Hotels in Water Country USA
Water Country USA, which bills itself as Virginia's largest family water park, sits at 1 Busch Gardens Boulevard in York County, reached from I-64 at Exit 242B onto VA-199 East and Water Country Parkway. No hotel on this page is attached to the park, so every stay means a drive. For the shortest one, I would look at the Busch Gardens Area hotels, such as the Holiday Inn Express Williamsburg Busch Gardens Area or the Courtyard Williamsburg Busch Gardens Area, which also suit a two-park trip with Busch Gardens Williamsburg, the sister park run by the same company, United Parks & Resorts. Richmond Road holds the long chain corridor and most of the hotels with breakfast included (17 of the 28 here), while the Historic Area puts Colonial Williamsburg on foot and the Amtrak station, ten minutes from the park, close by. The park is seasonal: the 2026 season opened on May 9 and is now over, with a return announced for 2027. The trap for first-timers: outside food, drinks and coolers are banned apart from one bottle of water, so plan meals around the park's own dining.
The hotels closest to Water Country USA are the Busch Gardens Area chains on the east side of Williamsburg, near the VA-199 exits that serve both parks; families who also want Colonial Williamsburg on foot sleep in the Historic Area instead. The 28 hotels on this page average 8.3 out of 10 across 37,102 guest reviews, and none has its own entrance to the water park. Water Country USA closed for the 2026 season in September and has announced its reopening for 2027, with 2027 Fun Cards already on sale.
Water Country USA in numbers
Family SuitesBluegreen Vacations Parkside Williamsburg, an Ascend Collection Resort
Spa & WellnessThe Colonies at Williamsburg
LuxuryComfort Inn Williamsburg Gateway
Spa & WellnessKingsmill Resort
LuxuryComfort Suites Williamsburg Historic Area
Free ParkingThe Princess Anne Hotel, SureStay Collection by Best Western
Breakfast IncludedHoliday Inn Express Williamsbrg Busch Gardens Area by IHG
Breakfast IncludedHomewood Suites by Hilton Williamsburg
Spa & WellnessHilton Vacation Club The Historic Powhatan Williamsburg
Breakfast IncludedHampton Inn & Suites Williamsburg-Richmond Rd.
Spa & WellnessCourtyard by Marriott Williamsburg Busch Gardens Area
BudgetWingate by Wyndham Williamsburg
Free ParkingHoliday Inn & Suites by IHG
Family SuitesPatriots Inn
Spa & WellnessSpringHill Suites by Marriott Williamsburg
Breakfast IncludedHampton Inn & Suites Williamsburg-Central
BudgetHoliday Inn Express Williamsburg North by IHG
Spa & WellnessVacation Village at Williamsburg
Near the WaterparkDoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Williamsburg
Spa & WellnessSleep Inn Historic
Breakfast IncludedFairfield by Marriott Inn & Suites Williamsburg
Breakfast IncludedHampton Inn & Suites Williamsburg Historic District
Spa & WellnessHilton Garden Inn Williamsburg
Spa & WellnessResidence Inn by Marriott Williamsburg
Breakfast IncludedHistoric Area Inn
BudgetHoliday Inn Express & Suites Williamsburg by IHG
Breakfast IncludedSpark by Hilton Williamsburg Historic Area
BudgetRodeway Inn Williamsburg Historic Area
What to expect
- Surfer's Bay is a 23,000 sq ft wave pool with four-foot waves, open to children and adults alike.
- Hubba Hubba Highway, a 1,500-foot free-floating river, is the ride the whole family can do together.
- Aquazoid Amped sends rafts down 864 feet of fully enclosed, twisting tube with light and sound effects.
- High Tide Harbor, opened in May 2025, is a multi-level water play structure with no height requirement.
- 17 of the 28 hotels include breakfast and 12 accept pets.
- Richmond, Norfolk and Newport News-Williamsburg airports are each within 45 minutes of the park.
Local tips
- ✓Leave I-64 at Exit 242B and follow VA-199 East to Water Country Parkway: drivers from Richmond, Norfolk and Washington all use this same exit.
- ✓Leave the cooler at the hotel: outside food, drinks and coolers are banned apart from one bottle of water or a refillable bottle, and special diets get an exception at Guest Relations.
- ✓All-Day Lockers stand near Hubba Hubba Highway, Jet Scream and Daddy O's Eats; with small children, the bank by the lazy river keeps the bags close to where you will spend most of the day.
- ✓With preschoolers, read the Preschool Pass terms on the official site before buying tickets, then head for Rock-n-Roll Island, Lil' Surfers Splash Pad and Cow-A-Bunga, a slide parents ride with their child.
- ✓Pack waterproof swim diapers: every child in diapers must wear a waterproof protector anywhere in the park, including the splash pads.
- ✓Arriving by Amtrak, pick a Historic Area hotel: Williamsburg station is in the Historic Area, about ten minutes from the park by car.
- ✓Plan the trip between May and September: the 2026 season started on May 9, and once the park closes for the year the next window is the 2027 season.
Where to stay
FAQ
Which hotels are closest to Water Country USA?
The Busch Gardens Area hotels on the east side of Williamsburg, such as the Holiday Inn Express Williamsburg Busch Gardens Area and the Courtyard by Marriott Williamsburg Busch Gardens Area, plus Kingsmill Resort, about 8 minutes by taxi from Busch Gardens. The DoubleTree by Hilton Williamsburg runs a shuttle to Busch Gardens Williamsburg, not to Water Country USA. None of the 28 hotels is connected to the water park, so plan on driving.
Is Water Country USA open now?
No. The park closed for the 2026 season and the official site announces its return in 2027, with 2027 Fun Cards already on sale. The 2026 season opened on May 9 and ran through the summer into September, so a May-to-September window is the one to plan around; opening days and hours vary by date on the official calendar.
Can you bring food into Water Country USA?
No. Outside food, beverages and coolers are not allowed, with one exception: a bottle of water or a refillable water bottle. Guests with special dietary needs can ask Park Security or Guest Relations for an exception when they arrive. A hotel with breakfast included, 17 of the 28 on this page, at least covers the first meal of the day.
Is Water Country USA good for toddlers?
Yes. Rock-n-Roll Island and Lil' Surfers Splash Pad are built for the youngest, Cow-A-Bunga is a slide parents ride with their child, and High Tide Harbor, opened in May 2025, is a multi-level play structure with no height requirement. Children in diapers must wear waterproof protectors, and the park sells a Preschool Pass for young children.
Is Water Country USA near Busch Gardens Williamsburg?
Yes. Both parks belong to United Parks & Resorts and sit on the east side of Williamsburg; Water Country USA's address is 1 Busch Gardens Boulevard. For a trip that covers both parks, I would sleep in the Busch Gardens Area or at Kingsmill Resort rather than on Richmond Road, to keep both morning drives short.
How do you get to Water Country USA without a car?
Fly into Richmond (RIC), Norfolk (ORF) or Newport News-Williamsburg (PHF): each airport is within 45 minutes of the park, and the park lists rental cars, buses, shuttles, taxis and Uber as the options from there. By train, Williamsburg's Amtrak station sits in the Historic Area, about ten minutes from the park, which makes a Historic Area hotel the practical base.