On my most recent trip to Las Vegas, I wanted to stay at a hotel with a lazy river. However, I had difficulty finding a hotel that actually had one. So while in Las Vegas, I decided to visit every lazy river to find out which one is the best.
| Lazy River | Price |
|---|---|
| Mandalay Bay | free for hotel guests |
| MGM Grand | free for hotel guests |
| Tahiti Village | free for hotel guests |
| Cowabunga Bay | $20-$40 |
| Wet ‘n’ Wild | $20-$40 |
Every lazy river in Las Vegas has different rules. Some are only open to hotel guests, while others allow non-guests to enter if they purchase a day pass. In this post, I’ll cover everything you need to know about lazy rivers in Las Vegas – including how much they cost.
Las Vegas Hotels with a Lazy River
Mandalay Bay Beach, one of the Best Pools on the Strip in Vegas
Overview: Mandalay Bay has the largest pool complex on the Las Vegas Strip (11 acres). It includes a wave pool, a lazy river, an adult pool, and 2 lagoon pools. It also has a beach with real sand surrounding the pools.
Guests of Mandalay Bay, Four Seasons, and Delano get free access to the Mandalay Bay pool complex. Non-guests cannot purchase a day pass here. However, you can still gain entry by renting a lounge chair, daybed, or cabana. Chairs and cabanas cost between $75-$300 for the day. You can also get food and drinks at the restaurants inside the pool area.
Lazy River: The lazy river at Mandalay Bay is a bit small compared to other hotels, and the inflatable tubes are not provided for free. If you want a tube, you must bring your own tube or purchase one for $20 at the gift shop.
- Location: Mandalay Bay
- Price: free for hotel guests
- Day Passes: No (must purchase lounge chair)
- Total Pools/Attractions: 5
Recommended for: Mandalay Bay Beach is the best overall pool complex on the Strip. The lazy river is a bit small, but they make up for it with the wave pool. The adults-only pool (Moorea Beach Club) is also nice to have, especially since you’re in Vegas.
MGM Grand Pool Complex, one of the Longest Lazy Rivers in Vegas
Overview: The MGM Grand has the second biggest pool complex on Las Vegas Blvd. It features 8 total pools, including a lazy river, 4 swimming pools, and 3 whirlpools. There is also a popular pool party (Wet Republic) located near to the hotel pool.
Guests of the MGM Grand and MGM Signature can access the pool complex for free. Unfortunately, non-guests cannot use the MGM Grand pool. There are no day passes available. Once you’re inside the pool area you can order beverages.
Lazy River: The MGM Grand Pool Complex has the longest lazy river on the Strip, at roughly twice the size as the one at Mandalay Bay. However, tubes are not provided by the resort. You can bring your own tube or purchase one at the gift shop for $20. If you bring your own, just know that only circular tubes are allowed.
- Location: Mandalay Bay
- Price: free for hotel guests
- Day Passes: No
- Total Pools/Attractions: 8
Recommended for: The MGM Grand has a fantastic pool complex. As a whole, it’s a bit smaller than Mandalay, but the MGM lazy river itself is bigger. Rooms at the MGM are also much cheaper than rooms at Mandalay Bay (about half the price), making it an excellent budget option in Vegas.
Tahiti Village, a Huge Lazy River off of the Las Vegas Strip
Overview: Tahiti Village Resort & Spa is located about 5 minutes south of the Strip. The resort is one of the most family-friendly in Las Vegas and features 3 pools. The waterfalls along the pool are another nice feature of this Tahitian property. There are no day passes since resort guests are the only ones that get access to the pool.
The pool complex has a large main pool, where they occasionally host volleyball games. There is also a hot tub area for adults only. The Tahiti Village pools are heated, so at least one is open throughout the winter. It really feels like an exotic paradise.
Lazy River: The lazy river at Tahiti Village is 1/8 of a mile long, making it one of the longest in Las Vegas. All of the tubes are supplied for free by the resort.
- Location: Tahiti Village
- Price: free for hotel guests
- Day Passes: No
- Total Pools/Attractions: 3
Recommended for: This is one of the best kid-friendly resorts in Las Vegas, making it perfect for families. The rooms are large and come with a full living and kitchen area. It’s also very affordable for a hotel in Vegas.
Cowabunga Bay, a Great Lazy River Pool
Overview: Cowabunga Bay is a popular water park located about 20 minutes off of the Strip. The park covers 25 acres, featuring over a dozen rides and slides, including a lazy river pool.
Since Cowabunga Bay is a standalone water park, everyone is required to purchase a ticket. Day passes cost between $16-$42 depending on the time of day you visit and how tall your kids are.
