Surfing
Surfing
Top 8 best wave pools for surfing in the US
Looking for the perfect wave without hitting the ocean? Discover the wave pools that offer epic surf experiences year-round, from beginner-friendly to expert-level waves.
For surfers craving consistent, year-round surf experiences, wave pools provide the setting when the weather doesn’t cooperate. Unlike ocean waves, artificial wave pools offer a controlled, predictable environment, the ideal place for surfers to refine their skills.
7 min
The wave pools promised
This is a dive into the waters of the promise that wave pools would be a pivotal part of surfing’s future.
This surge in wave pool popularity is thanks to groundbreaking technology that makes surfing more accessible than ever, hours away from the ocean. For one, Red Bull surfer Jamie O’Brien is excited to see what artificial waves can offer surfers.
“The crazy thing is the technology,” O’Brien says. “They could build millions of different waves.”
O’Brien’s enthusiasm highlights a new era in surfing, where customized waves are available at surfers’ fingertips like never before. Head to one of these wave pools to try them for yourself.
01
Waco Surf - Waco, Texas
Waco Surf brings an ocean lover's oasis to the Lone Star State. This surf spot, which used to be known as BSR Surf Ranch, offers waves that range from mellow swells to powerful barrels. Sessions have waves tailored to beginner, intermediate, or advanced riders, making it a prime spot for anyone who wants to level up their skills all year round. The location itself is an outdoor spot within a larger water park with other attractions like a lazy river and water slides.
“There’s a whole surf community in the middle of Texas,” O’Brien said. “You would never think in your right mind to build a wave pool in Waco!”
02
Kelly Slater’s Surf Ranch - Lemoore, California
Kai Lenny surfs at the Kelly Slater Wave Co. in Leemore, California
© Pat Nolan / Red Bull Content Pool
Surf Ranch is a top wave pool for surfing aficionados who want to experience a world-class wave machine. Tucked away in California’s Central Valley, Surf Ranch is synonymous with high-performance wave pools. This spot was developed by and named after surfing legend Kelly Slater, and it offers some of the longest, most powerful artificial waves for surfing. Their machines can create six-foot-high barrels that stretch over a 2,300-foot wide basin.
17 min
Freshwater Pro
Go behind the scenes at Kelly Slater’s Surf Ranch, 100 miles inland from the California coast.
You’ll be able to choose from five types of World Surf League Certified waves, from the smaller North End waves and intermediate Waikiki swells to the open, slopey CT4 waves. For more advanced surfers, head out to CT3 to practice turns, or take on the biggest challenge at Surf Ranch and try out the CTa2 waves. To immerse yourself in a surfer’s dream, book a room in Surf Ranch’s lodging and ride first thing in the morning.
03
Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon - Orlando, Florida
Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon brings that magical touch to wave pools. Located within Disney World, this popular U.S. water park is ideal for families and individual surfers. The largest outdoor wave pool in North America offers peaks up to six feet tall.
Take part in surfing events or private lessons year-round, but make sure to check before you book — the park undergoes annual maintenance that closes the wave pool for an extended period. Open surfing events start at $245 for the morning and $270 for evening surfing. Private lessons start at $1,300 for 100 waves, with the option to request 25 to 50 more waves for an additional cost.
04
Great Wolf Lodge - Williamsburg, Virginia
This famed water park opened the Wolf Rider Wipeout indoor surf simulator in 2019. This surfing adventure, geared toward kids, lets the next generation of surfers choose between flowboarding or bodyboarding. As part of the larger resort, families can wake up first thing and run down to immediately rip some waves. The best part? The cost is included in the regular waterpark reservation.
05
Revel Surf - Mesa, Arizona
Arizona’s Revel Surf stands out with its range of customizable waves. A surfer’s paradise in the heart of the desert, Revel Surf gives adventurers in Arizona an experience they quite literally can’t get for miles around. Surfers can explore the 3.3-acre surf park with waves made from a combination of Swell MFG’s Traveling Surf Technology and Unit Surf Pool’s Stationary Rapid Surf Technology.
There are four session levels for surfers to choose from: beginner whitewater waves, peeling waves for all styles and levels, speedy and powerful performance waves, and specialty waves. The specialty wave sessions offer wedges, slabs, airs, and critical sections.
The unit surf pool starts at $75 per session, or the same price monthly for a beach access membership with surfing add-ons available. This park’s unique ability to adjust wave shapes makes it an excellent spot for all levels.
06
Flowrider at Kalahari Resort - Sandusky, Ohio
Kalahari Resort's FlowRider is a family favorite, offering an indoor surf option with continuous waves that’s just right for mastering basic surfing moves. This artificial wave pool hosts regular private surf lessons, with rates starting at $120 per session for three people, making it both affordable and fun. While Kalahari has multiple locations across the U.S., as of 2024, only the Sandusky location has a wave pool.
07
FlowRider at Splash Lagoon - Erie, Pennsylvania
Splash Lagoon is a family-friendly indoor water park that also houses the FlowRider, which provides a unique surfing experience with a consistent, standing wave. It’s perfect for beginners looking to practice bodyboarding and surfing.
If private lessons are preferred, you can book an hour on the weekends with surf instructors. You can even bring up to 10 people with you to surf. Otherwise, it’s free to ride with Splash Lagoon park admission.
08
Skudin Surf at American Dream - East Rutherford, New Jersey
Nestled in one of the largest shopping malls in the U.S., you’ll find Skudin Surf. Here, surfers can catch wave after wave in what’s purported to be the world’s largest fully indoor wave pool for surfing. Beginner and advanced wave settings range from one to five feet with 30-second average intervals between each wave. There are warm-up waves, A-frames, vortex waves, epic waves, and specifically for experts, section waves.
You can surf here starting $69 for one hour of individual surfing. But if an empty wave pool is preferred, or you’re with a large group, consider booking the entire pool out for fees starting at $1,600.
Wave pool surfing abroad
Pedro Scooby at The Wave in Bristol, UK
© Leo Francis / Red Bull Content Pool
Wave pools aren’t just making waves in the U.S. — they’re gaining popularity globally, with facilities like Wavegarden Cove in Spain, The Wave in Bristol, and Eisbach in Munich. These innovative spots offer an international spin on wave pool surfing, giving surfers a chance to ride consistent waves anywhere they travel.
Riding the waves without the shoreline
The best man-made waves offer an oasis for athletes to spend their whole life at and never get bored.
O’Brien says, “I could just retire and surf a wave pool for the rest of my life.”
As O’Brien expressed, the best surfing wave pools can tempt any surfer to make it their full-time gig. With the convenience of wave pools popping up around the U.S. and the world, catching the perfect wave no longer requires an ocean — just an adventurous spirit and a few hours at a surf park.
