Summer in Texas can be oppressively hot. Cooling off should be a top priority for residents and travellers alike. Lazy rivers are one of our favourite ways to beat the heat in Texas. What’s better than getting in your inner tube and letting the world’s troubles float melt away as you float contently? Nothing and Texas has you covered in this department.
Luckily there are plenty of lazy rivers for you to enjoy in Texas. If you’re traveling, why not book a hotel or resort that has a lazy river on the property?
Are you ready to lazily float around The Lone Star State? Here are our picks for the 10 best Texas hotels with a lazy river.
- The 10 Best Texas Hotels With a Lazy River
- 1. The Woodlands Resort by Hilton – Houston
- 2. Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort and Spa – Cedar Creek
- 3. Marriott Marquis Houston – Houston
- 4. JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort – San Antonio
- 5. Margaritaville Lake Resort, Lake Conroe – Montgomery
- 6. Hilton Anatole – Dallas
- 7. Great Wolf Lodge – Grapevine
- 8. The Resort at Schlitterbahn New Braunfels
- 9. Gaylord Texan Resort and Convention Center – Grapevine
- 10. Moody Gardens Hotel, Spa, and Convention Center – Galveston
- Final Thoughts On The Best Hotels With Lazy Rivers in Texas
The 10 Best Texas Hotels With a Lazy River
From long stays to family weekend getaways, these 10 hotels offer a wide range of activities and amenities for you and your family to enjoy. They also all have great lazy rivers where you and your family can break from the world and let the river soothe your troubles.
1. The Woodlands Resort by Hilton – Houston
The Woodlands Resort is one of our favorite hotels in Texas that has a lazy river. You’ll find The Woodlands Resort situated on 350 lush acres approximately 30 miles outside of Houston.
Open year-round, The Woodlands Resort features the Forest Oasis pool complex. The lazy river is a highlight of the complex and sprawls around the area for 1,005 feet. While traveling the lazy river, you can stop at the heated lagoon pool, play at Puffy’s Sprayground, or just soak up the sun floating all day.
Around the waterscape, you’ll find executive guestrooms that feature pool walkout. You can jump right out of bed and into the lazy river.
While the waterpark is a standout feature of The Woodlands Resort, you’ll find plenty more fun, attractions, and activities while visiting. From golf to goat yoga you’ll love staying at The Woodlands Resort by Hilton.
2. Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort and Spa – Cedar Creek
A favorite getaway for families, The Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort and Spa features the Crooked River Waterpark. This waterpark offers an excellent lazy river along with pools and waterslides.
Located less than a 20-minute driver from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, you and your family will be enjoying the lazy river within minutes after arriving in Austin. The river winds for 1,000 feet. On the trip, you can stop at several swim-up bars or take a break at the kiddie pool and splash pad.
If you’re looking for a more adult experience, The Lost Pines features 18+ pool and cabana rentals.
The resort also features plenty of exciting adventures for guests. From horseback riding to shotgun trap shooting, there is something for everyone at The Hyatt Regency Lost Pines.
3. Marriott Marquis Houston – Houston
With its Texas-shaped lazy river, the Marriott Marquis Houston has the most unique shaped lazy river on this list. Located in Houston, this spacious luxury hotel has everything you could ask for whether you are on holiday or a business trip.
Let’s talk about the lazy river. The iconic Texas-shaped river is a joy to experience. It also features LED lighting that lights up your way down river through the night. You can also enjoy this lazy river all winter long. The Marquis keeps the water at a toasty 80F all winter long.
Of course, if you want to get away from the lazy river, the hotel features the Altitude Rooftop pool and lounge for relaxation. Other amenities include several world-class dining experiences, 5,000 square foot spa, and more.
4. JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort – San Antonio
You’ll find another fun lazy river in the Texas Hill Country. The JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort is a luxury resort nestled amid 600 acres outside San Antonio. The resort offers spacious suites, rolling hill views, and one of the most exciting water parks in Texas.
The River Bluff Experience provides days of fun for adults and kids. This park features a 1,100-foot lazy river with free-flowing waterfalls, slides, and pools. If the lazy river is too boring, you’ll find exhilarating 35’ high tube slides that twist and turn for 275 feet. It’s an intense water slide that any water park lover needs to check off their bucket list.
There’s also the body slide where you can reach speeds up to 20 mph. If you’re looking for heart-pounding action this is the resort for you.
If you prefer to relax, the JW Marriott has you covered as well. The resort has plenty of cabana rentals and an adult-only infinity pool to enjoy.
5. Margaritaville Lake Resort, Lake Conroe – Montgomery
Staying at Margaritaville Lake resort is an experience. There is so much to do, see, and eat while vacationing at this resort on the beaches of Lake Conroe.
