Louisiana Road Trip – Waterpark Now Open for 20th Season

(KMDL-FM) Forecasters with the National Weather Service Offices in Lake Charles, Baton Rouge/New Orleans and Shreveport will agree, summer-time temperatures have arrived in Louisiana just a bit ahead of schedule this year.  Depending on where you happen to physically be located this afternoon in Louisiana, you could experience an afternoon "feels like" temperature of 100 degrees or more.

I get it, it's May, it's Louisiana, it's supposed to be hot, which is why we are glad to report that while one waterpark favorite for Louisiana guests will not be operating this summer, there is a tried and true favorite that is opening this weekend.

READ MORE: Louisiana Waterpark Will Not Open This Season

READ MORE: New Waterpark Reveals Upgrades for 2025

Not only is this featured family vacation attraction opening for business this weekend, but it is also opening for its 20th season, entertaining families and offering wet and, dare we say, wild fun for vacationers along the Gulf Coast.

Think about what has happened along our coast in the past 20 years. We had the Deepwater Horizon incident about 15 years ago, and then there was Hurricane Katrina about 20 years ago.  I guess we could include the pandemic of five years ago in that list of obstacles, too. And still, this place has persevered.

If you're looking for a "day trip" or an affordable weekend overnight trip for your family, I think you could do this on a budget and still make a memory or two. It's called Gulf Islands Waterpark and it's in Gulfport, Mississippi.

The park appears to have a variety of attractions and slides that would seem to fit anyone's bravery and daring. There are spots around the park designed for the little ones, and of course, a lazy river for mom and dad's break.

TripAdvisor reviews seemed to suggest that guests felt the prices for the park were on the high side for a family. And there were complaints of long lines at the more popular attractions.

What Waterparks are Close to Lafayette, Louisiana?

From the Lafayette area, it's about a three-hour drive east on I-10. It's a little closer if you live in Baton Rouge and a little further if you're in Lake Charles. Now that's not to say we don't have a good selection of waterparks much closer than Gulfport, because we do.

READ MORE: Louisiana's 5 Best Water Parks

There are also a lot of affordable campgrounds in and around Gulfport and Biloxi, so if your family enjoys camping, you could make a day at the waterpark part of that adventure as well.

Just remember, wherever you travel, we will be there for you.

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You can also listen to your favorite shows and still play along with the contests, and should there be important information, we'll share that with you as well. That includes weather information, which you'd need for a day at the waterpark and traffic information, which you'd need to keep your sanity after a day at the waterpark.

Or if you'd just like to spend a few minutes following the trending stories from home while you're on "vacation", you'll want to have this. 

And here's a fun game you can play in the car while you're heading out for vacation. Let us know via the app how many you got right.