Surfside Water Park vs Alabama Adventure
A side-by-side look at two water parks — rides, prices, amenities, and which one fits your trip.
Which Park Is Right for You?
Quick verdicts based on what each park offers.
Amenities Compared
What each park offers, side by side.
| Feature | Surfside Water Park | Alabama Adventure |
|---|---|---|
| Parking | ||
| Arcade |
Only at Alabama Adventure
- swimming pool
- Arcade
- birthday party packages
- group rates
- season passes
Both parks share 1 amenities including Parking.
About Each Park
Surfside Water Park
Alabama
Surfside Water Park was one of Alabama's classic family water parks before closing its doors. Located in what was once a prime spot for water park fun, Surfside offered the kind of old-school water park experience that many families grew up loving. The park featured a solid lineup of water slides ranging from mild to wild, including tube slides that sent you racing down enclosed chutes and body slides where you could feel every twist and turn. The wave pool was always the main attraction, generating artificial waves that let kids and adults alike experience a taste of ocean fun inland. For younger visitors, Surfside had a dedicated children's area with smaller slides, water features, and shallow pools where parents could relax while keeping a close eye on their little ones. The lazy river provided the perfect escape when you needed a break from the action, letting you float along at a leisurely pace on tubes. Like many regional water parks, Surfside had that community feel where local families would spend entire summer days. The park worked well for families with kids of all ages since it balanced gentler attractions with more thrilling rides. The food options were typical water park fare, but the prices were more reasonable than what you'd find at larger corporate parks. Parking was straightforward and usually free, which was always a nice touch. The park's closure left a gap in Alabama's water park scene, and many former visitors hope someone will eventually reopen it. Surfside…
Read the full Surfside Water Park guide →Alabama Adventure
Alabama
Alabama Adventure in Bessemer gives you two parks for the price of one. The theme park side has roller coasters and classic rides, but honestly, most people come for Splash Island, the water park portion that's perfect for beating Alabama's brutal summer heat. The wave pool here is solid - not the biggest you'll see, but it gets the job done with decent-sized waves that kids love. The lazy river winds around a good chunk of the water park, and it's actually long enough that you're not doing tiny circles like at some places. They've got a decent collection of water slides ranging from family-friendly tube slides to a few that'll give you that stomach-drop feeling. The kids' area is well thought out with smaller slides and plenty of interactive water features that keep the little ones busy for hours. What really sets Alabama Adventure apart is that combo factor - your ticket gets you into both sides, so when you need a break from the sun, you can hit the dry rides or grab some AC in the arcade. The park feels very much like a regional family destination rather than a big corporate operation. It's not trying to be the flashiest or most extreme water park in the South, but it delivers solid fun without the massive crowds you'd find at places like Dollywood's Splash Country. Best strategy is to hit the water slides early before the lines build up, then settle into the lazy river during the…
Read the full Alabama Adventure guide →Ready to visit Surfside Water Park?