The Jollymon Waterpark is fun for all ages. Whether you want to relax with a margarita in a private cabana or tackle the splash zone, you’ll find an activity that matches your wants. The Lay-Z River is a highlight of the park and circles the area. While tubing, it’s easy to stop by the swim-up pools and pick up a new margarita.
There are also two water slides and a heated infinity pool to enjoy. Once you’ve conquered the waterpark, you can enjoy lakeside activities as well. You can enjoy kayak rentals, boat party cruises, and more on Lake Conroe while visiting Margaritaville.
There are plenty of activities for land lovers as well. From mini-golf to live concerts, there is always something going on at Margaritaville Lake Resort.
6. Hilton Anatole – Dallas
The Hilton Anatole is a remarkable resort located in the heart of Dallas. On the property, you’ll find the Jade Waters waterpark. The waterpark is open for the summer season and offers fun for adults and kids.
Jade Waters has an expansive lazy river that connects all the pools at Hilton Anatole. You can enjoy lazily floating from one pool to another all day. There’s also a swim-up bar along the route if you need to refresh your drink while floating. There’s nothing quite as refreshing as experiencing a nice cold drink while lounging around the pool area.
For more excitement, the park also features two water slides and a kid’s splash pool. They also offer daily games and activities for kids and adults. The leisure cover and cabana rentals give parents much-needed alone time to relax and unwind.
7. Great Wolf Lodge – Grapevine
The Great Wolf Lodge Grapevine offers an exciting and fun getaway for families. Featuring a massive 80,000 square foot waterpark and many other family activities, the Great Wolf Lodge is one of the best options for families on this list.
As the only indoor water park in Texas, you can enjoy the waterslides and lazy river at The Great Wolf Lodge all year long. Along with the lazy river, the park features a water playground for school-aged kids, a wave pool, and plenty of water slides. There’s even a toddler water adventure area for your youngest kids.
The waterpark continues outdoors and features an adventure cove that’s perfect for older kids, water basketball hoops, and two large water slides. Your kids almost don’t even have to leave the hotel to enjoy their visit since there is so much for them to enjoy on the premises.
You can also enjoy land-based fun like the rope course, MagiQuest center, and the Northern Lights Arcade.
8. The Resort at Schlitterbahn New Braunfels
The Resort at Schlitterbahn features a diverse selection of rooms, lofts, cabins, and luxury suites for you to enjoy. While staying at the resort you can enjoy a wide range of activities from rafting to fly fishing.
Many travelers head to New Braunfels just to experience the waterpark at Schlitterbahn. The highlight of the park is the expansive lazy river that traverses the property. Depending on your room, you can float right up to your door.
The massive waterpark features 51 rides and attractions, including thrilling body and tube slides. You can also test your surfing skills on the Boogie Bahn surfing ride. Of course, if you prefer relaxing fun you can spend the day sipping margaritas in the Boogie Bay heated pool.
9. Gaylord Texan Resort and Convention Center – Grapevine
Just like everything else in Texas, The Gaylord Texan Resort and Convention Center is big and grandiose. The resort has plenty of fun things to do and features a massive water park and a lazy river.
Winding around the property, you can enjoy the 600-foot lazy river. While floating, you can enjoy flowing waterfalls, lush gardens, and swim-up bars. The lazy river circles a 6,000 square-foot family lagoon, multi-level water playhouse, and four winding waterslides. There are also plenty of water games and activities for kids of all ages.
Non-swimmers will find live entertainment, a relaxation spa, fine dining options, and an exhilarating nightclub. You’re also close to town and can spend the day experiencing wine tours, world-class golf courses, or relaxing historic downtown Grapevine.
10. Moody Gardens Hotel, Spa, and Convention Center – Galveston
Moody Gardens Hotel, Spa, and Convention Center is a fun and exciting resort located on Galveston Island. The hotel features a diverse selection of activities, including Palm Beach Waterpark.
The waterpark has activities for kids and adults. You’ll find a large wave pool, tower slides, kid’s splash pad, the Aquarium Adventure, and more while visiting Moody Gardens. Floating down the lazy river is relaxing and fun as well.
The hotel also features educational entertainment like the Rainforest and Aquarium Pyramids, Discovery Museum, and a 4D Audience Recognition Theater.
Final Thoughts On The Best Hotels With Lazy Rivers in Texas
Now that you know all about these lazy rivers, you won’t have to worry about the sweltering Texas heat – we hope we provided a thorough list of the best hotels with lazy rivers in Texas for you to review.
Did we miss your favorite lazy river or waterpark in Texas? Let us know, and we can add it to the list in the future.
Do you prefer to head to the beach? You should check out our list of the best beaches for families in Texas.