Looking to escape the summer heat in Jacksonville? Here's where to cool off this summer.

Summer may have just started on the calendar, but for many in Jacksonville, the sweltering heat arrived weeks ago. With temperatures soaring and humidity rising, even lifelong Floridians are searching for ways to escape the relentless sun. Fortunately, Jacksonville is packed with cool spots to help you beat the heat without leaving town.

As the largest city in the continental U.S. by land area, spanning 841 square miles, Jacksonville has everything you need for a perfect summer day. From its scenic Atlantic beaches and 40 miles of shoreline along the Intracoastal Waterway to its public pools, splash pads, and a waterpark (and more than 20 other waterparks across Florida), every summer day in Jacksonville can feel like a brand-new adventure. Here's a list of places to maximize what the Sunshine State has to offer.

Hit the beach

Jacksonville’s 22 miles of coastline offer a breezy retreat from the heat. Popular hot spots like Jacksonville Beach, Neptune Beach and Atlantic Beach are all public and pet-friendly, with plenty of nearby surf shops, seafood restaurants and beachside parks. If you’re looking for a more natural escape, try Hanna Park or Dutton Island Preserve for shaded trails and calm waters.

Dive into a local pool

For a quick dip closer to home, Jacksonville has 31 public pools open for the summer season, all managed by JaxParks. These community pools offer an easy, affordable way to cool off with family and friends.

The following pools are open:

• Andrew Jackson High School - 128 W. 30th St., 32206
• Baldwin Middle/High School - 345 Chestnut St., 32234
• Blue Cypress Park - 4012 University Blvd., N., 32277
• Cecil Aquatic Center - 13611 Normandy Blvd., 32221
• Charles Clark Pool- 8739 Sibbald Rd., 32208
• Emmett Reed Park - 1093 W. 6th St., 32209
• Eugene Butler Pool - 900 Acorn St., 32209
• Fletcher High School - 700 Seagate Ave., 32266
• Fort Caroline Pool - 14131 Ferber Rd., 32277
• Golfair Park Pool (C.T. Brown) - 4415 Moncrief Rd., 32209
• Grand/Johnnie Walker Park - 2740 Division St., 32209
• Harts Rd/ Eartha Napolean Park – 11597 Harts Rd., 32218
• Highlands Middle School - 10913 Pine Estates Rd., 32218
• Julius Guinyard Park – 1358 Jefferson St., 32209
• Mandarin High School - 4831 Greenland Rd., 32258
• Oceanway Park - 12215 Sago Ave. W., 32218
• Paxon High School - 3413 W. 5th St., 32254
• Pine Forest (Henry T. Jones Park)  - 2335 Gattis Ln., 32207
• Ribault High School - 5820 Van Gundy St., 32208
• Riverside High School - 1200 S. McDuff Ave., 32205
• Robert F. Kennedy Pool - 1139 Ionia St., 32206    
• Samuel Wolfson High School - 7000 Powers Ave., 32217
• Sandalwood High School - 2750 John Promenade Blvd., 32246
• Terry Parker High School - 7301 Parker School Rd., 32211
• Thomas Jefferson Park - 390 N. Jackson Ave., 32220
• Westside High School - 5530 Firestone Rd., 32244
• Woodland Acres/ Warrington Park - 8200 Kona Ave., 32216
• Carvill Park - 1302 Carvill Ave., 32208        

Does Jacksonville have indoor pools?

The Cecil Aquatic Center offers an indoor aquatic center option, perfect for a rainy day or unpredictable summer showers. Here are the hours of operation:

• Monday through Friday: Lap Swim Only 7 a.m. – 8 a.m.; Open Swim 8 a.m. – 10 a.m.; Swim Lessons 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. (closed to non-members); (Maintenance Break 12 p.m. – 1 p.m.); Open Swim 1 p.m. – 6 p.m.; Swim lessons 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. (closed to non-members)
• Saturday: Open Swim 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.; (Maintenance Break 12 p.m. – 1 p.m.); Open Swim 1 p.m. – 6 p.m.
• Sunday Open Swim 1 p.m. – 6 p.m.

What are splash pads and where to find them?

Splash pads are interactive water play areas, commonly known as spray grounds, and are becoming a popular alternative to traditional pools. They are designed for recreational water play, often without any standing water, making them a safer alternative to pools, especially for young children. There are 16 locations around town, and they are open daily from the first weekend in May through the last weekend in October from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

• Beverly Hills Park - 4511 Portsmouth, 32208
• Bruce Park - 6549 Arlington Road, 32211
• Flossie Brunson Eastside Park - 1050 Franklin Street, 32202
• Glen Myra Park - 1429 Winthrop Street, 32206
• J. Gardner Nip Simps Park - 6602 Richardson Road, 32209
• Johnnie Walker Park - 2500 West 20th St., 32209
• Julius Guinyard Park (down for maintenance) - 1358 Jefferson St., 32209
• Kathryn Abbey Hanna Park - 500 Wonderwood Drive, 32233
• Lem Merrett Park - 845 Ellis Road, 32205
• Leonard Abess Park - 12743 Leonard Abess Boulevard, 32225
• Lonnie C Miller Sr. Regional Park - 7689 Price Lane, 32208
• Losco Regional Park - 10931 Hood Road South, 32257
• Marion Park - 840 Marion Circle, 32208
• Murray Hill Playground - 4208 Kingsbury St., 32205
• Panama Park - 6912 Buffalo Ave., 32208
• Russell Bill Cook Jr. Park - 3300 Jones St., 32206
• Wiley Road Playground - 2150 Lane Ave., 32210

What are Florida’s coolest waterparks to beat the heat?

