28 indoor pools and indoor water parks around Pittsburgh for swimming fun

Thelma Lovette YMCA pool photo above used by permission.

It’s easy to find great outdoor swimming pools in Pittsburgh — we even have a guide for that. But what about during the winter months? Good news: There are plenty of options for indoor pools and indoor water parks around Pittsburgh for swimming fun this winter.

Kidsburgh gathered the details on some of the best options for indoor pools around the region, ranging from local school districts to day passes at hotels. Take an indoor splash this winter at one of these great spots. 

INDOOR POOLS

Community and Recreation Center at Boyce Mayview Park, Upper St. Clair

The rec center at Boyce Mayview Park has both indoor and outdoor pools, which are very popular. While weekends are reserved for members only (for $111 per month if you’re booking for the full year, or $473 per month for a winter pass), weekdays are open to non-members at a price of $15 per person. You must book ahead of time, and reservations can be made here. Reservation spots are released a few days ahead of time. 

The Kingsley Association

This community center, which is located in Larimer, has a pool and fitness center with a guest rate of $10. However, their memberships are extremely affordable. Pricing ranges from $20/month for individual memberships to a $60/month family membership that includes up to eight people. Please find full details about pricing and guidelines here.

YMCA of Greater Pittsburgh Pools

The Pittsburgh metro region YMCA pools have day passes available for non-members. Please check individual pool schedules and make a reservation for your pool time. A day pass for adults is $10, and youth is $5 at the Sampson Family YMCA, Spencer Family YMCA, and Thelma Lovette YMCA. It is $20 for adults and $10 for youth at the Baierl Family YMCA. The Allegheny YMCA on Pittsburgh’s North Side will be closed for renovations this winter but is also a great option for indoor swimming once those updates are completed. 

Rose E. Schneider YMCA, Cranberry Township

The aquatics center at this Butler County YMCA location includes a lap pool, warm water pool, slide, and zero-depth entry with sprayers and a hot tub, sauna, and steam room for adults. They encourage families to inquire about discounted membership, if finances are a barrier. But they also have a day rate of $12 for adults and $6 per kid. Please check the pool schedule to ensure the features you want to use are available during the time you plan to go. And if it’s a little bit nice out, don’t miss their playground with zip line, too. 

Sunrise Pool, New Brighton

This pool, which is owned by the New Brighton Area School District, is an open-air pool in the summer with a dome that is closed during the winter months. It’s very affordable – $4 for infants and toddlers, $5 for students, and $6 for adults. Hours, details, and class info can be found here. 

Goldfish Swim Schools

While Goldfish is known for its robust swimming lesson program and great birthday parties, it also offers family swim times a few hours per week. This does not require a membership, but you will be required to register. Please check the hours for the Wexford, Fox Chapel, and Peters Township locations for specifics. Reservations are required for family swim and the cost is $10 per swimmer.

Local Hotel Day Use

Many local hotels allow guests to book a room for a few hours during the daytime and use the pool for the day without staying overnight. There are a few options for booking, including ResortPass.com and Dayuse.com. A few local examples would be the use of a room at the Wyndham Grand Pittsburgh Downtown for 9 hours for $79 per family, or a 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Pittsburgh Marriott for $99 via Dyuse. While you’re not staying over, it is nice to have a room for changing out of swimsuits before heading back out into frigid temperatures. On ResortPass, there are some options to swim without the use of a room. The Homewood Suites near Canonsburg is $15 per person, which includes use of the gym, hot tub, and pool.

It’s also often not much more to book an overnight stay for a winter getaway, especially in hotels in the suburbs. For example, the Doubletree in Cranberry Township, which has a large pool in an atrium, costs only around $160 per night for a double room and the ability to swim two days in a row. 

“Swimply” — The Airbnb of Pools

There are a few Swimply is a newer platform that allows guests to rent private pools from homeowners in their area for an hourly rate. While there are a ton of pools in the Pittsburgh region available for summer use, there are also a few indoor pools guests can book like this one in Venetia. There is also the Living Waters Splash Pad in Emsworth. While there is no depth, the various water features and slides make this indoor splash pad great for younger kids. There is also an area to host a birthday party at Living Waters. Rates can be higher for these, starting at around $45 per hour, but your rental includes the entire pool. Most fit 15 to 25 people, so one option is to split the cost with some friends you trust. 

Local School Districts

Many school districts with indoor pools open up for swimming a few times a month during the winter. Check with your local schools for details, or visit a few that have announced dates:

North Hills High School Aquatics hosted some family swim times in November and has several dates in January 2025 so far. Those dates are January 10, 24, and 31 from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Further dates for February will be announced on their Facebook page soon. Th cost is $5 per swimmer. 

Shaler Area Community Swim Program has recreational swim times on Tuesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays this winter. They also have an adaptive swim program, parties, and swim lessons available. These dates are subject to the school calendar with some exceptions, so please check their website for updates. The cost is $5 per person or $100 per family for the season. Seniors and kids under 5 are free. 

Keystone Oaks School District has also resurrected its recreational swimming program this year. They are planning to be open on Sundays from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., at a cost of $7 for nonresidents and $5 for residents. Please check the page for updates, and email torcaso@kosd.org with any questions about hours.

Cool Springs Fitness, Mercer

If you’re up for the drive, the Cool Springs Fitness facility in Mercer has very affordable day rates for their indoor aquatics facility. There is a warm pool that is kept above 90 degrees as well as a lap pool that is a still-comfortable 80 degrees. Please check the schedule before driving up, as classes or events can change pool availability. Adults are $8 and children are $5. A pack of six passes costs $40. 

INDOOR WATER PARKS

While Pittsburgh does not (yet) have its own indoor water park, there are quite a few within an easy drive for a day trip or overnight getaway. Splash Lagoon is in Erie, which is about a two-hour drive. Just shy of a three-hour drive, Sandusky, Ohio is home to Castaway Bay, Kalahari, and Great Wolf Lodge. For a ski-and-swim adventure, the Poconos (about four- to five-hour drive) has Aquatopia, Kalahari, and Great Wolf Lodge as well. 

Oliver Bath House, South Side

This popular swim spot has been closed for renovations since 2023, but is expected to open in early 2025 once more. Did you know this pool is Pittsburgh’s only publicly owned indoor pool? It’s a historical gem with ornate details — but it is also a lot of work to keep in useable shape. The past-due renovations will make it a great option for generations to come. Day passes will be available, so please keep checking with Citiparks for more updates. 

Are you signed up for the Kidsburgh newsletter? It’s the best way in the new year to make sure your family knows what’s going on around the city. If you’re not up for swimming, we have a big guide to indoor play places for when Pittsburgh winter is in full force. 

If you’re looking for more family events in Pittsburgh, don’t miss our big guide to events happening all winter long!