecklenburg County Aquatic Center, an indoor pool complex at 800 E Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, is open seven days a week.
Call 980-314-3483 with questions.
Ray’s Splash Planet
Ray’s Splash Planet, at 215 N. Sycamore Street, Charlotte, is an indoor swimming pool and water park. It features a 3-story slide, a lazy river, an interactive water play area for smaller kids, the Vortex, beach-like entry and much more. There are also two lap lanes.
Admission:
- Adult Mecklenburg County residents: $10
- Adult non-residents: $15
- Youth (ages 1-17) county residents: $8
- Youth (ages 1-17) non-county residents: $10
- Seniors (age 55+) county residents: $8
- Seniors (age 55+) non-county residents: $10
- Dry ticket (dry admission to the pool area) for county resident: $3
- Dry ticket (dry admission to the pool area) for non-county resident: $5
Eastway Regional Recreation Center
Eastway Regional Recreation Center, at 3150 Eastway Park Drive, is the newest recreational facility in Charlotte. It offers an 8-lane lap pool and a kids’ waterpark with a slide, lazy river and a zero-entry toddler pool.
Admission:
- Adult Mecklenburg County residents: $10
- Adult non-residents: $15
- Youth (ages 1-17) county residents: $8
- Youth (ages 1-17) non-county residents: $10
- Seniors (age 55+) county residents: $8
- Seniors (age 55+) non-county residents: $10
- Dry ticket (dry admission to the pool area) for county resident: $3
- Dry ticket (dry admission to the pool area) for non-county resident: $5
Call 980-314-3772 with questions.
Spraygrounds in Mecklenburg County
The Mecklenburg County spraygrounds are open from Memorial Day Weekend to Labor Day Weekend, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily.
Clarks Creek Community Park, 5435 Hucks Road
Cordelia Park, 600 E. 24th St.
First Ward Park, 309 E. Seventh St.
Latta Park, 601 East Park Ave.
Nevin Park, 6100 Statesville Rd.
Romare Bearden Park, 300 S. Church St.
West Charlotte Recreation Center, 2401 Kendall Drive
Ramsey Creek Beach
Ramsey Creek Beach on Lake Norman will be open on weekends starting Memorial Day Weekend, and on Wednesday through Sunday, June 11th, 2022, through Labor Day. Hours of operation are 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. each day.
On Memorial Day Weekend, 4th of July Weekend and Labor Day Weekend you can take a shuttle from the CATS Park & Ride lot at 19752-19858 One Norman Drive, Cornelius.
Cost of Ramsey Creek Beach
Please note that these costs are from 2021. We are awaiting 2022 updates.
- Per vehicle: County resident, $10
- Per vehicle: Non-resident: $15
- Senior citizen or person with disability — County resident, $2
- Senior citizen or person with disability — Non-county resident, $3
Ramsey Creek Beach is at 18441 Nantz Road, Cornelius.
Cane Creek Park
Cane Creek Park, at 5213 Harkey Road, Waxhaw, is part of the Union County park system. At the park there’s a 350-acre lake where you can boat, fish and swim. The swim beach is open Memorial Day Weekend to Labor Day Weekend. The cost is only $2 per person. Or pay $5 a person for an All Day Pass that allows you to swim, rent a pedal boat and play miniature golf.
Please note: Union County has said on Facebook that they are having trouble with staffing and that the swimming area will not be open on Memorial Day Weekend. Stay tuned.
Lake Norman State Park
Lake Norman State Park, at 759 State Park Road, Troutman, has some great hiking trails, and also a swim beach. Lifeguards will be on duty from Memorial Day Weekend to Labor Day Weekend. A fee is charged only when a lifeguard is on duty. Age 13+: $6 a day. Age 12 and younger: $4 a day.
Ebenezer Park
Ebenezer Park, 4490 Boatshore Road, Rock Hill, South Carolina, is a 26 acre park on the southern shores of Lake Wylie The park has undergone renovations, and one of them is an enlarged and dredged swimming/beach area, enclosed by a semicircular pier. This is one of the only spots where there’s public access to swim in Lake Wylie.
Swimming is open from Memorial Day Weekend to Labor Day Weekend.
Ebenezer Park also offers boating, fishing, camping, basketball and volleyball.
You’ll need a day pass for your vehicle, which is $5 for York County residents, and $8 for non-county residents. There are discounts for seniors, disabled people, and York County employees.
Carrigan Farms Swimming Quarry
Carrigan Farms’ Swimming Quarry, at 1213 Oak Ridge Farm Highway Mooresville, is not the cheapest place to swim, and it’s not the closest to Charlotte, but it’s probably the most beautiful in the area.
It opens for the season on May 14th, 2022. Hours are 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., with select evenings from 3:45 p.m. to sunset.
They’ve limited capacity. To make sure you are admitted, you’ll want to make an advance reservation.That costs $5 in addition to the cost of admission, but the $5 becomes a food and drink voucher when you arrive. The cost to swim starts at $20, depending on the date and time.
YMCA of Greater Charlotte Pools
YMCA pools are popular places to cool down and swim. Learn about membership prices here.
- Harris YMCA
- Brace Family YMCA
- Keith Family YMCA
- Morrison YMCA
- Simmons YMCA
- Dowd YMCA
- Lowe’s YMCA
- Sally’s YMCA
- Lake Norman YMCA
You can find all the information on the hours and rules here.
Kannapolis Spraygrounds
The Kannapolis spraygrounds are worth a mention, even though it might seem a bit of a drive from Charlotte for a sprayground, because of what else is around them.
Village Park, at 700 West C Street, has a sprayground, with admission of $1.50. The sprayground will be open starting Saturday, May 28th, 2022. Also in the park is a wonderful carousel, and the Rotary Train Express (on weekends.)
And there’s also a sprayground at the Atrium Health Ballpark, 1 Cannon Baller Way. There’s no charge.
Learn more about visiting Kannapolis and its beautifully revitalized downtown.
Double-Check Before You Head Out!
We make every effort to make sure that everything on Charlotte on the Cheap is 100% accurate.
However, sometimes things change without notice, and we are not always notified. It's also possible that we can make a mistake.
Please verify all deals and events with the venue or organizer before you go.
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