If you’re ready to venture beyond Jacksonville for a full-blown waterpark adventure, Florida has some of the best in the country. Here's a roundup of water parks throughout Florida that may be worth the drive.

In North Florida:

Jacksonville's water park

Micah Washington, 14, cools off under the waterfalls on the Little St. Johns River endless river at Adventure Landing's Shipwreck Island on June 24, 2016.

• Shipwreck Island Water Park - 1944 Beach Blvd, Jacksonville Beach, FL 32250

Daytona Beach water park

• Daytona Lagoon - 601 Earl St, Daytona Beach, FL 32118

In Central Florida:

Walt Disney World water parks

Guests take lifts up to the biggest slides at Disney's Blizzard Beach.

• Typhoon Lagoon - 145 East Buena Vista Boulevard Orlando, FL 32830
• Blizzard Beach - 1801 West Buena Vista Drive, Orlando, FL 32830

It is worth noting that, for the first time since 2019, both Walt Disney World's water parks will be open to guests simultaneously this summer.

SeaWorld Orlando water parks

• Aquatica - 5800 Water Play Way, Orlando, FL 32821
• Discovery Cove (Not a traditional waterpark, you can interact with animals) - 6000 Discovery Cove Way, Orlando, FL 32821

Universal Orlando water park Volcano Bay

• Volcano Bay - 6000 Universal Blvd, Orlando, FL 32819

LEGOLAND Florida water park

Guests can customize their floats at LEGOLAND Water Park's Build-a-Raft Lazy River.

• LEGOLAND Water Park - 1 Legoland Way, Winter Haven, FL 33884

Orlando water parks

• Nona Adventure Park - 14086 Centerline Dr, Orlando, FL 32827
• Island H2O Water Park - 3230 Inspiration Dr, Kissimmee, FL 34747

Tampa, Clearwater water parks

• Adventure Land - 10001 McKinley Dr, Tampa, FL 33612
• Buccaneer Bay - Weeki Wachee Springs State Park

In South Florida:

Cape Coral water park

• SunSplash - 500 W Lake Kennedy Dr, Cape Coral, FL 33991

Naples water park

Great Wolf Lodge is celebrating its "always-84-degree" indoor water park with a one-day $84 room rate sale.

• Sun-N-Fun Lagoon - 15000 Livingston Road, Naples, Florida 34109
• Great Wolf Lodge - 3900 City Gate Blvd N, Naples, FL 34117

West Palm Beach water park

• Rapids Water Park - 6566 N Military Trl, West Palm Beach, FL 33407

Miami, Fort Lauderdale water park

• Paradise Cove Water Park - 900 N Flamingo Rd, Pembroke Pines, FL 33028

In the Panhandle:

Destin water park

• Big Kahuna's Water & Adventure Park - 1007 US-98, Destin, FL 32541

Gainesville water park

• River Ranch Water Park - 23400 NW 212th Ave, High Springs, FL 32643

Panama City Beach water park

People celebrate Mother's Day at Shipwreck Island Waterpark in Panama City Beach, Fla., May 12, 2024. (Tyler Orsburn/News Herald)

• Shipwreck Island Waterpark - 12201 Hutchison Blvd, Panama City Beach, FL 32407

Pensacola water park

• Splash City Adventures - 6709 Pensacola Blvd, Pensacola, FL 32505

What is the top water park in Florida?

Guests slip and slide along Omaka Rocka at Aquatica Orlando.

USA TODAY's 10Best ranked SeaWorld’s Aquatica Orlando last year as not only the best water park in the state, but the entire country. They added that it draws 1.5 million visitors per year while seamlessly integrating sea life into rides.

"Its signature attraction, Dolphin Plunge, is an enclosed tube slide that passes through a pool of playful, black-and-white Commerson’s dolphins. Guests can also take a leisurely raft ride down Loggerhead Lane, through colorful exotic fish. Aquatica's South Seas theme is further enhanced by 60,000 lush, tropical plants covering its 60 acres."

Tips for visiting a water park in Florida

• Try to visit on a weekday, preferably early in the week, when fewer guests are present. Be aware that some water parks are open seasonally (call ahead).
• It's hard to get up early while you're on vacation, but as mother said, "the early bird gets to the waterslides first."
• Purchase a watertight plastic container (such as a necklace or bracelet) at the gift shop before heading to the water. This will allow you to take your credit cards and money with you, rather than having to return to your locker multiple times.
• Designate a meeting spot in case someone gets lost or your group separates. (I learned this the hard way at Adventure Island's river attraction when my son and a friend took off in the current before I had even found a raft. It took me 15 anxiety-ridden minutes to see them.)
• Whether it's cloudy or sunny, wear sunscreen with a high SPF and take the time to reapply it often throughout the day.
• This tip may not be popular with teens, but avoid wearing bikinis and too-big swim shorts that are worn "way low" - especially if your family plans to try the giant, vertical slides. The kids won't feel so "cool" anymore when water pressure on the rides exposes more than they meant to.
• Most water parks allow coolers (no glass or alcohol allowed), so feel free to bring your drinks and snacks if you prefer. Call ahead for park rules.
• If you have children of different ages, be prepared to divide and conquer by having a friend or spouse take one age group or daredevil level, and you take the other. Meet up periodically and switch off.
• Keep a change of clothes in a plastic bag. If it rains, your clothes will still be dry when it's time to get out of your wetsuit and return to your hotel

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Looking to escape the summer heat in Jacksonville? Here's where to cool off this summer.