Beat the heat by hitting the road: 5 outdoor pools to try within short drive of Sioux Falls

If this string of hot days has you looking for a different place to pass the time poolside, there are some seriously exciting new aquatic developments within a fairly fast drive of Sioux Falls.

We found five great pool getaways, including many new additions.

Siouxnami Water Park in Sioux Center, Iowa

Located a little more than an hour from downtown Sioux Falls, Siouxnami Water Park in Sioux Center, Iowa, boasts unique water activities for the whole family to participate in as well as a few other great ways to enjoy time outside. These include a 16-foot climbing wall over the pool, an aqua-zipline and three water slides. 

The water park also has a splash pad for kids, children’s slides and a lazy river. There’s an all-season indoor water center  located right next door that contains a lap pool, hot tub and indoor slides. Siouxnami opened in 2020 and has been popular among residents and visitors alike.

If you’re visiting from Sioux Falls, you can purchase a weekly visitor’s pass, an annual membership or a day pass. They also have summer special days, which includes buy one, get one free pool admission from 5 to 8 p.m. Mondays and $2 admission from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesdays when you bring a canned good.

Siouxnami Water Park and the all-season center is open from 1 to 7:30 p.m. Members get an hour to themselves from noon to 1 p.m. 

Lennox Community Pool

One of the few pools in the state to stay open last year during the pandemic, the Lennox Community Pool is another option for Sioux Falls residents who want to swim while avoiding large crowds.

The pool opened last year and offers high and low dives, basketball hoops and play areas for kids. In addition to open swim, the Lennox pool recently added lap swimming, family swim and water walking during the week.

Open swim hours are noon to 5 p.m. and 7 to 8 p.m. daily, and family swim also is offered daily, with hours from 5 to 7 p.m. Day pass prices are $3 for children, $4 for seniors and $5 for adults.

Huether Family Aquatic Center in Yankton

With a 340-foot-long lazy river, a climbing wall, a 2,500-square-foot splash zone and endless amounts of pool space, the new Huether Family Aquatic Center in Yankton is a great place to go for a full day of fun. 

The aquatic center opened in May and is at Fantle Memorial Park, where visitors to the water park also can play disc golf, relax on the walking trails and even play horseshoe or bocce ball. 

The activities at the aquatic center also include a body slide, tube slide and water basketball area. The lazy river is equipped with a spray channel and a vortex pool that challenges swimmers to “battle the current” to escape. If you get hungry, there’s also a snack shack to grab a slice of pizza or some nachos.

The Aquatic Center offers open swim daily from 11:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., and admission is $10. Season passes also are available for $67.

Worthington, Minnesota

GreatLIFE members: Free swimming awaits with a short drive to GreatLIFE’s Worthington Golf & Fitness Center. It hosts an outdoor pool, 18 holes of golf and a fitness center. If you’re hungry, Duffer’s Bar and Grill inside the center offers full lunch and dinner service as well as a pool table and darts.

The pool is first come, first served and is open from 11 a.m. to dusk every day. If you’re coming in from out of town, you can call ahead to ensure there’s space to sit by the pool.

Brandon’s updated pool

Brandon’s swimming pool used its time wisely last summer to make renovations that the entire family is able to enjoy. The community opened a splash pad, revamped the waterslides and added new seating and lounging areas. That includes picnic tables and canopies. The renovations were completed just before opening day this year.

The Brandon Municipal Pool offers memberships for families, seniors, adults and children, but day passes also are available. Water aerobics classes, lap swimming and family swim activities are offered every week, and open swim occurs every day from 1 to 4:50 p.m. and from 6:30 to 8:50 p.m.