River Cree Resort & Casino
A practical Edmonton stay for a waterpark weekend
About this hotel
Edmonton's West Edmonton Mall, home to World Waterpark, is a short drive from the property, close enough to fold a slides afternoon into the rest of the day without losing the morning to driving. The hotel's own pool takes the edge off a cold Edmonton evening once the wave pool has closed for the night, so the swimming doesn't stop the moment the family leaves the mall. Standard rooms keep the layout simple, which suits couples or a smaller family more than a multigenerational group sharing one space after a long day of slides. The strongest argument for booking here stays practical rather than flashy: a short, predictable run to World Waterpark and back, repeated for as many days as the trip needs.
- Free parking
- On-site pool
- Standard doubles
- Fitness centre
Our take
This property suits a family with young kids who will spend most daylight hours at the water park and just need somewhere calm to sleep and eat breakfast. That said, guests hoping for a quiet, adults-only stay may prefer a different property, since the location leans toward family groups heading to the slides. Rated 8.6/10 from 498 reviews, it holds up as a base rather than a destination in itself, which is the honest way to plan a World Waterpark trip on a budget.
- ✓Pack a dry change of clothes for the drive back, damp swimsuits and a long Edmonton drive do not mix well.
- ✓Book early for Alberta school holidays, when Edmonton rooms near West Edmonton Mall sell out well ahead of the slides-day rush.
- ✓Use the free parking here and drive to the mall rather than hunting for a spot once you arrive.
Why we love it
- Fitness room for the adults
- On-site fitness centre
- Free on-site parking
- Short drive to World Waterpark
Why guests love itOur read on this stay: it earns its keep in the small moments rather than the big ones. A 3-star room a short drive from World Waterpark means the morning starts with breakfast instead of a long commute, and the evening ends with dry towels instead of another trip out. River Cree Resort & Casino is not trying to be the destination, and that is precisely the point for a family whose whole day already happened in the water.