If you’re staying with us this summer, here’s a local outing worth squeezing in: Wild Waves Theme Park in Federal Way, an easy drive from the area. There’s a catch, though — 2026 is its very last season. After nearly fifty years, the park closes for good on November 1, and the land is slated to become a warehouse complex. So this is your last chance to experience a Pacific Northwest summer staple that locals have loved for generations.
It’s the region’s only outdoor amusement park, with roller coasters and rides on one side and a full water park on the other — wave pool, slides, and a lazy river to cool off in. If you’re traveling with kids, it’s an easy way to fill a hot afternoon, and the grown-ups tend to have just as much fun.
A few things we learned that might save you some money and hassle. Parking runs about $20 to $30 depending on your vehicle, and if you’re only going once, the regular lot is fine — preferred parking costs around $10 more and saves you maybe a hundred feet of walking. Bring a wagon if you have one; it makes hauling drinks, snacks, and towels from the lot a lot easier.
Skip the cabanas near the wave pool. They look inviting, but they run $400 to $600 for a single day, and every one we passed sat completely empty. The smarter move is to pack your own beach umbrella for shade — plenty of families do, and it works just as well.
Pack a lunch, too. It’s easy to spend a whole day here, and bringing your own food means you won’t have to cut things short. Our kids would happily have stayed past closing.
One last tip: check the hours before you go. As of early June, the park is open Fridays and weekends only, with daily operation expected to start the last week of June and running through August.
If you’re looking for a home base close by, our Tukwila Rambler is about 20 minutes from the park — pet-friendly, sleeps 8, and just 7 minutes from SeaTac if you’re flying in.
If your stay lines up with the season, this one’s worth the trip — part nostalgia, part classic summer fun, and gone for good after this year.