Hotels in Water Park of America
Water Park of America anchors Bloomington, Minnesota's hotel strip a few minutes from Mall of America, giving families a year-round indoor water park immune to the region's long winters. Wave pool, lazy river and multi-story slides sit inside, so a rainy or sub-zero day never cancels the trip.
Families base themselves in Bloomington for one reason above the mall next door: Water Park of America keeps its wave pool, lazy river and slide tower fully indoors and heated, so a Minnesota February works exactly like a July afternoon. The hotel strip along American Boulevard and Killebrew Drive grew up around this arrangement, with most properties either a short walk or a quick shuttle hop from the park entrance and from Mall of America's Nickelodeon Universe next door. Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport sits only a few miles north, and the METRO Blue Line light rail connects the airport and the mall district straight into downtown Minneapolis, so a stay here covers indoor waterslides, a full day of mall-based entertainment and easy access to the Twin Cities without a rental car. Winter is when the base earns its keep: outdoor attractions across the metro close down, but the indoor pools here stay at a steady temperature all season, and hotel packages built around the water park get booked hardest around Minnesota's school breaks.
Water Park of America in numbers
Family SuitesElement by Marriott Bloomington Mall of America
Bloomington
Spa & WellnessHome2 Suites By Hilton Minneapolis-Mall of America
Bloomington
Spa & WellnessTownePlace Suites by Marriott Minneapolis near Mall of America
Bloomington
Spa & WellnessCambria Hotel Bloomington Mall of America Minneapolis Airport
Bloomington
Spa & WellnessJW Marriott Minneapolis Mall of America
Bloomington
Spa & WellnessAC Hotel by Marriott Bloomington Mall of America
Bloomington
Family SuitesHampton Inn Minneapolis Bloomington West
Bloomington
Family SuitesStaybridge Suites Minneapolis-Bloomington by IHG
Bloomington
Spa & WellnessTru By Hilton Minneapolis Mall of America
Bloomington
Family SuitesHome2 Suites by Hilton Minneapolis Bloomington
Bloomington
Family SuitesSheraton Bloomington
Bloomington
Family SuitesRadisson Blu Mall of America
Bloomington
Family SuitesCountry Inn & Suites by Radisson, Bloomington at Mall of America
Bloomington
Family SuitesHyatt Regency Bloomington - Minneapolis
Bloomington
Park Access IncludedSpringHill Suites Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport/Mall Of America
Bloomington
What to expect
- Fully indoor, heated water park open year-round regardless of Minnesota weather
- Mall of America and Nickelodeon Universe within walking distance of most hotels
- METRO Blue Line light rail links the airport, the mall district and downtown Minneapolis
- Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport a few miles away, many hotels run a free shuttle
- Hotel strip mixes suite-style family stays with mall-facing business hotels
- Winter is peak season here since the pools stay indoors and heated when everything outside is frozen
Local tips
- ✓Book the weeks around Minnesota school breaks well ahead; rooms with park-access packages sell out first for winter dates.
- ✓Check whether park access is bundled with the room or sold separately at the door before you commit to a rate.
- ✓Ask about the airport shuttle schedule if you are flying into MSP without a rental car; most properties on Killebrew and American run one.
- ✓Pack water shoes and a light cover-up for the walk between your room and the water park entrance, even indoors.
- ✓The Blue Line light rail stops right at Mall of America, useful for an evening away from the pools without needing a car.
- ✓Suite-style rooms with a sofa bed or separate sleeping area suit families splitting nap schedules between a toddler and older kids.
Where to stay
FAQ
Is Water Park of America open in winter?
Yes. The entire park, including the wave pool, lazy river and slide tower, sits indoors under one heated roof, so it operates on the same schedule through Minnesota's coldest months as it does in summer.
Which hotels in Bloomington include water park access with the room?
Only a handful of properties bundle admission directly into the room rate rather than selling it separately at the door; check each hotel's stated access terms before booking, since most stays here require a separate ticket.
How far is Bloomington from Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport?
Most hotels around Water Park of America sit within a few miles of MSP, and several run a complimentary airport shuttle, making this one of the easier water park bases in the country to reach without a rental car.
Can we walk to Mall of America from these hotels?
Many of the properties on American Boulevard and Killebrew Drive are within easy walking distance of Mall of America and its indoor Nickelodeon Universe theme park, though a few sit far enough that a short drive or the light rail is more comfortable.
Is there public transit between the airport, the hotels and downtown Minneapolis?
The METRO Blue Line light rail runs from MSP Airport through the Mall of America station and on into downtown Minneapolis, giving families a car-free way to combine the water park stay with a day in the city.
What's the best age range for Water Park of America?
The park mixes a toddler-friendly splash and play area with longer slides built for older kids and teens, so it works for mixed-age families rather than skewing toward one end, though very young toddlers will spend most of their time in the shallow zone.