Lazy River: Cowabunga Bay doesn’t publish the exact length of its lazy river, but if I had to guess, I’d say it’s the longest in Las Vegas. The lazy river makes a big loop around half the park. Tubes and life jackets are provided for free by Cowabunga Bay.
- Location: 20 minutes east of the Strip
- Price: $16-$42
- Day Passes: Yes
- Total Pools/Attractions: 16
Recommended for: If you’re looking for the best water park in Las Vegas, you’ll want to come to Cowabunga Bay. I recently wrote a more in-depth article about Cowabunga Bay here. I cover the day pass pricing and list of rides more extensively in that post.
Wet ‘n’ Wild Lazy River
Overview: Wet ‘n’ Wild is another traditional water park located approximately 20 minutes off of the Strip. It has less attractions than Cowabunga Bay, but it’s still very large. Wet ‘n’ Wild features 8 water slides and 4 pools, including a lazy river.
This park has the best pool area for small kids in all of Las Vegas. Prices for day passes at Wet ‘n’ Wild are between $20-$40 depending on your height.
Lazy River: Wet ‘n’ Wild’s lazy river is roughly the same size as the one at Cowabunga Bay. Tubes and life jackets for the lazy river are provided by the park for free.
- Location: 20 minutes west of the Strip
- Price: $20-$40
- Day Passes: Yes
- Total Pools/Attractions: 12
Recommended for: Wet ‘n’ Wild is the best water park for smaller kids Las Vegas. If you want to learn more about Wet ‘n’ Wild, check out my full review here. I included the height pricing chart in the post, along with some other important waterpark information.
Monte Carlo Lazy River (Permanently Closed)
There used to be a lazy river at the old Monte Carlo in Vegas. Since closing and being remodeled into the Park MGM, this hotel has done away with its lazy river. The Park MGM still has an excellent hotel pool, however, the lazy river is now gone.
The place made for some great experiences while it lasted. It was nice to see the views of the lazy river and gallon wave pool from your room.
Lazy Rivers that Offer Day Passes in Las Vegas
Most hotels in Las Vegas only allow guests to use their pool. So if you’re staying at a hotel that doesn’t have a lazy river, you’re going to need to purchase a day pass or cabana. There are only three lazy river pools that will allow non-guests:
- Mandalay Bay
- Cowabunga Bay
- Wet ‘n’ Wild
Mandalay Bay allows non-guests to use their pool, but only if you rent a lounge chair, daybed, or cabana. This typically costs between $75-$300, depending on how busy the park is. Cabanas are always available since all parks keep them in reserve.
Cowabunga Bay and Wet ‘n’ Wild are the only lazy rivers that offer day passes. The day passes cost between $20-$40 per person for the day. Just be aware that they are both located off of the Strip. So if you’re not a local, I recommend you save some time by staying on the Vegas Strip. Looking at a map, the waterparks may seem close, but it’s easily a 20-minute drive both ways.
Best Lazy River Hotels in Las Vegas
Mandalay Bay, MGM Grand, and Tahiti Village are the only Las Vegas hotels that have a lazy river in the area (Cowabunga Bay and Wet ‘n’ Wild don’t have associated hotels).
If you have to pick one hotel, I would recommend the MGM Grand. It’s located directly on the Strip and has a long lazy river and solid pool complex. It’s also one of the cheapest 4-star hotels in Las Vegas. Plus, it has a casino and a lot of great shows, in addition to a number of other things to do.
Mandalay Bay is another solid option. It doesn’t have the best lazy river, but it does have the best overall pool complex. Mandalay Bay is the only Las Vegas hotel with a lazy river, a wave pool, and a sandy beach. And again, a stay at Mandalay will get you access to all of the amenities of the resort, including the casino.
Longest Lazy River in Vegas
Most water parks don’t publish the official length of their lazy river. But after visiting all of the lazy rivers in Las Vegas, I would say that Cowabunga Bay and Wet ‘n’ Wild have the longest lazy rivers. On the Strip, that honor goes to the MGM Grand.
Conclusion – Top Lazy River Las Vegas
If you don’t mind driving, the top lazy river Las Vegas is Cowabunga Bay. It has the best overall water park, and it’s open to everyone. It can get a bit expensive, but this Las Vegas lazy river is worth it. Also, remember to wear sunscreen. The sun in Vegas is intense, so protection is certainly needed if you’re going to be in the water all day.
When choosing Las Vegas hotels with lazy rivers, Mandalay Bay, MGM Grand, and Tahiti Village are all solid options. These properties have a great atmosphere and amenities, in addition to their river pool. Staying at a marquee hotel has a way of providing an opportunity for comfort and relaxation during your gateway in Vegas.
